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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1913)
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1913. f PORTLAND, OKEGOX. Y tered at Portland, Onion. Postoftice aa tna.cjaaa matter. . inption Kates Invariably in AOTance: (BT St AIL) fir. Sunday Included, on year $8.00 f-y. Sundar lnr;!tiid- nlv months ... 4...J llr. Sundsv included, three month a.. 2.2," fiy. Sunday included, one month .... -"JS i. without Punday, one year y. without Sunriav. mi-x months .... .5 . without Sunday, three months .. 1-75 b, without Sunday, one montb . -w kly, one year... 3-&0 ay. one year 2- Cay and Weekly, one year. . (BT CARRIER) Sunday included, one year...... .0 T.y.'i SundaT included, one month o r.OTV u Remit Send-postolce money or . ttxnress order or neraonal check on your il bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at senders rilK. uive postonice auaress u ' Including county and state. IPoetaz-e Kntea Ten to 14 pases, 1 cent: F to 25 pases, i cents; 30 to 4J pages, a Ints: 40 to 00 pages, 4 centa. Foreign ffage, double rate. atern Bueineaw OffWs Verree ft Conk- New York. Brunswick building, cnt- ko. Hterer building. saa Franciaro Ofllee R. J. Bidwell Co.. - Market street, i European Officer No. 3 Regent street 8. I-ORTXAND, SATURDAY. MAR. 1, 1813. F0 CAUSE 1XR THE BCU. MOOSE TO - EXIXT. As was to be expected, the Bull Moose exult in the movement to re vise the rules of representation at Republican conventions. The Chicago Evening Post takes Senator Root's ad- rrence to the movement as an ad mis- ion that the Republican National 'ommlttee and Convention were Trong and that Colonel Roosevelt was Ight in the controversy about the lontestE. It therefore claims Colonel .ooaevelt's vindication. Mr. Root makes no such admission. rt only rules according to which the (mtests could be decided were the ilea then in force. He maintained lat the contests were Justly decided 'cording to those rules and Senator 4i Follette has Droved it by a close inalyris of each contest. If the rules lid not secure fair representation of he Republican voters, the Republican iommittee and the Republican con- ention were powerless to apply a emedy applicable at that convention. o man can justly demand a change :i the rules of a game while the game i In progress, much less demand also .hat the new rules shall apply to that ame. Mr. Roosevelt refused to con tent to this course when he opposed change in the basis of Southern rep resentation in 190S. He did not dis cover the iniquity of the existing rules until his own ox was gored in 1912. Mr. Root's present position is quite consistent with his course n 1912. The contests of that year having been r decided in accordance with the rules ' then governing, he proposes that the rules be changed in such manner that there shall be no occasion for contests on the same grounds. He would re move the absurdly inequitable condl- lon under which each delegate from ew York represents 5060 voters, while ach delegate from Mississippi repre sents only seventy-nine voters. He would avoid such contests as that torn California by allowing each state io,ecide whether all us aeiegates slijil Tfce elected at large or four at ra-c Anf ta .rest by districts, al though the latter Imethod would mani festly insure fairei- representation. He would leave to tie states the choice between the primary and the conven tion system of , electing delegates. Tb.n Vtsfaiya that Mr. Root's pro rbsal contains not "a word about re- noving tne evil or. an uorepresenuiiKo National committee," nor aDout tne glaring wrong of allowing contested delegates the right of voting on each other's contests." There is reason to doubt that, while revising the basis of representation, the proposed conven- tlon would take care mat eacn iva . tlonal committeeman should fairly represent the Republicans of his state. But it is not likely to remove the glar ing wrong to which the Post refers by opening the way for a candidate to exclude from a voice In the earlier "proceedings of a convention a large - proportion of his rival's delegates by bringing a large number of baseless contests, as Colonel Roosevelt at tempted In 1912. That would be to remove one glaring wrong by perpe trating another still more glaring. A truly representative National commit, tee can surely be trusted to dismiss bogus contests and to seat all dele gates who can show a prima facie right. . A MOVE FOR ETFICIESCY. President-elect Wilson's decision to pay a daily visit to the Capitol for consultation with "members of Con gress during Its sessions will be a step in the direction of the European sys tem of parliamentary government. Secretary Meyer urges a still further step in the same direction, when he says that the arguments advanced against two battleships demonstrate the advisability of admitting the head of the Navy Department to the privi lege of the floor, where he may throw llgnt on questions under discussion. Older countries than ours in self government, countries enjoying a far larger degree of actual popular control over the government than we have, long since recognized the wisdom of the course recommended by Mr. Meyer. In England Cabinet Ministers are choaen from among the members of either house of Parliament and their appointment becomes the signal for resignation of their seats and con tests for re-election, that they may have a vote of confidence from their constituents. If a Minister should fall of re-election, some self-sacriticing member of his party who has a safe seat