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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (March 20, 1921)
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX. PORTLAND, MAKCIT 20, 1921 SEI1M ADMITS KILLING DP MAJOR Roland R. Pothier Held Cronkhite's Death. for COURT VERDICT DISPUTED Ex-Scrvicc Man Declared to Have Confessed That He Shot Of ficer Accidentally. PROVIDENCE, R. I.. March 19. Roland R. Pothier of Central Falls, formerly an army sergeant, today I. rmally admitted that he killed Major Alexander P. Cronkhite. son of Major-General Adelbert Cronkhite, at Camp Lewis, Wash., October 25, 1918. The federal commissioner before whom he was arraigned accepted a plea of Bullty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter. Federal officers refused to discuss the case further, but it is understood that Pothier told them his pistol was discharged accidentally while he was cleaning it. Further arrests are ex pected, however. Since Pothier was discharged from the army in June, 1919, the depart ment of justice has been searching for him. He was arrested here Thurs day at the Auburn freight yards of the New Haven railroad, where he was employed as a brakeman. Major Cronkhite, who was in com mand of t". battalion of infantry at Camp . Lewis, had marched his men from camp for pistol practice, on the day of his death. During the noon hour, while his men were at mess, the major walked some yards away behind a clump of bushes and began firing at an old tobacco tin as a target. On his fifth shot, he turned toward some soldiers idling on the ground nearby and called out: "Did you see that shot?" The men turned toward him. when suddenly another shot was heard and they saw Major Cronkhite fall. There was a bullet wound under his right arm pit. An army court of Inquiry reported that the officer had shot himself acci dentally, but upon the return of Major-Ueneral Cronkhite from France a new investigation was started, the body was exhumed and experts are said to have asserted that the wound could not have been self-inflicted. ARREST DKCIARED SURPRISE Camp Lewis Officials Sa They Thought Incident Closed. CAMP LEWIS, Wash., March 19. Roland R. Pothier, who is said to have confessed at Providence, R. I., today to Involuntary manslaughter of Major Alexander Cronkhite on Oc tober 25, 1918, formerly was a ser geant bugler in the 13th division here. He testified in the original inquest Into the death of the major and with others declared the death was acci dental and imposed by a bullet from the major's pistol. Pothier was stand ing close to Cronkhite when the wound was Inflicted, the testimony at the Inquiry showed. Major Cronkhite met his death on the Camp Lewis pistol range during practice. An army board declared that death was accidental, and the body was held for his parents, Major General and Mrs. Adelbert Cronkhite. The matter remained closed until a few months ago when the parents ctarted an Investigation. They re-J quested the department of justice to hold a further hearing and two weeks ago a report was made substantiating the former finding of accidental death. Army officers here today were surprised at the confession of Pothier, as they believed that the incident was closed. SEATTLE MEN HELP PROBE Department of Justice Officials Investlvate Death. SEATTLE, Wash., March 19. De partment of justice agents here, un der instruction from Washington, D. C, recently conducted an investiga tion Into the death of Major Alex ander Cronkhite at Camp Lewis, in 1918. When the inquiry was com pleted, ft was said that the report of an official board at Camp Lewis, which had found Major Cronkhite met his death accidentally while on the camp pistol range, had been sub stantiated. A report of the Investi gation, which was not made public here, Tvas forwarded to the depart ment at Washington. Department of Justice agnts here today declined to comment on the de tention at Providence, R. I., of Roland Pothier. ex-service man, in connec tion with Major Cronkhite's death. have bought their land on installment payments, or have given heavy mort gages. As the installments or inter est payments fall due, the farmers are unable to meet them, and there is created a complete reproduction of J hone conditions which in 1893 caused such acute economic distress in the west and led to the rise of populism, and later the Bryan movement. ' Some time ago I had a letter from ont of the wisest men west of the Mississippi river which spoke of a probable revolt against the repub lican party. The writer Said: "The world of 1914, I thlrk. Is gone for ever. We cannot get it back, and old man normalcy is a fraud. He simply