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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (July 23, 1908)
8 THE MORNING OREGONIAN, THURSDAY, JULY 23, 190S. Entered at Portland. Oregon. Postofflca as Second-Class Matter. Subscription Rates Invariably ta Advance. (By Mall ) Ta!ly. Sunday Included, one yr J Dally. Sunday Included, six months.... tally. Sunday Included, three montha. Z.-s Dally, Sunday Included, one month is Dally without Sunday, one year Dally, without Sunday. six montha J. -3 Dally, without Sunday, three montha.. l.iJ Daily, without Sunday, one month .00 Cunday. one year Sunday and Weekly, one year 3 09 (By Carrier. Dally. Sunday included, one year 9.00 Dally, Bunday included, one month.... .75 How to Keniit Send poatofflcs money order, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency re at the sender's risk. Give poatofflce ad dress in lull, including county and state. Postage Rates 10 to 14 pages. 1 cent: 16 to 28 pages. 2 cents; SO to 44 pagea, 3 cents; 4t to 60 pagea, 4 centa. Foreign post age double rates Eastern BuHinese Office The S. C. Beck wltrt Special Agency New York, rooms 4S 60 Tribune butidlng. Chicago, room 510-512 Tribune building. rORTLAND, TIIl'ItSDAY. JILY 23. 1908. A TYPICAL DISFCTE. The political dLspute over injunction la brought out sharply by the proceed ings in the case of the Buck Stove & Iliinge Company, in the District Court at Washington, I. C, against the American Federation of Labor. Re fusal of the Federation to discontinue Its boycott of the company's business and goods has resulted In arraign ment of the president and secretary of the Federation for contempt of court. Gompers, president of the Federation, declares he will not sur render his right of free speech. He Is urging everybody to boycott the goods and crush the business of the Buck Stove & Range Company; and he urges this as his right under lib erty of speech and press. But the court of the District of Columbia holds that he has no right to use lib erty of speech and press to injure others. Refusing to obey, he is cited Tor contempt. This brings injunction and punishment for contempt of the orders of the courts sharply before the public, at the beginning of a po litical campaign. The injunction is one of the oldest processes of law, or rather of equity a proceeding ancillary to law to 'restrain one from doing an act that Is complained of as unjust or injur ious to the rights of another. The preliminary injunction is merely a command that the acts complained of or threatened be stopped until the rights of the parties be definitely settled. Final or perpetual injunction will follow only when the rights of the parties shall have been adjudi cated and disposed of by order or decree of the court, and such in junction appears to be the appro priate remedy. But Mr. Gompers and his associates defy the order of the court to cease their attacks on the business and prop erty of the company with which they have disagreed. They are, therefore, cited to appear September S to show why they should not be punished for contempt. The tropical heat of a politi-' cal campaign will generate wonderful exuberance of learned essays and of partisan appeals on this subject, from Jiow till November. No new doctrine on the subject of injunction is announced in the plat form of either, party. Even Mr. Bryan's party does not venture to declare against the use of the In junction, as an equitable proceeding, for conservation of property and per sonal rights. But in the case now pending at Washington Mr. Gompers and his as sociates, having resolved on injury, and if possible destruction, of a busi ness and property with which they ore at war. disregard the order of the court to let it alone, and continue their effort, by public appeal, to in jure the business and to stop pro duction an'd sale of the goods. The court bases its action not only on the eld common law, but on the statute known as the Sherman anti-trust law. This last provides that "every con tract, combination In form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy In re straint of trade or commerce," etc., and "every person who shall make any such contract, or engage in any such combination or conspiracy, shall be deemed guilty." etc. It will hardly be denied that the effort to stop the production and sale of goods of the Buck Stove & Range Company is not an effort "in restraint of trade." For that's precisely what it is. And precisely what it is intended to be. But the right to do It Is insisted on by Gompers and his associates, on the ground that the right to speak and print what they please is the dear est right of the citizen of a free ountry. Therefore, they are not to be punished for contempt when they disregard ' the order of the court to dVsist. Most of us know, however, that the right of free speech and the right of free press are not absolute Tights, but are subject to the defi nitions, limitations and restraints of law. And It should require no Daniel, come to Judgment, to show that no person or combination of persons can have the right to injure or destroy another's business by public exhorta tion of the general public not to deal with him. Hut, on the other hand, the Gompers reople have a contention which ap pears to be sound. They complain that under the court decisions em ployers are permitted to boycott working men, while working men are not allowed to boycott employers. In several cases where suits were brought in the name of labor unions against employers who had com bined to boycott working men by use of the blacklist, the courts have held for the employers. That is. it has been held that In the absence of a specific contract for service for a length of time, the employers may