THE 3I0RNIXO OREQOXIAX, TUESDAY. MARQH 13, 1006. Entered at the Postofflee at Portland, Or-, as Second-Class Matter. SUBSCRIPTION RATES. tZT INVAR LAB LY IN ADVANCE. "Ct (By Mall or Express.) DAILY, SUNDAY INCLUDED. Twelve months $8. TO Sir months .23 Three months 2.25 One month. ....... ....... ...... ....... .6 Delivered by carrier, per year 8.00 Delivered br carrier. Per month...... .75 Lers time rtrr welt Sunday, one y-ar. 9. 50 Weekly, one year (Issued Thurrday).-. 1.50 Sunday and Weekly, one year.......... 3.30 HOW TO REMIT Send postofflee- money order, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin, or currency are at the Bender's risk. EASTERN BUSINESS OFFICE. The S. C. Bcckwltb. Special Aseaey New York, rooms 43-50, Tribune butldlnr. Chi cajro. rooms 010-512 Tribune bulldlnc. KEPT ON SALE. Chicago Auditorium Annex. Postoffic News Co.. 178 Dearborn street. St. PauL Minn. N. St. Marie Commercial Station. Seventeenth street; Pratt Eook 8tore, 12 u Fifteenth street; I. Welnsteln. Goldflcld, Nev. Guy Marsh. Kansas City, Mo. Rlcksecker Clear Co. Ninth nnrt Walnut- MtnnnnnnlU M J. Kr.insiich. 80 S. Third. Cleveland, O. James Pushaw. 307 Superior ItTMt New York City U Jones & Co., Attor Oakland. Cal. W. H. Johnston. Fourteenth and Franklin streets. Ogden D. L. Boyle. Omaha Barkalow Bros.. 1C12 Famam Mageath Stationery Co.. 130B Famam; 241 South 14th. Sacramento, Cal. Sacramento News Co. 43!) V trt. Salt Lake Salt Lake News Co.. 77 "West Second street South: Miss L. Levin. Churph rtreet. X.o Angeles B. E. Amos, manatrer seven street wagons; Eerl News Co.. JJ-oii Broadway. San DIcro B. E. Amos. Santa Barbara, Cat B. E. Amos. 1 rl Trl 'nr Co. San Francisco J. X. Cooper & Co.. 748 Market street; Goldsmith Bros.. 230 Sutter and Hotel St. Francis News Stana; .u. Lee. Palace Hotel News Stand: Frank aeon. .n tih. xcintlev Movable News Stand. corner Market and Kearney streets: Foster & Orcar. Ferry News Stand. Wellington, D. C Ebbltt House. Pennsyl vania avenue. PORTLAND. TUESDAY. MARCH 13. 1900 GAS TROUBLES IN PORTLAND. Tim nubile of Portland cannot rega in R rates nor gas service as other cities do. But it should; and the day is coming when it will. The Legislature has granted to the Eastern stockholders and bondholders who own the Portland Gas Company the privilege of charging the people of this city whatever rates tne .t-asieni men choose to impose and to give in ex change whatever quality of gas it suits the nonresident owners to make. The city authorities have no control of this monopoly, but the next Legis lature can give them the control that is necessary for decent treatment to the public This absence of authority is the source of the srraft practiced by the gas com pany. Consumers complain against high rates, poor gas, faulty meters, ex tortionate charges, oppressive treat ment, and other abuses; they go as witnesses before the special investigai lng committee of the City Council, to Hell their troubles; they describe numer "ous shortcomings of employes of the gas company. But these abuses are only effects; the cause is the people's lack of power to curb the monopoly. The people, can get this power only from the Legisla ture, and the Council of Portland can petition the Legislature through reso lution or memorial to let the people have it. The committee's probe has made plain that the $1.15 rate is extortionate, and the company has admitted the fact by promising reduction to 95 cents on ilay 1. The probe has showed that the pen alty charged by the company for delin quent payments is exorbitant and the company has reduced the penalty from S5 cents a thousand feet to 10 cents, and will lower it to a cents on May X. The probe has brought to light cases of ar bitrary exactions whose evidence has been so conclusive that the company could not deny them. The probe has exposed secrets of stock-watering -and bond inflation which the company could defend only by saying "None of your business" when asked to explain them. Tomorrow night, in City Hall, the com mittee will hear further testimony of the same kind. The investigation has accomplished a great reform already; the price is to be reduced, the penalty has been di minished and the oppression has been lessened In other ways. But the old source -of the trouble still exists the franchise which needs to be modified by the Legislature so that the people shall no longer be at the mercy of the com pany. FREAK COLD SEASONS. The present weather conditions are abnormal in Oregon, but not by any means unprecedented. While In gen eral, as shown by the Tecords of the Weather Bureau in more recent years, and as preserved by the memories of pioneers of an earlier era, mild Win ter in the Pacific Northwest glides nat urally into balmy Spring, there have been exceptions to this' rule, one of which we are now experiencing though not enjoying. Harking back to the Winter of '62, it is remembered that severe weather in February worked great hardship on the farmers of the Willamette Valley, and especially in the foothills, where the snow lay In drifts -until well along In April, swept from the lowlands by sharp gales, leaving the young wheat exposed and later throwing its roots, by alternate freezing and thawing, out of the ground. Fields were reseeded In the Spring, however, and harvest condi tions were normal. Again in 1878 se vere March storms prevailed in East ern Oregon,' and to a lesser degree in the Willamette Valley,. The loss of stock ori the ranges was excessive, as up to that time no provision for Win-' tor fMiWrrr Tad TKn moTn In March, 1882, snow fell to a depth of several Inches in the Willamette Val ley, accompanied by a temperature that was below the freezing point for several days. All went well with the crops, however, there being the