Li....
WEATHER
Showers to
night and
Thursday;
south rly
winds.
COAST - TEM. :.
Boise
Seattle
S;:oisne f
tan Franciioo
Portland
Bosebnrg .'
MarsMieia
lid.,
1
f )
41
P
VoL.X. NO. 301.
PORTLAND, OREGON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 21, 1912 -TWENTY PAGES, 'i
PRICE TWO CENT3
1 i :-.0'' 1 a c r .(V A A ' i A ; ;
i
fin nnn nnn rmr nAWAPrn THIRD
au.uuu.uuu rinc inwiiuLG ilahj
SWEPT, THOUSfitlDS
Fjames Breaking Out in Hotel Spread Rapidly and.Are.Only
Checked After Ten Hours : by Usef Dynamite Heavy;
Wind Carries Embers to All Parts of Town and Causes
Smaller Conflagrations to Start.
. (United Press teased Wlr. "
-Houston, Texas. Feb. 21. For 10
hours today Houston faced destruction
by fife.' Before the flames were con
trolled $6,000,000 . in . property private
residences, schools, churches, ware
houses and others, B7 blocks In all-had
- been swept away. '
The fire started at about 2:20, this
morning In a hotel In South Houston,
and raged fiercely until nearly noon,
When It was checked by dynamite. Soon
after the flames started a high wind
sprang up. Several -thousands of per
sons are homeless. ':.. ,
Dynamite XI Used.
5 Dynamite was used In an effort 1 to
-'check tho-f lames.- Burning -embers were
scattered to every section of the city
by the high wind, and the firemen were
practically helpless. Thousands of citi
zens Joined in the fight to save the
dty. .The heat qt the flames forced
the firemn on several ocicasclons -to
labandon flreflghting apparatus and
several engines and other paraphernalia
iwere consumed. Mounted police - hur
. rled ahead of the flames, notifying ev
eryone of the, danger. No casualties
have been reported.'
! The parks and other open spaces are
crowded with women and children.
JITI
TOLL WOULD PUT HEAVY
Professor Johnson's Scheme Cooaid
! ors Collection of Rates of More
Importance Than the Developing
of Our Commerced
I r". (T'etutnptM Bureau of . TJe Journal.)
' J Washington. Feb. 21, 3. N. Teal, thj
i Portland economist, Is here calling on
many senators relative to Panama canal
- lolls".--; lie Thinks the intermountain rate
casVs may be argued Monday. .
, f Hogarding', the. report of : Professor
Johnson .'on canal tolls, Mr. Teal says:
j "Professor Joffhuon has finally made
his recommendations on Panama tolls.
He trcfltslt as a purely commercial
! proposition, ills views are of decided
' Interest to -the coast.
. "On coast -to coast traffic It seems
to be his view that, the highest rates
'l can prevail, while on European traffic
Vnow using ihe Sues canal competition
1 rates, will have to be made. It fa -not
-improbable that this will. be the princi
ple adopted, unless those interested afe
more active. In other words, the charge
1 on all traffic will bear on our own ton
i nage, but we must be sure to make it
j low enough on the tonnage of foreign
nations In the foreign trade so we will
I Fet their traffic through the Panama
4 canal.- t .w-.v.f. f.,v
-J The collection of tolls seems of vsst-
ly more. Importance than the developing
1 of our own commerce., Just how it will
J all wind up is hard to say, but it is al-
together possible that the American
I merchant marine will get but little com
i fort but of it, and that the American
I commerce will pay-, the high rates."
I SPOKANE JOBBERS ASK:
l United Ptms tailed Wire
Washington, Feb. 21. Sixty-five Spo
kane 1 firms'" today filed with the inter
state commerce commission a demand
for a $2,000,000 refund on freight
I SAYS PANAMA
BURDEN
AMERICA
MILLION
REFUND
. i charges collected by western railroads
f; above what would have been collected if
tlfe commerce-court had "hot' enjoined
jL the rate decision of ihe Interstate com
i merce commission on intermountain
; tariffs, This is one of , the largest
"""""amounts shippers have ever asked as a
refund. - - - ---" -
1 Argument in the appealed Intermoun-
tain cases comes up before the United
' 1 Statea Supreme court on Friday. To
day's petition will enable the interstate
-commerce commission to act Instantly
1 Jfor the shippers if the supreme court
- upsets ,tbr lnjunctlo'hs issued by the
( icommetae court, and legalizes the lower
- rates prescribed by the commission.' :
FOUR
TRAINMEN
INiTUNNEL ACCIDENT
hl'i.1 ' (tlnlfoil friw. t.ia(td W1r t .'