resigns to make room for him. The possibility of a Minister without a seat in either house of parliament is unthinkable in English politics. Ex perience of Ministers in governing the country is taken as equipping them best for proposing new legislation and they are given every opportunity to put it through not only by sitting in Parliament, but by having control of nearly all the time of the House of Commons. They are given full power and are held to strict accountability. In other European parliaments Minis, ters have the privilege of the floor, whether members or not. They put forward bills and lead the fight for enactment of their measures. What we need in our system of government is closer co-ordination among the three departments. We need this in the interest of efficiency in serving the purpose for which gov ernment exists, and that is to carry out the will of the people. The line of division is so sharply drawn by the Constituuon that any move on the part of one department to secure closer co-operation with the others is resrnted as encroachment on sacred prerogative. All three departments of government need to have the fact Impressed upon them that any prerog. ative whloh impairs efficiency is not sacred and should be waived in the interest of - the highest- -purpose for which the Constitution was made. Our system of checks and balances was so ingeniously devised that it is with the greatest difficulty that we can get anything done, even when the voice of the electorate unmistakably demands that it be done. The people clearly demanded in 1908 that the tar iff be revised downward and they re peated the demand with more empha sis in 1910, but not until 1913 Is there any prospect of compliance with the demand. All these years the machin ery has been groaning and creaking, one part of it preventing another from showing the output which is demand ed. The machine needs adjustment to eliminate friction and to bring results. Mr. Wilson on behalf of one party and Mr. Meyer on behalf of the other have pointed out how this can be done, or at least how a beginning can be made. THE PENALTY. The Democratic House with scarcely a dissenting vote passes a pension bill aggregating .the tremendous sum of $180,000,000 and a deficiency pension bill of $15. 000,000. The Democratic House logrolls to passage a pork-barrel scheme for pub lic buildings, appropriating many mil lions for Federal expenditures where they will do the most good to Repre sentatives desirous of re-election; and all Congressmen hope to be re-elected. But the Democratic House is utterly unable to see the need of an adequate Navy, and it defeats the patriotic American naval policy of two battle ships per year by cutting out one bat tleship. Tour Little American is strong for pensions, but weak for the National defense. MUHons for pensions hereaf ter is nothing to him, though he could avert its necessity by spending thou sands now for a Navy. The unpre pared Nation pays the penalty of its small and timid spirit by its swollen pension roll. HITTING THE BUIXSKYE. ' The "Woman Who Loves Justice" that contributed an article yesterday on the high cost of high living ought to be forever known and admired also as a woman who understands truth, and tells it. A single paragraph from her pointed letter will both illustrate its quality and point its moral: The delicatessens flourish because many women won't cook. The tailors and dress makers flourish because they won't sew. The ready-to-wear counters prosper because tnose who cannot hire their clothes mad buy them ready made. 1 beard a young married woman say a few days ago that she paid her cook a few dollars less every month than her grocery bill amounted to. There is no one to cook for but herself and hns band, and they live in an up-to-date apartment-house. Incidentally, this same hus band gets a salary of 9125 a month. Is it any wonder that the divorce mills grinds? That is the whole story, or, rather. part of the same story of a thousand chapters that would be a tireless itera tion of the same essential facts. The, public grill, the automobile, the $25 hat, the J100 gown, the delivery wag on, the grocer's package, the delicates sen, the theater, bridge, the club, the tailor, the manicure, the hairdresser, shorter hours of labor, and the whole method and style of life nowadays ex- plain the cost of living. The abused commission man and the starving cor ner grocery have precious little to do with it. The high cost of living 1b the cost of high living. But do we want to do without automobiles, theaters, gowns and the like? ..Would we- be more happy? TANTALIZING WITH THE VETO. ':'. It is whispered that the Legislature is likely to be put in a new hole by more nursery stratagem. Having been warned that tne Governor Intended to be naughty after the members left Sa lem, the Legislature determined to re turn and see about it.. Now the Gov ernor will be so goody-goody, that many members will not care to go back to the capital. This will no doubt be very annoying to the others and bring forth loud guffaws from the simple-minded. But as the chief ob ject of maintaining a Legislature Is to get needed legislation, perhaps the general public will consider other as pects of the case. It appears that we shall have very few new laws unless the legislators go through the formality of adjourning sine die. Bills that have passed with out an emergency clause, even though signed by the Governor, do not become laws until ninety days -from the end of the session." Final adjournment has not yet been taken. The