Entered at the Post Office at Athena, Oregon, as Second-Class Mall Matter
VOLUME 47.
ATHENA, UMATILLA COUNTY, OREGON, FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 9. 1926
NUMBER 28
AMERICAN NAVAL
THEORYJEJECTEO
Big Principle Scrapped When
Minority Report on Issue
Is Voted Down.
Geneva. The Americans met defeat
on naval problems Their minority re
port, to which Great Britain, Argentina
and Chile had subscribed and made
their own, was definitely rejected et a
meeting of disarmament experts. ' .
Only the signers themselves eup
ported it, fourteen others voted against
It and Germany declined to cast a bal
lot. The minority report- contended
that the naval strength of the various
countries should be compared by the
tonnage of classes of ships, rather than
by total tonnage. ' N,
The disarmament meeting then
adopted the majority report of the na
val sub-committee.
The significance of the action is
that one of the fundamental principles
of the. Washington "naval treaty is
scrapped.'" This principle is that in
comparing navies of countries the
standard should be the tota tonnage
of classes of ships, as for instance
battleships. The report finally ap
proved rejects the standard as unfair
In its application to the countries
which did not participate in the Wash
ington conference. , f
The United States gave notice to
the military committee on the pre
paratory disarmament commission that
it would never agree to placing super
vision of its armaments in the hands
of any international body.
The United States also made plain
that it could not place the carrying
out of any program of limitation of
armaments in the hands of an inter
national body.
DRY ORGANIZATION
:v-SITOWLUflNS
Washington, D. C Expenditures of
more than 17,000.000 by the anti-saloon
leagues in 22 states during the past six
years were disclosed by additional re
ports filed with the senate campaign
funds committee by Wayne B. Wheel
er, counsel for the national dry organ
ization. These states include New York,
Maryland and Rhode Island, which
alone have no local dry enforcement
statutef as well . as Pennsylvania,
Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin," Iowa,
Missouri and Kentucky.
While the state organizations con
tribute certain parts of their income
to the national anti-saloon league, it
was developed from Mr. Wheeler, that
both the national and state organiza
tions do their own collecting independ
ently of each other.
It was revealed, among other things,
that Richmond Pearson Hobson, s a
field agent for the prohibition cause
for many years, received a total of
$171,249 over a period of nine years,
or almost $20,000 a year. He was a
lecturer and organizer. i f ;
William Jennings Bryan, prohibition
ist, fundamentalist churchman and
democratic presidential candidate, re
ceived $11,000 from the Anti-Saloon
league in 1919 for making prohibition
speeches, it was shown.
AVIATION OFFICIALS NAMED
Senate Confirms Men for Nw Posi
tions Created by Congress.
Washlngtea, P. C Less than two
hours after it bad been transmitted to
the senate by President Coolidge, the
nomination of F. Trubee Davison of
New York to be assistant secretary of
war in charge of aviation, was eon
firmed.; ,
The senate also confirmed the nom
ination of Edward P. Warner, profes
sor of aeronautics at Massachusetts In
stitute of Technology, to be assistant
secretary of the navy In charge of
aviation. -
Davison and Warner will hold posts
created under legislation just enacted
by congress with a view to strengthen.
Jng the army and navy air services.
Another measure, which also carried
out recommendations of the presi
dent's air board, provides for an as
lstant secretary of commerce to have
charge of the new bureau of civil
aeronautics, but no one has been de
signated as yet for that post
- carson city, ev. A state referen
dum on the liquor Question is asked
In a petition bearing the names of
fO per cent of Nevada's voters, filed
In the secretary of state's office. .
HARVESTING MACHINES ANQ
ICBKSKJTO ACTION
Operations in the harvest fields
are swineine into action in the Athe
na wheat belt this week, and with
favorable weather, the peak of , har
vest activity will be reached the fore
part, of next .' week, and every ma
chine in the district will be at work.
