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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 28, 1914)
lO THE MORNING- OREGOXIAX, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1914. POBTLA.VD, OBEGON. Entered at Portland, Oregon, Postofflce as econd-claas matter. Subscription Rates Invariably la Advance-. (BY MAIL) Dally. Sunday Included, one year ...... .fS.Ofl Dally, Sunday Included, six months ..... 4.23 Jjally. Sunday Included, three months ... 2-28 Daily. Sunday Included, one month ...... .IS Dally, without Sunday, one year B-00 iei:y, without Sunday, six months ..... 8.23 Dally, without Sunday, three months ... 1.73 - 1 minis y1 vm muni n .w weekly, one year 1.60 Sunday, one year 2.60 bunday and weekly, one year 8.60 (BY CARRIER) Oatly, finnday included, one year ....... 59.00 Dally. Sunday Included, one month ..... .78 low t-o Kemlt tend postofflce money or aer, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk. Otve postofflce address In. full. Including county and state. Postage Kates la to 19 pages, 1 cent; 18 to S3 pages. 3 cents; 84 to 48 pages, 8 cents; 0 to do pages. 4 cents; 62 to 76 pages, S rents; ?8 to 62 pages. cents. Foreign post age, double rates. Eastern Business Office Verree Conk- iu, new low, Brunswick building. w cage, Steger building. fcs Francisco Office R. J. BldweU Co, " rnai aireec PORTLAND, WEDNESDAY, JAN. to, 1814. I TfTLSOX ON CANAL TOLLS. Before President Wilson can. rec ommend repeal of the coastwise ex emption clause of the Panama Canal tolls act he must Ignore many facts. Those facts run directly contrary to the British contention which be seems bo ready to uphold. The United States dug the canal in order to give the American people the benefit of cheap iwater transpor tation between the Atlantlo and Pa cific coasts. That was one of the principal reasons. The Hay-Pauncefote treaty requires Ms to make the tolls equal to all na tions. "When the Senate was consid ering ratification of this treaty, the question was raised whether the words "all nations" were Intended to Include the United States or whether they meant "all other nations" than the one which owned the canal. It was held that the latter was obviously the correct interpretation and that there Cora amendment was not necessary to remove all doubt. This interpretation has received the tacit sanction oj Great Britain, for the treaty between the United States and Panama exempts vessels of the latter republio from tolls and has stood for years without British protest. The toll clause of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty is taken word for word from the Suez Canal treaty. Russia end Austria-Hungary pay from their treasuries the tolls of vessels of their merchant marine passing through the Suez Canal, and other nations pay subsidies fully or partly equivalent to the tolls, yet they have never been accused of violating the Suez Canal treaty. As the United States owns the Panama Canal, exemption of coast wise vessels is simply another way of doing the, same thing. "We need only collect the tolls at Panama and Colon and refund them at Washington In order to deprive other nations of all cause of protest at the cost of some superfluous bookkeeping and money n&ndling. Mr. Wilson may condemn exemption from tolls of coastwise vessels on the ground that it Is a special privilege granted to a class and Is therefore re pugnant to Democratic principles. It Is a privilege granted to all the people of the United States by the represen tatives of all the people. It is in harmony with Democratic principles, unless the Democratic House of the last Congress was false to those prin ciples, for that body passed the ex emption clause. It cannot foster monopoly so long as ships owned by railroads are excluded from the canal. , The only monopoly is that of the American people in their own coast wise commerce, a monopoly which Is firmly established in our National pol icy and which no party has proposed to destroy. If the exemption clause be repealed, the American consumer will pay more for goods In proportion to the amount of the tolls, which amount competition would soon have cut off of freight rates. The beneficiaries will be the railroads, which will be enabled to maintain higher rates; the British shipowners, who will be able to draw American trade to Canadian ports by means of their cheaper ships and cheaper operation; the Canadian ports, which will handle this trade, and the Canadian railroads, which will carry It to the Interior. Vancouver, B. C, will be built up at the expense of Portland, Seattle and San Fran cisco. The British contention is contra . dieted not only by the facts relating to the Hay-Pauncefote treaty and its rat ification but by the action of the United States since ratification. Sir Edward Grey contends that by ex empting our coastwise vessels we Im pose on foreign vessels a heavier bur den, for maintenance and operation. The action of President Taft in fixing the tolls at $1.20 a net ton disproves this contention, for that Is the toll charged on the Suez Canal. He based the toll not on the sum required to pay expenses but on competition with a rival canal. The traffic which will pass through the canal in the first year of opera tion Is estimated by Professor Emory R. Johnson, the accepted authority, at 10,600,000 net registered tons and he estimates that only 1,160,000 tons of this would be American coastwise. A rate of J 1.20 on the balance, even with the addition of passenger tolls, would not yield enough to pay expenses and Interest. Mr. Taft had Professor Johnson's