North Adams, Mass.,, Feb. 21. In a
collision . between : the 'Boh ton express
endi a freiRht Vain in the Iloosac tun
nel j yesterday four trainmen were killd
ana traffic was Indefinitely delayed.
Anther Lh Slmmonds and Henry OreggJ
engineer ana assistant on tne electric
" engine: Luther Pavis, a "leartier" on
the motor, and Eeuben Kemp, flagman
on. the freight train, are dead.
;The wreck 'occurred on the Boston
'LjMalne railroad,, when a freight train
stopped in the tunneW The electrfc en-
refused to operate tne. tiraKes and tna
train dashed Into -the freight cars. The
tunnel was badly damaged by fire from
the wreckage. ;.'.
BLOCKS
HOMELESS
At 10:10 o'clock the fire had spread
to the big shops of the Southern Pacific
Company, and at that hour a score or
more box cars containing provisions,
were on lire. .: - - - . . ,
Engines Preissd Into Berries,
Engines were - pressed into service
and despite the terrific heat heroic
attempt Is being made- to draw other
cars loaded with " foodstuffs to points
of safety. " . ' - (' ;
The heaviest Individual losers are the
McFadden and Cleveland Compressers
and the plant of the E. D. Harrell Lum
ber company. Sixty thousand bales' of
cottonwere destroyed, the joss to the
cotton dealers alone exceeding $2,000,
000. In addition to churches, schools,
factories and lumber plants, a hundred
private residences were destroyed. --
The fire finally was controlled fol
lowing the use of dynamite. An entire
block of houses were destroyed by this
means to prevent the spread of -the
flames to the 'downtown section of the
city. . , -
City officials announced that the fire
victims would be caed for and that
aid from outside cities probably would
not be needed. . . .
IP OF WORST
V
Foot of Snow Covers Misrourl, Kan
sas and G lahorha and Fleece Is
Still FaUing; Traffic Is Almost
Halted and Telegraph Crippled.
.(United PreM Leaned Wlre.V p
St. "Louis, Feb. 21. The entire mid
dle southwest, comprising the states of
Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas;
today is shivering in the worst billiard
of the . winter. A foot of snow is re
partedirj Missouri, Kansas and Okla.
homa, and h la still falling. ,
AU trains runnfng into this city are
from two to five hours late and tele
graph service is badly crippled. ;
' Business both in Kansas City - and
St. Louis Is virtually at a standstill.
Street cars are blocked because of the
heavy fall of snow and traffic is com
pletely demoralized, in the poorer sec
tions of th cities the suffering is In
tense. Delivery of coal is out of the
question and this nas added to the
misery. ( . - -
Hundreds ' of head of cattle undoubt
edly have perished on the- ranges In
Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. The loss
from this source Is certain to run high
into the .thousands. -
Snow Storm Hits Chicago.
" Chicago, Feb. 21.-Ch!cago Is today In
the grip of a severe snow storm. Both
surface and elevated traffic are crip
pled. Hundreds of men are employed in
removing the snow which has piled up
in great dlrfts.' The storm is general
throughout the Ohio - and Mississippi
valleys. ' - - .
UNDERWOOD CHEMICAL
r SCHEDULE BILL PASSES
(I'nlttd Preiw LMwd Wire.)
Washington, Feb. 21. By a vote of
155 to 127 the house today passed the
Underwood bill, revising the chemical
schedule. . " 1
The bill went through unamended,
though the Republicans made a hard
fight against it. , ...
Gale Does Great Damage,
Austin, Texas, Feb. 21. More than
$2,000,000 damage Is estimated as the
result of the terlfflc gale that is sweep
ing Texas today.r Hundred of small
buildings fiifi totally wrecked and it is
believed that further reports will show
heavy losses to ranchmen in cattle and
horses. Street car traffic in Austin, is
demoralized.
AS CARTOONIST
COnttERCI AUCIUB WHO
. KEPT THlNcVs ON THE MOVE
SHIVERING SOUTHVEST
HELD IN GR
BUZZARD
ITER
wffimv$mMwmL mm
West Umatilla Plan Favored' by Government
it . n n at n n n n n te n.