usual Fall abundance, both of grain and fruit Again in 1898 a warm January caused the buds to swell prematurely; orchards "bloomed bravely and rose bushes and other plants sent out tender shoots of pink and red and- delicate bronze. Win ter, mocking the confidence he had en courages in the vogefeafete world, turned troaefeerewsSy vtpett fete traces ia early j February and gave vegetation a setback from which it did not fully recover -until June. There were no roses for Dec oration day that year, but later there was the usual abundance of bloom. It is well to remember In all of these Instances that harvest brought, if not the usual abundance, at least an abounding plenty, and that no failure of crops, as Incident to abnormal weather conditions in February and March, is recorded. It is frequently said that theclimate of Oregon -has changed In the past fifty or sixty years. There Is little warrant in fact for this assertion. There has been, as above shown, now and then a year in which abnormal weather condi tions have prevailed for a time at one season or another. But this Is nothing new, nor is it confined to the climate of Oregon or of the Pacific Northwest. The late Amos Cook, of Yamhill Coun ty, often recalled that, on the morning following the first night that he slept, rolled -up in his blankets on what was afterward his farm on the bank of the Yamhill River, opposite La Fayette, he awoke to find the grass and shrubbery around him stiff with hoar froBt The date was June 16, 1840. Beans and other tender garden plants, even potato vines, were cut to the ground and had to be replanted, but he added that a good growing Summer with occasional rains followed, and. though -vegetables were late, there was a great abundance. There were only native fruits at that time, and the wild strawberries, lus cious and abundant, had ripened lefore the June frost. Of the rest no mention was made. Other pioneers are on record with similar reminiscences. These Incidents, together with the records of later years, prove the simple fact that there Is now and then a freak season in Oregon disappointing while it lasts, but pro ducing no serious consequences. In the main, however, year after year, balmy Springs have succeeded mild, rainy Winters, to be in turn succeeded by growing, delightful Summers and fruit ful Autumns. This is the full and well- attested record of Oregon's matchless climate. COLONEL L. L. HAWKINS. In the sudden death of Colonel L. L. Hawkins Portland and the entire Pa cific Northwest have suffered a great. and, as it now seems, an Irreparable loss. Though a careful and successful business man. Colonel Hawkins was first of all a man of public spirit. Es sentially an "out-of-doors man," he was observant of all that was going on in the city and Its- environments. Looking to the future, he planned and worked in the Interest of our pub lie parks; glancing backward, he was indefatigable in his purpose to wrest from the past such evidences of the life and growth and events of that shad owy time as could be obtained from Nature's own record. In rocks and fos sils, and In the implements and Instru ments of a prehistoric time. With all of this he was In the present a genial, alert and conspicuous element. The loss to the community in the death of such a citizen cannot well be computed. It is above and beyond all assessment in a financial sense, and Is In Us highest estimate outside of the social realm, upon which, however, it trenches painfully. It represents the sudden arrest of a force that was mov ing in the public interest, along lines of practical and far-reaching useful ness, of a type too often overlooked by those who constitute the great work ing force of a busy, striving age. Well indeed may the city mourn the sudden going out. in the prime of his years and the fullness of his endeavor. of this earnest, useful man. As the earth opens on the morrow to receive Into her sheltering bosom all that is mortal of L. L. Hawkins, those who make the sacred consignment maj' fitly teay: Mother, a faithful n wo brlnp thte here. UNION FOR FARMERS AND ORCHARD- 1STS. The old complaint against the farm ers, that their motto Is "each for him self," Is fast becoming obsolete. In Its place is heard "In union is strength." For union Invades every department of life on farm and orchard. Never, In the history of Oregon, has this movement been so rapid as in the year now opened. Each week fresh in cidents are chronicled, and until they are summed up in review the fact of a general progress along this line Is hard ly noticed. For progress it Is, and on steps once gained there Is no retreat. In this way the tillers of the soil, in all their grades and pursuits the most conservative of men take part in the world's plan of associated action. Hood River demonstrated that fruit rowers could combine, with advantage to all, in sale of their products under one name which Identified the fruit with the place that produced IL At once followed the raising of the stand ard of the article sold from Individual to uniform grade of excellence. Then ambition stirred the whole community to reach that standard. With the gen eral treauty and high grade of the fruit the markets of the world were opened. buyers multiplied, prices rose and be came steady as the scope of transac tions was enlarged. Improved prepara tion of the goods for sale, and wider commercial steps In handling the en larged product, were Justified. A typ ical Instance of the benefits of associ ated action is before us. That such an example should be fol lowed is Inevitable. -The earlier steps vastly Improved care of existing or chards, and tho creation of new or chards on approved lines are seen from one end of the state to the other. Such measures stand, of course, at the