discharge for any cause or no cause, and there can be no conspiracy to do a lawful thing. Hence, there can be no such thing as an unlawful con spiracy to destroy a labor union by discharging Its members or refusing to employ them. Of these decisions the unions, with much Justice, com plain. They call It a boycott of labor. But it Is answered that it Is not a boycott of labor, but only of the organization called a labor union, to discriminate against Its members. It Is an overstrained argument and an unjust conclusion. It Implies that a labor union has no right to exist. But one wrong never justifies an other, however plausible the pretext one may offer for another. Between these contending forces there must Ire found a middle ground, of propor tionable justice for all. But the first step should be taken by employers. In abandonment of the blacklist. It Is matter of gratulation that few employers use it, and those only In special industries, like that of teleg raphy, which receives continual sup ply of applicants from commercial and other schools. The union brick layer or blacksmith fears no boycott or blacklist. Nevertheless, the mere thought of a blacklist Is justly odious. On technical reasoning doubtless the courts are right in holding that since It is lawful for an employer to discharge for any cause or no cause, there can be no unlawful conspiracy to do a lawful thing; but herein the equities are disregarded, and men who do such thing invite trouble and perhaps disaster, at some time, for themselves. Equity, as a doctrine or principle, continually requires new definitions to meet new developments in the progress of human society; and our courts are apt to adhere too much to old rules, not broad enough to meet the changes going on incessantly in the constantly increasing range and scope of our social and industrial life. But there is an old maxim, to wlt: "They who seek equity must do equity" which is broad enough to meet all cases of dispute that may arise between man and man, or be tween men and men. MR. DRISOOLIS SECESSION. The secession of Mr. Driscoll from the "solid ten" in the City Council is an event which may prove to be of some Importance. Since beneficial consequences to the city may flow from his action. It could be wished that his motive for severing his con nection with the band which has sys tematically opposed the Mayor, both In good and evil, were more com mendable. As we understand it, he has withdrawn from the ill-savored combination principally because he was not upheld In asking a new license for the notorious Pullman Cafe. He had supported his fellow members of the cabal In all their schemes, he declares, and It seemed a little hard that they would not stand by him In favoring the most disreputable resort In the city. Such is the game of give and take as some politicians think it ought to be played. In reading the account of this scandalous exposure one Is moved to wonder whether a solitary thought for the city's welfare ever enters the heads ot some of our Councilmen. What do they. In the simplicity of their benighted souls, fancy that they were elected to office for? Was it tu trade with one another for petty favors to scalawags? Was it for the sole purpose of giving them a chance to make themselves solid with the sa loon element or the church ele ment, or some other element? Is It not the fact that Councilmen are elected to conduct the business of the city like honest men, and Is it not also true that they violate their oath of office when they fall to do so? Of course, an oath means very little to some men, while to others it means a good deal. It depends on the man. His bringing up has something to do with It. While It Is a little difficult to praise Mr. Driscoll's motive, yet if he has really decided to attend to the busi ness of the city henceforth, and give up his excessive predilection for up holding dives, he merits some ap plause. As for the "solid ten," it la high time that they saw themselves as others see them. Nothing could bfi more contemptible than their childish combination. Tim CITY DOCK. Before spending that $500,000 for a city dock, it will do no harm to call attention to a few facts in connection with docks in this city and else where. The wharves, or "docks," along the Portland waterfront are used exclusively for shipping or stor age purposes and the only possible excuse for the city's spending $500,000 to provide additional docks would be to reduce charges and attract ship ping. If the charges now in force were excessive, or higher than those prevailing In other cities. It might not be improper for the people to tax themselves for this $500,000. But Portland is known all over the world as having the lowest wharfage charges of any port on the Pacific. A city official, in discussing an elaborte sys tem of city docks for Portland, re cently cited the success of San Fran cisco in replacing private docks with public docks. The change was an admirable one in providing berths for a new array of dock masters, clerks and other city employes; but It was so hard on the shipping that it has given San Francisco an unenviable repu tation among shipowners. At a conference of shipowners, at tended by a Portland man in London last year, an owner friendly to this city was coaching the Portland man. "Touch lightly on your pilotage, boarding-house and ballast troubles," said he, "and go strong on your re markably low rates for wharfage. Tell 'em that the San Francisco charges are highway robbery and there is not a man in the room who will not agree with you." This San Francisco pub lic dock system, which we are asked to copy to the extent of $500,000, has not only been so expensive for ships as actually to injure the port, but it