1
s -
VOL. LX XO. 18.822 Entered at P o r 1 1 a n d (Oregon)
PORTLAND, OREGON, SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1921
PRICE FIVE CENTS
PRICES OF FOOD
LUMBER RATE EAST
TO PITTSBURG CUT
PE
TAPS FOR WAR DEAD
IS CALL TO, PATRIOTS
DEATH KXEtiD OF PRO-GER-MAXISM
IS SOTJXDED.
VOTE OVERWHELMING
FOR PACKER STRIKE
' w
LAST CALL IS OUT
FOR DRAFT EVADERS
DAUBING QF TAR
BY FRATS ENDED
ALIEN AGITATORS
!
RAILROADS OPERATING WEST
OF CHICAGO REDUCE.
COCXT IX CHICAGO YARDS RE
SULTS 21,482 TO 207.
FALSELY ACCUSED PERSONS
' MAT YET ESCAPE.
FISHING
ES
DAUGHTERS OF 7G
III STATE SESSION
Americanization Work Is
Planned at Convention.
DEGL NE SHARPLY
''
' i
V
'I
V
February Shows Striking
Cost Decrease.
AVERAGE SAYING 9 PER CENT
53 Articles Taken As Basis
for National Survey.
REDUCTIONS ARE GENERAL
Hens Alone Withstand Tendency to
JLoivered Retail Quotations in
Sensational Slump.
THE OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU,
Washington, D. C March 18. Sen
sational decreases are shown in the
retail prices of food) in practically
all of the cities of the country dur
ing February in a report issued to
day by the bureau of statistics of
the department of labor. The decline
In food costs to the average family
in that month was 9 per cent.
Fifty-threp articles of food are
taken as the basis of the report and
average prices for all of the country
are arrived at which show that all of
the articles declined in price, except
hens.
During the month from January,
1911, to February, 1921, all of the
43 articles decreased in price, with
the exception of hens. The decreases
shown during the month in the prices
of other articles were as follows:
Egg Lead In Decline.
Strictly fresh eggs, 39 per cent;
storage eggs, 35 per cent; potatoes,
13 per cent; rice, 12 per cent; pork
chops, 9 percent; plate beef and sugar,
8 per cent; chuck roast, lamb, butter,
lard and prunes, 7 per cent; round
steak and fresh milk, 6 per cent; sir
loin steak, rib roast, oleomargarine,
Crisco and onions, 5 per cent; nut
margarine and corn meal, 4 per cent;
bacon, flour, rolled oats, navy beans,
cabbage, baked beans, coffee and
oranges, 3 per cent; bread, canned
corn, canned peas, canned tomatoes
and bananas, 2 per cent: canned sal
mon, evaporated milk, cheese, corn
flakes, macaroni, tea and raisins, 1
per cent. .
The prices of ham and cream of
wheat decreased less than five-tenths
of 1 per cent.
For the period from February, last
year, to February, this year, the per
centage of decrease in all articles was
21 per cent.
Bananas and canned salmon re
mained at last year's prices.
East and West Represented.
The greatest decrease in the month
from January 15 to February 15 was
11 per cent, in Buffalo and Butte.
Los Angeles, Portland, Or., Salt
Lake City and San Franc'sco showed
decreases of 6 per cent and Seattle
4 per cent.
For the year period from February
15, last year, to February, this year,
all of the El cities showed decreases.
The greatest for this period was 26
per cent in Memphis and Minneapolis.
In Seattle the decrease was 24 per
cent, in Portland and Salt Lake City,
21 per cent. San Francisco 18 per cent,
and Los Angeles, 17 per cent.
Food cost levels, however, still re
mained in February, 1921, far above
the prices in 1913, increases for that
period ranging upward from 43 per
cent in Louisville and Salt Lake City
to 60 per cent in New York and 71
per cent In Richmond, Va.
Other increases in the eight-year
period were: Portland, Or., 44 per
cent; Denver, 45 per cent; Seattle, 46
per cent; Los Angeles, 48 per cent,
and San Francisco 53 per cent.
I'OOD EMBARGO CONSIDERED
President and Cabinet Take Vp
Problem of Protection,
THE OREGOXIAN NEWS BUREAU,
Washington. D. C. March 18. Full
and complete consideration by the
president and his cabinet today of the
agricultural conditions of the country
served to emphasize the importance
which the food-producing industries
of the nation have attained.
