Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Lexington wheatfield. (Lexington, Or.) 1905-19?? | View Entire Issue (May 9, 1907)
LEXINGTON WHEATFIELD S. A. THOMAS, Publisher LEXINGTON .......... OREGON NEWS OF THE WEEK In a Condensed Form for Our Busy Readers. A Resume of the Less Important but Not Less Interesting Events of the Past Week. The government is securing Informa tion on the watch trust. Socialists of Russia will endeavor to force a dissolution of the douma. Hindoos in India have broken out in a revolt. They demand a parliament. A Montana eect is selling its prop erty in preparation for the end of the world. One of the walls of the Chihuahua, Mexico, dam gave way and between 25 and 30 workmen were killed. The government has decided to place a large tract of land in Montana on the market about July 1. It will be irri gated by what is known as the Huntley project. An explosion of a gunpowder maga zine at Canton, China, wrought great destruction to surrounding property. Hundreds of persons were injured and 21 bodies have been recovered. It is not known how many were killed. In the Federal court at Portland Judge Hunt has sentenced Franklin Fierce Mays to serve four' months in the county jail and pay a fine of $10, 000. Willard N. Jone is fined $ 2,000 and sent to jail for eight months. George Sorenson did not appear in court and his bail of $4,000 was for feited and a bench warrant issued for his arrest. These three men were con victed of land fraud. ' San Francisco telephone girls have gone on strike. All pressmen on the St. Louis papers have gone on strike. Euef has asked for a change of venue, saying the city is prejudiced against him. The outlook for an early settlement of the San Francisco ironmolders' strike seems good. ' ' A special grand jury will convene in Denvecr May 14 to investigate alleged land frauds. The New York chamber of commerce has petitioned for a reciprocity treaty with France. Ex-Secretary of the Treasucry Shaw Bays war for control of the Paci flc coast is only a matter of time. Roosevelt says third term talk is non sense and Morton says the president would decline i nominated. Deputy sheriffs of Silver Bow county, Montana, threaten to strike if not given more pay. Butte is the county seat. n The Italian government is likely to adopt restrictions on emigration. At the present time thousands are flocking to other countries, principally to the United States. San Francisco carmen are voting on the strike question. A thousand mile balloon voyage from St. Louis to Washington is to, be at tempted. It is said the Montenegro revolt was caused by the . domineering ways of Prince Nicholas. The transport Buford has sailed from Ean Francisco with flour for the Chi nese famine sufferers. The Russian douma has been saved from dissolution by the passage of the army blil and apologizing for insult. Earthquake experts believe it is pos sible to be warned by wireless telegraph eight or twelve hours in advance of the shock. The Circuit court Jn Kansas City, Kan., has found that an ice trust exists there and will place a heavy fine on the members.; Chancellor von Buelow declares the wolrd is net yet ready to sheath the sword and Germany will not discuss limiting of armament at The Hague conference. An unsuccessful attempt has been made to assassinate President Cabrera, of Guatemala. A bomb was thrown at his carriage, which killed the horses. Many suspects have been arrested. A general . strike is threatened in France. France wants a reciprocity treaty with the United States. The Minnesota 2-cent rate is to be fought by the railroads. An insult to the army has caused a crisis between the Russian cabinet and teh douma. It is estimated that the diamond trust is paying not les than 400 per cent profit this year. BOTH SIDES READY. All Preparations Complete for Hay wood Trial at Boise. Boise, Ida. May 8. Counsel for prosecution and defense in the Steu nenberg murder case have settled down to their final preparatory work, and there is every reason for believing that the trial of Wliliam Haywood, first of the accused men, will be commenced on Thursday next. Various reports as to moves tending to further delay the trial are in circulation, but the attitude of both sides indicates that they are ready far trial. The only preliminary proceeding pending is a motion by the defense for a bill of particulars of the evidence by which the state hopes to show that Haywood conspired to the murder of Governor Steunenberg. This motion, which is designed to secure a disclosure of the hand of the state, will be argued before Judge Wood on Monday next. This is not regarded as likely to delay the trial. The Idaho code and practice, modelled closely upon those of Califor nia, make no provision for bills of par ticulars in criminal cases, and in the only precedent recorded in the Idaho reports the court denied the applica tion, holding that the power to require require the furnishing cf bills cf par ticulars in general was discretionary with the court. It is asserted that no right of appeal goes with such a mo tion and neither side seems to regard the matter seriously. ANOTHER GRAFT EXPOSED. San Francisco Public Worke Official In Toils of Heney. San Francisco, May, 3. The inquiry before the grand jury