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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (April 20, 1907)
8 THE MORX1NG OREGOXIAN, SATURDAY, APRIL. 20, 1907. SrBStRIPTlON BATES. CTINVARIABLY IN ADVANCE. (By Mall ) rsllT, Sunday Included, on year ?;.? Cully, Sunday Included, six months.., Lully, Sunday Included, three month. Dally. Sunday Included, one month. . . rully. without Sunday, one year fatly, without Sunday, six monthe. ... rully, without Sunday, three monthe. riftMv lthAu Kitnriav nnm month.... 4.25 2.25 .75 8 00 a. 25 1.T5 .80 Sunday, on year J"Z'" w?kv. on vur Mssuerf Thursday)..- 1-ou Sunday and Weekly, one year BY CARRIER. Telly, Sunday Included, one year JJJ lully, Sunday Included, on month 7 MOW TO REMIT Send postofflce money order, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at the sender's risk. Give postoflTlc aa ttresi In full, including; county and state. POSTAGE RATES. Entered at Portland, Oregon, Postofflc as rcond-Class Matter. 10 to 14 Pages 1 c'" ) to 28 Pages -2 30 to 44 Pages., cents 4 to 60 . Pages. cents Foreign postage, double rates. IMPORTANT The postal law r" trlct Newspapers on which postage Is not fully prepaid are not forwarded to destination. EASTERN BUSINESS OFHCB. The S. C. Brckwllb, Special Agency New York, rooms 43-50 Tribune building. Chi cago, rooms Plo-512 Tribune building. KEPT ON dAL. Chicago Auditorium Annex, Postoftlce News Co., 178 Dearborn street. St. Paul, Minn. N. St. Marie, Commercial Station. Denver Hamilton 4: Hendrlck. 906-012 Seventeenth street; Pratt Book Store, 1214 Fifteenth street; L Welnstein; H. P. Han sen. Kaneaa City. Mo Rlckaeckar Cigar Co., Ninth and Walnut. Minneapolis M. J. Kavanaugh. 50 South Third; Eagle News Co., corner Tenth ana Eleventh: Tom a News Co. Cleveland. O James Pushaw. SOT Su perior street. Washington. D. C. Ebbltt House, Penn eylvanla avenue. Philadelphia, Pa Ryan's Theater Ticket office; Kemblo, A. P., 8735 Lancaster ave nue; Pcnn News Co. New York City I Jones ft Co.. Astor House; Broadway Theater News Stand, Buffalo, Ji. Y Walter Freer. Oakland. Cal. W. H. Johnson. Four teenth and Franklin streets: N. Wheatley; Oakland News Stand; Hale News Co. Ogdrn D. I Boyle, W. G. Kind, 114 Twenty-nfth street. Omaha Barkalow Bros., Union Station; Magearh Stationery Co. Sacramento, Cal. Sacramento News Co., 439 K street. Salt lakeMoon Book ft Stationery Co.; Bosenfeld g, Hansen. Los Angeles B. B. Amos, manager aeven street wagons. San Diego B. 15. Amos. Lonf Beach, Cal. B. E. Amos. Pasadena, Cal. A. F. Horning. Fort Worth. Tex. Fort Worth Star. San JYanclsco Foster ft Orear, Ferry News Stand: Hotel St. Francis News Stand L. Parent; N. Wheatley: CioldBeld, Nov Ijouie Follln. Eureka, Cal. Call-Chronicle Agency. Norfolk, Krugg ft Gould. Pine Beach, Va W. A. Cosgrove. PORTXAND, SATURDAY, AJTUI. 20, 1907. BRYAN AND HEARST. Democratic politics presents a sub ject of perennial though often painful interest. The party is like a derelict ship driftine without sail or helmsman on a stormy ocean. Sometimes one is moved to liken It to those unhappy youths with long hair and stoop shoul dors who fancy themselves to be en dowed with a mission beyond and above ordinary humanity. They think great thoughts sometimes, but seldom apply them. They dream lovely dreams of mighty deeds, but with castles in the air their achievements end. Whatever is done in the way of practical appli cation of their thoughts or visions to human betterment must be done by those who aro hardier in frame and c fantastic, in conduct. It cannot be denied that the Democratic party con reived of the necessity for regulating the corporations long before the Re publk-ans did; but for years their con cept remained merely a futile structure ot tho imagination. It took form and practical effect only under the virile impulse of a Republican President, Many Democrats are themselves aware of this fatal weakness of their party. Not long ago. for example, Mr. John Templo Graves, of Georgia, realizing that Rooprvclt hud made lueomparably better use of certain Democratic as pirations than the party could ever have done for itself, publicly requested Mr. Bryan to name him for President again at the next convention. This Mr. Bryan, of course, declined to do: but the Incident moves one to Inquire whether he would riot rather see Roosevelt the nominee of all par ties than to see Hearst the next Dem ocratic candidate. Bryan has support ed Hearst In his various campaigns, but it ha3 always been from party loy alty and never from sympathy with the motives or character of the man. The unscrupulous ambition of Hearst has mado a breach between them In evitable, and now It seems definitely to have arrived. He absented himself from the Bryan dinner in Brooklyn the other day on a pretext patently flimsy, and is understood to have begun opera tions in the Wet to -undermine Bryan's popularity among the farmers and workingmen. His attempt is not likely to succeed. American farmers desire a great many Improvements In the law. They are particularly eager for effective control of the common carriers, taxa tion of corporations and the suppres sion of boss