The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 11, 1902, Page 1

Call. VOLUME XCII-NO. 103. SAN ALL RAILROAD CONDUCTORS AND BRAKEMEN OPERATING WEST FRANCISCO, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1902. PRICE FIVE CENTS. OF CHICAGO TO DEMAND INCREASE OF WAGES OF 20 PER CENT — COLONIAL SECRETARY CHAMBERLAIN REFUSES CONCESSIONS TO THE BOERS Generals Dewet, Botha and Delarey Plead in Vain During Their Visit in London to Secure Better Terms for the Vanquished South Africans. £2 | | { | ] | | | | | | | i { i J Nl:*‘\’/‘—;x_ CHRISTIAN EWET - 53R Parl to-day t of the re- Joseph e Boer ge larey. Prior to agreeing to the interview, which the Boers asked for August 20, the Colonial Becretary requested a list of the subjects which it was desired to discuss, and the generals forwarded & list, including- the foliowing: Compiete amnesty to the rebels. A yearly grant to all Boer widows and orphans znd maimed burghers. Equal rights for the English and Dutch languages in the schools and courts That equal rights with the British be conceded to burghers complying with the terms of render, including the right to return to South Africa. The immediate release of all prisoriers ot war. The reinstatement of the officials of the late South African republics, or compen- sation for their loss of office. Compensation for all loss occasioned by the British troops by the use, removal, burning or destruction by other means of ali private property. The reinstatement of the burghers in the ownership of their farms, confiscated or sold under the proclamation of August 7, 1901 Compensation for the use of the proper- ties of burghers taken by the British au- thorities. Payment of the lawful obligations of the late South African republics, includ- ing those incurred during the war. The rescinding of the decision’ to attach 2 portion of the Transvaal to Natal. Granting an extension of time for the payment of all debts due by the burghers to the late governments of the South Af- rican republics. ‘WOULD REMOVE DOUBTS. Chamberlain, in reply, expressed great surprise at the number and character of the proposals, pointing out that the con- e - ~ Y Qx (I-,) nent inconsistent with the declaration he had signed at Vereeningen. General’ Botha said he hoped that the “sins of one man would not be visited on others,” adding: “If one man says foolish things, let him suffer therefor alone.” Chamberlain informed the generals that there was no truth in the report that the Government intended to sell farms belonging to burghers. Regarding some farms sold in the Orange River Colony under the proclamation of August 7, 1901, Chamberlain promised that the farms bought by the Government would be re- transferred to their former owners. General Botha criticized th composition of the commission appointed to allot the grant of $15,000,000 (for the purpose of as- sisting burghers and their families to re- turn to their homes and for restocking their farms, etc.) and objected to na- ticnal scouts serving as commissioners, but Chamberlain maintained that the 3 case in which more than ever before, or indeed, ever since, the victor, the con- queror, showed a magnanimous and gen- erous feeling to the conquered. There was good reason for this, because they were brothers of the same race, the same religion. It was a clvil war, but even in that case the Northern side, that'is to say, the victorious side, made no provi- sion whatever, either by way of grant, pension or allowance, to the people who had been wounded, to the side that had been conquered. “They gave them their lives and their liberties, and after a period of ten years gave them both, but did not give them any money consideration. But we have gone a step beyond that, because we haye contributed, in addition to all our enor- mous expenses, a very large sum to re- lieve those who are really destitute in our new colonies. We have done more than I think was expected. and we have done all that we can afford to do, and I think it B 1 { l S BRITISH COLONIAL SECRETARY AND THE NOTED BOER LEADERS TO WHOM HE REFUSED TO MAKE FURTHER CONCESSIONS CON- CERNING PEACE TERMS IN SOUTH AFRICA. ditions agreed on at Vereeningen were duly accepted by the burghers and the British Government, and that they could not be reopened, nor could proposals re- jected at the time be again discussed. If the interpretation of the agreement was open to question his Majesty’'s Govern- ment would endeavor to remove all doubts. At the opening of the conference the Boer generals disclaimed any desire to alter