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About The Athena press. (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942 | View Entire Issue (July 23, 1926)
7 Entered at the Post Office at Athena, Oregon, aa Second-Class Mail Matter VOLUME 47. ATHENA, UMATILLA COUNTY, OREGON, FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 23. 1926 NUMBER 30 COMMISSION DENIES RAIL JATES BOOST Western Carriers Held by I. C. C. to Be in Sound Finan cial Condition. Washington, D. C. Declaring that no financial emergency existed In the western district as a whole, the inter state commerce commission denied the application of the railroads in that territory for a blanket increase of 5 per cent in freight rates. - ' It also denied the petition of secur ity holders of northwestern carriers for an additional 15 per cent horizon tal increase in rates in western trunk line territory, and held the earnings of the roads in the west as a whole had not been such as to warrant at this time a general downward revision of rates on farm products, including livestock. The commission admitted, however, there were many inequalities in the rates structures in certain sections of the west which should be corrected. Carriers in the west, the commis sion said, appear to be both "financial ly and physically sound," although it was added that certain of the import ant carriers in the northwestern re gion and in western trunk-line terri tory were not yielding 5.75 per cent, the figure held by it to be a fair re turn. It was added, however, that in the entire western district conditions had recently shown an "improving tendency." " ASSASSINS MURDER YOUNGPUBLISHER Canton, Ohio. Threats on the life of Don R. Mellett, 36, publisher of the Canton Daily News, because of his ac tivities against alleged gamblers, were carried out here. Five bullets brought to an end the career of the young publisher, who came here a year ago to publish the News, owned by James M. Cox, pub lisher of a number of Ohio papers. Mellett was putting his automobile in the garage in the rear of his home when the assassin's gun spoke. Neigh bors who heard the shots immediately dashed for the garage, but Mellett was dead a bullet through his left tem ple having ended his life almost in stantly. The slayers had disappeared in an automobile which they parked about a block from the Mellett home, No trace hag been found of the gun. men, but they are believed by police to have been hired to put an affective period to Mellett's crusade against the underworld of the city. RAILROAD TO USE RADIO Chicago, Milwaukee Will Link 2200 Mile System. Chicago. A system of short-wave radio communication designed to in sure the safe operation of trains even when blizzards or other catastrophes paralyze ordinary means of communi cation is to be installed by the Chica go, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad throughout its entire system, it was announced here. ; The company plans to connect its entire system by air, from Chicago to Seattle, a distance of 2200 miles. Transmitters and receivers for the ra dio operating system will be estab lished at pivotal stations and com munication will be in code. Killing Attacks Ship Marriages, Washington. Many couples who have been married on the high seas by the skippers of government ves sels may have to have the knot tied all over again just to be safe. In in structing the masters of all govern ment ships to discontinue the practice of performing marriage ceremonies, the general counsel of the shipping board said: "The master xf a mer chant vessel of the Uniterd States" has bo authority to perform the marriage ceremony." lee Truck Lures Red From Films, Hollywood, Cal, Admitting he was a "big flop" before the cameras, "Red" Grange quite the movies on short no tice and announced he was going back to the home town to resume bit ice business. Ex-Honduran President Dies New York. Dr. Francisco Bertrand, ex-president of Honduras, died of heart disease at La Celva, Honduras. He was St years old and was president of Honduras from 1910 until 1919. LAND SETTLEMENT IS THE INCREASE IN During the first six months of the present year 214 families settled on farms in Oregon and invested $650,' 374. That is the official record of the Land Settlement Department of the Portland Chamber of Commerce whose work is co-ordinated with that of the State Chamber in serv ing those who wish to come to the state to engage in agricultural pur suits. If a complete survey of all coun ties were taken, it would doubtless be found that the number of actual settlers is nearer the 1000 mark than the records show. In its work of encouraging real farmers to come to Oregon to de- velope the farming area of the state and increase the upstate population, response comes to the department from widely separated geographical points, arcording to W. G. Ide, who supervises the activities of this de partment of the development work. From Java, in Duch East India is coming a young Hollander' to devote his sturdy efforts to irrigated lands in Oregon. At present manager of sugar factory, Mr. Von Stietz vill bring to his new farm home techni cal training in agriculture acquired in Holland, as well