T THE 3IORSI3.G OKEGOSIAy, SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1913. k lilt I . - . , En'ered at Portland. Oregon, poatofflca as 1 e'cond-class matter. ' Sut.cripiioo Katea Invariably In Advance: BT 1IAIU ra!!r. Sunday Included, one year Dally. Sunday included, nx montha .. . - : I'ally. Sunday Included, threa montna.. , Dally, Sunday Included, ona mouth .... , Dally, vithoux Sunday, ona year , Dally, without Sunday, six months g Daily, without Sunday, ona month ' Weekly, one year. ' Sunday, one year 1 Sunday and Weekly, one year. ...... 8A 1.50 2.50 S.40 tBT CARRIER) Dally. Sunday Included, ona year "" ' Daily. Sunday included, one month ' How to Kemit j-tnd postoHice money or der, expreaa order or personal checK ! l"cal bark. Slampa. coin or currency are at the aender's rik. Give postoftice addreas in lull. Including- couniy and stale. Fostace Katea Ten to H images. 1 cent. 1 to pages. 2 cents; So to 4U P"' cents: 40 to 60 pages. 4 cents. lorelgn postage, double rate, ., taMrrn Business Offices Verree A Co."V ' Tia. New Yoik. Urunswick bui.ding. t.ni ci?i. yterer building. MS IrancWo OBice B. J. Bid well Co.. T4-' Market street. . . - European OlTlce So. S Kegent atree. a. .W.. Luntlon. . PORTLAND. SATTRDAY. MAKC'H . SOOAIJrOI COSTLY 1 nt-IXCE. France is paying; dearly for her ex jieriments in socialism. The govem . ment monopoly of tobacco produces execrably bad tobacco; the match mo. '. nopoly makes exceedingly bad matches, ; of which one must often strike half a dozen before getting a light; the pow. '. der produced by the Government pro- Yokes complaint from sportsmen and .' mining Interests and some of the great disasters to the French navy are at- trlbuted to its bad quality; the public .' printing office is pronounced an ex treme example of extravagant and in- ' efficient management. Government ownership and operation of railroads has proved very expensive, does not tuv 2 nor rent on the invested capital. causes terrible accidents and has trains never on time. I This Is the indictment against state socialism In France which is found by ! Paul Leroy Beaulieu. the eminent French economist. In an article in the '. North American Keview. He attrib utes the weakness of state administra tion of transportation and industry "to ' the very nature of our modern con temporary governmental forms." He says that it leads to the employment of an unnecessary number of men for po litical reasons, many of them incom petent or Ill-adapted to their duties, poorly paid for the kind of service re. quired, not encouraged by chances of advancement and deprived of the ln - centlve of gain or self-interest. The ' governing powers have not the motives necessary to business success and in aiming at political ends demoralize the service. M. Beaulieu makes the same criti . cism of municipal operation of public utilities in France and contrasts it with private operation under concession or lease from the city. In Paris gas. elec tricity, water and passenger traction are supplied by corporations which have leased the plants from the city. In 1910 the city received from them 83,000,000 francs, about half of which went for interest and sinking fund. M. Beaulieu estimates that by the mid dle of this century the city's revenue will be 150.000.000 to 200,000,000 francs, of which at least half will be net profit. At Elbeuf. where munici pal operation was begun with the gas works, serious loss was suffered, the Mayor became so unpopular that he committed suicide, and after the next election the Council leased the gas works to a private corporation. The comparative success of public ownership of railroads in Germany is ascribed by M. Beaulieu to the undem ocratic character of the government and the military training and habit of discipline of the people. There he hits at the weak spot of socialism In a democracy. Success In Industry is gained by the dominant power of a . central, controlling will combined with ability and the incentive of gain. In a democracy, where every employe Is & stockholder in a state monopoly, such a power is Impossible. Each indus try', to succeed, must be a small mon archy, or at least an oligarchy. Social ism therefore has the best chance of success in a monarchy, where the peo. pie are drilled into obedience. In a democracy, individualism, which makes each employer the master of his bust, ness, will achieve the best results. Even under, the most favorable condi tions state monopoly represses Indi vidual initiative, removes the incen tive to efficiency and smothers inven tion. Its motto is: "Do things as they always have been done" and it leads . to dry rot. COLONEL ROOSEVELT'S SILENCE. Surprise has been expressed that in his speech at the Progressive conven tion at Philadelphia Colonel Roosevelt had nothing to say about President Wilson, his Administration and his in augural address. That was the topic uppermost in all men's minds, and it was naturally expected that so promi nent a leader of political thought as Colonel Itoosevelt would have had something to say upon it." But the closest npproach to an allusion to Mr. Wilson In the Colonel's speech was the borrowing without credit of the title of the President's book. "The New Free dom." While Colonel Roosevelt's opinion is kept carefully to himself, the Outlook rives Mr. Wilson's inaugural whole hearted praise. It says of him: The people, attracted by his vision, pom relied a reluctant convention to nominate Mr. Wilson ths peopla elected him. Will the people gtva him tnelr support when he undertakes to realise the vts:on which