Thirty Thousand Acres of Land to Be Irrigated
1M0N CHARGES
WILSON RUDE TO SPURN
RYAN'S 'DIRTY MONEY'
Editor Sajs New Jerseyan Declined
to Take Anj of Financier's Cash;
Also . Asserts 'He Corresponded
With nis (Wattereon's) Enemies.
. '' (ITnl ted Press hntrll Wlre.
Louisville, JFeb. 21. Woodrow . Wil
son today ts believed to have been
boosted up another step on the White
House stairs by utterances of Colonel
Henry WattersonU One of. the" allega
tions Colonel Watterson makes in - his
attack on Wilson .Is that the latter was
rude in his refusal to take campaign
contributions i from Thomas , F. Ryan
when such a .course was suggested by
Colonel Watterson. He says that Wil
son stiffly declined to take what he
termed "Ryan's dirty money." .
. "Marse" Henry also asserts that while
he was engaged in furthering the cause
of Wilson the latter was- corresponding
with Colonel Watterson's enemies in
Kentucky. 'i "' - ;
APPREHENSION FELT
FOR KING FREDERICK
- v - .
-. - (United Press Leased"' Wire.)
Copenhagen', Feb. 21.-JiS4,uch appre
hension is felt here for King Frederick,
who has suffered a relapse after1 he
had partially recovered from a heavy
cold accompanied by inflammation of
the lungs. Despite the fact that court
officials say his condition Is not alarm
ing, it is feared that the king la in a
more serious state of health than has
been admitted.. - ,
" ; Case .Set for April."
(Washington Bureau ot The Journal.) -Washington,
. Feb. 21. The "powers of
states" case is set for April 1 before the
supreme 'court. - . -
SEED SEES SOME OF THE
THATRrTArrBTttrMANtE'
WHQ RESEMBLES WM. BRYAN
BROKE FORTH WITH A FEW PCM ARKS
W ?? w fjkv t
WATER FOR ARID LAND
JEANS GREAT VICTOR!
FOR OREGON SETTLERS
Glad News Received From Secretary
Fisher and Given to Irrigation
Congress by Supervising Engineer
Hopson. J. II, Lewis Heads Paper.
Upon telegraphic permission from
Secretary of th-Interior Fisher, E. O.
Hopson, supervising engineer of the fed
eral reclamation service for Oregeh, Cal
ifornia and Nevada, this morning an
nounced before the Oregon Irrigation
congress the substance of the report of
the board appointed some time ago to
Investigate the merits of the proposed
west extension of. the Umatilla govern
ment irrigation project . ''
The announcement was received with
the greatest enthusiasm by the 200 dele
gates, and came at a moment when the
convention was about to hear the proj
ect discussed from, the viewpoints of
the various actions that have appeared
as protestors against different features
of the proposed project.
raTors tlia Schema.
The report favors the prosecution of
the project along lines that will form
a happy solution to a much vexed prob
lem, for it gives to the home and land
owners of Stanfleld assurance that their
lands will be satisfactorily drained, the
homes of people on the upper reaches
of . the Umatilla river and its tribu
taries an abundance of water for irriga
tion and to the pioneer owners of homes
on the borders of the site for the pro
posed reservoir assurance that they
will not be driven back by the rising
waters; : ; , , ---
These, ' Mr. Hopson explained, ' had
been the main cause for protests, and
as' they have been removed as- far as
possible, it is Aow believed that the
government will proceed ; with the
project of turning water on 80,000 acres
(Continued on Page Two.)
PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS AT
U n-KVfcBl H AYOR "
OF STANFIELD WAS'
VERY attentive:.
FBOfl BURNS
HARNEY CO.
ROAD
BILLS ON WHICH
ALL CAN AGREE TO. BE
IE!
Governor West Will Nam Commit
tee of Five Men to Unite the Fac
tions, so That AirGood Roads Leg
IslaUdtt Will Not Be Imperiled.
(SaWiBurearj ol The Journal.)
Salem, Or., Feb. 21. Because of his
interest In securing good ropds for Ore
gon, regardless of who frames the legis
lation that will bring about the result,
Governor West today announced his in
tention to appoint a committee of five,
representative of various Interests for
and against the present proposed high
way measures, to meet and endeavor to
unite all factions on one group of bills.
This action is to be taken by the gov
ernor to prevent, if possible,-a multi
plicity of conflicting good" roads meas
ures going upon the ballot at the com
ing election and the possibility of de
feat of all good roads legislation.
