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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (May 7, 1920)
K VOL.. LIX NO. 18,549 Entered at Portland Oregon) Postofftce as Second-Class Matter. PORTLAND O IS EG ON, FRIDAY, 3IAY 7, 1920 PRICE FIVE CENTS TOILERS TRADUCED SAYS LABOR CHIEF ARMENIA PROTECTION BY LEAGUE DEMANDED HAT DENIED FIGHT FOR LIFE LOST AS BOAT HITS FALLS BREAD PRICE RISE HERE IS FORECAST LEASE ABUSES TO BE MADE PUBLIC GOVERNOR EDWARDS OUT AS CANDIDATE E. DESCHANEL NOT YET SOLVED i CHANGES IX TURKISH SETTLE MEM ALSO ASKED. TWO MEX, OXE FROM PORT. IANT, DROWN NEAR CELILO. BAKERS FOLLOW CP ADVANCE IN COST OV FLOUR. NEW JERSEYS EXECUTIVE IS SEEKING PRESIDENCY. liOQQQ STAT ON PROBLEM MM r Mr.' Palmer's May Day Visions Scouted.- EVIL PROPAGANDA CHARGED Crusade Held Designed to Aid Certain Employers. WAGE EARNERS DEFENDED IScat-Uins I ndictiiient ot Depart ment of Justice Delivered by Brotherhood President. WASHINGTON, May . Attorney General ralmcr's warning of threat ened May day violence and announce ment ot steps taken to prevent it were 'assailed before the railroad labor board today by Timothy ' Healy, president of. the Brotherhood of Sta tionary Firemen and Oilers, as a part of what he. characterized as a "des picable propaganda against labor." Such propaganda, Mr. Healy said, was started within less than 24 hours after the signing of the armistice and was designed "to poison the minds of the people to such an extent that the profiteers could still further in crease prices and place the blame on labor." 1ltcrior Purpose Ween. While not naming the attorney general directly, Mr. Healy told the board that the "crusade" of a "high government official" against radicals "was undoubtedly for the purpose of aiding in the campaign of certain em ployers of the country to secure laws establishing involuntary servitude." He referred to sedition laws pro posed in congress and. said that while framed "ostensibly to eradicate bol shevism and anarchism," they would have tied labor "hand and foot." Mr. Healy concluded with the state ment that if "government officials and congress had given as much at tention to curbing profiteers as they j did to hounding wage-earners, the cost of Jiving would have decreased to, figures within reason." Wage Demand! Prrneii-ted. Bert M. Jewel, president of the rail Way department of the American fed eration of Labor, presented the wage demands of the railroad shop work ers. He furnished statistics on the increased cost of living and asked the board to grant such an advance in pay as would enable the shopmen to live at the accepted American standard. Mr. Healy declared that May day had been selected as a day for "im aginary terrible things to happen because contracts of some unions customarily expired April 30." "There is one peculiar thing about a newspaper editor," Mr. Healy said. "He believes everything he reads in everybody's else's paper and he never changes his mind with the changes in procedure of the labor movement." Trade unions as they grew older, be added, had discovered that May was not always a good time for their agreements to begin. Nevertheless, he declared, newspaper editors con tinued to speak of May day strikes. "This made them fall for the propa ganda sent out, of great strikes, slay ing -of high officials and public men May 1. last," continued the labor spokesman. "Representatives of all the newspapers located in Washing ton were called into a Conference and told of the great danger to the Ameri can government. May day was to be a day of slaughter, a red letter day in the annals of 'government over- throwers." But May day came and passed. It was as peaceful a day as any other in the year. Outside of newspaper columns and the minds of certain government officials, all was contentment- "This was a vital blow to the in etigators of the conspiracy to place a more vicious stigma on organized labor than any yet used. Even the editors woke up to the fact that they had been deceived and now they are printing editorials saying that the country Is laughing at the govern ment officials who had endeavored to create fear in the minds of the peo ple that America was filled with dis loyal men. Hurried Conference Held. "What did these government offi cials do? They had expected May day strikes and under cover