Iflll
VMM
VOL. I,IX NO. 18,690
Entered at Portland Oregon)
PoMtoffic w Second-C as Matter.
PORTLAND, OREGON, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1920
PRICE FIVE CENTS
REPLIES
'XSSMWLATIOSLAID
FIVE-YEAR SEARCH ON
FOR MISSING LINK
EMPLOYMENT DOWN
AS WAGES INCREASE
COMPARISON MADE IX 14
BASEBALL DIVORCE
FROM CASH LIKELY
3. HURT, 20 SHAKEN
AS CAR RUNS WILD
WOODLAWN- AXD IRVIXGTOX
TRAJXS CRASH.
FORGERY CHARGES
JOLT SMART SET
T
QUERY
TO TUFT LEAGUERS
RESTAURANTS ACCUSED
HAEIXG HUGE GAIXS
or
SCIENTIFIC BODIES HTJXT FOR
PRE-HCjIAX APE IX ASIA.
PRINCIPAL INDUSTRIES.
HARDING
0 WILSON
French 'Spokesmen' Are
Sent, Senator Says.
ACTION WHOLLY INFORMAL
International Proprieties Held
Not Violated.
PERSONAL RAP ANSWERED
president's Reference to "Private
Citizen" Brings Retort From
Republican Xomlnee.
MARION. O., Oct. 18. In reply to
an inquiry from President 'Wilson,
Senator Harding wrote the "White
touse tonight that although France
had sent her "spokesmen" to him in
formally askinp: America to lead the
way tor an association of nations,
the Incident had not involved the
Frcncli government in any violation
of international proprieties.
The senator declared that in his
reference to the subject in a speech
at Greencastle, Ind., recently, he only
had sought to convey the thought
that there had come to him "those
who spoke a sentiment which they
represented to be very manifest
among the French people." He added
that his words "could not be con
strued to say that the French govern
ment has sent anybody to me."
Itefcrring to Mr. Wilson's sugges
tion of impropriety in a foreign
nation approaching "a private citi
zen" on such a subject. Senator
Harding pointed out that he is a
member of the senate foreign rela
tions committee as well as a nominee
for the presidency, and suggested
that "an informal expression to me
Is rather more than that to a private
citizen."
Notes Disclose Error.
The president's letter had not pur
ported to use the exact words of the
Greencastle speech, but had- repeated
a. paraphrase in which "a representa
tive" was used in place of the plural
"her spokesman." The singular had
been used in the transcript of the of
ficial stenographer as made .public
on the senator's train in Indiana, the
copy given to newspaper correspond
ents reading "France has sent her
spokesman to me."
Senator Harding said he had not
tiad occasion to revert to the stenog
rapher's notes until the president's
letter raised the point. He then as
certained, he said, that notes and the
transcript prepared on the train did
not agree and that, although he had
said "her spokesman." the published
a-eports of the speech had been in
exact in using the words "her spokes
man." Quotation Not Exact.
. The text of Senator Harding's let
ter, sent in reply to one from Prest
dent "Wilson asking whether the sen
Rtor had been correctly quoted in
Lis Greencastle speech, follows:
"Dear Mr. President:
"I have before me a rress copy of
your letter to me of this date, though
I am not in receipt of the original
opy. I am glad to make a prompt
reply.
"It Is very gratifying that you hesi
tate to araw inferences without my
Rssurance that I am correctly quoted.
The quotation as reported in your
letter is not exact. The notes of the
stenographer reporting my remarks
quote me as saying: 'France has sent
hor spokesmen to me, informally ask
ing America in its ifcw realization of
the situation to lead the way for
association of nations.'
France"! Faith Undoubted.
I am sure that my words could
not be construed to say that the
French government has sent anybody
to me. The thought 1 was trying to
convey was that there had come to
mo those who spoke a sentiment
which they represented to be very
manifest among the French people,
but nothing could suggest the French
government having violated the pro
prieties of international relations.
Official France nould never seek to
go over your high office as our chief
executive to appeal to the American
people or any portion thereof.
"1 can see no impropriety in pri
vate citizens of France, or in Ameri
cans deeply friendly to France, ex
pressing to me their understanding of
sentiment in that friendly republic.
