64 Pages I fflTfW tSlllflHtfTl
Pages 1 to 12
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
PORTLAND, OREGON, SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER
1908.
VOL. XXVII. NO. 50.
irrniMP DDAWTC I
ADE HEART WHOLE
THIEVES REPENT;
NATION'S GREAT
YYC.UUIMU rauuLO
PLOT TO GET COIN
AND FANCY FREE
WILL JOIN CHURCH
AFFAIRS OF CANAL
13,
TAFT PLANS TRIP
TO PANAMA CANAL
ASKSfNDUmYINTQ
TEN wORKMENAHE
KILLED BY BLAST
Explosion on Canal at
Bar Obtepo.
TARGET OF JESTS
STEAL LAMP GLOBES; RETURN
PLUNDER TO PASTOR.
IXDIAXA HUMORIST DENIES EN
GAGEMENT TO ELSIE J AXIS.
WIDOW WEDS RICH MAN, THEX
SUES IX) n ALIMOXY.
Gridiron Club Grills
Statesman.
ROOSEVELT'S HUNT DEPICTED
Words at Dollar Each With
Auditor to Count.
TAFT'S WOE WITH CABINET
I'.ockefeller's $29,000,000 Fine
Subject of Skit Rollcall of Men
Who Fell In the Eleetoral
Battle of 1908.
WASHINGTON. Dec 1!. (Special.)
With the great men of the' world a
targets for Jests and many of the fore
tnost In official and business circles of
.America as guests. ,the Gridiron Club
tonight held Its annual feast of hi
larity. Its Fall dinner, at the New Wil
lard. Rollicking songs and good-natured
Jokes were the rule and the fact
that an outgoing President and an In
coming one were present, furnished
Unusual material for the funmakers.
Only four survivors of the great po
litical battle of, 1908 were found to
respond to rollcall. the sad fates of
the others being announced as their
tiames were read.
Roosevelt Hunts and Writes.
President Roosevelt, enjoying his
fiuntlng trip and grinding out sensa
tional accounts of his prowess, was de
picted, and the way he plied up the
Trords while the auditor kept score of
the dollars they meant, was enjoyed by
the executive himself.
The woes of President-elect Taft In
electing a Cabinet were the object of
sincere sympathy from .the club mem
bers, they even producing a nice little
cet of verses suggesting how those am
bitious to sit about the" Cabinet table
can win the honor. .
The late lamented oil line and. John D.
Rockefeller were not forgotten; In fact,
the nurse worked off a few lines of
rhyme anent the missing millions.
How to run an empire was explained
in Interviews with those who know, or
ought to know, or want to know. Those
rulers" views were dished up gridiron
style and they told their needs in de
tail that would put a "want ad" to
shame.
A steam roller in miniature served
as a souvenir. It was made of bronze
with T-A-F-T on the obverse and the
Gridiron emblem on the reverse side.
None enjoyed the fun more than those
who were the subjects of caricature and
Jest, the President, his successor and
all the others having hearty laughs at
their own expense.
The Ananias Club, the big stick,
walking tests. tennis court, golf
course, the "frazzle" and other timely
topics were brought in where needed
noit
Song on Taft's Cabinet.
Early in the dinner the quartet sang
Its Taft song. Here Is the first verse
and the chorus, to the tune of "Tip,
My Caddy. I Say":
One nlcht last November, as we well re
member. Republican!! sat up and lauched.
ffheir campaign perfected. :hey all had
elected
A bis. brainy fellow named T't;
jjjtnd now we are busy, alt asking who Is he
(selecting tor his Cabinet?
IfcVe hate to confess It. we really can't
guess It.
go what Is the answer we ret?
CHORUS.
,Tlp! My Caddy, 'I say. I say
lip! My Caddy. I say!
Who will be In the Cabinet?
Taft can tell, but he will not Just yet.
Tip! My Caddy. I say. I say.