has also worked to the disadvantage of importers, who are forced to re move their goods within a few days after they are landed or, failing to do so, suffer a heavy penalty. In San Francisco, the grain business has been driven over to Port Costa, where, for more than six months In the year, the great grain docks are empty, very little of the import business be ing handled through those docks. In Portland, under the present ex cellent and economical system, import and export business is handled through the. same dock the year round. Many of the docks are owned by the firms operating them, and it is to their interest to make the charges for shipping as attractive as possible in order to secure low ocean freights. The railroads have always operated their docks- under nominal charges for the purpose of protecting their rail business and bringing traffic to this port. But suppose we spend that $500,000 in an effort to provide a public dock to take, up the busi ness in competition with Harrlman. Hill and other dockowners who are now giving our shipping the cheap est wharfage to be found anywhere on the Pacific Coast. The $500,000 would be Insufficient to secure more than one medium sized dock. To secure any business for this dock It would, of course, be necessary for rates to be reduced at public expense, for the docks now in use, operated independently from the railroad, exporting and importing business, would not return a profit. Having reduced the rate (at the ex pense of the taxpayers) the one dock would be too small to handle much of the increased business. To avoid the charges of favoritism from those who failed to profit at the city's ex pense, , at least half a dozen docks would be needed, each with its at tendant retinue of dockmasters, clerks, harbor boards, etc. It is a pleasing prospect for those who will spend the money and secure the jobs, but it migjht as well be understood now, before the money is spent, that it will not add to the prestige of the port or prove of real advantage to the city. AX EXAGGERATED STORY. The accounts of the miserable con ditions existent in the Treadwell mines upon Douglas Island, Alaska, which the Western Federation of Miners have received, are probably exaggerated. Coming from a partisan quarter and made public by a man who may have a personal grievance, they do not deserve full credit until they have been confirmed from other sources. Still there Is enough in them to make the desired Government in vestigation highly desirable. It is no torious that mineowners seldom take measures of their own accord to In sure the safety of their workmen. Even In Pennsylvania and West Vir ginia, where the laws to protect life are fairly strict, the annual slaughter of men through defective timbering and lack of precautions against ex plosive gases is terrible. Undoubt edly conditions are worse in Alaska, which is more remote from the source of authority and where inspection visltually does not exist. For the operators in this almost lawless region, human life is much cheaper than protective engineering. A dead workman can be reported simply as having forsaken his Job. In vestigation of the cause of his death is out of the question. New hands flock in to take his place and all is as it was before for the company. As for the dead man, he tells no tales and his family have no way to make their wrongs vocal. Economically it is poor policy for the Government to neglect the people who depend for a living upon their dally earnings, since the death or incapacity of the breadwin ner throws his wife and children upon the community for support. As the case works out in practice, society, as a whole, has to pay for the inhu manity; neglect and criminal care lessness of the operators. This is the financial side of the matter. Of course, there is also a dreadful tale of misery suffered by the miners and their families which cannot be put in terms of money and which might be prevented if the 'laws were adequately enforced. But the enforcement of the law against large aggregations of capital is an ideal to which our civilization has not yet at tained. FOREIGN TRADE THREE BILLIONS. Liberal decreases in the volume of foreign trade since January 1 failed to prevent the figures for the fiscal year, ending June 30, from again ex ceeding $3,000,000,000, althought the margin above that magic figure was small, and there was a slight decrease compared with the record year, pre ceding. The preliminary figures of the Bureau of Statistics for the month vf June and for the entire fiscal year are Just at hand and present some very interesting comparisons. The effect of last Fall's panic is shown in a decrease of more than $210,000,000 in imports as compared with the pre ceding fiscal year. In exports, the de crease was only about $20,000,000, the total for the year showing $1, 860,799,097 exports, and $1,194,341,994 imports. By far the most interesting and encouraging feature of the re port Is that portion which records the June business. Imports for that month, the last month of the fiscal year, were the largest for any month since last December, although June is not an active month in the import trade. The difference for the year between our imports and exports, which is generally termed the balance of trade, was the largest on record, reaching a total of. more than $666,000,000, a figure which, Interpreted as it usually is, would indicate that the American people are amply supplied with for eign funds for the purchase of im ports. Unquestionably the increase in imports in June is a reflection 'of the easier feeling in the American money markets. Of the imports which ffgure in our foreign trade, manufac turers' materials make up about one half of the sum total, and