"it is not important enough to dis
cuss, perhaps, but I very respectfully
urge that an Informal expression to
nie is rather more than to a private
citizen. I hold . place as a member of
the foreign relations committee of the
United States senate, which is charged
with certain constitutional authority
in dealing with foreign relations, and
3 am necessarily conscious that I
am the nominee of the republican
party for president of our republic."
All Proprieties Observed.
"In the combination of these two
positions, it ought not to be unseemly
that some, very devoted friends of a
lew and better relationship among
nations, no matter whence they came,
bhould wish to advise me relating to
ispirations to co-operate with our
own republic in attaining that high
purpose. Let me assure you again
of the observance of all the proprie
ties and again assort that the French
2 .ICoaiiuiKd on !' 3, Column l.J
Boston District Attorney Declares
Ham Sandwiches Bring 39 9
Per Cent Returns.
BOSTON, Oct. 18. Restaurant keep
ers who were called on by United
States Attorney Daniel J. Gallagher at
an open hearing today to "explain
away if possible the conviction in the
mind of the public that you are goug
ing them In the prices charged for
food," said they could not reduce
prices at this time. As a consequence
the federal attorney announced that
he intended "to find some way to give
persons charging excessive prices a
chance to satisfy a court and jury on
their charges."
Ham sandwiches that cost (.29 cents
and sold for 30 cents, a profit of 399
per cent; rolls which showed a profit
of 300 per cent, and pie," costing 46 to
48 cents, which sold for $1.40, figured
in the items which the attorney made
the subject of questions.
Other items which he thought re
quired an explanation included alleged
profits running to 1900 per cent on
vegetables, sale of corn at 40 cents an
ear', coffee at 10 cents a cup and pie
at 20 cents a cut.
NEW YORK, Oct. 18. A flat 50 per
cent reduction in the prices of printed
percales to the cutting and jobbing
trades was announced by selling
agents of a well-known line today.
CHICAGO, 111., Oct. 18. Retail
dealers throughout the country will
sell clothes at cost this fall, Andreas
Burkhardt of Cincinnati, president of
the National Association of Retail
Clothiers, said tonight:
"Rightfully or wrongfully, the pub
lic is determined to get lower
prices." said Mr. Burkhardt. "Conse
quently the dealers have determined
to forget all about profits and sell
their commodity at cost.
"Dealers are not taking this action
from fear of panic or necessity for
quick turnover in money. It is sim
ply because the country is passing
through a temporary period of de
flation and unsettlement and we feel
that the good will of the people
must be retained."
PICKFORD CASE GOES OVER
Action to Dissolve Divorce of Ac
tress A gpaln Postponed.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 18. Prelimi
nary argument in the case of the state
of Nevada against Gladys St. Moore,
known otherwise as Gladys M. Fair
banks or Mary Pickford, motion-pic
ture actress, and her ex-husband,
Owen Moore, motion-picture actor, to
dissolve the divorce obtained by Mrs.
Fairbanks In Minden has been post
poned for a second time, attorneys
for Mrs. Fairbanks announced here
today.
It was to have been heard on Sat
urday, November 6, after having been
set over from Saturday, October S.
No new date has been set yet, it was
announced here.
Argument will- be on a motion to
quash the action brought by the attorney-general
to have the divorce
invalidated.
PUNCH BOARDS MUST GO
Spokane Chief of Police Orders
Confiscation of Devices.
SPOKANE, "Wash., Oct. 18. The
confiscation of all punchboards was
ordered today by Chief of Police "Wier
as a step in the campaign recently
launched in this city against gam
bling.
The punchboards, upon which are
paper numbers that are punched
with the possibility of winning mer
chandise, were ordered put away
some time ago, according to Chief
Weir, but numerous complaints have
been received that they are again
being used.
FILLING STATION ROBBED
Unmasked Man Reported to Have
Obtained $60 in Cash.
'A. K. Moon, clerk In charge of the
Standard Oil filling station at Sixth
and Caruthers streets, was held up
last night by an unmasked man and
robbed of about - $60 cash and some
gasoline scrip. The robber entered
the station as' Moon was closing up
for the night. ,
Moon described the robber as about
25 years old. S feet 10 inches tall and
weighing about 150 pounds. He wore
a dark brown suit and a light brown
cap and carried an automatic pistol.
