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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 1909)
TIIE MOTCXIXG OREGOXIAX. THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 1900. ItRTLAND. OBEGOX. Enured at Portland. Oregon. Poatofflca aa ffcond-l lui Mailer. Huberiiptlusi Kalra Invariably la Advance. (By Mall , I-ellr. Pu1ar ldudm. year. " Ia:lv. f-umiay ln.lu.1fl. raomn..... ; ;- , Sunday lorluilcO. tlirea monthi...! ; I'ailv !::, I'aii.V w.in.aut Minil.i. or year. ' without Sunday, a x momha..... J f ? nilhout Sumlay. three ni"ntns.. without Kunilav. one montn - I ally. Weekly, ona year 2';-) !jntiy. one r. til fc.iao.ay ana Nvk!y. one year - il;y Carrier) Inflv. Sunday IncluoV-d. '" year...... i ' I'aily. Sunday Included, oue montn Haw (a KnU Sand poatofflca Trn,'' rruVr" ex'pref. order or per. .,n.l ..ur lo.al bank, rUamp . coin or ir.- at t! sender's risk. Ulve t,'t,',.c dr.-ea In rull. lacludlns county and stale. roatac. Kaea10 to 14 paaea. 1 cent; ; 1 to s Diea " centa; J to t pnea. I centa. VoP;S pages! . centa. For.li.-n postage at ubl rates. Kaalero BaJae-a 01nV The S ec4: wi-.l, i-peclal Agency New 1 ork. m It Tribune bullumg. Cblcaeo. roomi ilu-HJ rr;buoa building. PORTLAND. Tlll'BSUAV. JAN. U. 1903. NOW IN ILLINOIS. In Illinois there Is a first-class po litical row. It comes out chli-ny :hro..gh tho primary law. By this law factional spirit has been cngtn rtere In the Republican party, to an extraordinary decree. Charles b. Deneen U Governor. He obtained four years ago 200.000 majority a majority almost equal to that tor Roosevelt. He wan not a pliant ex ecutive. He did his duty. The local bosses couldn't "run" him. So. at the end of four years, they conspired and combined to beat him. They tried It in the primary. Hut his opponents couldn't beat him In the primary. He got a plurality nomination. Then they tried to beat him In the election. They supported Stevenson, tho Democratic candidate, and cut down Deneen a plurality to 23.162 though the plur ality for Taft In the stnte was li 9,1-0. Mow they carry the tight to the Legis lature, and want to count Deneen out. The Republican malcontents, oppo nents of Deneen. elected many mem , bers of the Legislature; not a ma jority of the Republicans, but enough, when united with the Democratic members, to make a majority of all. The combination controls the House, but not the Senate. In tho House It has elected the Speaker by union of all the Democrats of the body with tho anti-Denoen Republicans. Thin com bination. Deneen believes. Intends to "revise" the election returns and to count him out. But the majority of the Senate refuses to enter Into the Joint convention, for canvass of the vote, till agreement shall have been made as to the method and scope p f the proceeding. The Deneen men say they do not object to the fullest In quiry Into the regularity and legality of the vote, but say the intention of their opponents Is to count Deneen out. by rejection of the entire vote of counties and wards, where Deneen had majorities on general allegation of fraud. Hence the Senate refuses to meet -with the House, till stipula tions shall be made, as to the course or scope of proceeding In the con test. Inauguration of the Governor therefore is "held up." and the.whole course of proceedings, including the election of United States Senator. And here Is a new complication. Edward D. ShurtlefT Is Speaker of the House. He Is professedly a Re publican, but a leader of tho faction opposed to Deneen. He was elected to the Speakership chiefly by the votes of the Democratic members. The combination Is urging him as Its can didate for the United States Senate, and It Is asserted will be able to com mand votes enough to elect Mm. It is close figuring, but the managers of the scheme give him 105 votes, while the number necessary to elect Is 103. Albert Hopkins, present Senator, Is a candidate for re-election. He, won his party nomination by a small plur ality, and obtained later a plurality In the general election. Yet now his po sition Is In. danger. Should the methods of the reform combination succeed, not only will Deneen be thrown out. but Hopkins will be re jected, and the prfTnary law, as an Instrument in the election of Senator, will be overthrown. So, in Illinois, It's a pretty quarrel as it stands. It may strike the observer that those reform methods In politics, with the boon of primary law and of pro portional representation that now pre vails in Illinois, and resultant honesty and purity and regard for the will of the people, are something worse than tho old system. The proceedings in Illinois throw much light on the gen eral Juggle and bunco game that has been in progress in Oregon for some years. The whole business Is merely a. travesty of government by the will of the peoplo. In one way, and In an other, through hocus-pocus, indirec tion, subterfuge, crookedness of inti nlte variety. It will defeat the will and intent of the people every tlrao. Who believes for one moment that Oregon at this'tlme desires Is fact to send a Democrat to the Senate? Not even the Jugglers or the pawns they move on the chess-board, for one moment believe it or Imagine it. As a method of defeating the iwlll of the people this is the finest thing yet Invented. Nor, since this Is Its inherent nature, can It ever be anythlns: else. THE COAL MINE TB.4CEDT. Another ghastly mining tragedy In the coal mines of West Virginia has snuffed out scores of lives and left sorrow and privation In hundreds of homes- This disaster, following so closely on one which two weeks earlier destroyed the lives of half a hundred men. happened in a mine which the Government inspectors had pronounced safe, and accordingly some responsibility for the disaster must rest "on these men. The pity of all these