Bntered at the Post Office at Athena, Oregon, as Second-Class Mail Matter
VOLUME 48.
ATHENA, UMATILLA COUNTY, OREGON, FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 4, 1927
NUMBER 9
President Coolidge
Vetoes Relief Bill
Veto Message Says Meas
ure Uneconomic, Illegal
Discriminatory.
Washington, D. C President Cool
id ge'a veto of the McNary-Haugen
farm relief bill has met with an aval-
anche of comment of approval and dis
approval, .with predictions that the
issue, 'practically dead as far as this
session of congress is concerned, will
be presented again next December and
probably carried into the 1928 political
campaign.
President Coolidge took, his stand
against the bill in unequivocal fash
ion. In a long veto message dissect
ing the measure he declared it an
"economic folly" to attempt to regu
late farm surpluses by levying an
equalization fee on basic farm com
modities; pronounced the proposal dis
criminatory because it did not apply
to all farm products, and said in plain
terms that it was a scheme for price
fixing that would raise the cost of
living and would not benefit the farm
er. For good measure, he sent along
to the capitol an opinion by Attorney
General Sargent declaring the bill un
constitutional in its vital provisions.
As an alternative, to meet an agri
cultural condition which he conceded
to be unsatisfactory, the president re
newed his recommendation for pass
age of other plans proposed in con
gress for the recovery, of agriculture.
He declared these programs "offer
promise of sound assistance to the
farmers without these unconstitution
alities, invasions of executive author
ity, this contracting with packers and
flour millers and other manufacturers,
this overproduction with its inflation
and inevitable crash, without this in
direct price fixing, buying jBnd selling,
. this creation of huge bureaucracies,"
involved in the McNary-Haugen measure.
HIGH COURT CANCELS
DOHENY CONTRACTS
Washington, t). CThe government
won its fight to cancel the oil leases
and contracts awarded Edward L. Do
heny while Albert B. Fall was sec
retary of the interior,
In a sweeping opinion the supreme
court held that the lease by which
Doheny interests were to de'velop the
Elk Hills naval oil reserve and the
contract by which they were to build
storage facilities at Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii, were tainted by fraud and cor
ruption. The decision cancelled both the
lease and the contract, confirming
the findings of the lower court. "
The highest tribunal based its de
cision on evidence deduced in the trial
court and previously brought to light
in the famous senate oil inquiry, show
ing how 'the negotiations were con
ducted without competitive bidding
and in secrecy, and how before the
deal was consummated Doheny sent
Fall JIOO.OOO in a little black bag.
COMMITTEE TRIP IS OFF
Senate Body Decides to Do It Inveai
gating at Horn.
Washington, D. C Administration
senators on the foreign relations com
mittee won their fight to keep that
committee out of Mexico and Nicara
gua during the recess of congress.
With his resolution proposing such
a visit facing defeat in the committee
itself, Chairman Borah accepted an
amendment by Senator Swanson of
Virginia, the ranking democrat, auth
orising the committee to sit during
the recess, but confining its activities
within the borders of the United
States.
Administration senators held out
against the resolution even in this
form, but thty were out-voted by the
democrats and Senators Borah and
Johnson, republican, California, the
poll standing 10 to 8 for a favorably
report to the senate on the modified
resolution.
Deal Above Board, Quiz Decides.
Washington, .D. C The senate pub
lic lands committee absolved officials
of the forestry service of charges of
collusion in connection with the Her
rick lumber contract, leasing 900,000,
)00 feet of standing lumber in the Mal
beur national forest in Oregon.
After a Long Illness
Mrs. Oliver Holcomb
Dies at Her Home
Mrs. Oliver Holcomb, after a pro
tracted illness, passed away at her
home west of Athena, near Adams,
last Friday. Funeral services were
conducted at the home Sunday after
noon by Rev. Bollinger. Interment
took place in Athena cemetery.
Rezilla Stewart was born in Pilot
Grove, Lee county, Iowa, on Decem
ber 24, 1848 and passed away at her
home near Adams, Oregon, February
25, 1927, at the age of 78 years, two
months and one day.