figures before him when he fixed the tolL He also knew that, even if tolls were charged on coast wise vessels, the additional revenue would not suffice. Congress limited tolls to $1.25, which would not have sufficed. The plain inference Is that neither Mr. Taft nor Congress had in mind a rate of toll high enough to make the canal pay its ' way; they fixed what they considered a com petitive rate. Hence exemption of coastwise ships did not prompt im position of any higher tolls on for eign ships than would have been im posed had there been no exemption. If Mr. Wilson's position is prompted by desire to cater to public opinion, he has sadly mistaken its trend. The people are opposed to ship subsidies, but they do not regard coastwise ex emption as a subsidy, when the ample precautions to maintain competition on the canal route will cause freight rates to be scaled down in proportion. The American people consider that they are giving a square deal to all other nations by putting all on the same footing. Tlfey consider that a square deal to themselves requires that they pass their own ships through their own canal on any terms they choose to make. The wise way is to require all driv ers of vehicles to exercise reasonable prudence. Speed limit are lneffec- Uve with careless drivers and unnec essary with those who are prudent. Pedestrians should have the right of way on the streets. This Is a reason able .rule and the public will Insist upon it. The driver of a powerful ve hicle who cannot or will not control his machine should be locked up where he cannot commit murder. LBT US HAVE PEACE. A circular letter fathered by the East Side Business Men's Club calls for a meeting on February 10 to con sider the question of abolishing the State Legislature and establishing a commission form of government for Oregon. It might be- difficult to un derstand why a business organization should concern itself with a purely political problem, except for the fact that the name of Mr. Dan KelLaher is signed to the letter as chairman of the Commission Government commit tee. Mr. Kellaher is a member of the State Senate. The great self-sacrifice involved in any plan to abolish him self and others is therefore apparent. We are not prepared to go to the extreme of suggesting that the State Legislature be wrecked for the reason that Senator Kellaher belongs to it. We think that the suggestion that the question be considered on Its merits Is sound. The success of the commis sion government In Portland is not yet demonstrated. State commission gov ernment for the state is a pure experi ment. Oregon has tried many experi ments in government. It is about time that it put on the brakes. It Is folly longer to pursue and adopt novelty for the mere sake of getting something new. The develop ment and Improvement of the present system are in order. The era of radical change and outright substitution Is over, or ought to be. Let us have peace. VETOED BY MB. FESKXN3. Private enterprise might have built the railroad In Alaska from the sea to the Yukon and there might have been no occasion for Government rail roads In Alaska had George W. Per kins and. his associates graciously per mitted. Men were ready to under take the work, but Mr. Perkins, as a member of the Morgan firm, inter posed his veto. The opposition of Morgan and the Guggenhelms, their associates in the Alaska syndicate, killed all hope that the necessary cap ital could be raised. No power short of the United States Government could lift the paralyzing grip of the Mor gans and Guggenheims. Hence the Government Is now about to take up the task. This charge has twice been made before the Senate committee on terri tories and has not been openly denied by Mr. Perkins. It was first made by John E. Ballalne, when Albert J. Bev- eridge, the friend of Mr. Perkins' youth, was chairman of that commit tee. Mr. Beverldge immediately tele phoned the fact to Mr. Perkins, and the latter, said Mr. Ballalne, "denied that he had ever had negotiations of any kind with me, or even had known me." It was repeated last May before the same committee. Mr. Ballalne then said that he had negotiated with Mr. Perkins for a change of the Alaska Central Railroad from broad to narrow gauge and that Mr. Perkins positively declared the syndicate could not approve the change. Mr. Ballaine quoted himself as having then said: "Do I understand from this, Mr. Perkins, that if I oaj any other Individual or any company should go to . some other bank or banker to raise money for building a railroad from Bcward through the Susltna Valley to the Tanana I should meet with the opposition of the owners of the Alaskan syndicate?" And to this, Mr. Ballalne says, Mr. Perkins replied: "They could not allow a railroad built through the Susltna Valley Into the Tanana. There will be no more railroad building In Alaska until the coal fields are opened. Mr. Perkins was invited to appear before the Senate committee and de ny this statement, but he has never appeared. His silence seems to give consent. Such unrefuted charges of dictation by large New York banks as to the fate of great enterprises, involving the fate of whole states and territories, explain the popular distrust of what is commonly called "the money pow er." They explain why public control of the new banking and currency Sys tem meets public approval and why the people view with equanimity the prospect that New York's financial power will be reduced. They also ex plain how Mr. Beverldge "passes pros perity around" when his "friend George" is concerned. It shows what kind of men pose