The considerations included the
possible application of the import
embargo to preserve for American
farmers the advantage of their do
mestic markets and as a means of
saving the country from future vexa
tion of profiteers and Involved the
questions of taxation and tariff leg
islation. No decision has been reached on
ny of these subjects, and the very
uncertainty existing indicated the
earnest thought which is being given
in Washington to the agricultural
industry of the west and middle
vest.
In his atatement to the newspaper
men following the cabinet conference
today. President Harding acknowl
edged that the administration is con
sidering an embargo, and presented
a situation which is more threaten
ing and alarming than had been sup
posed. The agricultural Interests of the
country are not only facing ruinous
competition from- abroad, but the con
sumer is likely to be caught between
the upper and the nether millstones
by. the profiteers who are rushing
Immense quantities of wool, frozen
t Concluded on Fast 2. Column 8.)
I
Drop, However, Does Xot Apply to
Seaboard Territory Beyond
Pittsburg; Business Aid Seen.
THE OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU,
Washington, D. C, March 18. The!
railroads operating west of Chicago
have voluntarily reduced the rates on
lumber from the Pacific coast as far
east as Pittsburg. The reduction
amounts to about 82 a thousand feet
and it is thought will aid materially
to broaden the buying markets of the
consumers affected. This reduction
does not apply to the seaboard terri
tory east of Pittsburg because the
eastern lines have refused to concur
in any reductions on the long-haul
rates.
At present the price of No. 1 com
mon fir lumber at the mill on the
Pacific coast is approximately 315 a
thousand. The freight charges to
New York city at a rate of 31.06 a
hundred equal approximately 328.75
a thousand feet, or about 190 per cent
of the mill price. For every dollar
that the consumer in New York pays
for lumber approximately 66 cents
represents freight charges. The west
ern lines have recognized the inequal
ity in this relationship between the
mill price and the transportation
charge for the product.
Probably no greater housing short
age exists than In the city of New
York and other urban centers along
the Atlantic coast.
HEROIC GIRL SAVES LIFE
Flaming Clothes or Young Child
Are Torn From Body.
ALBANY, Or., March 18. (Special.)
Nora Humphreys, Albany high
school girl, saved the life of her
2-year-old sister Agnes last night
when, with her bare hands, she tore
off the flaming clothes which en
veloped the child. The little girl's
clothes caught fire from the kitchen
stove when she was alone. Her
clothes were in flames when the older
girl, summoned by her screams,
reached the kitohen, but they were
torn off so quickly that the child was
not burned seriously. The girls are
daughters of John A. Humphreys ot
the Albany postoffice and are nieces
of Lester W. Humphreys, United
States district attorney for Oregon.
NEW SCHOOLS FAVORED
State Superintendent Churchill
Will Advocate Kindergartens.
SALEM, Or., March 18. (Special.)
J. A. Churchill, state superintendent
of public instruction, returned here
today from Atlantic City, where he
attended a meeting of the department
of superintendents of the National
Education association.
On his way home Mr. Churchill
passed a few days In Milwaukee, Chi
cago and Detroit, where he visited
part-time schools and kindergartens.
Mr. Churchill said that he was very
favorably Impressed with the kinder
gartens operated in the eastern cities
and probably would urge their es
tablishment in the public schools of
Oregon at a future time.
PETITION IS WRITTEN
Sample of Recall Document Given
Secretary of State.
SALEM, Or. March 18. (Special.)
The so-called public service com
mission recall committee, through W.
E. Richardson, secretary, has sub
mitted to the secretary of state a
sample petition, which it will be
necessary to circulate throughout the
Btate before actual proposal for re
call of the commissioners can be
placed on the ballot.
Under the existing laws It -will re
quire 20,000 signatures of qualified
voters before the question of recall
ing the public service body can be
referred.
GAS CAUSED STAMPEDE
Discovery of Flow in Sasketcliewan
Starts Rush Toward Field.
THE PAS, Man., March 18. The re
ported discovery of a flow of gas in
the foothills near the Pasqua river,
Saskatchewan, 100 miles west of The
Pas, has resulted in a miniature
stampede to that district.
A dozen small syndicates have been
formed and large blocks of land
taken up.
