Image provided by: Hood River County Library District; Hood River, OR
About The Maupin times. (Maupin, Or.) 1914-1930 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 1915)
WORLD'S DOINGS OE CURRENT WEEK Brief Resume of General News From All Around the Earth. UNIVERSAL HAPPENINGS IN A NUTSHP' Live News Items of All Nations and Pacific Northwest Condensed for Our Busy Readers. Russians report inflicting heavy loss on Turks in Caucasus campaign. British minister of war munitions declares he has control of 345 plants. A recent German military decree is said to have declared that peace is cer tain by October. Fetrograd joyfully announces the re pulse of a German naval force from the Gulf of Riga. After extensive inspection, the Ore gon hop crop for 1915 is estimated at less than 100,000Jales. Baron Kikujio Ishii, new Japanese minister of foreign affairs, is said to be a firm friend of United States. President Leonard, of the Chicago Stock Yards, declares the "foot and mouth" disease to be under control. William Barnes, Jr., speaking be fore the New York state constitutional convention, likened Roosevelt to Bis marck. General economy and thrift is being urged as a regular study in the public schools by the National Educational association. A Chicago packing house has been asked to name a. spot cash price for 1,000,000 head of American beef cattle delivered at Liverpool. United States consul at Sandakan, Borneo, says Turkish authorities are trying to incite Mohammedan resi dents of the Philippines to a religious war. I Under direction of the French, Ger man prisoners are transforming the antiquated towns of Morocco into strictly up-to-date cities, with all the very best modern buildings and im provements. Mail order liquor houses of Horn brook, Cal., just across the Oregon line, are Baid to be preparing for a big business, in anticipation of the going into effect of the prohibition law in Oregon and Washington Jan. 1, 1916. Forest fires in Lyttle Creek canyon, near San Bernardino, Cal., have leaped the fire brakes and are on their way into the spruce timber. The flames have already destroyed timber and watershed brush covering 2000 acres. Forty additional men have been sent. Sweeping reductions In the anthra cite freight rates of railroads handling 80 per cent of the country's anthracite production were ordered by the Inter state Commerce commission in a decis ion which held the carriers guilty of giving illegal preferential treatment to allied coal companies. Scarcity of men is a common com plaint in the farming district about Antelope, Mont. With one of the big gest harvests in the history of the country approaching, practically all the farmers are without sufficient help, and In many cases, it is said, women will have to take to the fields. The "song of hate" against England and written by a German, is deplored by newspapers of Berlin. The remains of Mrs. John D. Rocke feller have been interred and the place 01 burial is being guarded. The steamship Seward sailed from Seattle for Anchorage, Cook Inlet, with 600 tons of heavy steel rails and 1,500,000 feet of lumber for the gov ernment railroad. The rails will be used for construction of four miles of yard tracks at Anchorage. The lura- ber will construct bridges along the Matanuska river. Hiram Maxim is credited by the London correspondent of the Petit Parisien with having Invented a simple and inexpensive contrivance to protect soldiers from the effects of deadly gases employed in battle. This device is designed to cause the gases to rise and pass over the heads of the men against whom they are directed. Pope Bonedict has determined to make a new appeal for peace, accord' ing to the newspaper Roma, which de clares the pontiff is resolved to use every means within his power to bring about the desired result. He will ask the help of the Episcopate and, the newspaper asserts, is even considering the convocation of a universal council of the church at Rome. The British report regaining 1000 yards of front in their campaign gainst the Germans in Belgium. The bulk of the 1,050,000 estate left by John R. Lindgren, late vice president of the State Bank of Chi cago, will go to religious and educa tional institutions, according to his will, which was approved in court. The preliminary work of raising F-4, the United States submarine which went to the