Evening Star Newspaper, August 11, 1906, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR ‘WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION. Business Office, 11th street and Pennsylvania Avenue, The Evening Star N iY le * SHRODORE W. ROYED, Prides New York Office: Tribune Building. hicago Office: Tribuae Building. ‘The Evening Star, with the Sunday morning edf- tion, is delivered by carriers, on their own account, Within the city at 50 cents per month; without the Runday morning edition at 44 cents per month. By mail, postag> prepaid: Daily, Sunday included, one month, 60 cents, Daily, Sunday excepted, one month, 50 cents. Saturday Sta 00, Bunday Sta The Evening Star. Weather. Fair tonight and tomor row. No. 16,757. WASHINGTON, D. C, SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1906.—TWENTY-FOUR PAGES.- TWO CENTS. VERY CLOSE CALL FOR GRAND DUKE + Bullets Whizzed Dangerously Close to Nicholas’ Heac AT CAMP FIRING PRACTICE By the Imperial Guards at Krasnoye- Selo. CONSIDERED DELIBERATE PLOT By Disloyal Guardsmen, Who Sought Assassination Under Cover of Gen- eral Blank Cartridge Shooting. ST. PETERSBURG, August 11—Noon.— Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholatevitch, pres!- dent of the council of national defense, nar- rowly escaped assassination yesterday aft- ernoon at the hands of the imperial guards {m the guard camp at Krasnoye-Selo. Thus far the Associated Press has only Grand Duke Nicholas. |.been able to obtain meager details of the affair, from which it appears that the grand duke was personally reviewing, manuever- ing yand putting the troops through blank firing practice when he suddenly was * startled by the wasp-like hiss of bullets about his head, Fortunately neither him- self nor his horse was touched. ‘The command to cease firing was imme- diately given and the soldiers of-the regi- ment from which. the bullets came were @ back to thelr quarters and an in- vestigation was begun In the hope of as- certaining from the barrels, of the rifles which of the soldiers fired ball cartridg: Several arrests are understood to have been ue. meGne of the grand duke’s aids-de-camp, who, however, was not personally present, @dvanced to the Associated Press the theory that possibly the bullets were fired by ac- cident, but he considered that beyond a doubt there was a plot on the part of a number of disloyal guardsmen who deliber- ately planned to take the grand duke's life under the cover of the general blank ear- e firing. “it was no more an accident,” the aid- d, “than was the firing of the uting battery waters of the and a half the the emperor a year go. e bold attempt on the grand duke’s fe caused an immediate che plans of ‘the to go to Krasi @ week with the soldiers of his imperial guards It was learned that the troops were in extended order and engaged in volley fir- ing when ‘accident’ occurred, render- ing it difficult to determine the reg:ment from which the bullets came. The grand duke, surounded by offtcers and aids-de- camp was off on one side, out of the line of fire affair has created a deep impression circles, and is the one top'c of on in the clubs, but the attempt nd duke’s life is not generally no word on the subject having shed In the newspapers. ard it was definitely established the shots were flred by the Ist Bat- yn of the sharpshooters of the guard, » advanced in rushes while making a attack on an intrenched position. a hundred shots were fired, but the impatience of the conspirators led them to open fire at such a distance as to frustrate their object. Before the maneuvers began all the ball cartridges were taken from the troops and the officers had taken the precaution to make a special examination of the cartridge pouches of the soldiers immediately before the inauguration of the movement of the troops. BOMBSHELL IN POLICE RANKS. Long Expected Order Scatters Chicago Guardians. CHICAGO, August 11.—Chief of Police John M. Collins last night exploded a long- expected bomb under Chicago's police de- partment. The order, one of the most sweeping in recent years, mows down the peace guar- @ians of all ranks. Inspector Nicholas Hunt, head of the Hyde Park police division since Hyde Park was made a part of Chicago, is discharged and recommended for a pension. Another inspector, Patrick J. Lavin, for some months head of the Chicago avenue di- vision, is suspended pending the investiga- tion of charges. ‘Twenty-six changes and transfers were in- cluded in this order, there being but two discharges, Inspector Hunt being accom- panied in his retirement by Lieut. F. L. Smith of the Rogers Park station, who aiso is on the superannuated list. The other changes include the promotion of two desk sergeants and one patrol sergeant to Heu- tenancies, the shifting of eight captains and of eight lieutenants the transfer of a captain to the head of the detective bureau and the promotion of Capt. Peter M. Kelly of the Warren avenue district to be in- spector, to succeed Hunt. — OCEAN STEAMSHIP ARRIVALS. 