isn't. Right now there is genuine danger of a revolt among the farmers of the west, and unless this situation is cleared up, there will be the biggest revolt In the Missouri and western Mississippi valleys that mere nas Deen for 60 years. Genuine Grief Looked For. "The farmers will certainly Join with the radical labor party, and old man normalcy will be knocked into a cocked hat. And 1 don't blame the farmers. They need special credit and special ca-e In the matter of ren tal laws and special privileges in marketing their crops and until they get it, there is going to .be a heap of trouble. "I fancy the coming year will be the beginning of genuine grief in the middle west. I don't fear bolshevism, but I do feel that these revolutionary changes are portentous." The net of all this is summed up In a statement issued during the present month, by David R. Forgan of Chicago who is universally ac cepted as a leading banker of his city and section. He was quoted as saying that American industrial con among are as critical today as at any period within the last 44 years, not excepting 1893. Republican Face Bigr Tank. AH that has been said so far, is preliminary to considering w"hat the new itepiftincan aaministration plans to do about it.'akid what it is possible to do about it Within two weeks after Harding's inauguration, the New York stock market fell to a new jow level. This episode suggests an ironic reflection. If it had been Cox who won last November, and if it had been a democratic ifesident who was Inaugurated on the 4th of this month, it is easy to imagine what would now be said by those who think that the mere word "repub lican" is a panacea for economic ills. However, the condition is here. Let us now consider what politics can do for it and what the new administra tion can do for it The first thing to be said In any consideration is that no politics and no administration and no congress can do as much as the indi vidual can do and must do for him self. That, however, is material for a dirrerent kind of homily. , Tax RevlHlon Not m Cnre-AU. The Immediate plan of the admin istration is first to revise the taxes. Any sound revision of taxes and any sound refunding of the public debt will, of course, help in the long run and will be a benefit for yeari to come. But there Is no conceivable re vision of the taxes that will work an immediate cure of the present situa tion, nor even markedly affect it Revision of the taxes is merely a thing that ought to be done and must be done for its own sake. Its re lation to the present situation Can only be the beneficient but yet quiet effect that sound principles of gov ernment have at all times. But tax revision can make little change in the present acute distress in the farming communities. The next step In the plan of admin istration is to pass a protective tariff; this again cannot affect the present condition from the viewpoint of the accepted traditional purpose of a pro tective tariff. It Is probable th. t in years to come we shall need protec tion for our standard of living more than ever before, because labor abroad Is going to bo compelled to work at wages .which will make a standard of living lower than had existed even In Europe within recent generations, and far lower than has ever existed In America lower, we hope, than ever will exist In America. Foreign Trade Necessary. But for the immediate present a protective tariff will be of no help. It is Idle to tell a farmer who cannot sell his corn at any price whatever that he is about to be saved from being compelled to sell it in competi tion with foreign corn. There is one thing, and one thing only, that the administration can do to oe or material h,elp; that thing is start xoreign trade moving, as WISH GILS TWO WD OFFICIALS Rail Labor Board Hearing Unduly Prolonged. JUDGE RAPS INQUISITOR Alleged Dissension of Executives Sought to Be Brought Out and Irrelevant Quia Made. to FARMERS' REVOLT FEARED fContlnupd Frnm Flrnt Pace.) l'arts of Oklahoma have adopted plan which calls on the individual cotton planter to seed only as large an acreage as he can gather with his own hands. That plan would work out In Oklahoma producing this year about half the cotton it produced last year. In yet other parts of the south the banks are so tied up that from 20 per cent to 30 per cent of the farmers will not, under any conditions, be able to borrow enough money to carry them over and get the supplies neces sary to plant a crop. A Baltimore periodical, which Is almost an of fi clal organ for the business men of the south. Is advising the planters to reduce their acreage 50 per cent on the theory that "the small