as practical ex perience which he will direct toward general farming with poultry as a specialty. Inspired also with a desire to come to Oregon in the near future is Ger man Bannert who now dweih in Chile. Accompanied by his family which includes 11 persons Mr. Ban nert hopes to select lands in which he can make a substantial invest ment for farming purposes. The success of the land settlement organization continues to justify its establishment. The committee has been in existence about two and one half years, during which time be tween 1800 and 1900 families have been brought into the state and plac ed on farms, the capital investment being in excess of $8,000,000. During this time no complaints have been made by any of the settlers abous being disappointed in what was of fered through the land listing and appraisal system. SENATOR ON WAY HOME Chaxles L. McNary, senior United States senator, will arrive in Port land next ' Sunday. . After a brief rest in Portland the senator will go to Salem and will spend most of the summer on his farm near by, Dur ing this period Senator McNary will inform himself on state conditions, requiring congressional or depart mental attention. . He is chairman of the sub-committee in charge of the senatorial campaign on the Pacific coast. CAUGHT IN CLOUDBURST Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Liesegang and their party from Echo, had the thrilling experience of being caught by a cloudburst in the mountains above Wallowa Lake last week. They were returning from a hike to Ice Lake when & thunderstorm started and there was a cloudburst just above them. They took refuge in a small cabin. A regular torrent of water, mud and rocks rushed down the gulch about the cabin but fort unately missed the building. OX TEAM DERBY " Plans for an ox team derby over the Old Oregon Trail from Platte River, Nebraska, to Seaside, Oregon will be discussed at a convention of northwest realtors July 2224 at La Grande, Oregon. Delegates have been asked to express themselves at the meeting and it is expected that communities along the famous road will make reports. The proposed derby would be held in 1928, the promoters said. BIG SPUD YIELD One of the highest rates of in crease reported by farmers on the Umatilla project this season with early potatoes was secured by Roy Sullivan. He planted 660 pounds of seed early in the spring and marked 117.sacks that graded U. S. No. 1. In addition he had some culls that made the increase more than twenty-fold. 3000 ACRES BURNED Grass and grain flret which swept farms between Celilo and " iliggs Monday caused heavy losses to sev eral wheat growers and to the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph company. About 3000 acres were burned. THE FIRM CROUP DECIDES : TO CONW WITH FIGHT The corn belt committee, represent ing leading farm organizations of the middle west met at Des Moines, Iowa, to plan a continuation of its fight for congressional aid for ag riculture. The thirty men present were of the virtually unanimous opinion that ple'dges by the Republican and Dem ocratic , parties had not been lived up pto and that, ways and means for forc-j mg adequate recognition for farm-' ing should" be found, but ten of them consumed ' the entire session with speech ' making. The only , item of business transacted was the appoint ment by William Hirth of Columbia, Missouri, chairman of the committee, of a resolutions committee. ; As the meeting convened, there were broad hints from the Chairman that the resolutions would present a "policy of action that organised ag riculture will pursue in congress re garding legislative action; that the challenge "contained in the Mellon Letter would be accepted; that deep resentment over both political parties that betrayed their campaign pledges would be expressed particularly against the administration because it was the majority party and had the power to carry ,out its policies and would censure Secretary of Ag riculture Jardine." . , . . "Mr. Mellon took the position that industry and the consumers of the United States could not afford to pay a higher price for food and raw materials, than the industries and consumers of Europe pay," said Mr. Hirth. A liberal interpretation of that would mean industrializing the United States at the expense of ag riculture and that would mean that under that sort of system the Am erican farmer could drop in caste to an equality with peons and peas ants." -,. . Secretary Jardine was held by the farm leaders not to have represented agriculture conditions fairly and to have recanted from a pledge that he would not interfere against any par ticular farm bill. GIRL PROTECTION OFFICER Miss Jeanette C. Jackson of Long view, Washington, is on honorary protection officer attached to the po lice department of the city of Walla Walla. Mayor Ben F.. Hill announc ed that he had issued the appoint ment because of the girl's intense interest and accomplishments in ju venile protective work. She is the daughter of the chief cf police at Longview. , HER THIRD ATTEMPT Mrs. Elberta Goodman, wife qf tfie night cook at the Quelle restaurant, at Pendleton, made her third unsuc cessful attempt to commit suicide