A number of new machines have
been started, The new International
distributed by Rogers- & Goodman
are" giving good account of themsel
ves. and are handling the heavy
straw growth without any difficulty
whatever, much to the satisfaction of
the firm and the wheatgrower who
purchased the machine. ; .
General reports from the harvest
fields so far are placing the yield of
Federation at 40 bushels and better,
with a few fields around 35 per acre.
All reports concur 1 in the statement
that Federation is grading high this
year, around 60 to 61 pounds to the
bushel.
- Grain is coming to the local stor
age houses this" week," especially the
bulk product, and every facility is at
hand to take care of it promptly. No
sales have been reported, -
The first serious grain fire was re
ported from the section south of Mil
ton. There fire, starting from the
backfire of a combine engine destroy
ed the combine, 60 acres of stubble
field and the sacked wheat cut from
the field, a barn full of hay an unus
ed residence and 120 acres of stand
ing rain. '
The fire started on the Robert G.
Still place, where all the damage
was done with the exception, of the
120 acres of standing wheat on tha
Lillard York ' place adjoining. The
wheat was insured, but the rest of
the property was not.
On account of the hot dry weather
extra precautions are being taken
against fire occurrence in the fields.
As a rule the Athena farmer carries
'insurance on his growing crop.
"JUNE HEAT AVERAGE
June was a warm month in a suc
cession of warm months, according
to the monthly report sent out by
the weather bureau. The mean tem
perature for the month was 71.5 de
grees, while the normal for June is
but 65.5 degrees, giving the past
month an average daily excess of
five degrees. According to the re
cords every month for the past year
and a half has been above normal in
heat with the exception of one month
in 1925. An excess of 862 degrees
has been accumulated since January
1.
BOY'S LEG BROKEN
While Joseph Thomas, 10-year-old
son of Mrs, Lloyd Thomas, was rid
ing in a car with a young friend,
Howard i Dunlap, on their wheat
ranch near Barrett station, Howard
turned suddenly, not knowing Joseph
was on the running board, and the
latter fell off, the car running over
him and breaking his leg near the
hip. The other boy had to run about
three miles for assistance.' Joseph
was taken 12 miles to St. Mary's
hospital, Walla WftHft.
GIRL BITTEN BY DOG
The 10-year-old daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. E. H. Edwards of Touchet
was severely bitten about the face
and hands by a dog which had at
tacked a baby sister of the child The
dog turned upon the older child when
she attempted to pull it away from
the baby. Treatment with anti
rabies serum was administered at
the hospital in Walla Walla to which
the child was rushed. So far she is
not iH from the wounds. -
BUCKS AND BEARS TIE
Pendleton Jumped into a tie for the
league leadership with Walla Walla
in the Blue Mountain league by tak
ing a 2 to 1 contest Sunday. The
winners scored their last run in the
last of the ninth when Walla Walla
threw .the ball away in an attempt to
get a runner at third. The deciding
game will be played at Pendleton,
Sunday.
FOURTH QUIET HERE
. The Fourth of July passed off
quietly in Athena. Many ' went to
where a big crowd congregated Mon
day, Others celebrated at Freewater,
where a big crow congregated Mon
day. Athena stores remained closed
11 day,
NEW ICE HOUSE
Allie Bell and Claud Dickenson are
building an ice house near the Jen
sen Blacksmith shop.
MONEY GONE, WORK ON
ATTALfA OIL WELL STOPS
Due to lack of finances, operations
at the Columbia Basin oil well, two
miles northwest of Attalia were dis
continued last week, says the Attalia
News Tribune, which continues: It
is hoped by the officers of the com
pany, however, that enough money
can be raised among the stockholders
so that work, may be resumed within
a few weeks.
Actual work has been -carried on
at the ' well" -for the past two years
by Carl . Kupers, - president of the
company, E. B. Vogel, vice president
and Arthur, Garrett, who have re
ceived no compensation for their la
bors. , Money that has been raised
has been used to pay for electric
power, equipment, etc., a large part
of the money being contributed by
the officers themselves.