the terms of surrender in any way. On the subject of amnesty to rebels, Gen- eral Botha expressed disappointment that after the promise given by Lord Kitche- ner the rebels had not been granted am- nesty at the time of King Edward's coro- nation, in reply to which Chamberlain promised that the Imperial Government would not hinder any generous intentions of the governments of Natal and Cape Colony in regard to the rebels. As to the return of burghers to South Africa, the Colonial Secretary declared it was the Government's intention to re- tain the right to prevent the return of disloyal persons who had not frankly ac- cepted the terms of peace, instancing for- mer State Secretary Reitz of the Trans- vaal as a case in point, and saying that Reitz was using language on the Conti- ) Gevernment must be true to those that supported it. Relative to the transfer to Natal of part of the Transvaal, General Botha said the burghers proposed to trek therefrom. He lives there, but he saw no chance of remaining, the feeling of the British in Natal being so strongly anti- Boer. 4 On the subject of martial law, Chamber- lain safd it would not be continued much longer. The Colonial Secretary refused to recognize as burghers forelgners who had been naturalized during or just before the war, saying they had been bribed by the resolution of the Volksraad giving them burghers’ rights as a reward for taking part in a conflict in which they were not concerned. General Botha concluded with an ap- peal for the widows and orphans and sald he considered that the appropriation of $15,000,000 was inadequate, Replying to. this, Chamberlain compared Great Britain’s. treatment of the Boers with the treatment of the South by the Nerth after the Civil War in America, “I would -remind the general,” said Chamberlain, “what we have undertaken under similar circumstances. To take one case in my time, I recollect very well the great Civil War in America, and I ap- peal to'that because that stands out as a S - would not be desirable for the generals to press us any further in this matter, either now or in writing.” Proceeding, Chamberlain reciprocated the desire expressed by General Botha that they should ail live in peace in fu- ture in South Africa. “We want in this country,” said: the Colonial Secretary, “‘to forget and forgive, because if you think, as you well may, that you have something to forgive, we also think we have a great deal to for- give. But we want to put all that on one side. The war is over. We each fought as well as we knew how, and now there is peace. All we want is to recognize you as fellow subjects with ourselves, work- ing as we shall work, for the prosperity and liberty of South Africa. How great that liberty is and how soon complete self-government will be extended = to South Africa depends entirely on the rap- 1dity with which the old animosities die out.” Chamberlain concluded with saying that the Government would be glad of the co- operation of men. like the generals, who had loyally accepted the new situation. As they wanted South Africa to be a happy abiding place for all, he felt sure that if the burghers met the British half way they would find them quite as good friends in the future as they had been loyal enemies in the past. - + BATTLESHIP IOWA RUNS HARD ASHORE EW YORK, Sept. 11.— N The United States bat- tleship Iowa has run aground near Cape Nos- sa Senhora de Desterro on the island cf Milo, cables the Her- ald correspondent at Rio Ja- neiro, Brazil. The Iowa had just finished target practice and was returning to Friars | Island. The Brazilian Minis- ter of Marine has ordered a warship to go to the aid of the Iowa. Cape Nossa Senhora de Des- terro is on the island of Santa Catharina, 460 miles south- west of Rio Janeiro. The is- land is about half way be- tween Montevideo, Uruguay and Rio Janeiro, The Iowa is the flagship of the South Atlantic squadron. Rear Admiral George W. Sum- { mer is in command of the South { - Atlantic station. Captain | Thomas Perry commands the ‘ Iowa. The cruiser Atlanta is the only other warship in the South Atlantic squadron. MENACE CITIES OF COLOMBIA Rebels Are Marching on Panama and Colon. Government, Unable to Get Troops, Totters. Horribie Atrocities Committed by the Insurgents. e Special Dispatch to The Call. KINGSTON, Jamaica, Sept. 10.