THE MORNING OREGONIAN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 37, 1911.
3
PORTXASD. OKICOX.
Entered at Portland. Oreroo, Poatornoa as
f tcad-Oass Matter. . . .
ubacruon Raiea Invariably la '
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Vml.T. without Sundar. ona rear....... J.uo
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.T
Bow to Mamlt Bond Poatofflca nJT
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are at the sender. r:ic Gla V"1'"'''
addreee la full. Inclodins county and
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to :S petes. I conta; 10 to 40 pafea. i c i
0 to (0 pagea, a cents. Foreiga soatase
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Eaetern Uoalaeea Orllcoa Verrao
Un New Tork. Brunswick bulldlaa. cai
caaa. Stager aulMina.
PORTLAND. FRIDAY. JANCARY X7. H-
WHITHER AR WE GOfNGt
,. Senator Culberson, being safely re
elected, had a few words to say to the
.assembled Texas Legislature. Wednes
day in Tenement criticism of the "New
Nationalism.' "The proposition which
this dogma Involves to merge the
executive, legislative and Judicial
functions." he declared, "as well as
the whole reserved powers of the peo
ple Into a supreme executive who
should be steward of the general wel
fare unrestrained by positive law has
been the argument and dream or
every tyrant since the world began."
Divesting this striking utterance of
Its characteristic Texan rhetoric the
kernel of a real truth remains. The
"new natlonali.em" In the hands of an
' aggressive executive would assume all
the powers of government, substitut
ing authority for law and taking the
short cut always toward any desired
goal. Possibly it may be desirable to
' centralise government in a strong
head, and to ignore the checks and
balxnce which the constitution care-
, fully provides, so as to preserve the
eoillibrlum between the executive,
legislative and Judicial branches,
."resident Roosevelt dominated Con-
gress. most people think for the good
of Congress and the welfare of the
country, and he would likewise. If he
could, have Influenced the courts.
That Is his new nationalism In spirit
and essence. It Is not the purpose
her to say that It is good or bad;
merely to inquire how nearly In ac
cord with the general drift of Insur
gency and political unrest the new
nationalism really finds Itself.
If the new natloitnllsm Is to be the
theory and policy of our Government,
why the movement and purpose to
take back all power to the people
through the Initiative and the direct
primary? Why a committee on rules
to run Congress, and not a Speaker?
Why a party plebiscite over a Senator
ship, and not a caucus? Why com
mUslons. boards. Inspectors, people's
alettes, and the innumerable new
devices created and proposed to check
up and correct our legislatures, our
courts and our executives? Why a
lrgislature under, the constant menace
of a popular veto through the Initia
tive and referendum? Why a Judi
ciary under the perpetual threat of
reorganlxatlon at the hands of the
populace? Why every public officer
In every branch and department of
the public service made to hear and
dread the possible olee of the recall?
Why division and limitation of au
thority and restriction of opportunity
everywhere? These are the things
that the new popular movement
means. It Is decentralization.
Tet the new nationalism of Roose
velt teaches absolute centralization.
It makes the executive supreme. It
Ignores red tap, defiea tradition, de
rides precedent and seizes opportunity.
The end - always Justifies the means.
Does the new nationalism after all
mean merely that any policy of gov
ernment centralized or decentralized
is to be the method and procedure
of the new nationalists? Or Is It pos
sible that Colonel Roosevelt, who In
vented the new nationalism, failed In
his understanding of what the great
' current of public thought now la, and
that U Is more nearly expressed by
others like Beverldge. Cummins and
La Follette?
CANADIAN KECIPUOCmr.
The Canadian reciprocity agreement
has been submitted to Congress and
' there is a good prospect for an early
settlement of the commercial friction
ahlch has prevented two near neigh
bors from trading on the friendly
basis that always Insures best results.
There are so many different commod
ities which the Vnlted States has to
sell and Canada desires to buy that a
, 'reciprocal agreement by which both
parties may be accommodated Is long
overdue. Paper and wood ptilp are
two Canadian staples of which the
L'nlted States is sadly in need. Theae
commodities are needed by the Amer
ican consumers to prevent prices
reaching abnormal figures, and they
are also needed to prevent the early
exhaustion of our forests, now being
heavily drawn on for these products.
Attempted reciprocity with Canada,
or with other foreign nations, has al
ways brought forth objection from the
tandpat element In both parties, but
the change Is coming. The general
sentiment favoring It Is so great that it
cannot much longer be deferred. In
Ihe case of Canada, more than In that
of any other nation. It Is difficult to
And sound, logical reason for not re
moving all friction that prevents an
easy, economical movement of trade.
Canada has within the past few years
bKomt Americanized to such an ex
tent that very little difference In eco-
nomlc conditions Is found on crossing
" the line. Labor and capital are both
' marketed In Canada on practically the
'. same basis as prevails In the United
t States, and for that reason the protec-
live Urlff which our standpatters at
I tempt to retain in all of Its' original
' rigidity can have only a limited appll
! ration to our trade relations with our
northern neighbors.