Last week the electric power was
shut off by the power company since
the oil company was unable to pay
the May power bill. Signs have been
posted at the well, warning trespas
sers to ; keep out and gates to the
grounds locked. '
The Columbia Basin oil well was
"spudded in" July 11, 1920, virtually
six years ago, and work has been go
ing on steadliy since that time.
Heavy, oil showing have been struck
at various depths, the most notable
being at the 2912 foot level. The well
is now 3740 feet deep. At the time
of shutting down, pumping water
from hole was going on and good
progress had been made. Oil show
ings were reappearing as the water
was lowered and gas pressure was
exceptionally heavy.
Mr. Vogel stated that nothing de
finite is known as to when work may
be resumed, it depending entirely on
whether money can be secured to
continue. , "
NEW STATE GAME CODE
HAS BEEN REQUESTED
A new game-code which will cor
rect conflicts and inconsistencies in
the Oregon law is being drafted by
E. F. Averill, state game warden.
Sportsmen's organizations, deputy
game wardens and individual sports
men, have been requested to send in
any suggested changes.
When all the proposals are in the
list will be sent the sportsmen's or
ganizations for their approval and
then will be passed on by the state
commission. The attorney general
has promised to put it in legal form
for .presentation before the legisla
ture. The new measure, if passed,
will take effect in 1927.
BANK STATEMENT
On another page of today's edition
of the Press will be found the First
National Bank of Athena statement
to the comptroller of the currency of
its financial condition at the close of
business, June 30. The statement
shows loans amounting to $576,627,
16, deposits totalling $734,226.23, and
cash and exchange on hand, $227,
304.07, .
FOUR POISONERS ESCAPE
FROM PEN ARE CAPTURED
Four prisoners, Richard Moove,
Walter Michener and Richard Fran
zien, escaped from the Oregon pen
itentiary Friday afternoon, when
they cut their way through the wire
entanglement with a hatchet and
made their escape over the wall un
der the noses of the guard.
The four escapes made their way
to the vicinity of McMinnviile where
they 1 wandered ;around in the brush
and fields until they v were caught
Tuesday morning without battle, al
though two of them possessed auto
matic pistols. i
After a ceaseless vigil centering
about McMinnviile since 6 A. M. Sun
day on the part of a posse led by
Deputy Warden Golden of the peni
tentiary and Sheriff Manning of
Yamhill county, the quartet, which
had split up into pairs, were captur
ed. Moore and Franzien were taken
about 8:45 A. M. in a heavily wooded
ravine, while Fisher . and . Mitchenor
gave up when apprehended shortly
before 1 o'clock in a thick clump of
bushes not more than 100 yards off
the main highway on the northern
outskirts of the city.
Both captures came as climaxes to
well-organized sorties on the part oi
the possemen when the districts were
combed. And in each case the youth
ful desperadoes, haggard, sleepless
and without food since Sunday after
noon appeared glad the hunt was over.
TAX REFUND $5,000,000
The most beneficial measure for
Oregon which passed congress was
the Stanfield tax refunding bill for
counties in which the former Oregon
and California land grants are situ
ated, providing for repayment to
those counties of more than $5,000,
000 in back taxes. Another bill of
state interest is the charge-off re
clamation bill, readjusting water
right charges on the Klamath and
Umatilla irrigation projects.
ARTESIAN WELL STRUCK
An artesian well has been struck
on the John McGuire ranch in the
Russell Creek district by A. A. Dur
and, driller. The well gushed forth
when the drill had penetrated to a
depth of only 90 feet. This is said
to be a new record for the Walia
Walla valley. It is the first artesian
well to be struck in the Russell
Creek district.
COPPED THE FIREWORKS
When a practical joker copped the
fireworks , of the Freewater celebra
tion the evening program . was con
siderably curtailed. . The joker was
taken to jail for the offense. ...
