LEXINGTON WDE1TFIELD
S. A. THOMAS, Publisher
LEXINGTON OREGON
NEWS OFTHE WEEK
In a Condensed Form lor Our
Bosy Readers.
A Resume of the Less Important but
Not Less Interesting Events
of the Past Week.
The Roumanian revolt is quieting
down.
The president has called an election
in the Philippines.
All labor troubles around Butte have
been adjusted for the time being.
St. Louie brewery workers threaten
to strike and the city is facing a beer
famine.
The disarmament question ia likey to
be barred from The Hague peace con
fer ence.
Republican members of the Tennes
see legislature propose Roosevelt for a
third term.
The Nebraska legisature has passed a
direct primary a copied after the Ore
gon statute.
Spreckels had guaanteed the cost of
a thorough housecleaning of gi afters at
San Francisco.
The Western Union Telegraph com
pany has raised its rates, in some cases
aa much as 20 per cent.
The census bureau estimates that the
population of the United States has in
creased 8,000,000 in the past six years.
The Colton, Cal., death list as the
result of the train wreck is placed at 22
and at least six more of the injured
will die. A green switch crew is
blamed with the accident.
Mediation in the Central American
war has been postpened.
The San Francisco investigation may
spread to every city on the coast.
Evidence is being secured which
points to telephone bribery in Oakland.
Mrs. Thaw is said to be breaking
down under the strain of the trial of
Thaw.
Congressman Scott, of Kansas, pre
dicts the ccmpletion of the Panama
canal in seven years.
Eight men have been arrested at
Butte for trying to influence voters at
the primaries just held.
The bill for the recount of the ballots
cast for mayor of New York in Novem
ber, 1905, has passed the New York
legislature.
,rA cigarette started a fire in the gen
eral shops of the El Paso & Southwest
ern railroad at Carrizezo, N. M. The
loss is placed at $190,000.
Big shipments of flour are being hur
ried from Minneapolis to San Francis
co, where a government transport will
take it to the famine sufferers cf China.
Ex-President Cleveland has just cele
brated his 70th birthday.
The whole of Roumania ia in revolt
and the capital threatened.
San Salvador has asked Mexico to
intervene in the Central American war.
Foraker has called fcr primries in
Ohio to decide preference for president.
Immense land frauds are to be inves
tigated by a "Federal grand jury at
Cheyenne.
A deadlock has been reached between
Western railroads and trainmen on the
question of wages.
Premier iStolypin, of Russia, has
agreed to abolish court martial, as at
present exercised.
France announces her determination
to get redress from Morocco for the
murder of a French pubject.
A commission in lunacy has been ap
pointed in the Thaw case and the trial
has adjourned until the commission re
ports. The Nebraska legislature has passed
a law to tax railroads on the same
basis as the holdings of private indi
viduals. The California flood has made pro
duce scarce in San Francisco.
Taft continues to be boomed for pres
ident, but third term talk fur Roosevelt
grows.
The government is making active
preparations to start the land fraud
trials in Colorado.
Jerome haa found that New York po
lice have been compelled to contribute
to political funds.
Speaker Cannon and the congres
sional party have been allowed to land
at Panama after being held in quaran
tine several days.
Heney denies that his prosecution of
Ran Francisco grafters has any political
significance or that it is a blow aimed
at organized labor.
WRECK IN CALIFORNIA.
At Least Twenty-Six Persons Killed
and a Hundred Hurt.
Colton, Cal., March 29. One of the
most disastrous wrecks in the history
of the Southern Pacific railroad occur
red one and one-half miles east of this
town shortly after 4 o'clock yesterday
afternoon, when westbound train No. 9
from New Orleans for San Francisco
ran into an open twitch, while going at
the rate of 40 miles an hour, and ten of
the 14 coaches were derailed with
frightful results. Twenty-six people
are known to have been killed and the
final list will total much higher than
this number. The injured number
about 100, many of whom are seriously
injured and will die.