rule in politics. Hearst has taken up all these reforms, but the farmers know that he has done It not for the sake of the reforms, but for his own sake. It is said', for example, tha he is now about to add "dollar wheat' to his political war cries. Why? Not because he thinks for an instant of the benefit to tho farmers of a high price for their product, but -because he be lieves the cry will capture votes for him. It is the popularity of a given principle which allures Mr. Hearst never its merit. He stands for every thing that will gain votes, or that he thtnks will gain them; never for any thing because It is right or just. He proceeds on the assumption that by merely adopting the principles for which the farmers contend he w ill w in their votes. Nothing of the sort will happen. The farmers have been fooled with prom tars too many times to bestow their confidence easily, taiaracter in candidate counts with them for a great ,deal mora than it dld ten years ago. Sincerity weighs heavily in the tal ance when they come to judge a man and sincerity is tho quality of all oth c-rs that Mr. Hearst lacks. He is a po llttcal tradesman. In his estimation all men and principles are up for sale. Politics in his belief is simply a ques tlon of making a bargain and paying down the money. There has been much in our recent history to justify his opinion; but his late experience In New York ought to have convinced him of It fallacy. The experience whlc awaits him in the West will repeat th lesson so forcibly that he cannot fall to learn it. The quality of sincerity wiilch Hearst has not at all Mr. Brya Bryan poKseswos In full measure, and the farmers know It. Whatever he may or may not be, ho Is genuine. He ' i nrtt- fnr iz -j 1 o ml Vi a . 1 nnt PTIMCt other men to be for sale. The farmers and workingmen are convinced that Mr. Bryan honestly wishes to better their condition. He also, of course, ishcato be President, but It is with a high aim, and not for the selfish grati fication of personal vanity. Bryan ould like to be President in order to help the common people; Hearst, to help biruself. Tills is, the difference be tween the two men. The farmers un derstand the difference and therefore Hearst's appeal to them will fail. The immediate danger to Mr. Bryan s that his declaration for public own ership of the railroads may be prema ture. His advocacy of the income tax was premature. The same was true of several planks In his original platform. to say nothing of others that were wrong In principle. It seems to be his lot to do the pioneering while others ho are better jud'ges of the times reap the reward. He rs one of those who, as Henry Van Dyke says, describing a contest at a fair, "rub the grease off the pole while another gets the pig." ust what the masses . think of Gov ernment ownership it is difficult to say, but the leaders of Mr. Bryan's party are almost unanimous in oppos ing it. The reactionaries will use his bold pronouncement against him: but they cannot use it to benefit Hearst, ho outbids Bryan on this and every ther radical proposition. The ultimate ffect will probably be to strengthen Republican candidate standing fir control instead of ownership. ROOT'S ADMIKABLK STATEMENT. Now that the excitement over the ex clusion of Japanese children from the schools of San Francisco has died out nd the difficulty has been settled peaceably, Mr. Root's speech before the American Society of International Law pon the real questions involved will be read by all thoughtful citizens with dispassionate interest. When the difficulty was under public discussion it was commonly asserted that the United States Government sought to compel California to admit Japanese children to its schools. Mr. Root shows that this was not the case. There was no effort to compel Califor- ia to maintain schools or to admit to its schools Japanese or any other alien children. What was done was to as sert the right to secure to the Japanese by treaty the same privileges which other alien children enjoyed' that is, the privileges of "the most-favored na tion." Mr. Root brings out this some what difiicult distinction with admira ble clearness. He shows also that there was no question of state rights involved in the controversy. The Constitution reserves o the states no particle of the treaty- making power. It is all conferred upon the Federal Government. "In interna tional affairs there are no states; there Is but one nation acting in direct rela tion to and in representation of every citizen in every state." Furthermore, against constitutional treaties between this and other nations state constitu tions and laws are of no avail. "A treaty inconsistent with a state law an nuls that law." Mr. Root shows that this has been our settled constitutional doctrine for more than a century. He quotes to the same purport from a de cision of the Supreme Court: "There can be no limitation upon the power of the people of the United States. They had the power to change or abolish the state constitutions or to make them yield to the General Government or to the treaties made by their authority. There is little doubt that if the