food stuffs more than one-fifth., While the finan cial trouble has been wearing itself out since last Fall, the people have refrained from buying, and dealers have permitted stocks to run down. Now, with every assurance of return ing prosperity, their confidence is shown in Increased imports, and fur ther expansion will undoubtedly be noticed for the remainder of the year, especially if present excellent crop prospects are maintained. Exports for June ran down to $115,000,000, a decrease of more than $20,000,000 compared with those, of June, 1907, a considerable portion of the shortage being due to smaller ex ports of agricultural products. Every thing considered, this latest monthly report with its year's totals is the most encouraging that has appeared since the panic of last Fall. We have undoubtedly passed the turning point, and, with big crops and high prices, it will be a matter of but few months before we shall again be mak ing new records in both foreign and domestic trade. In the old days when Jim Turk, Bunco Kelly and others of their ilk were doing business on the Portland waterfront, raw recruits for the sail ing ships were secured by glowing tales of the ease of life at sea, with nothing to do but eat, sleep and view the wonders of the world. The awakening generally came as soon as the new sailor was safely on board and his desertion generally occurred as soon as the ship touched port in a foreign land. The Navy Department may not go so far as Turk and Kelly In an effort to' secure recruits, but by its failure. to present the unpleasant side of life at sea, there is plenty of dissatisfaction. Since the fleet left Hampton Roads 693 of the enlisted men have broken their oaths and de- serted ship, flag and service, there be ing 129 desertions in San Francisco. These deserters will be punished when caught, and it is proper that they should be, but it will not deter others from making the attempt at desertion. The American spirit is high strung and, when the cleaning of "spit kits" and similar drudgery aboard a war vessel dispels the rosy dream of ad venture that prompted the enlistment, the recruits are willing to take most any kind of a chance to escape. Active and enterprising newspapers do as well as they can in their efforts to give forecasts of news. No news paper likes to lag or to come In "the day after." Observe that after the event everybody is wise. The Ore gonian, having it frbm its correspond ent in Chicago that' a decision from the United States Court of Appeals, in support of the decree of the lower court, was expected, published a statement to that effect. But the higher court, it appears, has sent the case back for retrial, on objections to the rulings of the lower court on the testimony. It is altogether natural that the Court of Appeals should do this. In the first place, the opinion is in accord with the inveterate dispo sition and habit of the courts to en force compliance with ancient prece dent and methods of practice; and in the next place, the Court of Appeals escapes a responsibility and throws it back on another jury. But every newspaper, now and again, misses its guess. The Judges, sitting in court, are a jury. And some think that the effort to forecast the findings of a Jury disables Omniscience.' The trees, salmon and fruit of Ore gon all grow to such Immense size that Eastern people, unfamiliar with actual conditions here, not infrequent ly question the accuracy of some of the photographs used to illustrate our resources. Some genius with a very peculiar idea of humor, has grouped some excellent photographs of Ore gon timber, fish and fruit in an album collection, and, in the center of the group has a "fake" photograph show ing a water melon covering an entire freight car, labeling the picture "The way we ship watermelons In Oregon." The adjoining picture of an immense fir tree, whose dimensions are shown by two men reclining in a cut made on one side of it, is accurate in every detail, but so big that the unsophis ticated Easterner will simply pass it by as a clever "trick".' photo, made in the same manner as the big melon photo is made. "Fake" pictures tend ing to cast discredit on accurate photos of Oregon resources should be suppressed, especially when there is so much opportunity for a favorable showing without resorting to decep tion. A man is in jail for shooting a pet deer in this city. News of the offense appeared simultaneously with an item relating the experience of a party of hunters who left this city in an auto mobile one day last week, and re turned a few hours later with a full grown deer, which had been killed in the woods near Scappoose. With wild game so plentiful that hunters can secure deer by running a few miles out of the city in an automobile, there is certainly no excuse for killing tame deer in the city limits. And yet, if the men arrested is a newcomer, there may be mitigating circumstances. He has, perhaps, heard so much of Ore gon's wonderful game resources that he expected to And deer, bear and other "varmints" running at large in the streets. Pendleton is making an effort to secure pure milk. There are a num ber of other towns that would like their milk not only pure, but a lit tle stronger. One could overlook such a small matter as a few tuberculosis germs If the animalcules were con cealed under a thick coating of cream, but when the milk is so thin that the germs can be seen swimming around, there is a temptation to reg ister a protest. Here's a suggestion for the dairyman: Cover your germs with cream and you'll have no trouble. Tt is moderately encouraging to learn that Mr. Whitney L. Boise has a plan for dividing up the large farms of the Willamette Valley. Others have had plans before