tragedies lies m the fact that they are nearly all prevent able. Coal mining has been en gaged In for centuries, and Inspectors, superintendents and even miners themselves are familiar with tho dan grs of the calling. Yet there is no appreciable decrease in the number of lives lost or in the number of these tragedies, .which occur so frequently that they have almost lost their power to thrill and horrify those not directly related to the unfortunate victims. From the frequency of these min ing horrors it is quite clear that the safety of coal miners in this country Is not sufficiently safeguarded. This fact is clearly demonstrated by the records of the Industry In this coun try as compared with those in Great Britain. In the latter country the number of accidents is only 1.29 per thousand workmen employed, while In the United States the latest official reports give the nubmer at 3.1 8 fatal i,i,.ni nfr thousand men employed. This Is considerably more than double tho number killed per thousand In Great Britain, and the difference can be explained In no other way than through carelessness and lack of suffi cient safeguards. It Is idle to presume that American coal miners are less cautious or more Inefficient than the foreigners engaged In the same line of work, and wo must accordingly admit that there 1 a laxity in management and law enforcement governing mine operation that is less in evidence in foreign mines. Numerous laws have been passed by the states where coal mining Is a prominent industry. md Congress has also provided regulations which. If oheved, would reduce the death roll. Unfortunately most of these laws have dwelt stronger on the liability of the mtneowner after the death of the miner than on rigid enforcement of rules which might prevent the disas ter. As it is infinitely better that, a man be protected against disaster than that his heirs be paid for his death after a disaster occurs, it would seem that "the best method for preventing these frequent tragedies is to enforce rigidly laws compelling mineowners to provide every possible safeguard and also compelling a greater degree of care and responsi bility among the mineworkers them selves. THE 1-EOFLE FOOT TIIE BILL. Mayor Lane says he Is poor, hasn't a dollar, and boasts of It; though one can't see that for a man of his Me lons opportunities, in a new country. It Is anything to brag of. The sim ple fact is that he is a man of no proven business Judgment or capacity; yet these are qualities that ought to be recognizable in a Mayor of Port land. , . But unfortunately for the city and for himself, and perhaps more un fortunately for each than for the other. Mayor Lane is wanting in proven Judgment and capacity for business. Some think such capacity a small matter; even a low and sordid thing. What's the use of business ca pacity In a man whose heart beats warmly for his fellow-man? It la absolutely certain that Mayor Lane will fail in his effort to w"ithj hold compensation from the Portland General Electric Company for light furnished on their contract. It is another case similar to that of his dismissal of men from the police force, without authority, whom the city will be obliged to pay.' Election ot men like Mayor Lane Is among the mis-steps of democracy. But tho story is among the oldest in history or literature. "Quldquid dell rant reges plectuntur Achlvi." The people foot the bill. t POSTAL SAVIN'OS BANKS AGAIN. In the light df the fact that Canada has had postal savings banks for 39 years it is particularly interesting to note that her currency system is upon the whole better than ours, while her banks are somewhat more stable and Just as prosperous. The selfish plea that postal savings banks would injure' the private banks has not the slightest basis In the experience of Canada or any other country where they have been tried. It Is an idle figment devised by the fevered brains of men who thnk of their own affairs solely and fall to see them in relation to those of other people. The taw of causation is not suspended when we enter the United States. Human na ture Is the same here as elsewhere and legislation will 'produce the same consequences, substantially. In this country as in Canada, Germans or England. Postal savings banks have not Injured private banks in those nations and they will not do it here. Certainly the restricted system which the Postmaster-General advocates can work no harm while In all probability. It will do a great deal of good. Mr. Meyer has thrown some new light upon his plans in an article for the January number of the Chicago Women's World, where lie not only mentions that Canada has had postal banks for thirty-nine years without harming anybody, but also shows that American citizens have begun to make deposits in them. One family- In the State of Washington, to quote an in-.rin- h 111.000 on deDOSlt In the Canadian Postal Bank. Our bankers may possibly prevent Congress from adopting Mr. Meyer's plan, but It is difficult to see how they can hinder people along the border from Puget Sound to the Bay of Fundy from tak ing their money across and putting it where they think it will be safe. Everybody knows that "our Italian Immigrants send home many thou sands of dollars every year to deposit in the government's banks, and it might Just as well be kept here If we would give them a similar opportu nity. Foreigners are constantly bring ing money to the postofflces for de posit, as Mr. Meyer remarks, but of course they must be turned away. Hence they do what seems to them the next best thinr and Bend it out of the country. Would it not be better for the bankers and everybody else If it could be retained, even if the reten tion could only be effected through Government savings banks? Foreigners are not the only persons who wish the