I
THE HORNING OREGONIAN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1914.
8
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FOBTLAND, FBIDAI, SEPT. , 1914.
ON TO BERLIN.
Except for occasional detao-hed an
nouncements from Foreign Offices, we
are not permitted to have a very close
and detailed view of the firing line In
Eastern Germany and Northern and
Eastern Austria. In a general way we
know that the firing line Is nearly
twice the length of the vast zone of
operations on the French border and
that the heaviest fighting has been
developed about the strategic points
of this frontier stretch. We know,
too, that the tide of battle ebbs and
flows, and that, so far as announced,
there has been no decisive outcome.
The Russians appear to have the ad
vantage on their extreme left In front
of the Austrian stronghold of Lem
berg, while the Germans have secured
the advantage In their defensive op
erations In the extreme north of Ger
many, as well as In front of the Vis
tula. The mostf significant Information Is
that the Austrians are being beaten
back, for this must be Russia's first
task. It Is altogether to be expected
that Russia has massed her heaviest
forces on her left against Austria for
very Important strategic reasons. She
must drive back the Austrian line be
fore she can establish a safe co-ordinating
advance deep Into Germany.
Look at the map and the situation
will present Itself instantly.
German territory projects into Rus
sia so as to leave Austria at the south
and the Baltic on the north. Neces
sarily, in advancing through this strip
Russia must use heavy forces to pro
tect her lines of communication and
her flanks on both sides. Clearly her
advancing army offers a greater ex
posure on its flanks than the entire
length of the front. In fact, should
the advance on Berlin be conducted
Immediately the Russians would be
compelled to present a front on the
Baltic, another on Austria to the
south and another facing westward
into Germany. Strategically, such a
position would be dangerous If not
untenable.
The cutting off and capturing of
70,000 Russians in the northern cam
paign lays emphasis on this phase of
the situation. While details are lack
ing, It Is known that the Russians
were corraled at Altenstein, which is
in the heart of a district dotted by
swamps and lakes and much easier to
get Into than to retreat from after
defeat.
The capture calls attention to an
other Russian defect that of leader
ship. While the Russian common sol
dier hag no superior in spirit and
stubborn courage, his officers are n,ot
always of the highest proficience.
Political appointments are frequent,
even to high commands, and it Is pos
sible to gain a minor commission In
the Russian army without examina
tion. Incompetent leaders, where they
exist, are likely to prove more danger
ous to their troops than the enemy by
playing the enemy's game, sending
their men into untenable positions and
following courses of strategy that lead
only to disaster where the opposing
troops are efficiently officered. It Is
quite possible that the 70,000 Russian
prisoners are a toll to this system.
The courage of the men in the
ranks, on the other hand, is not to be
questioned. They exhibited it in the
Russo-Japanese conflict, assimilating
fearful losses in many actions without
flinching. Cases are recorded where
whole regiments were wiped out be
cause they had orders to hold their
ground. Stolid, unimaginative, born
fighters, the Russian common soldiers
are second to none when properly led.
It is not charged that all Russian
officers are incompetent by any
means. The Russian service has many
tacticians and strategists of wide rep
utation. In the course of war these
men will forge to the front. Inasmuch
as playing favorites is a system pecu
liar only to the times of peace. War
demands merit of the leaders, and
where they lack that they are soon
killed, captured or superseded. Time
and bitter reverses may be required
to develop effective leaders. We had
examples of that fact in our own Civil
War. Nevertheless a liberal sprin
kling of incompetents, such as bear
sabers in the Russian army, may prove
a serious flaw in the Russian forces.
At the same time, the Russian mili
tary resources are sufficiently great to
assimilate the most serious early mis
takes and the deadliest losses. Russia
could lose a million men without feel
ing the loss keenly. That, of course,
is a greater number than she will be
called upon to lose, even allowing for
disasters of the battlefield and blun
ders in maneuvering such as cost her
70,000 men in prisoners the other day.
So far Russia may be said to have
gone into action without fully extend
ing herself. If the Russian victories
reported In Austria continue until
Austrian resistance has been crushed
the cry of "On to Berlin" will have to
be taken more seriously by the Kaiser.
MARK TWAIN'S HUMOR.
