Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, July 21, 1914, Page 1

VOLUME 12, NO. 71. SOON T0 EXPOSE STORY OF GRAFT Railroad Financial Crookedness of Several Roads to Become Public— N, H. Sensation Beginning. UNOOVERING OTHER SCANDALS Interstate Commerce Commission Pre- paring Investigation of C. H. & D. Line—History of Pittsburg Line By Congressman C. H. Tavenner. Washington, July 21.—The indi- cations all are that this country is on the threshold of the greatest ex- pose of railroad financial crooked- ness that has ever been made. The inside Wall Street history of the railroad financing of the past dozen years is about to be told to the pub- lic, and it is the opinion of the writer ithat the cumulative effect of the evidence of wholesale theivery will be to land some of the rich theives in jail at last, The New Haven sensation is but the beginning. Even now the In- terstate Commerce Commission is preparing for an investigation of the C. H, & D. railroad that promises to uncover a scandal. The Frisco is another road which will come in for its share of the scrutiny. And now the Interstate Commerce Com- mittee of the House is uncovering another bit of railroad finance that will add to the enraged public’s eagerness to know the whole truth about railroad finance. From evidence submitted before the House Committee the assertion is made that the Wabash Pittsburg Terminal Railroad Company, an exceedingly profitable road only a few years ago, was deliberately wrecked in order that a powerful group of Wall Street railroad men might buy it cheap. The job of wrecking, of course, resulted di- sastrously to the investors in this railroad’s securities, The Pittsburg Terminal railroad owns nearly a hundred miles of track, a coal mine or two, possesses valuable rights of way in Pittsburg, and was party with other lines entering Pitts- burg in traffic agreement which were _exceedingly lucrative to the terminal railroad. As late as 1908 this road- was pros-| pering. Its” bonds, over $30,000,000 of them had sold for as much as 97 cents on the dollar par value. They had been eagerly bought as investi- ments by savings banks and insur- ance companies, widows, and ex- ecutors investing the proceeds- of estates for widows and orphans. But about that time the greedy eyes of the Wall Street financiers fell upon this property, and for some reason yet unexplained they decided to acquire it. Oh, no. First it must be wrecked. ~And it was, deliberate- ly, it is charged. First the railroads with which it has the profitable traffic agreements sought excuses for cancelling these agreements. The former president of the road, George Ramsey, Jr., of St. Louis, told the House committee that a federal judge aided in the cancellation of one of the most pro- fitable of these traffic contracts— the gne with the Wheeling & Lake Erie Ry. This road was in the hands of a receiver, who asked the judge to cancel the agreement. He did so. Later he sanctioned similar agree- ment between the W. & L. E. with other roads. Then he resigned from the bench to take a partnership in the law firm which handles the W. & L. E. affairs for the receiver. But the cruclest blow came from another direction. The Pittsburg Terminal ‘Company needed $10,000- 000 cash for some improvements. Ramsey, who was president, was dumfounded with the directors sug- gestion that this huge sum be borrowed on 2-year notes. He pro- tested that such a loan would throw the road into a receivership at the expiration of two years. He sug- gested long term mortgage bonds in- stead, but he was overruled. Then he went to New York to plead with the magnates who were pulling the strings. From them he finally secured the promise that the $10,000,000 would be borrowed on bonds and not notes. Thinking he had saved the situation he left fur‘ his home in St. Louis. He had scarcely arrived there when he re: ceived a telegram requesting his resignation as president. i He resigned, and the $10,000,000 was borrowed on notes. At the ex- piration of two years the maturing of these notes brought about the receivership, The bonds, which had sold for 97, fell and fell in value until today they are quoted at seven cents. 