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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1913)
THE arOKNIXG OREGOXIAX, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY . 26, 1913. 10 rORTLANl. OREO OX. Entered at Portland. Oreson, Postofflcs utwcxlcuoo Bates Invariably lm Advsnos. tBT MAIL.) Daily. Sunday tnoluded. on year.... lally. Sunday Included, all months.. Daily. Sunday Included, tcraa montln lily. Sunday Included, on monia.. aaofl . a oo rail! without Sunday, sis monlha. ... Ijallv. without Sunday, tores monina 1.75 Dai:y. without Sunday, an tnoaUl. .so l-o0 Vaeltly. ona year .. i 60 OWUU4. vv J Sunday and Weakly, one year (BT CARRIER-) Daily. Candey Inelodaa. on year.. . . . J tXt.AmA an. IflAllUl S.&0 .00 How tm Krmtt 8cd Postofflos money J Av r.nn m I .hMk OA 1 your at the saodr-( risk. Ulva postotrice address IIUl! UVIMJ,'K ." - . . . r . a. 1 cent 1 te i paeea, S cental 0 to 0 PJT casta. iorelsn cents; fj u w pi. poatajre, doubl rate. .Verr & Conk Tin M.w Turk. RruuVlck faulldlAg. San Francises Office H. J. Bid well Co. J4-.J Market s'.reet. i Karapean Of lice We. Hasans trM W London a. PORTLAND, WEDXXSDAT. FEB. t, IMS. TOTE EXPANDED M0CTBOK DOCTBJCna. Under the Monro Doctrine, as now Interpreted, we are held responsible br the civilized world for the good conduct of all American republics. If violence Is done In a sham republlo to a subject of some European monarch. re are asked: "What are you roles to do about It?" If the property of some European Is seized or If some bankrupt republic defaults In the pay cnent of Interest on its debt, the same Question Is asked. If we do nothing;, the nation concerned sends warships with a threat to seize a port and col lect the claim from the customs duties. Then we hasten to avert the catastro phe y assuming; charge of the offend Ins republic's custom-houses and mak Ins; ourselves a bad debt collector for the world In the whole Western Hm lap here. This Is what we have done In Santo Domingo, and what we pro posed to do In Nicaragua and Hondu- ras under the treaties which have been held up In the Senate. The Monroe Doctrine has thus grown Immeasurably. As originally promul rated. It was avowedly designed to prevent European conquest or coloni zation In the Western Hemisphere. We did hot then become sponsor for every American country in all Its interna tional troubles. This limited Interpre tation of the doctrine was adhered to until the close of the second Cleveland administration. Though Cleveland pro tested against British acquisition by force of a 6llce of territory claimed by Venezuela, he made no objection to British occupation of Corinto, Nic aragua, for satisfaction of a claim, The new expansion of the Monroe Doctrine dates from the Spanish war. So jealous did we become of the mere. ly temporary landing of European .troops on territory of any American state that we undertook a financial protectorate over Santo Domingo and confined the British. German and Dutch operations against Venezuela to a blockade of the coast without seiz ure of any ports. The logical consequence of this pol. Icy Is that since Mexico has sunk into anarchy, has taken the lives and de stroyed the property of Americans and Europeans alike, all other powers sit back and look to the United States to obtain redress by Intervention. Had the Monroe Doctrine not been extended beyond its original meaning, we might consistently with It have Joined other powers In sending an allied army to the City of Mexico, as we joined the march to Pekin. The expanded Mon roe Doctrine places the burden on us alone. Instead of making the people of other American countries our grateful friends, this "hands off" policy has made them our enemies. Knowing that no other European country will venture to Interfere with them, that we are considered to have gone bail for their good behavior and that Eu rope looks to us to secure redress for their subjects' wrongs, these people know that we alone are likely to inter. vene. The Mexican hatred of the for. elgner Is therefore centered on us. In the eyes of the European, we are the protectors of the Mexicans; In the eyes of the Mexicans, we are the policeman with the club to make them behave. To subdue and pacify Mexico, It is es timated that we should require an army of 250,000 men, employed for several years In chasing the guerilla bands Into their mountain hiding places. Had we any great desire to annex Mexico, wa might not hesitate to in cur the trouble and expense, with the consequent hatred of the Mexicans and confirmed distrust of our motives among other Spanish-American peo ples. But we do not want Mexico. We have troubles enough without adding a turbulent people of alien race, 75 per cent of which cannot read or write and which has proved an Incapacity for self-government. Were we to Intervene, we should probably do as we did In Cuba establish peace, organize a government and withdraw. We should probably reserve the right to Intervene again In case a revolu ' tlon threatened to topple over the gov ernment we had propped up. That i contingency would almost certainly arise, as It has already In Cuba. The Monroe Doctrine, in its original limited meaning. Is quite sufficient to prevent aggression. No nation would ' dare Invade the vast expanse of Brazil, for example, with the knowledge that Its armies would have to cope not only with the native population in the lim itless, tangled forests, but with the Army and Navy of the United States as well. There would be like hesita tion to attempt aggression on Mexico, for. prone as Its people are to fight among themselves, invasion would be the signal for united resistance. With the United States at hand to warn the Invaders that they must not