today developed the fact that a gigantic graft has been carried on by President George Duffey, of the board' of public works. Duffey's graft was done through the rental of teams for the use of the city. In some cases the expenditure for a team and driver went as high as $30 a day. Duffey was formerly a member cf the board of supervisors and was one of the most active bribetakers of that aggrega tion. It is charged against Duffey that he has continued to graft in the face of the grand jury's investigation. Governor Gillette today addressed a letter to Andrew Wilson, a member of the state railroad commission, demand ing that he resign at once. Wlison was formerly a member of the board of su pervisors, but was elected railroad com missioner last November. Wilson's confession, as made to the grand jury, was placed in the hands of the gover nor, and formed the basis of his action of today. Wilson has refused to resign. COMMITTE FINDS GRAFT. Huge Profits in Furnishing PennsyN vania State Capitol. Harrisburg, Pa., May 3. The capi tol investigating committee issued a statement tonight showing the cost to the state for furnishing the house library and the reception and private room of the resident clerk of the house to have been $104,732. The Pennsyl vania Construction company, of Mari etta, Pa., and the John H. Sanderson company, of Philadelphia, are esti mated to have made on these furnish, ings from 500 to 1,000 per cent profit. James Scarlet, chief counsel of the commission, has been asked by the at torney general to take charge of he pro posed criminal and civil suits against certain persons involved in the capitol scandal. May Stop Denver Building. Denver, May 3. Following the an nouncement of the owners of ten of the largest mills in the city that they would never agree to the demands of the millmen and woodworkers, who struck yesterday for the closed shop, the carpenters' union tonight decjded to declare unfair the product of all the local mills which persist in denying the demands. It is claimed that the Building TradeB council will support the carpenters, whose acticn means that extensive building operations will be abruptly suspended. Ask Militia Protection. Boston, May 3. The master team sters today, through counsel, formally asked Governor Guild to assign a de tachment of militia to protect the lives and property of strikebreakers, which they assert have been jeopardized by several street riots when the drivers were going home from work. Cubrn Cigarmakers Hold Out. Havana, May 3. The strike in the cigar industry continues without over tures being made by either side to end it. The cigarmakers declare they are receiving ample funds, which have come from the United States, and that they will be able to hold out for months. Twenty-six Hundred on Strike. Eureka, Cal., May 3. Twenty-six hundred and fifty union woodsmen and sawmill workers walked out in the va rious mills of Humboldt county today aa result of a strike. This action clos ed eight mills in the county today. AFTER S. P. GRANTS Attorney General to Force Rail road to Sell Land. MUST PERFORM TERMS OF GRANT Government Would Forfeit Southern Pacific Land Grants or Com "pel Sale to Settlers. Washington, May 4. There is no longer any doubt that the national ad ministration will exert its powerful in fluence to break the Southern Pacific land monopoly in Oregon and force that company to place on the market the remaining 8,000,000 acres of its grant, selling upon demand to bona tide settlers in quarter-section tracts and at not more than $2.50 per acre, as specifically set forth in the law un der which the grant was made. After several long conferences with Senator Bourne, Attorney General Bonaparte has directed District Attorney Bristol to make a "thorough investigation into the Southern Pacific grant, more prop erly known as the Oregon Central and Oregon & California grant. The government will first determine whether the ' law under which the grants were made can be enforced with out further action on the part of con gress. If it is concluded that there is ample law, the government will then determine what is the most practicable method of enforcing its provisions un less it shall be found that the grant was forfeited. From his talks with Mr. Bourne, the attorney general is fully aware of the difficulties of the problem he has un dertaken to solve, and has directed District Attorney Nathan V. Harlan, of the third divieion of Alaska, to report to Mr. Bristol and aid him in eery way in his investigations. Mr. Harlan was in Nebraska on leave and desired employment before the expiration of his leave. Later on, it is understood, the de partment will investigate to determine whether or not sales heretofore made by the railroad in violation of the- pro visions of the law can be invalidated. At present, however, the main object is to force the Southern Pacific to put its land on the market and no longer re tard development along the line of its road. PASSES DIRECT PRIMARY LAW. Measure Favored by Governor Is En dorsed by Mich'gan House. Lansing, Mich., May 4. The lower house of the state legislature passed the primary election bill advocated by Governor Warner. The bill amends the existing law by providing for a popular vote on candidates for