has lr spired thim? when the tat:le comes, as come it all! for coma it must we, in al wnce. summon all men who care more tor their country than for their party aud more for the general welfare than for special interests, even though those spcial Inter ests ba their own. to give their earnest and x. porous support to t ha ciuse of political Htterty and social Justice, and to the Demo t rutlc Administration, in so far as it proves to be as hope It will be a wise and elf'clrnt leader m that cause. Scolng th.tt the omission of any ref. erence to Mr. Wilson from the Colo nel's Philadelphia speech laid him open to criticism, the Indianapolis Star, his ever-ready defender, seizes upon this article as an evidence of his srenerotis recognition of Mr. Wilson's proaresiv-sm. Every reader of the Outlook knows that all Colonel Roose velt's contribution bear his name as the author and that its editorial utter, ances often dissent from his opinions. The Outlook article was not Colonel Roosevelt's, and we have no means of knowing that it expresses his senti ments. The explanation of Colonel Roose 'velt's silence on an address which has drawn encomiums from Mr. Wilson's political friends and foes alike may perhaps be found in the chapter of "The New Freedom" entitled "Benevo lence or Justice." There Mr. Wilson heaps smiling ridicule on Mr. Roose velt's plan for dealing with the trusts and rejects them agencies of pub lic philanthropy. The man whose pet theories aro thus torn to tatters must have much less than Mr. Roosevelt's share of self-esteem in order to speak kindly of the author. Mt'DDTTSG THE WATERS. The New York Times, candidly an apostle of conservation, otherwise sometimes called reactionism, rejoices that the tide of radicalism throughout the Nation has begun to subside, and in proof offers the following record of recent events: Nebraska defeated votes for women. Utah rejected direct election of United States Senators. Kansas declined to authorize the recall of public officers. Seattle rejected (second time) the single tax. Arkansas repealed its anti-trust law. Washington tstate) declined even to allow a bailot on recall of Judges. Kansas rejected the initiative and refer endum. Oregon rejected the single tax. Massachusetts rejected votes for women. Maine rejected votes for women. The mind that confuses direct elec tion of Senators with the single tax as twin Instruments of mischief and dis order is singularly impervious to the light. Oregon has twice defeated the single tax, and will again if the Issue shall again be presented; but it has always been for direct election of Sen. ators. It is for woman suffrage, but it has no vicious theories of its own to offer as remedies against the trusts. It has the initiative, but railroads are Invited to come and develop the coun try, and corporations are quite safe. It has the recall of Judges, but no Judges are recalled. It is a mistake to classify as populist propaganda or socialist dogma ail pro. posals to change the old order, or to assumethat there is no distinction be. tween sane progress and economic madness or political folly. STRAWS. The Secretary of State makes a stump speech at Washington, and re peats it at Chicago, for home rule In Ireland. It Is not the duty, nor the office of the State Department to take sides, or express its views, on the do mestic policy of any government. The Secretary of State sends a tele gram to the American Ambassador to Mexico, approving his course In the late troubles there; but now the Secre tary of State says he signed the mes sage without reading. Have we no duty to Americans in Mexico, or to a patriotic and courageous Ambassador? The President of the United States repudiates the policy of the previous Administration toward China by with drawing the Administration's support or countenance to the plans of certain American financiers in making a need, ed loan to the Chinese republic; and the Secretary of State approves the policy of his chief, though the Assist ant Secretary of State resigns. It is obvious that American investments abroad are not to be encouraged or vigorously protected for the next four years. The Philippines are to be turned loose. In eight years, perhaps, or as soon as the United States can in some way get out from under, and the Fili pinos will be left to sink or swim, sur vive or perish, as Divine Providence ordains. The Secretary of State In a speech at Des Moines says that 'the same prin ciples which enable two men to live together as neighbors for a term of years will enable this Nation to live on terms of peace with every other nation." But if your neighbor keeps a bulldog In his front yard and a shot gun behind the door, what then? The President of the United States, with the approval, no doubt, of the Secretary of State, Issues an address to the South American republics, mild ly enjoining them to be Just and peace able, and assuring them that they will have no reason to be apprehensive of the purposes of the United States. Is the Monroe Doctrine, too, to be sent to the scrap-heap? The era of Little Americanism has begun. We will assume no interna tional obligations we can avoid; and our horizon begins and ends with the present continental boundaries of the United States. POWER FOUNTXEO OX MCRDER. Evidence accumulates that Presi dent Madero and Vice-President Suarez, of Mexico, were murdered by order of General Huerta "for the good of the country." The murder was not even committed under the cloak of the notorious fugitive law. beneath which Governor Gonzales, of Chihuahua, is reported to