take per manent possession of the country, what nation would care to undertake a task from which we, though at the door, have shrunk? Nations which have claims against Mexico would pre fer to do as they did In Nicaragua and Venezuela seize a custom-house and blockade the coast. These considerations have caused many Influential men and many news paper to urge that we should aban don the expanded meaning given the Monroe Doctrine and should again make It what It originally was a warning- against permanent territorial acquisitions. In such an emergency as now exists In Mexico. Europe could not then say to the United States: "It's up to you." New York dames of fashion are taking a self-denylmr pledge not to wear bird of paradise plumes or heron aigrettes any more. Mrs. Fairfield Os borne began the movement and she already has many disciples. Feather wearing has been one of the most fero cious of fashion's cruelties and. It has taken years of preaching to Induce women to abandon even Its worst forms. Now that their reformation la at last well started, we may hope will continue until the slaughter of birds to adorn bonnets is ended for ever. SORRY BCSENZSa. Governor West shut down his desk at Salem, dismissed his secretary, locked the door of the executive of fice and abandoned his constitutional olnM durlno- the closing hours of the legislative session, and spent three days away from the capital. He re turns with the sorry Jest that he was away on a vacation, accompanied by the semi-Jocular Inquiry as to wnetner the Governor of Oregon has not the light to take A holiday. We suppose so. But the Governor of Oregon has an obligation to conduct himself with becoming dignity at all times, and It is not expected either that he Will settle his personal quarrel with a re porter by a disgraceful fist fight or that he will sneak away like a fugi tive from Justice from nls public ru ties at a time when his absence seri ously impedes the progress of public business. The motive of Governor West se cret and sensational excursion was to embarrass the Legislature and throw its nroceedlnKa Into confusion. It Is trifling with the obvious facts to pre tend otherwise. The inconvenience and expense to the Legislature caused by his strange whim meant nothing to him; the wonder of the public ana the chagrin of his remaining support ers at his unseemly performance do not now abash him. It Is painful to reflect that Oregon has a Governor who has no fitting sense of the respect due to his office or the slightest conception of his correct rela tionship to a co-ordinate branch of the government. An Incurable passion for sensation, a restless and almost law less purpose to throw off the proper restraints of responsible position quarrelsome attitude toward his offi- cial associates, a snap-shot judgment of all Important questions and poli cies, an Immature and Juvenile under, standing of sound political and eco nomlo principles, an Immense egotism, and a fixed habit of balking the wise purposes of persons not in his imme diate counsel, constitute a poor equip ment for a Governor. WHAT TO DO WITH SOME 6TJTTBA- GETTKS. When the English suffragettes carry their militant campaign to the extreme of blowing up the residence of a Cabi net minister, the time has arrived for the government to stamp out the hys terical mania. Convinced, as The Ore gonlan Is, that the women of England, with those of the United States, should be given the ballot. It would make an exception of such mischief-makers as Mrs. Pankhurst and her followers. They are no more fit to exercise the franchise than are any other insane persons, for they have ' brooded over and exaggerated their wrongs, fancied and real, until they have become mono-man! aca. The mistake heretofore made by the British government has been to treat the destructive acts of the suffragettes as crimes committed by responsible beings, to take these women as seri ously as they take themselves. That only aggravates the megalomania which their pernicious notoriety has generated. It only spurs them on to fresh deeds of childish malice, that they may pose again as martyrs. These women prejudice the cause they pro fess to serve. Their deeds are the out ward manifestation of a mental dis ease. The government should treat them In such a manner as not only to prevent repetition of window-smash- ng. dynamiting and other species of devilment, but to cure the disease. The place for the suffragettes of the Pankhurst stripe an Insane asylum. Confinement there would destroy their pose as heroines, rob them of their Imaginary greatness and make them ridiculous. Lock up the leaders as lunatics and sanity would soon return to the followers. Then the British Parliament could legislate In favor of woman suffrage without the appear ance of having been terrorized by a band of hysterical shrews. JAPAN AND REB BURDEN. If anything more were needed to dis pose of the Japanese war bogey it was supplied by the riots, not long since, in Toklo against Premier Katsura. " The riots were a revolt against the excessive taxes rendered necessary by Katsura' s policy of militarism. Groaning under the burdens laid upon them by the war with Russia, the Japanese seek relief, not added burdens. They have reached the limit of endurance and are In no mood to bear the expense of new adventures. Yet the deposed gov ernment is credited with designs to seize Manchuria and Inner Mongolia as an offset to Russia's seizure of Outer Mongolia, the Foreign Minister's denial being inconsistent with the sending of a General of high rank to that region. How great has been the change of sentiment In Japan is Indicated by the fact that In 1905 there were riots in Toklo due to resentment at the easy terms of peace