000 in. these bonds in slightly over $2,000,000. Favored lor Governor of (S York by GColenel’ Roosevelt. - Photo by American Press Association John A. Hennessy bobbed up as Colonel Roosevelt’s probable choice for governor. They had a three-hour talk the other day. Mr. Hennessy is now said to be getting Progressive signatures for a primary petition. In- quirers at his home were reterved to a published statement thot if © he should run for any office he would run as a Democrat. Colonel Rocse- velt, unwilling to lead the first as a candidate, believes that Mr. He: sy would be supported by indep Democrats and weuld win i test with Mr. Whitman and Covzran REVIEW GAME CONDITIONS C. Stewart, Feature Writer, Minnea- polis Tribune, Visits Bemidji While Securing Material for Story. IS GUEST OF MANAGER GEMMELL . Ih an effort tg gain added material for his story which is soon to be pub- lished in the Minneapolis Tribune, telling of the game ' conditions of northern Minnessta, Charles Stewart, feature writer of that publication, was a Bemidji visitor Monday even- ing and this morning. Together with his wife, Mr. Stew-| art .was among the guests:of - the northern editors on their annual out- ing which came to a close yester- day, but did not return on the spe- cial, staying at International Falls as the guests of W. H. Gemmell, general manager of the Minnesota & International railroad. Yesterday was spent in the border city, the party coming to Bemidji last evening in the Gemmell private car, and leaving for Walker this morning on the gasoline speeder, where the day was spent. While in Bemidji Mr. Stewart in- terviewed Sherm Bailey, inspector of game wardens, as to the game con- ditions here,much of the information gained to be used in his story of the northern woods. Mr. Stewart has made previous visits to Bemidji and it was one of Y. Minneuu Federa- tion of Labor. th, Juy 21.—The State de- lon of Labor opened its convén- R with 500 delegates present. May- or Prince welcomed the visitors. President E. G Hall made his re-| The latter urged the{’ of ‘the initiative and refer- endum’ and’ praised the workingmen's compensation law. The committee-on convict labor. un- - . pointed lgst year in a report demand-| ed the abolition of conviet factory la- bor, approved the using of convicts in the clearing of state lands. under the | honor system, but declared that con- victs “must not be exploited for pri- vate profit or in untair competition with free labor.” REPORTERS T0 MEET HERE Court Stenographers Will Hold An- nual Session in Bemidji August 4 —Prominent Officials to Talk. MOODY AND WYMAN ON PROGRAM With a program containing many attracting features, the Minnesota Shorthand Reporters’ . association will meet in Bemidji Tuesday, Au- gust 4. Among the speakers will be several of the most prominent re- porters of the state. Gearge W. Moody of Brainerd,. will talk, and Willis L. Wyman of Park Rapids is to give a report.of the secretary-treasurer. Both ~are re~ porters of this judicial - district. Judge C. W. Stanton will give the address of welcome. The program as just announced follows: Address of Welcome. .Judge Stanton Appointment of..Committees (Audit- iing, Nominating and Legislative.) President’s Address. Geo. B. Hillman Report of Sec.-Treas. . ‘Willis L. Wyman Report of Executive Committee. . .. .Philip M. Woddward Report of H: stonian . William M. H)ggins Standard)zmmn among . the Re- porters of the State Robt. S, Taylor The Undesirability of Editing Tran- seripts and Voluntary Interpola- tion of Matter in Court Records 0. W. Nordbye “chanieal device?. . T Ecistein Shorthand as a Dulhn-e, not a Trade Merely - ‘George W Mdody The Essentials of Speed Getting. Lourt Work in Hennepin County. . .A, W. Shaw Phrases and Short Cuts, (compari- son of large-small notes) . G. L. H. Tucker Good Fellowship .Chas. N. Sayles Discussion: Schedule of Rates and Charges for Exchange Work, De- positions and various classes of work. (Note: Certified Court Re- porters?) Election of Officers, Balloons Driven by Gale. London, July 21.—Tkrce of -the twenty-four- ballcons which started from Paris in the annual race for the grand prize of the French Aero club his articles on the success of the Bemidji Onién Growers association that caused Al. H. Jester, of this city, to become known over the en- tire northwest as the “Onion King.” ofe sleoole ol oo ole oo ol ol ol ele e o ol b R BIG PAPER MORTALITY AMONG OFFICERS. ‘Washington, July 21.—Appli- cation of the new militia laws to the national guard has caused a heavy paper mortal- ity among the highly orna- mental offices. The requirement that the militia conform in or- ganization to regular army standards has been met by all of the states except South Car- olina with the startling result that there already have been dropped three major generals, thirty brigadier generals, more than one hundred colonels and a corresponding number of offi- cers of-less rank. - oo oo oo o ol ole ole oo ofe oo oo ol ol b b ke ok ok ol ol ol b b fo ofe ofe ofe ofe ofe ofe ol ofe ofe e ofe b oo ofe b ol ol b foche o RIRR AN landed on the Welsh shore. Having crossed the English channel before a fierce gale they were forced to .de- scend in order to avoid being driven out to sea Wilson Absolves the Washingfon, July 21.