have been slain. A wit ness coming direct from the scene tells how Madero was shot from the rear and Suarez choked to death. This happened in the palace, not as they were escaping from an automobile, as the official version read. Huerta's excuse for the murder of his leading opponents is that It was necessary for the restoration of peace. How effective It has been in gaining this much-desired end can be Judged from the new crop of revolutions in the northern states. Madero's adher ents have been inflamed to greater , anger by the bloody treachery of j Huerta ana nave swept me Doraer almost clean of federal forces. The Zapata revolution in the south appears to have lost none of its savage fury There are three governments in Mex ico, one in possession of the capital, some surrounding territory and the territory formerly controlled by the Orozco rebels: the government which roams through the south; and the government headed by Carranza In Sonora and Coahuila. Under these circumstances Presi dent Wilson does weil to continue his predecessor's policy of "hands off," to leave Mexico to stew in her own Juice and to recognize Huerta as only a de facto ruler. Undue haste in recogniz ing a ruler whose power Is founded on murder would not be to the taste of the American people. But Interfer ence in Mexican affairs would only unite all factions nirainst us. OOLI.EGE SPIRIT AT MOSCOW. The rough-and-tumble fight between the students and their teachers at the Moscow (Idaho) High School moves one to Inquire where some of our schoolboys and girls obtain their ideals of conduct. In the Moscow affair the younger students were holding a party with the consent of the school author ities. The older boys and girls took it upon themselves to break up the party. They assumed that the real governors of the school were not the legal authorities, but the upper-class students. This is a species of anarchy which no self-respecting faculty could tolerate, and we congratulate the su perintendent upon his vigorous at tempt to assert his rightful authority. The sooner school children of all ranks and ages learn that they must obey their teachers the better for the country. But where do these anarch istic notions come from? In large part from the colleges. Unfortunately for the public schools, their close relations with the state universities have trans formed many of the pupils into preco- ciously bumptious "college men." They ape college names such as "freshmen" and the like. They Imi tate college vices such as class fights, nazing, athletic trickery. They try to follow the college fashion of hostility between pupils and teachers.- In col lege there is some faint excuse for this sort of thing, but not a shadow In the schools. The colleges are nothing If not traditional. They cling to the cus toms which have come down to them from medieval times. In those days the big universities had students from many different countries who often fought pitched battles on the street. Thus arose the tradition that college boys must fight somebody in order to become truly educated. The medieval bouts between the "nations" have cooled down to class rushes and the cowardly tricks of hazing parties, but the spirit is the same as it was a thou sand years ago. WISER THAN LINCOLN? A friend has sent to The Oregonian a catalogue of an Eastern book con cern, containing the text of a letter written by Abraham Lincoln when a member of Congress in 1849. The original Is offered for sale at the modest figure of 11500. In view of the subject matter of the letter, we suggest that a ready buyer ought to be found in the Honorable Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States, who might possibly desire to have on hand the authentic evidence of the Great Emancipator's views on the cor rect Presidential attitude toward place hunters. President Wilson has coldly turned the offlceseekers over to the heads of departments; President Zach. ary Taylor long ago sought to avoid their Importunities and escape their presence in the same adroit fashion. Hence the Lincoln letter, addressed to the Secretary of State, J. M. Clayton. Here It is: Dear Sir: It is with some hesitation I presume to address you this letter and yet I wish not onlv you. but the whole Cabinet. and the President, too, would consider the subject matter of it my being among the peopla while you ana tney are not. win excuse ths anDarent presumption It is un derstood that the President at first adopt ed, as a general rule, to throw the respon sibility of the appointments upon the re spective departments; and that such rule la adhered to and practiced upon. This course I at first thought proper; and, of course, I am not now complaining of it. Still I arn disappointed with the effect of it on the public mind. It Is fixing for the President the unjust and ruinous charaoter of being a mere man of straw. This must be arrested, or it will damn us ail inevitably. It Is said General Taylor and his officers held a council of war. at Palo Alto (I believe); and that he then fought the bat tle against unanimous opinion of those of ficers This fact (no matter whether right fully or wrongfully) gives him more popu larity than ten thousand submissions, how ever really wise and magnanimous those submissions may be. The appointments need be no better than they have been, but the pu-blio must be brought to understand, that they are the President's appointments. He must occasionally say, or aeem to say, "by the Eternal." "I take the responsibility" Those phrases were the "Samson's locks" of General Jackson, and we