The wrecked coaches were hurled in
every direction. Four of them were
smashed into splinters. Most of the
dead were Italians from New York and
New Orleans, going to San Francisco.
They occupied the smoker and day
coach.
But two Americans are known to
have been killed, although several of
those among the injured will undoubt
edly die within the next few hours.
Out of 80 Pullman passengers, but
two sustained serious injury. Ihe
three Pullman coaches and the diner,
which were on the rear of the train,
did not leave the track. The occupants
of these cars were practically un
harmed. L. R. Alvord, V. K. Davis and W.
G. Gusenmeyer, members of the switch
ing crew who are accused of leaving the
switch open and causing the wreck,
were taken into custody and held in
bail of $1,000 by Coroner Van Wye.
TRY MEDIATION.
Knapp and Neill Will Attempt to Ad
just Kailroad Dispute.
Chicago, March 29. Government in
tervention will be tried in an effort to
avert the great railroad strike which
threatens to paralyze the business of
the West. In response to the appeal
of the railioad managers, Chairman
Knapp, of the Interstate Com mere com
mission, and Commissioner oi Labor
Neill will arrive in Chicago Saturday
morning and offer mediation in the
controversy. Failing to adjust the
matter in a conciliatory manner, they
will endeavor to bring about arbitra
tion under the provisions of the Erd
mann law.
The labor chiefs will await the ar
rival of the government officials befon
ordering a strike. If the good offices
of Mr. Knapp and Mr. Neill result in
bringing greater concessions tc the em--ployes
than have yet been offered, the
strike may be averted. The employes,
however, say they will not accept arbi
tration and today again declared their
position that nothing short of greater
concessions from the railroads will pre
vent them from walking out.
President Roosevelt has been follow
ing closely the developments in the sit
uation here and Messrs. Knapp and
Neill will undertake the delicate wcrk
imposed on them by law with full con
sciousness that the president is ex
tremelj solicitous that all differences
be settled by arbitration.
The general managers said that no
attempt would be made to operate
trains if the employes struck.
NO ADVANCE IN LUMBER RATES
Northern Roads Deny Present Inten
tion, but Are Investigating.
St Paul, Minn., March 29. An
official statement was made by traffic
men of the Northern Pacific and Gieat
Northern railroads today that it is not
contemplated to make any immediate
change in lumber rates from Puget
sound to St. Paul and Missouri river
cities, as the lumbermen have advised
the Interstate Commeice commission in
Washington. A joint statement was
made by the lines as follows:
"We have not considered an increase
in Pacific Coast Missouri-River lumber
rates, except as they may have been in
volved in discussions covering the gen
eral rates and cost of service. No im
mediate changes aie contemplated."
While the statement gives generally
the situation, it is asserted the lines are
closely investigating conditions govern
ing the transportation of lumber, which
have changed considerably since the in
dustry on the coast started.
Burning Gas Terrifies Farmers.
Sapulpa, I. T., March 29. The gas
well two miles east of here that caught
fire Saturday is Btill burning fiercely.
After 14 days of work the well was
capped. But the great volume of gas
found another way out- through the
crevices and for half t mile it spread
open the earth. At one place a hole
three feet wide and 20 feet long was
torn. Then the gas caught fire and
has been burning ever since. At one
place a sheet of flame 20 feet long and
15 feet high is blazing. Tons of rock
and shale were thrown from the cracks.
Faculty Rebukes Magoon.
Havana, March 29. The directors of
Havana university held a meeting to
day and entered a protest against the
recent action of Governor Magoon in
licensing two American doctors to prac
tice, in Havana without first passing an
examination in the TJniveristy of Ha
vana, as required by law.
SCUMS VILE PLAN
Has Desperate Scheme to Prevent
Franchise Revocation.
TRIES TO BUY OFF SUPERVISORS
Have Enough Resign to Make His
Veto Effective Sweeping Re
forms Are Instituted.