very outset of the upward climb. So strong ly has public opinion declared Itself that ere long a foul orchard will dis grace its owner as much as a scabby flock of sheep. County and local associations are spreading everywhere In Oregon. In the orchard world, then, the principle of association is already in full swing. Little attention has been given to the movement in Linn County for estab lishing a fruitgrowers and gardeners' co-operative cannery. It appears, from the Albany papers, to have taken firm hold, and to have passed the danger stage of early Infancy. This is An other outgrowth of the same sturdy plant. That It should have been so late in adoption is accounted for by the very abundance of the products of orchard and garden. And the scarcity and cost of transportation have been the direct cause of waste and neglect. It needs but little foresight, or imag ination, to see the farmers wacons waiting at every cfoeeroad for the elec tric car. Those who so co-operated as t-e own and supply ta cannery, which i jwewrve and OMverts the awrplea i produce fraa retard at4 garden isto , wholesome and marketable food, are doing good service to the whole com munity here, as well as to the multi tude waiting, the world over, to be feo. For themselves it goes without say ing that they have created a new source of great profit in the balance sheet of the farm. So "in the work of the dairyman. The first aim of their associations Is to learn. They are practicing a new In dustry, where supreme excellence can be had, but where world-wide compe tition is in sight, and must be met. Of no use is it to have the best pasture, the best climate, the purest water, the largest markets in the world and the best cows, if the butter, cream, cheese and milk are not up to the highest standards for flavor, purity and com paratlve cheapness. The dairymen rec ognlze that to know comes before to do But this one principle will lead them to the same success that the dairymen of Denmark have achieved by the same means. In the growing of grain and of hops. in the raising of horses and all other breeds of stock, in the pooling of all products of the farm, the earlier steps in association are In evidence. These will -be followed In due time by such linking together of individual Interests through the whole range of production as Is seen today In evory other field of human action and endeavor. A NEW CHAPTER TO AN OLD STORY. Again disaster has visited a coal mine, leaving death and wreck In Its wake, and again the wailings of moth ers, wives and children are heard at the pit's mouth. The district of Cour rleres, France. Is the scene of this lat est tragedy, the greatest. It is said, that has ever occurred In connection with coal mining In that country. More than 1000 miners perished as the result of the explosion that first wrecked and then set fire to the shaft In which they were a work last Saturday. Many blackened, unrecognizable bodies have been taken from the pit, but eo resent ful are the forces of Nature In revolt that the recovery of each body fcj fraught with danger to the life of the rescuer from the flames and fumes and deadly gases which form Nature's un derground batteries. The story Is an old one, but It will over be new, because it will never be finished. A chapter at a time Is chroni cled; the scene of the fresh recital be ing here and there, wherever shafts are sank for the mining of coal. There is but little variation In these recitals. The conditions precedent to the disas ter are everywhere similar. If not Iden tical. Careful supervision has con trolled them to a certain extent, else would coal mining at great depths be impossible; but the greatest care has not been able to insure against the oc currence of explosions of gas and fire damp. Ignited no one knows how, ex actly, since no one In the immediate vicinity of the explosion survives to toll the tale. Usually, it Is said, the care lessness of a miner, who, having lived for years In the presence df danger, has come to minimize its possibilities. Is responsible. Whatever the cause. the effect is the same. There Is noth ing to do but to make the best of con ditions, ropair and reopen the shaft and send a new force of men Into it to do their part In meeting a great and ever growing commercial demand. Temporary relief for the families of those who perish in mine disasters is usually provided In this country by the operating company to whom the mine belongs, aided. In many instance, by public contributions. In a vast major ity of cases the support of the family stops with the life of Its head, and to help the dependents to help themselves is the kind office of practical philan thropists. Effort in this direction Is not always rewarded by success. Hand- to-mouth habits of living are not easily corrected; thrift Is not encouraged by the miner's wage and habits, and fam ilies thrown upon their own resources for a livelihood are not easily placed upon their feet. But the effort to do this is at once commendable and neces sary. Through It the stricken ones are enabled to bury their dead, and, facing the inevitable, find some way looking to self-support. If there la a new element In the story of mining disaster, as chronicled In re cent years, it Is that Infused by a wise philanthropy, that seeks to adjust to new conditions the problem of what shall we eat and wherewithal shall we be housed and clothed, on those whose dependence has been upon the earn ings of the victims of disaster. For the rest, the bare facts, repre sented by explosion and death, frantic efforts to recover entombed and black ened bodies, the walls of widows, the sobs of mothers, the plaints of children, the horror that appalls the community, are but the duplicates of mining dis aster throughout