dare not dis regard the lessons of experience. Tour Ob t SeVt. A. LINCOLN. Mr. Lincoln was a practical politi cian who was anxious for the success of the Whig Administration; but Pres ident Taylor died in the second year of his term. When Lincoln became Pres-; ident he followed his own advice and saw the Job-hunters and disposed of them. It would be Interesting to learn from the latter-day statesman who knows what Lincoln would have done if he were alive today whether Lincoln was wiser, or less wise, than his present successor. DEMOCKACY MUST PAST AND PRAT. Offlceseekers ' are gradually having the fact impressed upon them that President "Wilson means what he says not only what he says now, but what he has said in his writings for the last thirty years. He leaves non-political appointments of subordinates to the heads of departments, whom he holds responsible. He looks to his lieuten ants to do the drudgery of receiving applications, recommendations and in dorsements, of sifting these out and of making their own recommendations. Then he looks over the papers, hears what the officer has to say and makes his own investigation and his own se lection. He confers as readily with men of the opposite party as with those of his own and sometimes appoints other men than those recommended. Those who regard offices as the spoils or political warfare find cold comfort in what Mr. Wilson wrote on the subject of civil service In his book, "Congressional Government," pub lished In 1885. He drew "a sharp line of distinction between those offices which are political and those which are non-political." This is how he defined it: The strictest rules of business discipline, of merit-tenure, and earned promotion, must rule every office whose Incumbent has naught to do with choosing between poli cies; but no rules except the choice of par ties can or should make and unmako, re ward or punish those officers whose privi lege it Is to fix upon the political purposes which administration shall be made to serve. The latter are not many under any form of government. That he still adheres to that prin ciple Is evident from his reappoint ment of E. E. Clark as Interstate Commerce Commissioner after his own party in the Senate had blocked confirmation of the appointment made by President Taft, and by his reap pointment of Dr. Neill as Labor Com missioner. He regards as- non-political some of the highest offices in his gift, which the spoilsmen hold to be the richest prizes. In the book above quoted he even discusses the question whether Cabinet officers should not be made permanent officials, after passing examinations and working their way up from errand boys. He not only maintained that the spoils system was vicious, because in jurious to the public service, but In his "History of the American People" he expressed the opinion that, instead of fortifying, it weakened party or ganization. Discussing the Garfietd Conkliiig quarrel, which culminated In the assassination of the former, he wrote: " The use of appointments as rewards for party services did not. it seemed, bind parti sans together, after all. as the advocates of the spoils system claimed, or compact and discipline parties for aggressive and suc cessful action. Worked out through its de tail of local bosses. Senatorial and Congres sional "Influence." personal favors, the pla cating of enemies, and the full satisfaction of friends. It must always menace the suc cessful party Itself with factional disruption. These opinions, deliberately ex pressed in no fugitive writings, but in books which Mr. Wilson must have foreseen would be copiously quoted whenever he entered active political life, have a direct bearing on the agi tation for revocation of President Taft's orders "covering" fourth-class postmasters Into the classified service and reorganizing the customs serv ice. Merit alone will decide. If any of the Republicans whom Mr. Taft's order would fix permanently in office cannot stand the test of examination, Mr. Wilson would bundle them out. Whichever of them stand that test will not be driven out simply because they are Republicans, nor will others be ap pointed simply because they are Democrats. Mr. Wilson, if he lives up to the principles he has laid down and if he secures his party's consent to their application, will work a great change in the Democracy. His four years as President. Instead of making his par' ty fat and sleek with spoils, will chas ten and purify it with prayer for the spoils and fasting therefrom. Among the fads which Secretary of State Bryan has taken up readily is the postal vote. He has been impressed with the wrongs of salesmen, students and others who are necessarily away from home on election day. He in dorses the bill promoted by traveling salesmen allowing them to go before a notary at any place, sign and swear to their votes and forward them to the election board. Of course, it Is very hard on salesmen that they should be disfranchised, but it is more impor tant to prevent fraud than to redress their wrongs. The general interest re quires that elections be safeguarded, even though in so doing we deprive some men of the opportunity to cast their ballots. Springfield, Mass., has applied the principle of arbitration in labor trou bles in a novel way. The Board of Trade selects one arbitrator, the Cen tral Labor Council another, and these two fix upon a third. These three men undertake to apply the balm of moral suasion to disputes between labor and capital. Naturally no compulsion is contemplated, but there la no reason why argument