The Choteau Montanan (Choteau, Mont.) 1913-1925, October 12, 1923, Image 2

X 1—Princeton's new skating rink, a memorial to “Hoby” Baker, football star and victim of the war. 2—New navy Curtiss plane entered in the Pulitzer trophy race at S t Louis. 3—King Boris of Bulgaria, combating a re­ volt of communists and agrarians. NEWS REVIEW OF CURRENT EVENTS Governor Walton Wins a Blood­ less Victory Over Okla­ homa Legislators. TROOPS PREVENT SESSION Germany Surrendering in the Ruhr, Bavaria Revolts and Establishes Die- - tatorship— War Minister Gessler Made Dictator of Entire Coun­ try to Meet Crisis. By EDWARD W. PICKARD u/~>KOM\VELL” W ALTON and his troopers won a bloodless victory over tiie legislators of Oklahoma who wanted to assemble in special session for the purpose of investigating what they term the mistakes and illegal ac­ tions of the governor. Sixty-two mem­ bers of the lower house attempted to convene in the state capitol Wednes­ day, and were driven out by the mili­ tary. They offered no resistance, but at once prepared a petition to the Su­ preme court for a restraining order prohibiting Adjutant General Mark­ ham from interfering with the sessions of the legislature. They contended that they already were legally in ses- iion. Asked whether he would pre­ vent such action by the Supreme court, Governor Walton said that would de­ pend on the advice of his lawyers, who number fourteen. He added that there was no way by which the governor of Oklahoma could be removed except by appeal of citizens to federal courts or to congress. On Thursday the governor extended absolute martial law over Murray county some of whose citizens had asked for protection from the Ku Klux Klan. He said martini law In the Btnte would continue “ until the klan gangs and newspapers get off my back and give me a chance to clean up the courts and the county from klan influ­ ence.\ There wasn’t a ghost of a show for the “ rebel” legislators. They signed the call for the session and filed it with the secretary of state, and then proceeded toward the legislative cham­ ber. There in front of the doors was a line of National Guardsmen through which they could not penetrate. As­ sured of a quorum, C. S. Brice, speaker pro tem, directed the clerk to call the roll in the lobby. Immediately Colonel Key, in command of the troops, read Adjutant General Markham’s order di­ recting the members to disperse, and told the soldiers to start them mov­ ing and keep them moving until they were outside the capitol. The legis­ lators Inter tried to meet in a hotel room for a conference and found it guarded by gunmen who, the governor admitted, were on the state pay roll and working for him. Campbell Bussell, a former state oflicer, was arrested for circulating a cartoon depicting Walton as a dictator, and newspaper photographers who tried to get pictures of the scenes at the capitol also were taken into cus­ tody. It must not be supposed that Walton and his Immediate supporters are alone In their fight against the “in­ visible empire’’ in Oklahoma. When the governor called on the people of the state to bo ready to join the militia if they were needed to enforce his orders, it is said 35,000 men vol­ unteered for service. Most of the newspapers are against him because of what they consider his unwarranted assumption of dictatorial powers. So far the national government has taken no part in the fight, merely sending the warning that federal buildings could be used only for federal busi­ ness. G ERMANY surrendered again last week, and thereupon two more dictatorships sprang up. Having re­ ceived the assurance of support from the premiers of all the German states, President Ebert and Chancellor Strese- mann announced that passive resist­ ance in the Ruhr and the Rhineland was officially abandoned. First reclt- ing the circumstances of the French and Belgian occupation, the proclama­ tion of surrender continued: “The former production of the Ruhr and the Rhineland ceased and the economic life in occupied aDd unoccu­ pied Germany became disorganized. It is most seriously to be feared that should the same line of action as hitherto be proceeded with, the crea­ tion of a regular currency, the main­ tenance of economic life, and existence Itself would be impossible for our peo­ ple. In the interest of Germany’s future, as In that of the Rhineland and the Ruhr, this danger must be removed. In order to preserve the life of the people and the state we are today faced with the dire necessity of relinquishing the struggle. “It depends on the powers which have invaded our