- With the rapidity In which con
sumption la overtaking production. It
to but a question of a few years until
this country will be obliged to depend
on some other country for breadstuff.
From no other part of the world can
these supplies be secured to such good
advantage as from Canada. Even be
fore the demand overtakes the supply
-lof American-grown grains the price
will not be seriously affected for the
reason that the price In both the
Vnited States and Canada Is based on
the European markets, which now
take the surplus from the two.
The cause of reciprocity with Can
ada, aa well as wltn other countries.
has been hampered and deferred by
the Inclination of our people to view
Only one side of the question that of
the producer. This country has a few
million consumers whose interests are
also entitled to consideration. They
will receive this consideration In any
fair reciprocal trade agreement with
Canada.
orrosiTiojf to popular election.
The old method of electing United
States Senators Is not very happy In
Its defenders. Such men as Mr. Hey
burn. of Idaho, and Chauncey Depew
can help a cause best by keeping
silent, one would Imagine. It might
even be desirable for them to say a
little something against It. Sometimes
the apparent enmity of certain Indi
viduals is helpful. Mr. Heyburn'a
principal argument seems to be that
the old way has led to bribery only
eleven times. It would be Interesting
to learn the basis for his estimate.
But even if It had never led to bribery
once. It would still be better to change
the method.
Legislative elections do not secure
representation of the people. The
miss may happen from one cause or
another. That makes little difference.
The point Is that It happens. What
the people want Is representation. In
order to obtain it they are convinced
that legislative elections must te
abandoned and the Senatorshlps
thrown open to popular vote, like the
Presidency. Originally the Constitu
tion intended that the people should
have nothing to say directly about the
choice of the President. They were to
name the electors and the electoral
college, acting without instructions,
should fill the office.
This plan did not work. The peo
ple felt so overwhelming an Interest In
the election of the President that they
broke through the Constitution and
compelled the electors to register their
will. Now they have begun to realize
how Important the office of Senator Is.
and the more they think about It the
less they are Inclined to leave the elec
tion to the State Legislatures. They
are determined to attend to It them
selves without any Intermediaries.
It Is the Inevitable tendency of de
mocracy to gather all power In the
hands of the voters. This tendency
would be pretty nearly as strong as It
is If no Senatorial election had ever
been tainted with bribery, though it
might not be quite so outspoken Just
yet. No doubt the Lo rimer and sim
ilar scandals have furthered the
course of Inevitable evolution, but It Is
nonsense to believe that they have
been the cause of It.
PANAMA AND 8CEZ.
The principal reason why the senti
ment of the people of the United
States Is overwhelmingly In favor of
fortifying the Panama Canal grows
from general belief that neutraliza
tion might not at the critical moment
be Infallible. The main argument ad
vanced by those who are fighting the
plan for fortifying the canal Is that
the Suex Canal Is not fortified, and
that Us neutrality has thus far been
respected. And yet the case of the
Panama Canal and that or the Sues
show very little In common. The
Suex Canal was not built with British
money. It does not pass through
British territory- The Panama Canal
Is being built with American money
and it passes through American terri
tory. The Suez Canal was built by the
French, who secured from the Khe
dive of Egypt permission to cross the
isthmus. This permission gave France
no right to fortify the canal and It
was natural that England, having at
that time no right whatever to say
whether the canal should be fortified,
agreed willingly to its neutralization.
Learning that the canal was not
the "Joke" they thought when DeLes
seps sought and was refused the aid
of British capital. Great Britain after
wards Invested several millions In
canal shares, and while no official
notification has been made of any
change In her views regarding neu
trality at the Suez, any attack on
Great Britain's Indian empire might
be the signal for a test of the strength
of that neutrality. The British gov
ernment has great fortifications not
far from the Red Sea terminus of the
canal and her naval and military
stations In the Mediterranean are suf
ficiently Imposing to enable her, If the
emergency arises, to dominate the
Suez.
There would be so much at stake
when that emergency arose that neu
trality would probably be forgotten
and the Suez would serve the purposes
of the nation strong enough to adapt
the canal to Its Immediate uses. Neu-.ii-
nn tha Suez will be forgotten If
Great Britain ever fears that Germany
might seize the canai ana isolate In
dia. The Panama Canal Is exclusively
American property and no other na
tions can enter a valid reason why we
should not fortify it.
TEMTESATE GROWTH OT LIQVOR
, PKtMUNO.
Though liquor consumption In
creases throughout the land and state
prohibition la at a standstill, the cause
of temperance gains steadily This Is
not a paradox, however -much it may
appear such to persons who think
llquor-selllng a "crime" and llquor
drlnklng an unmitigated evil. There
Is more intelligent use of alcohollo
beverages than ever before, less
drunkenness and less vice and less
crime attendant upon such use.
Growth of Intelligence makes the
Improvement.