Government to take charge ofhelr savings. Many of our own citizens desire the same thing. They desire it so strongly, indeed, that they are willing to pay roundly for the privilege by purchasing money orders. During the last year $8,104,447 was thus Intrusted to the Government for safekeeping and the depositors paid feVs amounting to $25,000. From this one may infer that Government savings banks would be popular and would receive large deposits, even if they paid no interest at all. But would they not attract deposits which ought of right to go into private banks? Mr. .Meyer answers this ques tion candidly and completely. He shows that In all but the New Eng land States there are few private banks available for savings. They aro so remote from the majority of the people that they might as well not exist at all except for a fortunate few. In New England there is a savings bar.k within fifteen miles of every postofllce. upon tho average, but In the Middle States the distance In creases to twenty-five miles, while upon the Pacific Coast It Is fifty-five miles. The policy of every enlight ened government is to encourage thrift by providing easy access to sav ings Institutions. Can access be called easy when the nearest bank is fifty five miles away? 'What Mr. Meyer wants is to make every money-order postofflce a savings bank where small sums of money can be deposited in complete security and draw a small rate of Interest. The rate. 2 per cent, is so minute that there could be no competition with private enterprise.' The money would be forthwith re deposited in local banks and thus put Into circulation, while the expense to Id hft urar-eelv L 1 1 (J "l " ' 1 li... v ..k appreciable. Mr. Meyer says the reg ular postal employes in Canada do all the savings business without difficulty, except In the central establishment at Toronto, though they annually handle $50,000,000. Government savings banZiS would certainly teach habits of thrift In parts of the United States where im providence and 'waste are now the rule among the people. The practice of laying up small sums of money does not usually come by Nature. It must be Inculcated by precept and fostered by opportunity. Where op portunity does not exist, the habit of thrift is seldom acquired. It there fore speaks well for the native good sense of our people rfhat they hold- In hoarding today some $500,000,000 which they are unwilling or unable to Intrust to private banks. The good sense is shown, of course, in saving such an enormous sum under difficul ties and without encouragement. Gov ernment savings-banks would imme diately call it out of hiding and put it into circulation. Many a man who would never deposit his earnings In a private bank would be only too glad to leave them at the postofflce. It may be a misfortune that the people love and trust their Government as they do, but the fact Is Indisputable. - THIN ARGUMENT. Governor Chamberlain filled four pages of his message to the Legisla ture with an argument in support of the assertion that It Is within the power of the Legislature to increase the number of Supreme Court Judges from three to five, notwithstanding the constitution plainly says there shall be three Supreme Judges. The argument thus presented utter ly fails to sustain the proposition as set forth by the Governor. When fine-spun arguments are necessary to establish a construction , entirely at variance with tho generally-accepted meaning of tho constitution, it is well enough for the Legislature to take the languago as it reads. Lawyers can always flnJ reasons to support any kind of interpretation of statutes or constitution, but the ordinary meaning of plain English Is good enough-for people in general. The constitution says there shall be three Supreme Judges. It does not say there shall be no more. Neither does it say there shall be no more than one Governor. There Is as much room to argue that the Legislature may provide for the election of two Governors as there is that it may provide for the election of more than three Supreme Judges. By amend ing the constitution the number of Judges may bo Increased and it can be done legally In no other way. DESTROYING TRUSTS. Representative Purdln's anti-trust bill is a shining example of misdirect ed effort.- Were It to become law it might possibly be found effective against labor unions, like the Sherman act. Against every other form of trust it" would. prove futile. Were every trust in the country dissolved today, tomorrow they would all be flourish ing again under the title of holding companies ot something equally aim pie and effective. The trust is too elusive for Jthe- law to seize and de stroy, but Its property la not always elusive, anfl through its property it can be reflated. The time will come, perhaps In Xhe far future, when our legislator! will give up the hopeless task of trying to destroy the trusts and begin the enUrely practicable enterprise of defining, classifying- and controlling them. The trust is a natural consequence of applying common sense to eco nomic problems. It represents a dis tinct advance over old, wasteful methods. Instead of seeking to slay It the law ought to try to discover some method of distributing its un Viiipotlnnahlo benefits among consum- J ers. At present producers retain them ail. V IUCII lO, Ul tuutos, l. j ... i . outcry against trusts Is precisely sim ilar in Its nature to the old opposition to machinery. It is the complaint of the past against progress. As soon as people learned how to use machinery properly they found that its benefits were intensely real and its evils imag inary. The same thing will be said of trusts within a few years. If Mr. Purdin would apply his mind' to the problem of making trusts suDserve the public good he would be much better occupied than