with Russia which had been made by this same Katsura, who has now been driven from office for pursuing an aggressive policy. The load they have been carrying has ex pelled Jingoism from the Japanese mind and caused the people to de mand decrease, not increase of na tional expenses. In obedience to public opinion, tie great exposition planned for 1917 has been abandoned and now new Ministry has been Installed on platform of peace and retrench ment. POTASH AND CANCER. An English surgeon. Dr. W. T. Forbes Ross, has made what may prove to be an important contribution to the study of cancer in a recent book. His theory Is that this fright ful malady is caused by the lack of potassium in human food. He may be right and he may be wrong. The only way to test the truth of each, new can cer theory la to subject It to Investiga tion. From the welter of mistaken theories the right one will emerge In the course of time and then the most stubborn enemy of human welfare will have been conquered. Potassium Is found In all parts of the normal body, though not In very large quantities, but of course the importance of an element cannot be estimated from the amount of It we require. The secre tion of the adrenal glands Is very mea ger, but without it tne wnoie system goes awry. Potash exists In most veg etables. It is abundant In spinach and pretty well supplied in such roots as turnips and salsify. - The trouble is that when these vegetables are boiled the potash Is dissolved out of them and thrown away, thus depriving the body of all that is most valuable In that particular kind of food. Dn. blocked, houses swirled from their Forbes Ross says that vegetables ought to be cooked with butter in their own Juice in order to save all their mineral constituents. The body is robbed of its proper mineral nutriment again when we dis, card the outer coating of wheat. The inside part of the grain consists of starch mainly, with a little gluten ana proteld substances, but some really valuable elements lie near the husk or bran. These are rejected by our elegant modern tastes and. If Dr. Forbes Ross is right, the effect on the system Is disastrous. His opinion, as we gather from an account of his book in The Stratford-Upon-Avon Herald. Is that we ought to eat con slderable quantities of food which we know to contain potassium, no matter If It Is not quite so attractive in ap pearance as fine white flour and water. soaked vegetables. The chances are that the cause of cancer is much less simple than Dr. Forbes Ross supposes, but for all that, his theery may con tain part of the truth. The habitual rejection of rough foods certainly lm pains the digestion. If It can be shown that It also helps Induce cancer per haps some of us may be frightened Into adopting a rational diet. BOTT SO AP, BUT NO JOBS. Let all admire the deft and grace ful manner In which Senator Cham berlaln rides two horses in the mat ter of the Oregon Federal appoint ments. Personally and as a member of the Oregon delegation he consents to favorable committee reports on all appointments except three; as a mem ber of the Democratlo minority he objects to the confirmation of any Ore gon appointments, including the pro scribed three. The Taft appointees undoubtedly will be grateful to Senator Chamber lain for permitting their names to emerge from committee; but they will not get the Jobs. That Is, after all, to them the main thing. George gives much soft soap, but no bread. I do not" says Senator Chamber lain, "give my consent to their con firmatlon." One voice Is sufficient, Ninety-five Senators, under the anti quated Senate procedure, must yield to one Senator. One Senator from Ore gon considers his obligation to his party superior to his duty to his con stituents. Is there any person now who will endeavor to show that any one but Senator Chamberlain Is responsible for the hold-up and defeat of the Oregon appointments? "CUI BONO." Captain Scott's tragic and appar ently useless death on his return from the South Pole has Inspired "Cul Bono," one of the faithful correspondents of, the New York Times, to lament tne rutlllty of exploring expeditions where valuable men risk their lives without hope of profit to themselves or any body else. He means money profit. Of course, they obtain fame and fine monuments if they happen to perish, but what does the trump of fame avail when a man Is dead? All the monu ments In the world cannot "provoke the silent dust nor flattery soothe the dull, cold ear of death." "Cul Bono's' sentiments appear so base to Walde- mar Kaempfert, the managing editor of the Scientific American, that he has written a letter to remonstrate against them. He takes the ground that such expeditions as Captain Scott's are by no means useless. They may not bring any Immediate money returns to the men who make them, but they cer. tainly benefit the human race, and Mr. Kaempfert is not willing to admit that the common welfare of the world Is an unworthy object to risk one's life for. The benefita which are likely to come from polar exploration, both at the North and South, are numerous and important, according to Mr. Kaempfert, Naturally, meteorology will greatly profit by them. The ultimate aim of this science is to make predictions of the weather which shall be reliable a week or two ahead. If this could be done, the benefits to navigation and agriculture would be -inestimable Think how sailors would rejoice if they could know a fortnight before hand what the weather would be on every sea in the world, and farmers If they had forecasts of frosts and storms even a week In advance. ivotn- Ing of this sort can ever be accom plished until the atmospheric condi tions In every part of the earth have been explored. Those at