The district is not easy of access.
and is little known. Indians visit it
with superstitious discretion, al
though for many years they have
gathered tar there for use in cement
ing their birch bark canoes.
RUSSO-POLE PACT SIGNED
Riga Dispatch Says Treaty Will
Be Ratified in' 30 Days.
LONDON. March 18. The Russo
Polish treaty was signed at 9:30
o'clock tonight, said a dispatch to the
London Times from Riga.
The dispatch added that the treaty
would be ratified at Minsk within 30
days.
COAL CUT TO $13 A TON
Reduction by Two Dealers at Van
couver, B. C, Announced. '
VANCOUVER., B. C. March 18
Two coal dealers here today an
nounced a cut of S3 a ton on coal, ef
fective immediately.
The best grade is now selling at 113.
Great Patriotic Demon
stration Is Held.
POLICY DICTATION RESENTED
Foreign Standards Declared
Not Wanted Here.
PROPAGANDA IS RAPPED
General Says America Is Xo Place
for Equal Citizenship Claimants "
With Allegiance Elsewhere.
NEW YORK. March IS. Ceneral
John J. Pershing, speaking before a
crewd which packed Madison Square
Garden tonight at one of the greatest
patriotic demonstrations here since
the signing of the armistice, bitterly
denounced persons of foreign birth
who seek the freedom of this coun
try to spread "political and warlike
propaganda" to weaken the ties of
friendship established between the
United States and its allies in the
war.
The meeting was held under the
auspices of the American Legion and
other patriotic societies as a protest
against the recent mass meeting ar
ranged to voice objection to the pres
ence of French colonial troops in oc
cupied Germany described as the
"horror of the Rhine."
Colonel Frank Galbraith Jr., na
tional commander of the American
Legion, presided.
Dictator Are Assailed.
General Pershing, paying tribute to
foreign-born citizens who served un
der him in the Philippines, Mexico
and France, declared it was entirely
proper that foreigners should cling
to the folklore, literature and music
of the native land, but he assailed
those who seek to dictate American
questions and political policies by
the standards of their own countries.
"We have no quarrel, with the
American of foreign birth," he said.
"We want them to know that Amer
ica is an Inspiration. But we do ob
ject to the foreign-born citizen who
attempts to decide an American ques
tion for a foreign reason, whether
he be of German lineage and proposes
to determine an American policy be
cause of German prejudice, or whether
he be Irlshi Italian, Hungarian or
Russian, who seeks for similar rea
sons to decide American questions.
Citizenship Abase Resented.
"I bitterly resent the abuse of
American citizenship or residence for
the purpose of political or warlike
propaganda in foreign countries.
"In America there can be no place
(Concluded on Page 3. Column.
Throng in-Madison Square Sobs
at Tribute to Heroes and
- Cheers loyalty Pleas.
NEW YORK, March 18. (Special.)
.- bugler standing on the flag
swathed speaker's stalrd of Madison
Square Garden sounded "taps" to
night while 14,000 men and women
stood reverently at attention.
In the center of the main floor 600
Gold Star mothers stood with them,
their heads high in the beginning, but
bowed in their hands and bathed in
tears as the poignant notes came to
a close. The silence ended in a sob
that filled the auditorium.
A moment later came the call:
"On this solemn night, filled with
the inspiration born of the memories
of gallant men, we have come to
pledge ourselves that this nation
shall yet become a land of one tongue,
one ideal, one flag."
The answer was a passionate out
burst of cheering and a frantic
waving of flags and the ail-American
meeting of the American Legion and
a coalition of patriotic societies was
under way. Not again during the eve
ning could it be called all-American,"
it was' anti-German and nothing else.
The garden was filled to the ca
pacity allowed by the authorities
three-quarters of an hour before the
meeting was called to order at 8:15.
Ten thousand who sought but were
denied admission thronged Madison
square, perhaps one-half of them re
maining for open-air meetings that
were held at three stands along Mad
ison and Fifth avenues. No period
of the war saw such emotion as
marked the meetings inside and out.
Long before the meeting had begun
the temper of the crowds had mani
fested itself. Bands played in every
corner of the garden. Post after post
of the legion had marched in; veter
ans of the civil War from north and
south alike, veterans of the Spanish
war and veterans of still other mili
tary adventures of the United States
had been cheered as they arrived;
the gold star mothers and their escort
of D. S. C. men had been given an
especial greeting; nurses and yeomen
had been hailed.