Friends and foes of the different plans
have been requesting the governor to
appoint such a committee of represen
taive men and it is hoped they will bo
able to reconcile all differences and
bring about an agreement as to a plan
which wilf' receive the Indorsement of
all and thereby Insure the passage of
good roads legislation.
"It this committee does get together,
it will not necessarily mean that all
measures prepared by the highway com
mission will be withdrawn. Is I under
stand there is no disagreement' .over
some of them.'.' said Governor West.
."The work of thecpmmlttee, will likely
affect principally the bondirjg bill and
the highway commissioner bill,
"But should the committee fall . to
get together, each. -school of good roads
advocates will be free t go, ahead and
fight for its own bills."
This la an opportunity for all who
(Continued on Page Two.)
THE IRRIGATION CONGRESS
raw
) BY COMMITTEE
s A4 R-THOHPSOM-
HAD A FEW PERSONAL "
SUGGEST! ONS TO OFFER?.
BACKGROUND! CASE
Graft of Earthquake Days
; Will Be Unfolded in Belated
. Trial of San Francisco's
Former Musician-Mayor.
IN THOSE DAYS RUEF GOT
MUCH CORPORATION GOLD
$20,000 Paid Him by Gas
Company, of Which $13,350
Bribed Council, It Is Said.
(fritted Press Leased Wlr.
Ban- Francisco, Feb. 21. Recalling
vividly In circumstance and general at
mosphere the famous graft prosecution
of former years, the trial of former
Mayor. Eugene E. Schmlts was Jjegun, to
day before a Jury in Judge Lawlor's
court on a charge of complicity in the
giving of a bribe of $750 to former Su
pervlsor Andrew M. Wilson for his vote
On the ordinance which raised the gas
rate to 85 cents in March. 1908. With
the facts of the case slightly stripped
of "interest through the general famil
iarity of the details, the dominant note
of interest In the trial, as Indicated by
the attitude of the crowd in the court
room, lies In conjecture as to ' what
course Abraham Ruef will take when he
is put upon the stand.
Ruef. sitting back of Schmltz and his
attorneys, took the keenest interest, ap
parently, in the- proceedings, indulging
now and then in whispered conferences
with his own attorneys, Bert Schlesln-
ger and George Keane who, is it antlcl
pated, will keep a close check upon the
course of Ruef s testimony when he
takes the stand. .
" Assistant District Attorney Berry
in hia opening ' statement to the Jury
reviewed the course of the gaa ordi
nance Introduced by Supervisor Davis
,in January 1906 which gave rise to the
phase or the grait situation upon wnicn
Schmlta is being prosecuted. , Berry
saiai - r -
Eire Baef at tlOOO a Month.
''It appears that for soma time prior
tojhe passage of the ordinance,,Abraham
Ruef, politician and political boss, hav
Ing influence with the mayor and super
visors, undertook to act as counsel at
tlOOO a moath for: the gas company,
which naturally was deeply Interested
la the question of 75 cent and 85 cent
gas. Assuch counsel Ruef received
from Frank O. Dm mm $20,000, osten
sibly as attorney's fees, but actually for
bribes to secure the passage of the or
dlnance in the form which was finally
signed by Mayor Schmlta - fixing the
rate at 85 cents.
Supervisors Oet a Cut.. C
"We will show that Ruef tookf$18,S50
of this sum and gave It to Supervisor
James Gallagher to distribute in $780
(Continued on Page Two.)
T
E
Trains Running Out. ot the Jorthen
Provinces Into Texas Are Crowded
With Refugees; - Federals In Dis
guise Are, Swarming Into Juarez.
(Pnltcfl Press leased Wire. I
El Paso, Texas, Feb. 21. American
women and children today are being
rushed from northern Mexico to places
of safety in Texas. All northbound
trains are crowded. Traffic on the
Mexican , Northwes tern 1 road , Jbas l been
resumed, the rebels, permitting the re
pairing of the damaged bridges.
Many federal soldiers, disguised in
civilian clothing,, are entering" Jueare.
Arms and ammunition are being sent to
that city from El Paso.
By sending federal soldiers into
Juarez in small parties, dressed in civil
ian clothes, it Is posnible for Madero
to reinforce the garrison there without
battling with the Vasquistas. It was
learned here today that the federal
forces hye two ; machlhe guns at
Juarez. - It is thouprht these guns were
taken there from El PUso.
NOW IN SESSION
BROUGHT A MESSAGE
FROM PRES.TA.yT. fl
AMERICANS RUSH
BR
UN
CHILDREN
ACROSS
MEXICAN
EVELT TIES
r
(UMUdlVt
STAND IN SPEECH
Colonel in Columbus Address
Pledges Himself for Initia
tive and Referendum and
Goes on Record for Recall.