7 NEW YORK, August 11.—Arrived: Kaiser- .in Auguste Victoria and Bulgaria, from Hambure. PLYMOUTH, August 11.—Arrived: Ce- Gric, New York, A MASTER HAND IN BANK WRECK New Trails of Crookedness Re- vealed by Probe INTO CHICAGO INSTITUTION Astounding Revelations of Systematic Looting UNDER NOSES OF DIRECTORY A Director Admitted He Never Knew of Any Meeting Held to Pass Upon Loans. CHICAGO, August 11.—The discovery yes- terday of new trails of crookedness run- ning through the mulcted Milwaukee Ave- nue Bank led the state’s attorney to sum- mon peremptorily last night three of the principal directors in the affairs of the in- stitution. They were called upon to explain conditions which indicate that another line of robberies was being carried on independ- ently of the gigantic swindle already d's- cussed. ; The directors who responded to the sum- mons were Frank Crane and Martius Kirk- eby. An officer was sent for M. A. LaBuy, another director, but he could not be lo- cated. Director Crane was submitted to a hot examination by Assistant State's At- torney Olsen in the presence of Inspector Shippy and Assistant Chief of Police Schuet- ler. He denied all knowledge of the for- geries perpetrated by Stensland. “Did you ever attend a meeting of the executive committee of the board?” asked Mr. Olsen of Crane. “No, sir; I never did,” rector. “Did you ever know the executive com- mittee to meet?” “It never met so far as I know,” admitted Crane. “Did you ever pass on loans or do any- thing else to further the interests of the bank?’ pursued the prosecutor. “No, sir,” sald Crane. Director Borrowed Money. The director was shown a note for $1,000 dated April 4 last and asked {f the signa- ture was genuine. He replied that it was: He said that he had borrowed a total of $25,000 fromthe bank, the said $4,000 note being the last transaction of the series. He is indebted to the bank for the whole amount at present. The security which Crane gave the bank for this $25,000 in loans consisted of forty shares of West- Chicago street railway stock, valued at $2,400. He was asked if, as @ director of the bank, he did not con- sider that pretty slim security for a bor- rower to put up. He did not think so. ‘The assistant state’s attorney then pro- duced the books of the bank, showing that the dividends on Crane's stock were not paid to him, but to an account in the bank known as “409.” This was one of Stens- land’s personal accounts. Crane refused to answer further questions along this line. The director declared that he is worth replied the di- Left Responsibility to President. Director Marius Kirkeby was questioned on the same subjects. He was a member of the loan committee, together with Stens- land and his son. He was supposed to pass on the loans, but he admitted to the state’s attorney that he left the greater part of that responsibility to the president. ‘Among other papers examined last night was a check for $4,700, which bore no sig- nature except one made with a rubber stamp, no name being attached in its place, pearing only the address ‘209 Milwaukee avenue.” ‘This had been handled by Cashier Hering, according to his own admission, and hed been handed in by President Stensland, who obtained the amount of the check in cash. Police to Keep Order at Inquest. Police were today summoned to keep or- der at the inquest Into the Meath of Frank Kowalski, teller of the Milwaukee Avenue State Bank, who “shot himself yesterday evening at his home. The feeling of some of the depositors in the defunct bank was so great that the dead teller was cursed as his body lay in the parlor of his home. The wreath on the door of the house was torn down and its flowers scattered by the angry men. Police Sergeant Hamilton, detailed at the coroner’s inquest, forced the disturbers into the street. A policeman was then statloned at the door to prevent any person from en- tering the house. Directors on the Grill. The directors of the Milwaukee Avenue State Bank were put on the grill in today’s examination of the bank’s affairs. They were examined as vigorously as was Cash- jer Henry W. Hering yesterday. Six de- tectives were sent to bring in the directors soon after the inquisitors had arrived at the bank today. Stensland Lately in Fort Worth. ST. LOUIS, August 11.