case pertaining to this controversy which was brought in the Federal Court had come to trial California would have found herself decidedly in the wrong. Happily it was settled otherwise, as all difficulties might be, in peaceful coun cil. THE TA.SiSIN-G OF THE SAGE PLAINS. Some time during the present year the Government of the United States will begin the expenditure of J350.00O upon an irrigation system upon lands north of Pocatelio, Idaho, an immense tract, which in the years when, im migrants struggled across it with ox teams toward lands of then greater promise, was given over to sagebrush and bunchgrass, the coyote and the prairie dog. Upon this tract of land many homesteads have been located and sturdy settlers only await the com ing ot water through irrigation ditches to work the transformation of aridity into fertility, of a vast waste into fields of waving grain. Within two years at most, says L. Bush Livermore, of the Pocatelio Tribune, the sagebrush will have disappeared from- this tract, and in its place will appear the plebeian cabbage the succulent young onion. the saccharine beet, the palatable po tato, the u-ieful alfalfa, and the fra grant hay. Growing sarcastic, this writer suggests that before this trans formation is accomplished it would be well for Pocatelio to "hold a grand fiesta in honor of the sage, attitre her self in wreaths ot the plant, festoon her homes and public highways with sprigs and bouquets of sage, thus heap Ing homage upon the altar of a goddess who is about to be deposedi, but who is worthy of all honor for past great ness." The idea is one to which the pioneers of Idaho should take kindly It is one Indeed which should touch with reminiscent glow- the heart3 v the early settlers of the sagebrush re gions of Eastern Oregon and find echo in the hearts of those who yet linger from an earlier era and who passed over these wide sage plains with pain ful. toiling footsteps, glad to leave them behind, but holding them still in shad owy memory. Who, having fifty years and more ago, passed over this vast area that then seemed as but one of the waste places of the earth, albeit encompassed from horizon to horizon with a grandeur that was sublime, and brooded over by solitude that was Intense, has forgotten tho dull gray coloring that the sage brush gave to the landscape and the pungent odor that It exhaled! It wa not altogether -useless to-the invaders of its ancient domain, as it furnished the only fuel that could be procured for their campflres. The dull monoton that it presented to tired eyes found some recompense in this -usefulness, while the tenacity that it showed i retaining a foothold upon the desert and its persistence in occupying every foot of land in a:i that vast expanse, might have been lessons in endurance and perseverance, if such lessons were needed by the pathfinders of clvlliza tlon. Be this as it may, the magic wan of the water has been stretched over vast sections where onee the sagebrus' held sway, and yet larger areas are soon to come under the dominion of ir rigation. Fire and the plow have been the Instruments of its vanquish-ment water and the sower, grain in hand will be the means of investing the land lib. newer and greener and more use ful abundance. As an unwelcome guest ho has tarried too long, the citizens of Idaho regard the sage. If they choose to make merry over its depart ure; if in mock regret they hang fes toons of sage over their lintels and speak in serio-comic words of its erst- hile dominion over the land, yet those who have not known the monotony and barrenness of its long reign forbear to criticise the display of mock regret at the passing of this grisly monarch, but enter rather, into the spirit of rejoicing that sees abundance follow in its sterile path. THEFT VS. FUN. Drury College (Congregational), of Springfield, Mo., is in trouble with prac tically its entire student-body over the attempted discipline of a member of the junior class. A college prank, of steal ing ice cream' from the president s house that was intended for a seniors reception, was the basis of the trouble. The junior ,class was suspected, and the leader,, refusing to divulge the names of the others engaged, in the raid, was ordered home; hence the revolt. The chances are that the students guilty of tho theft had, been regaled from their youth tip with tales of their fathers' exploits in watermelon patch and peach, orchard raids, and would scorn the suggestion of theft or thiev ery as connected with such "sport. In this view, or indeed in any view, the faculty of Drury has undertaken a demonstration in simple honesty that is more than likely to fail in its purpose. The result will probably be that the students will stand together and the faculty that blundered so egregiously as to mistake "fun" for theft will find some way out of the difficulty that will ot leave the college without junior- and freshman classes. - As long as it is considered a joke on the farmer to steal his melons and pur loin fruit from his orchard, while it is conceded to be petty larceny to raid his henroost or walk away with a sack of grain from his barn, the