On November 18, 1869 she was
united in marriage with Oliver Hol
comb. In the year of 1870 they mov
ed to Nebraska where- they lived for
a number of years on a homestead
near Tobias, Saline county. They
moved to Athena, Oregon, September
10, 1891 and in 1900 moved to their
present home one mile north of Ad
ams, Oregon, where she remained un
til her death.
At the age of 17 she became a
member of the Prestbyterian church.
She was a kind and loving mother,
self sacrificing for her family and
those near her. During her h.te Ill
ness she was very patient in her suf
fering. Mr. Holcomb passed away
just 11 months ago.
She leaves to sorrow for her a son,
J. C. Holcomb of Adams; two daugh
ters, Mrs. Lola Payne of Adams and
Mrs. Stella Keen of Athena; four
grandchildren, Zola Keen of Athena;
Floyd Payne of Pendleton; Ross
Payne of Athena and Rex Payne of
Adams; three great grandchildren,
Annabel Payne, Billy Payne and
Laura Jean Payne; one sister, Mrs.
Hannah Vinsen; three brothers, Wil
liam Stewart, James Stewart and
Robert Stewart, besides many friends.
Reception and Fun
at the" Christian Church
As a token of the regard in which
she is held in the community, A re
ception was held Monday evening in
the Christian church basement, hon
oring Mrs. Harvey Hill (Mattie Foss
Mitchell) a recent bride, and her
husband.
A large number of her friends
were present to wish the newly mar
ried pair success in their new home
near Nampa, Idaho.
As a special feature of entertain
ment, a mock wedding was staged,
when Miss Henrietta Worm became
the bride of Mr. Dinkelspeil Puden
heiser or some such name the
bride, divinely tall and most divinely
fair, being attended by pretty brides
maids, dainty flower girls and a pe
tite ring-bearer In approved style,
while the dapper little groom in con
ventional black, was attended by a
handsome groomsman. The bride's
father, a dark browed dago, succeed
ed in giving the bride dead away.
The knot was loosely tied by the ir
reverend I. 3. Hornswaggled. The
ceremony was performed following a
musical recital "I Love You Maybe"
as touchlngly given by Miss lona
Filwer,
After the fun, refreshments were
served by a committee of ladies, with
Mrs. E. J. Burchill of Pendleton,
pouring tea and Mrs. Harvey Hill
pouring coffee. Games rounded out a
very pleasant evening.
Pleased With Prospect
Barney Foster has a' fine stand of
Fedetion in a field on high grqund
south of . Athena, that presents a
most flattering prospect at this per
iod of the growing season. He would
be badly disappointed should condi
tions change to the detriment of this
prospect, for he would "like to see
just what the darned stuff will yield
as she's growing now," to use Bar
ney's expression.
Men's League Tonight
" The regular monthly meetins of
the Men's League will be held to
night at the Baptist church. To
night's meeting is the postponed
meeting of last Friday night because
of the basket ball tournament. M.
L. Watts will talk on banking, and
other numbers on the program will
consist of readings and songs. A
cordial Invitation is extended all to
attend,
Construction Work Begins
' Excavating for the new grain stor
age addition to the Farmer's Grain
Elevator company plant in Athena,
began Monday morning under super
vision of Contractor G. R. Hugenin
The excavation for the new addition
is being made on the southside and
adjoining the present plant.
New Auto Laws Have .
Made Many Changes
35-Mile Speed, Safety Stops,
Non-Liability for Motor
Host Provided.
Much new legislation of particular
interest to motorists and those who
use the highways of the state was
enacted during the legislative session.
" Among the new rules of the road
is an amendment which permits a
speed of 35 miles an hour on the
highways, with a maximum of 20
miles in incorporated cities and
towns.
Another new law, if signed by the
governor, will require all vehicles to
come to a full stop when entering
upon a primary state highway. Un
dcr the present law vehicles are re
quired to slow down to a speed of
five miles an hour before entering
primary highways, but this rule has
been found hard to enforce.
Other road and motor vehicle legis
lation is summarized as follows:
House bill No. 484 follows the
Hoover code and provides a load lim.
It of 8000 pounds on each itxle of a
motor truck when the axles are spac
ed less than eight feet apart and
which will prevent carrying excess
ive loads on six wheel motor trucks.