In seventy years the per capita con
sumption of wine In the United States
has more than doubled and that of
malt liquors has Increased more than
fourteen-fold. In a current magazine
William B. Bailey, assistant professor
of political economy In Tale Univer
sity, shows that between IS40 s,nd
1909 the per capita consumption of
wine has grown from .29 to .70 gal
lon and that of beer and ale from
1.3 to 19.97 gallons. In this same
period consumption of whisk;-, rum,
gin anad brandy has fallen from 2.62
gallons to 1.27.
Here. then. Is -tangible evidence of
lessened intoxication.. Very "strong"
drinks have declined In favor. The
liquors that contain little alcohol
beer, ale and wine are la growing
use. while the ardent spirits are
dwindling. Right here comes In a
powerful argument against state pro
hibition: such effort torepress liquor
drives to consumption of highly-concentrated
'kinds whisky, rum, gin
and brandy.
Rational use of liquor' la on the
ascendant throughout the country.
There is less "hard drinking" than
ever before. There Is also more tol
erant recognition of the rights of
temperate people to use of liquor; less
demand that the multitude of such
persons shall be "restrained" by sump
tuary laws. In order that liquor shall
be withheld from a fewer number of
"drunks."
It will be remembered that in the
November elections of last year four
states rejected prohibition Florida,
Missouri, Utah and Oregon. Okla
homa was the only state to declare
itself for prohibition. This does -not
mean that liquor restraint is losing
ground; evidences show that It Is gain
ing steadily. Self-restraint is spread
ing thrnmrh Arincstlon and example.
I That Is the real solution of the liquor
problem ana ine oniy one.
THE KEASOX FOR PRISON AND GAL
LOWS. It is the fashion of the day, with
certain sentimental persons, to aver
that the penitentiary "does no good"
to its inmates, nor to others of criml
.i i AfAr. uv th same of the
hangman's noose. But If prison and
gallows ao no gouu to iiivo -its
penalty. It might be well to look
for a moment on the side of the com
munity's Interest.
Through centuries of crime and or
society's self-protective efforts, prison
and gallows have survived. Persons
who commit crime against property
or person or public forfeit their .lib
erty or their life, not for their own
good, but for that of society. It is
well to bear In mind that a criminal
Is put In prison or upon the death
trap not primarily for his own good,
but for that of. his orderly neighbors.
His own welfare or hU reform la not
the first thing to be considered.
This is a "first principle" of right
living, and of retribution. Peniten
tiary and noose are not emblems or
vengeance, but of social order. Re
form of an evil doer.. while of course
desirable. Is not Important in the large
view, nor Is it the first aim of law
or Justice.
A JOB-MAKINO BILL.
Joba beyond count await the unem
ployed in the country. f'8"
trlcts are sorely tried by lack of faith
ful hands. Every farmer who has
plowing to do. crops to put In, fences
to build and land to clear knows this
l Up In" Salem a legislative bill pro
poses to appropriate J20.000 for bu
reaus that shall find Jobs for unem
ployed persons "free." These bureaus
are to be "State Labor Exchanges,
patterned after the Free Employment
Bureau In Portland. The ''chler of
this scheme Is to have an "-r
year Job and traveling expenses', each
exchange is to have a ""P"1"6"'
and an assistant, who
$100 a month each. Thus the state is
to be launched In the business of find
ing work for its citizens.
The great difficulty in this grow ng
state of Oregon 1. that there are too
many tasks unperformed and too
many occupation- unfilled There Is
scarcity of hands, not surfeit. Many
employers complain about the "labor
'rouble " They say It 1.
find men who are honest and faith
ful: who will. stay "on the Job . who
will work for what they can afford
"a who will not shirk labor nor
dodge full hours. In the country
thousands of acre, of land e malt
ing to be brought into e of
cheaper food and "caper
Exchanges, bureaus
are not needed to point out the open
ings. Individual initiative and indus
IrTwIll find abundant opportunities
'tZ work without "vel-hi;efU,na
tionartes to direct them.
case where the farmer member, of the
Legislature can give their city col
leagues valuable pointers.
rlUNO IT OS THE IXTTT.E FELLOW.
In view of the fact that the crea
tion of a public service commission
U recommended to the Oregon i Legis
lature by both the Governor and re
Acting Governor, the recom
menfaUon.nKto the people on sing
tax by the self-constituted lawgivers
ofOregon City and elsewhere are par
ticularly pertinent subjects for Inves
Ugatton. service commission Is a
department of State G7nmn
empowered to regulate service and
res offered by public utility corpor
atlon The single tax scheme makes
prominent an attendant franchise tax
P Whenever we hear "public service
commission" mentioned our thoughts
.. -. vat York, where a
, Scpartment of the State Government
. . i . Kuin n ahlnln&T
under tnat name no - ' -beacon
for other states seeking
method of securing for ' their peophs
good service at reasonable rates from
public utility corporations. Coming
from one who has given the subject
some thought and Investigation, the
'?eVa of Mllo A. Maltby. Public Serv
ice Commissioner for New Tork. first
district, should be of value to experi
mentalists with taxation In Oregon.