bottom March 26 with crew of 21 men, has begun. The salvors have succeeded in passing a four-inch Una under the derelict's hull. MRS. CHARLES REID RILEY J&iilill J ... ' ..... y , - ' si lilS?Sil! Mis Minnie Conrad, daughter of the late William G. Conrad, a Montana copper magnate, was married recently to Charles Reld Riley, who owns a large farm In Clark county, Virginia, near the Conrad home. Mrs. Riley and her sister Inherited $8,000,000. MEXICAN FORCES CROSS RIVER AND ATTACK AMERICAN TROOPS Brownsville, Tex. About 100 Mexi cans, under cover of darkness, Tues day night forded the RIo Grande near Mercedes, about 30 miles up the river from here, and partly surrounded 21 men of the 21st United States cavalry, They killed one trooper and wounded two. For a time it was reported that the Mexicans were advancing on Mer cedes, but at midnight all had disap peared. Soldiers and posses are searching the brush for them. Tne battle at the crossings was short but sharp. The troopers are un able to say whether the main body of Mexicans crossed to attack them or whether the crossing was a cloak to cover crossings at other nearby river points. In addition to darkness, the Mexl cans had the cover of thick brush and bends of the river. During the height of the fighting the soldiers said many shots were fired from the Mexican bank opposite their camp. This camp was near Progreso, an excellent ford: where man and horse could cross with ease at a gallop, and where for two days cavalrymen and rangers have been watching the gatherings of Mexi cans in considerable numbers. A Mex ican at this point fired on the Boldiers but hit no one. Hanger Lieutenant Reynan in an early report said he understood 270 Mexicans had crossed and that they were coming to attack Mercedes. The report from Ranger Reynan said that the Mexicans had crossed the river in three bands. Mercedes according to details of troops in that region, should have available 70 Unit ed States cavalrymen and half a doz en rangers for protection, besides vig ilantes who have been organized in force there. Roynan said It was reported that in addition to the Mexicans who had crossed the river, a large number of others were lined up on the Mexican side. Reinforcements of rangers and sol diers from Harllhgen were hurriedly ordered to Mercedes by automobile, Harltngen Is about 15 miles from Mer cedes. Mexicans who crossed the river would have seven or eight miles to cover before they reached Mercedes, Reinforcements to Mercedes should reach there ahead of the Mexicans, ac cording to officers at Brownsville. Russians Resist Bitterly. Rotterdam, via London. No point is yielded by the Russians to the ad vancing Germans until the railroad bridges and everything else of mill tary value has been destroyed, accord ing to German reports received here. The Cologne Gazette admits the diffi culties confronting the invaders and says: "The great area west of the Vistula is covered by ceaseless pro cessions of wagons bringing up sup plies. An incredible amount of work has to be done. Only by herculean exertions have we been able to carry supplies over tne Vistula." Russia Court America. Milan. Italv. via Paris. A lnnir Aa. natch from Petrmrrad outlining thn situation in Russia, which gives the impression of being inspired by Ser eins Sftxannff. RursIati fnrolp-n nilnta. ter, is published by the Corriere Delia sera, ine article says in conclusion: "The proposal for a Russian-Japanese alliance finds no oimnsltlnn rm rnmli. tlon that it be not aggressive against (. Ulna and even less so against Ameri ca, whose friendship is necessary Russia." to Wilson Studies Union Pay. Washington, D. C -Demands of ma chinists at the Washington navV yard for increased pay were taken up by president V lison in a conference with a committee representing the work men. The president promised to discuss their demands as soon as possible wnn secretary Daniels. N. P. Allfas, president of the local branch of the machinists' union, said the delegation was much encouraged by the presi dents attitude. , Foodstuff Price Treble. Paris. A dispatch from Bucharest says that Austrian and German agents at points along the Roumanian fron tier are paying three times the normal price for wheat, corn, hay, flax, peas and beans exported from that country. This is the result of heavy export tax. STANDARD WAGES THOUGHT TOO LOW