DESERTER GETS 15 YEARS
-
$36,051 Embezzled; Wilson Con
firms Dismissal From Army.
WASHINGTON. Oct. IS. President
Wilson has confirmed the sentence of
dismissal from service and 15 years'
imprisonment at hard 'labor imposed
by courtmartial upon John C. Gotten
kiene, second lieutenant, of the 5th
field artillery.
He was convicted of deserting his
command at Neuhausel, Germany, in
June, 1919. after embezzling $36,051 of
military funds.
REDS RECAPTURE-MINSK
Bolshevik! Report Poles to Have
Abandoned City.
LOXDOX, Oct. 18. The bolsheviki
have reoccupied Minsk, which, accord
ing to their official communique is
sued today, the Poles have abandoned.
The bolshevik troops, under pres
sure. ?ever, are retiring to new
posit. , in the Slutsk-Polesia regions.
Civilian Canvass of For
eign Nations Charged.
PEACE ORGANIZATION TARGET
Envoy Is Declared Busy Now,
Seeking German Entry.
SENATE PROBE RESUMED
Confidential Letters of Enforce
ment Unit Are Introduced at
Campaign Hearing.
ST. LOUIS, Mo., Oct. 18. Scores of
confidential letters from the files of
the League to Enforce Peace, of which
William . Howard Taft is president,
were introduced into the records of
the senate committee investigating
campaign expenditures here late to
day. Names of a number of promi
nent bankers were mentioned.
Dom H. Hunt, attorney for the com
mittee that investigated the activities
of the league, reported that "in my
estimation" officials of the league
have violated the Logan act, passed
January 30, 1899, which prohibits
American citizens carrying on negoti
ations with foreign governments or
their agents regarding disputes or
controversies without the permission
of the United States. "" The act carries
a penalty, upon conviction, of fines of
not more than $5000 and imprison
ment of from six months to three
years.
Agent Sent to Kew York.
The senate committee sent Hunt to
New York several days ago to Investi
gate the activities of the League to
Enforce Peace.
'Hunt conducted an inquiry for five
days in the league's offices there;
read all the correspondence in its files
and examined employes and. officers
of the organization.
i'His report, a voluminous document
mrracing copies of all letters which
he thoughts had a bearing on . the
campaign expenditures investigation.
was presented today.
The senate committee met here to
day to complete its investigation of
the pre-conventlon campaign in Miss
ouri and adjourned to meet again
some time after the election. Be
fore adjourning, telegrams were dis
patched to the chairmen of the re
publican and democratic national,
senatorial and congressional com
mittees, directing them to file com.
(Concluded on Panre 2, Column 1.)
"PACK
Expedition Will Bring Back Great
Collection of Animals Even, if
Object It Xot Attained.
NEW YORK. Oct. 18. Organized
search for the well-advertised but
undiscovered "missing link" the re
mains of the near man that scientists,
since the day of Darwin, have longed
to examine ia to be carried on in
Asia for - a five-year period, begin
ning next February.
An expedition, financed by a, $250,
000 fund, will penetrate remote
regions and even if it- fails, to un
cover remnants of man's rude pre
historic forebear, it is planned to
bring hack to New York "the greatest
natural history collection the world
has ever seen."-
The American museum of natural
history, which is sponsoring the ex
plorations, announced tonight its as
sociates are the American Asiatic
society and the Asia magazine. These
three will finance the expedition, with
the help of private contributions by
Mrs. "Willard Straight, J. P. Morgan,
George F. Baker, Childs Frick, W. A.
Harriman and Mr. and Mrs. Charles
L Bernheimer.
Huntsmen and cowboys, as well as
erudite professors and scientists, will
be included in the party, for it is
planned to trail some of the wildest
wild animals in the world in the
Gobi desert and bring "them back to
New York alive.
Antelopes that can run 60 miles an
hour, wild horses with less speed but
more control in their kicking ap
paratus and wild camels, wild asses
and long-haired tigers "can be run
down In motor cars, ' lassoed by
Mongol cowboys and some of the
specimens brought back alive to the
New York zoological park," said the
statement announcing the expedition.