San Francisco, March 30. Mayor
Schmitz has opened negotiations with
certain members of the boodling board
of supervisors in the hope of consum
mating a bold coup. The plan of the
major is to purchase the resignation of
enough members of the board to make
his veto power sufficient to prevent the
revocation of the franchises of the big
corporations which obtained their per
mits through the illegal use of money.
It requires 14 members of the board
to override the mayor's veto. If he can
secure the resignation of five out of the
18 he' will be able to check by his veto
any of their reform measures adopted
under the swish of F. J. Honey's big
stick. It is a desperate game, doomed
to failure almost at the outset.
The "reformed" board of supervisors,
acting under the direction of the dis
trict attorney's office, gave another
startling exhibition today of a desire
to be good, when it made plans for the
abolition of a score of ornamental offi
cials. James Devoto, attorney for the
board of public woiks at a salary of
$250 per month, will be decapitated.
Other officials, who under the Ruef
regime have done nothing but draw sal
aries, will be dropped. In the course
of the next few weeks reforms will have
been instituted which will save the
city $100,000 a year.
FAMINE WOULD RESULT.
Railroads Hold Out Gloomy Prospect
if Strike is Called.
Chicago, March 30. Famine in sup
lies of food, coal and manufacturing
materials for Chicago and many other
cities throughout the entire West was
predicted toduy, if the impending rail
way strike became a reality. Railroads
of the entire West will be allowed to
remain completely paralyzed in case
the strike of trainmen and conductors
on 43 traffic systems is ordered. This
course has been practically decided on
by the general managers of the systems.
A meeting of the managers was held
today and the impracticability of filling
the places of 45,000 men who are talk
ing of a walkout was discussed. No
move has been made to hire men tc run
trains. In fact, no preparations is be
ing made by the railway managers.
"If these men strike it would be al
most, if not entirely, impossible to op
erate the railroads," said an 'official
high in railroad circles. "It is as good
as certain that fieight traffic will be
entirely shut off. Consider what it
would mean, if Chicago were to be iso
lated for 24 hours. What would hap
pen if the milk supply were interrupt
ed or the immense importations of per
ishable freight halted by a tie-up of the
roads."
HILL MAY ISSUE NEW STOCK.
Minnesota Supreme Court Holds Re
strictive Law Invalid.
St. Paul, March 30. The State Su
preme court today upheld the Great
Northern railroad in its contention that
it had the right to issue the $60,000,
000 of stock authorized by the board of
directors some months ago, and which
was enjoined by Attorney General
Young, who claimed that the company
should fiarstcome before the state rail
road and warehouse commission and
submit to an examination to show the
necessity andt he purpose of the issue.
This contention of the state was up
held by Judge Hallam in the Ramsey
County District court, who ordered an
injunction to issue. The Supreme court
today reverses that decision. The
opinion of the court was unanimous.
Chief Justice Start delivered the opin
ion of the court.
Sailors Loot Steamer
Norfolk, Va., March 30. One hun
dred sailors from the battleship Con
necticut, while on the way from Wil
loughby to Fortress Monroe upon the
passenger steamer Ocean View today,
without apparent cause took forcible
charge of the steamer and put the crew
to rout. The sailors broke windows
and doors, drove the cooks from the
galley, poured out all provisions
aboard, dumped on deck the fire In
the stoves, turned steam on the fire
extinguishers and did other damap.
Their names are not known.
Tobacco Buldings Burn.
Danville, Va., March 30. A disas
trous fire broke out in South Boston,
Va., 32 miles northeast of here, late
this afternoon, and. spreading rapidly,
destroyed the tobacco buildings, caus
ing a loss of $900,000.
TRIAL DRAGGING.
Juror In Hermann Case Drops Asleep
In Court Hours.
Washington, March 27. That inter
est in the trial of Blnger Hermann is
lagging was strikingly illustrated today,
when one of the jurors foil asleep in
the midst of the testimony of Harry C.