the centuries. FORCED CULTURE. Mr. Luther Burbank, wizard of the vegetable world,' is reported as having said that the salvation of the human race lies in applying to children the marvels which he has wrought In the vegetable world. He has combined, as is well known, the best points of vege tables and fruits of different types and strains, producing in the process won ders in the domains of agriculture and horticulture, reaching In somo in stances absolute perfection In size, flavor and color In his cross-productions. Against the assumption that human beings could be Improved and brought to perfection by diligent application of the principles which Mr. Burbank ap plies to plants crossbreeding and high culture candid science enters Its pro test. All the triumphs of forced cul ture, It Is cited, are shadowed by the specter of enfeeblement and decay the child of family and breeding, no less than the Kentucky thoroughbred. The Jersey cow, as aptly said by George Horace Lorlmer, is heir to many more than a thousand natural Ills. The great Darwin himself pointed out that any species, when forced Into another environment than that to which the habit of centuries has accustomed It, tends to lose native vigor. Following this Idea, It is not Improb able that Mr. Burbank's seedless ap ple, as the years go on, will require In fusion again from the humble but nor mal parent stock, In order that It may escape extinction. Much can be done and adjy needs to be done, says the writer first quoted, in the breeding of the human race. But he adds: "Perfection, If It comes, will be the result of breeding, not for points, but for the norm." , The truth Is that all about us in the realm of every day's natural environ ment. He opportunities which, with proper apprehension and diligence, might be turned Into achievement and character. Wkedom will come, net In fercl&g strange and alien traits, but ia developing the tendencies that are common to us all tendencies which lead to fair and. indeed, so far as we may yet discern, boundless achieve ment along lines that are not at vari ance with the normal facts of creation and reproduction. New York gamblers and clergymen have perfected an alliance for the pur pose of abolishing racetrack gambling, something which the officers of the law seem unable or unwilling to do. Gam bling In all forms is a pernicious vice, but the racetracks annually turn oft more suicides, embezzlers and default ers than all other forms of gambling combined. The clergymen's alliance will probably be successful, for the American spirit of fair play will not permit the prohibition of one class of gambling while a more pernicious form is openly indulged in. We had a local example of this fact last year when an overzealous county omelal was Industriously raiding pinochle and seven-up games and at the same tlmo was refusing to stop racetrack gam bllng. Racetrack gambling was stopped not by the Sheriff, but by the men whose pinochle and seven-up games had been interfered with- Human na ture is much the same in Portland as It Is in New York. The latest story of the oily generosity of John D. Rockefeller is to the effect that he will give $1,000,000 to establish National Juvenile Courts. If the source from which this $1.000. COO comes can be carefully concealed from the Juveniles who might profit by the use of the money, some good may be accomplished with it. If, on the contrary. It be comes known to the Juveniles that tainted money Is behind the institution established for the purpose of guiding them to a better life, the court will cease to be an influence for good. The millions of John D. Rockefeller have made their presence felt In too many courts already, and it Is to be hoped that their blighting influence will not fall on the Juvenile Court, a compara tively new institution, which has ac compllshed much good. The Ameer of Afghanistan Is a re sourceful man, and apparently does not believe In protracted trials of the culprits whom he suspects of plotting against him. The commander-in-chief of his army led a revolt against him recently, and the Ameer promptly seized him and had him blown from a cannon in full view of all of the rebels. Similar treatment was given to a num ber of other ringleaders, and, according to a dispatch from Pashawar, "the army Is now quiet." This method of punishing subjects for political offenses Is not fnew, but its use in this tlay of twentieth-century civilization indicates that Russia is hardly entitled to first honors for unique, barbarous punish ment inflicted on hose who are not in accord with the jkdIIcv of those in power. EJnar Mikkelson, the explorer. Is at Victoria negotiating for a schooner with which he expects to set sail to the Far North. Unlike most of tho Arctic explorers, EJnar Is not In quost of the north pole, but expects to find a large Island ia the Far North. As other ex plorers for several centuries have beon cruising around the vicinity In which this mysterious island Is supposed to be located, without finding it. a discovery at this late day would hardly prove of great value. A frozen island In a local ity so inaccessible that it has not yet been reached would hardly prove a very great prize, even If it were found. EJnar would find it more profitable and comfortable to sail south and discover an island which produced coconnuts, guano or something of marketable value. Pacific University has sustained a se vere loss in the burning of Herrlck Hall, the young women's dormitory connected with that Institution. The construction of this hall marked what might be called the second era of this pioneer university. It was built in 1SS2 and has been an Important adjunct to the work of the school for nearly a quarter of a century. The homes of citizens of