—A special to the Post-Dispatch from Fort Worth, Tex., says: Paul O. Stensland, president of the defunct Milwaukee Avenue State Bank of Chicago, was lately in Fort Worth, ac- cording to Henry A. Adams, a fomer Chi- cago commission broker, who believes Stensland to be on the way to Mexico. Adams said he traveled all the way from New Orleans to this city with Stensland without knowing the bank had failed. Not until Adams read the account of it in a local paper did he suspect that Stensland was fleeing. Adams says Stensland claimed to be going to Mexico on a trip into the mountains for his health, When asked how his bank was progressing he declared it to be In a most prosperous condition. The police departments of all border towns were notified: One ee SPOILED FOOD AN ISSUE. Between Wholesale Grocers and Chi- cago Health Department. CHICAGO, August 11.—Spoiled food be- came an issue yesterday between the wholesale grocers of Chicago and the city’ health department. The grocers asked the health officers to allow them to “process” | 42,000 cans of food products that had been condemned by the municipality’s inspect- ors. “Processing,” in brief, is to so treat the foods that they can be marketed. The health department officials refused. ‘Twelve thousand cans of food have been tagged and sealed in crates at one store as unfit for food and Inspector Murray said yesterday that about 30,000 cans were in various wholesale grocery store rooms of the city awaiting “reprocess” treatment be- fore being sold as wholesome food, \ INSURANCE MEN LUCKY BRITISH COMMITTEE SAYS NO FUND DEPOSIT NEEDED. LONDON, August 11.—In view of the evidence they have heard, the comittee does not consider that -in the interest of British policy holders it is desirable to compel foreign companies to deposit funds in this country.” Thus the select committee of the house of lords appointed to inquire into and re- port on what steps should be taken by the |,deposit of funds, or otherwise, to provide adequate security to the British policy holders in life insurance companies which have their chief officers outside of the united kingdom, but which carry on busi- ness in this country, sums up its finding The committee found an almost unani- mous opinion among the leading British actuaries and life insurance managers against compellirig such measures on the part of the foreign companies. ‘The reasons-advanced: bythe insurance men are that it would be contrary to the principles in regard to insurance com- panies which had hitherto prevailed in Great Britain; that it would violate the principle that the whole of the funds of an insurance company should be available for the claims of ail policy holders alike; that it might lead to reprisals on the part of foreign governments; that it might lead the public to believe that the solvency of the companies making the deposits was guaranteed by the government; that such deposits might seem to imply a statutory basis for valuation, the tendency of which might weaken rather than strengthen the reserves, and that such deposit of securi- ties would appear to give an unfdir ad- vantage to British subjects holding poli- cies in a foreign company, while under such a limited state of supervision it was doubtful wether the policy holders would be as well protected as they are by con- trp through publicity and the freedom which exists in regard to British com- panies. TUGMEN’S STRIKE ENDED. All Railroads Affected Have Fleets Running Today. NEW YORK, August 11—The strike of deckhands employed on the tugboats of a number of railroads here, which threat- ened at one time to tle up the food sup- ply of the city, is practically at end, with all danger of a freight congestion past. The railroad officlals announced that the majority of the men have gone back to work, and those who are still out will find it difficult to get back their positions. All the railroads affected by the strike have their entire fleets running today with the exception of the Baltimore and Ohto, the employes of which decline a partial con- cession to their demands, and the Lehigh Valley road. ‘Terminal Agent Marshall of the Baltimore and Ohio said today that some of his boats were tied up, but he was firm in his determination not to yield to the demands of the strikers. RAILWAY FLAGMAN KILLED. Four Trainmen Injured in a Rear- End Collision. FRANKLIN, Pa., August 11.