"On the Tibetan steppes are enor
mous yak, snow leopards, giant
pandas and beautiful golden monkeya
with blue, upturned noses," the state
m.nt continued. "In China is the
takln. a creature with a veritable
golden fleece,' a strange ox-like anl
mal that roams the highest mountain
valleys and actually represents an
Intermediate stage between the ante
lope and the goat."
It is the hope of finding the bones
of a pre-historic ancestor of man.
however, that is held highest by Roy
Chapman Andrews, associate curator
of mammals in the American museum
of natural history, who will be in
charge of the expedition and his as
sociates. The party, will have its
headquarters in Pekln. s
In 1891 a Dutch army surgeon
while excavating for fossils in cen
tral Java, discovered part of a skull
two molar teeth and a thigh bone
and thereby "unearthed one of the
most perplexing conundrums In the
study of human ancestry," said the
statement.
'.'Were the remains those of an ex
tremely early type of pre-human,
man-like animals? If so, this ape-man
(Continued on Paso 3, Column 2.)
UP YOUR THINGS AND GET
Volume, of Work Shows Steady De
cline Is Present "When
Ranked With 1919.
WASHING TON. Oct. 18. (Special.)
Ten of the 14 principalindustrles
in the United States showed a de
crease in employment during the
month of September as compared
with August, according to" statistics
made public today by the labor de
partment. Nine of the 14 showed a
decrease last September as compared
with September, 1919. '
While the volume ef employment
in these industries has been steadily
decreasing the amount of payroll In
10 of the 14 shows an increase during
last September over the same month
last year. During September of this
year as compared with August, the
same number showed a decrease in
payroll as in volume of employment.
The industries chosen for the com
parison are iron and steel, automo
biles, car building and repairing.
cotton manufacturing, cotton finish
ing, hosiery and underwear, woolen,
silk, men's clothing, leather, boots
and shoes, paper making, cigars and
bituminous coal mining.
Decrease in volume of employment
during . September was shown in
automobile, 4.5 per cent; car build
ing and repairing, 4.3 per cent; cotton
manufacturing, .9 per cent; cotton
finishing, 6.4 per cent; hosiery and
underwear, .7 per cent; silk, 6.9 per
cent; men's clothing, 6.8 per cent;
leather, 7.6 per cent; boots and shoes.
14.4 per cent; paper making, 1.1 per
cent.
On the increase In volume" of em
ployment, woolen with 37.9 per cent
is the heaviest. The amount of in
crease of payroll in the woolen In
dustry during September was 32.6
per cent.
In comparative statistics for Sep
tember, 1920 over 1919, our building
and" repairing is shown as increasing
the volume of employment but 29.1
per cerit,. but the increase in amount
of payroll was 62.2 per cent; paper
making showed at. increase of em
ployment of 8.7 per cent, but increase
in payroll of 37 per cent, and coal
mining a decrease of 6.1 per cent in
employment with an increase in pay
roll of 30.4 per cent.
HOLDUP FAKE, SAYS GIRL
"Robbery" Held Rigged; Escort
Arrested ; Gems Recovered.
LOS ANGELES, Cal., Oct. 18. H. F.
Carter took Miss Florence Procter
for an automobile ride yesterday. They
were held up and robbed by a masked
man. Policemen, notified by Miss
Procter, searched Carter's room, re
covered jewels identified as her prop
erty and then booked her escort and
his room-mate, J. C. Roberts, on
charges of highway robbery.
They said Carter and Roberts had
apparently arranged the "hodup" in
advance and were dividing the pro
ceeds when taken.
OUT!"
11 Major Clubs in Heroic
Move to Save Game.
SUPREME TRIBUNAL WANTED
Ban Johnson's Absence Con
sidered Snub by Delegates.
NEW LEAGUE THREAT OUT
Lacker Plan Advocates Deliver Ulti-
matum, With. November 1
as Limit Date.