Forest Grove have opened hospitably to receive the students burned out of house and home, and the friends of the university will be glad to know that college work will proceed without interruption. New Jersey has an Insurance lnves ligation In prospect which Includes a street railway, a gas and a steam rail road Investigation as side shows. Sen ator Dryden 4s to play the part of Mr. McCurdy. It will come off. If Everett Colby can induce the New Jersey Leg islature to give the order, but "If" In this case Is a very big word. A nice. comfortable investigation by a commit tee of the United States Senate, with Depew for chairman, would bo vastly more pleasant and respectable than these state affairs. No wonder Dryden longs for Federal control of life insur ance. One of the faults of the old conven tion system was that occasionally can didates were nominated who proved to be loads upon the ticket. It. devolves on the people now to see that no man shall be nominated who must be dragged through the campaign and caved from defeat by a narrow margin. Every voter In the primaries Is expected to cat his ballot for that man who will add most strength to the ticket and be least open to attack from the opposing party. This applies not only to Republicans, but to Democrats. Would municipal ownership increase civic corruption or diminish it? If cor ruption comes entirely from the fran chise-seeking corporations. It must cease to exist when they do. If It Is an Incurable moral disease of the Amer ican people, the more control they have over public affairs the worse it will be. The fact cannot be denied that the greed for special privilege Is the cause of most of our municipal corruption thus far, and It is bad logic to argue that destruction of the cause will in crease the effect. Jtabbl Joseph Silverman, of New York, will do well to give up trying to Induce the aristocratic city churches to discard their historic names Trinity. Emanu-El, Plymouth and each take a number Instead. .The names of the churches are more than local designa tions, they are living spirits. To dis card them would be a sort of murder, just as it would be to suppress the names of the characters in "HamleL" Democrats in Multnomah County have "Invited" candidates the same as their brethren In Umatilla, in Lane and in the state at large. Fortunately, Re publicans can keep the primary law inviolate; tnetr candidate do not need to be "invited." THE SILVER LINING. Br A. II. Ballard. "Life Is a runny proposition, after alL" Goorge M. Cohan In "Little Johnny Jone." It's a, long, long trip. Mark, we tread the path but once; We make full many a slip. And we often play tho dunce. There are days of dreary measure.' There Is sunshine and there's rain, Thore's a certain meed of pleasure, And thcro's lots and lots of pain. As we struggle and we travel, Ltt us dance while yet we may; Lot us sing as we unravel Life's mysterious, winding way. Our dancing and our singing May cheer our fellow-man: .Our voices may be ringing Where sadness Just has been. We know not what the morrow Will bring, or take, or lend; It may bo Joy or sorrow Or it may be the end. I belicvo It has a meaning. Thin sheer uncertainty: Wo're standing or we're leaning. Whichever it may be. If we controlled tho beauties Of sky and earth and man. - If we prescribed our duties m And laid out all the plan If we couhl view our station Only a day ahoad. We'd spoil tho whole creation And wish that wc were dead! To make a meeting gladder. To make strong hearts prise. To make a parting sadder. To make great love the prlzo; To make a friend the truer. End trouble of any size. To make the heavens bluer. Life is one long surprise. Do yH want peace of mind? Be square. One He Involves many other lies, and thon a whole lqt of truth-telling and the last is awfut Man's Yearning. The sweetest thing In the world found yet Is the coveted dollar wo didn't get, Say "Twenty-three" to a woman, and she'll think you are complimenting h'or on her age; but It won't go with soubrettes, my boy; it won't go with soubrettes. Definitions. (Tips on the Race of Life.) PARTNER One who distrusts you. HAT A man uses what he calls a hat as an airtight cage to produce baldness; a woman usos what she calls a hat as an ornament with which to decorate her hair. FUNERAL In the case of some people It Is the time of the relatives' lives. HELPMEET A woman who spends your money. GROCER The man who charges you with other people's supplies. DOG An animal superior to man. . FIDELITY The name of an ancient in surance company that defrauded people; secondarily, it has come to be a general term meaning all the stuff and nonsense and hypocrisy contalneU In promises be tween two or more person.1. ARM A part of the human body the function of which Is hugging. COMPLEXION Anything bought by a woman to cover up a fruit-cake face. DESPAIR That's Just before she plcka up another fellow. TIRED The way your girl feels often. but never tells you of it until she gets ready to say sklddoo. GAS GRAFT AND OTHER GREED Pilot Rock Record. The trend of public opinion toward the slow but sure growth of the Inherent right of the great army of breadwinners to curb the rapacity of corporations and franchise-grabbers has been conspicu ously brought to light In the light now being made by the Portland Oreeonbm In the Interest of the gas consumers of that city. The Oregonlan Is an extremely conservative nowspaper, loyal to its town and the State of Oregon, where It Is read by every intelligent reader and every where regarded as the ablest edited news paper in the United States. Its Influence Is second to no other newsnnnor in tK West, because of Its reliability and the uepenaenco mm can he placed In Its statements of facts. Th ninihn i always sure of Its footing before it takes an advanced step, and, while not always a molder of public opinion, is neverthe less a trustworthy renmspnt.