—In a rear- end collision of a northbound freight and the Pittsburg beef train, on the Pennsylva- nia railroad, near here today Patrick Bar- rett, flagman, of Pittsburg, was killed, and J. W. Miller, brakeman, fatally injured. Three other trainmen were painfully but not seriously hurt. —__.____ Divorce Decree for Brodie Duke. NEW YORK, August 11.—Brodie L. Duke of Durham, N. C., brother of the president of the American Tobacco Company, was today granted a final decree of absolute divorce from his wife, Alice Webb Duke. The couple were married in December, 1904. Mrs, Duke filed an answer denying the charges set up by her husband, but did not appear to defend the sult. She brought a Carcieeeha against him, but it was aban- jon —_—_—_— Not Dangerously Hurt. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., August 11.—The 17th Regular Infantry private who was wounded in yesterday's sham battle at Chickamauga Park encampment was not @angerously hurt. He was hit by one of many bullets fired instead of blank tar- tridges. At the time the Ist Georgia Regi- ment was opposing the regulars. InVestiga- tion was made, but nothing definite has been given out. The 8d Tennessee and a South Carolina regiment today took the places of the Georgia and South Carolina commands, who, after being in camp all week, left today for home. Killed by Train at Norfolk. Special Dispatch to The Star. NORFOLK, Va. August 11.—William Peterson, twenty-eight years of age, was run over and killed here by a Norfolk and Western shifting train today as the result left: e struck him. He would have escaped he been on the right-hand side, THE SINEWS OF WAR CHAIRMAN GRIGGS CALLS FOR ONE DOLLAR SUBSCRIPTIONS. The democratic congressional campaign committee is adopting the course begun by Chairman Sherman of the republican com- mittee by calling on all members of the party"to send in $1 subscriptions to the campaign fumd in which they are in urgent need. The committee is sending out a circular to 30,000 democrats in all parts of the coun- tr}, and the result of this method of rais- ing money is watched with unusual inter- est. Many democrats have been inclined to make light of Chairman Sherman's $1 sub- scriptions, declaring that their purpose has been merely to draw off attention from larger contributions from the trusts. But for several weeks the idea that Mr. Sher- man’s plan hae been proving a success has grown. It is declared that In the past, when it was known that corporations « richr-men weré contributing very: Mberaly campaign funds, the ordinary voter did not feel inclined to contribute anything sore than his ballot. Many of them felt that their contribution was so small that it was of no consequence, anyway. Now it is said the word is being passed about over the congressional districts that the fund must be raised in small amounts of $1, and the responses are more general than they have ever been before. In the circular which is being sent out by Chairman Griggs it is declared that if the democratic party is to win a victory and elect a President in 1908 they must first-elect a House of Representatives this fall. “A democratic House,” says Mr. Griggs, ‘can and will investigate every department of the government. With all of these honeycombed with ‘graft,’ the edges of which Fave heen touched by recent ex- posures and prosecutions, there will be a revelation of rottenness that will astound the country and create a demand for a democratic administration to clean the gov- ernment workshop. To win the House we need money to defray expenses to get. our vote. We have no protected monopolies from which to fill our coffers, as they do those of the republican party. We must, therefore, appeal to loyal democrats for contributions.” He then promises each democrat whe sends him $1 a set of the campaign litera- ture that has ‘been compiled by the com- mittee. THE BRYANS IN PARIS ABRIVED TODAY FOR A FOUR DAYS’ VISIT. PARIS, August 11.