session has not ended. A number less than a quorum may meet, but it cannot trans act business and may adjourn only from day to day. It is authorized to compel the attendance of other mem bers, but whether It could enforce an order of attendance is questionable. It is a deep hole into which the Governor, it is said, is now attempting to drive the Legislature. By withhold ing vetoes on pet measures of more than one-third of the members and encouraging them in other ways to re main away, he hopes, it seems, to have free rein in venting his spite against the remaining legislators, for -without a quorum they would be powerless to pass any bill over his veto. The veto thus is not withheld or entered accord ing to merits or demerits of bills. It is deemed solely an instrument for af fronting those whom the Governor cannot control a solemn duty is pros tituted to the gratification of stubborn temper and childish destructiveness. Tet under the circumstances the suc cess of the scheme would be a double crossing of those whom it seems to fa. for. for approval of their measures would not put the bills into effect if a quorum is prevented. We fancy that the public is not pleased with either of two extreme uses of the veto power. The people's sympathy is not gained by its whole sale use as a weapon to offend, nor y general and studied neglect of its proper function. Nor do we believe that any member of the Legislature, no matter what the Governor does or does not do. can escape lasting odium if he absents himself from the Capitol for the purpose of defeating a final ad. journment, or that more than a very few will attempt it. The Balkan war has already caused the annexation of Crete to Greece as the climax of forty years of rebellion against Turkey. The union would long ago have taken place but for the inter ference of the powers. They forbade annexation, they policed the island, they preserved the shadow of Turk ish " sovereignty long after the sub stance was gone. Nine-tenths of the population of Crete is Greek, but the powers preferred any wrong to the opening of the dreaded Eastern ques tion. Not until the Balkan states be came strong enough, allied, to defeat Turkey could Crete become free. Then the six powers withdrew their forces and let the' people have their way. When. Europe. hasthus used its strength to keep oppressed people in subjection, how can it expect the Bal kan states to respect Its wishes when they gain the strength and the oppor tunity to seize Constantinople and Al bania, if not now. a few years hence? KB. M PRC AX IS ONLY HUMAN. For J. P.; Morgan to argue that bankers do not discriminate in giving credit, without -regard to the merits of the man who seeks it or of the security he offers, is to argue that bankers are not moved by human motives! Does Mr. Morgan mean to say that a steel manufacturer whose personal integrity and whose security were above question, but who was an active competitor of the Steel trust, could borrow money at his bans: or at any bank in whose management Mr. Morgan had a voice as readily as could the trust? He knows such a man could not. On the contrary, not only would Mr. Morgan almost certain, ly turn down the man; he would pass the word along to other banks not to accommodate the borrower. As Mr. Morgan is a power in other banks be sides that which bears his name and as he is held in wholesome respect by banks in which he has no interest, his warning would be heeded. Were the loan to be made, it would be made with the hope of so entangling the borrower as to draw him within the tentacles of the trust, as the Tennessee Coal & Iron Company was entangled until it was absorbed. To believe this ia not to credit Mr. Morgan with abnormal depravity; it is to credit him with strictly human propensity to take advantage, of his opportunities. We do not greatly blame him. Almost any other of us, placed as Mr. Morgan is and endowed with his abilities, would do as we have said Mr. Morgan would do. It is be cause we believe that he or any other man placed as he is would act thus that we wish' to see Mr. Morgan and his like deprived of the opportunity, delivered from this sore temptation. We wish to see the monopoly of credit broken up; the giving of credit decid ed by each man's integrity and ability and the quality of the security he offers, not by the effect which the making of a loan may have on cor porations in which the banker is per sonally interested. . For this reason The Oregonian approves the Chicago declaration of President-elect Wilson that "the credit of the country must be open upon equal terms and with equal readiness upon the same terms to everybody." IJGHT ON BROOK FARM. A new book upon the Brook Farm colony by one who lived In it for a while has directed fresh attention to this famous communistic experiment. The author of the book. "My Friends at Brook Farm," is John Van Der Zee Sears. He joined the colony when he was a boy and became more or less familiar with its history and the cele brated men who were associated with the experiment. His friends were not willing to permit young Sears to live at Brook Farm, but he disregarded their wishes, and if he was injured in any -way by his radical associates there is no record of it. The Yankee far mers in the neighborhood of the 6ol ony were so opposed to its principles that theytset fire to the farm build ings and played other tricks upon the philosophic settlers which made life a burden to them. For these and othei reasons the colony finally broke up, but its influence upon American life and