House bill No. 493 provides that
the "acceptance of a free ride as a
guest in a motor vehicle shall be pie.
sumed a waiver of said guest of lia
bility for accidental injury caused by
owner of driver of such motor ve
hicle." Senate bill No. 74 relieves the
counties from cooperation on the
maintenance of state highways and
requires that H maintenance ex
pense be met from the state highway
fundt Since all state highways have
been maintained by the state with
oot cooperation, from the counties for
several years, this legislation will
not cause added expense to the state
highway fund.
Senate bill No. 75 provides thnt,
on all future railroad grade crossing
eliminations on state highways, the
proportion of expense to be borne by
the public shall be paid from the
state highway fund. A further pro
vision permits counties to cooperate
with the state at their option. The
new law does not disturb present
existing agreements with the coun
ties on projects under contract.
Senate bill No. 1118, if approved
by the governor, will require the rail
roads to cooperate with the public
authorities on a 50-5Q division of the
cost of the elimination of railroad
grade crossings on county roads or
state highways.
Senate bill No. 223 eliminates the
traveling salesman from the addition
al 50 per cent motor license fee re
quired for commercial vehicles. The
scope of this bill has also been en
larged to include anywhere for hire
busses and trucks requiring a 50 per
cent additional license fee
ADMIRAL R. H. LEIGH
3 5-35'
5
Dor C
3
Rear Admiral R. H. Weigh, who hat
relieved Rear Admiral William R.
Shoemaker as chief of the bureau of
navigation of the United States navy.
James B. Morgan an
Invalid for Years, Dead
James B, Morgan, resident of
Athena for the past two years, died
suddenly Thursday afternoon of last
week. He had been an invalid for
a number of years. His passing came
during a short absence from the
home by his wife, who was down
town. Mrs. S. L. Spencer called at
the house and found Mr. Morgan
dead in his chair.
Funeral services were held at the
Methodist Episcopal church, Satur
day afternoon. Rev. Holback of
Weston, conducted the services,
James fJ. Morgan was born June
6, 1858, irv Lane county, Oregon. He
came to Eastern Oregon in 1879,
and was united in marriage to Mrs.
Nancy Ellen West May 30, 1883.
For a number of years he was em.
ployed cn the fferm of the late Will
iam Steen north of Athena. Four
teen years ago he moved to Seattle
where he was engaged in the grocery
business until ill health forced him
to retire.
The deceased is survived by his
widow, one daughter, Mrs. Lola My
ers of Sedro Woolly, Washington;
two step daughters, Mrs. Lucy All
bridge, of Sunnyside, Washington
and Mrs,. Ollie McWilliams, of Se
attle; one sister, Mrs. Jennie Gross
of Athena; one brother, Millard Mor
gan of Athena.
Fine and Jail Sentence
Everett Knight was arrested heie
Saturday evening by Deputy Sheriff
McSherry 'who filed a charge of illeg
al ' possession of liquor in Justice
Berkeley's court at Pendleton Kni;;ht
had his hearing Monday, and wa3
fined $250 and sentenced to ..0 days
in the county Jail.
Law Makers Leave
State Purse Flat
Final Coup of Administra
tion to Put Tithe Plan
Across Fails
With a final bitter struggle be
tween the executive and the senate
over the adminstration's tithing bill,
the 34th legislative 'assembly ad
journed sine die at 1 o'clock Satur
day morning without enacting the
measure.
It was precipitated in the evening
session of the senate on a motion to
reconsider the bill and the vote stood
17 for reconsideration and 13against.
The senators voting for reconsid
eration were: Bailey, Banks , Bell,
Butler, Carsner, Davis, Dunn, Eddy,
Elliott, Hunter, Kiddle, Mann, Marks,
Miller, Norblad, Staples and Corbett
-17.
Those voting against were: Beals,
Brown, Butt, Dunne, Hall, Hare,
Jones, Joseph Klepper, Moser, Rey
nolds, Strayer and Upton 13.
This last battle over the measure
was a climax to a series of clashes
between the governor and senate and
was due in a large measure to the
administration's unwillingness to
consider any taxation program save
its own.
The first real battle between the
two came along the middle of last
week over the administration's in
come tax measure.