Friday morning when she swallowed carbolic acid after a quarrel with her husband at the restaurant. Report from her physician were that she would recover. v BINGHAM SPRINGS HATCHERY : MAY MOTOORTH FORK " The fact' that the high tempera ture of last week caused the death of approximately one million finger ling eastern brook and rainbow trout at the Bingham Springs hatchery, may cause the state game and fish commission to change the location of the hatchery to a point on the north fork of the Umatilla .river, where there is a flow of -water from springs. j.i Three experts .have been sent to the Bingham , Springs hatchery in an effort to save the fingerling trout. Matt Rychman, . superintendent of state fish hatcheries is giving the situation his personal attention. Not only are the hatchery, baby trout dying off, but an infection seems to have developed in the Uma tilla river trout above Bingham Springs. Dead trout ranging from fingerlings to some a foot long have been found along the scores. " Trout, according to experts cannot; survive in water for any great length of time that is 70 degrees or warmer. ; Fate of approximately 150,000 rain bow fingerlings turned into the Uma tilla river in an effort tq save them is also in doubt. Approximately 350,000 eastern brook trout are bi ing cared for at present in a pool from a cold spring near the resort where the temperature is around 58 degrees. HERBERT HOOVER TURNS SPADEMAN " St 5 - m I lists? iwlr W ! VV - ' i , ; I A FORMER WESTON RESIDENT DIES AT REEpSPORT, OREGON W. A. Graham, for many years a resident of Weston, and who was, well known in Athena, died Friday last at his home in Reedsport, Ore gon, as the result of heart disease from which he had been a sufferer for the past year. Mr. Graham was a brother-in-law of Mrs. F. B. Boyd of Athena, and with his wife, visited - here and at Weston last summer. He was a car penter and while a resident of Reeds port was employed in a door factory. He died at the age of 66 years and is survived by his widow and three sons, Neil and Herman Graham of Reedsport and F. H. Graham of Pen dleton, Interment was made Sunday in the Scottsburg cemetery, the Odd Fel lows having charge of the funeral. TRAIL SCENERY TREATENED Resolutions adopted at a meeting of the managers of the Pendleton Commercial association were mailed to the Oregon state highway com mission urging that steps be taken to save the natural scenic beauty of the timbered areas along the Old Oregon trail. Unless such steps are taken, according to the managers, the land along the highway soon will have been logged off, leaving nothing but the stubbs of pine trees for the tourist to view. Aid in pur chasing timber lands , along the trail was promised . by the association if ways could be found to do this. The Secretary of Commerce turns up first spadeful of dirt at ground breaking ceremonies for emergency hospital on the grounds of the Seaqul Centennial International Exposition in Philadelphia, The exposition will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the elgning of the Declaration of American Independence. At the cabinet member's right is Mayor Kendrick of Philadelphia. The hospital will be conducted by physicians and nursea from the Philadelphia General Hospital. JURY OF ONE CANNOT AGREE IN LIGUOR CASK A citizen of Malheur county was arrested pear McDermott, Oregon, recently, charged with violation of the prohibition laws. His case was heard in a very sparsely settled com munity, and" the small panel of ven iremen was soon exhausted. When all had been examined, it was found but one juror remained in tha box. By stipulation, this lone juror heard the evidence and retired for deiiber. ation. ' Some time later tha "jury" came out, threw down a senled en velope with the remark; "There's the verdict," and hastened to his horse, outside. Inside the envelope was the mes sage. "Jury unable to agree. ' GANG KILLS EDITOR Threats on the life of Don R. Mel lett, publisher of the Canton Ohio, Daily News because of his, activities against alleged gamblers were car-, ried out. Five bullets brought an end to the career of the young publisher. COMBINE BURNS As the result of a hot box a com bine burned Saturday on the.Lawr rence Hagen place, eight miles nortn of Pendleton. A half acre of wheal was destroyed when the combine i burned. The Magnet PATTERSON AND PIERCE PIERCE AND PATTERSON A Salem special to the Morning Oregonian says: Senator Ike Pat terson, republican nominee for govr ernor of Oregon, and Governor Wal ter M. Pierce, democratic nominee for re-election, discussed the. forthcom ing campaign and election in a pleas ant tete a tete in the executive of fices here today, with Mr. Patterson sitting in the governor's chair. Both made their predictions of the outcome of the election. They dis cussed crop conditions in Oregon and chatted until Senator Patterson left for his Polk county farm to continue his harvest operations, Attired in hist farm togs and .x plaining that he had just dropped in to town on a little business, Mr. Pat terson stopped at the executive of fices to pay his respects to the gov ernor, "Come right in, Ike, and sit in the governor's chair," beamed Walter, "I