him, but none of them seems to work. The most ef ficient dividers thus far have been death, taxes and mortgages, which is a pity since all these agencies are destructive. If Mr. Boise can make the thriftless landholder see his in terest In selling small tracts at a reas onable price, his name should be mag nified. Whether Justlv or not. if Indian shall go for Bryan, the Republicans 01 tne country will charge the resull l Fairbanks. When the Republicans of Indiana vote for a Democrat be cause Fairbanks was not nominated they thereby indicate their belief that Fairbanks is the only man fitted to lead the party. Entertaining that be lief they must be willing to follow his ieaa ana, it they go into the Demo cratic camp, it is a fair presumption mat Fairbanks led them there. A farmer at Uklah, Cal., claims to have originated a new variety of black cherry which he thinks will take front rank as a shipper. Oregonians will be glad to have him send a few boxes to cherry fairs in this state to com pete against the Bing or Lambert. Allowance will be made for deteriora tion In shipment. Oregon cherry fairs challenge all comers. The local council of federated trades has declared a boycott on a place of amusement owned by the street railway company. This is hit ting at the wrong end and missing a vital spot. The council should boy cott the streetcars and walk. Once in a while we learn anew the truth of the old and honored maxim: Never prophesy unless you know. The Chicago correspondents who gave out the advance tip on the Standard Oil decision know better today. Mrs. Sothern, according to the news reports, is "supposed" to have been residing at Reno for six months, in order to gain a Nevada residence. "Supposed" is undoubtedly the right word. Councilman Driscoll has deserted the "solid ten," thus vindicating Con rad and the Pullman Cafe. Well, the Standard Oil needs the money. SHOW MB, SATS M. FUJIYAMA l,efa Have Funeral Service Over War Talk1, Which la Foolishness. PORTLAND, Or., July 22. (To the Edi tor.) It is sadly regretful, since slight agitation against Japanese residing in this country occurred some month ago, that newspapers of the day are filled with numerous and most ridiculous reports of Japanese spying or preparing a plot against this friendly Nation. Some time ago the Mayor of this Rose City spoke before a large gathering of soldiers that some foreign nationality (referring to Japanese) is actively en gaged in taking maps of local water I system, main railroads and etc. Any in- telllgent people, no matter what nation- allty he may be, would know all these things which are published in newspapers ana magazines irom day to day. It was not very long ago, .when there was a report In your paper that a baloon was seen by Northern Pacific train crew at night some where near Tacoma, with Japanese flag conspicuously seen, and that they are probably sketching a map I of the country. How foolishly does this j sound that some Japanese would be so Ignorant as to display a flag of their own country in order that people seeing them would know what they are doing. If the flag was so plainly seen even at the night and also if the report was true. those Japanese are doing the secret work without a secret, which' is logically at false. Now comes a report from Gresham, Oregon, under the date of July 20, (spe cial) in your paper of July 21, page 10, that an "Underground Chamber" was discovered near Gresham; and in the later part of this report says "It was thought by some that the place had been made by Japanese to hide firearms and ammunition." The report of this kind, although It may not receive much credit among the people of intelligence, is an outrage to Japanese community and it is a shame of those who suspect them with such an unfounded insinuation. My acquaintance in the city of Port land and its vicinity commenced . from year 1894 and ever since I am in touch with all Japanese population of the place; and know something of their characters, especially those residing and working around Gresham. I would be glad to be shown if there is any Japanese around there who are not found to be industrial and law-abiding people. Any merchant, except a gentleman who conduct a barber shop in Gresham and who hate to cut hair of Japanese pos sibly on account of his trade can vouch the fact that all Japanese resid ing around Gresham are peaceful people. All legally admitted Japanese in this country are trying to keep up the best feeling between Americans and them selves, co-operating any public enterprise which comes up from time to time. This wartalk between America and Japan Is an American manufacture and It should be forced to die out as it be trays true Americanism as understood 'by the people of Rising Sun. The good feel ing of people residing in the each others country Is the most important factor in maintaining the harmony and peace of both Nations. With this harmony only, the future commercial and social inter course of the great Pacific can have its healthful growth. Let us have a funeral service over this war talk and end it there. There isn't a pinch of this talk among Japanese in this country and none in Japan. Tours very respectfully. M. FUJIYAMA. TOM JOHNSON'S 3-CBNT FARE FAD Tried In Cleveland, O., It Has Been a Failure and Means Bankruptcy. Chicago Journal. Tom Johnson's ignominious repudia tion by the Ohio delegation and the Democratic state convention seems to have been wise, in view of what is ap parently about to happen in Cleveland. For some years Johnson has been a popular idol In that city, chiefly on account of his attacks on streetcar companies. A few months ago he won what looked like a victory by compel ling certain lines In Cleveland to carry passengers for a S-cent