Wen all of us colters today:
Jf we want to batons, we must sing him this
song:
trip! My Caddy! Hooray I
There was a "stunt" by the members
pt the music committee, who, attired In
(Concluded en Pairs J.)
A Grovrtasr Reerd.
I '3 ' '" ills
Aged Husband Dying as Salt Is
Filed Demand for $5000
Settled for $C00.
EELL1.VGHAM, Wash.. Dec. 12.-(Spe-clal.)
In order that she might, after a
few yearsvpf married life, sue her hus
band for divorce and secure J5000 ali
mony, Mrs. Nancy Moses, a pretty young
widow, was wedded to Asa Long, a
wealthy octogeparlan of Ferndale. In
this county. Her relatives brought the
marriage about, and the success of the
plan was onjy prevented by Long's,
death, as the summons In the divorce
suit were filed on him when he was suf
fering his last illness.
Tills is the statement made today by A.
P. Long, son of the deceased, who has
Just settled out of court for $200 a suit
for a JoOOO share in the Long estate, filed
by the widow after the death of her aged
husband. The will contest case has been
dismissed on, motion of the plaintiff.
A. P. Long, one of the defendant in
the case, states that Mrs. Long, the
widow, wished to get the same amount
out of the JW.OOO estate that she would
have secured had the divorce been
granted her and the alimony she asked
awarded. He aays ehe came down first
to SIX"), then to VX and finally to 1200.
the sum for which the suit nas finally
compromised. Long claims to have proof
of the conspiracy on the part of his
stepmother and her relatives.
ASHORE, CREW ON BOARD
Freight Steamer Strands in Fog and
Storm Prevents Relief.
NEW YORK. Dec. 12. With her crew
of 25 still aboard, despite an Increasing
ly rough sea. the little German freight
steamer Harburg remained hard and fast
tonight In the sand near the Heliport
life-saving station on Long Island, where
she went ashore during a dense fog
early today.
Some of her cargo has been thrown
overboard to make it easier for the tugs
to float here, but on account of the
rough weather it was thought no attempt
would be made to get her off until to
morrow. Captain Surh has declined the assist
ance, of the, life-saving crew in the belief
that his men are in no danger.
BURTON TO OPEN CAMPAIGN
Going to Ohio to Fight for Foraker's
Toga.
WASHINGTON. Dee. 12. Representa
tive Theodore A. Burton Intends to go
to Ohio early next week to take per
sonal chargo of his campaign to suc
ceed Senator Foraker. He conferred
with President-elect Taft this after
noon, but would not discuss the con
ference. Rescued in Xlck of Time.
TOLEDO. O.. Dee. 12. After 24 hours'
battle with ice, IS miles out in Lake Krie.
Captain Tom Hageny. his wife and two
men abandoned the barge diaries Wall,
and were rescued late yesterday by the
tug Sheboygan, Captain Nathan Sullivan
in charge.
Because of the danger from heavy Ice,
tho barge Charles Wall was abandoned
by the tug Nelson, which proceeded to
Detroit and telegraphed Toledo for larger
tugs o go to tiie rescue. When the She
boygan reached the barge, after many
hours' struggle with the Ice, the bow of
the barge was nearly cut through by
the ice, and those on board had given up
hope of reaching land alive.
Officers of Gridiron Clnb.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 12. At the annual
election of officers of the Gridiron Club
here today, Henry Hall, of the Pittsburg
Chronicle-Telegraph, was chosen presi
dent; Scott Bone, or the Washington
Herald, vice-president; John 9. Shriver,
of the Baltimore American-Star, secre
tary, and Louis Gartbe, of the Baltimore
American, treasurer.
Getting Ready for Hunt.
NEW HAVEN. Conn.. Dec. 12. Ammu
nition to be used by President Roosevelt
on his African trip has been prepared
here and forwarded to Washington, to
gether with the weapons which the Presi
dent will use and which were sent here
to be examined by experts. The ball
cartridges are In varying weights, the
largest being deemed of the right caliber
to bring down a pachyderm.
HARRY MURPHY'S HUMOROUS PENCIL
Not Such a Mock.