as "soldiers of the common good." THE LIBRARY REPORT. The fifth annual report of the Port land Library Association is the first to be Issued since the new building was opened. With the. removal to more commodious quarters the public library has expanded its work in every direction. Miss Isom, the librarian, says in her report to the directors that "the new building by its size, ef ficiency and impressiveness offers a broader opportunity for usefulness and Imposes obligations which the li brary must meet." Service to the pub lic is the watchword of the Institution. The desire to be of use is manifest in every department. "The hall, lecture-rooma and study rooms," continues the librarian, "are in constant request." What Portland's need has been for public meeting places is amply shown by the number and variety of the purposes that are served by the library rooms. To men tion only a few out of many, Reed College, Pacific University and the State University are all giving exten sion courses at the central building, while many extension lectures are de livered weekly at the branch libraries in different parts of the city. Miss Isom mentions the conference of the League of Pacific Northwest Municipalities, the annual conference of the Oregon Congress of Mothers, the meetings of the Oregon Civic League, the Industrial Welfare Com mission, the Parent Teacher Associa tion and the Educational Association as specimens of the activities which are centering at the new library build ing. It promises to be the most prof itable investment Portland ever made as far as mental and moral influence on the lives of the people is concerned. None can visit the circulation depart ment from day to day without noticing the increase of its popularity. More people draw books than ever before and it is gratifying to learn that they draw and read better books. The cir lulation of weak fiction is falling off and that of sound books of every kind is increasing. We must attribute a great part of this wholesome progress to the intelli gent efforts of the library force. The school department, for instance, gave "book talks" to 81,435 children In the course of the year to teach them to like good books. These talks consist "of a running comment on the books in the classroom library." Their ef fect is most encouraging. Miss Isom laments that the taste of the older pupils "has in many cases been viti ated by superficial stories, trashy nov els and magazines." She believes that "to develop a discriminating taste is and always should be the most im portant phase of library instruction" and that by persistent work with the children, their parents and the teach ers in the public schools, much may be accomplished. "The librarian's function," she says, "is to help parents and teachers in their work with the children far more than to work directly with the chil dren." In the public library Portland has a center of light and knowledge which permeates the whole city with its beams. LYNCH LAW. In defending the Governor's course at Copperfield a contributor to The Oregonlan today expresses inability to understand why the Governor is the object of so much adverse criticism. "I can see in the Governor's act," he says, "only one object the enforce ment of the law." We would remind this correspond ent and others who think as he does that enforcement of law and the giv ing of ghastly warning is the professed object of the Southern lynching par ties. If the wretched negro Is known to be guilty of murder or of unmention able crime why await the tedious process of the courts, argue the Bleasea and Tillmans of South Caro lina. A rope thrown over the nearest telephone pole or a stake and a bunch of fagots provide a "short cut" to Jus tice. Why depend on the courts if the sa loonman transgresses the law? ask the Wests and the Smiths of Oregon. To be sure there is adequate statutory authority for the Governor to proceed by civil process, but it is slower. What if the constitution does guarantee to the accused the right of trial by im partial Jury? Let the Governor be Judge, Jury and executioner and de cide the case if need be on haphazard testimony received 400 miles away. Martial law and confiscation provide a "short cut" to Justice and the end Justifies the means. Martial law as it was applied in Copperfield is lynch law. That is why the Governor Is criticised. AMERICAN POETRY. Commencing on Mr. Bralthwalte's ponderously asinine "Anthology of American Verse for 1918," John Al ford says in the London Poetry and Drama that he finds no "support to a belief that there is any such thing as American poetry." He admits that we produce some pretty Jingles with a moderately large supply of sighs and simpers over Italian ruins, but poetry is a very different matter from that. Mr. Alford declares that "imitation Is the overmastering vice" of our verse. Those who write it have not yet learned' to respect and appreciate their own country. "They appear," says Mr. Alford, "to f-nd little of in terest In their native country," and he asks why none of them "find worthy qualities either in the cities or the vast and varied areas of America Europe and European culture is worth consideration," Mr. Alford con cedes, "but it is much more keenly felt and admirably expressed by those to whom it belongs." This may be resented as an unkind cut, but it Is certainly deserved. The poets whom Mr. Braithwaite selected for particular praise, as The Orego nlan noticed once before, had not a word of song for their native land. Europe, and especially Italy, was their theme. They preferred to be the