—William J. Bryan, ac- companied by his wife and daughter, Col. Wetmore and Mr., Mrs. and Miss Dunlap, arrived here today for a four days’ visit. A number of friends gathered at the rail- road station and gave the party a cordial greeting. On reaching his hgtel Mr. Bryan found a huge stack of mail, including many invitations to dinners and sightseeing ex- cursions. The party lunched at the Hotel Ritz as the guests of Ex-Governor David R. Francis of St. Louis. Mr. Bryan did not -wish:to talk about his candidacy for the presidency of the United States, saying this had already been lengthily discussed and that he ‘had noth- ing to add to his previous statements. He was much interested in the social problems of France and:the recent enactment of the workingmen’s pension law and the enforced weekly day of rest. “It appears,” said Mr. Bryan, “to be part of the democratic development which I have observed to be going on all over the world. I noticed it in India, Japan and China. Everywhere one sees the same evi- dence of popular awakening.” This afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Bryan visit- ed Notre Dame Cathedral and drove along the Seine to the neighborhood of the Pan- theon. Tomorrow they will take an auto- mobile ride to the Forest of Fontainebleau. ge SHONTS BACK FROM PANAMA. He Tells of Conditions on the Isthmus. NEW ‘YORK, August 11.—T. P. Shonts, chairman, and Joseph B. Bishop, secretary, of the Panama canal commission, arrived here. today from Colon on the steamer ‘Pename. Mr. Shonts said that general con- ‘ditions in the canal sone were very favor- able at present and constantly improving. “All we want,” he declared, “is more labor and less rain. The labor problem has been partially solved by the employ- ment of Spanish workmen. We have also advertised for Chinese laborers. The death rate has risen from 1% per cent last winter to 5 per cent at the present time, which is a better showing than at the a’ labor camp in this country. Yellow fever has not appeared in a long time and for nine days previous to my departure no ‘smallpox ‘was prevalent. 3 “It will be some days, however, before we can be sure that the disease has been en- tirely eradicated. Out of the thirty-seven cases which broke out during the recent epidemic only one death occurred.” Mr, Shonts said that the engineering ste on the canal was now well under way. * COLOMBIANS ARRESTED FOR AN ALLEGED CONSPIRACY. PANAMA, August 11—The police last night captured seventeen Colombians, for- mer revolutionary generals, on the charge of conspiring against high national author- ities. The prisoners during the revolution of 1900 distinguished themselves by their depredations in the interior of the isthmus. A Mexican named Ruiz Sandoval also was taken into custody. AH the men ar- rested had recently arrived in Panama. Secretary Arias refuses to furnish any details of the plot, but it is rumored that some of the members of the Panama liberal party are implicated. The prisoners will be deported as pernicious foreigners. All danger seems to be past. The condi- tions there are normal, the general public not being aware that the authorities hi captured the plotters. It is asserted that DEPARTURE IN PERSIA SHAH GRANTS A PARLIAMENT BY THE PEOPLE. TEHERAN. Persia, August 11—The shah finally has granted the demands of the peo- ple for reforms. and the refugees who sought the protection of the British lega- tion, with the exception of two hundred, who have personal claims, have left the legation, and.the mullahs-who fled from Teheran are returning. Illuminations in honor of the new order of things have been ordered throughout the country. The reforms, which are announced in an ukase signed by the shah and made public today. include the creation of a coun- cll of state. with consultative rights, to con- sist of fifty members, partly elected from all classes, including the clergy, but excluding the peasants. = The shah. evidently, was forced to take this action by the powerful combination of the clergy. The capital is quieter and the shops are reopening. Effect of Russian Upheaval. LONDON, August 11—A Persian official here, in an interview today, said the grant- ing of a constitution to Persia was one of the effects of the Russian upheaval. The news of the Russian struggle had long been the subject of discussion tr the bazaars of Persia. The economic distress in that coun- try also played no small part in creating the desire for some. measure of political freedom, which the shah had long desired to grant, but had refrained from so ‘doing by the advice of the late grand vjzier, Ain Ed Dowleh. Since the latter’s ‘dismissal the shah has had the more enlightened advice of Mushir Ed Dowleh, who is known for his liberal tendencies. While the clergy heretofore have opposed @ constitution, both as the direct represen- tatives of the prophet and of the large land- owners, it is believed they will welcome the formation of a national council, since they will be largely represented. Members of the Persian colony in London today sent a telegram of congratulation and thanks to the grand vizier. LONGWORTHS HOME TODAY. Expected to Reach New York on the St. Paul. OYSTER BAY, N. Y., August 11.