If we may believe some English ob
servers, Professor Leacock among
them, American humor Is decaying.
Indeed, they go so far as to say that
it has wholly decayed, which is a great
deal worse than being merely dead.
A New York paper, In rebutting the
libel, remarks that at any rate our
National character has not altered and
that we should still enjoy humor if we
had anybody capable of writing It. The
paper sadly reverts to the times of
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Lowell and
Eugene Field, who, it says, wrote
humorously on "broader elements"
than Mark Twain did. It believes that
Mark Twain's humor was largely
made up of "exaggeration and lncon
srruity." This la perhaps true of the funny
parts of "Innocents Abroad" and simi
lar books, but it Is not true at all of
"Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry
Finn." The humor of those books is,
like Shakespeare's, drawn from the
deep characteristics of human nature.
We laugh at their descriptions and in
cidents because we know perfectly
well that they reveal our own weak
nesses and more or less lovable
whimsies, as well as the sound human
ity of the soul.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON.
Albert Johnson, Representative in
Congress for the Southwestern Wash
ington district, is a candidate for re
election and his name will go before
the Republican primary next Tuesday.
There are one or two other candidates,
but The Oregonian understands that
the opposition to Congressman John
son is not formidable. It ought not
to be.
Representative Johnson is an alert
and vigorous member of Congress. It
happens that his early training as a
journalist was largely in Washington
City, so that he knew the ropes thor
oughly when he was first elected. He
has remained assiduously on the job
throughout the present session, as at
other sessions, and the Interests of his
constituency, as well as the larger In
terests of the country, have found in
him a ready and persuasive spokes
man and supporter.
Mr. Johnson has a pleasing person
ality. He is deservedly popular in his
district. He is serviceable in Con
gress. He should be kept there.
PROGRESSIVE ASSEMBLYISM.
The State of New York now enjoys
the blessings of a direct primary law,
after years of boss rule under the old
convention system. But the politicians
and the candidates have not yet been
able to accommodate themselves to
the new system, though they make a
valiant attempt to show that they
like it.
The other day the Republicans had
an assembly under the reassuring title
of a pre-prlmary, or unofficial con
vention, and later the Democrats went
through the same formality. Both
parties wisely concluded that they
were not Justified in attempting to
nominate a ticket (except delegates to
the proposed constitutional conven
tion), but merely adopted their re
spective platforms, pointing with
pride and viewing with alarm in the
good old fashion.
But the Progressives met at TJtica
and proceeded to advise the primary
by nominating a full state ticket, uney
sugar-coated the pill by calling it
nominating by invitation"; yet it Is in
all respects a reproduction of the
odious assembly not unknown to fame
in Oregon.
When the Progressives hold an as
sembly and designate candidates it is
a meeting of the elect at Armageddon
to Instruct the people; when the Re
publicans hold an assembly it is a
lawless gathering of wicked reaction
aries.
SPENDING THE STATE'S MONEY.
Governor West has spent all the
money appropriated by the 1913 Leg
islature for maintenance of the exec
utive office, and he signalizes the ad
vent of official poverty by ordering
out the telephones and notifying all
correspondents to enclose postage for
replies to their letters. The Governor
blames the Legislature for his sad
plight, but it seems to The Oregonian
that a Legislature which had given
him for the Incidental expenses of his
office $8900 more than any previous
Governor ever had had been fairly
generous. The appropriations for the
executive office for the past three bi
ennial periods have been:
Appropriations for 1909.
Governor's salary '1(,00J!
Governor's private secretary 4,800
Clerks and stenographers for Gov
ernor 3,62?
Governor's traveling expenses-. 500
For expenses In returning fugitives
from Justice 6,000
Special agents to be employed by
Governor 1,000
For pavment of rewards for appre
hension of criminals 600
Total $25,500
Appropriations for 1911.
Governor's salary $10, 000
Governor's private secretary 4,800
Governor's clerks and stenographers. . 4,200
Governor's traveling expenses 500
Apprehension of fugitives 7,000
Special agents to be appointed by
Governor ''Si!0
Rewards 1.200
Total S28.70O
Appropriations for 1913.