Roosevelt Takes Scor
ing Much to Heart.
MAKES REQUEST OF CANNON
Informed of Action on Secret
Service Law.
MAY BE OPEN HOSTILITIES
House Committee Will Report on
"Insult" Contained in Message
Tills Week Raincy Moves
for Canal Inquiry.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 12. (Special.)
President Roosevelt has thus far main
tained a discreet silence as to what
action he will take if Congress shall re
move from Its records that part of his
recent message relating to the Secret
Service, which has been held by the Con
gressional leaders to reflect upon the
dignity of that body. It Is the Intention
of the House committee appointed to de
termine what the House shall do in the
matter to continue Its sessions with suffi
cient frequency to bring Its report be
fore Congress next week. The members
of that committee will not In the mean
time visit the White House unless sum
moned by the President. .
Wants 'Canal Investigated.
Before the House took action yester
day Speaker Cannon visited the White
House, on whose initiative has not been
made clear. It is reported that he in
formed the President of the contemplated
action of the House and was In turn
asked by the President to bring about an
early Investigation of the sale of the
Panama Canal to the United States. The
President has taken the Panama allega
tions In the press -of the country much
to heart and Is disposed to force that
issue te-oentfusibn.
At present the House committee on
rules has in Its hands a resolution offered
by Representative H. T. Ralney, of Illi
nois, calling for such an Investigation,
but has shown no disposition to act upon
it. Next week the Ralney resolution be
comes privileged and speeches can be
made Upon It.
May Investigate Anyhow.
Mr. Ralney has asked to see the Pana
ma, documents in the archives of the
Government and will pass the holidays
In considering them. It Is not believed he
will be ready to discuss his resolution
before January. Unless the President
insists upon an Investigation at once, the
House leaders are disposed -to let Mr.
Rainey make out his prima facie case
before deciding whether there is really
anything to be Investigated.
Hostilities Are Possible.
Both the action of the House on the
message and the Panama Investigation
present acute situations as between the
executive and Congress, which may at
any time precipitate hostilities of an un
fortunate character. On the 6ther hand,
the personnel of the House committee on
the message Is believed to assure at least
a highly dignified procedure, whatever
the House' may undertake to do.
Cruiser Montana in Drydoek.
NORFOLK, Va.. Dec. 12. The United
States armored cruiser Montana was
today placed in the stone drydoek at
the Norfolk Navy-Yard, for attention
below her waterline, including clean
ing and repainting and adjustment of
her sea valves. While In the dock a
new set of ; propellers, with a slightly
different pitch, will be put on the
cruiser.
Will Sign Treaty With France.
PARIS, Dec. 12. The exchange of sig
natures to ' the new Franco-American
treaty of extradition will take place In
Paris in a few days. This treaty is sub
stantially Identical with the one negoti
ated In 1892. the modifications of which
by the American Senate, however, "rance
then declined to accept. The existing
differences now have been compromised.
Santa Clausj of the Imaginative
Pant and
Calls Rumor "a Joke, a Chestnut,'
and Leaves Chicago on Trip
Around World.
( CHICAGO, Dec. 12. (Special.) George
Ade left Chicago this afteroon for a trip
around the world, a bachelor and heart
free, and not as the finance of Miss Elsie
Janis, despite a double-barrelled rumor
to the contrary. A farewell luncheon,
given by Miss Janis' mother to Mr. Ade
and Ort Wells, who is to be his traveling
partner in the globe-circling trip, was
frowned upon by the graduate of Purdue
as indicating no more than a friendly
relationship between himself and Miss
Janis.
"It's a joke, of course," he said, "but
it's no joke with me. It's a chestnut.
They have had me engaged to Miss Tag
gart. Tom Taggart's daughter, of In
dianapolis, to a young woman down in
"Richmond, Ind., and to half a dozen
others.