—Repre- sentative and Mrs. Longworth, who are due to arrive today from Europe, aboard the American Line steamship St. Paul, are expected to reach Oyster Bay about 4 o'clock this afternoon. They wilt make the run from New York city on the President’s yacht, Sylph, which will meet the St. Paul at quarantine. Mr. and Mrs, Longworth will remain at Saga- more Hill only a short time. From Oyster Bay they have planned to go to Washing- ton and later to Cincinnati. ——_.—__ WHITE PLAGUE IN KANSAS. TOPEKA, Kan., August 11—The Kansas board of health is preparing tables to be sent out for making a census of all tuber- culosig cases in the state. The board of health has determined to wage a war on the white piague, and the first step will be to secure as nearly a complete census of the cases as possible. Each of the 8,000 reg- ular physicians in the state will be asked to make an accurate list of the number of cases in their practice. ‘The census will’also show the stages of the disease and the causes as near as these can be ascertained, and much other infor- mation showing the age and general health of the patient before the disease took a se- rious form, It is believed the disease can be checked In many families if the proper precautions are taken. a SENSATION AT PANAMA WILL BE RADICAL STEP All Building Operations Said to Be Threatened. LOCAL STRIKE SITUATIO General Rupture, With Delay and In- convenience. NATURE oF PROPOSED ACTION | Supply Agent Declares That Time for Temporizing Has Passed—Strug- gle’s Probable Effect. The strike situation in this city has as- sumed an aspect which threatens all building operations. The strained relations between the trades unions and the employ- ing organizations, growing ont of the lock- out of the journeymen plumbers by the master plumbers last march, have reached a degree of tension which gives promise of @ general rupture with conseqaent delay and inconvenience in the construction of buildings. In the past few days, as stated in The Star, the policies of the trades unions have been taking form in a direc- tion which seemed to indicate this result. It is now stated that the situation may be brought to a focus without further delay at @ meeting of the master builders this after- noon at 4 o'clock, in Master Builders’ Hall, corner of 14th and G streets northwest. The exact nature of the action proposed could not be learned this morning, but it is stated that the master butiders contemplate calling off from the buildings now in course of construction all mechanics and other workmen. It is further said that their pur- pose in taking such action would be to make the tie-up of building operations in the Dis- trict practically complete, so that the par- ties to the contention which resulted in the lockout of the plumbers, the walkout of the bricklayers and the sympathétic action of other trades organizations will be compelled to arrive at some amicable settlement, or else remain fdle throughout the rem: of the building season. ees Regarded as Radical Step. “This will be a radical step,” sald a building supply agent to a Star reporter to- day, “but the master builders believe they will be justified in taking it, as they de- clare that the time for temporizing has Passed and the vexed question of the mas- ter plumbers and the journeymen. plumbe! should be settled now for all time.” < On the other hand, a leading gnember of the bricklayers’ union said to The Star re- porter that the tendency of the misters’ trades asgociations of late has -been toward the open shop, and, it is giaimed. that it )they are left alone by the “they will tio doubt engage in-a strong movement in the near future, tending toward the elim- ination of trades un‘ons and the wholesale introduction of labor in the District. A long and bitter struggle is expected if the situation develops into a clear-cut con- test between the master builders and the federation of trades unions. Should the former succeed in the aims advanced, it is pointed out, the result would tend to the Promotion of the open shop plan in this city. Probable Results, The probable effect of the struggle upon the construction of public buildings in this city, such as the new District build- ing, the union station and others, is oc- casioning much concern. It is well under- stood that a protracted contest would very likely put the contractors in charge of those ‘structures to very great difficulty in their effort to complete the work a prescribed time. Seite The action of the carpenters in following the example of the journeymen bricklayers in their sympathetic strike has given more definite form to