It was a victory for the adminis
tration its forces in the senate ar
bitrarily throttling all attempts to
amend the bill.
The second real struggle came last
Monday' over the administration's
tithing bill.
It was a victory for the so-called
anti-administration forces, the meas
ure going down to defeat, with a, gjood
sized majority against it. ,
Preceding and between the two
battles there had been more or less
skirmishing and maneuvering be
tween the two camps.
Following the defeat of the tith
ing bill in the senate there was a
series of taxation and revenue .meas
ures introduced in the house, but the
administration would consider none
of them.
Finally as a last resort leaders of
both houses at a conference .Thurs
day afternoon agreed to accept the
tithing bill with amendments pro
tecting the highway fund by reim
bursing it over a five year period
from the general fund.
They also adopted as a part of
their program a constitutional
amendment to be submitted to the
people along with the income tax bill
raising the 6 per cent tax base.
The executive, however, declined
to state outright that he would veto
the amended measure, and the cau
cus leaders finally decided to enact
it and pass it up to him for such ac
tion as he might deem expedient.
FINIS
J
Pendleton to Represent
the District In the State
Basketliall Tournament
Pendleton won the district cham
pionship at the basket ball tourna
ment at Pendleton, Saturday night
by defeating Helix runnerup, by the
score of 32 to 19. The state tourna
ment will be in Willamette gym at
Salem.
In the elimination contests, Athe
na had no trouble in defeating Her-
miston by the overwhelming score
of 43 to 7. This game was played
Thursday evening. Other games
Thursday were Pendleton 45, lone
10; Condon 19, Echo 14; Helix 49,
Weston 25; Adams 38, Umatilla 8.
Athena drew Pendleton for her
contestant Friday night and the lo
cal lads held the Pendleton machine
down to the score of 16 to four, the
two big guards being mainly re
sponsible for Pendleton's win over
Athena. That it was a hot contest
is indicated by the score of 5 to 4
at the end of the first half in favor
of Pendleton. Myrick, who had made
16 points against Hermiston, could
not get going against Pendleton, and
for some reason or other Stephens
was put in for only a short period.
Otherwise the score may have been
different.
Other Friday night games result
ed: Pilot Rock 17, Condon 16; Helix
22, Adams 15; McLaughlin 47, Stan
field 10.
Saturday Helix eliminated Mc
Laughlin and Pendleton defeated
Pilot Rock, then in the evening, in
the play-off for third place, Mc
Laughlin won from Pilot Rock in a
slow game.
Two Athena Players are
Given Honorable Mention
The sports editor of the East Ore-
genian suggests from the following
basket ball players a star team could
be selected:
At forward one would have a good
field to select from in Campbell, He
lix; "Sullivan, Pendleton," Myrick,
Athena, Robbins and Vancil, Mc
Laughlin and Hodgen, Adams, Laing,
Pendleton, Karker, MacIIi.
Pevey of Helix and Johnson of
McLaughlin stood out from other
centers. They were the class of the
tournament.
There were a number of good
guards; Allen and Jones, Pendleton,
Garrett, Helix, Tuck Hodgen, Ad
ams, Stephens, Athena, were out
standing in their work.
Primary Teacher lie-Elected
At a meeting of the board of di
rectors of School District No. 2'J,
embracing the grade schools of Athe
na, Miss Evelyn Sellars waft re-elected
primary teacher for the coming
year. The faculty of the Athena
schools has been elected for the next
year with the exception of assistant
to the superintendent, who will also
qualify as coach of athletics. The
personnel as elected by the boards of
Districts No. 29 and No. 7 are Lee
Meyer, superintendent: Miss Date
man and Miss Cornelison, high
school; M. I. Miller, eighth grade;
Miss Rodman fifth and sixth grades;
Miss Terry third and fourth grades;
Miss Sellars, primary.
Rural Electric Lines
Henry Drexel and Ted King, line
men and electricians for the electri
cal department of the Preston-Shaf
fer Milling company, recently com
pleted the line out to the Frank Cop
pock farm residence, south of A the
na. Other patrons served by this
line are the country homes of E. A.