territory and on their allies by adhering to this idea to give peace to Germany or to bring about by rejection of this peace all the conse­ quences which would ensue with re­ spect to the relations between peoples. We Invite the German people to stand closely together In the days of dire moral and material strife which are to come. Only thus shall be frus­ trated all projects for dismemberment of the rc-fch, and the nation recover its honor, life and liberty, which is its Imprescriptible right.” Supplementing this, the chancellor told a gathering of newspaper men that if France refused to show mercy and made a second dictated peace, he would as a last extreme break off all relations with the allies and let come what will, even though the allies march upon Berlin and occupy the whole of Germany by military force. The first reaction to the surrender came in Bavaria, the center of monarch­ ism. The ministerial council of that state met, listened to Premier von Knilling’s explanation of his support of Stresemann’s policy and swiftly dis­ credited him. It then named Gustave von Kahr, former Bavarian premier, as dictator and declared the German con­ stitution set aside so far as Bavaria was concerned. Among the laws defin­ itely announced suspended are all those guaranteeing freedom of speech, press, assembly, telephone, telegram, secrecy of mall, secrecy and sanctity of person, dwelling and property. Habeas corpus is declared nonexistent. Herr von Kahr is vested with pow­ ers to call troops and use troops, ar­ rest any one he chooses, keep pris­ oners without trial and seize the prop­ erty of any one he declnres an enemy of the nation. The ministerial council also issued orders placing the rail­ roads at the dictator’s disposal, de­ claring all officials subordinate to his will and that his orders are higher law than the laws of the national Ger- mnn government. It was announced that there was no appeal from his de­ cisions. Stresemann at once called an ex­ traordinary session of the cabinet in Berlin and it was decided that the na­ tional government would not recog­ nize the Bavarian dictatorship and would oppose it with all the means in its power. President Ebert then pro­ claimed the existence of “ extraordinary conditions” and appointed War Min­ ister Otto Gessler military dictator, giving him practically complete ex­ ecutive power. A decree was Issued restricting such constitutional rights as freedom of the press and the right of assembly, and authorizing domi­ ciliary searches and seizures. If the opportunity seems ripe, Von Kahr may be expected to restore the monarchy in Bavaria with Crown Prince Ruprecht on the throne. In this he might be opposed by General Ludendorff, who is a pan-German, and perhaps by Adolph Hittler, head of the Bavarian fascist!. Of course the Communists are try­ ing to take advantage of the mix-up but so far they have made little prog­ ress. That they are receiving arras and other aid from the Russian soviet government has been proved by the Berlin authorities. B ULGARIA’S communist revolution kept on “revolutioning” last week, and at this writing the outcome of the struggle is altogether uncertain. The latest reports said King Boris and Premier Zankoff had left Sofia, where fighting was going on, and that nearly 20,000 communists were advancing on the capital from the north. The war office announced that the decisive bat­ tle in the uprising was beings fought in the city of Ferdinand and the near­ by village of Berkowitz where the com­ munists and their agrarian allies were surrounded by government forces. The rebels are armed with rifles and ma­ chine guns supplied by Russia. T T A L Y has evacuated Corfu acoord- -*• Ing to promise, but first- Premier Mussolini compelled Greece to pay the 50,000,000 lire Indemnity for the mur­ ders at Janina without waiting for the apprehension of the assassins. On the demand of Mussolini the council of ambassadors ordered this payment. Lord Crewe, the British ambassador to France, held out as long as he could, but stood quite alone in the council. •pRESIDENT PRIMO RIVERA of the -*■ Spanish directorate and his able assistants are putting into, effect re­ forms that bring joy to the people. Thousands of grafting politicians and superfluous office holders have been dismissed; the cost of living has been reduced and profiteers are being pun­ ished; banditry is being ended by court-martial and prompt execution; syndicalism and Its terrorism have been abolished. It is understood In London that the proposition to swap Gibraltar for Ceuta is being seriously