thousandth repetition of an echo rath er than to utter with full voice a song of home. Whitman is Just about the only poet we ever had who dared to say what he actually thought in his own way. He set up no model for imitation and his poetry dealt with home subjects. He celebrated the negro truck driver, the old pioneer father of a. dozen big boys he loved to go hunting with, all of them trailing after him, the demo cratic women of America, the man in the street, the grafting politician. Whitman went so far in his scorn of European precedent that he neg lected the accepted forms of poetry His own countrymen were ashamed of him for his want of literary etiquette, but nobody else cared a fig. He earned an International reputation on his solid merits and then his timorous countrymen began to confess nervous ly that they, too, saw something in him to admire. All Judges- whose opin ion is worth anything now rank Whit, man as our best poet and the reason for It is his sturdy Americanism. The German poets are intensely German and the French poets are French. Americans are the only ones who try to obscure their nativity and don the garb of foerign lands. Suppose Burns had been ashamed of being Scotch. Where would his fame be today? The same contempt for literary eti quette which made Whitman so free and powerful in expression has broken out again in our younger playwrights, who stand far better in the world of letters than our poets do. Of late years there have been all sorts of efforts in the colleges to reduce playwritlng to a mechanical process. The professors have been harping on technique until they have made it appear to many that all there is in a good play is a scholastic framework. The dialogue and character amount to nothing. Get the form correct and all the rest is of no consequence. The pedagogues have been trying to do for the drama the same horrible deed they did for the short story. The latter poor creature they have put into tight corsets, laced it up and pared down its cheeks and nose until there is little left of the original ro bust maiden. The beauty doctors have refined and purged the short story un til nobody reads it any more except as a remedy for insomnia. Professors have composed soporific textbooks about It. Quacks advertise to teach how to write it in six easy lessons. The magazines overflow with sickly imi tations of short stories, but how often does one see a good specimen? The more receipts you have the worse your literary product in every style. The younger playwrights are happi ly a sturdy and rebellious race. They submit to no rules and ask no favors of the college professors. They break all the "principles of dramatic con struction" and therefore they are perennially interesting. Our native plays grow freer every day. They take up every theme under the skies, scorning nothing, sympathizing with everything. While our neurasthenic poets are simpering over Perugia and feebly groaning over Roman ruins the playwrights attack the fundamental problems of democracy with a fine contempt for academic precepts. . But it would be a great mistake to fancy that they are regardless of form. The fact is that the newer American drama is more submissive to artistic restraint than Shakespeare was. The old unity of place is apparent in our current plays and the action clings closely to a central theme, as Aristotle taught that it should. These plays gain in substance and grip the spectator more powerfully, because of their fi delity to artistic principles, but they neglect entirely the professorial laws about subject matter, construction of plot and climax of interest. The In terest is held all through the play by the thought that pervades it, while the plot grows naturally out of the char acters and their opposing desires. When an American sits down to write a poem he begins by drinking a quart of weak tea to give his mind a wanly classical aspect. Then he reads his chosen British model an hour or two to catch the tone of his master's voice. Finally he selects some subject as remote as possible from anything that he has ever seen or that anybody else cares to read about. With these preparations he pipes up his lay and if it is thin and pallid and chilly enough critics like Mr. Braithwaite hail him as a heaven-born songster. A JOB FOR GOETHALS. Satisfaction will be felt that an ap propriate Job has been provided for Colonel Goethals, the canal builder. Having proved his capacity as an ex ecutive and a man of action he has been in demand since his Immense task neared completion. A leading offer came from New York, where he was wanted for service as Police Com missioner. No doubt many corpora tions held out tempting offers and per haps he received a few Chautauqua and vaudeville offers. But the new post of Governor of the Canal Zone is the one peculiarly suited to his abilities. His inclination to accept the Police Commissionershlp of New York was 111 advised. No mat ter how splendid his attainments as an executive and engineer, he neces sarily lacks the intimate knowledge of frail and vicious human nature, which the man who would be a suc cessful Police Commissioner must have. What opportunity has he had in his busy life as an Army engineer to study the psychology and life of the underworld? Without this knowl edge how could he hope to add much to the effectiveness of the New York police machine? As Police Commissioner the Goethals fame would probably suffer rather than gain in brilliance. As Civil Governor he will preside over the great engineering project whose devel opment he has directed. It affords