Dudley, William Campbell, and Hen
ry Koepke. Other rural lines furn
ish service to the homes of Ameil
Schubert, George Sheard and Mrs.
Joseph Sheard, northeast of town,
and to Flint Johns west of Athena.
Two U. S. Fliers
Killed In a Crash
Goodwill Airplanes Collide
Upon Their Arrival at
Buenos Aires.
Buenos Aires. The planes Detroit
and New York of the United States
army Pan-American flight collided In
mid-air here, killing Captain Clinton F.
Woolsey and Lieutenant John W. Ben
ton of the Detroit and Injuring Lieu
tenant E. C. Whitehead of the New
York.
Major H. A. Dargue, commander of
the flight escaped uninjured, and
Lieutenant Whitehead escaped death,
both by leaping from their careening
plane with parachutes.
The four planes errlved safely and
alighted in the harbor of Buenos
Aires. After being officially welcom
ed, the planes arose again and flew to
Palomar field, a flying field 10 miles
away. It was while circling prepara
tory to landing here that the crash
occurred 1000 feet above the field.
Woolsey and Benton were unable to
use parachutes. Woolsey was burned
to a crisp when he fell with the flam
ing Detroit. ,
Thousands of people Sunday filed
past the biers of Captain Clinton F.
Woolsey and Lieutenant John E. Ben
ton to pay a last tribute.
The bodies lay In state In the Cir
culo Militar (military club), surround
ed by numerous floral tributes from
Argentine government officials, the
army and navy and from private per
sons and institutions. Delegations
from all branches of the army and
navy rendered them the military hon
ors due heroes.
U. S, CONTROL OF
NICARAGUA OFFERED
Washington, D. C The Diaz Nlcar-
aguan .government's proposal for an
American protectorate was brought
Into the open for the first time when
this Nlcarnguan legation here an
nounced details of the proposed
"treaty of alliance" between the two
countries.
Under the Diaz proposal, Nicaragua
would be guaranteed, according to
President Diaz, "the uninterrupted
maintenance of a government ade
quate for the protection of life, prop
erly and Individual liberty."
The United Statos, on the other
hand, would be assured of Its rights to
a Nicaraguan canal and naval base,
arranged under the Bryan-Chamorro
treaty, and would have the right from
Nicaragua "to Intervene in Nicaragua
whenever It might be necessary In or
der to make effective the guarantees
named above."
BRITAIN FAVORS ARMS PLAN
Pet Deer Released
Two pet deer in the D. Swearingen
park on the Umatilla river have been
released in the mountains. The
buck was giveh his freedom at a
point near Meacham, and the doe was
liberated in the High Bridge district.
Satisfactory Increase
Sheepmen are satisfied with the
lamb increase, the per centage run
ning high. Lambing Is going on in
different parts of the county under
very favorable conditions so state re
ports from the camps.
A Heavy Front
The mercury dropped below the
freezing point Saturday night, with
the result that this section was vis
ited by a heavy frost. A warm rain
fell Tuesday night and Wednesday.
Acceptance of Coolidge Scheme, How
ever, Contingent on Conditions.
London. Great Britain's acceptance
of President Coolidge's disarmament
proposals was announced in the housq
of commons.
The announcement, made by Sir
Austen In his accustomed manner of
placidity, was greeted with loud
cheers from the members. The labor
benches were particularly enthusiastia
Sir Austen announced all of the
British dominions and the Irish Krea
Stato gave approval to the reply.
After Sir Austen had read the nota
ot acceptance, considerable attention
was attracted to the fact that Great
Britain, in Its acceptance, had empha
sized special consideration must be
given to Its position. This dampened
the ardor of some.
Radio Control Bill Gets Coolidge. O. K,
Washington, I). C President Cool
idge approved the radio control bill.
Under Kh teriiis a commission of five
will control radio for one yenr anil
after tliut period expires the commis
sion will have power to pass on nil
questions In dispute and all those
which iimy be voluntarily referred to
it by the secretary of commerce.
Columbia River Pact Time Voted.
Washington, D. C A senate reso
lution to extend to December 31, 1930,
the provisions of an act providing for
allocation of the waters of the Colum
bia river between the states of Wash
ington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana,
was adopted by the house. It was
theu uent to the president.