he is in trying to destroy them. The first problem he can solve, if he is bright enough. The second nobody can solve. CACSE OF TIIE COLD SNAP. Some philisopher once made the re mark that the most alluring feature of science is the fact that it yields up such wholesale returns of conjecture for such a small Investment of fact. Perhaps it was some such inducement as this that caused Professor Everette, of Tacoma, to Indulge In his remark able 'explanation of the cause of the present cold spell. According to the Tacoma scientist, the present attempt of the weather to establish new rec ords for severity is due to the fact that the Japan current has been mis placed not exactly lost, strayed or stolen, but temporarily put out of Joint. Professor Everette seems so certain that he has hit on the proper solution of the weather problem that he accompanies his statement with details. i - It will be useless for any navigator to go cruising around in search of the Japan current anywhere within a thousand miles of the former haunts In which it has swept since Noah learned to box the compass, for Pro fessor Everette says that it has been shifted 1500 miles out to Bea. We are also informed that tho cold weather will continue until the Japan current rights itself. Unfortunately for the peace of mind of those who are un decided whether to thaw out the pipes by burning the house down or try the more expensive method of hiring a plumber, the Tacoma dispatch con veying this remarkable scientific dis covery leaves us In the dark, or rather "at sea," regarding the steps that have been taken to coax the wander ing Japan current back into its accus tomed haunts. A member of the Jules Verne school of scientists once wrote a very plausible story about a clique of Wall-street speculators damming up the "intake",1 of the Gulf Stream (an Atlantic Ocean relative of the Japan current) with a lot of icebergs, which were tawed into position and kept there until they chilled the stream to sucfi an extent that it sent a frost throughout the banana and pineapple bult, thus making fortunes for the speculators who were "long" on the tropkal fruit market. It is, of course, barely possible that some thing of this nature has happened to the Japan current. John W.- Gates has not been heard from for a lpng time, and his well-known proclivities foL-ina- u "ion it shot" on any prop osition which would look wild, woolly and unreasonable to the average gam bler would make him an Ideal "sci entist" for some such move as this. The method, by which he may have accomplished this 1500-mile shift, of the Japan current is not yet known. It will be remembered, however, that a few years ago, when Mr. Morgan, of New York, tried to wrest control of Louisvllla & Nashville stock from Mr. Gates, the latter solemnly assorted that there would be good skating in Hades before Morgan got the road. As Mr. Morgan now controls L. & N., Mr. Gates may have secured supplies of ice for damming purposes from a new and unexpected quarter, and his vnt this very moment be working through the ' plumbing trust and the blanket manufacturers on one side of the ocean, iwhlle they are supplying an unprecedented de mand for palm leaf fans and cold drinks In some other quarter of the world to which the Japan current has been shifted. Regardless of details, however, we should express thanks to the Tacoma scientist who discovered why the weather Is cold. Employment of clerks at the Legis lature Is not necessarily a graft. It is all a question of whether tho clerks earn their salaries. If they do not earn their salaries their employment is worse than a. mere graft; for it starts them in the effort to get some thing for nothing, and the first suc cessful experience liko the first win ning at, a gambling game," is likely to prove their undoing. Many young men and Women have been kept in paths of useful endeavor by what they considered the misfortune of not se curing legislative clerkships. The Legislature should employ all the clerks it needs and pay them what their services are worth. Such em ployment Is economy. To employ clerks not needed or to pay them ex cessively is not only an injustice to the taxpayers, but is an injury to the recipients of unearned money. The solution- of the good-roads problem Involves a great deal more than is generally taken into account. Our educators, for example, are full of suggestions which include the con solidation of school districts so that grade, schools and high schools may be established in rural communities. The first consideration in connection with carrying out this idea is that which involves roads to make these schools accessible to the children of the wider area. In the present condi tion of out- public highways It is neces sary that the distance between homes and schools be diminished rather than increased. The bill for the levying of special taxes for the digging of experimental artesian wells has much to commend it. Many a community would like to try a well as a source of water sup ply, but this is found impossible be cause a few would be compelled to bear the expense while the many would receive the benefit if the project should be successful. A tax lefy makes all bear a Just portion of the burden. Tlie distinction of trying a $29,000, 000 case falls to the lot of but few Jurists, and the case that made Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landls famous will be retrfed before Jude Albert Anderson, of Indianapolis. From gen eral appearances and the evidence in troduced at the first trial, a number of other Judges will have a chance at it before Mr. Rockefeller finally pays aver tho money. The California Railroad .Commis sion has fined the Santa Fe Railroad for carrying oil at a rate lower than that ordered by the Commission. The Washington