Mr. Maltby declares that when there
la adequate regulation of pubUo
service corporations the users of the
utility and not the corporation stock
holders pay the franchise tax. He
says:
Under an effaotlTa ayatam of public rajr
ulatlon the corporation rnu.t. of courae. ba
Sun-id to earn aufflclant Bum to pay.
?, .11 cii of operation, Includlns a
aum aufflcleTt to malStaln th. plant In an
ofjTcl'nt condition. In tha Ions run it muat
I. anSirid to earn a fair profit Dpomb.
ca.al "I'd: otherwlaa capital could not ba
cu"d for publlo otllltlea. If. In addition,
r .urn mu.t b. earned to par a franchise
fa Uie authority eiercletns pubUc control
, ii" tha corporation to place Ua
s'Vflelentir Mch or to aupplr a arv
inferior that It may earn, be.lrtea
!. mini alreadr mentioned, aa amount
xiual to the tax.
A commhvtlon regulating rates
must deduct taxes -with other
charges from the total earnings and
adjust rates so that the corporation
will obtain a fair return upon Its In
vestment. If there Is no franchise
tax. obviously the rates could or
should be made lower or the service
better than otherwise.
Mr. Maltby's statements apply pri
marily to communities where there Is
an adequate system of public control
of corporations. He admits that
where there la no public control the
franchise tax as a means for securing
for the public a share of the corpora
tion earnings and as an available
method of obtaining reeded revenues
promptly Is perhaps a wise measure.
The Oregonlan has consistently ad
vocated the franchise tax and be
lieves that the revenue needs created
by continued rapid growth of the
community would demand a fran
chise tax even In the event public
utility corporation were effectively
controlled and regulated by a publld
service commission.
The consumer In the case of public
utilities Is, In the great majority, the
small home owner or the renter.
When such citizens are compelled to
contribute thus Indirectly to the pub
lic revenues It Is expedient also that
those persons best able to pay should
contribute also. Tet we have the
slngle-taxers proposing that the
whole tax ' burden shall be paid by
land, timber, mineral rights, rights of
way and franchises of public corpor
ations. The single taxers are not content tc
spread over the land the value of all
high and low class Improvements
and the value of personal property,
but would also tax the consumers
or gas, electricity, and the users of
telephone service and rail transporta
tion. Thus while the resident of St.
Johns, Mount Scott, Sellwood or
other suburb was dally contributing
to the cost of Government in car
fares or in putting up with pool
service, the automobile or the car
riage and horses which conveyed his
wealthy neighbor', back and forth
from business would pay no tax what
ever. They are personal property
and are to be exempt.
It Is well for the voters to under
stand that public utility service and
rates and the Interests of the general
public will be best served by an effi
cacious ' public service commission
and contentment with orderly and
well-tried systems of taxation.
The chief argument urged in favor
of the establishment of a state normal
school In Eastern Oregon is that teach
ers are scarce; that is, they are not in
full supply In that section of the state;
hence there should be a school there
for the purpose of bringing up the sup
ply. Students are prepared for teach
ing at the State University, and soon
will be at the State Normal at Mon
mouth. Railroad trains run frequent
ly between the different sections of the
state, making them In effect one. Di
vided educational effort at state ex
pense is unnecssary, uneconomical and
wasteful. It was hoped that the peo
ple by their decided expression at the
polls had settled the question of a
replica of expensive and weak nor
mals. It is still hoped that the at
tempt to galvanize this question into
life will fail, and the matttr be
dropped without acrimony.
The Bank of England yesterday re
duced the rate to 4 per cent, the rea
son for the decline being the absence
of foreign gold demand and smaller
Indian requirements than had been ex
pected. This reduction, viewed in con
nection with the liberal subscriptions
that England has recently been mak
ing to foreign loans. Indicates an easy
money market in London. This belief
is further strengthened by a heavy
oversubscription in London Thursday
on J6. 250.000 worth of Havana Ter
minal 5 per cent debentures, which at
the close of the market were quoted
at 3 per cent premium. While an easy
money market In Europe may not help
us much In the Immediate future, It is
a hopeful sign. In due season a res
toration of confidence In American
railroad and industrial securities will
attract some of the flood of foreign
gold in this direction.
"Whether every young man and
every young woman in the state
should receive higher education Is a
point which I have not settled In a
manner entirely satisfactory to my-'
self." said Senator Selling. President
or the State Senate, in speak
ing to the students of the State Uni
versity at Eugene last Wednesday.
This statement Implies a lurking be
lief on the part of Mr. Selling that Is
shared more or less openly by many
of his fellow-cltlzens. that in indus
trial, commercial and business life
there must still be hewers of wood
and drawers or water.
The Sacramento woman who asked
to be transformed -by the divorce court
from Mrs. Bende to Miss Szilagyi had
an astonishing taste in names. It Is
to be hoped that she will soon find an
other euphonious husband and escape
from her burden of mlsmated conso
nants. Names are said by the wise
to influence their owners profoundly.
Shakespeare seldom misses the mark
1n fitting appellation to character, but
Dickens was the supreme master of
this subtle art. Think of Squeers,
Pickwick, Pecksniff.