the poles are esDecially important, since It Is in those regions that temperatures fluc tuate most violently and the basic air currents are generated. Much the same thing may be said of ocean currents, The two fundamental movements of the oceanic waters are from the equa. tor toward the poles and back again. but nobody as yet fully understands how this goes on. The Labrador cur rent originates somewhere in the Arc tic zone, but science does not know exactly where or how. This Is the current which brings down Icebergs i"from the polar regions. If its move ments were thoroughly understood from beginning to end, it would be possible to guard against future Titan ic horrors, which would be a prac tical utility of the most substantial sort. Mr. Kaempfert concedes that there is no likelihood of any polar explor ing expedition finding gold or dia monds, but that will not disappoint the leaders. The treasures they seek are more valuable than gems and bullion. They risk their lives and often lose them to Increase the sum total of hu man knowledge. They help us to un derstand the world we live in, and as we know more about It and unravel Its mysteries one after another, man acquires new power over nature and adds new dignity to his station in the universe. Step by step he has eman cipated himself from abject slavery to the forces and conditions with which nature surrounds, him. He has mas tered them one at a time and by do ing so has set his own energies free, to perfect the structure of civilization. The conquest of nature has been made by men like Captain Scott, who count ed their lives as nothing In compari son with the advancement of the race. Mr. ' Kaempfert concedes too much hen he allows that no gold will ever be found In the polar continents. No body knows what will be found there when proper explorations have been made. We all thought Alaska was a worthless region when it was first pur chased from Russia, but experience has shown that it conceals all sorts of hidden treasures. Still. It makes no essential difference whether the antarctic continent con tains gold and gems, mines of coal and subterranean lakes of petroleum, or whether It Is barren from the sur face to the center. It is a part of our domain, and thev human mind will never be contented until it has been explored and mapped. There is a higher utility than that which can be, .timated in coin. The satisfactions oZA the mind are as real as those of the body and far more valuable. If men had never been willing to risk their lives in the pursuit of for lorn hopes and the conquest of un promising territories, the human race would have vegetated in its original nook of the world forever. The great emigrations that won new continents would not have been undertaken. "Cul Bono," with his pessimistic "What Is the use?" has always been on hand from the beginning of time. He was sneering at the council table when Columbus proposed his voyage across the Atlantic. His evil face wore Its ill-omened smile when Jefferson sent out Lewis and Clark to explore the Oregon country. He- was ready with his croak when the first Pacific rail road was projected. Happily, he Is seldom listened to. There are always brave leaders to push on Into untried continents in spite of sneers and op position and It Is through their sac rifices that we have gained all we possess of knowledge and power over nature. It will be a sad day for hu manlty when there Is nobody left In the world who is eager to dare greatly for the sake of daring. The pure love of adventure has been one of the great motive forces In civilization. Mr. Kaempfert says It Is "unscientific for men like Captain Scott to make need less sacrifices." It may be unscientific, but It is not unheroic. Civilization needs' the stimulus of high and lm practical endeavor. Tales of splendid risk are like the free wind of heaven blowing through the close chambers of society. Young men need them to rouse their slumbering ambition. Old men need them to keep alive their faith in God and their confidence in the future. If Captain Scott had gone to the South Pole simply for the sake of going, only to do a great and dar ing deed for the sake of doing it, without hope of advancing science or profiting trade, we should still have rejoiced In his courage and joined In praising his knightly death. An Ingenious restaurant man In the East advertises a rebate of ten per cent on every meal check over 60 cents. This Is supposed to counter balance the tip to the waiter and ease the financial burden of the diner. The relief will no doubt be welcome, but it Is inadequate. The smallest tip any American ever gives is a dime, while ten per cent of 60 cents is only a nickel. A five-cent tip or less Is common in Europe, but we are too proud to give It and our waiters are too haughty to accept it. If we dared use ' a little common sense In' tipping the evil would be less flagrant. It Is a pity there Is no living poet great enough to celebrate Governor Marshall's .heroism properly. He has actually declined to take $4800 which the Indiana Legislature tried to thrust Into his hands. Public office has so long been regarded as an open sesame to the public purse that we have no words to express our approving won der at his deed. We venture to sug gest to the Indiana Legislature that it would be a beautiful project to melt up that $4800 and cast a miniature statue of Governor Marshall from It If Calvin Bobb had worked near Dr, Carrel's laboratory he might have a good hand now. It was cut off In sawmill. Bobb put it in his pocket and walked serenely home, but he never thought of splicing it back in Its place. That is precisely what Dr. carrel would have done. The new surgery Is going to diminish the number of