"Now, personally, I would not mind it,
but rumors of that sort place the young
women whose names are mentioned in a
false light, and causes no little amount
of inconvenience to their families, and
what, is worst of all, my people down
home don't understand that they are
simply newspaper stories without the
slightest foundation."
SMITH AWAITING LETTER
Believes President About Ready to
Write New Missive.
NEW YORK, Dec. 12. Delavan Smith,
proprietor and editor of the Indianapolis
News, whose attitude on the Panama
Canal charge was denounced by Presi
dent Roosevelt in a recent letter, did not
sail for Havana on the steamer Saratoga
this afternoon, as he came to New York
to do. He said he expected the Presi
dent to Issue shortly another letter In the
controversy and he wanted to be on the
ground when It comes out.
"I knew that last letter was coming
several weeks before It was given out,"
said Mr. Smith, "but I don't know for a
certainty, of course, that I shall be in
the one he Is preparing now."
Mr. Smith went on to - say that he
believes Congress should Investigate
the Panama canal transaction and find
out who got the money that the United
States paid for the canal.
FANATICS
GIVEN HEARING
Kansas City Rioters Plead Not Guil
ty to Murder Charge.
KANSAS CITY, Dec. 12,-James Sharp
and three of his followers. Including his
wife, were given a formal hearing this
afternoon before Justice Remley, charged
with murder In the first degree for the
killing of Policeman A. O. Dalbow In a
revolver battle last Tuesday.
Late yesterday they were arraigned be
fore Judge Remley. When the charge
was read to them and. they were asked
to enter a pl?a. Mrs. Pratt declared: "I
In't guilty of that; I didn't kill nobody.
"Neither did I," said William Engle.
the 17-year-old epileptic and protege of
Sharp.
Sharp said he did not understand the
charge, and a plea of not guilty was en
tered for all four defendants.
CRANK IS AFTER NOVELIST
Shoots to Attract Marie Corelli's At
tention at Strutford.
STRATFORD-ON-AVON. Dec. 12. An
enthusiastic admirer of Marie Corelli's
writings, who came all the way from
Birmingham to see the novelist, was ar
rested here today as a dangerous crank.
The stranger invaded Miss Corelli's gar
den, but being unable to obtain access
to her house pulled out a revolver and
began firing.
The appearance of the police finally
put an end to his activity. The man
offers no explanation of his act, except
that he wanted to see Miss Corelli.
Steals to Play Races. "
OAKLAND. Cal Dec, 12. Adrlen Le
Reif. for three years cashier of Halo
Bros.'s drygoods store In this city, has
been arrested on a charge of embezzle
ment. After being taken Into custody
he confessed to the police that he had
used about $20,000 of the firm's money
during the last four months In gambling,
chiefly In betting on the Seattle races
In Oaklmd poolrooms. He is 25 years
old and has a wife and child.
PUTS IN PICTORIAL FORM SOME OF THE EVENTS
Of the Preaent.
22 TONS OF POWDER EXPLODE
Debris May Cover Remains of
Many Others.
SHOCK FELT THIRTY MILES
Concussion Noted at Colon Many
In Gang or 120 Are Missing.
- Relief Trains Rushed
to the Scene.
COLON. Dec. 12. A great blast of
giant powder was prematurely exploded
in the canal work at Bas Obispo today.
Ten men were killed and a number in
jured. It may be that others were killed,
for the debris Is piled up in all direc
tions. Bas Obispo cut Is about 30 miles
from Colon and the shock of the explo
sion was distinctly felt here.
Numerous reports are current as to the
cause of the accident, but the official
version from Culebra, which gives' an
estimate of ten killed and two wounded,
states that during the loading of the last
hole of the blast the dynamite in this
cut was discharged and the remaining 22
tons were exploded by the concussion.
The holes had not been electrically con
nected as the discharge of the blast was
set for 5 o'clock In the afternoon. The
last hole was being loaded under the
supervision of one of the most efficient
powder men in the employ of the Com
mission. Passenger Train Escapes.