An El Paso dispatch states that
"Amarlllas, the Jefe, has boasted that
when the revolution ends he will exe
cute every rebel In the region and
burn their Catholic churches." With
a pleasing rate or this kind berore
them, it is not at all surprising that
the Mexican rebels are putting up a
fight which is beginning to cause some
anxiety for the Diaz government. With
liberty the reward for victory and
death the penalty for defeat. It Is cer
tain the Mexicans will In most cases
make this a battle to the death.
Elucidation by Professor Sparks of
the char-pitting process of clearing
land at the T. M. C. A. auditorium
tomorrow night Is matter of interest
that should draw large attendance.
Any plan that will reduce the physical
and financial burden of removing1
stumps in this Northwest country is
an economic benefit that should have
wide dissemination. That these lec
tures under the auspices or the Apple
Culture Club are rree has no bearing
on their value.
It would be pleasant to learn of
something which babies will not eat If
they have the chance. Their fond
ness for carbolic acid and live coals is
well known. Now we hear of a five-year-old
child which devoured some
mercury of Iodine tablets. Apparently
young children have no sense of taste
or smell. Everything they can get
hold of goes down. One would think
parents might learn this fact after a
while and put dangerous drugs where
children could not reach them.
Major J. A. Siaden was a soldier
whose service on the battlefield
brought him Just promotion and seri
ous disability. He was well known in
this city, which was his chosen home.
He served upon the staff or General
00. Howard during the Indian cam
paigns of the latter In the Northwest,
and had been living here In retirement
since 1908. A brave soldier and an
honorable man. he was Justly honored
and highly respected.
Horseralsers In this region are again
reminded that the chler engineer or
Portland has been on a quest for a rew
weeks ror a number or animals ror his
service and cannot get them. This is
an ever-recurring demand. The fin
ished product represents three-rourths
profit to the raiser In a cash market.
Because it would conflict with the
constitutional prohibition of "un
usual punishment," Dr. Owens-Adair's
sterilization bill has been given a
peaceful death. The doctor's only
hope will He In the Initiative.
In moving for dismissal or the In
dictment or William D. Hanley, At
torney McCourt did an act of simple
Justfce. To indict an honest man is
easy; to convict him is another matter.
AGE OP AVIATION ALMOST HEBE,
That Monoplane Will Soon Be Practi
cal tor Travel Is Prediction
Claude Grahame - White, in London
Times.
The advancement of the aeroplane
has been checked by three defects in
the machines themselves. These I may
enumerate as follows:
First Inablllay to combat winds.
Second Constructional weaknesses.
Third Unreliability of engines.
These defects, which made aeroplanes
mere playthings In their early stages of
development, are already; being over
come In an altogether surprising way.
That they will be completely overcome,
and that flying machines will be of
practical and everyday use. Is my firm
conviction. Take' the aeroplanes we
had in the beginning it was only pos
sible to ascend when the wind was as
low as four or five miles an hour. Now
I find 't quite possible to remain in the
air, and control my machine, in a wind
of 25 miles an hour. From this, to the
ability to fly in even stronger winds, it
is merely a question of greater speed.
Engine problems are solving them
selves. With the skepticism, with
which some people always view a new
idea. It was contended. In the Infancy
of aeroplanes, that no petrol motor
would stand the strain of propelling an
aeroplane, because of Its necessary
lightness and the high speed at which
It would have to run. . The answer to
these critics has been overwhelming.
Even while our aeroplanes, and particu
larly our propellers, are admittedly Im
perfect. 'thereby Imposing upon an en
gine the moBt difficult conditions,
flights of three, five and six hours are
already evoking no particular com
ment. To a certain extent. Indeed, the
duration of a flight has now become
purely a matter of petrol carrying. I
have not the slightest fear, therefore,
as to the success of the flying machine
engine. ...
And now there is the question of
safety. Here. I know, I am face to
face with a very grave misconception.
People generally have come to the con
clusion that flying is highly danger
ous, and will always remain so. I, as
a practical flyer, say there Is very lit
tle danger in it now, and that in the
future there will be no more risk In
an aerial Journey than in moving from
point to point in a railway train. . .
Inexperlenoe, foolhardlness, and con
structural weakness in machines have
been responsible for practically all the
accidents which have taken place .Given
a good machine, a careful, well-trained
pilot, and proper weather conditions,
flying Is already as safe as motoring;
and very soon it promises to be safer.
The dangers which now exist when a
man flies will speedily be overcome by
the Introduction of stronger, speedier
machines, and the adoption of engine
systems whereby a compulsory descent,
owing to mechanical troubles, will be
obviated. The air is absolutely free and
unimpeded. Once we have definitely
conquered our enemy, the wind. It will
offer an absolutely Ideal medium for
high speed traffic, besides providing a
traveler with the most delightful way
Imaginable of getting from point to
point.