—Advice$ which have reached here to-day by the British steamship William Cliff show that - General Herrera's revolutionary army is now menacing Panama and Colon. The William Clff left Colon on Monday and her passengers' describe the actual condition of affairs on the isthmus. General Herrera's forces are apparently striking for three points on the Panama Railroad line, Corozal, which is a few miles from Panama; Emperador, which is two miles east of Corozal, and Buena Vista, which is near the middle of the railway line. It is said that the advance guard is already at Culebra, near Em- perador. The revolutionists advanced mainly from Chorrera, about fifteen miles above Panama. Residents of Panama and Colon are now daily expecting attacks. Entrenchments are being erected by the Government au- thorities at both ends of the railroad line. Owing to the superior force of the revolu- tionists, the Government is forced to acopt a policy ‘of defense. CANNOT GET MORE TROOPS. General Salazar, Governor of Panama, has been unable to get reinforcements, because the rebels have blocked Magda- lena River, preventing the dispatch of troops for the interior of the republic by the eastern route. On the Pacific side of the isthmus the Government is entirely helpless in the way of getting reinforce- ments, for the insurgents are in complete control of the sea. Their war vessels have been hovering for days near the en- trance of the harbor of Panama. There are in Panama about 2500 Govern- ment soldiers. In Colon there are from 1200 to 1500. < General Herrera's force has gained ac- cessions to his army since the Govern- ment defeat at Agua Dulce. His force contains from 8000 to 10,000 men. It is said that some of the soldiers who surrendered at Agua Dulce are now enlisted in his army. Owing to the @ifficulty in pro- visioning his army, it is believed that General Herrera will conduct a rapid cam- paign. The expectation is that he will first try to gain posession of Panama. DESPERATE FIGHTING. The German steamer Valencia arrived here to-day from Santa Marta, capital of the district of Magdalena, Colombia, and reports that desperate fighting occurred there from Friday to Monday last. One hundred Government troops were killed, the railroad was demoralized and terrible atrocities were committed. The Valen- cia had to leave Santa Marta without a cargo. The attack by the Colombian revolu- tionists was started on the outskirts of Santa Marta on Friday last, the Govern- ment troops being overwhelmed and forced to retreat. In their march on to Santa Marta the revolutionists wrecked the railroads. Several trains were de- railed and several lives were lost in the wrecks. When the Valencia sailed on Monday the revolutionists were so near the town that Captain Gronmeyer could see the flashes of their guns. Several Luildings in Santa Marta were then blaz- ing, having been ignited by the few troops | left to oppose the attack of the revolu- tionists. The town at that time was ex- pected momentarily to surrender. HORRIBLE ATROCITIES. Officers of the Valencia say that horri- ble atrocities were committed by the reb- els, who chiefly used machetes. The bLodies of many of the Government troops were terribly mutilated. Senta Marta fis entirely cut off from communication with outside points and the residents of the port have sent an apepal to Colon for protection. It is fear- ed the revolutionists will sack Santa Mar- ta when they capture it. The stores are closed and the greatest terror prevails. The attack of the revolutionists was en- tirely unexpected, and owing to their su- perior numbers the resistance of the Gov- ernment forces was half-hearted. Officers of the Valencia do not think the Colom- bilan Government can get reinforcements into Santa Marta in time to save the town. Owing to the total obstruction of the railroad the Valencia did not get her car- go of fruit at Santa Marta, and because of the seriousness of the situation the captain decided to put into Kingston for instructions. AGUA DULCE DEFEAT. PANAMA, Sept. 10.—The censorship maintained by the Colombian Government over press messages to the United States makes it impossible to cable many details concerning the surrender of Agua Dulce. The insurgents took possesgion of Agua Dulce in January of this year after hav- ing defeated the Government forces un- der General Castro, who managed to re- treat with nearly 400 men and reach Pan- ama. General Berti was sent to recover e KILLICK EXPLODES MAGAZINE Bold Rebel Admiral Goes Down With His Ship. Defies the World and Carries Out His Threats. Hayti’s Decree Clos= ing Ports Is Not Recognized. inves- of the of the GONAIVES, Hayti, Sept. 10.