HE WARMLY APPLAUDS
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
Generally Outlines Position on
Which May Make Race
for Chief Office.
(United Press Leased Wire.)
Columbus, Ohio, Feb. .21. Pledging
himself flatly as for the Initiative and
referendum, the short ballot, direct
nominations by the people, the presi
dential preference primary, the election
of United States senators by direct vote
and In a measure, going on record for
the recall, former President Theodore
Roosevelt here today addressed the
Ohio state constitutional convention and
outlined, as he has never done so fully
before. Just 'where he stands as to
the progressive policies on which It is
believed he .may again become a 'candi
date for the presidency.
Welcomed to Columbus by cheering
crowds, Colonel Roosevelt also received
an ovation when he appeared In the
convention hall. With littla delay' he
plunged into his speech which waa dis
tributed for publication to the news
paper agencies under the title "A Char
ter of Democracy." ,r ;
It was estimated that more than 10,000
persons heard Colonel Roosevelt" s
speech; A demonstration which lasted
several minutes greeted his appearance
in me convention hail, cheers, the "rebel
yell." handclapplng and the waving of
handkerchlefa-making the hall a pande
monium of noise and color. :
Roosevelt's speech was repeatedly In
terrupted by thunders Of applause,
tmea Woiiy Beoeption. ,
Colonel Roosevelt was tendered an
enthusiastlo reception at the state house
where thousands Of persons had 'gath
ered. V The former president, acknowl
edged the welcome wllth a broad smile
and then turned to greet John Faokler
and Walter Brown, leaders .., of the
RorfseVeft'mfev'ement Jn-Ohlo. '
Colonel Roosevelt was escorted to the
convention chamber by Delegate Beafty.
It became known this afternoon that
hundreds of persons gained admission
ta the hall by means of spiirtous tick
ets. Genuine admission tickets were
stolen from Delegate Peck at his hotel
last night and despite the fact that
new ones-were printed the stolen tlck-
(Continuad on Page Six.)
MORE SHORTAGES IN
ACCOUNTS OF VATER
E
Identity of Clerk or Clerks Jtespon
sible for Shortages Not Learned;
Neither Is Full, Amount Known;
Snodgrass Not Yet Located. -
i Still further shortages were discov
ered yesterday by the corps of experts
at work checking the accounts ot the
city water department What ' the
amount or tnese are or what clerk or
clerks are responsible for them could
not oe ascertained mis morning.
Mr, Whitfield and the majyor held a
twenty-minute conference In the mayor's
tbfflfe this morning. It Is practically
certain that the expert divulged Import
ant information at the meeting.
, "Have you reported any further short
ages to the mayor V Mr. Whitfield was
asked 'just after ha left the mayor's
office. .- ' t'K : ;
The expert hesitated a moment and
then replied: "Tou will have to see
the mayor about that":
The mayor has ordered that the ex
amination of the books continue all day
tomorrow.
Detectives at work trailing Fred
Knoderasa. who la said to be short In
his accounts, have not yet succeeded
in. locating him, but It Is said that the
sleuths have learned that Snodgrass
left the city and they expect to dis
cover .his exact whereabouts within the
next few days. . . - ., ,
E
PF,
CDnl(1 Fr" tsistii Wlr. "
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Feb. 21. Ergl
neer Mansfield, waa wounded In the arm
I near Bertram early today when he frus
trated an attempt by five bandits to
hold up a" passenger train on th CM
' caga Northwcatern railroad. In .
obedience to a command to Stop thi
train. Mansfield opened the throttl sn.t
past Bertram. As the engine rn","f"l
the robbers sent a volley of sr
through the cab window, one of wMot
nl'uck Mansfield in th arnt.
J Engineer Mansfield as snt to a
hospital, where It was said lit injry
was not serious.,- '
' rt Is believed that the hand'lt w
tl'p 1- 'iff that the f-xprenn cur ' -1
iJUUlUu!!X.lnl'E-l.,Pr'",""f '' '
, and valuables.-, "the. tmm iif-.e i , -
his charga shlpmen.of g''.l s" ' '
.coin and registered. ja' !; -it.
$100,000.
r mn nnnnnropiw
Mini r
OFFTC
DISCOVERED
NGINEER SHOT IER
TRAIN
HOLDU
IS