should not accomplish something, when three good men make a business of laying it on deftly and persistently. ' Forcible conversion of Romanist Al banians to the Greek Church by Mon tenegrins is a natural consequence of religious bigotry intensified by race animosity, such as prevails In the Bal kan Peninsula. The allies probably have good reason for their strict cen sorship. They dare not let the truth be known about the massacres of Turks, which are as likely to follow a Christian victory as massacres of Christians formerly followed Turkish victories. Madame Ripley's alowance of ten minutes tor a woman to dress may be all right but she has overlooked the time taken in powdering, primping, seeing that her skirt hangs right and that her hat is on straight. Nor has Madame Ripley mentioned gloves, which it often takes a woman ten min utes to put on and button, especially if she stops to talk during the opera tion. Madame Ripley's woman must be a theoretical specimen. Huntington Wilson would keep the Chinese door open by planting both feet and both shoulders In the door way. Woodrow Wilson would keep it open by murmuring philanthropic nothings from the doorstep. We shall see whether Woodrow's words will succeed better than Huntington's deeds. In calculating upon disposing of the tariff in three months and having time left in the extra session for currency and other legislation. President Wil son is reckoning without the Repub licans. They will have at least a few ideas to offer. The man who can hold down a fourth-class postofflce seems to be In mortal fear of civil service examina tion, and rightly so. Most of them do the work for glory, as the compensa tion Is hardly worth figuring. Tim miactlnn nf" what tn rin with our ex-college presidents seems to be well taken care of. wun one in tne presi dent's chair another Is being consid ered for the court of St. James. Strict regulation of public dances by ordinance will be beneficial, but the parents of the young women who at tend such affairs can do better regula tion than officials. Only a wealthy man can afford to accept the Ambassadorship to the court of St. James. This is one of the cases in which this country is parsi monious. The New York police may be saved from temptation by intrusting a separ ate force with control of vice, or would that be merely transferring the temp tation? Considerable confusion is said to ex ist among politicians over the question of courting the women's votes. Why not try a course at a beauty parlor? The prize of $10,000 for the best American play will stimulate con sumption of "midnight oil" by a hun dred thousand amateur playwrights. The new Secretary of the Navy speaks of the Oregon "lying off" Port land. If he thinks this is a deep-sea port let no one awaken him. Far better for the Oregon to exist as a possible fighter than go Into In nocuous desuetude as a resort for so cial gatherings. The evident satisfaction of suffra gettes In being arrested indicates that it is notoriety rather than suffrage they are after. Portland enjoys a prosperous Easter when she can spend money for 40,000 "Bermuda" lilies of Japanese ancestry. Experience with Nat Goodwin has taught Maxine Elliott caution in ven turing upon matrimony. Has that minimum-priced ($9.99) Easter bonnet been purchased? If not, this Is the last day. Eclipses should be pulled off in Ore gon only in July and August, when the weather is settled. A co-ed who is a grandmother is a unique distinction for the University of Oregon. - Currency reform may be taken up merely as a sugar coating to the bitter tariff dose. Only 10,000 women have registered. But isn't that enough to swing the election? And the lowest yokel may slay a King and throw a nation Into conster nation. It was not the country. "good" Friday all over W E SHOULD TREAT JAPS BKT1 hwuaw - " - - One Day We "Will Have to Defend Our Arrogance. SEW YORK, March 13. (To the Edi tor.) In The Oregonian of February IB you quote from an article in the japan Times criticising me for my attitude with respect to Japan and the Japanese. In the October (1S1Z) Issue of the Oriental Review (New York) there ap peared an article from my pen In which I spoke of the injustice done the Japanese at the hands of the United States Government, and I predicted that the Japanese would some day demand of us that we treat them as we have promised to do as one of the most favored nations, that we open our ports to them as freely as to Europeans, and that we permit them to become citizens just as we permit Europeans. I conceive it to be an Insult to In telligent Japanese not to admit them to citizenship. It is a wholly un- iustirLable discrimination. My attitude toward the Japanese is a friendly one and not an unfriendly one. There is no one thing which this country needs so much as it does tillers of the soil. The Japanese have shown them selves to be as scientific and success ful in their methods of gardening and farming as in any of the things to which they have turned their hands and minds. I believe that their attendance in American colleges should be en couraged. I believe that Japanese laborers should be encouraged to come to this country and take up farms and make their homes here. A hundred thousand Jarjanese and Chinese labor ers distributed over the United States upon the farms as farm hands to help the American farmer would De a goa send to this country. The creation of wealth begins with the land. We need more workers on the land. There is a great wail going up about the Increase in the cost of living. The best w-ay to lower the