Next Summer, practically for the first
time in a complete and finished way,
people will be able to enjoy the sensa
tions of air travel. Ready for trials In
the Spring will be first of a type of
machine one might call "the air car."
It will be a strongly built monoplane,
a 100-horsepower engine will propel it.
It will have a body like that of a motor
car. with four comfortably padded
seats, well protected from the wind.
There is no reason at all why any
wealthy motorist should not purchase
such a machine as this, have an "aerial
chauffeur" instructed to pilot it. If he
does not want to learn to drive him
self, and enjoy aeroplanlng ;ln a thor
oughly practical way.
In Its sporting aspect, I foresee that
flying will enjoy an even greater vogue
than motoring. The reason Is not far to
seek. Motor car driving, even in Its
most favorable aspects, cannot be com
pared with flying. There Is a sense of
freedom an exhilaration in passing
swiftly through the air that never
comes to one when driving a car. I
speak from experience again, having
done more than a little motoring. Di
rectly a more convenient, less bulky
machine can be produced, what one
might call the public demand for an
aeroplane will begin.
The demand of the age is for high
speed travel. The possibilities of land
locomotion. In this respect, are almst
exhausted. So, too. are those of sea
transit. And now, conveniently to hand
when mankind wants it, is air travel.
I do not see one insurmountable dif
ficulty in the way of completely revo
lutionizing, by means of the aeroplane,
all existing methods of communication.
Use of Quill Pens.
London Chronicle.
The use of quill pens la by no means
confined to Government offices and the
gentlemen who point with them at un
happy witnesses. A habitual writer, for
Instance, confesses that he never will
ingly used a steel pen since he was out
of the control of schoolmasters. He al
ways used quills until the triumphant
fountain pen provided him with a rea
sonable substitute, and that more be
cause of its convenience than its ef
ficiency. Several well-known novelists
still stick to the quill; it is. Indeed,
the only writing implement with any
personality If it Is refractory you can
coax it. The mending of a qulll does
not require much practice, and you can
buy, for a few shillings, a little ma
chine that does It for you beautifully.
You may easily write 15.000 words with
one quill, mending -it four times, which
gives six quills to the novel. So the
cost of novel writing is small stated
In terms of quills.
Fishes Don't Need Ears to Hear.
Philadelphia North American. ,
Just because fishes haven't ears is no
reason why they can't hear, according
to Dr. Arthur Gordon Webster, profes
sor of physics in Clark University, who
recently opened a series of lectures on
"Sound In Speech and Music" at the
University of Pennsylvania.
Doctor Webster declared that sound
Is motion. "The outside of the ear,"
he said, "is not necessary to hearing.
It is possible to hear through the teeth.
This can easily be proved by holding
a pencil between the teeth and holding
it on the sounding board of a piano.
"There has been much discussion as
to whether fish can hear. Some per
sons have declared that fish cannot dis
tinguish sounds because they have no
ears, but sound is motion, and as long
as vibrations reach the Inside of fishes'
heads it makes no difference whether
they have ear orifices or not."
Flea for Economy.
PORTLAND. Jan. 28. (To the Edi-tor.)-r-I
heartily Indorse what was said
this morning as to appropriations by
the Legislature. Let us keep sane In
expenditures. It is easy to run In debt,
but. of ten difficult to get out. Oregon Is
a state of great natural resources and
lg growing fast enough for Its best
future welfare. Better grow slower and
sounder. In a hurry and rush we
ought not to burden coming genera
tions with 'illy-digested measures, and
with obligations that will be burden
some to carry. Extravagance' is folly.
If not something worse.
LEVI W. METERS.
Only Explanation.
Albany Journal.
Perhaps the Mexican rebellion is kept
going for the moving-picture people.
Cost la About the Same Between St.
Louis and New Tork.
Kansas City Star.
Tou may ride from St. Louis to New
Tork in something over a day. for $23.50,
plus whatever you may desire to expend
for Pullman accommodations and meals
For ti excess fare you may make the
trip In 24 hours.
It happens that the regular fare Is
Just 75 cents less than it was 02 years
ago. The latest volume of McMaster's
"History of the People Of the United
States" quotes an advertisement from
the St. Louis Republican of 1S49, de
scribing the route. The traveler went
from St. Louis to LaSalle on the Ill
inois river, 281 miles, by boat. From
there to Chicago the trip was by canal.
From Chicago a lake boat was taken
to New Buffalo, on the eastern shore of
Lake Michigan. A short Journey by rail
took the passenger to Detroit, where
he might take . a steamer to Buffalo.
From there he rode to Albany by rail.
At the New Tork capital he embarked
on a steamer once more and sailed
down the Hudson to Manhattan Island.
On this Journey the distance to be
traveled by water greatly exceeded that
by rail. This prebably accounts for the
comparatively low iare charged for the
entire trip. The local rates are men
tioned in the advertisement. It cost
only from J5 to $8 to go from Chicago to
Buffalo, most of the way by boat, while
the railroad fare from Buffalo to Al
bany was $9.75. The trip down, the
Hudson was very cheap; the fare was
only 0 cents. The fare by canal 100
miles was $4 and the 281 miles by river
cost only $5.