A passenger train had just passed when
the explosion occurred but It was not in
any way damaged. Most of the victims
are Spaniards. Relief-trams were sent
to the scene of the disaster and one
which retusned here several hours later
brought back the report that 45 In
jured had been sent to Ancon Hospital.
Officials on the train state that 11 dead
had been found while many others in a
gang of 120 who were employed In the
cut were missing.
It was also, reported that the explosion
was due to a passing steam shovel which
hooked the wire leading to the Immediate
charge of dynamite. Whether or not this
was the cause of the accident a steam
shovel and crew which happened to be on
the scene were practically buried under
the mass of rocks and earth thrown up.
Look, for Dead.
90lyfO
Parties were soon searching for the
dt.ad and assisting the wounded. Elec
tric lights were set up and tonight steam
shovels' are at work removing tons upon
tons of debris. Many men have been
seriously injured, some of them probably
fatally.
Tradition has it that the Panama Rail
road cost one human life for every tie,
with Its accidents, associations and disease
and the' construction of the canal has
not gone along without exacting its toll.
There have been a number of accidents
in the last two years, chief among which
was the premature explosion of dyna
mite at Pedro Miguel In June, 1907, which
resulted, in the death of seven men and
the injury of a number of others.
SETS ASIDE ALIMONY DAY
Chicago Judge Swamped With Suits
for Divorce.
CHICAGO, Dec. 12. Beginning with the
new year, every Friday afternoon will
be "alimony day" with Judge Barnes,
of the Superior Court of Cook County.
Judge Barnes. In making the an
nouncement today, declared that there
Is such a mass of legal business grow
ing out ofdivorces and divorce hear
ings that it Interferes with more im
portant matters and requires a day
itself.
Conurrrns Opens.
Seattle Minister Takes Young Men
Into His Home, Prays With Them
and Grants Forgiveness.
SEATTLE, Wash., Dec. 12, Special.)
Penitent, humble and promising to Join
the church and sin no more, especially
to steal no more electric light globes, two
young men. who entered the Green Lake
Methodist Church Thursday evening and
stole the globes, waited on the pastor.
Rev. E. L. Benedict, last evening, handed
him a flour sack which contained the
missing globes and begged not to be
turned over to the police.
So apparently sincere was their peni
tence that Mr. Benedict forgave them,
especially as their contrition was accom
panied by restitution. The two young
men explained that they had seen an
account of their theft in print and when
they found that the church had establish
ed a protective association, the purpose
of which was to run down the offenders,
they decided that the best way out of it
was to return the. stolen goods and throw
themselvesxon the mercy of the pastor.
The two asked to Join the church and
never to offend again, after Mr. Bene
dict had taken them into his house and
prayed with them. Mr. Benedict said
there was no other course open to him
as a Christian 'minister than to offer
them forgiveness. He declares that he is
confident that they will lead an upright
life in the future.
AFTER CATTLE RUSTLERS
Slate Police and Sheriff Start on
Round-up of Thieves.
RENO. Nev., Dec. 12. Captain W. L.
Cox, superintendent of the Naval state
police, with a picked squad of men.
working in harmony with Sheriff
Emc.son, of Lassen County, Califor
nia, left. today for Pyramid Lake on an
expedition to drive out and arrest if
possible the cattle rustlers who have
been making depredations In that re
gion recently.
The rustlers have been stealing
horses and cattle In Northern Nevada
and California and It is expected will
make a fight to resist captuie If over
taken. The officers and men are armed
for field service.
HOLD SHARPS FOR MURDER
Holy Roller Leader and Wife
Blamed for Dalbow's Death.
KAN3AS CITY, Mo.. Dec. 12. Justice
Theodore Remley, after a hearing this
afternoon ordered James and Melissa
Sharp, the religious fanatics, held with
out bail for the murder of Policeman A.
Dalbow. Dalbow met his death during
the battle between the police and street
nrfArliprs'nn Thursday last. In the cases
of Mrs. Delia Pratt, wife of Louis Pratt,
Sharp's male companion, who died yes
terday from his wounds, and William
Engnell, the 17-year-old protege of Sharp,
Judge Remley reserved his opinion.