him a field in which his usefulness has only commenced. The railroads of South Africa are owned by the government and when the employes struck the government declared martial law, arrested- the strike leaders and put the roads in operation. The Inference is that a government which owns railroads will crush labor unions or be in their power. Which alternative would our Government adopt if it owned the railroads and how would it work? That Is a question to be considered. President Wilson let business and distinguished visitors wait while he petted two little children at the Capi tol. What more refreshing than a brace of ruddy-faced youngsters? Insurgency has again split the Methodists. Call out the militlal The situation requires martial law about as forcefully as did the one at Cop perfield. Illinois women must tell their ages when they vote, which is not distress ing. The woman who has a real de sire to cast a ballot is proud of her age. A New York actor broke his leg while dancing the tango. Danger still lurks even in those old-fashioned dances like the tango. One bottle of gas killed four men in England. So beware. Whole tanks of it will be released during the im pending campaign. A San Francisco woman, wife of an alien, will carry her claims to suf frage to the Supreme Court. If she wins will she register? The radium cure for cancer is now held dangerous. Medical science pro duces some strange contradictions in the course of a week- It would seem that an attorney who confesses to moral delinquency is a good subject for Investigation by a bar association. Speaking of our snow storm yester day, it would be called a little Spring time frolic in places where they have real storms. When the remodeled Brooklyn gets Into action, if she has a chance, his toric memories, will Inspire her crew to victory. Storms in sunny California prove fatal. Come to Oregon and escape the dangers attendant on freakish weather. According to the Mayor of Spokane, the State of Washington is now 42 per cent "dry," with a steady increase in aridity. A Seaside pastor appeared in over alls in his pulpit. Anything to draw the curious these unregenerate days. February 5 will be Apple day in Idaho and they have the red-cheeked goods over there to make it a success. But Tango will not stop because an actor broke, his leg dancing. Nothing less than breaking the neck is a cure. Those German steamship lines on the Atlantic will be providing free beer and pretzels if the rivalry lasts. From the viewpoint of the boy, snow on Tuesday is no good, so it is Just as well it melted rapidly. Secretary Bryan predicts a lower living cost. Including a reduced ad mission to Chautauquas? The Kaiser is as young as any mon arch in Europe on his fifty-fifth birthday. Many are entering the race who can never hope to travel faster than a walk. No. lady would use a horsewhip, for no gentleman needs it. J And the next day it snowed. DA1H1MES AND EXPRESS RATES Esitera Oresron Producer Points o Effect of Proposed Advance. PORTLAND, Jan. 26. (To the Edi tor.) We are informed that a peti tion 10 feet long has been- presented to the State Railroad Commission ask ing that the express rate -on cream be raised, or the rate on butter be reduced. It Is a selfish attempt on the part of small creameries scattered over the country to prevent the ship ment of cream to such centers as Portland. If it is true that some farmers have signed this petition, they certainly have been fooled by the pro moters of the scheme the idea of it being to the advantage of a farmer to have the express rate on his cream raised so high that he cannot afford to ship it to Portland or Seattle! I happen to be In the business of producing cream in Eastern Oregon. My ranch is nine miles from a cream ery. I am at this time shipping cream to Seattle. Why? Because a can of cream that will bring me 7 net at the local creamery will bring me J9 net at Seattle. Will It be any advan tage to me to be shut off from my Seattle buyer? We are constantly reading in the papers of the neces sity of encouraging dairying, and Just aa we are heeding this line of talk, a lot of folk whose sole ambition ap pears to be to work the producer, propose to compel us to sell our cream to whoever happens to start a creamery near us. In my judgment It behooves the creamery men of Portland to attend the meeting In this city February 9, when a meeting of the Utility Commis sions of Oregon. California and Wash ington will consider this subject. The Portland people cannot afford to have their cream supply shut off by such a proposition as this. If the local cream ery is fair with its test and its price that it pays for butter fat. I would always rather send it my cream if even I receive a little less money for It. But when I can get about 80 per cent more by shipping it to Portland or (Seattle, I fail to see where I reap any advantage in patronizing the local In stitution.' By all means get the ex press companies to put down the ex press rate on butter. If it is fair that this should be done, but to ask them to raise their rates on anything they ship In thn XVO.V nf nrrtdlir 1a BiHflHgl That sort oi policy means increasing tne cost or living not reducing It. R. M. TUTTLE. RAT SHOOTING AS A FINE ART. Subject Interests Writer Who Reports "on Rata Still at Large. PORTLAND, Jan. 26. (To the Edi tor.) I have been reading excerpts of late In The Oregonlan from many anxious citizens on how rats were 'ex terminated by the Colonel Lawson militia sent to quell the saloons at Copperfield. About six months ago I was down near the old Albina ferry