crip ples in the world, while social nygiene is going to make surgery of any kind progressively unnecessary. The Municipal Civil Service Com mission holds to the belief that a man Is no older than he feels and acts. It refuses to turn down a man like W. D. Hurlburt who, though 64 years old. Is still active and vigorous. Any man who recalls the great things done by men long past the Osier age limit will ap prove the Commission's action. Theologians who would abolish Ha des as a place of punishment must consider the Chicago father whose non-support of his wife caused the death of his child by starvation. Fel lows of this kind cause many sober minded men to express the hope they will get there first to arrange the re ception. The fate of the Oregon la added to the many other ticklish questions left to Wilson. If he answers them all and fills all the offices, he will have diffi culty in securing those nine hours' sleep in twenty-four which he consid ers necessary to keep him fit. I may ro away again tomorrow If X choose to and It I do there will be none ot the rouchnecks around there breaking In my door to present bills at my office in my absence. uovernor weet in an interview. The state's door and the state's of fice. For the Governor is not the state. Suffragists say the American flag out of harmony" with the color Is scheme for their inaugural day parade. Of course. If it is Impossible to get them to change their color scheme we might alter the flag tor their benefit. At the Instigation of the Humane people a driver was fined for whip ping bis horse, but the woman who pa rades her small child in bare legs. barring an apology for socks, goes un molested. It is a pity "Pop" Anson could not be here during a game, for fans would delight In honoring the man who ls connecting link between the present and the days when the game was young. Now we shall see whether sturdy John Burns, once leader of the radical labor element In England, can' cope with the suffragettes any more suc cessfully than did Asqulth and Church ill. Melvln Earl Hatfield, the young the ater usher who has inherited a for tune, proves his fitness to possess It by sticking to his Job Instead of start ing an orgie or- spending. The Governor of Texas may imag ine he is bigger than Taft. but anyway his zeal in behalf of Texana in Mexico Is commendable. A picture of Governor Marshall re fusing that $4800 would make a com panion to Caesar refusing the crown. The 60,000 Boy Scouts enrolled dar ing the past year are the hope of the Nation If treuble comes, later on. Madero lost because he waa slack In his killing. Huerta is not troubled that way. - Let George and Harry save the Ore gon. HOW TO CUT DOWBT 1.1VIWO COST. Commlaalon Men Not Only Oaea In Food Combine. Is Charae. PORTLAND. Feb. 24. (To the Edl tor.) A correspondent asks, "How is the market basket going to relieve the retailer of his expensive delivery sys tem?" which system, of course, nls cus. tomers maintain. Some few weeks ago I requested my husband to purchas and carry home a 10-pound box ot crackers. - He said: "I will order It de Hvered. The store has a delivery sys tern, and I will -not receive any dis count on the price for carrying it home myself I replied that the roads were very bad and I did not desire to bur den horses and drivers with anything unless it were absolutely necessary, so the crackers were carried home. However, his reply suggests an an swer to the question at the beginnln of .my letter, and one way in which the expensive delivery system might b curtailed. Why could not the dealer afford to make a substantial discount in price on all articles carried home by the purchaser? I believe if such a plan were adopted, there would be a very material falling off in the number of packages asked to be delivered, an those desiring to help reduce the high cost of living would receive the ben eflt, while those preferring to have spool of thread sent home could pay for the service. Another way In which the high cost of living could be reduced would be to repeal the law demanding a pro hibltory license from farmers wlshin to bring in their produce and peddle it from door to door. This law was passed wholly In the Interest of the commission men and retail grocers, who put up the plea that they should be protected Docause mey pay city tuea, likewise store rent, which the farmers do not have to pay. Now, It seems to me "the greatest good to the greatest number" should apply. In our city of over '200.000 people the commission men and retail grocers form only small per cent, so why should they be benefited at such enormous expense to the many thousand others who also pay taxes and store rent. The associations of the retail grocers. wholesale grocers and creamery men, I think, could be Investigated with as much benefit to the public as was that of the commission men. When we take our market basket on our arm and go shopping for butter, coffee, various sorts of canned goods. eta, etc. It seems strange to us that the prices are Just the same wnerever we go, and we do not find it difficult to believe that there Is manipulation and price-fixing by the different asso ciations. The maximum, penalty should be lm posed for infringement of our laws In restraint of trade, fixing or prices, etc What does a fine of $400 or $500 amount to to one of our large commission houses? Nothing at all. .If the mem bers were fined $5000 and sentenced to prison for a year, there probably would be no need of using more of the tax payers' money In bringing suits to als solve other trusts that exist In our midst. You would not be able to see them for their dust. In their haste to dissolve of their own accord. MARY N. WHITNEY, PACEL POST AXD LIVING COST Writer Gives