—President Wilson said that during his recent conferences with business men, those men who think conditions bad do.not hold the tariff responsible. : The cen- sensus of opinion he gathered is that business needs time to adjusi-itself to the tariff. Tariff. Woman Dead; Sister Injured. Lockport, N. Y., July 21.—Mrs. Fred Miller of Olcott was killed and Mrs. Edith Bentley, her sister, probably was fatally hurt in an automobile ac- cident near “here. 'Mr. Miller was driving along a- country road when the automobile plunged. into a ditch. The ‘supreme court of the United States has just rendered a decision upholding the constitutionality of a mining coal or manufacturing iron or Attorney John Gibbons returned ‘today from the twin cities where he he has spent some time on business. :.COO REPORTER 1y, in money, and making it unlawful to issue script unless redeemable in money at its face value. THE -CUB _ ONE AMBITION AWILDCAT \T STUFFED DS WHAT COO! DOWITHA The investment .of $30,000,-' now worth Artificial rubber as a by-product of the manufacture of steel may be a possibility as English scientists are expenimenting with its ' production from coke oven gases, i i livestock shaw at °| horses and cattle Virginia law requiring companies steel to pay- employes at least month- | | State Fair, Sept: 7- largest one ever helf ‘west, even exceedin, gregate value the one: Over one million _pure-bred stock world will be assem on Monday, the op of judges of *intel will begin judging: 1 Pavilion, the Swine 7B Sheep Barn. In the-'iwmdg of each day a gigantic Hvemek parade of the ' leading studs and herds.at the Fair will be held at the evening Horge Show in the Hippodrome. “‘Gigantic' Horse 8how. As a result of an 480 of $3,000 in the: awards - for: harges, -the very cream of the. stables:0F America will be exhibited in bothiight and. draft classes. ' There will Beia larza num- ber of both native horses shown. Ameon the leading shows’heré and abroad last year." A specimkeffort will be made to encourage local ders to show. Last year the Dafty. Cattle Show New ‘World. in dairy stock in the hwest ‘that an - unusually large: bit will be made this year. Loeal breeders will carry away.much of the prize money. The Beef Cattle S| wv will include many animals certainifo win highest honors at -the Cliicago: Tnternational Livestock Exposition:; There will be a Fat Stock Show as usual. A Large Futuri Due largely to the prrangoment for a $600 Poland- Chm.’.{ Futurity “Show the “Swine Show -will be thé l} the Northwest, unles foregeén .happems; State Fair is to. guarang the Amerlcsn Poland- Minnesota $150, while At the meeting of the ' Beltrami County Board: of Education held re- cently it was decided to build a school house in the fown of M Lake. Bids have been advertised for and the new structure will erected on the southwest corner the southwest quarter of the morth- ‘Wwest quarter of section 28, township 147, range 30. Specifications can be. seen at the office of W. B. Stewart, county superintendent and clerk ,qi the board. Bids will be received up until Friday afternoon, August. 7. - (NEW ORDINANCE CHANGED Council Devides That Power is Ex. ceeded in Attempt to Pass Claus Governing Size of Liquor Glasses OTHER PORTION IS APPROVED After an amendment had been prc; posed to the mew ordinance relating to the regulation of the sale of in- toxicating liquors in Bemidji, chang- ing the size of glasses in which in- toxicants might be sold from one fluid ounce to two and a half for whisky, brandy and rye; ‘from two ounces to five for wine, and fromj eight fluid ounces to sixteen for beer. a motion was passed doing away en. tirely ‘with the portion -of the law dealing with glass size, at Mouda.y evening’s meeting of the council At the suggestion of several of & e aldermen it was decided that the power of the council was being ex-] ceeded ‘when it attempted to govern the size of. glasses which were to be used by the sfloon men in selling ] quor for which purpose they. had’ asked for and had been granted a li- cense. The only amendment to ! ordinance was in cutting out the lats ter half of section one. e Under the new ordinance which: will become a law in two weeks, D viding it is passed at the next meet: ing of the council, it shall be unlaw: ful ‘for any person to sell or give away liquor in any manner other than by the glass; to sell or give away any ‘liquor except when it is. to-be drank or consumed forthwith! upon the. premises which such sale| ‘. 18 made; to sell or give away. I uof lieve that lhis 4interest will' result in an unusually large Show. “The lead- ing importers will exhibit the pick of their-flocks. - Generous.premiums are oftered to Minnesota-classes. WOMAN THREATENS' COURT Militant Says Next: Bomb ‘Will Hurled at Jurist. London, July 21.