BLALOCK LAKE '
Blalock Lake, Walla Walla's new
amusement park, was opened to the
public, Saturday July 3. The park
features dancing, boating and swimming.
MRS. HOOVER TURNS BRICKLAYER
1-8
1
Mrs. Herbert Hoover, wife of tho Secretary of Commerce In President
Coolidge'i cabinet, is shown laying the cornerstone for tho model homo being
erected by Better Homes in America organization at the Sesqui-Centennial
International Exposition, In Philadelphia, June 1 to December 1 to celebrate
150 years of American Independence. Opposite Mrg. Hoover stands Mrs. Vance
McConnick of Harri.sburg. The Girl Scouts grouped around the woman wiU
operr.te the house.
TRUCK BILL ON BALLOT
The bus and truck bill' will be plac
ed before the voters of Oregon at the
November election, it was announced
following the filing of petitions con
taining 24,641 certified names. The
petitions were filed with the Becre
tary of state by the Oregon Mqqf
Stage association. A schedule of
rates for licenses fqr motor . busses
and trucks, operated in Oregon is
provided in the measure, which is a
substitute for house bill 413 of the
1925 legislature. This bill is not be
ing attacked through the referendum.
ASKS BANKRUPTCY
An involuntary petition to have
Cameron-Yenney Grain company, a
corporation, adjusted bankrupt,- was
filed in the United States District
Court at Walla Walla. The petition
filed by the law firm3 of Sharpstein,
Smith and Sharpstein, and E. L. Cas
ey, is signed by five persons, as fol
lows: H. B. Kershaw , C. A. Hun
gate, C. L. Swezea, Frank Kent and
Guy Kent, Insolvency is alleged in
the petition.
INDIANS AT MOLALLA
A number of Umatilla Indians
participated in a rodeo given at Mo
lalla, Oregon,, July 4th, under direc
tion of Ben Jory, well known Round
Up performer,
Foolish Season Is Here
V ,; ' , ; , ;
f ... S "?l'm tes- v "
E. L. BARNETT EXPIRES AT
CLUB WHILE PLAYING CARDS
' E. L. Earnett, former resident of
Athena, retired business man, living
at 545 Tillamook street, - Portland,
dropped dead last Friday afternoon
while playing cards at the Lamb's
club in that city.
Deputy Coroner Ross, who investi
gated, stated that natural causes,
probably a weak heart, caused the
man's death,
Mr. Barnett is survived by his wid
ow, Nora W. Barnett, and by a son
and daughter, A. R. Barnett of Los
Angeles and Mrs. Mabel Chimento of
Seattle.
Mr. Barnett was a resident of
Athena for many years prior to go
ing to Portland. He engaged in the
mercantile business when he first
came to Athena, and afterward wa
cashier of th First National Bank
of Athena, being succeeded by Mr.
LeGrow, the present cashier. Mr.
Barnett was 71 years of age at the
time of his death.
LANDING FIELD NEEDED
Need for a landing field near Wal
la Walia was pointed out by those
interested as the result of the forced
landing there of a Varney mail air
plane, piloted by Jay Tate, says the
Union. Tate was unable 'to land at
Pasco, because of a windstorm, and
flew to Walla Walla, land on the Vet
erans Hospital reservation. The mail
was placed in an auto, and rushed
to Pasco by Tate. Tate had difficul
ty finding a place to alnd there, ho
stated, no fields being market.
NEW RAIL LINE UNDER WAY
A new railroad is being construct
ed from Ames crossing toward the
Sanger district in eastern Oregon. It
is expected the road will be complet
ed to the timber where the Grande
Ronde Lumber company will beln
logging operations next winter. Com
pletion of this road Is also awaited
by the Mother Lode Copper company,
which is carrying forward develop
ment work near the east terminal.
HOT DAYS HERE
The hot wave was felt in Athena
Sunday and Monday, when the mer
cury climbed close to century mark.
Monday at Walla Walla, temperature
records for the year were smashed
with 104 degrees.