—An tigation made by a correspondent Associated Press into the sinking Firminist gunboat Crete-a-Pierrot at the entrance of this harbor Saturday shows that Admiral Killick, her commander, personally fired the aft magazine of that vessel when the German gunboat Panther attempted to capture her and that he ap- parently went down with his ship. The Panther, which had previously attempted to board the Crete-a-Pierrot, the latter be- ing moored to the shore, reversed her en- gines when the magazine exploded, and one hour afterward fired thirty shots from her guns at the Crete-a-Pierrot in order to finish the work of sinking her. The Panther then left Gonaives. KILLICK’S DEFIANCE. It is elaimed that the rifles and machine guns of the Crete-a-Pierrot have been saved. The bedy of Admiral Killick was re- covered Saturday afternoon and was buried the same evening. The surgeon of the Crete-a-Pierrot, who was asleep in his cabin, and two sailors of that vessel also perished. The Panther is expected to reach Cape Haytien on Friday. A newspaper of Port au Prince July 14 contained the following telegram from Admiral Killick to General Boiserond Canal, provisional president of Hayti: “GONAIVES, July 12.—Boiserond Canal, Port au Prince: Killick does not fear any- thing; will blow up his ship and company for the sake of thé mational honor. You alone remain responsible.!” Previous to sending the message to Geéneral Boiserond Canal, it appears, Ad- miral Killick had received orders from the latter to give up his vessel to Lieutenant Reid, his second in command, and it was also reported that the provisional Govern- ment had requested the United States gunboat Marietta and the French cruiser D'Assis to capture the Crete-a-Plerrot, hence the defiant dispatch to General Boiserond Canal. GERMANY IS SATISFIED. BERLIN, Sept. 10.—Some of the news- papers here having expressed the opinion that Germany would claim damages against the Haytian Government for the arms and ammunition captured by Ad- mtral Killick on board the German steam- er Markomannia, the semi-official Cologne Gazette’s reply, apparently with an in- spired statement, to the effect that the matter ‘was settled so far as Germany was concerned with the destruction of the Crete-a-Pierrot, adding that the arms and ammunition captured belonged to the Haytian Government and were merely un- der transport from one Haytian port to another. CLOSURE NOT RECOGNIZED. CALL BUREAU, 406 G STREET, N. W., WASHINGTON, Sept. 10.—No recog- nition will be accorded by the United States Government to the closure by the Haytian provisional government of the ports of Hayti which are held by the Fir- min revolutionary forces. precedent established years ago, the United States will recognize no closure of a port held by revolutionists unless it is blockaded effectively by the Haytian Government. Hayti, however, may issue a closure edict of her own ports and it will be recognized. Commander Henry McCrea, U. 8. N, who was in command of the Machias in Haytian waters until she was recently or- dered north, was at the Navy Depart- ment to-day and had a long talk with Secretary Moody, who Is highly satisfled with the manner in Which Commander McCrea handled the rather delicate situa- tions in both Panama and Haytl. Com- mander McCrea was disinclined to talk at any length on the situation in Haytl. He gave Moody valuable information re- garding conditions in Hayti. The Machias will not go out of ccmmision at the Bos- ton yard, where she is to be drydocked. There is no indication here of any fur- ther complications arising from the sink- ing of the Cretg-a-Plerrot. 3 P BRAVE ADMIRAL KILLICK. Sketch of the, Officer Who Went Down With His Boat. CALL BUREAU, 1406 G STREET, N. W.. WASHINGTON, Sept. 10.—William Killick, the Haytian insurgent navy com- mander, who went dowr. with his ship, the gunboat Crete-a-Plerrot, when she was sunk by the German gunboat Pan- ther at Gonaives 'several days ago, was reseolved to fight to the death long before he came in contact with the “mailed fist” ot German authority by seizing the Ger- man steamer Markomannia. The admiral was considered a thorough- ly brave and aggressive commander. The son of a Scotchman and a Haytian wom- an, he rose without difficulty to the com- mand of the Haytian navy. When the se- ries of revolutions took place which over- Men Secretly Organize Union. To Bring Test Case at Once. Acting on the | Claim They Can Tie Up Trains. HE largest and most far-reach- ing union in the history of railroads has been recently formed by the railroad conduc- tors and brakemen on roads operating west of Chicago. The men are