Governor's salary 10'5J
Governor's traveling expenses 1,0JI0
Goverrsor's private secretary 6.000
Governor's stenographers' 4'?
Governor's contingent expenses " SSi
Pursuit of fugitives 8,500
Special agents to be appointed by
Governor 1,00
Rewards 1.20
Total $34,400
There is never enough when a real
spender gets in the executive chair.
PARIS AND FRANCE.
TTIctnrv rives some warrant for the
common saying that "He who holds
Paris holds France. When the amea
sovereigns took the capital in 1S14 all
resistance ceased, but at that time re
sistance meant Napoleon, and the
great commander was a prisoner at
Elba.
.- : n 4n 1S1K "Paris seemed to be
- ' to'-" " . ,
v, n-hnlA r.t T7rnnf-( under the rule
of the foreign diplomats. When the
Germans captured Paris in 1871 ef
fectual resistance was ended. A sman
army was raised during the siege to
.iiAT-a tint rjinitnl. hut it effected
nothing. The country seemed to go
with its foremost city line me leaves
with a cabbage.
Still, in the days or ienry iv,
TTVnno -cvn nf on mind and Paris of
artother. The Protestant King had
made himself master of all the outly
ing provinces, but Paris obstinately
withstood him. It was fanatically at-
..-ham tn tho old church. Henrv was
of the newer persuasion. It was only
after four years of siege tnat ne toon
fi, onital nnd then onlv bv guile.
He underwent one of those "conver
sions" which are so common among
monarchs when there is anytning to
be gained by a change of creed.
vtntr Wonrv lmiirhpd at his own con
version and plainly admitted that it
was pure hypocrisy, but it was the
only way to talee the capital, and
therefore, In his view, excusaoie.
"tjoic vmtt hien iin messe." he said
with more than Voltairean cynicism.
In this war there is no likeiinooa
whatever that France will fall into
meek submission the moment Paris is
captured, granting that it will be cap
tured, which is extremely doubtful.
The country is in a very different sit
uation politically and mentally from
the fatal paralysis of 1870. The
French people are alertly Interested
in this war. They understand the rea
sons for it and are willing to make
limitless sacrifices to bring It to a suc
cessful Issue. Moreover, they do not
fight alone, as they did in 1870. The
capture of Paris will neither dissipate
the French armies nor disarm their
allies.
When the British, under Howe, took
Philadelphia in our own Revolution,
Benjamin Franklin remarked that
Philadelphia had taken Howe rather
Chan Howe Philadelphia." He meant,
obviously, that it would require a large
force to hold the city without any
corresponding gain. Paris would
signify much the same to the Ger
mans. Half a million troops are nec
essary' to invest it. A great army
would be moved up to hold it after
capture. In the meantime it looks
very much as if the Kaiser would
have use for all his men and guns in
other quarters.
HETjP TUT BAND.
The Oregonian has long been an ad
mirer of the Portland Police Band.
It Is a superior amateur organization.
It is a willing aid in any public enter
prise or exercise which demands band
music. Its appearances in public for
the benefit of the common good have
been many and for its work it has
received no remuneration. It plays
with unusual spirit and in perfect
harmony.
A tour by special train to all the
Important cities of the country as a
means of promoting travel via Port
land to and from the San Francisco
Exposition is now proposed. It is an
idea promising In advertising results.
Moreover, the trip would provide a
vacation which the members of the
band would appreciate and one which
they richly deserve.
The expense of the journey is not to
be paid from public money, but is to
be raised in a series of concerts. These
concerts and the whole plan have the
endorsement and encouragement of
all the commercial organizations of
the city. The Oregonian commends
the enterprise to the attention of the
residents of Portland and urges a
patronage of the concerts that will
assure the success of the plan.
MUSIC AND WAR.
All soldiers value martial music. It
inspires weary men on the long day's
march, keeps laggards in the ranks
and revives the strength of the weak
lings. A brisk tune .enlivens the spir-
lt of an a-rmv troine- into battle in the
chill of early dawn, and it is useful in
a desperate charge to drown the
shrieks of those who have been torn
in pieces by cannon balls and barbed
wire at the front. It would never ao
to it mTi nrpsslnp on from the rear
hear the sounds that come from the
front. So they are drowned By tne
tro,- ctrulna of mflrtia music. Which
thus serves the same purpose in war
fare as grog.