the situation. It is stated that the members of the Brotherhood of Carpenters have determined to do as fhe bricklayers have done in refusing to work on those structures where plumbers are employed who do not belong to the union. It is understood the journeymen painters are in line with the bricklayers and car- penters. Expression of Sympathy. Members of the various building trades unions and miscellaneous trades organiza- tions were emphatic today in their expres- sion of sympathy for the locked-out plumb- ers. The fact that the policy of the open shop is involved was emphasized as being of the highest importance to the trades unions. It was asserted that the very ex- istence of the unions was threatened by the attitude of the masters’ association. That body, it was declared. in declining to enter into further negotiations with the journey- men plumbers had virtually refused to arbi- trate. Speaking for the master plumbers, a member of that organization stated to- day that the association was refusing to recognize the journeymen’s union as such in the contention, but that the members now out as the result of the lockout methe#s could return to work.at any time ag individuals. Work Has Not Suffered. It was asserted that the work in which the plumbers are engaged had not ma- terially suffered by the lockout. Other men, it was added, had been put in the Places of those compelled to give up their employment. Mr. Oscar W. White, a real estate dealer of this city, said to a reporter for The Star today that he was in favor of a gen- eral strike in the hope that the result would be the general recognition of the open shop plan. ‘I hope all the trade unions will go out.” he said, “‘and that the places now occupied by their members will be filed by others. This I believe is one of the best ways of settling the vexed question. In my opinion the trades workmen of this city are very well provided for in the mater of wages and short hours of labor, and I believe that it they are not content with what they are getting they should be forced to give way to others.” SULTAN BREAKS PRECEDENT. Prevented by Illness From Attending Famous Prayer Service. CONSTANTINOPLE, August 7.—The sultan, who has been ill-for three weeks, was unable to attend the Selamlik yester- day. This circumstance is unprecedented, the sultan never having failed to perform the Friday prayers during the thirty years of his reign. Up to the last mo- ment he hoped that his condition would allow him to proceed to the mosque, and the guard was on its way to the palace ‘when it was ordered to return to its bar- racks. It is believed that the inability of the sultan to attend the Selamlik was due to }the extreme painfulness of the trouble from which he is sufferii fact that his condition Bergmann, the famous German surgeon, has been summoned to attend him, and it is presumed that’a slight operation was necessary. , and not to the Prof. SIFTING OUT THE MUTINIES 2,000 Soldiers and Sailors to Be Court-Martialed. RESULT OF INVESTIGATIONS Into the Uprisings at Cronstadt and Sveaborg. PROSPECTS OF MEN BRIGHTENED By Czar’s Decision to Name Commis- sions to Probe for Cause of Outbreaks. ST. PETERSBURG, August 11.—After the preliminary investigations the military and naval prosecutors have decided to try by court-martial no less than 2,000 soldiers and sailors who participated in the “Cron- stadt and Sveaborg mutinies. The pros- pects of the men, however, have been brightened by the decision of the emperor to appoint two extraordinary commissions, headed, respectively, by Generals Vodar and Guncheroff and Admirals Mollas an@ Makaroff, to investigate the causes of the outbreaks at Cronstadt and Sveaborg, and to determine the responsibility for the demoralization. War Minister Ridger and Minister of Ma- rine Birlleff are said to be arriving at the same conclusion as Admiral Skrydloff, the commander of the Black Sea flect, that the officers are more to blame than the men. The commissions will inquire into the general conditions prevailing in the navy and army, and it may result in a very great shake-up, including the wholesale cashier- ing and retirement of commissioned officers. A proposition to furlough: indefinitely the superfluous sailors on the Baltic station is being seriously considered. It is pointed out that there are no ships nor ocoupa- tion for them, and that they are merely a source of demoralization. The Government Interested. Another indication of the determination of the administration to participate vigorously in the electoral campaign is furnished by an order