of them could more thoroughly work out their pro paganda plans against labor. They held a hurried conference and decided something should be done to square themselves with the people and so word went forth that there were no strikes nor trouble of any kind on May day, and not even a sign of a murder because of the preparations made to meet the situation. The fact Is that nothing was prevented as nothing was contemplated." Referring to the high cost of living Mr. Healy declared the public was easily misled. "At one time they were told to eat fish and the cost of living would be ' reduced," said he. "They bought so many fish that prices doubled and tripled. They were told to eat cheap cuts' of meat. They did so and now they pay as much for them as they did for tenderloin and porterhouse. "Government officials who are seek ing to discredit labor by concocting conspiracies made it appear that the Concluded on. Fas S, Column 2.) Council Declares to Supreme Body No Nation Should Be Requested to Take Financial Burden. WASHINGTON, May 6. (By the Associated Press.) The council of the league of nations has refused to offer a mandate for Armenia to any power unless certain requested stipulations are embodied by the supreme council in the Turkish settlement. According to official information received here today the league coun cil in a note to the supreme council has insisted that the boundaries of Armenia be fixed; that a free port, preferably Batum, be accorded her; and that protection for the defense of the new state be provided by the league council. The council of the league declares that no state should be asked to as sume the burden of financing Ar menia, but suggests assumption of joint financial responsibility by the powers. If the mandate should be offered to a small power as suggested, it was said, provision for an interna tional military force should be made in order not to inflict an impossible burden upon a country incapable of bearing it. At the same time such an international force, it was pointed out, would give to all the powers an, in terest in the Armenian nation. The action of the council of the league, it was stated, was taken pre vious to the decision of the supreme council at San Remo to offer the Ar menian mandate to the United States. In requesting President Wilson to fix the Armenian boundaries the su preme council is believed by officials to have shown a disposition to comply with that particular of the league's suggestion concerning Armenia. The direct proffer' of a mandate contrary to the league's advice is taken by officials as indicating not so much a spirit of antagonism to the league by the supreme council as a desire to fulfill a political obliga tion to the United States which the league has felt incumbent upon it in the Turkish settlement. MRS. -GOMPERS IS DEAD Labor Leader's Married Wire Had 50 Yaers. Been WASHINGTON, May 6. Mrs. Sam uel Gompers, wife of the president of the American Federation of Labor, died at her home here tonight after a -long Illness.. -.She .was 69. years of age and had been married for more than half a century.' Funeral services will be conducted here and the body will be taken to Mew lorK lor Dunai bunaay. Mrs. Gompers was born in London and came to this country with her parents when 8 years old. Three years later she began work as a tobacco stripper in the 'factory where Mr. Gompers was employed as a cigar- maker. She was married in 1867 at the age of 16. Mrs. Gompers Is survived by three sons, Henry J., Samuel J. and Alex ander J. Gompers. AUTOIST OFFENDS IN JAIL Law Again Broken by Leavi n g Car Pa rk-ed . Wh i le Serving Sentence. When V. R. King was released from the city jail yesterday, after having served several hours on a speeding charge, he found that his automobile, which he had left parked at 91 Fourth street .while he went up to the municipal court for his hearing, had been tagged for having been parked too long in the restricted dis tinct, and he consequently had been rearrested. Patrolman Johnson of the traffic bureau released King, however, after he had explained the situation, con sidering that "King had a good excuse. DAY WARMEST OF .YEAR Oregon 'Dolls Up" in Daffodils and 82 Degrees. Most winsome day of the new spring season was yesterday, according to thousands of Oregon admirers, who