and saw a rat down there but don't believe it was ever reported to Governor West. This rat came out from under the wharf about 8 minutes after 8 o'clock and any member of the West militia squad could have climbed to the top of a large telephone pole which at that time stood close by and took aim and shot him from above. I also heard of a man who heard another man say that he saw a rat down at Tillamook about a year ago, and the rat got away be cause the man who shot at him did not have shells furnished by the taxpay ers of this state to shoot with. Besides the man wore a straw hat Instead of a cap with gold braid. Where can I get a picture of that rat shot by the Governor West militia squad In Copperfield? Has the public access to the records on file in the Governor's office at Salem of the dif ferent rats shot by militia sent out during West's term of office? In early days of this state I used to hear of rats being seen by miners down around Prlneville, and during Governor Grover's term it was report ed that there was a rat seen crossing the street in Oregon City, but the militia was not called out on account of the expense to the state, so it was afterwards reported that the rat had died a natural death or from ptomaine poison. Where can a manual be bought or a treatise on how rats are shot by militia under pay by the taxpayers of the state of Oregon at from $5 up per day and expenses? ELI E. SHORT. SUMMARY OF POLITICS IN JAPAN Parties Differ on Leadership Rather Than on Articles of Faith. Japanest Magazine. The Seiyu-kai (literally, the Political Friends Association) was organized and led by the late Prince Ito, and Is tne largest party in Japan. It has a workable majority in the House of Rep resentatives and is a party now in power. (.,,- The Rikken Dosh-kal (literally. Con stitutional Friends Association) was organized by the late Prince Katsura last Spring. It is already a strong fac tor in Japanese politics. The Kokuminto (Nationalist party) is another political party in Japan, once led by Count Okuma, The Seiyu Club is a party composed principally of those members who have bolted from the Seiyu-kal. Its slogan Is "Down with clan rule." The Yuraku-kal is a political asso ciation of the independents. Political parties of Japan differ from one another in no clean-cut principles or political faiths. They depend more upon the character and statesmanship of their leaders. The Jiyuto, or Liberal party, the first party ever organized in Japan and led by Count Itagaki, was ultimately ab sorbed by the Selyu-kal, when Prince Ito formed It. The Shlmpo-to, or progressive party, organized in 1881- and led by Count Okuma, has ever since played the chief role of the opposition. Today it forms the mainstay of the Kukuminto or Na tionalist party. The Rikken Doshl-kal was born when Prince Katsura saw necessity of or ganizing and leading a new political party. The moving spirit of the Seiyu Club is Y. Oz'aki, former Mayor of Toklo. Gentle Bnt Cruel Lover. Philadelphia Telegraph. For a long time James and Maude had courted. Eventually the engage ment was announced, and to the lov ing pair the future looked as beautiful as if it had received a new coat of paint. But, alas! One evening there was a misunderstanding, and then came the bitter quarrel. With flashing eyes the proud beauty yanked off the hundred dollar solitaire. "Take your rings." she dramatically cried. "I have decided that I can never be your wife! I (hall expect you to re turn everything you have in your possession that belongs to me. "All I have is a lock of your hair and a photograph," sadly replied James. "You will hardly care for the photo, but the lock of hair you will no doubt wish to preserve as a souvenir." "As a souvenir of what, pray?" Im periously demanded the angry Maude. "Of the time when you were a bru nette." was the gentle rejoinder of James. Willie's Dip Into Athletics. Delineator. "Oh. Willie! Willie!" exclaimed his mother, shocked and grieved. '"How often have I told you not to play with that naughty Johnson boy?" "Mamma." said William, who appeared in a regret table state of disorder and with a bruised face, In utter disgust, "do I look as if I had been playing with anybody?" NO HOPE FOR CERTAIN ELEMENT Governor West Will See That Their Rights Are Not Protected. REEDVILLE. Or, Jan. 26. (To the Editor.) Having read so much con cerning the action of Governor West in the famous Copperfield case, I am at a loss to understand exactly why the Governor Is the object of so much adverse criticism. I can see in the Governor's act only one object the en forcement of the law. Why, then, all this hue and cry about West seeking cheap advertising and playing to the galleries. Why Is a Governor a Gov ernor? Is he to be a straw man, of whom we should hear nothing? If It lies within his power to enforce laws which some spineless officials have failed to do, should he be ridiculed and condemned for so doing? What we expect of our officials to day Is that they do what they are sent up to do. Those Baker County offi cials have shown their unfitness for the offices hey are entrusted with. It shows how badly deceived the people sometimes are In their choice. True, when a man runs for office he never gets through telling the voters how he will enforce the laws, etc. In the race for Governorship before us the voters will hear much of this law enforcement pledge. It might be well to say that the safest candidate before us In this race for Governor is the one who stands closest to the present adminis tration'. The Copperfield affair, it is said, was only a little