Robertson, formerly private secretary
to Senator Mitchell. The testimony
produced this week has not been start
ling, in fact it covers ground already
gone over by other witnesses, it being
the intention of District Attorney Baker
by preponderance of evidence to con
vince the jury that Hermann had an
important motive in destroying his so
called private letter books. The testi
mony, however, is largoly technical and
uninteresting.
Mr. Robertson's testimony today cov
ered the same ground as his testimony
in Portland. He showed the close rela
tions that existed among Ilormann,
Mitchell, Mays and Puter. testified as
to their correspondence regarding land
matters, since proven fraudulent, and
to that extent materially aided the
prosecution.
Had Mr. Robertson been permitted
to toll extensively of his relat ions with
Hermann in 1890-97, when tke latter
was first in congress, he could have ma
terially offset some statements of those
who appeared as chancter witnesses
for the defendant. Before court opened
Mr. Robertson talked freely with Dis
trict Attorney Baker about his relations
with Hermann while serving him as
private secretary and an attempt was
mrde to bring out these facts, but ob
jection was made by counsel for the de
fense, inasmuch as they had no direct
bearing on the case at bar, and the
court sustained the objection. For that
reason Mr. Robertson's testimony was
robbed of considerable interest.
INQUIRY IN OAKLAND.
Telephone Companies Pursued Same
Tactics in That City.
San Francisco, March 27 The grand
jury investigation took a leap today
across the bay and landed in Oakland.
It was shown during the examination
of witnesses that the Home Telephone
company and the Pacific States Tele
phone company had been engaged in a
battle over a francbise similar to the
warfare here which resulted in whole
sale bribery. It developed that Halsey
was in Oakland and that Detwiller was
there also. These are the men accused
of bribing the San Francisco officials.
Aside from this revelation, the in
quiry failed to reveal anything of a
sensational nature. At the end of the
session District Attorney Langdon said
the day had been spent in "filling in."
Testimony was given which serves to
supply some of the missing links in the
general recital of bribery.
The grand jury will socn begin to re
veal the part played by Mayor Schmitz
in the boodle transact ions. Themayor,
it is estimated, received close to $750,
000 as the result of his operations.
CALL ELECTION IN PHILIPPINES
If Peace is Complete, President Will
Order Commission to Act.
Washington, March 27. The Phil
ippine commission has been instructed
to cable to inform President Roosevelt
by tomorrow whether a condition of
general and complete peace, with re
cognition of the authority of the United
States, has continued in all that por
tion of the archipelago not inhabited
by Moros or other non-Christian tribes
for the past two years. If the answer
is in the affirmative, the president will
direct the commission to call a goneral
election on July 30, next, for the choice
of delegates tc the first popular assem
bly of the people of the Philippines.
The proposed assembly consisting of
the two houses, the u?per composed of
the Philippine commission and the
lower of the delegates to be elected,
will take over all the legislative power
now exercised by the Philippine com
mission alone. Under an act of con
gress none of the members of the non
Christian tribes can participate in the
elections.
Bonilla Ordered Surrender,
Managua, Nicaragua, March 27. It
is stated upon the highest authority
here that President Bonilla, of Hon
duras, after his retreat to Amnpala,
following the defeat of the Honduran
Salvadoran forces at Choluteca by the
Nlcaraguan army, ordered from Ama
pala the surrender of Tegucigalpa, cap
ital of Honduras, to the victorious
troops. The city is now in the pos
session of the Honduran-Nicaraguan
government junta. Senor Barhona,
Honduran minister of war, was mor
tally wounded, and many captured.
Honduras Retakes Trujillo.
New Orleans, March 27. A private
telegram received here today said that
Ihe Honduriane had recaptured the port
of Trujillo. This was the first Carri
bean port of Honduras taken by Nicaragua.
GOVERNMENT TO ACT
Railroads Invoke Erdmann Act to
Secure Arbitration.
ALL NEGOTIATIONS HAVE FAILED
Strike Would Tie Up Every Railroad
from Chicago to Coast
Lines Involved.