dissatisfled with the pres- ent rates of wages and will in the im- mediate future make a demand for an increase of salaries of 20 per cent. It is understood that this union will make a test case on one of the roads. Should its request be refused by railroad officials the conductors and brakemen claim that they are able to tie up every road west of Chicago. The organization was perfected last June in Kansas City and a passenger conductor of the South- ern Pacific residing at Oakland was elected its executive head. The formation of this new union has been secretly accomplished, and, though the formers were handicapped in this re- spect, it is asserted that it is all-powerful and that the trainmen are in a position to dictate to the presidents of roads and their head operative officials. HOLD SECRET CONVENTION. Last June the representatives of the Or- der of Railway Conductors and Brother- hood of Ralilroad Trainmen asked their employers for a short leave of absence. They were very secretive as to their busi- ness, saying they were going to Kansas City to arrange about dues, picnics and other small matters. Upon their arrival in Kansas City the delegates met in ex- ecutive session eighty rallroad men rep- resenting roads west of Chicago, who ‘were not members of the railroad unions. It was decided that as railroad interests ‘were combining employes must also com- bine for protection. As a result the gen- eral committee of the Order of Rallway Conductors and the Brotherhood of Raii- road Trainmen was formed. The em- ployes of every road west of Chicago are on the rolls. Among_ the most important roads af- fected are the Atchison, Topeka and San- ta Fe: Southern Pacific, Chicago and Northwestern, Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul: Chicago, Burlington and Quin- cy; Rio Grande systems, Missouri Pa- cific, Union Pacific, Illinois Central, | Northern Pacific, Great Northern, Oregon Short Line, Oregon Railroad and Navi- gation Company, Rock Island and Chi- cago and Alton. ASK 20 PER CENT RAISE. At the Kansas City meeting it was | said that, owing to the increase of ton- nage, trains were much harder to handle | and trainmen should be entitled to a per cent increase. The delegates did not act hastily in the matter, but decided that the question should be put individually to every conductor, whether working on a passenger or a freight train, and to every brakeman. Circulars were secret- ly passed around among the.men and as a result every trainman signed the re- quest asking for the increase of 20 per cent. Another clause in the circular is to the ect that in the future no freight trains of more than thirty cars shall be made up to go over the mountains. It is the intention of this new organiza— tion to make a test case in the very near future. Where the battle ground will be is not known. It may be In some remote spot on some small road, or it may be on one of the biggest railways operating in this country. One thing is very evident, and that i{s that the Southern Pacific is very anxious to have the case tried out- side of its territory. Manager James Agler of the Southern Pacific stated yesterday that he was fuliy aware that the organization had beea perfected, but refused to discuss the sub- ject at this time. CHAIRMAN STAFFORD TALEKS. Chairman W. V. Stafford of the exec- utive council of the union was seen. He refused to discuss the matter until told that The Call was in full possession of the facts about the organization. He then made the following statement: Yes, this union has been formed and every | conductor and brakeman employe on the roads west of Chicago will shortly be members. The railroad men feel that as the roads are being | consolidated the best thing we can do for our | own protection is to also form one big union. We feel that we should get an increase of 20 per cent and we shall at the right time make a request for {t. We skall make a test case and, of course, should the first road asked agres to give the increase, we shall ask all other roads, one by one, for the same. Our organization is perfect. The circulars we have been sending out have been signed not only my myself, but by E. E. Clark, grand chief conductor of the Order of Rail- way Conductors, and P. H. Morrissey, grand master of the Brotherhood of Tranmen. We have every trainman in the country back of | us and we will win our demand. | THINKS THEY HAVE FRIENDS. I did not at first like the idea of taiking " Continued on Page 3, Column 3. Continued on Page 3, Column 5. Continued on Page 3, Columa 7.