Railroad Commission has for the past two years been endeavor ing to force the O. R. & N. Co. to carry freight at a rate as low as that named by the Commission under the Joint-rate order. All Oregonians quit all business and abandon all effort, because there is a little snow and cold; but men from Chicago go right on with erection of the Meier & Frank building, at eight and ten stories height, placing and riveting the steel beams, covered with ice and snow. From this incident you may see why Chicago is Chicago. Thus far it's exactly like '62; but it may not last so long. That year it ran till March 10. Snow and low tem perature, then- higher temperature, then more snow, and lower tempera ture again. The seesaw lasted seventy days. Thus far It's the same. But this year it may not last so long. Nowhere on Monday did the Demo cratic electors vote for Taft; nowhere did the R-ypubllcan electors vote for Bryan. Nowhere, except in Oregon, is the Legislature controlled by one party electing to the Senate the can didate of the other party. .There is but one "fool of the family." Some of the members of the Legis lature have made an effort to check the clerkship abuse. It is to be hoped that their course in regard to many other questions that will arise will not put them in the position of having strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel. A permanent resident of good char acter and known responsibility might carry a revolver with good intentions. At least there is a reasonable presump tion in his favor. But the transient vagrant with no property to protect can have no excuse for carrying a weapon. "When it takes thirteen ballots to elect a messenger to carry the vote of the Oregon electors to Washington, there need be no surprise if it takes a few more votes to fill as important an office as that of United States Senator. Senator Jay Bowerman proved to be not so much of a Jay after all. Perhaps his name deceived some of his rivals as to his organizing ability. Those niembers of the Legislature who oppose the clerkship graft will find themselves very -unpopular with the gallery. Pipe dreams are very appropriate these cold nights. Thoughts of plumb ers are too real to be classed as dreams. Possibly an earthquake of reason able size and dimensions would do some good around these parts. Some qf the money held out for January' bargaining may be devoted to plumbers' bills and coal. Cold weather Isn't so bad when you get used to It. LACKING 11 PERSONAL ELEMENT. This Perhaps Explains the "Failure" of Mr. Carneste'a Philanthropy. H. R. Smith in Human Life. It -Is the lack of personal element or f eellnjr that .constitutes the "failure" of Mr. Carnegie's philanthropy. A man may give and give, but unless he gives himself, his . individual sympathy and love as welj as his money, the deed lacks flavor. Mr. Carnegie not only fails to give himself, but he Imposes restrictions and conditions with most of his bequests that seem haggling or to smack of the bargain counter. Ho does not trust those he proposes to aid to live up to their sense of responsibili ty, so he makes trades or agreements before loosening his purse strings. Such a course may be aggressively sen sible, but It has also its "small" side. This manifestation of cautiousness or distrust Is unmistakably Scottish. Na tive born Americans give outright, of ten too carelessly no doubt, but however keen they may be about commerce they seldom contract for interest on their benevolence. The flaw In the great , steel-maker's philanthropy, however, lies In the mo tive animating the man, rather than in his methods. We may regret that his princely revenues do not go to feed and clothe the poor or relieve their physical suffering, but the Highland conception of Christian charity differs honestly, if emphatically, from that of its founder. To Carnegie, mankind's progress Is desirable primarily for business purposes--so to spean. jna has but to read his gospel of wealth to realize how It differs from the gos pel of brotherhood. He has the courage of his convictions, too, and argues pret ty stoutly that Christ and his followers who conceive that the elusive Instinct or Inspiration to relieve all suffering, deserved or undeserved, from motives of loving kindness plead unwisely, and that he Is right. To him, as to Tenny son's hard-headed, empty-hearted old farmer, "the poor In a loomp are bad," and he has neither the Imagination nor compassion to help him realize that the social and economic conditions that gave him privileges have made 'them so. . One shrinks a little from his lack of sympathy with the Incompetent and unfortunate, but a purely practical na ture must experience whatever phase of life It would understand otherwise, it would seem curious that so clever and sensible a man can believe that the best prescription modern civi lization can find to offer man's physical pain and soul hunger is intellectual training. COLLEGE MEJT OJT THE STAGE. Many Graduates of Reeent Yenrs Are to Be Found Among the Players. Washington Post. Few people realize that the number of college men who adopt the stage as their life work Irfcreases each year. Yale, In fact, sends one or more of her graduates Into tho ranks of the profes sion every year. The president of the Yale Dramatic Association in 1907, Mr. Charles Hopkins, is .how with the John Drew Company. The morning after his performance of the Bishop In "The Pretenders," which the Yale Dramatic Association gave In New York In 1906, ,nearly every critic in New York spoke. It may be recalled, of his finished acting in unqualified terms of praise. Jefferson Crane, ex-1909, is also a member of Mr. Drew's company. Franklin Johnston, manager of the as sociation in 1903, has been manager of the Ben Greet Company since being graduated. Wlllard D. Howe, president