cost of living: is to produce larger quanti ties of food to live upon and at lower cost. And Japanese labor could help us do this. I am blamed for blaming my own country for being In the wrong. I do blame my country for its attitude to ward the Japanese In tne respects men tioned, and I advise my countrymen to arm their arrogance in order to be able to defend It. Surely, I would fight for my country against an invading foreign roe, even If my country were wholly In the wrong. Consequently, as I believe that such a war is coming, I strongly advise my country to prepare for It, but no foreign nation need to worry about this Government taking my advice, for there Is altogether too much counter advice, backed, by immense financial resources. The belief has taken deep root In America that this country should set other nations of the world a great moral example, by neglecting Its Army and Navy and all defensive measures. Nothing but a sound thrashing and the resulting tribute to the conquerer In the way of indemnity for the trouble of whipping us can ever up root mis deep-seated conceit of ours. HUDSON MAXIM. UNSCRTTPTLOTJS BUSINESS TRICKS Forest Grove Housewife Complalna of Belnjr Cbeated by TradeHman. FOREST GROVE. Or.. March 16. (To the Editor.) I would like the privilege of expressing my sympathy for "Anx ious Housewife," In The Oregonian Thursday. I was very glad to see her communication, for I think such things merit the widest publicity. Once, when going along the street, I saw on display some extra fine look ing strawberries, so I bought a crate for canning not because I must have them that day, but because those looked extra fresh and good. But when I re ceived my strawberries, they had been picked so long that they were half dried, and in sucn poor conaition mat had It been my last opportunity to get any that season I would not have thought of taking them. Then, again, when aDDles were somewhat scarce I saw in one of the shops a box of ap ples of good red color and seemingly In eood condition to eat fresh. I paid an extra price for them, and thought I paid for that box, but wnen l received my apples, they were of no color, no flavor, and broken as much as if they had been moved by shoveling them. They would not keep; they were no good to eat fresh, so all I could do was to can a few of them. When I reported to the merchant no one knew anything about It. I hoped they might be will ing to exchange them. And yet tnat whole family is prominent in church work, regular In church attendance, also Bible school. Whom can we trust? I could relate other Instances, but perhaps this is enough. HOUSEWIFE. N. Nitts on Easter Economy By Dean Collins. Nescius Nitts, sage of Punkindorf Sta tion, Reducing his quid to the right liqui dation. Looked round for a mark; then, without hesitation. Picked a beetle and ended the thing's animation Then spake he of hats; of the Easter Creatlen. The Ladies' Uplift, though a long time divided. Unanimous finally up and decided That it was not right nor intelligent that They go to extremes on the price of a hat. And so they agreed, when they voted upon it, Five dollars was 'nough fer a new Easter bonneti When I heered about It, I lauded their plan As destined to lighten the burdens of man. But early this mornln', when startln' fer town. My daughter she stopped me and made me set down; You needn't slip out and go traipsin' away! I need you to help on my bonnet today!" And while I was settin' and fumin' and fussin'. She got her scrap basket and started in mussin' With ribbons and bucRles and feathers and slats From six sreneratlons of discarded hats. And stickin" this bunch or that bunch on my head; Set still, till I get the effect, now," she said. She clipped and she stitched and she fixed and she tried. Till I was wore out end fair bollln' inside; With her Jest explalnin', to quiet my hollers; You see I Jest got to stay Inside five dollars." And then she'd try somethin' else on me and Jab My head with a pin. if I'd struggle or grab. Well. I got forlorner than ever you saw; Fer I couldn't talk, and she'd not let me chaw. And last I rlz up and I says: "Let me be! Go buy you a bonnet and charge it to me! Pay twenty, or any old price it s marneo at! I ain't no wax dummy fer no Easter hat!" Ticoms Man Writes of Country Mis fortunes and Cansts. TACOMA, Wash., March 20. (To 'the Editor.) There appeared In The Ore gonian of March 16 an interesting ar ticle relating to Irish emigration and to the appalling depopulation which Ireland has undergone. The writer, in dealing with his subject, assigned the failure of the potato crop as the cause of the enormous emigration in the "47" period. He is correct only insofar as the failure of agriculture, in that par ticular, was the immediate cause of that unexampled exodus. But, permit me to say that the failure of the potato was not per se the cause of the great calamity suffered by Ireland, both from emigration and from a very high death rate caused by starvation and by dis eases related to lack of nourishment. It is, I believe, an undisputed fact that there has never been a year when the domestic supply of food has not been adequate to maintain the Irish population. If the potato failed to yield, there were other native products sufficient for domestic necessities. The potato has not been the only article of food consumption produced in Ire land. But. because o foreign oppres sion and the rapacity of unrestrained landlords, the food produced by the country was seized In payment of ex orbitant rents. The men who sowed and reaped and who