CHICAGO, OcL 18. Representa-
tives of every National league base
ball club and three American league
clubs tonight went on record as fav
oring abrogation of the national
agreement between professional
leagues.. Resolutions adopted pro
posed a complete reorganization of
baseball with the national commis
sion abolished and a civilian tribunal
of three men not financially inter
ested in the game in complete con
trol. The action came after a conference
lasting more than nine hours. The
resolutions will be considered at an
other meeting November 4i and pre
sented to the meeting of minor league
officials at Kansas City November 9
for their approval. All professional
leagues will be invited to join with
the 11 clubs acting today in the pro
posed reorganization;
I Itimatnm C.lven Absentee.
A statement Issued after the meet
ing notified the clubs not represented
that they have until November 1 to
signify their willingness to Join In
the reorganization. If they have not
come in' by that time, the statement
says, a 12-club league will be formed
without , them. The 11 clubs repre
sented would be included in the
league and the 12th member would
be chosen from some other city.
President Johnson was not In the
city tonight. The three American
league clubs which joined, in the re
organization proposal are Chicago,
New York and Boston. They are the
same clubs which lined up against
Johnson last winter in the baseball
fight.
Club owners at the meeting said
that If Johnson and the five club
owners who have always sided with
him in baseball discussions did not
care to join with the other club own-:
era in the proposed reorganization
they probably would "go ahead with
out Mr. Johnson." Johnson was not:
present today, and the Cleveland,
Detroit, "Washington, St. Louis and
Philadelphia American league clubs
were not represented.
JohoKon's Snub Felt.
' President Heydler of the National
league said the men present felt that
Johnson and the others absent had
given them a "decided snub." (
The proposed plan of reorganiza
tion follows the outline made by A.
D. Lasker, stockholder of the Chicago
National league club. The chairman
of the proposed tribunal would re
ceive a salary of $25,000 a year and
the other members $10,000. The trib
unal would be - supreme and there
would be no appeal from its decisions.
The agreement would be in force for
25 years.
The resolution as adopted by the
Joint meeting of eight National league
clubs and the three American league
clubs follows:
Be It resolved:
1. That the existing national agree
ment be and the same is hereby abro
gated and denounced;
Supreme Trio Provided.
2. That the clubs of the National
league and such American league
clubs and such clubs of the national
association of professional baseball
leagues as shall now signify their ac
quiescence in or shall hereafter sign
the agreement hereinafter provided
for, hereby agree to enter a new
agreement which shall provide for: ,
a) A board of control, composed
of three men of national repute (one
of whom shall be chairman); they
shall be men of such business and
professional experience in nowise
financially Interested in baseball,
whose characters and reputations will
be such as to convince the public
that baseball of the future will be
conducted in a clean and fair man
ner. (b) That this board of control and
Its chairman shall be selected by a
majority vote of the clubs of the Na
tional league and the clubs of the
American league who shall on or be
fore November 1, 1920, have signified
their acquiescence in the plan pro
vided in these resolutions, at a meet
ing hereby called to be held in
Chicago, 111., November 8, 1920. In
the selection of the members of such
board of control the recommenda
tions of the minor leagues shall be
invited and considered.
(c) That said board of control
shall be elected for terms ending, re
spectively, December 31, 1925, 1926
and 1927 and the person selected for
the longer term shall be chairman of
the board, and appropriate provisions
shall be inserted in said agreement
for electing their successors.
Chairman's Salary 2."5,0O0.
(d) That the salary of the chair
man of the board of control shall be
aCpncluded go. Page 19, Column 3.)
j Air and Hand Brake Fail and Car
rier Dashes Down Slope to
Holladay Avenue.
Three persons were injured at
8:45 o'clock last night in a collision
between a runaway Woodlawn street
car and an Irvlngton-Jefferson street
car at Union and Holladay avenues.
A score of passengers were shaken up
and frightened badly.
The Woodlawn ear, southbound on
Union avenue, got beyond control as
it ran down the slope towards Holla
day avenue. Motorman Fall In told
Patrolman Klopfensteln, who in
vestigated, that he tried to stop the
car with the hand brake after the air
failed to work.
The Irvlngton-Jefferson car,' a one
man affair in charge of Motorman
Scouton, was westbound on Holladay
avenue. The runaway Woodlawn car
hit the front en4 of the one-man car
and-was knocked from the track. The
big Woodlawn car careened across the
pavement, went over the curb on the
southwest corner of the street, and
did not stop until the front trucks
were buried in soft dirt and the rear
trucks were against the curbing.