considered by both the British and Spanish govern­ ments. D ISASTER and death attended the international balloon race‘ f<?r the James Gordon Bennett trophy which started from Brussels, Belgium. The aeronauts ascended during a violent storm—the rules of the contest for­ bidding postponement—and half a dozen of the balloons were destroyed by lightning and collisions. Five of the balloonists were killed, including Lieuts. R. C. Olmstead and J. W. Clioptaw of the U. S. army, whose balloon was wrecked by a bolt of lightning In Holland. The race was won by DeMuyter of Belgium, winner of last year’s contest. F ULL responsibility for the catas­ trophe in which seven destroyers were lost on the California coast and 23 members of the crews perished was assumed by Capt. E. H. Watson, com­ mander of the squadron, in his testi­ mony before the naval court of in­ quiry. He admitted that the east turn was made by his order, and that he took no soundings. The commanding officer of the Delphy, which was lead­ ing the squadron, admitted the dis­ aster was due to an error of judgment, but thought a contributory cause was the unusual northerly current ne&r Point Arguello where a southerly cur­ rent was to be expected. S ECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE WALLACE believes he has de­ vised a way for the government to help the farmers. In a report to Pres­ ident Coolidge be recommends the es­ tablishment by the government of an agricultural export commission or corporation with broad powers. He does not suggest details. Mr. Wallace reiterates his opposition to government price fixing of any one crop, and ex­ presses the opinion that while the buying and holding of a large part of the surplus wheat might be of tem­ porary benefit such action also would make conditions worse unless produc­ tion of the crop could be controlled. As part of the effort to stimulate ex­ ports of wheat Secretary Wallace de­ clares there should be a reduction of at least 25 per cent in freight rates, and'that the entire structure of freight rates should be analyzed. H ENRY FORD has disappointed the South and many of those who have been booming him for a presi­ dential nomination. He seems to have lost interest in his proposal to take over the government’s water power plants at Muscle Shoals, Ala., with a view of developing a great industrial center there. His present apathy Is brought about by the fact that the government, compelled to act promptly in the matter of the Gorgns steam plant down there,, sold it to the Ala­ bama Light and Power company. Mr. Ford had not come forward with any modification of his original offer that would Include the Gorgas plant. Pres­ ident Coolidge believes the project should be as attractive to Ms- Ford as it ever was. MontanaNews PRACTICALLY ALL ELECTRICITY. JN STATE.GENERATED BYW ATER Statistics compiled by the depart­ ment 6f labor and industry show that the installed capacity of hydro-electric, plants in Montana is 420,000 horse power. Not all of this power Is being- utilized at the present time or else it is being operated for uses which do not require its being reported to the public service commission for the total developed capacity shown by the pub­ lic service records commission records is 294,939 horse power. In the year 1922, according to the United States geological survey, Mon­ tana produced nearly seven per cent of the. nation’s electricity from water power and was the fourth state in rank in point of the amount of power developed. Of the electrical power used in Mon­ tana 99.2 per cent is generated by water. Montana, the state department claims, uses more electricity per cap­ ita than any other state. This, if cor­ rect, presumably is due to the fact that the state while large in area is small in population but within its con­ fines has hundreds of miles of elec­ trically operated railroads and has .numerous mines which use a tremen­ dous amount of electric current. More than two-thirds of the present installed hydro-electric capacity of the state is on the Missouri river and its tributaries in central Montana but ap­ proximately three-fourths of the po­ tential undeveloped capacity, figures of the state department show, is in western Montana on the Pacific slope of the Rocky mountains, on the Clark’s Fork, the Flathead and Kootenai rivers principally. The total potential development in Montana on the Missouri river and its tributaries is estimated by the geologi­ cal survey to be 700,000 horsepower. Oats that averaged 110 bushels to the acre and wheat that averaged 54 were grown this year on the. ranch