Illustration of Cost of Sell ding Malt Orders. PORTLAND, Feb. 20. (To the Ed itor.) We are a serious people. There can be no doubt about It Wit ness the letter of G. M. Raymond which appeared in The Oregonlan, de fending post rates. Yes, we are serl ous, and some people take the parcel post seriously. Mr. Raymond Is well posted on the rates charged by his Uncle Samuel's express company. He quotes a section of the regulations, but I doubt me very much if he has sent two ounces of pep per to Pocatello, -Idaho, by the new system. I have, that is the source of my Information. When I stated that I had sent two 'ounces of pepper to Pocatello by parcel nost. and paid 8 cents postage tnereon took it tor granted that anyooay would know the pepper was in a tin box. and that said box had a paper wrapper, to which the stamps were at tached. on which I wrote the address of the sender and the receiver. These accoutrements caused the gross weight to. register a feather more than four ounces Just enough over to carry pound rates and make the pepper cost the consumer 18 cents instead ot iu cents, the price at which pepper sells In Pocatello. The parcel post is our own; it must be alright. Also the whole post system is O. K. If you care to think so and happen to be one of Its favorites. But if it was run by a corporation it would not be tolerated for one year. It may be that some one will defend the prac tlce of making letter writers pay at the rate of 82 cents per pound for sealea letters. 16 cents per pound for open or unsealed letters, while magazines ana their advertising tonnage at the rate of 4 cents per pound, and mail-order houses get a local rate of 5 cents per pound via parcel post. It costs just as much to handle second-class mail as first-class, but in order that one may prosper another is taxed. It Is a rank Injustice to every man who pays letter postage. Talk about reducing tne cosr oi liv ing! 'I can send 100 pounds of coffee from Portland to San Francisco on the grand old S. P. for 50 centavos, a half a dollar, four bits; what would it cost to get it back here by parcel post? uo hear soma brother say, nine aoi- lars"? You are away off. Parcel post will bring It back for $18, but it will cost more than that. Yes, Indeed; for you will have to spend some time wrap ping, addressing, carting, etc. before you get it under way, for truly there are no boxes on the corner capable of holdinir an hundred weight of Java. Moreover and furthermore, uncie Samuel doesn't call for your parcel with a span of dapple grays hitched to a red wagon. Not yet. PIO CAUSES TEJfSB EXCITEMENT Irishman's Qvod Fellowship Starts Pan demonium on Elevated. New York Times. Clutching an animated canvas bag, a somewhat unsteady Irishman got on a Third avenue elevated train at City Hall. It was crowded, but he found a seat, and the curiosity of the other passengers as to ' the contents of the bag was satisfied when he explained that the squeals which came from It were emitted by a suckling pig which he bad won In a Hoboken raffle. At Twenty-third street, in his gen erous effort to give the pig air and the passengers a slgnt ot it, tne insmnan opened the bag too wide. Out bounced the pig and scuttled away across a row of horrified laps. A posse went In pursuit, and the young porker was run to earth under a rear seat, behind the conductor's lantern. But It had tasted liberty. At lforty- second street it broke loose again, and this time dived straight for a refuge between the adjeining laps of two young girls, wuwae aariettB uicnuou with a general outburst of laughter and shouts that could be heard a block away. When the Irishman had recaptured the pig he offered to sell it on the spot for 10 cents, but there were no takers, and finally, at One Hundred and Sixty- lnth street, bag ana pig aisappearea in the fastnesses of the Bronx. Poll Mast. nRir,OM CITY. Or.. Feb. 24. (To the Editor.) To settle an argument. Is it proper on Washington's birthday to put the American nag nan mast or iuii mast? In honoring a dead person, 1 contend that the flag should be at half mast. UrU.tr. BOSTON WRITER DEFENDS BOSTON Curse of Sterility Has Not Fallen on - New England. BOSTON. Feb. 20. (To the Editor.) May a Boston newspaper writer, who has read with Interest your recen article on the "New England Spirit," re printed In the Salem Observer, expres disagreement with Its generalisations No "curse -of sterility has fallen on New England." Even the most Incom plete and partial record of things now doing in this section would serve to contradict your statement that "It has given ideals to Kansas, Iowa and Ohio Indeed, to the whole Middle West bat scarcely a' shadow of these Ideal remains In Boston, Of all the misconceptions mallclousl spread through the western provinces by New York Jokesmiths, none is more persistent and none less soundly based than this notion of the degeneracy New England. These Northeastern states do, of course, tend to become more and more of a suburban adjunct to the me tropolis; the same thing is happenin to the territory of which Philadelphi is still the nominal capital. The over shadowing bigness of New York, indeed, has become the central fact in our rsa- tional life. But as New York grow and to a considerable extent becaus New York grows, this section Is con etantly gaining In both material an Intellectual resources. We are being gradually unprovlnclallzed, and In the process we are witnessing a finer now erlnsr forth of the arts than the some what rustic New England mind of tho middle 19th century ever conceived.