Company Blamed for Strike by federal Investigators. PAY LESS THAN COMFORTABLE LIVING Settled Policy Toward Employes Is Criticised Laws Against Child Labor Strongly Opposed. Chicago. The report of George P. West and C. T. Chenery, who investi gated the July, 1915, strike of the Standard Oil Company employes at Bayonne, N. J., for the United States Commission on Industrial Relations, was made public by Frank P. Walsh, chairman of-the commission. The re port said, In part, after stating that the strike was against the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey: The company is the most import ant of the Standard Oil group and this group is the principal contributor to the wealth prestige and power of the largest estate in the country, if not in the world, that of John D. Rocke feller, Sr., and his Immediate family. The facts regarding the company's labor policies must, therefore, be re garded as of special significance be cause of the tremendous power wield ed by the group of men who control this Industry and because of their an nounced intention to enter the field of industrial relations with a view to widening their 'influence and activity, propagating what they deem to be the proper theories and principles that should govern the relations between employer and employe." The following findings of fact are to be considered in the light of the foregoing: "The Standard Oil company, of New Jersey, although conducting an enor mously profitable enterprise, pays wages too low to maintain a family on a comfortable, healthful basis. "It fixes wages, not with relation to the earnings of the company, but by taking into consideration wages paid by other companies in the same locality and then fixing the wage as low or lower than the prevailing wage in that locality. In Bayonne it paid common laborers less than those of two companies whose plants adjoin its refineries. This is in direct con tradiction to the claims of the com pany in a statement issued at 26 Broadway that it has always paid the prevailing wage or better. The state ment of the general manager of the company that the Interests of other companies in the same locality are considered In the fixing of wages con stitutes in effect an admission that the company combines with the poor est and least generous employers to fix the wage rate. "The company has instituted no ma chinery by which real or fancied grievances may be peacefully and promptly adjusted. The officials say that any man has access to the gen eral superintendent, but the employes allege that they would be discharged before reaching the office. "General Manager Gifford is not a believer in child-labor legislation, and on the other hand, thinks the children should be allowed to go to work earlier. He and Mr. Hennessy appar ently have little respect for the for eign-born men whose labor produces the company's earnings and are pro ponents of the extremely individual istic and reactionary industrial theor ies discarded by enlightened employ ers and by economists many years ago." The report then recited that the company employed a detective agency of New York City to furnish guards and strikebreakers. It quoted the at torney for the agency as referring to these men as " a lot of thugs." The in vestigators added: "Their appear ance amply justified his use of the term. "The strike was broken by Sheriff Eugene Kinkhead," the report stated. "who first overawed and disorganized the strikers by assaulting and arrest ing one of their leaders and then strengthened his control over them by promising to use his Influence to ob tain an Increase in wages and by ar resting 30 or the armed guards." Cancer Foe Discovered. New York. The Rockefeller insti tution announoed through the Acad emy of Science at Washington a dis covery by two of its investigators whereby immunity from cancer, It is hoped, may be obtained. The investi gation was conducted over a period of two years. The doctors discovered that in the white lymph cells of the blood there are the necessary factors in making animals immune from can cer. A decided increase of the cells gives absolute immunity, the physi cians declare they ascertained. Soil Studied In Prison. Martinez, Cal. Henry Kuckel re turned to his home here Monday on parole from San Quentin penitentiary, where he Berved one and a half years of a seven-year sentence for