Chicago, March 28. The United
States government will bo asked to in
tervene to prevent a strike of the con
ductors and trainmen on the Western
railroads and, if the plans of the man
agers do not miscarry, the whole mat
ter will be submitted to arbitration for
settlement. Late lust night the general
manage! s gave out a statement declar
ing they will demand arbitration under
the Erdmann act. A strike of the men
would interfere with interstate com
merce. The railroad officials believe
they con prevent a strike by asking the
government to stop in and take com
mand of the situation.
The Erdmann act passed in 1898 pro
vides for the arbitration of labor differ
ences, where interstate commerce is in
volved, by the chairman of the Inter
state Commerce commission and the
commissioner of lubor.
The strike has been agreed upon al
ready by the railroad employes by ref
erendum vote. The officers wore au
thorized to call the men out if the terms
put up tc the railroud managers were
not accepted. Determining the time
for the suspension to take effect is a.
mere detail and that probably will be
decided toduy at a meeting of delegates
at the Sherman house.
The railroads involved are:
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, Atchi
son, Topeka & Santa Fe coast lines,,
Burlington, Canadian Pacific, Canadian
Northern, Chicago & Northwestern,
Chicago & Alton, Chicago & Great
Western, Chicago, Milwaukee & St.
Paul, Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific,
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Oma
ha, Colorado Midland, Colorado &
Southern, El Paso & Southwestern,
Frisco System, Great Northern, Hous
ton & Texas Central, Illinois Central,
Kansas City Southern, Missouri, Kan
sas & Texas, Northern Pacific, Oregon
Short Line, San Antonio & Arkansas
Pass, Southern Pacific Atlantic system,
Teaxs & Pacific, Duluth, Missabe &
Northern, Fort Worth & Denver City,
Frisco in Teaxs, Gulf, Colorado & Santa
Fe, Houston, East & West Texas, In
ternational & Great Northern, Minne
apolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste Marie,
Missouri Pacific, Oregon Railway &
Navigation company, St. Louis South
western, San Pedro, Los Angeles Salt
Lake, Southern Pacific system, Wiscon
sin Central, Yazoo & Mississippi Valley.
SCHMITZ TO PROVE INNOCENCE.
Says He Will Then Give no Quarter
in Libel Suits.
San Francisco, March 28. In a
statement today to the Associated Press,
Mayor Schmitz denies the truth of
charges published in the local papers
to the effect that the prosecution has
abundant evidence that Schmitz profit
ed to the extent of not less than $f62,-
000 from participation in the boodling
operations now being investigated by
the grand jury.
" "These charges," said the mayor,,
"are maliciously false, and as soon as
1 am afforded the legal opportunity, I
shall prove them to be so." After de
claring that he is anxious for a speedy
trial, he says:
"It is notoriously unfair that I
should be brought to trial before any
judge in this city and county," all of
whom he alleges to be biased, and de
clares it is outrageous that he should,
be kept "for months under this foul
cloud with the prospect that the trial
will be delayed for another four
months."
The mayor says this is no time for
libel suits, but, when he has been tried
and judged by a jury, he will give no.
quarter.
Charge Based on Wreck.
New York, March 28. Indictments
charging manslaughter in the second
degree were returned today against the
New York Central railroad, Ira A. Mc
Cormick, general superintendent of the
company, and Alfred II. Smith, one of
the vice presidents, in connection with
the wreck of the Brewster express on
the Harlem division of the railroad
last month. McCormick and Smith
pleaded not guilty and were released on
$10,000 bail each. The grand jury also
handed up many recommendations to
the state railroad commission.
No More Negro Troops.
Houston, Tex., March 28. An
nouncement was made today at the
local recruiting station that orders have
been received from the War depart
ment at Washington, instructing that
no more negroes be accepted for service
in the army, also that negro troops in
the United States will be dispatched
forthwith to the Philippines.