Forty per cent of the expense of the
entire trip went for railroad fare on
the stretch between Buffalo and Albany.
But while the transportation charge has
changed only slightly in the 62 years
since this advertisement appeared, the
comfort of the Journey has been In
comparably augmented. In the old days
the Journey occupied five or six days,
with as many changes of conveyance.
Now It may be made on an electric
lighted train, with a comfortable bed and
with excellent dining service.
MOTOR CYCLE IN TIME OF WAR.
Dispatch Bearer Will Demonstrate
Value in Lonn; Scouting- Trips.
(New Tork Tribune,)
To demonstrate the value of the mo
tor cycle as a despatch bearer In time
of war an Interesting, although strenu
ous, test will be made Just before the
opening of the National Association of
Automobile Manufacturers' tenth an
nual show in Chicago, February 8.
A rider, whose name will not be di
vulged until after the test, but who will
simply be known as the "Emblem
Scout," will leave New Tork City four
days before the opening of the Chicago
show, and he will carry a message from
General Frederick Dent Grant, of Gov
ernor's Island, charging the "Emblem
Scout" to deliver it safely into the
hands of Samuel A. Miles, manager of
the Chicago exhibition.
"The little motor cycle is destined to
play a very important part In the next
war If universal peace does not pre
vail." said William G. Schack at the
automobile show, "and America Is very
much behind other countries In this
respect, England, France, Italy and
Germany organized motor cycle corps
have been made a part of the regular
army, and I think that as soon as the
reliability of the motor cycle is satis
factorily proved to the authorities in
this country, motor cycle corps will
form parts of many regiments.
"The value of the mtotor cycle cer
tainly is beyond question.. A motor
cycle rider can travel just as fast and
as far as an automobilist, and the rider
of the two-wheeled steed has many ad
vantages over the latter. In times of
actual war the automobile would have
extreme difficulty In escaping detec
tion, while a motor cycle rider would be
able to conceal himself and machine
very easily if the enemy were near. The
size of the automobile would make
this Impossible. Besides a motor cycle
can travel through a woods or be lifted
across ditches and over fences and
other obstructions that would bar an
automobile."
Onr Bide as m Defense.
Florida Times-Union.
We have often said that no European
army could march far Into the Interior
of our country because it would be an
nihilated without the necessity of de
feating it in a pitched battle. If a Ger
man army takes Paris, the conquest is
completed; If an army takes London,
England would ask for peace as she ac
cepted the Norfnan after Hastings, but
when an English army took Washing
ton It did not take time to cheer be
fore starting back to its ships. If there
be disadvantage in having many cap
itals we are not without compensation
to us the taking of Washington would
mean no more than the taking of Bald
win or Sopchoppy.
Gatzert's Dock, and Ownerahlp.
SHERIDAN, Or., Jan. 24. (To the
Editor.) Will you please let me know,
whether the Bailey Gatzert lands at the
foot of Washington or Alder street and
what company she belongs to, through
the columns of The Oregonlan.
JACK RANDALL.
The Gatzert is out of commission for
the Winter, but when In service leaves
from . Alder street. The Gatzert Is
owned by The Dalles. Portland & As
toria Navigation Company, controlled
by the North Bank road.
IF THE GAG WERE OX.
Not a voice should be heard, nor the
ghost of a shout
The sabbathlcal silence should worry.
When down the street. In a voiceless
rout.
The ubiquitous newsboys hurry.
And one would dream, it must be con
fessed. With never a voice to confound him.
Naught of the news upon him pressed
By the urchins swarming around him.
Few words they'd whisper; perhaps pro
fane And tinged with a humor dtspeptic
But the code of signals they'd work
amain
Would honor an epileptic.
Though famine or floor or fire befall.
No noise of the news should benumb
thee.
If swarming "newsies" their extras call
In the voice of an astral dummy.
And peace, sweet peace, should hover
round
O'er the streets of the city once more.
Til we'd hear faint tones, that were
erstwhile drowned
By the chorusing newsboys' roar.
The tinsel clink of the flat wheeled car,
And the soft "ding ding" of its gong.
Once more their music should waft afar
To tbe ears of the hurrying throng.
And the- auto should honk as the night
ingale. And down by the drawbridge span, y
Should the mellow sound of the steam
boat's wail
Ring sweet as the pipes o' Fan.
And the cobblestones should our hearts
entrance
Neath the wheels of the passing
wagon,
tn'the day when their voice should.be
' given a chance
And the "newsy" should have a gag on.
f Dean Collins,
Life's Sunny Side
A celebrated explorer recently ap
proached the. chancellor of the British
exchequer with a view of obtaining
treasury assistance and support' for a
forthcoming expedition.
Lloyd -George met the- Inquirer by
stating that the proper course to pursuo
was first to obtain help from outsida
bodies of citizens, such as the stock
exchange, and then to apply, if neces
sary, to his majesty's ministers.