HAS CHANGE FOR BETTER
Governor Cosgrove Shows Decided
Improvement.
PASO ROBLE3 HOT SPRINGS. Cal..
Dec. 12. (Special.) Governor Cos
grove's condition took a decided change
for the better during the night. His
strength has not increased, but other
symptoms that have for the past
week been very discouraging are
now subsiding and. if no complication
results within the next few days, his
strength will Improve and he will be
out of any immediate danger.
BURNS TO DEATH IN FIRE
Nevada Man Consumed in Home in
Midnight Blaze.
ELKO. Nev., Dec. 12. Seth Roseberry,
of Tuscarora, was burned to death
Thursday, his wife and sons escaping,
when his home was consumed in a
midnight fire. The family was awak
ened by the fire, leaving John and
Clarence Roseberry barely time to es
cape and rescue their mother.
0F THE WEEK
Justice Trinmphaat!
Wants Personal Obser
vation of Work.
SAILS LAST WEEK IN JANUARY
If Final Decision Favors Jour
ney to Isthmus.
HOLDS TARIFF CONFERENCE
In Confab With Aldrich and II a la.
Who Favor Presitleiit-Elcctv
Views in Regard to the
Coming Revision.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 President
elect Taft contemplates a visit to Pan
ama before his inauguration. This visit
Is approved by President Roosevelt and
Secretary Root. While It has not been
finally determined upon. Mr. Taft an
nounced tonight that It was his inclina
tion to go. Should this be his final de
cision, he will depart the last week in
January for a trip which will cover ap
proximately 20 days.
There are many reasons, in Mr. Taft's
view, why the trip to the Isthmus
would be of decided advantage. Presi
dent Roosevelt's visit proved a stimulus
to the work; the three visits which Mr.
Taft has made as Secretary of War all
were of advantage; there are"1 constantly
arising and accumulating many minor
tangles of administration which the
presence of the President-elect might,
make possible of elimination with little
difficulty.
Ills Only Opportunity.
Mr. Taft feels that this is practically
his only opportunity to visit the Isthmus
during his forthcoming term as President.
The visit would put him in direct personal
contract with the situation.
The only objection to the expedition,
which has been pointed out by careful
students of the laws and constitution, is
that pending the official declaration of
Mr. Taft as President-elect by the action
of the electoral college and his Inaugura
tion as President, there is no consti
tutional or legal provision for the sub
stitution of anyone else in the event of
anything happening to him in Panama.
The news of this trip followed a con
ference last night with "President Roose
velt and today again at the White Hous
and later with Secretary Root. Further
details of today's conference were not
made known beyond the statement by
Mr. Taft that the selection of his cabinet
was thoroughly discussed.
Aldrich and Hale Favorable.
Mr. Taft said tonight that the inter
views he had had yesterday and today
with Senator Aldrich and Senator Hnlu
had led him to believe that the uttitude
of these two leaders in the Senate, re
specting tariff revision was decidedly
favorable to the kind of a tariff he Iihs
been advocating. The conference with
Senator Crane, of Massachusetts, also
confirmed this view.
Chairman Frank H. Hltchceck, who
came to Washington from New York,
saw Mr. Taft tonight. The Cuban sit
uation was discussed thoroughly at a
conference with Governor Magoon and
Secretary Wright and General Clarence
R. Edwards, of the Insular Buieau,
talked with Mr. Taft about depart
mental and Philippine matters. Senator
Bourne, of Oregon, Bishop OGorman,
of Sioux Falls, S. D., Secretary Garfield
and Representatives Martin of South
Dakota and Needham of California,
also talked with Mr. Taft.
Mr. Taft planned to leave Washing
ton at midnight for New York, follow
ing the dinner of the Gridiron Club.
He will be there tho guest of his
brother, Henry W. Taft, until Thurs
day, when he will go to Augusta, Ga.,
for several weeks.
't
Oa the Job.