literature was far-reaching. Such men as George William Curtis, George Ripley, Emerson and Charles A. Dana either Joined the colony or visited it frequently, and the principles upon which it was founded affected them profoundly to the end of their careers. Nathaniel Hawthorne, who lived at the Farm a while and then withdrew, made it the scene of his Blithedale Romance. The heroine of that etory was modeled upon Margaret Fuller, who was one of the foremost sympa thizers with the experiment as long as it lasted. Thomas Wentworth Higginson traces in his luminous way the Influences which combined to produce the Brook Farm colony. The reader will find them at length in his "Part of a Man's Life." We may say briefly that they were, first, the teachings of "a num ber of highly-educated Germans who were driven from their country by the political uproar of 1825" and brought their philosophic speculations with them to this country. In the second place every ambitious American youth of that day went to Germany to com plete his education and he naturally came back overflowing with Goethe and transcendentalism. Add to these factors the growing vogue of Carlyle, who was saturated with Teutonic ideas, and the native love of the Yan kee soul for light and progress and we have sufficient reason for the experi ment with all its communism and radicalism. The foundation of the colony was coincident with an out break of primitive religious forces in New England and a return to some thing like the original ideas of Chris tianity. The minds of thinking men were filled with new and exalted hopes for the betterment of human ity. All sorts of projects were in the air and it was believed that the Golden Age.was not far off. The Brook Farm colony was to usher it in. There was great enthusiasm among the founders. George Ripley, whom Higginson calls "the single consum mate type during that period of the scholar and the cheery good fellow," was the head of the colony school. He sold his famous German library to provide funds for the enterprise and varied his educational labors by clean ing out the cow barn. - His wife, a woman of rare refinement, showed her zeal by scrubbing the kitchen floors. Emerson published his essay on Na ture in 183S. The Farm colony was organized in 1840. Each in its way expressed the highest life and thought of tire country. The essay on Nature gave Americans the finest essence of the new philosophic ideas which were rising into power all over the world. Kant had formulated them into an all-conquering system of thought. Burns and Wordsworth, to say noth ing of Byron, had thrown them Into great poetic form. Carlyle preached them in season and out of season to a world that could not refuse to sit un der the drippings of bis tireless pulpit. New England caught the divine flame and in the hearts of her chosen sons it burned more brightly for a time than anywhere else in the world. The Brook Farm colony was com munistic, which Is not at all the same thing as socialistic. Their plan was to own everythtlng in common. To fill out the harmony of the scheme all kinds of work were to be done by each person. Every task was for each member and each member was sup posed to take his turn at every task. Their motto was the highly ideal one, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs." There was to be no sordid consideration of buying or selling between the members and none was to go hungry because he could not work. This is quite un like the doctrine of socialism which sanctions individual property and shuns common ownership of every thing except the instruments of pro duction such as land and machinery. Socialism teaches the division of labor and the specialization of talents, while communism abhors them both and cares nothing for productive efficien cy. As the world stood, the Brook Farm colony had to fail even if the Yankee neighbors had not burned Jta buildings. The ire of these good peo ple was excited by all sorts of tales about "free love," "atheism" and sim ilar vulgar aberrations. The Yankee mind has always been deeply con cerned with the morals of its neigh bors and has seldom hesitated to chasten them with fire and gallows if nothing less rigorous would serve. But, the Brook Farm experiment would have gone to wreck even if no body had troubled it. Numerous oth ers, of the same kind, which were tried in various parts of the world at about that time, suffered the same fate; for example, the Hopedale community founded in 1842 and Robert Dale Owen's colony which reached its greatest prosperity in 1826. Either the world was not yet ready for them or it had passed beyond the period when they eould hope to succeed. In any case it is Interesting to read the solemnly formal articles of association under which Brook Farm was or. ganized. Its principal purpose was to carry on an "agricultural, literary and scientific school or college." The land and cows were subsidiary to this. Each stockholder was guaranteed 5 per cent dividends on his investment and the capital of the colony was limited to $12,000. Chales A. Dana was record ing secretary. He also served with Hawthorne on the finance committee. George Ripley was on the agricultural committee as well as the committee of general direction. The farm was situated at West Roxbury, about nine miles from Boston. Both on account of its principles and the promising men who took part in it the experi ment attracted the sympathetic inter est of almost every intelligent man in the country, but, as it turned out, nothing could save it from collapse. Because