of the association In 1901, has been on the stage ever since his graduation, and had a prominent part lnst year in "Brewster's Millions." Charles T. Ter ry, who was prominent In the associa tion a few years ago, is now Mrs. Flske's assistant stage manager. Grant Mitchell, of the class of '95, has been a member of Miss Maxlne Elliott's com pany this .season, and Frederick Trues dell of the same class Is leading man for Miss Mary Mannerlng. After the performance of "Revlsor" last year, Daniel Frohman offered Thomas Achelis, the president of tho association, the part of Fernand in "The Thief." Mr. Frohman declared young Mr. Achelis' work the best he had ever seen on the amateur stage. ' Finest Exhibition of Sea Power. Hartford Courant. If the .earthquake had not occurred the passage of our battleships through the Mediterranean Sea would have been more or less of a parade, with naval experts on every side attentively study ing our ships and our seamanship. It would have been the crowning Impres sion produced by our fleet during Its long and memorable journey. But events have changed all that Nobody in that historic sea Is now. thinking of naval power or warlike capacity. The larger interests of a common hu manity now fill the horizon, and the best ship is the one that carries the most and goes the fastest in the work of relief. It Is an unforeseen and cur ious change for ships that were built to carry 12-lnch guns and for crews that have been trained to shoot fast and straight; but It is glorious work all the same. Both our ships and our seamanship will prove their quality as well in this, race to help those who are in distress as they would if they were operating as a compact force with every gun ready for action. Many, in deed, will regard this haste to reach the sufferers In Sicily and Calabria as the finest exhibition of American sea power made during the entire bat tleship cruise. Foe's Early Death Xot a Calamity. George L. Knapp in January Lippin cott's. A irreat, a wonderful, a morbid gen ius; that, as the last as at the first, is one's judgment of Poe. We may mourn for his wasted life, but not for his early death. The best of him was done already. The flawless taste had failed- the unrivalled craftsmanship was lost; the jingle of "For Annie" had fol lowed the melody of "The Haunted Palace." "The House Usher " had given place to the transcendental folly of "Eureka." Whisky and opium had done ' their perfect work. J he evil things In robes of sorrow had finished ihe ruin of the monarch's high estate; It was but the husk of greatness that was borne to the hospital on that night m the lonesome October of 60 years agone. The symphony was over; It was time for the leader to go. It was best. It was kindest that the mumming should cease with the music, that the score of the haunting harmonies be Intrusted to the worlds safe keeping; and the rest be left to (trow - a dim remembered "tory Of the old time, entombed. The Explanation. Illustrated Bits. Dr McNamara tells of a schoolteach er who was endeavoring to convey the Idea of pity to the members of his class. He Illustrated it. . Now supposing.'; he said, a man working on the river bank sudden y fell in. He could not swim and would be in danger of drowning. Picture the scene, boys and girls. The man's sud den fall, the cry for help. His wife, knowing his peril and hearing his screlms! rushes- Immediately to the banbt f Why does she rush to the baAfter a pause 'a small voice piped '""Please, sir, to draw his Insurance money." i Short-Sighted Man. Hotr often In thla world of care. Of aorrow and of Bin. Short-sighted man goea and buys his ekates Jtut before the thaw aets in. Charlea A. Payton. GREAT COXSTRUCTITE REFORMER. What tail Shlh-Kal Hu Done for the Chlneae Empire. PORTLAND, Jan. 12. (To the Edi tor.) If It Is in order for an American to lecture Chinese in respect to their own country, I would like to urge upon President Leo Mee Ginn, of the Port land branch of the Chinese Empire Re form Association, more temperate lan guage. Mr. Lee tills morning styled Yuan Shlh-kal a traitor to his country. Furthermore, Yuan is charged with never being a .reformer, in tho true sense of the word. i Mr. Lee must admit that the univer sal foreign sentiment, at least, is against his harsh conclusions. Foreign officials at Pekln, foreign merchants who have spent their lives In China, foreign students who have the deepest and friendliest feelings for China and are devoting much time to advancing the reform movement of that country, hall Yuan Shih-kai as one of theTgreat est, positive, constructive reformers of the age. . It will also be found that Yuan's following in China, among the real reform element of the Chinese, Is very great, so far as foreign ob servations can go to prove.-" Yuan was the chief agent of the Empress Dowager in the coup d'etat that deposed the young Emperor, Kwangsu, in 1898. When his part was ; loarnea, wnen several oi uw JCi."i ; leaders were beheaded and others fled, ! and the Empress Dowager Tz'ehsi was won the hatred of most of the Chinese reform element, and so far as their light permitted them to Judge then, perhaps rightfully. But ensuing time has unfolded another chapter in Chi nese history of inestimably greater Importance than the coup d'etat From tho date of the death of Li Hung Chancr. following the Boxer troubles, until the death of the Empress Dowager a few days past. Yuan Shih kai was the strong man of China, the real potent adviser to the throne. It Is during this period that China has been committed to the greatest reform programme known to the history of the country. Voluntarily, and it is said at the behest of Yuan Shih-kai, the Empress Dowager committed the Tatsing dynasty to the granting of a constitution to China, creation of an imperial