AoorrUnp- to n.n old Greek storv. the
Spartans were one time at war with
their enemies, the Messenlans, ana
hnrri orossed. Tn their extremity they
sent, as all good Greeks did, to Delphi
for advice from the infallible oracle
and were directed to send to Athens
for snppor The Athenians did not
dare to refuse altogether, such was
the prestige ot ueipni, out in oruer io
oomn as npar as Dossible to sending
nothing they dispatched a lame school-
mrter to Sparta. His name was xyr
taeus. Of no use as a soldier, he
turned out to be worth many soldiers,
for by his songs he breathed new
i-itror into the Snartan troops and thus
quickly gave them the victory over
their foes.
TUa Piilnno mflk( almost as much
of music as the Greeks did for mili
tary purposes. They are said to have
oKnnt mo onn mn consecrated to mu
sical performances in their army. The
troops are soothed by sweet concoras
as they cook their suppers, lulled by
low vmrmonlps into rjeaceful slumbers
and roused by terrific outbursts of
thunderous sound into tnat tury v. men
is appropriate for the fray.
Th. o,iqciti soldiers, we learn from
Musical America, are as fond of music
as are those Swiss whom the -sound
of the Kuhreihen seduces from their
standards and sends back home to
their native mountains. The Kuhrei
hen repeats the haunting melody of
the cowbells on the Alpine pastures.
The Russian war music grows out of
tna winla swwTiln? over the steppes
and bending the golden grain In the
prairies of the Ukraine, iviingiea wnn
tiiBso mvstli-al themes are the cries of
the fishermen on the Volga and the
wail of the Ural miners, .remaps u
tv,o ininton were to listen keenly they
might hear undertones from the dun
geons of Petrograd and the exiles of
Siberia. No doubt Russian music re
sumes the tragedy of Russian history.
We know that Tschaikowskl's wails
with the sorrows of Poland.
T-ha rvar'c troons eo to battle with
stubborn fatalism. They are beaten
and die, but their reiiows return to
fha fitrrit Thev return arain and
again with unwearied persistence until
the foe Is at last worn out ana ourieu
under his own dead. Peter the Great
was beaten by Charles XII of Sweden
in many a stern encounter, nut at last
jmvo his Swedish foe Into defeat
and exile. "I learned how to fight
from my defeats, saia ir-eter. nu!i
has men enough to afford this fearful
Instruction.
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP A WAR MEASURE.
An imnnrtMt aid in the rapid move
ment of the German army has been
the government ownersnip or tne rail
roads. Commerce has been subordi
nated to military considerations in
their construction as well as their op
eration. The main lines have been
lot. o,,t irtth a. view nrimarilv to the
rapid concentration of troops on either
the eastern or western irontier, not
with a view to joining the great indus
trial and commercial centers. The
roads are under the management of a
single official, appointed by the Em
peror and subject to the general direc
tion of the Bundesrath, the members
of which are appointed by the Em
peror and the heads of the federated
states. Politics plays no part in the
management of the roads or in the
appointment of their employes.
Those who propose government
ownership for the railroads of the
United States ignore the many essen
tial differences of conditions when
they cite the undoubted success of
that system In Germany. From a mil
itary standpoint public ownership is
unnecessary in this country, for there
is no probability that our Government
would need to transport great bodies
of troops to the frontier. When occa
sion requires our Government can al
ways Insure that the movement of
troops and equipment shall have pre
cedence over other traffic.
If our Government owned the rail
roads there would almost certainly be
attempts on the part of politicians to
procure appointment on the score of
political service rather than ability
and good service. They are now try
ing to throw postal appointments open
to the spoilsmen and they would not
keep their hands off so rich a field as
the railroads. They would not be
content to give absolute power to a
single man or to a commlsslon; leav
ing him or It free to hire and fire men,
as Germany does with her railroads.
We should have the same experience
as France has had with the railroads
taken over by the government a few
years ago. There was a great Increase
in the number of employes and in the
ratio of operating expenses to income.