theft of stores provided for a college banquet will be put down as a "college prank" annoying and even exasperating, it may be, but excusable. Straightfor ward, honest farmers and, college pres idents who cherish ideals for the youth ot the land are not expected! to Indorse a code in ethics that calls the unlawful taking of one class of personal prop erty theft and that of another "fun.1 AH that is required of them In the premises is to submit to the inevitable. set no traps, keep no watchdogs and take no notice ot what is going on in their orchards and cellars when "the boys are out on a lark." Only by such obliviousness can they escape discom fiture after having suffered from the predatory instinct that insists upon drawing a fine distinction between theft and "fun" when it conies to stealing something to eat that is especially in viting and something to wear or to eat that is sorely needed. THE NEW RAULROAD VIEW. Nothing has testified more forcibly to the effectiveness of the work of Theodore Roosevelt as a leader of pub lic opinion than did the speech of W. C. Brown, second Vice-president of the New Torft Central lines, at tho Buffalo Chamber of Commerce ban quet Thursday night- When he declared that "the public has complete right to regulate the rail roads," he made an admission on be half of the public-service corporations that no one twelve months ago would) have imagined to be possible. His dec laration was one that would have had very little popular support five years ago, so accustomed were the people to respect what corporations were pleased to call their vested rights. In recent years a' few men, among them Senator La P'ollette, and chief among them President Roosevelt, strongly asserted and advocated the doctrine that a cor poration, as the creature of the Govern ment and a servant of th people, is subject to control by the people through their governmental agencies. This doc trine corporate interests ridiculed at first, and then fought most vigorously when it gathered strength in public opinion. In the past year the people of this country have become almost unani mous in support of the principle of Government control. Even men whose affiliations are with capitalistic inter ests have joined in the general view though none others quite so fully and completely as Mr. Brown has done. When Mr. Harriman made an appar ent concession to the popular belief he did not take that step because he had been convinced or because he had fully yielded, but because he sought Federal control as less dangerous to him than state control. He is not yet a convert to the principle of Government control of public-service corporations. He ac cepts the situation with mental reser vations, which he will plainly disclose if he and his associates succeed in winning the next Presidential election. But "Vice-President Brown is unequivo cal when he declares "I am firmly and unalterably in favor of the regulation of railroads and all other corporations by the Nation and the states." He agrees that the business of the railroads should be as open and public as that of the National banks; that rates should be reasonable, stable and abso lutely equal to all. And Mr. Brown is no more frank in stating his opinions upon regulation than he is In giving credit for establishment of the new idea of Government control. He says that it is doubtful if in the history of the United States and upon any great Na tional question or issue, public opinion has been so molded and directed by the President as it has been in the consid eration of- and attitude toward th great transportation interests.. ' Thi powerful influence has been exerted fearlessly and forcefully in correcting abuses by the railroads, and I believe it will be exerted just as fearlessly an effectually in protecting the railroads from injustice. When one takes the time to think about it.' the "basis for Government con trol is clear and simple. A corporation is not a person and has not the consti tutional rights of an individual. It is a creature of law and could have no ex istence otherwise. It ' has only such powers as the people- in their govern mental capacity, see fit to confer upon it. A railroad company has no right to exercise the power of eminent do main unless that power be conferred by law. Corporations are more than partnerships, for any citiiten may be come directly interested in the. property and business of a corporation by. pur chasing a share of stock. The business of a public-service corporation is such that all the people are directly inter ested In Its operations. If the corpora tion may deal with each of its patrons separately, it has the power to dictate the kind of service it shall give and the price it shall charge, from which It fol lows that If the people are to be heard at all in transactions to which they arejjnake a one-day slop- . parties, they must act jointly through their governmental organization. These few simple facts form the basts of Gov ernment control a foundation so solid and complete that even the railroad interests are recognizing its sufficiency. In sentencing J. W. Reed to pay a fine and in relieving