—“The next bomb I explode wiil be in the police courts and I hope it will be this one!” This was the parting.shot from An- nie Bell, militant suffragette, to the magistrate at- Westminister, as . he committed her for trial on the double charge ‘of attempting to destroy on May 10 the Metropolitan tabernacle in South London and on July 12 the old church of St. John Evangelist. Miss Bell enlivened the sitting of the court by singing the “Marseil- laise” and shouting and struggling with the court attendants, Be Thought Gun Was Empty. Fort Wayne, Ind., July 21.—Otis Bisnet, fifteen years old, was shot through the heart Altona, Ind., when Dick Koble, hi§ playmate, re- marking that the_ gun; not loaded. handed a riffe to Bisnet. As it left Koble’s hand the weapon was dis- charged and Bisnet fell dead. ¥ Government Agents Held. ‘Washingtoh; July 21.—Five govern- ment agents are under arrest on the Pribilof -{slands “in the Bering sea pending investigation ofsrnve charges of thelr conduct with Batives, now un- der way by omr of Secretary. Red- feld: - | visitor today. Court at Spgoner2 Judge B. F. Wright of Park Rap- ids, one of the judges.of the fifteenth judicial district, was in Bemidji last evening on his way-to Spooner whelje he will preside atthe special term of court which Teconvenes there to- morrow after an adjournment since last Friday. en in @ bottle or-jug.~ A man is equally guilty. of misd meanor should he solcit or Tequest] any person to purchaseHquor for him with the person who actually does| the selling. or giving. : The council hopes to do away with the- possibilities of Indians gaining possession of intoxicating liquors by the passage of the ordinance. : Last night was the last opportu- nity for making amendments to the ordinance and it will either be pass< ed or rejected at the next meeting ‘which is to be held August 3. DRASTIC ACTIDN POSSIBLE Chalrman. of New Haven Board Hapes to Avert Suit. There were indications after the meeting of the directors of the New Haven road that fresh negotiations ir some form have been entered ito be: tween the commmy, Attorney Geéneral McReynolds and the Massachusetta} authoritles whereby federal action| will. be at least postponed. the absence of Howard Elliott, nor any member of the'board would admit this much, and the offigial statement issued contented itself with saying that they have not “closed the doors to further negotiations.” Other things supplementing - this statement were pointed out as evidence of the fresh start to solve the nroblems. KKK KKKK K KKK KKK * i Neither | President Hustis, acting chairman in; tfie'efingmmnn!vdw—i' - To Cost Approximately $8,500. ECKSTRUM. TO BUILD SEWERS Bemidji Man @iven Contract for Work Which Will Total $962.50. —Grant Boulevard Petition, | Three more . blocks - of Beltrmi. hvenne, from Seventh street to Tenth ’street, are to be paved this summer, Eaccording to action taken by the BS‘ 'midji council-Monday evening, when it accepted the bld of Goodman & Loitved for the work. The success- ‘ful bidders agree to do the paving ‘for $1.09 per -equare yard. . Other 'work done in the city has cost $1.05 per square yard, but without the 'steel expansion joints which 'add five cents to the work. This means-that the Beltrami avenue paving is to cost jone and a half cent a yard less than (before, after taking into considera- jtion the joints. Grant Petition. Several weeks ago a petition was ‘presented to the counci], signed by nearly every property owner along ‘Beltrami avenue, ‘requesting that the istreet be boulevarded, the roadway ibeing narrowed to 32 feet. The pro- position was not at first favored but iat the meeting last evening it was |decided to grant the request and as a consequence a resolution was pass- ed calling for the boulevarding of the avenue north of Ninth street. ¥ WHAT COUNCIL DID AT MON'DAY SESSION Let contract for three ‘blocks paving on Beltrami ¥« avenue, " "Passed resolution causing ¥ Beltrami avenue to e boule- varded north of Ninth street. ¥ Roadway to be 32 feet wide. * Let contract for construc- ¥ tion of storm sewers for Bel- ¥ trami avenue paving. ¥ Allowed Desk Sergeant Joe % Harrington a ten-day vaca- * tion. ¥ * x' x ' *x Appointed Martin Flint to % act as inspector of paving. * Wages, $2.50 per day. * ‘Asked for engineer’s esti- ¥ mate of cost of road leading ¥ to new bridge at outlet, and ¥ ' to the Town of Northern line. *x Amended ordinance gov- * erning sale of intoxicating li- large number of HH KKK KKK KKK KKK “THE MASTER MIND.” Baseball Pllyeru‘ thrnl‘y May Ggi on Strike. New York, July 21.