United States senator. It also removes the proviso that if no candidates for the nomination for governor and lieuten ant governor receive 40 per cent of the Totes cast in a primary election, the nominal ons for governor and lieuten ant governor must be made by the con vention. The bill prohibits newspaper advertising by candidates. Rushes Troops to Frontier. City of Mexico, May 4. The govern ment admits that troops are being sent to the Guatemalan border, but denies that this can-be construed as mobiliza tion. Nevertheless great activity pre vails in the local barracks. It is rumored today that General To ledo is about to start for Hondurr s, and that within a few weeks he will be at the head of a Guatemalan revolu tionary army on the boundary line be tween Guatemala and Honduras, ready to strike at the Cabrera government for its overthrow. Lelshman Gets Turks to Act. Constantinople, May 4. As a result of the energetic representations of the State department, through Ambassador Leishman, an imperial irade was issued today in regard to the American schools and other questions long pending be tween the United States and Turkey, authorizing the ministers to take ac tion in the matter. This is expected to lead to a satisfactory settlement. Recruiting Bill Passes Upper House. St. Petersburg, May 4. The council of the empire today passed unanimous ly the recruiting bill and the bill ap propriating $3,000,000 for famine re lief passed by the lower house April 30. Belated Blizzard at Superior. Superior, Wis., May 4. -A belated blizzard started in today. In one hour there had fallen half an inch of snow, with prospects for a good heavy fall. A high wind accompanies the snow. Double-Track Siberian Road. St. Petersburg, May 4. The council of ministers has decided to double-track the Siberian railroad. The section from Atehln8k to Irkutsk will be doubled this year. WANT COAL SECURED. Railroads Dread Another Famine and Want Dealers to Stock Up. Chicago, May 1. The tralllo and operating departments of the Harrlman and Hill lines have" united in a strenu ous pffort to prevent a recurrence of a coal famine next winter in the West and Northwest. Orders have been is sued by the highest oliklals of the vari ous roads and have the sanction of E. II. Harrlman and James J. Hill, re quiring all of the officials to make every effort to induce the coal dealers to lay in their winter's Bupply in the summer months. The otlicials of the railroad dread an other such coal famine as occurred last winter, when they were blamed for the suffering and destitution which reigned in the West and Northwest for many weeks. At that time the Interstate Commoree commission took the prob lem in hand and issued orders which required the Hill roads to discontinue all other traffic until they succeeded in getting coal to the suffering people along their lines. This proved an ex pensive operation and the railroads do not want a recurrence. Accordingly a personal canvas is be ing made in all the cities, Rnd coal dealers are being personally urged to co operate with the railroads in placing the western ountry beyond the possi bility of another coal famine. CUBANS MOB U, S. SAILORS. Attacked and Injured While Returning to Cruiser Tacoma. New York, May 1. A dispatch from Havana to the Herald reports that a number of sailors from the cruiser Ta coma were wounded in an affray with the police of Santiago yesterday .. Com mander Tappan, reporting the affair, says: "About 2 o'clock this morning a small party of men from the Tacoma were attacked by the police of Santiago while on their way down to the wharf. Ensign Brishon, who was present in civilian clothes, was also attacked by the police. Nine others were injured or bruised, one man having his arm fractured and Henry Lee was shot in the lungs." , ; Governor Magoon has telegraphed to investigate the trouble and report. Halsey Cautioned to Silence. Honolulu, May 1. When the steam er China arrived here yesterday, having on board Theodore V. Halsey, former general agent of the Pacific States Tele phone & Telgraph company, who is un der arrest to answer charges of bribery in San Francisco, his wife signaled to him from the end of the wharf, presu mably cautioning him to say nothing. He responded and she met him at the gang piank. A son of Detective Wil liam J. Burns,, who came to Honolulu on the same steamer with MrB. Halsey, was introduced to the accused man. Deep Snowfall in Iowa. Marshalltown, la., May 1. Snow to day in the southern part of this county ranges from three to eight inches in depth. The snow is said to have en tirely ruined early fruit. A rain and sleet storm in Wisconsin last night de veloped into a heavy fall of snow. Durjng the night six inches of snow fell in Milwaukee and vicinity, the weather being cold enough to prevent its melt ing. The storm was confined particu larly to the lake section. General Strike in Warsaw. Warsaw, Russian Poland, May 1. The employes of the street railroads, the printers, bakers and factory em ployes have decided to stop work on Friday night, and the authorities are taking energetic steps to forestall dis orders. The police are making whole sale arrests of Socialists, and detach ments of Cossacks will patrol the streets day and night until the trouble