raised livestock they and their families, robbed of the fruits of their toil, were iell to die. Even in "black 47" food was exported from Ireland In large quantities. We have seen Russia, in periods of food distress, prohibit exports of provisions, but O'Connell appealed in vain to the alien government of his country to stop exportation, and to save his coun trymen from the Impending calamity. Hence, we see two related and un natural facts: a nation starving or flee ing to escape starvation, and at the same time an exportation of food, pre cisely as if there were an abundant surplus. On this point, John Mitchell has given us a tragic paradox in the words, "too much food for the people, too many people for the food." And, as a commentary on the vainglorious English constitution, Mr. Mitchell adds that the starving tenant could raise his sunken eyes to heaven and give thanks that he was able to expire under "the best constitution In the world." JAMES HOYE. CHANGE IN EDUCATIONAL WORK Emancipation of Youna- Folk Not Far Off, Say Sir. McNnlty. PORTLAND. March 21. (To the Edi tor.) I wish every teacher and parent In the United States could reaa your leading editorial on education in The Oreeonian of March 20. The emancipa tion of the young folks of our land is not far oft when men occupying euuea tionallv strategic positions, like Mr. Alderman, Dr. Chapman and Judge Munly comprehend the need lor a greater harmony between education and the practical needB of life. Havlne had experience In a New York state normal school for several years when a boy. practiced on by ever changing pup'.l teachers, operating under ever changing tneories ana teaching partially ever useless sub jects, of absolutely no utility in earn ing a living or in developing civilized society fundamentally, I have keenly felt afterward, the waste of years and work and childish suffering. I intend to spare my little boy this Intense suffering even if I have to take time to teach him myself. Later I have had the opportunity to take three years under the University of New York In a course leading to degree of bachelor of science in civil engineering and three years of a course leading to degree of bachelor of laws under the University oi uregon. i nno that the field of law passes on its dignified way without the least thought of harmony wun tne lunaameniai taws of nature. The theory Is that the decision of a Judge will be enough to establish the fact that gravity has nothing to do with hydro-electric power. The building of the law by legislatures Is entirely aside from logical and intelligent rule. In the classics. It Is apparently taken for granted that no one has to work. We are supposed to be free from economic necessity, to have either rich fathers to be "really Impossible" socially, and should not be in school. My three-year course In civil engi neering was more valuable than all the rest put together. It was a course founded upon nature's laws, logic, in telligence. It taught the things that made for both physical and mental ad vancement, and assisted in spiritual betterment. Every little item was directly traceable to the greater basic principles of existence. Harmony was shown and the dignity of labor ex pounded. If it could be done, it would be the best thing, to teach such a practical course as a beginning, and then from the graduates secure our lawyers and culturistic teachers. This done, there would be less confusion. JOHN M'NULTY. LAND VALUES ARE IN DISPUTE Property Owner Assert Knowledge of Prices on Rlebt of Way. PORTLAND, March 20. (To the Edi tor.) Many of the persons through whose land the proposed road between Oswego and Oregon City is laid out have owned their property for a long time, some, to my knowledge about 20 years, and it appears to me they would know about Its value as well, or better, than the right of way agents of the road who are, most of them, newcomers to Oregon. The railroad company has the right and the club, and Is using them, to say to these people, we will condemn your property. This is a great power in the hands of a railroad company and, in stead of the railroad company getting deeds for rights of way, it is using the club and taking deeds for an absolute fee to the land. The railroad company, by use of eminent domain, has the right to take the property at any time it sees fit, in any particular quantity or shape as it pleases, and after the jury returns the verdict to the court the railroad has the election or option to pay the money and take the land, or to pay the costs and drop the matter. This, certainly gives the railroad by far the advantage as far as the law is concerned. What more can be asked? The property owner must rely for protection on a Jury of 12 men, and can not have his property taken from him until the money Is actually paid. A. KING WILSON. SIMPLIFY BROADWAY NUMBERING Objection la Entered to Encumbering System With Direction Prefixes. PORTLAND, March 20. (To the Edi tor.) Why should Broadway street be encumbered with east, north and south?" Are not the numbers alone sufficient to locate the place and much less confusing? Those prefixes are seldom used even where they are most required, in addressing letters, much to the confusion of the mailcarrier and consequent delay in delivery. The prefixes north, sou t ft, etc, are now used on our streets for the reason that those streets are numbered from a certain point both in a northerly and southerly direction. This condition does not or need not exist in the num bering of Broadway. We fail to find any number of resident Broadway peo