Then, just beneath the speaker's
stand came an ironical call for three
cheers -for Mayor Hylan, who had
been asked to forbid the "Horror on
the Rhine" meeting, but had found
that he could not. His name was
hissed roundly and attention was
drawn to the fact that no representa
tive of the -city administration 'Was
present. The anti-German mood had
taken form, and from that moment
on it was varied only as there came
an occasional protest against the
Sinn Fein.
This, indeed brought on the one dis
turbance of the evening. At the over
flow meeting at Fifth avenue and
Twenty-fifth street, three earnest up
holders of the Irish cause were taken
away by the police.
Robert Grier Cooks, chairman of the
committee on arrangements, called
the meeting to order at the precise
moment set. Dr. Ernest M. Stires,
rector of St. Thomas', read an open
ing prayer that sounded the prevail
ing1 note of "one flag, one country, one
(Concluded on Page 3, Column 4.)
AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HIT THE BIG
H (
Returns From Seven Other Cities
Also Are Received; Ballot Is
Worded to Permit Settlement.
CHICAGO, March 18. ,By a vote of
21.482 to 207 union workers in Chi
cago packing plants went on record
today in favor of a strike if they are
"unable to induce the . packers to
maintain the eight-hour work day."
Telegraphic reports at union head
quarters were said to indicate similar
strike majorities in other packing
house centers throughout the country.
Some of the returns were:
St. Paul For 2183, against 115.
Oklahoma City, Okla. For 996,
against 5. ' '
Austin, Minn. For 624, against 10.
Albert Lea, Minn. For 837, against 3.
Cedar Rapids, la. For 800, against 1.
. St. Louis. Mo. For 1479, against 17.
Milwaukee For 859. against 29.
: Official returns had not been re
ceived from Omaha, Neb.; East St.
Louis, 111.; Kansas City or St. Joseph,
Mo., but Incomplete returns showed a
majority for a strike, Secretary Lane
said.
The exact wording of the ballots on
wJiich the men voted'follows:
"Do you favor and authorize a
strike in the event that the govern
ment or our organization is unable to
induce the packers to maintain the
eight-hour work day and compliance
with the agreement entered into with
the United States department of
labor?"
The agreement referred to was a
war-time ruling which submitted all
wage and hour disputes between the
packers and their employes to a fed
eral arbitrator. Judge Samuel Al
schuler having occupied the position
during the war period. The packers
withdrew from the agreement on Feb
ruary 26 on the ground that the war
was over. The agreement specified
that it was to remain In force until
one year after the end of the war.
The unions claim that the war has not
officially ended.
After withdrawing from the agree
ment, the packers announced wage
reductions of from 12 to 15 per cent
and changed the work day from eight
hours to ten hours before overtime
was paid. They also announced plans
by which the workers would par
ticipate in the control of plant affa.irs.
Armour & Co. having held an election
this week at which their $.en elected
representatives to an "industrial de
mocracy." The plan was assailed by
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation ot Labor, and
union leaders as an effort tp divert
attention from an attack designed to
destroy the unions. This was denied
by the packers.
The present strike ballot, if was
said by union leaders, is worded in
such a way as to make it possible for
the strike to be averted at the packer
labor conference called by Secretary
of Labor Davis to meet In Washing
ton on Monday. The union leaders
take the position that if the packers
refuse either to restore the former
wage scale and hours or to submit
the whole disagreement to the fed
eral arbitrator, the officials of the
unions will be forced to order a walk
out. FELLOWS,
i In
i
SCHOOL FLAG DAY WANTED
Welcome for Naturalized Is
Declared State Duty.
MRS. DUNIWAY HONORED
Gathering Stands In Silent Tribute
to Mother of Suffrage When
Her Picture Appears.
BY DOROTHY DUNIWAY.
SALEM, Or., March 18. (Special.)
Two hundred women from all parts
of the state; representing 18 chap
ters, gathered this morning in the
house of representatives for the
eighth annual state conference ot the
Daughters of the American Revolu
tion of Oregon. Of this number, 66
are official delegates. Huge Ameri
can flags, many potted plants and
flowers and sprays of greenery made
the hall festive.