of the minister of the interior to the police throughout the empire to make re- ports as speedily as posstble on all the po- litical parties in their districts, their strength, organization, membership, activity and press organs, Count Heyden today contributes to the controversy over the failure of himself-and pis friends to enter the ministry, an open letter declaring,that they Insist upon having at least five places in the cabinet, in order to have a preponderance, but that they were obliged to refuse the places finally offered, as this would have made them a negligible quantity. The revelations made in open letters by Count Heyden, Prince Nicholas Lvoff and M. Shipoff regarding the cause of break- down of the negotiations looking to their entering the cabinet place Premier Stolypin in a rather bad light. The letters show that the government utterly refused to yield anything in the matter of principie and only tried to give the cabinet an appearance of liberality by taking in two public men. Prince Lvoff said it was absurd to ask them to become mere government clerks. They had specially insisted upon getting the portfolios of the interior as vital to ob- taining public confidence. None of the liberal papers have yet been allowed to resume publication. The Novoe Vremya, which often reflects the sentiments of the upper circies, displays a constantly stronger tone in favor of a rigorous sup- pression of the revolutionary movement. Today it declares that every member of the outlawed parliament who signed the Viborg manifesto must be prosecuted. The censorship continues to forbid the publica- tion of all foreign criticisms of the govern- ment’s course. A renewal of peasant troubles on a small scale is reported from Vladimir and Kos- troma provinces. Ali the important political captives are again being incarcerated in the fortress of St. Peter and St. Paul. The use of this fortress as a political prison was discon- tinued after the amnesty of last fall. Secret Printing House Found. MOSCOW, August 11.—The police have discovered in a neighboring village a secret printing establishment of the Revolutionary League, where the Viborg and Terjioki manifestos to the army and navy have been printed. The police also captured three bombs. It is learned that among the members of the revolutionary committee recently ar- rested in Moscow was Mme. Efronoff, who is sald to have been the chief of the cen- tral organization of the social revolutionists and peasants league of the Moscow dis- trict. Fifty workmen agitators were expelled yesterday from Moscow. The Octoberists’ Program. At the session of the central committee of the Octoberists tomorrow, at which the platform committee will present a new pro- gram on which the party expects to appeal to the country at the coming elections, the progressive drift of the country will be rec- ognized by proposals for universal suffrage direct in the cities and in two stages in the country and the enlargement of the pow- ers of parliament to include a rev:sion of treaties as well as a discussion of loa: taxes and concessions. M. Shipoff, former finance minister, will also propose the re- organization of the council of the empire, or upper house, as an advisory body with no legislative powers. The platform will adopt a negative atti- tude on the proposition for a general ex- propriation of the land, mentioning only a division of state, crown and church lands and an extension of the activity of the local commissions. It will recommend the aboli- tion of the communal system, and all spe- cial laws in order to place the peasantry on an equal footing with the other classes; the amelioration of the condition of the restricted autonomy for non-Rus- sians and will declare that the enactment of a measure providing free education »should be the first care of nt. ae ae OI oR SL AEROS SEL 2 OMIM te OC SEES MTNA Co Eh ag lis iN SR Rae RR ERLE SE TC ec cA EE ROO SR LEY 7 ROR Se k(OE SN O R TE SAE NRN OE .NONANT TE IR. Ne RINE Se sn 8. AT MERCY OF BANDITS. Incredible State of Affairs Reported at Warsaw. WARSAW, August 11—An incredible state of affairs at Warsaw and Lodz. The inhabitants are at the mercy of ban- dits, anarchists and terrorists. Murders and robberies, reports of which are not publish- ed, occur daily. The authorities apparently are powerless. At Lodz today six anarch- ists attacked a German factory owner and his clerk, who was returning from the bank, and killed both and decamped with $700. Two Sentenced to Death. MITAU, Russia, August 11.--A court- martial here yesterday sentence@ to death