certain speculators in India guessed wrongly at the rate with which China would suppress opium smoking, the British government calls on the new republic to abate its zeal for the redemption of its people until these speculators have unloaded. In other words, the financial interests of the speculators in the damnable drug are held superior, in the eyes of the British government, to the moral wel fare of the Chinese nation. That is the situation, stripped of all equivo cation. Perhaps the achievements of the battleship Oregon are too recent to in spire the enthusiasm they merit. Over tl. 000, 000 has been raised for the celebration of Perry's victory on Lake Erie, but that happened a century ago. If the Oregon should be scrapped, the Americans of 199S may mingle denun ciation of the Navy Department van dals with plaudits for the historic ship. It is but little more than eight years since the Wright brothers made the first flight in a heavier-than-air ma chine at Dayton, but flying has be come so commonplace that the fatal fall of an aviator commands only a few lines of space in a newspaper. Truly "the world do move." Governor West expresses the hope that there will not be a quorum. Still, he should be fairly well convinced by this time that the Legislature is very much in earnest in the unhappy task of preventing the whimsical executive from exercising his own sweet will in all legislative matters. It is all very well to do as Dr. Peel did in a Chicago restaurant spot the pickpocket and retrieve the stolen watch from his overcoat pocket. But suppose the doctor .had spotted the wrong mari and explored the wrong pockets? A strike of Coast linemen must be averted. The telephone Is too much of a business necessity to be tied up as it will be if the men go out. This is a job where experience and skill ara great factors. How can a Representative win the farmer vote without free seeds to dis tribute? The Senate has struck a vicious blow at the privileges and per quisites of the House. Senator Lodge is disposed to poke fun at the appropriation for the San Francisco Exposition, but wait until Boston starts something, which will be different, of course. The reports that Americans are in danger in Mexico must have been in spired by someone who didn't under stand the popular cry "viva los Americanos." No considerations of strategy pre vented the war correspondents from accompanying the suffragist army to Washington. Secretary Meyer blames Wilson for defeat of the two-battleshlps pro gramme. But then, isn't it a little early to begin blaming Wilson for things? Adjournment of the twenty-seventh session for a few days puts many fa miliar faces on the city's thorough fares. None seems distressed. If Governor Sulzer carries out his threat to throw out all the New York grafters, what Is to become of Tam many? Having reached Washington, the suffragist hikers have earned a long rest. So has the public. Here it is the first of March and a good Federal job is going to waste in the Postoffice. Spring is here by the clock, but the wise man will delay his garden work a few weeks. Experts found water in great stores of Illinois butter. The milkmen .are still at it. The local justice courts made a quick move yesterday. Literally; that is. These are the days when the Gov ernor is earning his salary. " In the matter of Duniway vs. Harris, the expert takes the count. Let the March - winds blow their worst at once. The Expert Agriculturist By Addiaaua Beastett. THE city merchant sold his busi ness, bought a large tract of land, erected a fine house tberon and prided himself that he was now one of the agriculturists of the country. And he Intended to show the farmers how to farm, show them many new wrinkles in seientifie farming. He had read several books on the subject and prided himself that he could sive the ordinary plodding farmer cards and spades 'in the game of agriculture. This particular morning he had arisen from his bed early, when the' sun was not more than a.n hour high. ' He took his bath, shaved himself, dressed with great care in his new agricultural suit of English tweed, donned a blue flan nel shirt over his silk underwear, put on a flaming red necktie, adorned It with his largest diamond, pulled on his silk socks and fifteen-dollar horsehlde boots, and then sat down to his mod est country breakfast, consisting of a T-bone steak, fried potatoes, soft boiled esss, coffee and hot biscuits. . This was to be a day of great exer tion, for he was to do his first job of plowing. He took plenty of time over his morning meal, dallying between bites and sips over a book he had just received, "Why Some' . Farmers Fail." And as he read he thought of a book be Intended to write and publish as soon as he had the time, "Why Some Farmers Succeed." "But.'' he solilo quized, "I cannot set at it for a couple of weeks yet, so it may not come out before late this Fall." When he went out to the field where he had told the hired man to have the plow team hitched to the plow and ready for action he was amazed to find that he bad to walk behind the plow. Now, he had seen many pictures of modern plowers, and they all showed workmen riding. But he said nothing: he knew he was equal to do the work with any sort of an implement. e So he lit a cigarette, told the hired man to do the driving, while he did the actual work of plowing by holding the plow handles. And they started. The "land" had already been blocked out and one furrow plowed around by the hired man, "an ignorant clodhopper," the agriculturist said. Around