fare. But the company had a deficit of $54,916 for May, in spite of the fact that it charges as much as 7 cents for a ride with transfers, and now there is a suit to enlarge the xone through which persons may ride for 3 cents. If it is success ful, the company will either have to go into bankruptcy or restore the old 5 cent fare. Under the . existing arrangement, transfers have to be paid for, and this has cut the number issued in two. which has so crippled the company that it has reduced its service. Fewer cars are run, speed has been cut down, and certain lines have been abandoned. Nor Is the company the only sufferer by Johnson's new scheme. Cleveland has had to put up with riots, and the men who have had their wages reduced to keep the streetcar company solvent are bitter against him. Probably It will not be long before Cleveland will show the country that it has come to its senses, and will rid Itself of Tom Johnson and all the vag aries with which he has deluded for so many years. They Support Bryan. Springfield (Mass.) Republican. Editor Caldwell of the Charlotte (N. C.) Observer and Editor Hemphill of the Charleston (S. C.) News and Courier are trying to make the best of the bad neces sity of supporting Bryan. Through the latter the former has offered to make a contribution to the Democratic campaign fund. In the form of a Hongkong gander and Shanghai hen, and the latter has ac cepted the offer. The poultry was shipped to Charleston on Wednesday, but instead of being sent on to the Democratic Na tional committee it will be sold either by raffle or public auction in Charleston, as the News and Courier elects, and the proceeds sent on. An exchange of crow between these two editors would seem to fit their situation better. Svt allows Bryan With a Wry Face. Macon (Ga.) Telegraph. The Telegraph will vote for the electors put In the field recently by the Demo cratic State Convention. The editor of the Telegraph was a member and an officer of that convention. If those electors are chosen, and we hope they will be, they will cast their votes for Bryan. While It is lamentably true that all three of the platforms and political par ties are honeycombed with socialism, there is nothing left for us to do but to follow what is left of Democracy a name! Radium CkaagM Color of Gema. London Cable to the New York Times. A Vienna dispatch gives the details of certain experiments made by Profes sor Doelter, of the Vienna University, with the view of determining the ef fects of radium on precious stones. Rubies and diamonds, the Professor finds, are very slightly affected, emer ald changes to yellowish green, hya cinth becomes dark brown, light topaz grows orange and blue sapphires grow pale, but do not turn yellow, as previ ous investigators have claimed. WESTERNER THE REAL AMERICAN. ' Has the Fine Spirit Whose Outputs Are Energy, Fair Flay and Kindliness. . George Harvey in Harper's Weekly. We have been deeply impressed during the past week by what we believe to be a vital truth. It is this: Despite con stant manifestation of seeming vagaries, the Western man is the true American. No honest mind can fail to recognise the wholesomeness of the atmosphere which envelops these big. lean, bronzed, stal wart sons of Anak; none can question the full sincerity of purpose indicated by the hearty grasp of hand, the straight forward gaze from the clear eyes; none can contemplate without regret tha utter misconception of the spirit of this com munity which pervades the East. These men of the West are not fanatics; they are not even radicals at heart. True, many are led astray by the siren songs of false prophets, but from no evil intent and through no fault of their own. They hear no other voices. The self-seeking demagogue is omnipresent and indefati gable. He is out and about, speaking here, there, and everywhere, winning pop ularity for himself and his specious whimsies, while the thoughtful student of affairs groans from his closet over "the ignorance of the masses." The In evitable consequence Is that which ever ensues from the constant dropping of water upon a stone. Hearing nothing to the contrary, Is it in any way surprising that thousands, perhaps millions, of our countrymen have been induced to believe that practically all who live in Eastern cities are mere vultures seeking to feast upon the product of others? The reason why Eastern men of parts do not come West and allay Impressions which really are false is sufficiently obvious. They are not narrow, as is often charged; they are simply lazy and comfortably Indifferent to any obligation that is not pressing and immediate. It does not suffice to re join that Western men of like caliber do not make themselves known In the East. Nothing would please them better, but. unfortunately, bitter experience has taught them that they cannot get the kind of a hearing they care for. They can and do occasionally go and speak In Cooper Union, but how many of the solid citizens whose attention they desire and deserve are ever there to listen? No, It is not the West that is responsible for the prevailing misapprehension between the sections. It is the East. And it Is up to the really broad-minded and patriotic men of the seaboard, whom we hear con stantly bewailing menacing conditions, to bestir themselves and come West in the flesh and respond In kind to the hearty welcome which Invar .ably awaits them. For ourselves, we say emphatically that we have no apprehersion of any serious disaster overtaking tne republic so long as these strong-hearted, pure-minded, men who have been treading on our toes for the past w.eek continue to be as they are. They are good men. They are not given over to prejudice; they want to reason. and lack not candor