But the spoilsmen would not stop at
the offices. They would create a rail
road pork barrel. Every year we
should see Congress appropriating
money for branch lines, terminals and
passenger stations. Every member
would have his bit of pork In the bill
in order to Insure his vote for it.
The United States has made great
progress in removing the abuses of
the railroad business through the In
terstate Commerce Commission and
will soon have put It on a sound foot
ing. Evils of high finance, rate dis
crimination and excessive rates are
being rooted out. Capital per mile is
only about half that of European
roads, freight rates are much lower
and service is much better than on
any state-owned roads In Europe. The
system of private ownership under
public supervision is only fairly estab
lished, but has already vindicated
itself. Being free from the military
necessity of public ownership and be
ing unable to apply the methods which
have made that system a success in
Germany, we should be content to
perfect the methods we have already
adopted.
There is an unpleasantly clinging
quality in the office of school director
as the Attorney-General sees it. Gnce
endued with its dignities and emolu
ments a man must stay endued. He
cannot resign. Flight is useless. The
office sits upon him like the Old Man
of the Sea on Stndbad's shoulders.
Will prospective candidates take warn
ing or will they madly rush upon their
fate?
Superintendent Churchill is making
nrrariE-ements to celebrate the cen
tenary of "The Star Spangled Ban
ner, which some say is our iationai
hymn. If the words were as good as
the music oerhaDs we should all say
80. The intervals of the melody are
too difficult for really popular sing
ing, but it is sane and beautiful, which
Is more than one can say of every
patriotic air.
Bernard Shaw shines as a military
counselor. His new policy of killing
the women and saving the men to
work for the victor is sound econom
ics. Like all Innovations, it shocks the
conservative mind a little at first, but
we should soon get used to it. After
a little practice we should all regard
It as calmly as we do other forms of
public slaughter.
nntorift is maklni, hne effort to re
locate the county seat of Malheur, now
at Vale. Ontario is the metropolis,
with the more people, but Is on the
edge of the county, which is nearly
-Vie lorirDct oounfv in arpa. The oeo-
ple will decide, as they did a quarter
century ago, ana as tne popular vote
of Oregonians is fickle the result is In
doubt.
A carload of catalogues of a Chi
cago mall order house has been re
ceived at Roseburg and two carloads
more are expected within a few
months. Merely to reciprocate, a car
load or two of Oregon money will be
sent East to pay for "something just
as good" (perhaps) as Is sold in Ore
gon. British army officers seem not yet
to have learned that they can do far
better service to their country by stay
ing alive to direct their men than by
exposing themselves to be shot. It
may be magnificent to make targets
of themselves, but it Is not war, as
now practiced.
tovfcn is hppnmlnp so orderly as to
be dull and uninteresting. If Villa
were to start a new revolution ne
aiiM nor p-pt on the first Dace, so
what's the use? He may as well keep
quiet until Europe gives him a chance.
The slcence of eucenics gets a body
blow In Europe. As the soldier of the
first line Is generally the flower of
the land, the fathers of the unborn
generation will not be up to the stana
ard. Dropping bombs from the air upon
the homes and stores of non-combatants
looks like a petty sort of war
fare. It exasperates one side and
gains nothing for the other.
The British official bulletin has only
thirteen words to say as to the British
position on the Continent. Perhaps
that was all that could be said with
dignity.
The principal effect of aerial war
fare appears to be to amuse the air
men and give the penned-up corre
spondents something to pen about.
Well, well! the Governor's office
Is "broke" and the plenipotentiary to
remedy the ills of the body politic
must stay at home. How sad!
It might be well for the provident
teacher to mark the changes on the
map before school opens. There's
Petrograd, for example.
Beware of the "actual firing line"
photo that shows troops charging in
heavy overcoats in the middle of Au
gust. If Turkey has declared war on Rus
sia there oiic-hr to be some interesting
clashes, as both are notoriously ill led.
Some Americans are sure to stay in
Paris, even if it is besieged, Just for
the sake of the thrills they will get.
The cost of American peaches is
dropping. We refer, of course, to the
variety that grows on trees.
Rritish officers Dicture Mons as
worse than Waterloo. With an alto
gether different result, too.
The Italian fleet may help the
allies. But what the allies need is
troops, not ships.