- Our characteristic forms of expres sion In Boston today are artistic an musical rather than literary. The di rector of the admirable art museum In your own city will bear me out, I fancy. In the assertion that the group of Bos. ton painters, of whom Messrs. Tarbell, Benson and Decamp are pre-eminen stands at the very forefront of Amer lean art In this city has arisen th first distinct school of musical compo sition that in any way ranks as com parable with the present-day com posers of Germany and France. Chad wick and Converse and Foote and Par ker have names familiar to Europe as well as America; It is the reputation of Boston as a musical center that brings here such composers as Arthur Shepard, lately director of Bait laice City's symphony orchestra. Boston. In brief, has Immensely broadened out In the past two decades and has become one of the world cosmopolitan centers. With the Na tional shifting of interest from tran scendental to material things a great many of the men and women who in the mid-Victorian age would have turned to literature have gone in for architecture, painting, sculpture, de sign, music. Finally permit me Just one more spasm of indignation while I froth ove your slur about the "Italians and Huns with their poverty and slums." Next time you are In Boston visit the Mu seum of Fine Arts on a Sunday after noon and observe the crowds of Italian from the North End, eager, enthusias tic. Intelligent. "Huns" I am not sure about, but drop in at our leading con servatory and ask for the records o: young Hebrews In the classes and in orchestral work. Study the Greek col ontes of our manufacturing towns and note the way these sturdy peasants from Hellas are taking up farms and becoming steady-going American clti zens. New England has rts problems. among which not the least irritating is the attitude of many New England Yankees of the type whose passing you appear to regret. The individualism of our rural districts is still a constant bar to progress. Yet there is abundan hopefulness of social democracy In the cosmopolitan population we are acquir. ing. FREDERICK W. COBURN. JOAQUIN MILLER TRUE AMERICAN Honored Personal Friend and House. hold Guest of Queen Victoria. PENDLETON. Or., Feb. 22. (To the Editor.) Attesting the brilliant poetic genius ana tree American manhood o joaquin juilier, victoria, at once Empress of the British Empire and queen among the whole world's wo men, held a close personal friendship wun tne talented poet of the West. In pioneer days my father. S. Ells worth, was a lawyer of extensive prac tice. At Eugene he and my mother kept "open house" and entertained at their home many of the founders of this Western empire, among these friends being Colonel E. D. Baker, the soldier, statesman and hero-martyr of the Civil. War, and Joaquin Miller, the poet of, the Sierras, While almost a girl, mother taught school at Fort Dalles, In 1855-66. She also had poetic talent Joaquin Miller, In his earlier life, had a sympathetic adviser In my mother. She encouraged and helped him in his work, and gave him sound moral advice. She read proof on material lor his first books of poetry ami ne let stand, some of her own phrases in bis Western songs. So, when the successful poet re turned from England, where the British people hailed and entertained him as a second Lord Byron, he naturally visited my mother, who had Instilled into his heart courage and cheer in his early days of struggle, labor and little recog nized merit. Though only a child, I recall vividly the poet, with his curly, long Samson hair and blue eyes, full of intellect and inspiration. On his watch chain hung a large signet ring. On its green letter seal were the Queen's letters, V. R. As if it was the greatest of his achievements, Joaquin Miller said, Mrs. Ellsworth, I was frequently guest in the private household of good Queen Victoria and she gave me, as a token of her friendship, this unique ring, presenting it to me with her own royal hands. "And let me say," he added, "In her private life, Queen Victoria has the simplest tastes and attire. Though the Empress of a realm on whose flag the sun never Bets,' she modestly dresses in her home life. like one of our own, untitled American women. The Queen is sf cordial, kind and unaffected as a true American mother." It seems to me that this tribute to plain womanhood by Joaquin Miller, whose music. Is now wafted Into spheres of eternity, proves his title to the highest type of American man hood more fully than his dauntless courage as a pioneer of the West scout and Indian fighter, and. his self-earned fame as a poet and playwright. Be a woman, nought is higher On the gilded list of fame. On the catalogue of icJory There's no hisher. holler name. JOHN W ELLSWORTH. BAH ALL IGNORANT IMMIGRANTS. Contention Made That They Are a Men ace to United States. PORTLAND. Feb. 24. (To the Edi tor.) I have voted for President Taft wlce, but I would not vote for him again for any office after he vetoed the bill requiring a simple .educational test for Immigrants. Look at Mexico! The Illiterate and superstitious people cannot govern themselves. Then notice the people of England, German, Swe den, Norway, Denmark, from which countrfes we get our best emigrants. All troubles over there are settled at the ballot box and by other peaceful means. . Why? Because the people are educated enough not to make fools of themselves. If the Illiterate, bound in religious superstition of Southern Eu rope, are permitted to come here in unrestricted numbers, they will destroy ur civilization and the U. S. A. will like Mexico. They do not learn English fast enough and do not know or have sympathy for our institutions. CHARUES O. SMITH. Definition of Mrs. Grundy. Chicago Record-Herald. 