ceases. Drive Standard From Ohio. Findlay, O., May 1. George H. Phelps this afternoon filed a petition in the Common Pleas court, asking that the Standard Oil company and its sub sidiary companies be enjoined from do ing business in Ohio. It is understood the independent oil producers are back of Phelps and offer to furnish bonds in the sum of $100,000. Heavy Loss From Flood. Oklahoma City, Okla., May 1. The North Canaadian river and Lightning creek are receding rapidly and the flood situation in this vicinity was greatly Improved today. But one person re mains unaccounted for. Forty families on Capitol Hill, across from Oklahoma City, are homeless. The loss is esti mated at $100,000. Tremendous Floods in Russia. Odessa, May 1. One hundred thous and people are estimated to have been driven from their homes by thfi over flowing of the Dnieper, Dniester and Dwina. The inundations are more widespread than usual and have created extreme distress over an enormous area. National Stove Plant Burns. Lo aln, O., May 1 .Fire of unknown I origin last night destroyed the piant of the National Stove company. The loss is estimated at $200,000. WORSETHAN OREGON Will Ask Heney to Investigate Washington Land Frauds. SECRET SERVICE NOV AT WORK Men Now High In Publlc Confidence Said to Be Implicated In Irregularities. Seattle, May 2. Six secret service operatives are working in Western Washington unearthing a series of land frauds that are declared to be more antounding4n their far reuching char acter than the discoveries made in Ore gon or California. A secret sorvice ' cperative high in the confidence of President Roosevelt has just been sent to this coast to take charge of the work and to assemble the evidence that has been accumulated for presentation to special officers of the department of Justice. ft was declared today by a high gov ernment authority that when all the timber fraud ovldence had been assem bled Francis J. Heney will be asked to come here and duplicate hiu success in convicting the land thieves of Oregon. It is recognized that his San Fruncisco work will occupy several weeks' further time, but the work in Western Wash ington cannot be completed before that time. Names that are being whispered in secret service circles indicate that when the net is spread it wWl bring in some men now high in the confidence of the public. Evidence is declared to be gathered that proves conclusively the complicity of these men, but some of the cases are so old that they may be able to hide behind the statute of limi tations. But even if this is done, the government operatives will let the story become known in some manner. There are a few comparatively unim-' portant timber cases ready for trial now, but these merely lift the cover off the land fraud situation in Washing ton. Following close upon the heels of these earlier hearings will come the prosecutions that reveal the scope of past timber operations. IRON WORKS STOP. Thousands of Man Strike in San Francisco Plants. San Francisco, May 2. At the end of the first day of the strike of unions connected with the iron trades and metal workers, the extent of the strike is somewhat uncertain. The Iron Trades council stated last night that but 2,000 men were idle in San Fran cisco and the bay cities, whilo 4,000' men were employed in shops which had granted an eight-hour day were at work. Members of the ccuncil assert ed that 27 shops in this city and 21 out of 31 in Oakland had signed the new schedule. The Metal Workers' association, on the other hand, claimed that special committees had canvassed the city yes terday and out of 58 shops, foundries and works visited, 53 were found closed and 9,000 men out of work. Among the large copcerna closed are the Union,, the Risdon and the Fulton Iron works. CLERKS AND.'JURORS STRIKE. Assessor's Office and Court Tied Up in Butte. Butte, Mont., May 2. Whatare per haps the querest May day strikes in history came yesterday, when the clerks in the office of County Assessor Boland struck for higher wages and the jurors in Judge Donlan's court presented a de mand for $2,000 pay for services they have not performed. The assessor's clerks get $100 per month, the maximum fixed by statute. They presented a demand to Mr. Boland for an inorease averaging $500 per year. Judge Donlan's jury was temporarily laid off two weeks ago. Yesterday the jurors, numbering 53, prflfented a de mand for 12 days' pay, the period of their layoff, on the ground that legally they may net be laid off. Shoots at French Cavalry. Paris, May i. During theafternoon a man was passing the Place de la Re publique on top of an omnibus fired five shots from a revolver at a squadron of cuirassieurs, wounding two of the cav alrymen. The man, who was subse quently identified as Jacob Law, of the Baltic prcvince, of Podolia, Russia, was dragged from the top of the omni bus by the police and narrowly escaped lynching at the hands of a crowd Bur rounding the vehicle. Law, who was terribly beaten, subsequently died in the hospital. Reduces National Guard. Sacramento, May 2. Sweeping or ders were issued by Adjutant General Lauck yesterday whereby ten companies of the California National Guard are mustered out of the service for "having fallen below the standard of efficiency'.