With hop-picking under way there
is not even a shower to wash the dust
from the vines.
Very likely the Beavers are leaving
the surprises for the last series at
home.
Butte is having an unwonted experi
ence with law and order.
No doubt Bordeaux will now be
come a German objective.
"Safety first" Is the motto of the
French government.
Austria upholds tradition by getting
whipped dally.
On to Bordeaux!
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonian September 5, 1864.
Louisville. General Sherman entered
Atlanta at a o'clock September 2, ac
cording to word received here.
New York. The Tribune says there
has been a tender of a foreign loan
and the Treasury Department has it
under consideration.
Boise. The fair at Boise netted $700
this year.
The Bank of Genoa, which has been
in existence hundreds of years, has per
haps proved itself the strongest in the
world.
Irish riots' continue at Belfast.
Albany. Our townsmen, Thomas
Monteith and John Rowland, have been
appointed, the former Colonel and the
latter Major of the Third Regiment,
Second Brigade, Oregon Volunteers.
Albany. D. D. Gray fell from a
building last week and broke his arm.
William N. Miller, son of Dr. Miller,
fell from a load of grain and dislo
cated his elbow.
Walla Walla An inquisitive indi
vidual is out counting political noses
and says the Democrats have lost 100
votes of men who left the states to
settle In this territory.
The difficulty between the United
States and the Egyptian government
has been adjusted.
The capital of Washington Territory
was united with the National Capital
and the rest of mankind at 4 P. M. yes
terday. The superintendent and gang
of workmen rolled into Olympla at that
hour and went to church in the even
ing. John Mathiot has established a grape
depot on Washington street for the sale
of the Butteville vineyard's product-
The steam propellor George S. Wright
sailed at 6 P. M. Saturday carrying 160
tons of Oregon produce for Victoria,
B. C, markets.
The sale of city property in Caruthers
Addition last Saturday resulted as fol
lows: Block 24. $390; block 25. $460;
blocks A to O. inclusive, $400, $520,
$515, $480. $280, $440. $380. $355. $240.
$185. $280, $310, $290, $200. $240.
REAL BOARDING-HOUSE SERVICE
Democratic Newspaper Produces Aged
Editorial Fodder on Regular Days.
PORTLAND, Sept 3. (To the Edi
tor.) Because of his genuine devotion
to the neveloriment of the State of
Oregon and of his advocacy of the
doctrine of getting back to the farm
I s the hpnt means of Dushin&r that
development. Dr. Withycombe has made
many speeches on that suDject. un
several occasions during the present
campaign he has discussed this ques
tion, always interestingly a i"u-
1.1 v..., n,.. omnatnc- feature of it is
that the Portland Democratic daily
newspaper nops on to una pueow
Dr. Withycombe's speeches with an at
,.mnri,a ri.H.-nL. that at once discloses
its lack of effective ammunition as
a means of Injuring his chances of
election.
As regularly as a country hotel sup
plies its customers with boiled beef
-. Keana on ThlirlnV Slid
Ull lUCPUPJOi uuo. ...J w. "
stewed prunes on Saturdays does the
Democratic dally present the same edi-
. . . . . , .1,1.'.. nnl.
tonal every tnree issues, uuuu,j
. i , ., ..i, that at
umn, reyeu li m, ,
Podunk Dr. Withycombe condemned the
resolutions of '98, at Slabtown he
doubted the advisability of Indorsing
the Kansas-Nebraska bill of 1854 and
at Millvllle took the position that In
the present European war we
bUp, fnr to A O SO WOUld be
like accepting a two-edged sword.
inis editorial appeals iesui'i
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday even
ings, usually changed with a stereo
typed paragraph to the effect that Dr.
Withycombe is in favor of a Greater
Oregon and even publicly advocates it!
i , " -!.. fi,Bp has herome a
A1IU I1VW -1 "
delinquent in the eyes of the non
partisan - Democratic - inamuei min yji -gan
for the reason that he has dared
publicly to suggest that all the Repub
licans of Oregon should support the
ticket which they themselves nom
inated in the primaries for which rea
son he has won the distinction of be
ing the target for a double-header
.i j . ., a im .. ,1 hari man. Rooth
UIHUE Oliu la a. , "
and Withycombe were overwhelmingly
nominaiea Dy tne tumuiuii v-ow
Oregon within the party to which they
belong, but the man who publicly ad
vocates the ratification of this action
by the people who did it is neces
sarily a subject for abuse and la an
enemy of the public good!