in admitting them selves to be in the wrong when fairly con vinced. And while they require infor mation respecting their fellow country men, their need is far less than that of the thousands of Easterners who -assume the "what's-the-use" attitude and clas sify all Westerners as cranks. Again we say. The Western man Is the true Amerl can. He has the fine spirit, whose out puts are energy, fair play and kindliness. SOUTHERN SENTIMENT. Indifference to Bryan But Will Vote for Htm. Richmond News-Leader. Nearly every large Southern city has a large number ot Influential citizens classed as Democrats who oppose Mr. Bryan bitterly and at heart desire the election of Mr. Taft. Probably a major ity of the dally newspapers of the larger Southern cities are anti-Bryan. Yet, all these newspapers south of the Potomac, so far as we have had the opportunity to observe, take about the same position occupied by The News-Leader. They de cline to be enthusiastic over Mr. Bryan or the work of the Democratic National Convention, but will advise their readers to vote for the Democratic nominee. The Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post are non-committal, but the newspapers In Richmond. Norfolk, Charlotte. N. C, Charleston. S. C, Atlanta, Birmingham, Montgomery, and other Southern cities, which have opposed Mr. Bryan's nomina tion, announce that they will support him for election. We do not believe the Southern newspapers are afraid or have occasion to be. Any Southern news paper in a large community leading a bolt would have liberal public backing and large following. People in the South who read daily papers have learned to be tolerant and liberal, and fierce resentment of departure from party lines is a thing of the past. There is kardly a town in the South of more than 500 people in which there Is not a strong and respect able opposition to Mr. Bryan and his poli cies. It is the free and deliberate opinion of the Southern daily newspapers and of the great majority of Southern voters of Independent thought that it is best for the South and the country that the Southern states, whatever other states may do, continue Democratic in Federal politics and maintain the party and its organization intact. Intemperance In "Temperate" Drinks. Boston Transcript. A board of experts has recently made its report to the British government on the intemperate character of tem perance drinks sold in the United Kingdom. It finds that many of the most popular beverages coming under this category contain all the way from 2 to 12 per cent of alcohol. The Brit ish taxation lawe take no cognizance of beverages containing less than 2 per cent of alcohol, but three-quarters of the samples of temperance drinks ex amined by the board far exceeded that proportion. Some apparently innocent herb beers were found to contain as much alcohol as claret or Rhine wine. The English public has been greatly surprised by this report, and its ca pacity for astonishment is proof that England has had no experience worth mentioning with -"stomachic bitters." Our Government, on the other hand, as a result of investigation some years ago, found that gin by another name was .drunk in quantities that defrauded the internal revenue. From a Seven-Foot Editor. Pendleton Tribune. We are decidedly In favor of that pro posed law providing that all sheets shall be nine feet long. Our Neighbor's Auto. New York Sun. When all the house is hushed to rest. With drowsy eyelids shut. And sleep approacheth at its best. We hear, Whir! Whir! Phut! Phut!" Assailed by that stattato sound Right well the worst we know: The demon of the block's around Our neighbor's auto, oh! Whir! Whir! Phut! Phut! Whir! Whir! Whirrrrr! Bing!" Now cranlc her up again. The troublea of that pesky thing Defy the tongue or pen. It will not back. It will not gee. It will not. will not go Or bear these troubles quietly. Our neighbor's auto, oh! Or else it stands, noon, ere or morn. Between the tlmea of balks. And, coaching style, upon its horn The happy owner squawks. "Squawk, squawk! Squawk, squawk!" (Hooray! Hooray!) "Come on! Squawk, squawk! Hello!" A devil it, by night, by day. Our neighbors' auto, oh! There's always something doing, sir. When that machine la out. It's likely stuck on the whir Or on the squawk and shout! And while you'd think ashamed I am Such petty spite to show. Sometimes we almost murmur, "Damn Our neighbor's auto, oal" STORY OF A SALEM SHADE TREES Mm. Watt Telia Why the Electric Com pany Cat It Down. SALEM, Or.. July 22. (To the Editor.) In Saturday morning's Oregonian ap pears an interview with Capt. Talbot, un der the caption of Difficulties Met by Electric Line." which attempts to Justify the actions of the Oregon Electric In damaging property along its right of way. While there is no doubt that some prop erty-owners are unreasonable in their de mands upon" railway companies seeking franchises through their property, yet this fact does not Justify the taking and damaging of property of those who are willing to make a reasonable settlement. Citizens should encourage every legiti mate business enterprise and corporation, and the cause for the antagonism and hostility of many of the property-owners rests largely, on the fact that corporations abuse the privileges given them. A large majority of the citizens of Salem feel that the so-called holdups of the Oregon Electric here have been brought on by the company refusing to comply with reasonable demands made either by the City Council or by property- owners. One of the complaints made by the company is that the city of Salem is holding It up in asking that the track be constructed in accordance with certain grades which have been established by competent engineers employed by tha