crop would aell for more than a large crop." Cora Belt Just as Bad Off. It may be that this tendency to ward planting very much smaller crops Is more marked as repects cot ton than as respects grain, and yet persons who come to Washington from the districts where corn is the chief crop say that conditions there are quite as discouraging as In trtfe cotton country. In one of the largest Mississippi valley states it is said that fully a half of last year's corn crop Is still on -the farm unsold and without any prospects of selling. Farmers caught In these conditions are obviously not going to feel etrongly like planting- a maximum new crop. - This condition of distress expresses itself In serious human hardships, and serious human hardships tend to express themselves in radical po litical movements. In large areas of the west fully u third of the farms are operated by renters, and- these renters being left at the end of the year with an unsalable crop, have not been able to pay their obligations, and are being dislodged and reduces to the ranks of wage earners, except where this fate is avoided by wise leniency on the part of the owner. Conditions Forebode Distress. Large numbers of. other farmers Hoover expressed it the other dav: the normalcycle of exchange of com modities between producers and con sumers who are widely separated is I alyzed and must be revived. And when it Is said that this is a thing within the power of the administra tion -to accomplish, let not expecta tion go too far. It is not within the Dow-or nf th new administration nor within any human power, to bring back to the world, all the foreign trade that once existed. In Europe some seven mil lion men are dead, to the extent that these men, once were consumers of our cotton and our copper; they can consume no longer. In normal times, more than half our cotton and more than half our copper went abroad. Not for generations can Europe again consume or pay for as much cotton or as much copper as she took before the war. Normal Demand Mont Be Met. But there is in Europe a new and present normal demand, and a pres ent normal consumption. What the new administration can do is to make it possible for our goods to flow out to fill that present demand, however much it may be. i'oward achieving this end Presi dent Harding this week took om sound and effective step. He ap pointed an able and energetic banker, Eusene Meyer Jr., to revive .the war finance corporation. This name for the institution is now a misnomer, for its present peace-time function is to use government money to facili tate the export of American goods to Europe. Mr. Meyer is tl.e father of the Idea; he believes in it, and by experience and ability he is adapted to the work. He will undoubtedly succeed In bring ing about export of some products which would otherwise remain in the farmer's barn or in the cotton ware house. To a certain extent he may be able to change the present abnormally depressed state of mind among busi ness men and the public generally, but all that Mr. Meyer and the war fi nance corporation can do will be a mere drop in the bucket. CHICAGO, March 19. In the at tempt to bring out alleged dissension in the ranks of railway executives over national agreements, F. P. Walsh, union labor counsel, put two high of ficials through a grilling examination before the railroad labor board today. C, R. Gray of Omaha, president of the Union Pacific system, under ques tioning by Mr. Walsh, detailed his ac tivities as chairman of the now aban doned labor committee of the associa tion of railway executives. It was in this committee, the unions contended, that a split developed. After outlining - activities of the committee. Mr. Gray explained the basis of his majority report on estab lishing national boards of adjustment This report was rejected by the mem ber roads and a minority report of W. W. Atterbury, vice-president of the Pennsylvania, adopted. Easiest Way Out Sought. The majority report of March 29, 1920, Mr. Gray said, was presented with the idea that agreeing to na tional boards, which were urged Ly the employes, was the easiest way to settle disputes. "The report was not a recommenda tion," he said. "The majority of the committee had an open mind on whether boards of adjustment should be national, regional or local. The objection to regional or local boards was that they would require too toiany men. Mr. Atterbury held that na tional boards meant national agree ments. That was the fundamental distinction between the majority and minority representatives." " Mr. Gray declared under question ing that he had resigned as chairman when the member roads adopted