him from the ne cessity of going to prison. Judge Frazer was indeed lenient. The fact that Mr. Reed consulted an attorney before col onizing voters at Sellwoork is an inci dent which makes the situation that much worse for him. for he evidently knew that his act was morally wrong and merely desired to know whether he could resort to the colonizing scheme without rendering himself criminally liable. That a man acted upon the ad vice of his attorney in running as close to the edge of a criminal precipice as possible cannot save him from the consequences if he steps over. If such a defense is to be recognized, a. pre mium would be placed upon crime. Manipulation of elections is one of the most serious offenses against our laws, for it strikes at the foundation of pop ular government. England is to follow In the footsteps of her far Pacific colony, New Zealand, in providing for old-age pensions. This the present government declares is the most serious and urgent of all the de mands of social reform. An industrial system that "builds up large es tates for the few at the expense of the earnings of the many ren ders it impossible for the worker to accumulate a surplus for his mainte nance after his earning years are over. The only recourse in such cases is the almshouse, with its undeserved humil iation, or the old-age pension for the deserving poor. In accordance with this view, the Chancellor of the British Exchequer states that $7,500,000 has been added to the annual budget for the nucleus of a fund for the honorable relief of necessitous old age. Colonel," "Bob" audi "Pete," . faith ful but outdated horses that have in past years rushed many a mile at top speed with a fire engine bounding at their heels when the clanging bell told of Portland homes and- business men aced by destruction, have been pen sioned by the city. Their needs are not great, but insistent; grass and water and a pasture in which to stretch their stiff Jimba in Summer; oats and hay and stalls for the Winter these are the modest demands of their necessities. And these demands will be met. The equine veterans of the Portland Fire Department will be in clover for the rest of their days. The city can afford to keep them; It cannot afford to do otherwise. We hope the people of the East will not gather from the address of Attor ney Delphin M. Delmas an erroneous impression of the "unwritten law" of the West, so far as the West has such a law. Nor should a wrong idea be acquired from reading the denuncia tions of Attorney Jerome. The unwrit ten law, with its distinctions, has been pretty well stated by the Chicago Chronicle when it says: The whole human race sympathizes with the man who kills the eoducer of his wife, his daughter or his sister, hut there Is no unwrit ten law anywhere in the civilized world that a man may deliberately marry a notorious woman and then go around icilllng all the men that she kept company with Ave years before he married her. In the death of J. M. Atkinson, at Newberg. this state has lost a citizen whose work as a livestock breeder has been of incalculable value to the in dustrial welfare of Oregon. He, with others, will bo given honorable mention in the pages of Oregon's history when time shall show more fully the im portance of their work in developing high-grade herds of dairy cows from the scrub cattle too many farmers are content to keep. Last Thursday's issue of the Albany Democrat was a "special publicity edi tion," eight of its pages being given over to the merits of Albany and- Linn County. Farming, dairy, cattle and lumber interests are well told. Placed in the hands of a possible citizen, he can see just wherein his lines will lie. as about all the business houses worth it get very good mention. The "spe cial publicity edition" ought to bring good results. Massachusetts wants it understood that the recent April snow storm is nothing unusual. On April 18. 1821, there was a snowfall of two feet, and there have been half a dozen snowy Aprils since then. On two 'occasions snow fell as late as May. - Well, we prefer a state that has a snow period of about three or four weeks. Now we are Informed that W. S. U'Ren is" not the father of the initiative and referendum, for the reason that W. R. King introduced the amendment In the State Senate in 1895 and again in 1897. Well, then, perhaps Mr. U'Ren is the stepfather. Ot course tho 'Yesort" In the North End in which fascinating colored women lure susceptible white men to entertain and rob them should be closed. Let temptation be removed from the pathway of the weak. Oregon can admire the beautiful snow on Mount Hood, but Nebraska cannot on its prairies. Oregon can be depended on to have everything in tho right place- It is said that James J. Hill never locks his office desk. It probably might be added that he never marks his let ters "confidential" or adds a "please burn this." Perhaps the people of Pennsylvania will conclude that the' best way to end the disgraceful Capitol scandal is to give the whole thing a coat of white wash. If Oregon desires to show off its In dians at the Jamestown Exposition, it can make a good exhibit