city. In one case it was necessary for a property-owner to apply for an injunction so that a piece of track would not be constructed several feet above the grade. Aiiiuujs ine nnvciiu unpleasant anairs which Mr. Talbot enumerates is the cut ting aown 01 a snaae tree on tne corner of Mill and High streets. The company has a Y. as was stated, on the comer of outte ana nign streets ior tne purpose or turning Its cars. State street Is being paved and it was deemed advisable by the company to place its Y three blocks further south on High street at the inter section of Mill street, where the company owns a quarter block. On this property Is being constructed a small frame structure, said to be the Salem freight and passenger depot. Di rectly east across High street from the depot stood a twenty-flve-year-old maple tree, which shaded the residence of Mrs. Charles Watt. The tree stood within ten feet of the property line, where the city grants twenty feet for parking. By the use of a plan which did not show any curb lines or measurements other than angles to locate the Y, a franchise was obtained from the Council to construct the desired switch. From the curb line on Mjll street to the center of the base line of the Y which is built on Mill Is 23 feet, and from a fifteen-foot curb on High street, which would have taken in the tree to the center of the apex of the triangle or Y. Is 34 feet inches. The corresponding measurements on State and High streets, where the Y has been lo cated, are 30 feet and 29H feet, respec tively. Not even an Inside rail is used on this curve and the cars clear the curb. Upon several occasions the company's draughtsman. Mr. Galvani, assured property-owners that It would not be neces sary to molest the tree in order to build the Y. and other employes of the com pany are authority for the statement that the curve could have been made to clear the curbs. Salem Is noted for Its broad streets and beautiful parkings, and If there Is not room in the streets for the railway lines it is time that measures be taken to compel them to build their switch yards on their own property. In speaking of the possibility of clearing the tree. City Engineer Perrot, who has been in the railroad business for the pat fifteen years, said: "It seems to me to be absurd to state that an electric car. even with standard trucks, can not turn on a greater curve than 66 degrees. In my opinion an fin nr rk h... , j have missed the tree." The Salem City Council has given the Park Board control over the shade trees of the city, and there Is an ordinance to the effect that no shade tree shall be rut down without the consent of the Park Board; but, as the railway people repre sented that the curblngs and tree would not be harmed, no unpleasant episode was anticipated until actual work had been begun on the Y. It was then claimed by the company that not only was It neces sary to run through the twenty-foot park ing which Is allowed on High street, but also to cut down the monarch shade tree and run the track In such a manner that cars in making the turn will be within eight or nine feet of the property line Mayor Rodgers 'phoned Manager Talbot asking him to place the track within the street. Road Supervisor Prahl was told that the diagram presented to the Council contained no curb lines, and it was clear ly not the intention of the Council to damage any property Interests bv the franchise, and he must therefore get the permission of the Park Board before cutting down the treo Th. u - - -. hi .v uuam deemed it unjust to damage the frontage of the property without a settlement with the owners, and so told the railway man agement. In order to protect the property a special policeman was stationed near and after several attempts had been made to cut the tree Mr. Prahl was taken into police station the other workmen sawed Ifr mapIe- Sucn lR the tory of the Watt tree and neither Mr. Talbot nor any other sane citizen can find any unreasonableness In the demands of the city or the property-owners of Salem The right of way In the city Is a gift or privilege given to the corporation, but this concession does not give the company any legal or moral right to damage or annr?LPrOPerty.Wlthout lement. and the corporation which conducts its business without regard for others In terests will doubtless mould its own re-ward- MRS. ELLA WATT. Blackanake Colla Around Man'a Week. Philadelphia Despatch. A blacksnake dropped from a tree and coiled Itself around the neck of Kurvin Grove, of Midway, Pa., but was killed before any harm was done. PntTtllat With Blow Stops Horse. Phldadelphla Dispitch. Joe Butler, a negro pugilist, stopped a runaway horse In German town, pa by striking him a heavy blow with his flat Third Set of Triplets la One Family. Industry (Pa.) Despatch. The third set of triplets has arrived In the family of Nicholas Spangler of Industry, Pa. ' How to Make It Easy. Chicago Reco d-Herald. If you wake up feeling bad, Boold your wife; If the weather makes you sad. Scold your wife: If your collar ' button slides Jnto some dark nook and hides. As you move with angry strides. Scold your wife. If the coffee's cold or flat. f?co!d your wife; If your chop has too much fat, Scold your wife; If you chance to get your sleeva In the butter, do not heave Soft sighs or in silence grieve ficold your wife. If your hat has gone astray, Scold your wife; If you're late upon tha war, cold your wife: If the day brings any loss. If you fall to please the boss. Journey homeward feeling cross Scold your wife. Never mind what Ills she bears Scold your wife; Add your own to all her cares Scold your wife; That's the way to get along; She is weak and you are atrong; Every time a thing goes wrong, Scold your wits.