complimented her upon her smiles, the manner in which she wore her cherry bloom and daffodils, and upon the golden shimmer of warm sunshine that made the grass and the gardens leap upward. It was the most genial day of the season thus far, with the temperature reaching a maximum of 82 degrees, distancing by four degrees the mark of April 26 which hitherto held the record for 1920. GIRL GUILTY OF MURDER Slayer of Stepfather Sent to Pen itentiary for 10 Years. ST. LOUIS, May 6. Ursula Brod erick, 16, who killed her stepfather, Joseph F. Woodlock, in their home here April 14, 1919, was found guilty of murder in the second degree by a Jury in juvenile court here tonight. Her punishment was fixed at 10 years in the Missouri penitentiary. SUFFRAGE VOTE DELAYED Amendment Has Chance to Pass in Delaware House. DOVER, Del., May 6. Action by the house on the suffrage ratification resolution, adopted by the senate yes terday, will probably be postponed for a week or ten days. Suffrage leaders realize that at this time "they need at least three more votes to put it over in the house, French Executive Bars American Creation. GIFT GRACEFULLY DECLINED Ambassador Jusserand Con veys News to Milliners. FOURTEEN REASONS GIVEN Bad Precedent, Says One, as Paris Is Only Style Center; "Americans Dangerously Resourceful." NUW YORK, May 6. President Deschanel of France has refused to permit Matlame Deschanel to accept the $5000 hat offered her by 3000 American milliners for her indorse ment of the "four seasons for mil linery." This was announced today at the convention here of the Millinery Job bers' association, when a letter was read fj-om Ambassador Jusscrand, de clining the American creation made from material supplied by each of the 48 states . and decorated with nine paradise plumes, each costing J500. Gift Gracefully Declined. The ambassadorial letter, addressed to Henry S. Bernhard, head of the as sociation, read: "I am instructed by the president of the republic to in form you that he sincerely appreci ates the motives of your offer, on be half of American milliners, of a specially devised hat for Madame Deschanel. He joins those interested in the scheme in hoping that, in this, too, namely, a question concerning both trade and art, the two countries will more and more work together to their common advantage. "As for the gift itself, since it is not possible for Madame Deschanel to receive, under such conditions, any gift of value, the president begs you not to realise your intention for-which he begs me, however, to tender you his sincere thanks." To the milliners then was read a cable from the. society for the im provement of millinery art in France, giving "14 points" why Madame Deschanel should not accept the gift. The points are: I. Bad precedent; Paris only style center. "2. America took advantage of Paris during the war. 3. Americans dangerously re sourceful. 4. Paris never produced so expens ive a hat as $5000 Big novelty as Eiffel tower. 5. Pari3 milliners object to ac ceptance of hat. 6. Such gift is like carrying coals to Newcastle. 7. South American trade stolen from Paris by New York. 8. American prohibition will help Paris regain South American trade. 9. America should not give away what it will not buy paradise. 10. Milliners should be content to buy the dictates of Paris. II. American buyers already act dictatorially toward Paris creators. (Concluded on Page 2, Column 4.) "' nnm lit iiiiii GOSH, HOPE WE DON'T GET STUCK! --' J-'-JL i-i-i ii-- i A, i ii. I i ill i i i i i ii , i i i i hi i II i.i ii i i.i.i i : i ii i I i i ' i ill ii i Ail i i i i i i i 4 Pair Row Vigorously In Battle Against Swift Current but Are Swept to Death. THE DALLES, Or., May 6. (Spe cial.) Caught by the swift current of the Tumwater falls, near Celilo, yesterday at about 4 - o'clock, Roy DuiTn, machinist, and W. B. Darling, his helper, in a small boat were swept over the falls to their death. The two men had started out to fish. The current at the point near Tumwater falls is very -swift. Ap parently the boat was caught in this current. Nearer and nearer to the falls the boat was carried. Both men kept row ing, exerting every effort in the fight for life. Many persons on the bank, of the river viewed the fight against the current. The boat apparently was not disabled. Reeling to the falls