forgery, to accept a position as soil expert in California for an agricultural imple ment concern. Kuckel occupied his time in prison by taking a correspond ence course In agriculture from the University of California, in which he won three degrees. St Louis Strike Ended. St. Louis. Tha strike of 1500 trans fer company teamsters and chauffeurs which began here last Friday has been settled. A general wage increase of 50 cents a week, a reduction of about one hour in the working day and bet ter working conditions are granted the men. ILLS Of BUSINESS HEARD BY BOARD Federal Commission Is Asked to Give Remedial Advice. LUMBER INDUSTRY IS INJURED MOST Existing Depression Laid at Door of European War and Removal of Protection of High Tariff. Busines in the Pacific Northwest is bad that was freely and frankly and almost unanimously admitted before the Federal Trade commissioners hear ing held in Portland. But what caused it to be bad, and how to improve it, were elements in the situation that brought forth many conflicting the ories. All witnesses were agreed, how ever, that the commission can be and should be of material assistance in bringing about the improvement. There was universal agreement, too, on the proposition that the lumber in dustry is the backbone of business in 0RVILLE WRIGHT New photograph of OrvlTle Wright, who, as a member of the new board of experts, will place at the command of the navy department his great knowledge of aeroplanes and aero nautic. the Pacific Northwest, and that the lumber industry, more than any other, is experiencing distressing demoraliz ation. Most attention was given to the lumber situation in the1 hearing that occupied the attention of the commis sion for four hours, but the grain situ ation, the fruit situation and various other industries that represent the Pacific Northwest received ample at tention. The commission's hearings were in formal, although all the testimony was transcribed for future reference by the commission. The session was opened by Joseph h. Davies, the chairman, who subsequently asked C. C. Colt, of Portland, to preside. The various elements that have con tributed to the present stagnation of the lumber industry were presented for the commission s review. Foremost in the list of causes was placed the diminishing demand due to the European war, but next in order and closely behind it were placed care less financing and speculation. Diffi culty in obtaining charters also was named as a contributing factor, and this condition, it was pointed out, was due entirely to the war. The commission also received some written testimony in addition to the oral evidence, and some of theBe doc uments emphasized the tariff as the probable cause of depression in some branches of the lumber industry, par ticularly the shingle industry. Re moval of the shingle tariff has permit ted shingles manufactured in British Columbia to enter into unnatural com petition with the shingle manufac turers of Oregon and Washington. Argentine Warned by Carranza. Buenos Ayres Dr. Victorino de la Plaza, president of Argentina, has re ceived a telegram from Gen. Venus- tiano Carranza, first chief of the Mexi can Constitutionalists, which asserts that the Washington conference, should it decide tP interfere in Mexican af fairs, would commit an unpardonable error. "Argentina," says the dispatch. "has made herself an accomplice fn a crime against our race which possibly may help to bring on a war between two American nations. Young Turks Scorn Chief. Rome Reports have been received from Constantinople that the Young Turks held a meeting at which Enver Pasha, Turkish minister of war, argued the necessity for breaking relations with Italy and thus freeing Turkey from the "leading spy," namely, the Italian ambassador, and simultaneously adopting severe measures against the Italians. Alter long discussion, it is reported, the meeting decided to postpone a deflntie decision. MflDTUlAPQT MSDKFT DCPnDTC- 1 1 v 1 1 1 tin mj i iunmu.1 vmui i GENERAL CROP CONDITIONS Portland Wheat: Bluestem, $1.04 bushel; forty-fold, $1.01; club, $1.01; red Fife, 98c; red Russian, 94c. Millfeed Spot prices: Bran, $27 ton; shorts, $28; rolled barley, $28.50 29.50. Corn Whole, $38 ton; cracked, $39. Hay Eastern Oregon timothy, $16 17; valley timothy, $15; alfalfa, $12.5013.50; cheat, $1111.60; oat and vetch, $1212.50. Vegetables Cucumbers, Oregon, 15 20c dozen; artichokes, 90c; toma toes, 25 50c box; cabbage, 1 lie pound; head lettuce, $1 crate; beans, 24c; pound; green corn, 1620c dozen; garlic, 1012Jc pound; pep pers, 67c; eggplant, 67c; pump kins, lie Green Fruits Cantaloupes, $12.25 crate; peaches, 3060c box; water melons, ljljc pound; plums, 60c $1.25 box; new apples, Astrachans, 76c $1; Gravenstein, $1.25 1.50; pears, $11.50; grapes, $1.251.50 crate; huckleberries, 8c pound; casa- bas, $1.75 crate. Potatoes New, 7075c Back. Onions 75c sack. Eggs Oregon ranch, buying prices: No. 1, 24c dozen; No. 2, 19c; N6. 