believe you want that chair anyway." "Thank you, Walter," smiled Ike, seating himself at the big desk while the governor took a seat on tha side lines. "It does feel comfortable." "Who, in the opinion of each of you gentlemen will be elected gov ernor of the state at the November election?" asked General George A. White, a third member of the party. "Ask me something hard, smiled Governor Pierce, "that's an easy one, as I'll be elected easily." "The question is an easy one in fact, there isn't any question about it I'll bo elected without a doubt," averred Mr. Patterson. WHEAT RUNS 23 BUSHELS Wheat js running about 25 bush els to the acre on Eureka flat, ac cording to Herman Lind of Walla Walla. Similar reports are being made by others. Some smut is being found in red wheat on the flat, but most of the wheat is of good qual ity. Some of the growers who have finished harvesting have already re ceived checks for their wheat, the movement of grain being steady. WILL SUPPORT NORMAL A Pendleton delegation will pro bably attend the Kiwanis luncheon to be held at The Dalles July 29, at which time C. L. Starr, member of of the board of regents of the Ore gon Normal school, will discuss the needs of an eastern Oregon normal school which is to come . up for a vote of the citizens of Oregon this fall. ON THE TRAIL AGAIN Ezra Meeker, aged 96, who crossed the plains behind an ox team in 1852, left New York city on July 15 In a motor camping outfit, to go ov er the Oregon trail again, to collect funds for marking the trail. Mr. Meeker will sell memorial half-dollars for $1 each. He is tho presi dent of the Oregon' Trail Memorial association. NORTHWEST WOODS SWEPTJY FLAMES Stevens and Pend Oreille Counties In Washington Declared Furnace. Seattle, Wash. Beslnning the sec ond week of forest fires, caused, by lightning and heat wave over the Pa cific northwest the situation is much improved in western Washington, western Oregonand British Columbia, while conditions in northeastern Washington, Idaho and Montana re mained stationary. The .biggest forest conflagration in tha northwest since the Idaho fire of 1910. was threatening Stevens and Pend Oreille counties in eastern Wash ington. Seventy-four separate fires in the two counties were threatening to merge into one gigantic blaze that would virtually sweep all the princi pal forestB of the two counties. Fight era were powerless to stop the onrush of the flames, Conditions in the Colvillo national forest of northeastern Washington were reported to the United States forest service as being critical. In all 500 fire fighters are engaged in fight ing 11 large blazes and a number of smaller ones in the Colvillo region. Only a few fires were burning in western Washington and western Ore gon, and they were in logged-off lands and slashings and virtually under con trol. Lakeview, where three large fires covered 1000 acres and all the avail able local men were engaged to fight, was the most serious situation in Ore. gon. BRIAND MINISTRY DEFEATED AGAIN Paris. Premier Brinnd's tenth gov ernmont resigned Saturday after suf fering a defeat in tho chamber of deputies on its full power financial bill. The government was 43 votes in the minority. Defeat came when tho demand of Finance Minister Caillaux for full pow ers was put to a vote of confidence. The chamber voted lack of confidence, 288 to 243, Edouard Herriot, the radical leader and president of the chamber of depu ties, accepted the task of forming a new ministry. The now ministry con tains 11 radicals and radical-socialists Herriot, Chautemps, Hesse, Dala-. dler, Quevllle, Bonnot, Milhaud, Jac quier, Dumesnll, Bazilo and Lambert, all deputies. The life of the new cabinet is ex pected to be extremely short. Thl is the opinion in all political groups, including Herrlot's own party, because tho promlor will again have to base his policy on the socialist program, wlilch the senute Is not likely to ac cept and which, even In the chamber, will probably have a, narrow majority, If any. STORMS KILL NINE IN EAST Lightning and Wind Play Havoo From Maine to Ohio, New York, N. Y. Nine deaths and property damage estimated at $250,000 marked a path of Sunday electrical, rain and wind storms from Ohio to Maine. In addition, throe l:oys who set out in a canoe from Sandy Hook, N. J., were missing. Four deaths In New England were caused by lightning. Four others were killed hy fulling trees or drowned In New England dur ing storms. Marie Aogo Dubois of Adams, Mass., was killed by a lip;htning bolt that also Struck and injured her brother, Al fred. Leo McCaughey, of Hampton Beach, N. II.; Edward L. Know, Her- mon, Me.; and Fred Felch, Salisbury, Mass., were the others killed by light ning. Lightning struck near tho destroyed naval arsenal at Lake Denmark, N. J., frightening thousands of sightseers, but doing no dainago. Crops wero damaged by wind and ball in Maine and New Hampshire. Clark's Heirs Win $47,000,000 Case. Butte, Mont. A Jury la district court here unaulmouKly rendered a special verdict in favor of the estate of the lato Senator W. A. Clark, in a contest brought by three women who claimed daughters' shares in the 47, 000,000 left by the lute copper magnate.