the minority Atterbury report, and. al though continuing as a committee member, suggested that Mr. Atter bury be appointed. Rational Rnlea Impracticable. J. M. Sheehan, counsel for the rail road committee before the labor board, asked Mr. Gray to tell what he thought about national agreements, contending that the line of ques tioning had not borne on the justness nor reasonableness of such rules. My feeling is that it is practically Impossible to devise rules which op erate Justly and reasonably over the whole country," Mr. Gray said. . ; Mr. Sheehan asked if there had ever been any disagreement on the continuation of national agreements by the rail executives. Never, Mr. Gray replied. Mr. Sheehan then referred to the 11 fundamental principles laid down as labor's "bill of rights" by union oficials yesterday. "Could any road operate with ei- ficiency with all these rulas in ef fect?" Mr. Sheehan asked. Roles Considered Hampering. Certain of thes6 rules are very restricted," Mr. Gray replied, . It is almost imDosslble to set up any set of rules which will do Justice to all." Earlier today T. Dewitt Cuyler, chairman of the executive associa tion, was on the stand and main tained that he had had no part in the formation or adoption of any la bor policy. He refused to admit there was any difference of opinion on na tional agreements. Charges that the Pennsylvania and New York Central railroads dom inated the policies of other roads in the opposition to national agreements with labor unions and that many in dividual roads favored the national agreements were made by Mr. Walsh. Further charges that the railroads, knowing the railroad labor board had no power to enforce Its decrees, were trying to smash the . labor unions through public opinion and were at tempting to influence public opinion through false, paid publicity, were made by Mr. Walsh. He renewed his investigation of railroad publicity, despite objection from Judge R. M. Barton, chairman of the board, that the matter was irrelevant. He called T Dewitt Cuyler and resumed ques tioning along the line which yester day brought statements from Mr. Cuyler that publicity articles sup posedly written by Mr. Cuyler really were written by a press agent. Change Meeta Denial. "Wasn't Mr. Lee appointed press agent of the association of railway executives because he is an expert at breaking down unions?" Mr. Walsh asked. "No," replied Mr. Cuyler. "Do you recall the mine publicity in 1914-13, gotten put by Mr. Lee?" ..t,.j XI r- Walsh. "I recall that he was connected with the Rockefeller foundation," was the answer. "Well. Mr. Lee at that time pub lished false figuresln connection with salaries of union officials." began Mr. Walsh, when Judge Barton inter rupted. . . , , "Don't you realize' tills Is entirely outside the matters' to come before the board?" he asked. - Mr. Walsh then charged that the railroads' motive in their publicity was unfair. "The duty of this board," Inter rupted Judge Barton, "is to decide whether national rules are fair. We know the railroads are opposed to national agreements' without your telling us." - - BRITISH RUPTURE FACED (Continued From First Page.) Jewelry and Silverware For Easter T ASTER IS A TIME FOR ADORN MENT- fj nature bedecks herself with tl of springtime, provides a new every growing thing. A bit -of jewelry as an accessory of the Easter costume is in harmonious keeping with nature. Lustrous silver for the table is fitting accom paniment for the joyous hues of springtime flowers. More than a half century of loyalty to high, ideals in jewelry merchandise makes this store your logical selection for gifts for yourself, your friends, or your home. - 5-W "Gifts That Last" Precision in the filling of glasses is para mount Years of experience fcp our eye specialists in correct methods assure jjou perfect satisfaction. A. & C. Feldenheimer . Jewelers : Silversmiths : Opticians Established 1868 WASHINGTON STREET AT. PARK MAIL ORDERS CAREFULLY AND PROMPTLY FILLED We Are Agents for the Butterick Patterns and the Delineator. All New Styles Are Now Showing. The Store That Undersells Because It Sells for Cash PARCELS POST PACKAGES PREPAID ON $5 PURCHASES The' "Delta" Feature of the Butterick Patterns Is Proving of Great Assist ance to Home Sewers. the league, but he realizes the United States may refuse to join under any conditions. The significance of the Viviani visit is in the fact that he is a member of the league amendment cpmmittee, constituted for the special purpose of considering any amend ments the United States may demand and unquestionably he will go into this phase of the question w'th Presi dent Harding and