3, 15c. Jobbing price : No. 1, 26c. Poultry Hens, 13 14c pound; springs, 16c; turkeys, 1819c; ducks, 812c; geese, 810c. Butter City creamery, cubes, ex tras, 27c pound; first, 25c; seconds, 24c; prints and cartons, extra; but- terfat, No. 1, 28c; second grade, 2c less; country creamery cubes, 2025c. Hops 1915 contracts, 1314c; 1914 crop, 14c; olds, 1213c. Wool Eastern Oregon, medium, 25 c; Eastern Oregon fine, 1821ic; valley, 2630c; mohair, new clip, SO 31c. Cascara bark Old and new, 4c. Cattle Best Bteers, $6.507; good, $6.256.50; medium,' $66.25; choice cows, $5.355.50; heifers, $4.75 6.50; bulls, $3.505; stags, $56.25. Hogs Light, $77.30; heavy, $6 7.20. Sheep Wethers, $4.755.10; ewes, $34.25; lambs, $56. Portland At the opening of the market Thursday morning there were over 1300 head of cattle at North Portland and three loads arrived from Central Oregon during the forenoon, says the Portland Live Stock Reporter. Buyers from all the smaller local pack ing plants were on hand, as well as from Puget Sound points, and trading opened with considerable Bpirit. A Puget Sound packer bought the greater part of the best offerings, paying $7 for the top steers, and he got some very 'good steers for $6.75. The Smaller local packers were interested bidders and each, got some good cattle, Just before noon a load of fat steers of poor type were sold to a local packer at $6.05. Up to noon the majority of the purchases had been made by the Puget Sound and nearby packers, and nearly half of the stuff had been sold. The market was practically on steer basis, as there were only a few cows offered and only three or four bulls. Most of the steers offered. however, were of killer quality and of weights that killers require. While the market Btarted out steady and most of the best stuff was sold before noon at prices which correspond with those of last week, the larger local packing interests are bidding lower. Oregon Crop Report. August 1 crop estimates by the United States department of Agricul ture are as follows : Winter wheat Forecast, 14,000,000 bushels; final, 1914, 13,684,000. Spring wheat Forecast, 3,650,000 bushels; final, 1914, 2,920,000. Oats Forecast, 14,300,000 bushels; hnal, 1914, 12,740,000;. Barley Forecast, 4,240,000 bushels; final, 1914, 3,660,000. Potatoes Forecast, 6,730,000 bush els; final, 1914, 4,753,000. Hay All tame; forecast, 1,740,000 tons; final, 1914, 1,716,000. Apples Forecast, 3,400,000 bush els; final, 1914, 8,600,000. Mule's Machinery Good. Olympia, Wash. Edward Kelly, a teamster at Vancouver, Wash., was given a blank to report to the Industrial Insurance commission on his injuries, resulting from his being kicked by a mule while in pursuit of his duties, The commission received the follow ing: "State part of the machinery on which accident occurred.". Answer, "Hind part of a mule." "Was the machinery in good working order?" Answer, "Yes." Kelly's claim for $27.65 for 24 days' lost time on ac count of the accident was allowed. Hopyard Reports Are Better. More favorable reports are coming in from the Oregon hopyards. The warmer weather, in combination with the vigorous spraying operations, has at last got the better of the lice. The yards are by no means clean as yet, but good progress is being made toward that goal, and if the weather only continues right, there will be little to fear from mold. No business is passing in local market, and quiet conditions also prevail in California. Wenatchee Pears Moving Fast. Wenatchee Wenatchee pears are going into the market in full force. The shippers say the fruit is of extra fine quality this year and that the growers are putting up a good pack. Thirteen outbound cars rolled Satur day. Warren O. Dow, manager of the Wenatchee-North Central