with its two oc cupants, it plunged over. One man appeared twice, then was lost to view. The second occupant vanished after the plunge over the falls. Despite a search of the shore, no trace of the boat or the men was found today. The two men were employes of the North Bank road, having been sta tioned at the Fallbridge roundhouse. W. B. Darling was- 23 years old, sin gle, and his home was in Portland. Roy Dunn, aged 24 years, leaves a widow and child. His home address was Othello, Wash. W. B. Darling's father, Charles D. Darling, 474 East Oak street, went to Fallbridge yesterday to aid in the search for the bodies of the drowned men. . W. B. Darling was 23 years of age and was employed by the Spokane, Portland & Seattle railroad as a me chanic. He served two years in France in the 828th aero squadron. PRIEST RULES ON MURDER Killing or Mother or InTant to Save V OUier Held Criminal. MILWAUKEE, Wis., May 6. A dozen good motives will not justify an evil act, declared the Rev. Herbert CL Noonan, president of the Marquette university, today in branding as di rect, murder the killing of an infant to save its mother's Wfe, or- the kill ing of the mother to save the child's - . ' - . " ' . '. He reasserted his position on the question brought up ,iy th.e- resignp tion of five members of the teaching staff of the medical school who dis agreed with, the university's policies. "The destruction oT the life of either mother or- child to save one of their lives is to violate the com mandmant, 'Thou shalt not kill,' he declared. ' Father Noonan denied that the dis puted question was a religious one, but said that It was based on ethical standards alone. - JURY REPORT HELD UP Absence of Judges Causes Delay in Verdict on Treasury Probe. SALEM, Or., May 6. (Special.) Because of absence from the city of G. G. Bingham and Percey E. Kelly, judges of the Marion county circuit court, the Marion county grand jury, which has been investigating the af fairs of the state treasurer's depart ment, was unable to file its formal report today. The report irfay be presented some time tomorrow or Saturday. It is estimated that the cost of the Investigation will aggregate more than 2500. Portland Shop Operators Intimate One Cent Will" Be Added for Each Loaf About June 1. Another cent tagged to the price of the loaf Is in prospect, bakers yester day Intimated, owing to the announce ment that flour prices will be raised 60 cents a barrel this morning, with the wholesale quotation $13.75 a barrtl. While the ibakers declined to comment clearly upon the prospect of a bread advance. It was generally hinted that an increase of one cent a loaf would be dictated by the rise in flour, probably effective June 1. The advance in flour was attributed to the higher prices prevailing in the wheat market, which are now from 50 to 70 cents a bushel premium over the government basic price of J2.20 a bushel, it was said. Whatever the explanation, Portland householders, already between the millstones of a wage dispute in the baking craft, are to be treated to yet another bread-and-butter misfortune. In the eastern flour market prices have been climbing rapidly for the last month, but until now the Port land millers have not taken advan tage of the greater wheat cost. It was said. Eastern flour prices are almost $2 a barrel higher than here. In the local strike of bakers against the Master Bakers' association, laoth parties to the dispute yesterday main tained that all was well with their respective causes and that they would win. The master bakers have declared the policy of the "open shop" and are supplying the trade with apparently little dimunition of the normal supply. WOMAN ATTEMPTS SUICIDE Mrs. Nannie- St. Clair in Hospital but Wound Is Superficial. Despondency, caused, it is believed, through ill health, led Mrs. Nannie St. Clair, 40, of Benton, Or., to make an unsuccessful effort at self-destruction at her room in the Perkins hotel late yesterday afternoon. The woman stabbed herself in the left breast, directly above the heart. Hotel attendants summoned a phy sician and the injured woman was removed to St. Vincent's hospital. The wound was reported last night to be superficial and complete recovery is expected within a few days. Mrs. St.'Clalr'had been, at the Per kins for several days with a 19-year-old