SAVED BY SCOUT
Paul Durand, a thirteen-year-old
scout of Walia Walla, saved eight-year-old
Marcel Saxton from drown
in? in a swimming pool Mill creek,
Monday during a Fourth of July pic
nic, '
WASHINGTON BALLOT
For the first time since the Wash
ington state constitution was amend
ed in 1912, the general election ballot
of next November will carry neither
an initiative nor a referendum.
WENT SURPLUS
TOTALS $377,768,000
Amount Is Four Times What
Coolidge Earlier in Year
Expected.
Washington, D. C The federal gov
ernment closed its fiscal year, with
surplus of $377,768.000. .
This margin, although below th
estimate of, $390,000,000 recently-made
by President Coolidge, is almost four
times as large as was expected by the
president earlier in the year. The sur
plus will be used to reduce the publio
debt.
Both customs receipts and incom
taxes exceeded those of last year, th
latter despite the reductions in tax
rates made in the middle of the year.
The public debt during the last fis
cal year was reduced $85,000,000, mak
ing the total obligation now $19,433,
000,000. Secretary Mellon announced that tho
treasury was selling $43,000,000 of 44
per cent far loan bank bonds back
to the loan banks. These bonds, taken
by the government to establish a farm
loan bank system will be reissued to
the public at 4 1-8 per cent.
Moneys derived from the sale ot
those bonds will be placed In the treas
ury to stabilize the government's fi
nances until the next tax collection,
period in September. This fund, which
is now available, made the issuing ot
bonds on June 15 as was customary
to finance the government, unneces
sary."
The government revenues last year
were 53,962,755,000 and expenditures
$3,584,987,000.
Income tax receipts were $1,982,040,.
000, and customs collections $579,430,.
000.
CONGRESS PASSES
CO-OPERATIVE BILL
Washington, D. C The co-operative
marketing bill was the only farm re
lief measure to run the house and sen.
ato (jauntlet at this session.
After rejecting, 156 to 67, a motion
to send the measure to conference, the
house, without a record vote, approv
ed two senate amendments.
Sponsored by Secretary Jardine, It
would create a division in the agri
culture department to foster the de
velopment and work of farmers' co
operatives, and an appropriation ot
$225,000 would be authorized.
The bill was approved by the sen
ate arter it had rejected the Fess farm
credits bill, indorsed by President
CoclidRe, to which it had been pro
posed as a rider.
When it came back to the house
Representative McDuffie, democrat,
Alabama, moved to send it to confer
once. He was supported by a group
of democrats and a few republlcana
who opposed a senate amendment to
eliminate naval stores from the com
modities to be classified under the bill
as "agricultural products."
Tho other senate amendment, de
signed to broaden the scope of the
proposed co-operative division, wa$
acepled without debate.
HOUSE APPROVES PENSIONS
Civil and Mexican War Veterans to
Get More Money.
Washington, D. C. A senate bill
providing increases of pensions to
civil and Mexican war veterans and
dependents at an estimated cost to
tho government of $15,000,000 unnual
ly was passed by the housu without a
record vote.
Under the bill, it Ih estimated that
53,000 civil war veterans now getting
$50 a month would receive 65. Vet
erans receiving $72 a month would get
S90, if totully dlnabhd or blind, and
it is estimated 20 per cent of the 56,
000 men now on a $72 basis would bo
eligible for t!i Increase.
Tho pensions of 26,000 widows of
civil war veterans would bo increased
from $30 to $50 a month while civil
war nurses would receive $50 a month.
About 1100 widows of veterans of
the war of 1812 and Uio Mexican war
would bo eligible for an increase front
$30 to $50 a month.
Washington, I). C!.-Soeretarv of fW
Treasury Mellon authorized a denial
of a story cabled rrom Farls that be
had been ia private communication
with Finance Minister Caillaux ami
had given him assurance that artlcla
1 of the Franco-American debt agree
ment would uot be enforced.
i .'. i. - f'," .- -'