parliamentary body, e.stahllRh mont n q. nrnvinclni and municipal legislative bodies, adoption of the Western standard of education, retorm a . i. n ..... c t r i (-1 ! v moriprn lines. organizing a modern naval department. abolition or ainerencea wvittu chus and Chinese in "all political as pects except In succession to the throne, elevating by Imperial decree the mer chant and industrial magnate to the level of the scholar in regard to offices, r)iine-. serious. Clt. -11' " " 1 - - - - progressive reform movement has ever i - oatii-;ito'ri in any country In the Bame length of time, without a bloody revolution. t i.. niiisr llirht she is made immortal, the political reforms ordered by Tz ehsl will emoiazon nci . : ,i mTlri hlntnrv while deed3 of men are chronicled, provided the Chinese people will but take up the work outlined and see that It Is exe cuted. Yuan Shih-kai has been the recognized leader in the reform work during this period, and had the ear of the throne as no other minister of modern times. It seems but fair and reasonable to say that he has been largely instrumental in the work, even the guiding mind, assisted as he has been by such able lieutenants as Tong Shao-yl and Liang Tun-yen. It Is well also for the Chinese of the world to study Yuan's work in Chili province, before adjudging him a trait or and opposed to reform. If his am bitions had been personal, he had won derful opportunity during the latter days of his viceregal reign in. Chili. Here he was held the most puissant of all the viceroys, and was also the idolized commander-in-chief of about 80 000 foreign-drilled troops, the most effective and practically the only mod ern force possessed by China. The Pel Yang Army was in those days practically China's only effective mil -tary strength. Yuan's command of It was complete, as he paid his men reg ularly and well, clothed and fed bet ter than ever beforehand established the highest standard of Chinese mili tary service. Yuan, as viceroy of Chili, organized the first municipal and pro vincial assemblies ever organized In China, and gave the type of work adopted by the throne for the general provincial reforms. He built factories, opened broad streets, employed scien tific health officers, organized provin cial revenues so as to reduce collec tion costs, and did many other things of wonderfully inspiring example to the Chinese nation. Because of this work in the last few years, Yuan Ehih-kai Is fully entitled to be regarded a true friend of his coun try and a deep, constructive retoriner. He is so accepted by the world at large. It is advanced by these friends that he believed, when assisting In the coup d'etat of 1898. that the youn inexperienced Kwangsu was entirely too radical in his programme, and that China's reform should be along deeper, ouieter lines, as It has been since Yuan was the chief adviser to the throne. Ill Chinese should be Inclined to lean to this view, in the light of the great work recited. Yuan's dismissal by the new regent is taken by the world as a reactionary move, or as being upon r-ounds of personal difference. Let all Cnues " hope It is- the latter, although ,ha should not be sufficient for osing the services of a great reformer In the h0MayflTrgenupdon the Portland Re forlrt Association and all other Amer ica Chinese, more temperate expres sons regarding their great men. This ll a crufial time in Chinese history It s now that all who love that country L'hould oury personal enBe..t tinnal conflicts and prejudices. China STledrrerunlty B uher osur z of the 1908 reform party should be rLdv to Join hands with any real re rorm worker" forgetting past discords and striving to one end. -If Yuan Shlh kaf Tang Shao-yl and Liang Tun-yen s Ufe work is- studied carefully, it will be found that these men are great, en lightened patriots, who are giving all they can command to true reform and thtr should especially be admired by theychlneSe residing in America. er Very Elatic EnBllh Word. New York Press. A Frenchman asked a New Yorker. "What is ze meaning of z Ameilcaine word 'press?' I have looked In ze dlc tlonaire and find ze press newspapers, ze press ze printing machine, ze press ze grind crowd, ze. press for ze cider ze nreis for ze 'cotton, ze press for ze girl to Imbrace ze press for ze "hat, ze press ior Te "otnes. oh. so many kinds of Ja press I am weary." "Well, monsieur, the press you mean probably means to exert pressure; that is. "Portune t o p er suade to squeeze, to- Ah, zat is ze word- Merii. What grand language when one leetle word Have, so many Translations!" Being a gentleman of no lltUe French importance, our visitor ap peared one night at a swell reception and was vociferous in his applause of a cer tam singer. Rushing to the host he cried -Saire, do me ze grand favor! Pray squeeze ze lady to sing one more song! Spreading Western Civilization. Washington -Star. If Theodore Roosevelt desires to make His visit to Africa a truly his toric event he can do so by Introducing opossum raising and sweet potato cul ture to the natives. I LIFE'S SUNNY SIDE "Gee," sighed the little boy who had overeaten, clasping his hands on his waistband, "I guess I know now what our Sunday-school teacher means when she says: 'Kcniember thy equator In the days of thy youth." Kansas City Times. - , An enterprising commercial traveler attempted to bribe a country merchant in Scotla-nd with a box of cigars. "Na, na," said the merchant shaking nis head gravely, "I canna tak' 'em. I naer dae business tha' way." "Nonsense," said the drummer; "but you may pay me a shilling for the" DOX. WOO!, Weill, btiiu nira nuiito. ...,.,. keeper, "I'll tak' twa boxes." Now Or leans i"icayune. a a a You scan your list of good resolves With kindling eye and then Take out an old and unused set And dust them off