—Drastic actlos possibly a strike or walkout of bas ball players in the American and Ni tional leagues, is contemplsted: by the Baseball Players’ fraternity, according: to a statement by President Fultz, in: case the national commission refus: fo accede to the terms of an ultim tum sent it by:the fraternity in the case of Player Kraft of the Newnrk Internationals. Mr. Fultz declined to make public the terms of the ultimatum, but saig that he would issue & statement out- lining it later in ‘the day. It was reported that the commll- .glon had been given until July 22 to reply to the players’ demands. Brantjen Visits Bemidji. John Brandtjen, manager of Barn- hart Brothers & Spindler, the well known St.. Paul printing office sup ply company, is a Bemidji business Mr.. - Brandtjen had just returned from International Falls and was one of the guests gf the editors on their Lake of flw ‘Woods olmng. s For fastening metal to wood there has been patented a galvanized ’uud; nail with a lead hes, the Iatter |spreading to exclude” moisture from the hole the nail makes, The Boss Is: Gomg Yet .,Edm!ind Breese, Famous Dramatic - Star, To Appear at Grand Tonight. ‘When “The Master Mind” is thrown upon the screen of the Grand this evening, Bemidji theatre-goers will have an opportunity to witness one of the greatest films of the day. Jesse L. Lasky presents the masterful dra- matic star, Edmund Breese, in this picture. It is a five-reel film, being a feature which has scored a record attendance in all places where it has tbeen shown, Takes Harrington’s Place. J. J. McElroy, for five years desk sergeant at the Bemidji police sta- ‘tion, i8 back at his old post for tem days. He is-taking the place of Ser- geant Joe Harrington, who Wwas granted a vacation by the council last evening. Will Sail for Norway. Transportation to Trondhjem, Norway, via the steamship Christian- iatjord, was issued to Ole Lund to- day by R _E. Fisher, union smtlon .agent:” He will leave Bemidji tomor- ow morning, By "HOP” * ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok +* This means that the one block of the: % paving which ds to be done will be & only 32 feet wide; greatly reducing the cost.of construction. Mentions Postoffice Site. When the matter ‘of boulevarding ‘Beltrami from the point where the ‘pavement now ends, was being dis- cussed, P, J. Russell, city attorney, said that he -did Dot believe it ad- ¥\ visable to start the boulevard at * 'Seventh, * 'the Federal building for which the it being very likely that gove'rnmem has made an approprig- non of $84,000, will be erected across: from the court house, which would SEH emrl that lm had lllfilmltldn on +good authority that the ‘postaftice ,would be built on Beltrami, between Sixth and Seventh. The boulevard. * ;on each side of the rosdway ‘will -be *.24 feet. Eckstrum Given Conh'ut. Three bids were opened for the Beltrami avenue storm sewer work, itwo being those of Bemidji firms, L. P, Eckstrum and Herbert Doran. Af- ter figuring the cost of construction; a difference of but $5.80 was found in the bids of the Grand Forks Con- crete company and Eckstrum.Believ- ing that in such a situation the work should be given a local man, the council awarded the contract to Eck- strum, who will be givén $962.60 for his services. Cost City $93. A bill from the board of equaliza- tion was read t6 the council and or- dered paid. The bill was for servi- ces of the five members of the board, the following to.receive $18 each, three dollars a day for six days, Alderman Lahr of the first ward; Alderman Bailey of the second ward, Alderman Bisiar of the third ward, and Mayor McCuaig. Alderman Mil- ler of the fourth ward acted as sec- retary and his bill was for seven days at three dollars per day. TEAM MAY DISBAND. Athletic Club Baseball Nine May Play No More This Year. Indications are that the baseball team of the Bemidji Athletic club may disband for the season. Lack of iinterest in baseball here is the chief cause for the discontinuing of the 'schedule. Had it not been for the winning of the July Fourth purse the club would have lost a large amount of money on the season’s play. The team won a large majority of its games and by its victory over Grand Rapids proved itself to be an organization equal to any ofher of northern Minnesota. It is likely that an independent team may be or- sanized. Plans for the football sea- son are already being made and an- ‘other championship seems certain for the Athletics. Is Granted Divorce. Judge C. W. Stanton yesterday. !filea papers with the clerk of court granting a divorce to Mrs. Ella Vick- - {ermat trom Williain Vickerman, both of this city. Mrs, Vickerman will - resume her maiden name, Ella Elf- ers. A marriage license permitting ‘marry was issued by Lucy LaFon- tisee, dewty clurk of court, Anton Hurt and Lena Becker to. -