-Mv nf Tr.K He opinion. For 30 years The Oregonlan nas wunessea me growtn or the gas trust In Portland, and for SO vrars hn Vonf nn attentive eye on Its operations. With the growin or Portland, tne tru?t has grown In insolence and abuse, and was laying Its nlans to continue thU nhnco fni nil time until a- halt was called by The Ore- goman. resulting in an Investigation Into the craft practiced bv thi rnrnnrn t Ion authorized by the City Council, which has brought to Hg'ht many interesting facts. xnc aouraai oi mai city, now Deing en gineered bv a former rldn nf tho county, who went to Portland wtfh n shoestring and lifted several thousand dol lars irom me pocKets or. millionaire fran-ehlse-crrarjber??. ! nnir V.plnir itit v mouthpiece of the plutocrats, although osicnsioiy conducted in tne interest or the "dear people." When the gas trust was attacked bv The Oresronlnn. it vena brought to light who the real owners of inc journal were, as mc Journal was forced Into a defense of its sinclchnMprn A newspaper run In the Interest of the so- caueu common people Dy fortiand mil lionaires and plutocratic franchise whales presents an anomaly In newspaperdom. Aftftr irottlnir control nf vnlnnhlo f mr chises and becoming emboldened In the aouse or tne privileges granted them, the nmr nf the mi romn.mr nnil f h "Vin- solldated Railway Company, and other commnies carrvlncr valuable frnnoh!o and practicing extortion and graft, sought to control mc pontics oi ine suite Dy subsidizing a dally newspaper In Port land- care was taken to ken In thn haekeround the real sunnorterR nf th.r nr. gan. whose policy was first to pursue a aaiif onsiauHiHui ubusc un i ne viregoman and pose as a representative and expo nent of the "man with the hni Th duplicity of the paper was soon brought io iin"i u) xuc vivbuuuiu, wmcn niter two long years of forbearance, published the names of the stockholders and ex posed the combination and the schemes that were being hatched. Tn annlosrv for taklnrr nnMf nf trl, T-ndd miner hna had tn m r- ohmit The Oregonlan in a recent Issue says: Th Oreronlan did not ber In th i?niri- tlan. ner did tho vilification btcta lost v.... It btgan fullr two years earlier, and by Mr! It irax continued by and throth Me paper till The Orejronlan conceded that for bearance on It part was no longer required. Bat It corned to attack or retort on Mr. Ladd's hired men. It dealt with Mr. Ladd himself. Also Galloway and Cochran. Roscburg Review. Candidate Hawlcy Informs the Review that he does not ride upon a ratksa.a3r. Glad to know IL Tooce and Hstn, what have you to say for yenraelVM? WHY GIRLS GOTO COLLEGE? Philadelphia North American. A mother who took a house within sight of tho campus of one of the larger coeducational universities of the Middle West, where her daughter had entered as a student, writes to the Independent to tell of the distractions of the college so rorities. The picture Is one of strcnu ousness that seems to surpass even that of the "frats." According to the inter-fraternity con tractthe mother speaks of these col lege sisterhoods as fraternities "spiking" and "rushing" were limited to ten days. It appears that "spiking" and "rushlnc" are terms covering all methods of com petition among the fraternities for deslr able members. The articles of war were framed with a view to reducing the ratner alarmingly large expense of land lng new sisters. a a The following- list of the dauchtcr"8 en. tertdlnments during the ten days of the "rushing" season Is taken from her diary: Tuesday morning Alpha Gamma glrta called to take m? to hIct. ud: they Invited me to drive again In the afternoon. Wednesday afternoon A luncheon party at .Mr?. F 's, a Sigma alumnut. Thursday morning Dnjye with the Slsmas aunn; cnapet period. Thumlay evening- Big- Gamma dance, at which all the fraternity men were present. Friday nlsht Sigma dance. Saturday morning A number of Gamma cirla called. Saturday afternoon Gamma Teceptioa to the resident alumni and freshmen girls being -'rushed." Saturday evening Dance given by the Delta Xus (men's fraternity), to which many of the frrabmen being "rushed" were invited. Sunday morning Drove with tho SIgmas. Monday afternoon Gammas called. Tuenday afternoon Sigma reception to a! umnl and girls In the "rush." Tuesday evening Gamma dinner party to the girls they are "rushing." Wednclay afternoon The formal Invitations to Join their societies were sent out simul taneously at 2 o'clock by all the fraternities. a a Ellen the daughter Anally put on the blgma colors, but It appears that the motnef3 sigh of relief was premature. That very ay the neophyte was Invited to an informal dance to celebrate the Sigma victory, and her mother was sur prised by the first evidence of sorority Influence. It was an appeal on Ellen's part for "something to wear." a thing before unheard of In that family. The next day there was an invitation from one of Ellen's fraternity sisters to assist her at the llrst of a series of small card parties which she was to 'give to her favorite men's fraternities. At the end of. two weeks the social pace seemed to be Increasing In speed rather than diminishing. There were football games, big formal dances of mens and women's fraternities, celebra tions for newly won members, and spreads by the "spikes themselves. At the end of the fifth week the mother couldn't see that Ellen had had any time for study, and the girl had lost live pounds under the social pressure. It was Ellen's father who solved tho problem by making an unalterable rule that one evening a week was all that was to be devoted to dances, and that 12 o'clock was the dead line in the