this land it was a great distance, at least 20 rods, a sixteenth of a mile. But he clung grimly to the plow handles, the "clodhopper" drove carefully and in due time they made a round. Getting back to the starting place the agriculturist decided that the team needed a rest, so he eat on the plow beam and smoked three or four cigar ettes, meantime ills brain busy on his book. After a quarter of an hour, or perhaps 20 minutes, they again started and soon another furrow was made clear around that tremendous "land." As they made the turn he told the driver to take the team to the barn and give them a good feed so they would be fit in the afternoon, and he went to the house for a little rest and 1 is dinner. He found he had perspired something awful, so he concluded he would take a bath and change his underve.r. His boots also needed polishing, so he called in the houseman and ordered them shined. He bathed, put on a fresh suit of silk underwear,, then put in the time until lunch was readx In manicur ing his nails. . The lunch was a simple repast con sisting of a half-dozen raw oysters, to mato soup, boiled halibut, roast neef. four kinds of vegetables, a salad, mince pie.- roquefort cheese, toasted crackers and black coffee. This was rounded olf with a black cigar and a giass of brandy and soda. Just then the hired mm came in and said one of the plow team had lost a shoe. That is very provaking." replied the agriculturist, "just d urine the busv season, at a time when every minute counts, but I suppose we will have to lay off this afternoon while you take him to town and have a new shoe put on." mm "John," remarked his wife. Just when his mind was busy on his great book, "John, I hear the Kaatses over in town have some splendid ducks for sale, ducks that are laying like anything, Indiana Runners they call them, and very soon they expect the stork will bring a lot of dear little ducklings. Don't you think it would be nice to buy a few pair before the ducklings come ana men rear tne little ones? We might make a lot of money that wav. John was willing, more than willing, so he telephoned into town for a taxi- cab to come out for them and they at once went to tne dealer In ducks and nought 19 pair, 19 drakes and 19 durka "We had better take a lot" remarked John to Mrs. John in an undertone, "or we may not get the ones that will have the ducklings first. I suppose he could ten us, it ne would, but we will not ask him. If only Ave or six oi xnem Dreed, say, twenty young each, that would ,make over a hundred, and we can get a dollar and a Quarter each for them in the market this Fall. It will be just like finding money." So he handed out twenty-eight fifty for the 38 ducks and went home rejoicing. The taxicab for the afternoon cost only fiu.tu, mm An hour or so after arriving home John said . to his wife: "My dear, I have been thinking about these ducks. Now, we are both very fond of roast duck; suppose we kill a drake and her mate and nave them for dinner tomor row." "Why not kill two drakes. John?" "My dear, if we did that the two wioowea oucks would Just naturally die of grief unless we bousrht'twj wid ower drakes to mate with them. Ducks never live happily or raise families ex cept in pairs, a male and a female." "How wise you are. John. I don't see now you have learned so much about farming and all of these things mat go witn it in such a short time." "I have read and studied, my dear, read and studied, and I intend to keep on reading and studying and experi menting, and then writing and Dubllsh ing my experiences, so that others may profit by our labors and self-denials. This is my life work, and I want to do it wen, my dear. I must do it welL" Controversy in Crtbhanre. PORTLAND, Feb. 28. (To the Edi tor.) I notice in The Orefronian a de cision on a crlbbage play in answer to a question by A. I. Mason, and I beg to differ with you. My exDerience in playing "with old players who were more or less expert in the game Is tnat a run such as Mr. Mason describes should be allowed. Furthermore. Hovle gives as illustration of "sequences" just such runs as the one In Question. Ac cording to Hoyle, runs or sequences are made whenever the cards are so played that the last three or more cards ar In succession, whether or not they are in a regular ascending or descending order. For instance, this run is sanc tioned by Hoyle: Six, two, five, three and the playing four completes the run of five points. E. S. DYER. In answering the question of A. L. Mason about the counting of a run in eribbage The Oregonian was misled by an error in a cyclopedia, its copy of Hoyle's Games having been mislaid. Hoyle. on page 19, says: It is not necessary for the cards to fall In rea-ujar order to make a run, and any sequence may bo pegged, provided It ia not broken into by duplicates or intervening cards. fits Tree Face Value. Cornell Widow. He I know I am not two-faced. 6he Why? - He Because if I were I'd be using the other one. Twenty-five Year Ago From The Oregonian of March 1. 