"Americanization and Oregonization
should be the slogans tor the coming
year." declared Mrs. John A. Keating
of Portland, state regent, who pre
sided. "Historical investigations of
the organization of chapters and of
the early records of our state are of
value both to our local and national
association. Data on historical spots
in Oregon are invaluable."
Flag Day Is Proposed.
The need for setting aside one day
in the public schools for giving pro
grammes describing the use and for
bidden uses of the flag waa explained
by Mrs. Keating. She will present a
resolution tomorrow embodying this
idea. The Importance of welcoming
the naturalized man and woman will
be the text of another resolution to be
presented. t
Historical research relating to Ore
gon was discussed by Mrs. R. F. Wal
ters, state historian, who presented
the war records of sons of .members
of the D. A. It., who lost their lives In
the great war. Service flags of the
various chapters were turned over to
the state archives.
"We wish to place these flags In
the archives as a tribute to the moth
ers as well as to the sons," stated
Mrs. Walters.
Mrs. Dunlway'a Picture Shows.
Formal announcement was made
that Abigail Scott Duniway, who was
known as the "mother of equal suf
frage in the northwest," had been
chosen as Oregon's most famous his
torical woman by the Oregon Daugh
ters of the American Revolution. Her
picture was placed on the regent's
desk while the members of the asso
ciation stood in silent tribute. Mrs.
Dunlway's name will be placed in the
hall, of fame of the national associa
tion at its convention next month.
Mrs. Isaac Lee Patterson of this
city, vice-president general of the
national association, in speaking on
"Patriotism In Peace," referred to the
anti-Asiatic land law bill which was
defeated in the Oregon senate at the
last legislative session. She declared
that the bill was thoroughly Ameri
can in its intention and it should
have passed.
As a result of one of her sugges
tions, made informally, the seal of
Oregon on the floor of the state
house, may hereafter be protected so
that no one will step upon It. The
convention will decide tomorrow
whether to place a rail about the seaL
Governor Speaks of Relics.
Governor Clcott gave an address on
"Historic Relics of Oregon," illustrat
ing his talk with original documents
of the early history of the Oregon
cquntry. He reviewed the days of
Joe Meek, the scene at Champoeg and
presented for inspection the original
constitution of Oregon when admitted
to the union.
Among the honor guests at the con
vention is Mrs. William D. Field of
Boston. Mass., state chairman of the
committee on the correct use of the
flag. She brought greetings from
Massachusetts and spoke at the
luncheon given today in honor of the
visitors by patriotic women's asso
ciations of Salem.
The chapters acting as hostess of
the convention are Chemekta of Salem
and Sarah Childress Polk of Dallas.
Messages were tendered this morn
ing by Mrs. Henry McCleary, vice
president - general; Mrs. Elizabeth
Ferry Leary, ex-vlce-presldent-gen-eral.
and Mrs. George H. Goble, state
regent, all from Washington.
Reports of Work Hade.
Reports of work accomplished dur
ing the past year were made by the
following officers and chairmen of
committees: Mrs. Edwin T. Hitchcock,
state corresponding secretary; Miss
Edith E. Benedict, state recording sec
retary; Miss Annie M. Lang, state
treasurer; Miss Mary Perkins, state
consulting registrar; Mrs. C. C. Clark,
programmes; Mrs. Homer Gouley,
badges; Mrs. K. B. Cartlidge, endow
ment; Mrs. Robert S. Farrell, legis
lative; Mrs. U. G. Smith, special serv
ice, and Mrs. William Evans, maga
zine. No election of officers "will be held
this year, since state officers, serve
for two years.
Adjutant-General Asks That Full
Tacts Be Sent Him by Those
Wrongly Classified.
WASHINGTON, March 18. A last
opportunity for selective service law
evaders to escape broadcast publica
tion of their names as deserters dur
ing the world war was given today
by Adjutant-General Harris of the
army.
Persons who have reason to believe
that they will be charged with evad
ing the draft but who did not actu
ally do so, the adjutant-general an
nounced, may escape the odium of
being publicly branded as a deserter
unjustly by communicating all the
facts of the case to him without delay.
The fitval check of the lists Is being
completed by former members of the
local draft boards. By the end of the
month the war department expects to
begin making the lists public through
the newspapers and by furnishing
copies to city, state and federal po
lice, detective agencies, the American
Legion and other patriotic societies.