The explorer accepted the advice, but
was quickly back in Lloyd-George's
room at the treasury.
"Well, have you been successful?
asked the chancellor.
"Partially so," replied the explorer.
"How much money have you got from
the stock exchange?" said the minister.
"Only $250," was the answer, "but
with the prospect of a great deal more
on certain conditions which require the
co-operation of the chancellor of the ex
chequer." .
"What ,were those conditions? Lloyd
George inquired, i
"There were two." said the traveler.
"One was that the $250 would be raised
to $125,000 if I took you with me to our
destination in the Ice, to be increased to
$250,000 if I left you there." New York
American.
e e e
The German boy who presided over
the soda fountain in the only drug
store In an Ohio town was accustomed
to patrons who did not know their own
minds, and this habit of thought waa
difficult to change
"Plain soda," said a stout woman,
entering one day, in great haste.
"Tou haf viniHa, or you haf lemon?
calmly inquired the Teutonic lad.
"Plain soda without syrup! Don't you
understand me?" demanded the stout
woman, testily.
"Yas, I understand." came from tho
boy, whose placid German countenance
did not change in . expression, "but vot
kind of syrup you vant him mitout?
Mltout vanilla, or mitout lemon?"
Harper's Magazine.
a a a
She is a dainty little woman of good
education, has allowed herself to become
addicted to the slang of the day, bo the
other evening when she was telling a
story, her friends laughed at the story,
but fairly shrieked at her own comment
on it. The way she told the story was
"1 went out to a card party the other
day. and although I knew most of the
people there, one woman especially at
tracted me. I do not know her, but she
was as pretty as a peach. I admired her
beauty and wondered at the expensive
and tasteful costume which she wore.
Her own good looks and her clothes
made her the most attractive woman at.
the party. After a while I found myself
at the same table with her and was so
happy to see her at close range. I
fairly gasped at her first remark. It was
this: 'I seen you could'a went it alone,
or I'd ordered It up.' "
The comment was "Me for the English
and cut oOt the glad rags." Cincinnati
Commercial Tribune.
e e ' e
An Impecunious nobleman saw a por
trait of an ancestor in a West End shop
window. He went in and Inquired tne
price. It was $60
"I'll give you $50," he said to the
shopkeeper. But the price was refused
and there was no sale made.
Some time later the nobleman was
dining in the magnificent new London
house of a business man of the type
called self-made. He noticed a familiar
portrait on the wall.
"Ah." said the host, observing his
guest's interest in the painting, that
is a portrait of an ancestor of mine.
Indeed!" said the peer. "Then we
must be realated." he continued with per
fect gravity: "He was within $10 of be
ing an ancestor of mine!"
WHOLE TOWJT JOINS IN THE MUSIC.
LlndabOTC, Kas., Is Full of Melody-Mak-Img
Swedes.
(Christian Herald.)
Llndsborg. Kan., is the land of the
Swede and the home of music Nearly
50 years ago a band of Swedish im
migrants settled In the Smoky Valley.
They prospered, built a town and a col
lege. They loved music and they soon
organized a choral society that has
grown Into a great oratorio society.
"And how they do love music. They
sing In their homes and in the fields
and teach their children to sing and to
play. One morning I met a small 'Gust
on the street and when I inquired of
him a direction he took off his hat ami
stood with the sun on his flaxen head.
He had a violin under his arm and told
me he was going to practice with three
other boys and- girls a violin quartette
for the children's Saturday concert.
" 'And what are you going to play? I
a8"?-Yye will play three selections,' ho
said in his clear but slow English.
'Minuet, from E major Symphonic by
Mozart; 'Wiegenlied,' from Schubert,
and the finale from Mozart's Quartet
No. 43.'
"It fairly took my breath. Every
where I saw children going or coming
with music in their hands and instru
ments under their arms, all keenly in
terested in the coming concert. It is
the great event of the year to these
Swedish children. Just as the grand
Messiah' concert rendered with a
chorus of 900 voices is the event of
the year for their elders and for thou
sands of visitors. Every boy and girl
in town who sings at all and that
scarcely leaves enough for a game of
three-cornered cat is in the chorus."
- An Amendment.
A Pennsylvania Judge proposes the
use of wire cages as ballot boxes as a
means to prevent ballot-box stuffing.
It might be suggested that a surer way
to get the same result would be to
tuck the ballot-box stuffers away in
certain cages already provided, New
Orleans Times-Democrat.
FEATURES IN THE
SUNDAY
OREGONIAN
CENTENARY OF
HORACE GREELEY
. In connection with the 100th an
niversary of the great editor, an
article, "The Horace Greeley That
I Knew," by Thomas L. James,
formerly Postmaster - General of
the United States.
WITH PUPILS AT THE
SCHOOL OF ARTS
"What the Portland Arts and
Crafts. Society is doing to develop
local talent in drawing and paint-
WINDSOR, WHERE '
THE CASTLE IS
Annie Laura Miller tells of the
treasures she saw within the his
toric structure and those on the
outside.
Order early from your newsdealer.