of H. A. Espie four miles south of Wllsall according to threshing returns. In drilling a well to supply water for the „Fergus county fair at Lewistown shale oil was encountered at a depth of 300 feet and the ground is now being investigated by geologists. The annual poultry show at Deer Lodge is to be held in the agricultural rooms of the Powell county high school December 6, 7 and 8. Indications are that the coming show* will eclipse that of last year. Five refrigerator cars comprised the first shipment of the Bitter Root apple crop to the New York market. The apples destined for the Gotham market are of the McIntosh variety. Ten other refrigerator cars were loaded out .for nearby markets. Burns suffered when a pot of boil­ ing hot coffee was overturned have proved fatal to the three-year-old son' of Mr. and Mrs. Ziecracker of Malta. The child was given prompt medical attention, but all efforts to save his life failed. When a 30-30 rifle fell from the hands of John Szasv, a rancher near Winston, just ns he had entered his home on returning from a hunting trip, the gun was discharged and he died a few hours later in a Helena hos-* pital. The wound was in the stomach. The new grain warehouse built by the Occident Elevator company at Bridger to replace the structure de­ stroyed bjf fire during the latter part of July has been completed and is now receiving grain. The new elevator building occupies the same ground space ns the former structure. Efficiency of summer fallowing has again been demonstrated, this time in the Silver Bow district where Nels Swenson of Harlem threshed 1,365 bushels of wheat from a 30-acre field, or an average of 45 1-2 bushels to the acre. This Is the highest average yield ever reported in this section. Wiliam Cowan, one of the few sur­ viving soldiers of the regular army which fought In the campaign with the Sioux Indians, is dead in Lewistown, aged 86 years. He served at Old Fort Maginnis, and mustered out there in 1886, remained near the old fort and engaged in farming. He was on the Custer battlefield the day following the battle. Yellowstone county Northwestern Dent corn exhibited by H. E. Melclier of Broadview took first place’ at the Montana fair at Helena and second place for the same variety of corn went to Meri Naser of Broadview. W. A. Allison of Canyon creek won a ‘.‘Boggs” potato grader valued at $75 for the best bushel of Bliss Triumph potatoes exhibited at the state fair. After an illness of several months, James Bice, one of the pioneers of the state, died at the home of his nephew, Matt Bice, in Havre. He was 7S years of age. Mr, Bice was a rancher and stockman and had lived in Havre 30 years. Prior to his coming to Havre he was a prospector in the western part of the state. He was a native of Cornwall, England. What may prove the success of a new Industry for the Bitter Root val ley, Is an experiment in growing radish seed,’ made this year by Eugene Doty at his ranch a mile north of Corvallis. Mr. Doty planted an acre of his best land to French breakfast radishes in June this year, and now he has a fine prospect for a big yield of choice seed. The Sloan Seed company is back of the project and has contracted for the seed at 12 cents a pound. • A repre­ sentative of the company visited the field and estimated the yield at no less than 2,000 pounds, which is ex­ ceptionally good. coti OF ÍTE0PILU0 FAITHFUL WEATHER SIGN OIL NEWS ••«••■■■■■•■••¿■■■■••■■■•■»¿■■■■••••■■•••«•ft\ TREASURE STATE A C T IVITY BRIEFL Y RECOUNTED Libby “Seer” Predicts Long Fall, Short Winter, Early Spring .For; Montana Long fall, short, concentrated win­ ter, early spring. • Leo Faust, the seer from the north woods of Libby, makes the prediction. Before telling how he does it or what manner of rhyme or reason he employs in reaching this conclusion, Mr. Faust looks vagrantly over, his spectacles and mentions that in the Libby country the folks have never failed to read the winter season in advance by the meth- où he uses. “This morning I met up with a big caterpillar,” Mr. Faust remarked. ‘The nautral orange color extends quite a way from his head on; this means that we’ll have a long, unbroken fall. Then I saw a black ring—solid in color; and this means that the winter will be short and pronounced, for if the winter were to be interspersed with other weather, the black in the ring would be mottled with the orange. Then I found the remainder of the bug colored with the orange hue— early spring.” Mr. Faust pooh-poohs the idea of predicting winter conditions through the long, hair of the coyote or in any. of