The blast against Moser for advis
ing the acceptance of the verdict of
the people themselves as worthy of
ratification is evidently intended as a
notice to others to avoid making his
mistake. This is to be a non-partisan
campaign, wherein Smith and Cham
berlain are to be the beneficiaries
through the fright injected into the
rank and file of the Republicans who
dared to nominate Booth and Withy
combe, though it was under the plain
operation of the primary law.
Hence, the unvaried Withycombe edi
torial each Tuesday, Thursday and Sat
urday, with the probable sandwich now
of that on Moser and his loyalty to
the choice of the people of his party,
for this is the return of the non
partisan year when practically all Re
publicans are expected and advised to
forget not only why they registered
as Republicans but that they did so
at all. On the other hand, a Dem
ocrat is a non-partisan by virtue of his
make-up and doesn't need to change.
r,.. t ,, frt- those rt Oil hi ft-C Ci U m n
editorials setting forth in detail what
Withycombe tninics qdoui me iwu
dimension and the origin of Halley's
comet. uBscrt v r,xv.
VALUE OF GOLD IS DEPRECIATED
One War of Expressing; Rise In Prices
of Commodities.
HOOD RIVER. Or., Aug. 31. (To the
Editor.) On page 5 of The Sunday
Oregonian, August 30, is an article
headed "Germany's War Chest Rankles
the French." I would like to have an
explanation of this statement contained
therein: "In the first place the pur
chasing power of gold has depreciated
at least 60 per cent during the inter
val." I had an idea that the purchasing
power of gold did not fluctuate at all,
while the price of different com
modities It buys has and does fluctuate.
A L. CLARKE.
The variation in the purchasing pow
er of gold Is indicated by the varia
tion In price of commodities. Gold has
been adopted as the standard of value
for all other commodities, a certain
amount of gold being declared one dol
lar and the price of commodities be
ing expressed In dollars and fractions
of a dollar. The price of potatoes, for
example, varies not only according to
the abundance, or scarcity of potatoes
but also according to the abundance or
scarcity of gold. Irrespective of the
supply of potatoes, their price will rise
when gold Is cheap and fall when gold
is dear. Hence it is that the rise in
prices during the last 15 or 20 years is
attributed to some extent to increased
production of gold. The writer you
quote has merely expressed the same
idea in another way when he says the
purchasing power of gold has depreciated.
Star and Starmaker
BY LEOM CASS BAKsV
A large photograph of Will D. How
ard occupies almost the entire center
of the page In the Dramatic Mirror
devoted to news of stock companies. It
Is a regulation stock-actor picture with
cane, high silk bonnet and gloved
hands neatly resting on the afore
mentioned cane. It seems that Mr.
Howard has Just closed a season of
22 weeks In Brockton. Mass.. stock and
Is returning immediately to Waterbury.
Conn., where the watches come from.
He will play a fourth return season
in Waterbury. After he plays this re
turn engagement Mr. Howard ts coming
to the Pacific Coast, and visit for
awhile before he takes a fling at
moving pictures. He used to be a
Portland stock actor about six years
ago.
Mary Edgett Baker has returned to
Portland with a lengthy list of success
ful appearances in Denver to her theat
rical credit. She is busy rehearsing
with Pa George L Baker's company
which makes Its Initial bow next Sun
day afternoon tn "Such a Little Queen."
George Alison has opened as leading
man with the Washington Theater
Stock Company In Detroit. Maude
Fealey Is leading woman.
Nana Bryant is to head the stock
"nmnsnv at Post's (Irand Theater in
Sacramento this season. The opening
Is next Monday. Claire Sinclair, wno
was with the Catheriae Counties com
pany two seasons ago, is to be In the
Post eompany.