The injured were: John Girten, 321
Park street, chin cut, and J. E. Lynch,
404 Clay street, head lacerated, and
an unidentified negress, who said
her back was hurt. She went home
in a taxicab. The two men were
taken to St. Vincent's hospital.
The framework around the door of
the Irvington car was broken and
both cars had many broken windows.
The Woodlawn car was still on the
scene at a late hour. The Irvlngton
Jefferson car was knocked off the
track, but stopped at once.
LOGGER DIES UNDER TRAIN
Worker, Deaf, Hit While Walking
on Track to Supper.
HILLSBORO, Or., Oct. 18. (Special.)
Henry Michael, employe of the Al
gaard Lumber company .on upper
Gales creek, was instantly killed by
a Gales creek and Wilson river log
ging train at 4:55 Saturday afternoon.
He was walking on the track to the
cookhouse for supper and, being deaf,
did not hear the train. He was 50
years old and had worked for the
company 2 months. He Is believed
toJiave come from Everett, Wash.,
but nothlng,concerning his home or
relatives could be found in his be
longings. Coroner Limber brought the
body to Hillsboro and is endeavoring
to locate relatives.
ALASKA TAX LAW STANDS
Territorial Levy on Fishermen Up
held by Federal Court.
SAN FRANCISCO., Cal., Oct. 18.
A rehearing of its recent decision
upholding the right of the territorial
government of Alaska to impose a
poll tax on the crews of ships visiting
fishing waters within its confines
was denied by the United States cir
cuit court of appeals today.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 52
degrees; minimum, 42 degrees.
TODAY'S Rain; southwesterly winds.
Foreign.
All coal mines in England are shut down.
Page 2.
National.
Government statistics show employment
decreases while wages go up. Page 1.
Palmer orders probe of charge democratic
uei;stia iu uwutciuiuii ci e iunusneu 1
with 40 barrels of liquor. Page 2. I
High cost of present system of dctermln-1
Jng and collecting taxes pointed out by
Otto H. Kaha. Page 22.
Politics.
Harding replies to Wilson query regarding
spokesman from France. Page 1.
With Wilson Isolated, European envoys
have only Harding to approach. Page 3.
Democratic senate perils irrigation. Page 7.
Republican losses due to waning interest,
says Sullivan. Page 3.
Domestic
Scientific bodies organise five-year search
for missing link. Page 1.
Restaurants accused of making 339 per
cent on ham sandwiches 1UO0 on veg
etables. Page 1. "
Members of league to enforce peace de
clared to have violated United States
law. Page 1.
Pacific Northwest.
Eastern Oregon's1 eyes on Portland for
trade advantages. Page 4.
State asks hand In $1. 700.000 Clackamas
road bond case. Page 8.
Plot to restore baby to Mrs. Stagg is sus
pected. Page 6.
Mayor Percival of Vancouver, Wash., Is
missing. Page 6.
Irrigation projects bring prosperity to Red
mond district, says Chamber of Com
merce official. Page 16.
, Sports.
Columbia's puzzling attack results In Hill'i
defeat. Page 14.
Lee Anderson arrives for bout with Sam
Langfoxd. Page 14.
Beavers to testify in T.03 Angeles probe
into 1019 coast series. Page 14.
Major league clubs favor divorcing base
ball from money. Page 1.
Commercial and Marine.
Wholesale grocery prices steadily declin
ing. Page 21.
Selling for foreign account depresses stockff
at New York. Page 21.
United States board of engineers for riverf
and harbors hears Vancouver's plea fot
30-foot channel in Columbia river.
Page 22.
French shipping hit by soaring costs, says
Captain Catrou. Page 22.
Portland and Vicinity.
League' covenant would degrade American
women, says -Mrs. Robins. . Page 5.
W. L. Finley defends Malheur Lake bird
colony. Page 13.
Petition favoring rebuilding of Portland
sanitarium on ill. Tabor signed by 119.
Page 12.
Mining of iron deposits in Oregon is con
sidered. Page . t
Doctors in Selling building may move.
Page 4. -
Three .hurt, 20 shaken as car runs wild.
Page 1.
Mrs. Robins deals league hard blows.