In addition. Secretary Weeks will ask
congress to provide funds to enable
payment of a reward of $50 to any
person who delivers to thu military
authorities a deserter from the draft.
The department's list of draft evad
ers, which as originally reported to
the provost marshal-general num
bered nearly 490,000 names, has been
reduced to approximately 150.000
names. The final lists by dratt dis
tricts are now being tabulated by the
adjutant-general's office.
COURT QUITS LEGAL FIGHT
Tax Collection Is Ordered In Ac
cordance With Injunction.
KLAMATH FALLS, Or., March 18.
(Special.) The Klamath county court
admitted legal defeat today in the
courthouse dispute when it Issued an
order for the collection of taxes in
accordance with an Injunction order
of Judge Calkins prohibiting the col
lection of 550,000 for the Hot Springs
courthouse construction and $14,000
for miscellaneous expenses. The mis
cellaneous fund was understood to
have been Intended to pay attorney
fees in the courthouse litigation.
While abandoning Intention of fur
ther litigation, the county court does
not Intend to quit the fight for the
Hot Springs 'courthouse. The $50,000
construction fund will be submitted
at the June election in the form of a.
bond issue, it was said. At the same
time the recall of Circuit Judge Kuy
kendall and County Clerk Delap is
contemplated.
DEFENSE ENTENTE FORMS
Poland, Roumania and Czecho
slovakia in Agreement.
PARIS. March 18. (By the Asso
ciated Press.) An entente for com
mon defense has been reached be
tween Poland, Roumania and Czecho
slovakia, it was learned in diplomatic
circles here today.
Through the good offices of Rou
mania a better understanding has
been brought about between Czecho
slovakia and Poland, facilitating the
tripartite agreement which has prin
cipally In view defense of the three
countries against eventual attacks by
the bolsheviki.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperatu-
61 degrees; minimum. 44 degrees.
TODAY'S Clearing-; southwesterly wind.
Foreign.
Allies extend zone of occupation. Paso .
National.
Rail labor opens battle on wage agree
ment. Page 2.
Lumber rate as far east as Pittsburg 1
reduced. Page 1.
Domestic.
Packing labor' vote i overwhelmingly
for strike. Page 1.
Food price show heavy decline during
February. Page 1.
Other charge against Clara Hamon rest.
Page 8.
General Penning score alien agitators.
Pag 1.
Tap tor war dead Is call to patriots.
Page 1.
Adjutant-general gives last opportunity for
those wrongly accused of evading draft
to escape publicity. Page 1.
Pacific Northwest.
State to advance fund for Douglas county.
Page 3.
Columbia river 1 dragged for body of
Cashier Stewart of Kelso State bank
without result. Page 8. ,
Daughters of American Revolution open
state meeting at Salem. Page 1.
Fisheries board named In Washington.
Page 6.
Sport.
Columbia university' 17th annual Indoor
track meet today. Page 10.
Beaver boot and Ivory pave way to da
teat. Page 10.
Earl France and Jimmy Duffy head ox
Ing card at Hellig next Thursday.
Page 10.
College pitcher accused of pitching for
Portland Beaver. Page 10.
Commercial and Marine.
Pacific coast hop grower demand higher
tariff on import from Germany.
Page 19.
Industrial conditions are bearish factor in
Chicago wheat market. Page 19.
Specialtlea are firmest stock in New York
market. Page 18.
Two steamers chartered to load wheat and
flour for Europe. Page 12.
Portland and Vicinity.
Attorneys for Btate and Multnomah county
argue for possession of lntersta'o
bridge. Page 11.
Morris' creditor plan to form new bond
house. Page 7.
Chicago lumberman give optimistic ad
. vice In luncheon talk to Oregon manu
facturers. Page 19.
Fresh vegetables on local market. Page 13.
Railroad crane' crash from trestle in
Portland injure live men. .rage 4.
Edict of school board strike terror and
.pells disruption to nign scnooi xa
ternltle. Page 1.
Auto In dealers' stock face taxation.
Page 9.
Portland aervice league pledge co-operation
to procure community cheat fund.
Pag 4.
Wallace Reid, screen star, visit Portland
in neraon. Paae 4.