matter of time Ellen thought she faced social ostra cism under the rule, but her fraternity sisters made allowances for necessity and voted her father a "brute." Incidentally the mother relates an il luminating incident of how a fraternity member boasted of having voted six times for a brother who was a candidate for a certain university honor. The gang method was justified on the score that it was necessary to keep a "barb pre sumably alert for barbarian, or plebeian out of the position, and the barbs ' outnumbered the fraternity members six to one. POLITICAL GOSSIP IN OREGON Pranks of Democrats. Toledo Leader. The Democrats of Oregon seem to have got thlng3 turned tail end to and are se lecting candidates for indorsement at the primaries. The scheme, at least, has the merit of economy, and Is rather easily carried out during a period when leaders of a forlorn hope are conspicuous for their scarcity. Others, Too, Are Worthy. Astoria Astorian. The man or men In this County of Clat sop who are attempting to spread the doc trlno that "the Republican legislative ticket must be elected, whatever shall be come of the balance of the candidates." 13 speaking without authority and without Judgment. It Is an erroneous and dan gerous doctrine and subversive of the best Interests of the party. Clatsop Coun ty must go Republican, from United States Senator to Constable of her last precinct. Every one knows the righteous necessity of sending up a strong Repub Ucan representation to the Capitol, and It Is all right that such a plea should bo heralded, but not in the exclusive sense. nor to the detriment of a slnele element of the ticket. There must be no segrega tlon. no Indifference, no pandering to any clique, faction. Interest, nor constituent phase, of any sort; tho ticket, as a whole, must invite the absolute and unqualified concern of the Republicans of this county. Tor to embarrass It with peculiar or di vergent action Is to threaten not alone the restoration of tho dominant party to power in this county, but the success of the larger party interests in the Senate. It Is a false premise and cannot be aban doned too quickly If the opposition Is to be put where all minorities, good, bad and Indifferent, are supposed to be. There Is a plain and significant duty confronting the earnest and honest Republicans here, and If the work cut out for them Is not done to a verity and completeness re quired by every consideration of safety and success, the Democrats will not be in the line of reproach: they will be ut terly exempt by reason of the fact that what they shall win will have been delib erately handed out to them, the largess of treachery and the spoils of Republican faithlessness. That Democratic "Assembly." Eugene Register. It Is an amusing spectacle to observe the political vagaries of our friends, the Democrats. There was no surcease of clamor from them until a primary law was enacted. This great and independent commonwealth was sick of conventions; the common people had no voice In nomi nations; the slate was a menace to free Institutions and the political boss was an unprincipled grafter. The Democrats of fered the people release from oppression In the form of a primary law. Now that law Is only fit for Republicans to observe; It was never Intended as a monitor for the Democrats; there was no skulldug gery, except In Republican politics, and Democrats consider themselves at liberty to Ignore the law and spurn it as a useless and cumbersome arrangement. The Dem ocratic "assembly" held In Portland .on Tuesday, at which time a full state ticket was practically nominated, brinirs out the real purpose the Democrats had In rec ommending the primary law to commit the Republicans to Its recognition and as sure a big crop of candidates among- Re publicans, with the hope of eventual dis sension. , Observe the time-honored belief that a Democrat sticketh closer than a brother. They are always found united on any po litical campaign other than National, though they urge any scheme they think will disintegrate the Republican party. So. with Republicans foUewiag the spirit of the law, and the Democrats holding con vfcntkHWV It seenw we shall have the best f the argument, after an. , 80-CENT GAS JFOR BALTIMORE Baltimore Sun. IX the plans of those promoting the en terprise can be successfully carried through, Baltimore is likely to havo an other rival gas company. Ycsterduy's dis patches from Annapolis tell of the intro duction by Senator Perkins. In the Senate, of ti bill to Incorporate the Maryland Gas light, Heat & Power Company and also names the incorporators. The charter was drawn by Thomas Ire land Elliott, who Is enthusiastic on the proposition and discussed its purposes and outlook freely. "We have no desire to arouse antagon ism," said Mr. Elliott, "but we aro con vinced that there is room for another ga3 company in Baltimore. While the charter permits the company to operate in Mary land, wherever tho necessary franchises can be obtained, it Is obvious to any one that the logical field of the corporation is right here la Baltimore City, and here is where operations will first be commenced when the necessary legal authority Is ob tained. This is by no means a hasty con ception. It has been thought over long and patiently and it has ben finally dem onstrated to the satisfaction of those wil ling to Invest their money in tho enter prise that gas can be profitably furnished to consumers at SO cents per 100O cubic feet. The bill thcreforo is explicit on this point. The company when in operation may charge as much less SO cents as It sees fit. but It Is positively prohibited from exceeding this rate. "Another clause In the bill, on which too much stress cannot be laid, is that it ab solutely checks any