son. The son left last night for Estacada to locate his father. . The woman was still in a hysterical condition late last night and was un able to- tell hospital attendants why she had stabbed herself. WOMAN, AGED 102, IS DEAD Mrs. Sarah- Thompson Succumbs at Home of Daughtcr-in-Law. Mrs. Sarah Thompson, believed to have been the oldest woman in the state of Oregon, died Wednesday night at the home of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. L. P. Coleman, 66 North Nineteenth street. She was 102 years of age. Mrs. Thompson, prior to coming to Portland, had Jived at Salem. She was -born in Ohio, November 15, 1817. She was the mother of three Portland men, all of whom are dead H. T., Eamaliel and Frank Thomp son. Surviving grandchildren are: Miss Ethel Thompson, Mrs. Fay Cat lin and Mrs. George Tyler Taglieri of Portland and Mrs. C. T. Thomas ot Salt Lake City. Joseph Thompson of Portland is a nephew. Rent Committee Plans to Stop "Pyramiding." VICIOUS PRACTICES FOUND Lease Resales at Exorbitant Figures Disclosed. RENTS NATURALLY RISE Antl-Proritecring Ordinance to Be Held in Abeyance Pending Further Investigation. Pitiless publicity is the weapon de cided on by the rent Investigating committee in its effort to stop "pyra miding" of leases, which the -committee members believe Is largely re sponsible for the high rents charged for Portland apartment houses. The committee was in session until midnight Wednesday, hearing evi dence introduced fcy three apartment house lessees who appeared in answer to the summons issued by Mayor Baker as chairman of the committee. One apartment house lessee sub mitted a letter in which he informed the committee that he had just se cured a lease on an apartment house and that it would be a month before he could ascertain the operating ex penses. Vicious Practices Found. Members of the committee, after re viewing the evidence submitted, an nounced that as a rule owners of apartment houses were not collecting exorbitant rents. The re-sale of leases and furniture at high prices, and the frequent unloading of such leases upon persons not familiar with the costs of operation were held vicious practices which members of the committee felt must be stopped. One of the typical cases, according to the committee, details-of which were authorized yesterday for publi cation, was that of the Hanover apartments, 167 King street. Although the committee could not gain information concerning the ac tual original cost of the furniture, evidence presented to the committee showed that in March, 1919. the lease and furniture sold for $9000. The rent paid by the lessee to the owner of the building was and still remains $650 per month. Advance of f2WM Voted. Tn August, 1919, according to the committee, the same furniture and lease were sold for $11,000. At this time the committee ascertained that an increase of approximately $5' a month for two-room apartments was effected, and that telephone service forerly included in the rent was dis continued. This rcised the rents of two-room apartments to approximate ly $40 a month Instead of $32.50. A few months later, the committee said, the lease and furniture of this apartment house were sold for $16,000 and another increase of approximate ly $5 a month was made in rentals. Near the end of March, 1920, the lease and furniture were sold for $21,000 and the committee developed the fact that the same lease and furniture are now on the market for $25,000. The lease in question expires in 13 (Concluded on Page 3, Column 1.) Announcement Issued hv Walker W. Vick and Campaign lleail- quarters Arc Opened. NEW YORK, May 6. Governor Kd wards of New Jersey tonight became an avowed and active candidate for the democratic nomination for presi dent of the United Stales. Walker W. Vick, personal friend of the gov ernor, issued the formal announce ment of his candidacy and of the opening here of Edwards' campaign headquarters. "Governor Edwards begins his cam paign without any political machinery or prestige lent him from any source," Mr. Vick said. "He runs on his rec ord as governor of New Jersey, as its former controller and as a man of af fairs in the business and financial world of this country for the past -o years. His rise in the business world as a self-made man, as well as his entire career, both business