without an imitation by white girls. Men can shave themselves, but not cut their, own hair. Is this the reason the barbers will raise the price of hair cuts? It has now been five days since the Mexico earthquake and no scientist has arisen to say that he predicted it. Numerous misdemeanors are commit ted behind domino masks, and the wearers are not always burglars. XVoodbum thinks It is pretty near big-city size, now that a circus is to TRYIXG TO BEFOG IDAHO ISSUE The I.ate Question la Whether Defend ants Are Guilty. Chicago Chronicle. In the trial at. Caldwell, Idaho, of Moyer, Haywood and Pettibone It is nec essary to bear in mind, as in the Thaw case, that the issue .is simply one of fact did the defendants procure the death of ex-Governor Steunenberg? All the assertions of the defense that unionism is being attacked may be true: all the claims that a great fund has been raised to prosecute the case also may be true. But if they are all true they are all Irrelevant. There may be malice or even conspir acy behind the prosecution, but that will not acquit Moyer. Haywood and Petti bone. Nothing will acquit them save the failure of the state to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they hired Orchard to murder Steunenberg. Nothing will con vict them save absolute and convincing proof that they did employ Orchard to do the murder. - All collateral questions are false issues. In other words, the three defendants are being tried for murder and not for any thing else. They have maintained in ef fect that they ought not to be tried at all. They have made a great outcry over the so-called kidnaping from Colorado, ig noring the. fact that if they 'had evinced a disposition, to return to Idaho and dem onstrate their innocence there would have been no kidnaping, because none would have been necessary. The whole attitude of the defense, in short, has been one of evasion 'of the real issue. Like Thaw, who sought to shield himself by pleading his wife's wrongs, Moyer, Haywood and Pettibone proclaim that they are being persecuted because of their connection with the Western Federation of Miners. One plea has no more force than the other. The three men on trial at Caldwell will be convicted or they will be set free upon the issue of Steunenberg's murder. All other issues are mere dust clouds raised to befog the merits of the case. They will be blown away as the trial progresses. DALZELL AJiD DINGLEY TARIFF He Begins to See Some Light and Favors Revlalon After the Election, Pittsburg Post. -It is significant of the strength of the sentiment throughout the country in favor of tariff revision that it has made an impression upon such a blind stand patter as Congressman John Dalzell. "Personally," he is quoted as saying. "I do not see any reason for revising the tariff. It seems to me that a law which has resulted in such prosperity should be left alone. But I realize that there is a sentiment in some parts of the country favoring a revision of the schedules, and I admit that the sentiment is entitled to some recognition. Consequently I believe that we should take up the subject Im mediately after the next President has taken his seat." It has been a surprise to those who know Mr, Dalzell well and who recognize his intelligence and ability that he should have permitted narrow partisanship to blind him so completely In this matter of tariff revision. Even in this Interview he asserts that he sees no need for such revision, but thinks something ought to be done in this line as a concession to the strong popular sentiment on the sub jeet. However, he would postpone any action for two or more, likely three. years, until after the next President takes his seat. Should Cannon, Dalzell and the other stand-patters then be in control of the House of Representatives we can Imagine how little the revision they, would sanc tion would1 amount to. President Roose velt wanted a revision of the tariff after his election in 1904, but the stand-patters served notice that they would defeat his railroad legislation unless he kept his hands off the tariff. If the next Presi dent should.be a Republican they might easily repeat this performance. RECORD IN THIS HKRMAX.V CASE Whatever the Outcome, It Covera Shameful Eplaode. Chicago Record-Herald. riinger nermann s trial has now been under hearing in Washington for nine full weeks, and there is still more of it to come before the issue goes to the jury. The offense with which he is charged is the destruction of pub lic records, but the Government, in order to show to the jury the gravity of the offense, has been able to cover in the testimony practically the entire history of the land frauds in the West. If the record were written up and pub lished it would tell almost the whole of one of the most shameful episodes of our public life. Hermann has been an office-holder. Federal or state, for over 40 years. He served 16 years In Congress, and was for six years at the head of the gen eral land office. It was at the close of his service in this latter position that his offense was committed. He caused the destruction of 36 letter-press copy books, which contained