these other ways, but is willing to bet all his stock in the Montana Mining association that the caterpillar version Is accurate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ * ' ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ TREASURE STATE BÌllEFB ★ ★ ★ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * According to pitchers who were at­ tracted to Helena by the state horse shoe contest, the tourney of barnyard golf this year was the best yet held and attrtteted a great deal of interest. The final result of the tournament was: Charles Conklin, Big Sandy, state champion; Joe Dublé of Butte, runner up; 'George F. Wright, Lewis­ town, third; R. R. Frazier, last year’s champion, fourth; Guy Buzzard, Hel­ ena, fifth ; Mike Sullivan, Butte, sixth; George Cook, Helena, seventh; D. W. Heffner, Lewistown, eighth. Follow­ ing the contest the state organization held an enthusiastic meeting and it is laying plans to increase the member­ ship to 1,000 this season. Officers for the coming year were elected as fol­ lows: President, Charles Conklin, Big Sandy; vice president, Joe Dubie, Butte; secretary - treasurer, Leigh Wade, Lewistown; contest manager, R. R. Frazier, Helena. A flood along'powder river following recent heavy rains resulted, in incal­ culable damage, sweeping a w a y bridges, fences, hay stacks, livestock, farm buildings and inundating the en­ tire valley from source to mouth, ac­ cording to Tom Barnard of Powder- ville, who declares the flood Is many times worse than anything of like na­ ture remembered by even the oldest residents. Alfalfa fields were flooded to a depth of 15 feet on the Barnard ranch, where the river, ordinarily a' few feet wide, swept from side to’ side of the valley, a. mile and a half wide. Horses, forced to high ground, were at last .reached by the water, even on the tops of high-knolls and were com­ pelled to swim to keep from drowning, Mr. Barnard says. . According to an estimate made by a.. Roundup fruit dealer, residents of that' city and vicinity will have expended $7,800 for grapes this season when all orders are filled. Counting orders filled and those on the books, there have been 12 car loads of the fruit for this territory, each car having a capacity of about 13 tons. The price on the track at Roundup was about $140 a ton. The dealer, when asked what was being done with such a large quantity of grnpes, replied with a smile: “ Oh, making jelly and such.” It is generally thought that the “and such” accounts for 90 per cent of the grapes. After spending nearly three score years prospecting in Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana, A. H. Shaffer, 70-year-old pioneer of the west, has made the strike of his career.in the Highlands, 17 miles from Butte; he asserts. Not far from the Golden Sur­ prise property, which he located 20 years ago, Mr. Shaffer says that he has found gold-bearing quartz ore that in one of the outcroppings showed $295.40 in gold and $6 In silver. An­ other assay from'the lead was reported to him, Mr. Shaffer says, as showing values of $9,186.50 in gold. William Cowan, one of the few sur­ viving soldiers of the regular army who fought in the campaigns against the Sioux Indians, died at Lewistown, aged 86 years. He served at old Fort Maginnis, and was mustered out there in 1886, remaining near the old fort and engaging in farming. He was on the Custer battlefield the day follow­ ing the fight. Mr. Cowan was a native of Ireland. A widow and several chil­ dren survive him. A heavy-flow of water \was encoun­ tered in the Bauley Dome at a. depth. .- slightly below 2,300 feet in-the Ellis: sand and the well is to be abandoned-. While it is not .unlikely-that another-, test will be’ drilled on this 'structure,, no arrangements have been made fo r immediate operations there. Thè well, was'started more than-two years ago.V the ' first company starting the ‘ well failing to get very fari Later it. was. taken over by the Bauley Dome syndi­ cate and completed to its present- depth. A Star rig was used which is. not of sufficient capacity to drill to- a depth required to explore the sands: to the Madison lime. ' •*. .» • , The test well .of the Custer Oil and Gas company has been c-'-'’ '1«'1 in jjnd1 is on-its way to the second sand in the- west Cat Creek field. , The location'is: ^ one quarter north of the Northern Nò. 2, which was recently brought in dry. It is believed, however,'that it is fa r enough to the north to be on another high spot. Should production be found ’ - here, there will be many other wells drilled to the north and