affair, yet It seems to have been too large for Baker County officials to handle. What, then, could be expected of those same officials If ever a big affair turned up? The good people of Baker County or of any county In the grand old state of Ore gon need not fear what some are pleased to call the "hysteric antics" of Governor West. The law-abiding citi zen will still be protected in his rights. I cannot, however, see much hope for the law-breaking, law-defying liquor element, who want to run the country as they please, regardless of the rights of others, as long as West is Governor of Oregon. Acting under the principles of a broad sense of justice. Governor West need have no fear of the result. The people will pretty nearly come back ing him up. His enemies are many and bitter; it Is to be expected, for constant agitation always brings some things to the surface, whether it is for good or for evil. Looking over the man (Governor West) and examining Into his many "hysteric antics," we can't help but see through it all a big and honest heart, which seems to reach out into the depths of this pitiless world and cry for justice simple Jus tice. His heart shines forth In his prison reform policy, in his desire to abolish capital punishment. In his at tempt to aid the state's unemployed, in his vetoing of bills which if passed would add still more to our burden of taxation, In his act declaring military law in Copperfield, showing that the law of the state of Oregon Is bigger than the liquor interests, and that It could be enforced by the state execu tive. If local officials failed In their solemn duty to the people. Lastly, he showed that there isn't a community so small and so remote but that at any time it could expect such relief as the law of a great state could give, and that even In little Copperfield, isolated as it is, there could be 100 per cent law enforcement along with the 100 per cent of law. The prison reform policy and the anti-capital punishment policy have caused the Governor much trouble. In them he may have blundered some, yet they all sprang from that same big heart that loves Justice and his fellow men. O. E. FRANK. NEEDED A RELIABLE GOVERNOR Newport Man Urges Necessity of Fill ing Office With Good Material. NEWPORT, Or., Jan. 26. (To the Editor.) Now that the woods are full of shining, self-nominated candidates for the Senate, for Governor and Rep resentatives, each producing a self made platform, it Indeed seems a proper time for a humble voter to call attention to the fact that the state needs, urgently needs, to fill all the piositlons named, with men of experi ence, amiity ana sound judgment in state and National affairs. We used to ridicule Kansans and Socklesa Jerry, but I am sorry to say we nave presented a picture of fan tastic government that puts us well In the lead. I am quite sure in some cases we have outdistanced the Grass hopper state. We have 'gained a questionable notoriety through the antics or our Governor. It is becom ing plainer every day that a return to a dignified recognition of the rights or tne people under the law would be greatly appreciated. We are getting out of patience with the easy manner In which the peo ple's money is being squandered. The once-small leaks have beoome great torrents, and for this reason a care ful, brainy man Is demanded; one that Is free from the prevailing "fancies and fads," such as Increasing th bur den of taxation by the appointing of useless ana unnecessary commissions, and the appropriation of money for needless and extravagant improve ments. In looking over the field for a se lection of candidates and noting the qualifications of the various aspirants for Governor, I believe the Hon. T. T. Geer, who served the people so well for a term of four years, would re ceive merited consideration from the people. I have no Information as to his wishes in the matter, but I do know his name Is frequently men tioned as a suitable candidate for the office, and I also know that he. Is in close touch with the people, and if such a man should be elected we would have a safe, sane and economical man agement of the affairs of the state. FRANKLIN M. CARTER. Not All Engineers Approve. PORTLAND, Jan. 26. (To the Edi tor.) In The Oregonlan January 25 was ppbllshed a communication from me In reference to the action of the Board of Higher Curricula and in that communi cation there appears this statemett: "At all events, the decision of the board, insofar as It has been promul gated, has been quite satisfactory to the engineers." It now appears that this is, in a measure, a misstatement, for while many of them have expressed them selves as being satisfied with the ac tion of the board as far as the results of its official action has been outlined an! publicly announced, some of the engineers do not approve of the segre gation of the various courses of the engineering curricula as now proposd by the board and In justice to the views of these engineers I wish to make this correction. WALTER H. GRAVES. Cost of Meat Inspections. EEAVERTON, Or., Jan. 24. (To the Edi tor.) In The Oregonlan of January 23 there was an article about a. new meat In spection ordinance in the city. 1 see they are to charge 60 cents an hour for inspec tion of meats and no charge of less than $1.80 is to be made. If a farmer brought in a veal to sell to & butcher how would this Inspection be attended to and how much would the charge be? It seems that $1.80 would be too much. N. KURTH. The charge of 60 cents an hour and slaughter-houses, where the inspector must be sent out. The ordinance as proposed provides in the inspection of meat sent In. by farmers a charge of 10 cents for calves, sheep and goats and 25 cents for a beef weighing over 250 pounds dressed. Inspection in cases where meat is delivered direct to a Twenty-five Years Ago From The Oregonlan of Jan. 28. 