Secretary of State Hughes. Viviani Thorough Democrat. M. Viviani,. moreover, is a thorough democrat, and though no longer a so cialist, he belongs decidedly to the "left" side of French politics. If be is able to negotiate any kind of an understanding with the United States, whether it includes the league of na tions or not, the accomplishment would be of such a nature as to strengthen the liberals and progres sives and win back to the Briand ministry the progressive support that the break with England threatens to withdraw. There is no foundation for the re port that M. Viviani will discuss new loans with the United States or thai he will make any proposals concern ing the cancellation of the French in debtedness to the American govern ment. The warning of M. Jusserand, the French ambassador at Washing ton, that this was a sore subject in the United States, has been confirmed, and is Just what the French govern ment felt several months ago when it preferred to let England make overtures to America along that line. Quarrel Could Be Ended. At the same time there is good rea son to believe that M. Viviani would not object if the state department at Washington should open the question. .Unlike some of the French reac tionaries, M. Viviani would favor fore going France's claims against Ger many if this country could receive receipted bills from the United States and lrom England. v This project as previous dispatches have explained, would not leave the United States worse off than now, in the opinion of sound economists, but it would have the inestimable advan tage of permitting France and Ger many to stop quarreling and jget to work. had elected to accept recompense for his injuries under the workmen's compensation act. Holmes was repre sented by Le Koy Keely. DAMAGE CASE NON-SUITED Window Washer Fails to Get $23, 000 From Furniture Firm. An order for non-suit in the case of Clifford E. Holmes against Henry Jenning & Sons was handed down yes terday by Judge Wolverton in federal court. The decision followed argu ments of attorneys on a motion for non-suit made by the defense counsel. Holmes instituted suit to recover 25,000 for injuries said to have been received February 27, 1920, when he fell from a fourth-story window in the building occupied by the Jenning firm atVifth and Washington streets. Holmes was a window washer. In support of their motion for a non-suit tho defense attorneys ad vanced the argument that Holmes More mt man rues article 10 and some other objection able features eliminated, he is not go ing to put himself in the position of j aemanaing -me league or iiuiniiiK. M. Vivian! is a sincere believer In It Costs Only FSve eots a ay or $1.60 per month for helpful med ical treatment if you take Hood's Sarsaparilla, known in thousands of homes as the 1est reconstruc tive tonic. For nearly half a cen tury th;s good medicine has stood in a class by itself in curative pow er and economy. Hood's Sarsapa rilla gives more for the money than any other. It tones up the whole system, creates an appetite, promotes assimilation, so as to se cure for you 100 per cent, of the nutrition in your food. More than this, it purifies and en riches the blood, eliminates poison ous matter after diphtheria, scarlet and typhoid fevers, eradicates scrofula and catarrh, relieves rheu matism, overcomes that tired feel ing and makes the weak strong. Hood's Sarsaparilla IS PECULIAR TO ITSELF IN EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY. From Hamadan. Persia, to Portland extends a line of skilled service that becomes part of every rug in this store. In the Orient a resident buyer, familiar with every hamlet and rug center, gath ers the best bargains, the finest pieces, and at times has special weavings made for us. In Portland the service takes the form of expert informa tion regarding weaves, make, quality and symbols, and advice on decorative ar rangement and harmonies. Along with this is the as surance of authentic impor tations nd absolute satis faction of the customer. CARTOZIAN BROS., INC. Importers of Oriental Rugs Pittock Block, Portland. Seattle. Persia. Spokane. SLAYER IS JUDGED INSANE Adam Sctcra, Who Shot Mother, Is Sent to State Hospital. OREGON CITY, Or., March 19. (Special.) Adam Setera, who shot his mother four times with a 38 caliber revolver In this city Thurs day afternoon, was adjudged insane today by Doctors Homstead and Strickland. He was taken to the state asylum tonight. At the examination Setera refused to talk and sneered at all connected with the examination. The mother, Mrs. Ann Setera, who is in the Good Samaritan hospital in Portland, is improving and according to her phy