again. Chicago Tribune, a a a "The lios that touch wine." she Quot ed, "shall never touch mine." without eanecial enthusiasm he ad mitted this to bo the proper stand. Friends thereafter wondered to see him drinking champagne through a straw. Philadelphia Ledger. a a a "Any retail places around here?" asked the salesman In the strange town. "There'B the woman's club over there tn the Town Hall," drawled the old postmaster. "Great Scott! And what do they re tail?" "Gossip, young man, gossip." Boston Post. a a Policeman I found them In the cel lar half starved father, mother and nine children and thought they'd be better off on the island. Judge Had they nothing at all? Officer Not a blessed thing, your honor, except a photograph of Roo'se velt with his autograph and "congratu lations" written across It. Now York Times. a a a Aunt Mary I hope. Emily, that you and Charles will never become cold and distant. Emily We may get cold. Aunty; but I am Bure there is no danger of our be coming distant. We Intend to live always in a flat. Puck. a a a A Scotchman stood beside the bed of his dying wife, and in tearful accents asked was there anything he could do for her. "Yes, Sandie," she sold. "I am hoping you'll bury me In Craeburn Kirkyard." "But, my lass;" he cried, "only think of the awful expense! Would ye no ba comfortable here in Aberdeen?" "Na, Sandie; I'd no rest In my grave unless I were burled in Craeburn." "It's too much you're askiii'," said tha loving husband, "and I cannot promise you ony such thing." "Then, Sandie. I'll no give you ony peace until my bones are at rest In my native parish." "Ah, weel, Maggie.' said ho, 'Til Just gle ye three months' trial In Aberdeen an' see how ye get along." Philadelphia Ledger. a a a "Brother Philander," said Bert Walker tho other day to tho boss deacon, "I have something serious I want to ssy to you. I know that you keep a bottle of liquor in your cellar. Suppose our minister and the rest of the deacons should find it out? What would you do?" "Weil." replied Philander slowly and thoughtfully, "the first thine I should do would be to find a new hiding place for the bottle." Kansas City Journnl. A correspondent sends an amusing story of a visit which the archbishop of Canterbury recently paid to a .-ertaln Sunday School. For a few minutes Dr. Davidson took In hand a class of smull girls who were going over the story of Solomon. "Now," ha asked, "who was the great queen who. traveled so muny miles and miles to see the king?" No one answered. "Why. you all know. Thn queen who cams to see the. king.' Sill! no one seemed to remember. "You do know I am sure." persisted Dr. Davidson. "Tho name begins with S; and she was a very great queen." Just then a lltilo hAnd shot up. and a shrill voice riled. "Please, I know, the Queen of Spades.' M. A. P. Dry Wheat Short for nird. SALEM, Or., Jan. 12. (To the Edi tor.) we heartily commend your ef forts to Induce the public to take care of the birds during this cold weather. During the last week we liavo been feeding the birds a variety of feed, and find that whole wheat is too largo for the smaller birds. Cracked wheat is better, but dry wheat shorts seems to be better relished than any other fcid we have given them. Where ail the birds come from is a mystery, as when we first besan to feed them there were but a dozen or two. Now we have perhaps 200 or ?.(". There must be some secret code or way of communication between them, hs more and more of them koep coining daily. The pleasure derived from watching them more than repays one for tlio small trouble of scattering nut a Utile food. - C. F. LANSING. What a Teacher Meea. Rochester Settlement Bulletin. Have you ever seen that almost in definable look of Joy In the faco ot a boy or girl who watched you as you examined a finished article that had been made with his or her hands? It may have been a basket, a chair that had been caned, book rack, a maga zine holder, a woven rug or pillow. The meaning of such an accomplish ment, which had proved in the young mind a new-found ability, ia something so worth while that every possible means for such development should be used. A question asked by Judge Lindsay of Denver is Just to the point. "If a certain kind of education such as work with the hands in an Industrial school helps to prevent a recurrence of an act called criminal, why not sup ply that kind of an education In tha first place?" This shows one view of this many sided subject which is being felt and considered throughout this country and others. A few squibs. "I wish. I were an ostrich," said flicks snrrlly a he tried to eat one of hla wire s biscuits but couldn't. "I wieh you were." returned Mm. Hicks. "I'd get a few feathera tor my hat." Boston Transcript. 'That picture la by an old master," the owner mated proudly. "lymph. umph." commented the critical visitor "Whin wai na master of ?" Philadelphia Pub,.c Ledger. "I shall insist on making eorne speeches on the tariff," said Senator .Sorghum. "Then you are deeply interested?" "No. but i would rather talk than lleten." Washiicton Star. Wife I can't understand. John, why you always sit on the piano-stool when we hae company. Everybody knows you can't piay a note. Husband I'm well aware of It, dar. Neither can any one else when I'm slums there. Judge. "You really ought to take up the study of reincarnation." said the young woman of great mentality. "Not I." answered Mr. Dustln Stax. "These investigations are giv ing me all the trouble concerning my pjwt that I can handle at present." Washington Star. "3o you are not going to makn any Now Year resolutions?" "No," answered Mr. Meekton. "1 fully meant to make a few. But when I announced my Intention tlia members of my family had so many sugges tions to offer that I rew discouraged. W'ashuiiton Star.