and po litical, presents abundant proof of his sympathetic regard for the great pro ductive forces of the country." GIRL HIT BY AUTO FOUND Child, 13, Returns Home After lie- ing Treated at Driver's Home. After having been the object of search all day by police and relatives following a report received at police headquarters that she had been in jured by an automobile, 13-year-old Mary Hanna, daughter of Joscpl' Hanna, 1030 Front street, returned to her home about 4:30 yesterday after noon. She had been knocked down by an automobile at Front and Gibbs street at 8 o'clock yesterday morning. Fol lowing the accident she was taken to a private home by the autoist and her bruises treated. She could not tell where the house was to which she was taken. Afterwards she leisurely returned home. She had sustained a bruised leg but was otherwise unhurt by the accident, her relatives re ported. The driver of the machine last night had not reported at police head quarters. The girl is a student of St. Law rence echool, at Third and Sherman streets. ANN ARBOR, MICH., GROWS Population Increase of 3 1.7 Per Cent Over 10 10 Announced. WASHINGTON. May 6. Census re ports made public today were: Ann Arbor. Mich. 19.516; Increase, 4699, or 31.7 per cent. Bath, Me. 14,731; increase. 5335'. or 56.8 per cent. Mexico, Mo. 6013; increase. 14. or 1.2 per cent. Hammond, Ind. 36,004; 15.079, or 72.1 per cent. Monroe. Mich. 11.573: 4680, or 67.9 per cent. Jacksonville, Fla. 91.543 33.844, or 58.7 per cent. Baton Rouge. La. 21,782 6S85. or 46.2 per cent. increase, increase, increase, increase. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. TESTERDAT'S Maximum temperature, 82 degrees: minimum, 47 degrees. TODAY'S Fair, continued warm; north easterly winds. Foreign. Protection of Armenia by league is de manded. Pase 1. National. Wilson ruling: on reds denounced by Rep resentative Johnson, of Washington Pase 6. Toilers traduced by department of justice. says railroad brotherhood chief. Page l! Railroads ask congress for 8500,000,000 loan.. Page 4. Carranza believed to be preparing to flee. Pa ?e 2. Anti-British feeling denied by Admiral Benson. Pa-c C. Tomesti Governor Kdwards of N'ew Jersey seeks democratic nomination for presidency Page 1. Grain interests plan for re-establlshment of open wheat market. Page 22. Hoover declares attitude not altered by California primary. . Page 2. President of France says madamc cannot have $."iOOO American hat. Page 1. Bluebeard pleads guilty to wife murder. Page ::. Limit of power of bishops in naming Meth odist district superintendents proposed. Page P. Sport. Coast league results: Seattle .:. Portland t: San Frani-lsco I.os Angeles I; Vernon 1. Oakland 0: Salt Lake 3, Sac ramento 1. Page 14. Waverly golf team goes north minus tcrv ices of star player. Page 14. Mascott-Gordon match reveals behind Bcenes misunderstandings. Page .". Mike Cy Dowd loses world welterweight championship. Page 14. Paelfic Northwest. State bonds may be sold to meet highway contracts. Page 7. Fight for life lost as boat with two men is swept over falls near Celilo. Page 1. Cook wins husband through story of Ore- goa. Page .1. I rrtsiuciu vji i.,. . ...e,.... - Jerseys ot Oregon rate equal of best. ' Seattle and expects to return to Port Pee land Monday. Geneiul Manager Dyer Commercial and Marine. ; and Assistant-General Manager Burck- Business men Join tour to municipal terml- naIter cf the Southern Pacific had H & 1 Pa &e j . , - - , Sixtv-eent advance In Portland flour quo- (their cars attached to the first sec tations. Page 23. j tion of No. 13. leaving for the south Corn reaches J2 mark at Chicago. Page 23. I at 8 P. M. They will devote some Early gains in stock market wiped out at close. Page 2-. Portland and Vicinity. c V. Inkn anil wtfA ea.ch finori frt- speed- lng. Page 13. , r-prouie win mau meiiv: aii ..w. Bread-price rise In Portland is intimated trip and expects to be back to Port by bakers. Page 1. ; ,alM, soon. president Budd and Judge Hoover and Lowden not to withdraw in ; T,-iH ift iH,f niirht Oregon in favor of Wood and against Keld &la lelt lasI Johnson. Page o. Rent-investigating committee plans to stop "pyramiding" of leases. Page 1. Portland voters apathetic toward relief of carlines. Page S. Minimum sentence given convicted I. W. W Page 16. State wa rrants