sician. Dr. Koss Eaton of Oregon city, nas a cnance to recover. Charming Styles and Unexcelled Values in Easter Hosiery Our Suggestion Is Immediate Selection. You Will Be Well Repaid by a Visit to Our Popular Hosiery Section All Silk Lace and French Clocked Hose At $4.00, $4.50 and $5.00 Pair The finest of high-grade All-Silk Lace and French Clocked Hosiery in the fashionable net, satin stripe and allover lace patterns; also the new French clocked effects full fashioned and all sizes in black, white, navy, cordovan, silver, gold, mouse, etc. Three exceptional values at the above prices. All Silk Hose Full Fashioned, at $3.50 Pair Women's heavy full-fashioned All-silk Hose with reinforced sole, heel, toe and wide garter hem. All sizes in black, white, navy, gray and cordovan. Ai. (PI ?r PAIR Women's Full-fashion-tL DX.Ut) ed Silk Hose with reinforced lisle sole, heel and toe, and lisle' top. All 6izes in black only. Fine Silk Hose Full Fashioned, at $1.95 Pair An attractive line of Women's Full-fashioned Silk Hose made with lisle sole, heel, and toe; lisle top and wide garter hem. , All sizes in many shades. A f GJ1 Oil PAIR Women's Shawknit Silk ni tD-L.UU Hose with double sole rein forced lisle heel and toe and lisle top with garter hem. All sizes. High-Grade Kid Gloves In a Pre-Easter Showing at $3.00 to $4.00 Pair Gloves in worthy qualities and perfect fitting styles. All sizes and all colors. New Novelty Purses and Bags In a Splendid Variety of Styles at $5 M0 to $11.00 Each ' Unlimited choice of styles and leathers in-. eluded are all popular new novelties in alligator calf, morocco, pinseal and other leathers a full variety of colors, and all attractively low priced. Women's Gauntlet Gloves $310 to $5.00 Pair Women's French Suede Gloves at $350 Pair CANBY LIGHTS ORDERED Molalla Company Told to Give Power, Pending Investigation. SALEM, Or., March 19. (Special.) The Oregon public service commis sion, in an order issued today, in structed the Molalla Electric company to resume ofleration of street lights in the city of. Canby, pending inves tigation of a new complaint filed against the corporation by the munic ipality. TOie original complaint filed by Canby charged that the electric company had demanded that the mu nicipallty rewire the street lights at an expense of several hundred dollars. Canby refused, whereupon the light company out off its service. The public service commission will hear the complaint within the next few days, when some definite action will be taken. , Centralist Worker Is Drowned. CENTRALIA, Wash., March ' 19. (Special.) Sam Vahon, employed at the N. & M. mill near Rochester, was drowned this afternoon when he fell from a log into the mill pond. The body will be sent to Seattle for inter ment. Vahon was about 40 years of age. He is survived by a mother and sister In Greece. Dl IQE mK&wm: OX QUALITY 1 knox quality is built into knox silk hats from the first shaping of the foundation to the last stitch in the putting on of the band. . m. sichel is showing a most complete as sortment of knox derbies, soft hats and silk hats especially suitable for easier Sunday. mm o ichel men's furnisher, and hatter, exclusive but not expensive. 331 Washington street, near broad way Be I Efficient Service hi i : mmmAk'v urn. 3 Our Ophthalmometer is one of the most scientific eye-testing instruments in the world. With it we can detect error of vision instantly. , J For efficient service, we are constantly im proving our standards of optical service. New ideas for correc'ly refracting the eyes; new instruments for the diagnosing of EYE TROUBLES; new styles in glasses and frames that add to your comfort, looks and efficiency all have a place in our practice. f Complete lens-grinding factory on premises. Thompson Optical Institute CH S. A. RLSCO, President and General Manager Eyesight Specialist Portland's Largest, Most Modern, Best Equipped, Exclusive Optical Establishment H 209-10-11 Corbett Bldg., Fifth and Morrison II III It fill SINCE 1008 j I ' Established 21 Years in Portland C. GEE W0 Chinese Medicine Co. No operations. No po'on used in our won derful remedies, composed of the choicest Ori ental roots, herbs, buds and bark, many of which are unknown to the 'medical . science cf this country. Our remedies are harmless and have made many sufferers from catarrh, asthma, lung: and throat, rheumatism, nervousness, Btomach, liver and kidney trouble, female dis orders, etc., happy. Many testimonials given unsolicited by -persons, male and female, who have used my root eind herb remedies. CALL OR WRITE FOR INFORMATION Tfre C. Gee Wo Chinese Medicine Co. ; 162'a First Street Portland, Oregon