Fruit Dis tributors, has received notice of large sale of apple to Steinhardt & Kelley, of New York, at geod price. SIX INDICTED FOR EASTLAND DISASTER Charges of Manslaughter and Negligence Are Made. JURY HOLDS SHIP WAS UNSEAWORTHY Company Officials Accused of Guilty Knowledge and Ballast Was Not Understood by Engineer. Chicago Indictments charging man slaughter and criminal carelessness were returned before Judge Kersten in the criminal court Thursday in connec tion with the Eastland disaster. The captain and engineer and four officers of the St. Joseph-Chicago Steamship company, owners of the boat, were named. Those indicted were: George T. Arnold, president of the company; William H. Hull, vice president and general manager; W. C. Steele, Becretary-treasurer; Ray W. Davis, assistant secretary-treasurer; Harry Pedersen, captain; Joseph M. Erickson, engineer. Bonds were fixed at $20,000 each for the company officials and $10,00 each for Pedersen and ErickBon. The two last named are charged with criminal carelessness, and the officials with manslaughter. Separate bills were returned against the captain and the engineer, while the four officials were named in a joint indictment. The bill against the offi cials contained five counts, charging: 1. That they knew the Eastland was unseaworthy and had no stability. 2. That they permitted 2500 pass engers aboard the vessel, which is more than its carrying capacity. 3. That they were negligent in hiring an incompetent engineer, who, because of his lack of skill, was unable to control the boat properly. 4. That the crew did not number , enough handa to manage and control the Eastland properly. 5. That the ballast tanks were al lowed to be out of repair and not filled with water. Against Captain Pedersen these charges were brought: I: That he permitted aboard the boat a larger number of passengers than she could safely carry. 2. That he neglected to warn the passengers to leave the Eastland when it became apparent to him that she was about to turn over. 3. That he was negligent in not seeing that the ballast tanks were properlyifilled and in good repair. 4. That he was negligent in not seeing that the chalk holes and gang ways were closed when the ship was loaded. The counts in the indictment of Erickson are in essential Bimilar to those against Pedersen. The report of the grand jury finds that the disaster was caused by "in stability under conditions of loading," and says that the instability was due to "one of three main causes, or any two, or all three of them," as follows: Firgt The overloading of the vessel with passengers. Second The. mishandling pf water ballast. Third The construction of the ves sel. Public Should Bite the Bubble to Be Safe at Drinking Fountains Washington, D. C "Bite the bub ble" is the latest "health hint" from the United States Public Health and Marine Hospital service. An expert for the Marine Hospital service says : "If improperly constructed or im- properly used, the bubbling drinking fountain may be a greater menace to health than the common drinking cup. The other day an inspector of the Public Health Bervice took a seat be Bide a bubbling drinking fountain in a railway station and watched the way it was used. Forty-seven different per sons, 11 men, 22 women and 14 chil dren used the bubbling fountain. In almost every case the lips were placed almost completely around the metal ball from which the water spurted. Navy Swindle Charged. Washington, D. C George D. Will, a clerk in the bureau of navigation of the Navy department, was arrested Saturday on a warrant charging con spiracy in that he was concerned in a scheme to obtain sums of money from enlisted men of the navy for transfers. Government investigators say they have found evidence of a conspiracy to collect payments ranging from $25 to $50 from enlisted men for transfers and promotions to which they were rightfully entitled. Northwest Business Big. Washington, D. C. Reports re cevied by comptroller of the currency from bank examiners in the Northwest on business conditions in that section are digested as follows by the comp troller: "There is unusual activity in Alaska trade. The livestock, agricul ture, fruit, dairyit g and salmon in dustries are sIbo active. The lumber and building trades alone are reported as being depressed. The cereal crop ; will be unusually good."