1880. Salem, Jan. 27. The bill to consoli date Portland, East Portland and Al bina will probably be introduced In the morning. Paris, Jan. 27. Boulanger was elected to the Chamber of Deputies to day. The members of the government are astonished at the result. Bets are freely offered that the government will resign tomorrow. The Clarence S. Bement arrived Sat urday af ternpon. Captain Franck "says he has never had such a rough voy age. Tom Jones won the 73-yard footrace with Loveland at the Oaks on Satur day. No less than 3000 Is thought to have changed hands In bets. aiT!10 Metdist Episcopal Church, at Albina, was dedicated on Sunday. Rev. Alfred Kummer preached the sermon. c- Halloweli has Just returned from the Sound country. A. R. Fink, late agent of the North ern Pacific Express Company at Seat tle, has been appointed agent of the u. K. & N. Company in that city. He is a son of A. Fink, a well-known banker in Albina. Krr,angements havo beon made for building a grain elevator at Albina by J. A. McLennan, of Chicago. Captain William xr- - - . t. a ekvutietl two or three ponds on his premises In East Portland with carp a few years ago and tney nave so i nrrnu ah n a ber that Mr. Kerns found it necessary T f fnn a I a-w mi . i "ul"on or two to the Wil lamette River. a W. Condon came up from Eugene yesterday. Half a Century Ago From The Oregonlan of Jan. 28, 1S9. There Is an extra amount of sick ness throughout the country at the present time. At The Dalles, at Jack sonville and other points we hear of a great many deaths. At McMlnnvllle eight deaths have suddenly and singu larly occurred recently, four children In one family and four adults. The symptoms In these cases were violent headache, followed by griping In the bowels. Death ensued in three or four hours. Charleston, Jan. 14. The enemy have kept up a lively shelling all day. Since Tuesday 4i!l shells have been thrown at the city, causing some damage but no casualties. Washington, Jan. 16. Ex-rebel Gen eral Gault, of Arkansas, yesterday presented himself as head of a delega Hon representing the people of that state In relation to the reconstruction of a state government. By letters received from Senator Nesmith we learn that the petition asking that this city may be made a ' port of entry has been presented to the Senate and referred to committee. Mr. Nesmith has also given notice of his intention to introduce a bill pro viding for the location of a branch mint here. The second annual edition of the Portland city directory will soon bo published. From Mr. Bushwller, the canvasser, we learn his estimate of the present population of the city amounts to 4794. His estimate last year was 4057, a healthy growth, but we think the estimate too small. Mr. Haynes, superintendent of the Oregon Telegraph, was in Salem yes terday. Mr. Haynes Is superintending the completion of this Important work. Thomas Carter has gone on a busi ness trip to the Eastern states. The New Aviation By Dean Collins. ("Tou can fly a kitchen table If your motor Is strong enough," says Lincoln Beachey, the aviator. News item.) When deep Inventive skill shall solve The aviator's problem rough, And for his uses shall evolve A motor that Is strong enough: If Lincoln Beachey's dope Is right, 'Most anything can take to flight. And we shall hear. In that far day A line of talk that runs this way: Happy, happy hardware man Sell to me a motor; Make It strong as well as you can; I would be a floater Round and round the azure sky. Like a flitting dragon fly. Darting high as I am able On our nice, new kitchen table. Father on the boot Jack To his office soared; Mother hits the sky track On the Ironing board: Little brother looks so 'strange. Floating on the kitchen range Over roof and massive gable Let me Join him on the table. Uncle on a plank new Cleaves the upper air: Aunty in the far blue Flies a Morris chair; Sister darted from the room Like a witch upon a broom. Flying off with cousin Mabel Let me Join them on the table. Sell to me a motor, Happy hardware man; Home I'll quickly tote 'er, Fast as e'er I can; Let it be a strong one please. So that I can fly with ease, Darting high as I am able. On our nice new kitchen table. Economy Begins At Home A great many things begin at home. Charity, of course. Economy also. But in a pros perous and self-confident country like America, economy of the home is often "more honored In the breach than in the observance." American thrift doesn't always occupy the place in the home that it should. In Its stead extravagance and carelessness frequently run side by side. Economy, however, ought to exist and CAN exist actively In every household where the Individual members wish it. There is no longer any secret about the things you spend your money for. . Practically every hu man want is answered In the col umns of good newspaper advertis ing. And If a family really wishes to practice economy the way is made easy by a careful and system atic effort to keep well informed on everything that Is purchased for the home Itself or for Its members per sonally. The advertising in The Oregonlan tells a daily story of vital impor tance to every household. Not to pay attention to it means that you are not Interested in the first principles of thrift Adv. market will be made at that market. j v