a very large amount of incriminating correspond ence. His defense is that those books were his private property, but the Gov ernment has been able to show that while some of the letters related to private affairs very many related to official business and In especial to the land frauds, and that most of them were mailed in official franked en velopes. If Hermann is acquitted he will have to go to Oregon to be tried on four indictments for participating in land frauds. If he is 'found guilty he will be liable not only to a fine but to three years" imprisonment, and he will be disqualified from ever again holdlnff office under the Government. Under the Federal laws tho destruc tion or mutlllation of public records is evidently a very serious offense. The Homeatesid I.avr, Hartford Courant. Some thousands ot American newspa pers have spoken of the late Galusha A. Grow as the father of the homestead law. It's all right enough In a way: Mr. Grow's namo is honorably and inseparably asso ciated, with that great enactment. His first speech in the House was a free homestead speech; sturdily and persis tently he hammered away ding-dong until opposition crumbled and his bill wont into the statute book. But there were brave men before Aga memnon; there were free-homestead men before Mr. Grow long before. The idea iB almost as old as the country. Several states legislated on the subject early in their history; Texas came Into the Union with a homestead law of her own in full operation. Felix G. McConnell of Ala bama died a member of the House in 1S46. A dozen years afterward Clement C. Clay. Jr., another Alabamian, said of him In a speech in the Senate: "He was In the habit. I believe, on all occasions when, he rose to address the speaker of the House of Representatives, of suggest ing his proposition for a homestead for every man, matron, or maid in the United States who was the head of a family." Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, afterward President, was a very earnest and per sistent free-homestead man. The fathers of the Republican party notably John P. Hale, of New Hampshire, and William H. Seward were free-homestead men to a man. -Mr. Grow did not do It all. He should he remembered with respect and grati Jtude, The others should not be forgotten. XO MORE TIPS OX PUBLIC LAXD Garfield and BaUlnger ltcqnire Pub lic Notice of Opening. WASHINGTON, April 19. An order was Issued today by Secretary Gar field, and another by Commissioner Ballinger. of the General Land Office, each intended to put a stop to prac tices which are regarded as evasions of the general laws. The order of Mr. Garfield provides that here after whenever land is reopened for settlement after having been tem porarily withdrawn for proposed for est reserves or other purposes no en tries shall be permitted until after the fact of the restoration of the land to the public domain has been printed for 60 days in a newspaper of widest circulation nearest the land in ques tion. The Secretary says It has come to his notice that heretofore when lands have been restored to the public do main interested parties have been "no tified by wire from v ashington on the day the order is issued, and per sons have located upon the more de sirable portions of the restored lands. thus obtaining an advantage over oth ers. Commissioner Ballinger's order is di rected to an alleged abuse of the law al lowing the purchase from the Govern ment by auction sale of "Isolated tracts'" of land. The Commissioner believes this privilege has been abused, particularly as one applicant now has pending 33 applica tions to purchase different "isolated tracts." The order cancels all such pend ing applications and makes a further re quirement that all applications-hereafter to have such tracts sold at auction must be accompanied by an affidavit, stat ing that the Intended purchaser wishes the land for homestead DUrDOses and not for speculation. CUBA NEEDS NO PROTECTOR Gomez Says Republic Will Stand When Restored. HAVANA, April 19. General Jose Mi guel Gomez, who is a candidate for tho Presidency of Cuba, in a published inter view said that the re-established republic will not fall again. He said: "It will be different from the first ex periment in that the law will be respect ed and upheld with an Iron hand. Com plaisance is a good thing, but not when it is misdirected. The soil of a republic the liberals will maintain will not fall. Wo will respect the law. "The elections will be honest. I think the Cubans unaided possess full ability to maintain this republic to which we look forward. We desire no strengthen ing of the Piatt amendment such as the conservatives request,, and unless the Americans fall short in their promises, the republic will be re-established on the same lines as the first. "Cuba wants no protectorate. What Is Intended by the word has not been de fined, but clearly the result would be tutelage. Cuba does not need a tutor." WATER COMPETITIOX RULES Low Rates on Cotton Goods to Coast and Orient. WASHINGTON, April 19. Rates on cot ton goods from Southern points to the Pacific Coast, China and Japan were again the subject