'Pa, who Is Mrs. Grundy?" She Is an old lady who Is always supposed to belong to some other man's family." - Eclipse of the Turk lly Dean Collins. Where are the Turks of yesterday? Where are the Servian forces hiding? Where do the Grecian banners play? Where are the Bulgar hosts abiding? But yester month, across the page The front page in the papers' story, I saw the Bulgar armies rage. And saw the Turk all maimed and gory. i But yester month the cloud of war Darkened the headlines of our papers. But now in vain I'm looking for The Turkish military capers. Lo! in their place, swart Huerta scowls. With many a warlike companero. O'er Mexico, for vengeance howls The riddled spirit of Madero. Where wily Turks once sought delay And savage Balkans scorned their proffer. New Presidents, from day to day. From Mexico their stories offer. And the suave slayer, to mankind. Of news dispatches Is the worder. To show in Mexico we find Expedients but never murder. The headlines shriek, the columns reek. And ghosts of slaughtered men are talk in'; Their tongue Is Mexican, not Greek; Their land is Mexican, not Balkan. I see the cauldron frothed with gore. And grinning beads the swords adorning: All Mexican and ask once more: . "Where are the Turks of yester morning?" They've dwindled from tho morning's news; The Balkan cloud, once dark and lowering. Dims not the page that I peruse For darker clouds than those are glowering. Exit the Turk unspeakable. Of reddest stories once the donor. For wires from Mexico are full Of more unspeakable dishonor. . Twenty-five Years Ago From Tho Oregonlan of February 20, 1888. The sentiment in East Portland and the other East Side communities in fa vor of consolidation with Portland is believed to be practically unanimous. Died. In this city February 24, Ag nes, youngest daughter of 8. Pennoyer, aged 10 years and five months. Deputy United States Marshal Clay Myers returned yesterday from a three weeks' trip through the Prlneville country. The city plazas on Fourth street have been cleared of the Winter's rubbish and the trees trimmed. The rustio benches are badly demoralized and need repairs. General Manager Holcomb, General Freight Agent Campbell and Superin tendent Johnson, of the O. R. & N. Co., returned yesterday from an extended trip over the lines of the company. New York, Feb. 25. Tomorrow's World will contain a three-column in terview with Blaine, cabled from Flor ence. Blaine distinctly asserted that under no circumstances whatever would he allow his name to be used In connection with the next Presidential nomination. El Paso, Tex., Feb. 25. The Booth Barrett Company left here for Cali fornia this morning by a special train of five cars. They were enthusias tically received here last nisht They will play a season In San Diego and probably a short one in Portland, Or. leader of the MIssourn Pacific strike Ivrn villi rn en whn hn hin nn trial on a charge of attempting to tap tel egraph wires, was acquitted today. Washington, Feb. 26. The Attorney- General has received the resignation of Judge Turner, associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Washington Territory. Half a Century Ago From The Oregonlan of February 26, 1863. ine steamer neiiei succeeded in reaching Eue;ene City on Monday last being the first trip of a steamer to that place this season. The celebration of Washington's birthday at Bel pas!. Marlon County, was a complete success. His Excellency, Governor Gibbs, delivered a very able and appropriate oration and Samuel Brown, Esq., of Belpasi, fully, fearless ly and successfully vindicated the emancipation proclamation of President Lincoln. Washington. Feb. 12. The Missouri emancipation bill was considered in the Senate today. An amendment re ducing the amount to be paid for each slave from $300 to $200 was adopted. The Senate finally passed the bill by a small majority. Murfreesboro, Feb. 6. An officer of Grant's army represents our forces in full strength around Vlcksburg and at work on the canal, making satisfactory headway. The new channel has nix feet of water and the current is rap idly increasing. The beef-eaters of this region are be ginning to feel. If not taste, the conse quences of the recent combination en tered Into by the several meat dealern of this city, by which the price of beef has suddenly advanced to double Its former price.- Captain Wells, of Shoalwater Bay, and a stranger from Albany, Or,, were both accidentally drowned while en deavoring to cross from Oystervllle to Cape Shoalwater on the 20th Inst The auction sale of town lots in Walla Walla has been postponed until Saturday, April 4. Polite Debate In Congress Toledo Blade. Mr. Ferris, of Oklahoma If the dis tinguished gentleman from Illinois thinks that by badgering me and drag ging In some reference to an outside and wholly extrinsic matter he can close my mouth, he is seriously mis-. taken. Mr. Mann, of Illinois Oh. I do not think anything could close the gentle man's mouth, not even his head. After which the business of the House of Representatives droned on, as sleep ily as ever. Long Terms Keep Oat Recruits. Washington. D. C, Star. Although complete figures for a long period are not yet available, prelimi nary tables compiled at tns oltlce ot the Adjutant-General of the Army In dicate a considerable falling off in en listments and re-enlistments of recruits nder the new law which lengthens the term of service.. Under the present law the troops are enlisted for seven years, of which four are to be spent with the colors and the remaining three years In reserve. Rrrnrns From Reporting Banks. - Kansas City Star. There are 25,195 reporting banks In the United States having assets aggre gating $25,000,000,000 and liabilities to depositors of over $17,000,000,000. A Habit Learned at Home. Judge. Tight Wad If you lost me you'd have to beg for money. His Wile Well, it would come natu ral.