' Chicago aldermen praise Portland. Pag 8t
Sigma, Kappa, Delta and
Gek Humbled.
HIGH SCHOOL SET DISRUPTED
Midnight Rites in Abandoned
Barns Are Related.
NEIGHBORS TELL SCANDAL
Three School Directors Announce
Firmly Secret Societies Will
Xot Be Tolerated.
BY BEX HXJR LAMPMAX.
Evil days have come upon the
"Geeks" of the high school. Tou
pronounce It that way because the
"e" is long. Likewise the councils of
the Eta Bita PI are disrupted. And
as for the several varieties of Gamma,
those places that have known them
ruined barns and lonely byways
shall never know them more. In the
vernacular of the high school youth,
beyond the spartan rule of the Eng
lish instructor, "the stuff is off."
By the fiat of the school board, di
rectors of Portland school district No.
1. high school fraternities are under
the ban. Tht announcement that they
must surrender their charters, or
whatever is done when a Greek letter
society gives its last gasp, carried
consternation to city high schools
yesterday. And the bard, armed
with authority to suspend the rebel
lious. Is intently observing the effect
of Its decree.
Number Wrapped in Myatery.
Not even Superintendent Grout,
with the reports of scores of prin
cipals and teachers before him re
specting the activities of the "frats,"
knows precisely how many such se
cret organizations hate pranked
through the even tenof high school
days in Portland. Ten or a dozen, at
the very least. But. from the prob
ability lifts the assured knowledge
of five fraternities, the more popular
of the clans. They are the Gamma
Eta Kappa, briefly known as the
"Geks" with a long "e" the Pi
Delta Kappa, the Sigma Gamma, the
Beta Phi Sigma and the Phi Alpha
Mu Sigma. They constitute not only
a formidable assault on the Greek al
phabet, but, what disturbs the di
rectors more, a disquieting influence
In local schools.
By Jenne road, between south
Mount Tabor and Gresham, stands a
haggard old barn of the Penrod pen
chant. But it has resounded to revels,
say the neighborhood families, that
Booth Tarkington never dreamed "of
In his most felicitous moments. Two
Saturdays ago, and again the follow
ing week, contingents of "frat men."
seriously intent upon their duties,
conveyed thither certain candidates
for initiation, and gave the wishful
ones such welcome as would have
tweaked the envy of the inquisition.
Wide-Eyed Boya Watch.
The story of the fantastic doings on
Jenne road drifted into Superintend
ent Grout's office when the directorial
decree became public. A citizen and
taxpayer, and a discomfited father, to
boot, narrated the initiation cere
monials as they appeared to his two
small sons who watched pop-eyed
through crevices in the crazy old
temple of fratdom. '
"Both times they brought five boys
with them as candidates," related the
Jenne road resident. "The ceremony
was the same each Saturday. A great
deal of hocus-pocus that drifted over
the heads of my little fellows went on
before the Initiatory degree was con
ferred. But this consisted of strip
ping the candidates, rubbing their
bare bodies with what appeared to be
a dark brown oil, and then applying
tar. After this the candidates were
rolled In straw.
"You might think that they were
thoroughly initiated but more fol
lowed. Liniment, of a very powerful
biand, was then applied until the vic
tims danced and howled. My wife
and I were indignant, but what could
we do? W'e called the police the sec
ond time the boys came, and were
told that they were without authority
to stop such goings-on."
Tar Essential to Rite.
Publicity to the board's decision
brought still another report of a
"frat" initiation. In a letter received
yesterday by Superintendent Grout
trom an ex-employe of the district. In
this instance the candidate, naked
and daubed with tar, had been left to
his own devices by his newly-acqu'red
"brothers," and had called for pater
nal aid. Though the degree of fra
ternal manhood was his, it proved
convenient to have a dad in the offing
and a resourceful mother waiting at
the back door.
"I am glad to learn from The Ore
gonlan today that frats are not to be
allowed In the Portland .schools," ran
the letter. "Just the other day a
Portland father told me how his boy
avn nut In the stockvards and
rhis body covered with tar. He got h's
dad on the phone, and the latter came
after him. They happened to have a
lot of turpentine in, the house, and
they went to work to remove the tar.
Most of it was removed by the next
morning. Fine doings."
Secret organization is said to be
Concluded on l'age 3, Culuinn 1.)