of hearing before tho Interstate Commerce Commission today. R. J. Southall, representing the com plainants, moved to postpone the hearing until he could serve the defendant rail road and steamship companies with t subpena duces tecum to compel the pro ductlon of the minutes of the conferences bold In 1905, which resulted in the alleged agreement to raise rates. The defendant companies finally agreed to produce these minutes tomorrow. Mr. Southall said he Intended to show by these minutes that the conferences were participated in by railroad men. notwithstanding the denial of this. The railroads replied that the minutes would not show the presence of railroad men at the conference, and claimed further that no agreement was entered into by them regarding the rates In question. It is alleged that, if an agreement was reached between the steamship lines, it is beyond the jurisdiction of tha Interstate Com merce Commission. Secretary Ayres, of the China & Japan Trading Company, ex plained the exact method of purchases. price of goods and rates paid for ship ment both from New Tork to the Orient via the Suez Canal and from the Pacific Coast. The defense rested Its case after the testimony of Lincoln Green, through traf fic manager of the Southern Railroad. Mr. Green told tho commission that the rate complained of was fixed on an ex ceedingly low basis because of water competition, and that it had been reduced from $1.85 per 100 pounds to San Fran Cisco to $1.50. the present rate. The commission took the case under advisement and indicated that its conclu slon would be announced tomorrow. Complain of Rates on Rails. NEW TORK. 'April 19. The complaint of the Cambria Steel Company against the Great Northern Railroad Company, alleging the enforcement of unreasonable rates for the transportation of steel rails 60 feet In length on twin cars, was heard before Special Examiner Martin S. Deck er for the Interstate Commerce Commis sion today. The complaint is based on a shipment of 760 cars of steel rails 60 feet in length from Johnstown, Pa., to the Seattle Electric Company in March, 1306. H. S. Ensley, counsel for the complain ant, said the crux of the question was whether the minimum established rate for freight of 60,000 pounds per car applied to the loading of steel cars with steel rails 60 feet long. He said the loading prescribed by the MaBter Carbullders As sociation is that twin cars shall not be loaded over 75 per cent of their marked capacity, and contended that rates Ap plied only to single car shipments. The testimony will be submitted to the Inter state Commerce Commission. DOVES From the Philadelphia Inquirer. A FKW OF THE BIRDS THAT ARK EXPECTUD TO TARE PART IN THE COMING WAGITE CONFERENCE. IN THE SUNDAY O REGONIAN TOMORROW GREATEST NEWSPAPER IN THE WEST s-- "aCTspsaas- sjp 5 l? 7vf LANDINO AN OREGON SPECKLED BEAUTY Foil-page picture in colors of a Ashing scene on Johnson Creek. BUSTER. BROWN AND HIS FAITHFUL DOG Advent in The Sunday Orero nian of this popular youngster. ELEPHANTS AS SAWMILL HANDS Finely-illnstrated animal story from Lower Burma. WHEN MIDAS MOVES TO THE COUNTRY Rural palaces of millionaires costing a fortune every season. WHERE SIX PERSONS MET VIOLENT DEATHS , Marion County farm -which fate selected for bloody deeds. JAPANESE REVERENCE FOR HER HEROIC DEAD Annie Laura Miller writes a story o'f unceasing devotion. PLANTING BULBS FOR SUM MER FLOWERS Timely hints to be taken advan tage of this week in Portland. POLICING THE DESERT OF SAHARA Frank Carpenter tolls how the French guard it with soldiers. SEEING THINGS WITH THE G00GAN GIRLS Rescue of two widows from em barrassment caused by autos. THE ROOSEVELT BEARS IN RUSSIA They take the Czar for a ride and save him from assassins. If you are not a subscriber, order from your newsdealer to day. Lament of an Epicure. ' A news report says Abe Ruef objects to Elisor BlBKy's bill of fulr. Ituef expressed a wish to have "milk-fed chickens" rether than the more plebian "ham and egs." which constitutes an Important item of his present menu.). 0 dear, O dear, what's this they've brought me? In swell cafe before thejr efl-uitht me Such fare I swear I ne'er have bought me. It's hajn and egsrs as I'm a s-rafter! Now wouldn't that excite your laughter" Wouldn't It Just shake the rafter 7 Ham and egns is a susrarestion Not -welcome -to a nice digestion: Of this I wis there Is no question. A canvas back, some Roman punch. Some soup, some nuts, I have a hunch. Would make a very respectable lunch. With Tokepolnts done In goidn batter 1 think myself I can safely flatter yhere Isn't a single thing the matter. With lobster In cues I've no objection; In fact I'm willing, to form a connection. I own a weakness for fruit and confection. I'm. especially fond of quail on toast, I'm not averse to tenderloin roast; But of all things I like chicken the most. So a !sh I wish you'd Just prepare. Is chicken reared with proper care. On nice rich milk and country air. For plebian food I'm not in the mood. Vleaae don't intrude on my solitude With ham and eggs, for I'll take it nide. HARRY MURPHY. OF PEACE 11 m- list- -f 111''-- i3 Bit. : S f