Page 6.
Forgery charge shocks Portland smart set
Page 1.
Swan island development project Indorsed
. by head of U. 8. engineers corps. Page 4.
Body of one of mlsslrar autoista -found in
feandy river. Pae 8. .
V. H. Sternbergh Is Held
in San Francisco.
CONFESSION MADE, REPORT
Seaman's Name Signed to
Six $40 Checks, Say Police.
PORTLAND GIRL IS WIFE
Marriage in June, 1919, On of
Leading Events In Society
of City for Tear.
Van F.ensselaer H. Sternbergh,
whose marriage to a prominent Port
land girl in June, 191S, was one of the
leading social events in local so
ciety, is under arrest at San Fran
cisco, charged with forging govern
ment pay checks. News of the ar
rest, which was made Saturday by
secret service agents, was received in
Portland yesterday.
According to a report from secret
service agents Sternbergh has admit
ted the forgeries. Investigation of
similar alleged forgeries by the form
er young army officer is now being
made by federal agents.
Sternbergh, who was stationed at
Vancouver Barracks for several
months while a lieutenant in the
army intelligence bureau, has admit
ted forging the name of Thomas Jesse
Guy, a disabled seaman, on six month
ly pay checks received by Guy, ac
cording to secret service gaents.
Account Found Here. Report
Guy had his naval vocational al
lotment forwarded each month to the
office of Mr. Sternbergh at San Fran
cisco. After six of these $40 checks
had accumulated. Sternbergh Is said
to have admitted forging Guy's name
and sending the checks to a Port
land bank, where an account was
opened by him under the name of
Thomas Jesse Guy. .
Later, according to the confession,
Sternbergh withdrew this forged ac
count in the Portland bank and
opened a new account in a Seattle
bank under the name of J. M. Hodd,
and from Seattle the account was
again withdrawn and transferred
back to San Francisco, where, it is
alleged, Sternbergh finally had the
money transferred to his own account.
That he assumed the second alias of
Thomas H. Sheldon during these
fraudulent transactions is another ad
mission said to have been made by
the young man following his arrest
at San Francisco.'
41240 Admitted, Say Sleuths.
Although the amount of the con
fessed forgeries reaches but $240, it
was admitted yesterday by secret
service agents 1n Portland that ad
ditional alleged forgeries by the ex
army officer are now under investi
gation. Young Sternbergh Is the son of Mr.
and Mrs. Herbert May Sternbergh of
Reading, Pa., and Washington, D. C.
I He is a grandson of James H. Stern
bergh of New York, one of the pion
eer founders of the steel and iron in
dustry. The family is said to be
wealthy and prominent in New York
and Washington society.
Mr. Sternbergh became prominent
ly identified with the Portland so
cial set during the months he was
stationed at Vancouver Barracks. His
marriage on June 18, 1919, to Miss
Margaret Porter, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Andrew R. Porter of Irvington,
was one of the leading social events
of the 1919 summer season.
Both Mr. Sternbergh and his bride
were entertained at a round of din
ner parties, suppers and dances for
several weeks prior to their marriage,
and the wedding at Wastminister
Presbyterian church, was attended by
many society persons.
Chile Plana Chanarcd.
Following the wedding, Mr. and
Mrs. Sternbergh left for a visit to his
parents at Reading. Pa. Later they
returned to San Francisco, where he
has since been engaged in the en
gineering business. He had planned
to go to Chile as the South American
representative for an importing cor
poration, but these plans later were
changed.
Mrs. Sternbergh returned to Port
land for a visit with her parents sev
eral months ago and was widely en
tertained while here. They have one
child.
News of the young man's alleged
confession to the forgeries was a
shock to those who knew him dur
ing the months he was in Portland.
Because of his family connections he
was eagerly accepted by Portland so
ciety, and even now, in face of the '
reported confession, his Portland
frleuds .are loath to believe the ac
cusations. Sternbergh is now at lib
erty under $1000 bonds.
ITALIAN REDS REPULSED
Radicals Routed by Soldiers in
Clash Near Rome.
ROME, Oct. 18. Anarchists today
attacked the Aureliano fort, situated
a few miles from Rome.
They were repulsed by soldiers after
short exchange of ahts.