combination, merger or sale of the corporation to any other company in the same line of'buslness. In framing this clause I endeavored to be as explicit and clear as the English lan guage would admit of. Not only did I make It clear In a direct way. but also made It retroactive, as it were, and the clause. I think. Is absolutely binding and will be so accepted by any one reading and construing it. "These two points therefore should glvo assurance to the citizens of Baltimore that the bill Is In their Interest. It first assures SO-cent gas, which certainly all will ap prove, and It Is practically ironclad In affording competition, to which I thins no consumer of gas will object. "The capital to float the company 13 In sight, and when the charter is granted we can soon demonstrate our ability to take care of the financial end. The stock 13 limited to 53.COO.000. but we believe that with even less than this sum we can in time erect the needed works and lay mains to meet all requirements in the city. Of course this will take time, but no ono need fear that the money will not be forthcoming. "My Interest In this subject was first aroused by the assertion made by Joseph Streibcr, who operates a gas plant in Highlandtown and parts of Canton, that he could probably furnish gas in the city at SO cents. I was interested in this case in the courts, and. by the way. the Court of Appeals upheld the contention that an individual could manufacture and sell gas. although ho had no right to lay and maintain mains without municipal permis sion. "In studying this subject it was demon strated to my satisfaction, and to the sat isfaction of those who are willing to put up the money, that gas can be supplied at SO cents per 1000 cubic feet and money made on this basis for the corporation which might secure all necessary legal rights to go ahead with the worK. "It is no theory with us. The subject has been digested from every standpoint. We see profit ahead, of course. This Is no philanthropic scheme, nop Is It a measure to fight existing corporations from any selfish purpose. We will enter the field, as outlined, for profit, and we eel assured that the profit is awaiting us as soon as we get the right to serve the public on the lines mapped out." The bill provides that the corporation shall have full power and authority to erect and maintain the necessary works, plant and appliances for the manufacture of gas for the purpose of -light, heat and power and to manufacture, sell and de liver gas when manufactured, said gas to be or standard quality, purity, illuminat ing power and pressure, and to be fur nished by said corporation to consumers at a cost or price not to exceed a rate of SO cents a thousand cubic feet. The company Is to have the right to lay Its pipes connecting Its plant with the points of consumption or supply of Its gas through the public streets, roads, alleys or highway of any county, city or town In the State of Maryland, subject, how ever, to the regulation of the County Com missioners or the municipal authorities of such counties, cities and towns. The company's capital stock Is 51.000.000 with the privilege at any time to increase It to any amount, not to exceed $3,000,000. that may be deemed proper. The company Is empowered to borrow money in such sums as may be necessary to carry out Its corporate purposes and to Issue Its bonds or other obligations for tho money so borrowed, and secure payment or the same by mortgage. Harvey Scott Will Stay. Bickleton News. It Is rumored In newspaper circles and In Portland that Harvey W. Scott Is to retire from The Oregonlan. Should this be the case. The Oretronlnn uhh lose Its supremacy in the Northwest, For ear3 -nr. acott nas oeen recognized as one of the most brilliant editors In tho United States. Ho has worked, not for money, but for glory. He has made a reputation and has held It. The Orego nlan is Harvey Scott, and Harvey Scott Is The Oretronlan. A non-or, . have an Individuality In order to have any L ,, , tTJ-cess- 11 arvey Scott should leave Tho Oregonlan the dar of that n.inr'! cninrarm. ti . - v.nio.v- ia a.t an end. Mnritlal Grinds in Rhymes. Flo was. fond of Ebenezcr Eb, for dhort. eh a rn.lW - v.,,. Talk of "tide of love" great Caesar! xou should see 'era, Eb and Flo. Cornell Widow. Eb and Flo they stood as sponsors wnB Flo s sister was a bride. And when bride and groom receded 'iney, too. went out with the tied. Yonkera Statesman. When their first child came a daughter The nurse, for a larger fe. Went to someone elae who sought her. xeavinc -fc.o ana fio at sea. Chicago Record-Herald. Daughter's given name was Cooper "Coo." for short; and when she grew Her beau's name was William Hooper. iou snouia see 'em, BUI and Coo. Cleveland Leader. Next there came a second daughter Name: Hemlna and she saw And wed a man whose nam a was Haw ley. Tou snouia see 'em, Hem and Haw. Milwaukee Sentinel. Thia happy couple. Eb and Flo, Then named their third little daughter. To be In keeping, don't you know Minnehaha, Laughing "Water. Springfield (Mass.) Union. Next came triplets, heaven bless 'em! Ebenezer looked aulte rrave. Then quoth heNo his Floretta. This looks llko a tidal wave!" Boston Post. When these cherubs of the sea Had the colic yes, all three Eb and Flo both Iot much s!eeo. Rocklnc the cradle ot the deep." ' Grafton Cs Allen. The triplets now are cutting: teeth And alas! It hence befalla That in Eb and Flo's life voyasra Thero are many crievous squaJIe. 'Hex H. Lamoman. Ed had shown a greed most stony. Licking up the tolden sand; Flo, with rattling: alimony. Can't rcsret their busted strand! Brooklyn Eacle. And the seaweeds of tho relict (Flo a widow, understand!) At the Sarar beaches signal That a craft ia new uamaased. Xew York, 'Cammarcto.