issued for arrest of seven alien communists- Pase IK. Tax body to oppose Tion-partisan activity. Page 4. Hugh J. Boyd chosen principal of Wash- inttAn hi trhrtoI Pa r i Great Northern use of union station not yet detinitel decided. vPase 1. Rail- Chiefs Defer Great Northern Decision. LATER MEETING PLANNED Road Meantime to Continue Use of Terminal. OTHER MATTERS TAKEN UP t,Jues-iioii of Abandoning One of lh Two Lines Through Deschutes Canyon Considered. Final decision as to the permanent use of the Union station by the Great Northern, railroad in operation of its j Portland trains was postponed to a luture conlerence of railroad execu tives after an all-day conference yes terday in the office of J. P. O'Brien, president ot" ihe Northern Pacific Ter minal company, in the Wclls-Fargo building. At the meeting various matters of coivoern to the five railroads were discussed, including the terminals at Portland and the question of possible abandonment of one of the tracks through the Deschutes canyon. At the conclusion one of the presidents said "progress has been made toward a better understanding of conditions, but no conclusions have yet been reached." As to the union station situation, it was said that the Great Northern will continue to use the terminal pending final decision at a meeting of the officials to be arranged as soon as possible after further investiga tion of some phases of the matter. Ttto l ine, to Continue. Because of the possible require ments of future business and the many considerations involved in the abandonment of an operating railroad, it is probable that the central Oregon lines up the Deschutes river will con tinue to be operated as in the past. No definite statement was issued last night by officials, but the passing of exclusive control to either of the two companies is regarded as improbable, and there are complications involved in the joint operation. People in the territory served contend that in any event the present service is not greater than is justified and that it will necessarily be heavier with the rapid development of industries in the pine timber region south of Bend, and more intensive agricultural develop ment along the line. The officials who participated in the conference were: Carl R. Gray, president of the Union Pacific; Wil liam Sproule. president of the South ern Pacific: Ralph Budd. president ot the Great Northern; L. C Gilman, ' president of the North Bank and Ore gon Trunk; Judge T. G. Keid, assist ant to president of the Northern Pa cific; J. P. O'Brien, president of tha Northern Pacific Terminal company and general manager or the Oregon Washington; J. H. O'Neill, general manager of the Great Northern; J. H. Dyer, general manager Southern Pa cific; Arthur C. Spencer, general so licitor Oregon-Washington and Ben C. Dey, general counsel Southern Pa cific. Conditions Well Understood. A fact that lends local interest to this conference is that with the ex ception of William Sproule and Judge Reid, all of the executives who gath ered for this meeting formerly were Portland officials of some of the roads represented at the meeting. For that reason all of them have a compre hensive knowledge of local conditions and are familiar with the history and developments of the interests con sidered. Ralph Budd formerly was chief engineer of the Spokane, Port land' & Seattle and had charge of the major part of construction of the Oregon Trunk. Carl R. Gray, now head of the Union Pacific, was for merly president of the North Bank lines and later of the Great Northern. J. P. O'Brien entertained the visit ing officials at luncheon at the Arlington club at the conclusion of which the officials returned to take up again the negotiations, and but for the fact that arrangements had been made for several of their care to be attached to early night trains, after noon session might have continued to a late hour. Adjournment was finally taken at 7:30. nMpeetionx Are Plnsned. .time to inspection of the Southern Pacific Oregon lines before proceed ing to San Francisco. President MERRILL HAS BIG FIRE Loss $20,000 In Blaze Destroying Rustncss Ruildings. KLAMATH FALLS. Or., May 6 Fire destroyed the opera house. 1 two stores and two other buildings at j Merrill, near the California line, early lnls morn,nS- The loss is estimated at 420,000.