3SS8. New York. Feb. 29. It is understood on excellent authority that the grand Jury decided yesterday, by a vote of 18 to 6. to find no indictments against Jay Gould and Russell Sage. 4 H. C. Willis, president of the Stock men's Association of Eastern Oregon, visited Fossil a few days ago for the purpose of forming a branch of the association, and succeeded beyond ex pectation. Charles Cunningham's clip of wool this season will be at least 140,000 pounds. The annual county teachers' Insti tute of Linn County will be held at Albany on March 14, 15 and 16. Emi nent speakers will be present, among them State Superintendent E. B. lie Elroy, Professor B. L. Arnold, of Cor rallls; Professor Thomas Condon, of the State University; Professor Thomas Van Scoy, of the Willamette University, and Professor D. T. Stanley, of the State Normal School. One of the tallest men In Washington Territory is Joseph Kar, a resident of Seattle. He stands 6 feet S inches high in his stocking feet, and is proportion ately well built. He tips the beam at 215 pounds. - Last night an alarm of fire was turned In from the corner of Fifth and Morrison streets. The fire was in the low, one-story building on the north west corner of Morrison and Sixth streets, occupied and owned by A. Azzeski. a shoemaker. The building was on property leased from P. A. Marquam. H. T. Smith, well known throughout the northwest mining country as "Okanogan" Smith, is in the city and has a lot of ore specimens from the Chapaca and Slmllkameen mining dis tricts. M. H. Wynkoop, from . Rush City, Minru, has decided to make his home in Portland, and has bought a fine su burban tract near Mount Tabor. Mrs. F. S. Dunning is a candidate for school clerk of district No. 21. Half a Century A50 From The Oregonian of March X 1863. Washington, Feb. 20. Simon Cam eron has addressed a letter to Presi dent Lincoln, declining the Russian mission. Washington, Feb. 20. General Rose crans telegraphed to the War Depart ment a day or two ago that rebel offi cers under a flag of truce remarked: "You have got Vicksburg at last." No confirmation is had and the report is doubted. We learn that a number of persons chose yesterday (Sunday) as a day on which to try the speed and show off the beauty of their horses by running them up and down Front street. This Is very wrong and does not speak well for the morals of the city. There is a city ordinance imposing a heavy, fine for fast riding within the city limits. which should be enforced on -every oc casion. Our readers will bear in mind that the stamp act became operative in the Pacific states en March 1, and that the failure to use the pretty pictures on all documents or Instruments requir ing such honor will subject the party responsible to large penalties. FALSE PROPHETS OX SOAP BOX. Socialist Thinks Mercenaries Are Em ployed to Discredit Party. HEPPNER. Or, Feb. 26. (To the Editor.) I ask for a little space in which to inject a little antidote to counteract the poison handed out to society in The Oregonian February IS, by Mr. Partridge, One would infer from Mr. Partridge's article, and many others of late, that the soap-box orator's only aim is to Inject atheism into his hearers, and that infidelity is a plank in the plat form and the only one. While I am sure that there are some Socialist atheists, I am equally sure there are speakers who are falsely labeling them selves Socialists, whose purpose is to discredit the Socialist party by their atheistic utterances. Also I believe there are newspaper reporters who are hired from the same source as the dummy Socialist speakers, to herald abroad the blasphemous utterances of their disguised partners. A true So cialist does not blaspheme God, but rather points to Christ's teachings as the true path, and the Golden Rule as the guiding star from which humanity has strayed in its mad scramble for gain. I have yet to see a Socialist who denies the existence of a God. Among the many articles appearing In The Oregonian the last three months, condemning the Socialists, not one of the writers dared mention a single plank In the platform, but confined themselves to the non-reiigious attl tude of some of the speakers. I could not be a Socialist without being a Christian; neither could I be a Christian without being a Socialist. And it seems strange to me that there are still many honorable Christians who wholly ignore the fundamental principles of Socialism. If we are to believe Mr. Partridge when he says that, not one among those who stands and listens to a soap-box orator has any brains, then surely we will have to include him. If he pleads not guilty, then being absent and never guilty of listening to a soap-box speaker, no Just Jury would consider him In a position- to describe such a speech. A. S. AKERS. More Humoalty Toward Horses. PORTLAND, Feb. 28. (To the Ed tor.) I have this morning been in dulging in our National pastime, name ly, watching horses skating and fall ing on the icy street. It seems to me that if God intended horses to work on ice he would have built them dif ferently. I saw a fine, large horse begin to slide and fall at the corner of Seventh and Mill streets. The horse made a gallant struggle against heavy odds, but was finally compelled to let his feet go and slide on bis tail awhile-and then on his side. After falling and sliding for one block he struck against the curb near Lincoln High School and - laid still while the wagon slid entirely around and faced the other way, also striking the curb. When the wagon struck the curb, the animal seem to feel that he had failed in his duty and made several violent struggles to rise, but the foothold which he had a light to expect, was conspicuous by its absence, and pant ing and discouraged, he finally laid still and allowed the driver and two interested spectators to unhook the wagon from him. This brief recital of a fact that has been duplicated during the last few months, many, many times with still more harrowing details, should and does reach the heart of a humane peo ple. Why cannot this crying evil be remedied? Either do away with the streets