west-of the- discovery well. ‘ . - 9 ' The Mutual company has installed a settling tank of 250 barrels capacity, on the Mutual-Hogan lease in the- Kevln-Sunburst field; The tank has- been fitted with steam coils to keep- the temperature of the oil’ at a point '.that will ensure quick and thorough separation,of water from the.oil, there- being a small quantity o f water in the- gathering lines from a fèw of. the wells on the' lease. The settling tank wilt take care of 500 barrels of fluid a day. The first well on the Alaska Bench structure-southeast of Lewistown, lins been spudded -in. The. well is to be drilled with a Lidecker which was: brought up from Cat Creek and A. R . .Frame lias the contract for completing _ the hole to the Madison lime, if neces­ sary, which it is estimated will be- found at a depth between 1,250 and 1,500 feet. Drilling for oil on the Flathead res­ ervation will be started bv the middle of October, according to B. E. Black- ledge, superintendent of the work. The Flathead Petroleum company is behind the venture and. according to Mr. Blackiadge, has 35 000 acres o f lensed land on the - reseryat'on and three sites selected for test wells. A tesf of the big well of the Home- stake Exploration-Howling No. 3, Kevln-Snnhurst field, Is now being made, with a view to finding its set- tied production. It is believed bv those qu a iled to know,- that this well will considerably exceed the Ohio- - Baker No. 3. whose, settled production is nround 1.500 barrels per day. The Sweetgrass-MoDonald No. 2, Kevin-Runburst field, has developed a large flow of gas at 1 T**’T ’n the- Sunburst sand, the gas being estimated at 2.000 000 feet. The gas is being cased off with 8 ^ -Inch casing and the drill will go on down to the Ellis fo r production. The gas will bemused f o r drilling. - Work of drilling in well No. 5 of the Stellar Oil company near Glendive has >■ been resumed. A dépth of nearly 2,000 had been atained. and at that place the bore was obstructed by the loss o f a bit. It is the definite purpose of the company to send the drill into the Ellis sands, which He at a depth o f . approximately 2.250 feet. . The Lake Basin Farmers well in the * Lake Basin being drilled by the Cairn- cross company of Butte has received the new crank shaft and drilling has been resumed. The h.ole is down more than 1,100 feet and it is expected that the Eagle sand will be encountered ' within 100 feet. ~> It is reported In Winnett that the California company, subsidiary of the Standard Oil of California, may pur­ chase the acreage of the Musselshell Valley Oil company. Sliaffer Oil com­ pany, Mosby Consolidated Oil com­ pany, in the west end of Cat Creek. The Ohio-Larson No. 3, Kevin-Sun- burst field, came in a dry hole, after > being shot twice with 26 quarts from 1,572 to 1,577, but nothing was ac­ complished and the hole will be aban­ doned. The rubber of the packing being put in in the Hepp No. 1, Lake Basin field, was blown out by the strong gas pres­ sure, and the crew Is pulling the' eighty inch casing. The hole Is down 3,133 feet. , Cat Creek oil has been cut to $1.40 a barrel. ’ No change was made In the price of Kevin-Sunburst crude oil, which is now posted at 70 cents a bar­ rel. Snyder No. 1 on the Six Shooter structure, is drilling at 315 feet At the surface of the hole is 24 inches wide which is one of the widest In the state. Mid-Northern Oil ' company, a sub­ sidiary of MId-sWest Refining, has spudded in their No. 4 well in Cat Creek. Western Montana’s first radio broad­ casting station KFJR, owned and op­ erated by Ashley C. Dixon and son of Stevensville, is sending out programs. The apparatus is entirely home-made, but the designing was done by a Butte engineer. Regular programs will be given every Friday and Sunday nights from 8 to 9 o’clock. Valier was chosen as next year’s meeting place at the closing session of the district conference of the Bap­ tist church in Great Falls. The Rev. Fred McNair of Valier was selected to preach the annual sermon at the con­ ference in 1924. At 550 feet a flow of gas has been struck on the Bowes structure, near ’ Havre. The quantity of the gas has not been determined but it Is thought that it is a. substantial flow. Mid-Northern Markham No. 1 on Te­ ton Ridge is cementing casing at 1,825 feet, according to the latest reports. Boyd Oil company has spudded in a well on the Bowes structure, south o f / Chinook. <C Custer Oil & Gas company has let a ^ contract to drill a well to the second sands in Cat Creek. - Rhoades syndicate is ready to spud In a well on the McGinnis dome. r-