ple who were consulted In the matter at all, and know of many, as well as Mr. Munley, who are opposed to It, not withstanding what Mr. Kortn says in The Oregonian today. In the Stone Asre. Kansas City Star. Mf stnne.hnmmer You daughter seems a very popular young lady. Mr. Bonechlsel ane is tnau were hniiiino- l fins addition to our cave out of the valentines she's received. I Half a Century A?o Prom The Oreffonlan of March 23, 1S6S. Headquarters Sixth Army Corps, Near White Oak Church. Va., March 12.. Unmistakable preparations are now being made for a speedy move ment of the Army. Cairo, HI., March 11. Memphis ad vices to March 12 say an Important movement of troops was taking place below. The particulars are contra band. The Yazoo Pass expedition against Vlcksburg, it is likely, has given up an advantage not heretofore appreciated. Cairo, HI., March 15. News from Vlcksburg to March 9' state that the river has risen so high that OenerH,l McClernanU's troops have been com pelled to embark lor Milliken's bend, 16 miles above this point.. The Yazoo Pass project is an entire success. New York, March 15. Secretary Chase has been very successful in mak ing arrangements for extensive loans here. San Francisco, March IS. The schooner J. M. Chapman, which cleared for Mansanlllo yesterday, was boarded this morning by three boats from the United States sloop of war Cyane and towed to Fort Alcatraz. She Is filled with arms and ammunition and whs in tended for a rebel privateer. In Memorlam The poor Commercial came to an untimely end on Saturday. It hated the Union, the Government and all good things and it loved with all Its petty heart Jeff Davis' seces sion, slavery and everybody who sym pathized with them. A volunteer militia company, con sisting of some 40 odd members, was organized In this city on Saturday. The following were elected officers: N. a. Powell, captain; S. F. Kerns, first lieu tenant; E. B. Dufur, second lieutenant, and C. H. Hill, first sergeant. Rooms are being fitted up In tho Pioneer Hotel In this city for the of fice of the Overland Telegraph. The wires will reach Salem in a few days. Twenty-five Years Ago Prom The Oregonian of March 22, 1888. Washington, March 21. Senator Dolph's bill granting the State of Ore gon five townships, including the fa mous Crater Lake, for a public park, passed the Senate this afternoon. Washington. March 21. Denis Kear ney had an interview with the Presi dent today and denounced the pending Chinese treaty. The President said ho thought the treaty would be at least tried for a while. Kearney said that If it were it would mean the loss of 14 electoral votes of the Pacific Coast to the Democratic party. Arlington. Or March 21. The long dreaded fire fiend has at last done its work in our city. It destroyed Ral ston's building, in which was H. S. Comfort's small stock of drugs. D. S. Sprinkle & Co.'s store building, the Arlington Times building, J. L. Adams' vacant building, the building of M. C. Harris, J. E. Haskins' old blacksmith shop and the county Jail. On the op posite side of the street it burned Kirby's hall, J. B. Wood's furniture and provision store, a building owned by M. V. Harrison and Condon & Cor nish's bank. McMinnville, Or., March II. The Democratic county convention today elected H. L. Heath, W. L. Bradshaw, D. H. Hartson. John M. Briedwell, P. rf. messner and E. C. Ferguson dele gates to the state convention The delegates were instructed to present the name of Hon. W. D. Fenton to the state convention as delegate to St. Louis. Nashville, March 21. A dispatch states that a cyclone which passed over Calhoun, Ga., and East Tennessee last night did great damage. Several Uvea were lost near Lenovls. Washington street is pushing ahead in competition with Morrison. It's about an even race. Councilman G. Castendieck, who has been confined to his house with a se vere attack of neuralgia, is now con valescent. The weather was delightful yester day, clear and bright, although the air in the shade was quite cool. Honey bees were at work in the gardens, and a single white butterfly was seen flit ting around. Councilman Woodward was last night excused from attending Council for three months. He Is going to Cali fornia to secure iron for the proposed extension of the Transcontinental Street Railway, of which he is super intendent. Richard Harding Davis and Sir A. Conan Doyle "Write for The Sunday Oregonian Modern Warfare A careful study by Sir A. Conan Doyle of the next great Continental war and the part Great Britain will play. Illustrated with unusual military photographs. The Editor's Story This is another of Richard Harding Da vis' short-story masterpieces. Complete Sunday. The Tailored Maid A mag-, nificent page feature in colors of especial interest to women who follow the smartest things in dress. What Is Love An effort by experts is made to answer this profound and elusive question. Elinor Glyn The famous au thor of "Three Weeks" writes an absorbing special article for The Oregonian on the question of loyalty. Venus Eivaled A pretty Swedish girl is heralded as the most beautiful and perfectly molded of women. Perfect Gown at $10 It has arrived to remove the bachelor's terror of marriage. Helen Keller at Close Range The result of many months in company with the wonderful blind girl is condensed into a readable article by Robert H. Moulton. The Law May Curb Fashion Congress is to be asked to make feather decorations ille gal. Sarah Bernhardt She con tinues her absorbing letters on current topics. Many Other Features. Order today of your newsdealer.