as they now are or do away with horses or make them suitable to each other. The people are always ready to stand by a really good thing and any plan or attempt to right this wrong would receive hearty commendation and support. The divorce evil cannot be remedied because people will disagree, but the horse is non-combative and an innocent sufferer. Cannot some of our public-spirited men and women suggest a sure and rapid remedy for this evil? MRS. H. Congressional Tyranny" . By Dena Collins. Harrow, alas! The garden seeds Which Congressmen were erstwhile franking, With dodos and the saurian breeds. And mastodons will soon be ranking. Back into history they'll pass. And Joy from myriad homes be cut off: - ' For Congress In this session has The seed appropriation shut oft. Spring will to me be Spring no more. For now the postman's ; whistle's racket Will cease to herald at my door Arrival of th' annual packet- I cared not though from two to one The warship budget had been frit tered; 'Tis what the Congress harsh that done To garden seed hath me embittered. Of all appropriations made, . : There was but one that I could win on; No matter how the game was played. The Beeds were all that I got In on. And now. forsooth, they cut it out And by that act of legislation Kill my one chance without a doubt, . In the deep cash box of the Nation. But lately, full of vim and fire. I sang about the seed dispenser. And twanged upon my lyric lyre. And 'fore the Congress swung the censer. But now, dissolving Into tears. I realize, and scarce can bear It. I'm spurned, and, through the coming years, I'll get no seeds of beet or carrot I care not: life hath lost Its charm; I am so sorrowful and blue now, I reck no deed of ill or harm That Congress may proceed to do now. Let It wipe out all battleships. Declare a war, or cease to pension! No turnip seed? No almond slips? No lima beans of fair dimension? I care not now what Congress does Hereafter, in Its lengthy pow-wows! No seeds? Well, let the Nation buia Straight down to the demnition bow wows! Portland, February 28. Supervisor of Writing Needed. PORTLAND, Feb. 28. (To the Ed itor.) Permit ma to call attention to one phase of the school administration as viewed by one intimately connected with it. I notice that Mr. Rigler has resigned as city superintendent and Is to be elect ed superintendent of special schools, vhlle a new man Is to take the posi tion made vacant by his resignation. At present this district pays J10.000 a year to a city superintendent and two assistants, and it looks as if that is enough. One would think that the Board of Education would feel the rebuke ad ministered a few weeks ago by the taxpayers in declining to vote the $1,000,000 bonds, and would hesitate to create another high-priced position. If more supervision is needed why not supply It along lines heretofore totally neglected? For instance, everyone who has in vestigated the subject knows that writ ing is not taught regularly and system atically. A copy-book system which the superintendent himself condemns is used. Tn the ninth grade no formal writing lessons whatever are given. Why not employ a competent person to supervise this branch? A TAXPAYER. The Clerk Said "Piety." PORTLAND. Feb. 28. (To the Edi tor.) It seems to be a real pity that women should be ridiculed and sub jected to annoyances when, registering at our Courthouse. One day last week the clerk (who had evidently cultivated an accent), after the usual questions about name, address, age, etc.. said to one woman, "Piety?" The lady asked him to repeat the question several times, then, supposing the man for some unknown reason wanted to know what denomination she belonged to, answered with a laugh, "Methodist." This woman even had to make the clerk spell the word "party" before shs could understand his lingo. Every courtesy and respect should be shown these mothers and younff women when registering, and above all an intellectual clerk should be secured to wait upon them. This one was so stupid that he couldn't sets the Jose until the lady herself was almost con vulsed with laughter, then be Joined la the Joke, which was not on Uhe woman alone. WOMAN VOTER. Embracing Opportunity. Boston Transcript. He (at the masqueraete ballX --That's a singular costume you're mearing. What do you represent? She Opportuni ty. He Indeed! Then let me ejmbra.ee vrm. SPECIAL FEATURES For SUNDAY Real Suffragettes A visit to headquarters of the militant type in London is described by a correspondent of The Orego nian who talks with some of the most bellicose. Conan Doyle The famous writer contributes a striking short story, The Marriage of the Brigadier. Comets Coming There will be five of them in 1913, according to the sky experts, whose work, is gone into minutely by a clever and careful writer. Katmai in Action Eruption of the Pompeii of the North some months ago, described by a Government official who saw the tragedy. Many interesting photographs included. Good Humor It is cupitalized by Mauberg, the noted operatic star, who gives a delightful in terview to Theodora Btan on the subject of cultivating a pleasant nature. Swearing In President Wilson A full-page account, in colors, of just what will happen at the National Capitol Tuesday. Pickpockets Their mays and workings are gone into by Jack Rose, in the eighth of his series on the underworld of New York. Batting An interview with Ty Cobb. Gibson Pictures The widow is the subject of more hostile criticism by jealous friends. . MANY OTHER FEATURES Order today from your newsdealer.