Franklyn Underwood and his wife,
Frances Slosson, will appear In Moros
co's "Help Wanted" this season.
ess
Friends of David Blspham will be
glad to know that his daughter, Vida,
is safe In Italy, where she has been
visiting Mrs. Raymond Maude, the
daughter of the great Jennie Llnd. Miss
Blspham has been urged not to leave
Italy, as she Is perfectly safe in the
mountains where she is visiting.
Guy Standing, who was chosen to
play the leading role in the Famous
Players' production of "The Silver
King," has completely upset the plans
of that company In insisting upon Join
ing his regiment when England
plunged Into the European vortex.
Standing is a Captain in one of the
crack British regiments and when his
country declared war he called upon
Adolph Zukor, president of the Famous
Players, and for the first time in his
life really pleaded fbr the postpone
ment of the engagement. Mr. Zukor,
Impressed by the patriotic loyalty of
the star, consented, and Standing hap
lly began preparations for a hasty de
parture. He sailed last week on the
Lusltania to take his place In a more
vital drama and enact a more heroic
role even than that of the "Sllvor
King. '
Richard Walton Tully, author of
"The Bird .of Paradise." "Omar, the
Tentmaker," and a half doxen other
plays, was given his dlvor.ee last week
from Eleanor Gates, who Is a play
wright also. "The Poor Little Rich
Girl" and "We Are Seven" are two of
her best-known works. The de
cree was granted to Mr. M.trshall on
the grounds of desertion. The twain
were wed in 1901 in Merced. Cal. In
1912. according to Tully's testimony,
they separated at the Hotel St. James
in New York. He freely admitted that
he gave her good cause to quarrel with
him. but said he followed her to San
Francisco and they were reconciled.
His testimony was corroborated by his
mother. But the reunion did not last
lpng Mrs. Tully did not contest the
action. She la at present In New York.
News ot the passing away of Billy
Onslow, for a season comedian with the
Lyric stock, has Just reached Portland
from Los Angeles. Onslow's right name
was William Gilchrist and he has been
a figure in musical comedy and vaude
ville on the Pacific Coast. For a part
of last season he played Irish roles
Jointly with Gus Leonard as a German
comedian and later played with Ed
p Allen. During his 42 weeks en
gagement. Onslow never departed once
from his Irish roles. His Illness was
tuberculosis of the throat. He leaves
a wife and young daughter.
s
This from a New York dramatic ex
change will interest Portland friends
of Eleanor Habcr. who played with the
Belasco stock here and who is con
nected with some of California and
Oregon's oldest families. Says the ac
count: The work done by the company head-4 by
Thurston Hall and Eleanor Haber, In the
recent performance of "The Little Gray
Lady," at the Rums Theater In Colorado
Springs, stands out among the most cred
itable done so far this stock season, par
ticularly so In the Individual work of Miss
Haber. Last week this company played
"Stop Thief."
The Dramatic Mirror prints the fol
lowing In its last issue. It will he of
especial Interest, as most of the players
are known In Portland. Nell McKln
non and William H. Dills (Billy to his
friends) are former Baker players:
Seattle. Wash , Aug. IS, 1H New York
Dramatic Mlrror Oentlemen: Wo. the un
dersigned members of the Metropolitan
Players, are sending you the following state
ment, which we wish you would publish in
your valuable paper, for. while it seems
impossible for us to gain redress ot any
kind. It may save some of our fellow artists
from a like predicament with the same
manager:
The Metropolitan stock company at Klaw
Erlanger's Metropolitan Theater, Seattle,
Wash., close Saturday, August I. without
notice of any kind, with salaries In most
cases two weeks In arrears and leaving
some of the members In absolute want. K
at E.'s Northwestern representative and
manager of their Metropolitan Theater,
George J. Mackenzie, had organized the
company several weeks before, and had rep
resented to all that K A E. were backing
the enterprise. Now, however, K. A E
deny any connection with the stock com
pany, and Mr. Mackenzie, far from attempt
ing to make any settlement or even an ex
planation, Is nowhere to be found.
Byron L. Aldenn. Tony B. Stanford. Cad
Caldwell, James Guy Uaher, Florence Spen
cer, Nell J. McKlnnon, Dwlght A. M-ade.
Charles K. Phlpps, William H. Dills.
George Mackenzie represents Klaw & Er
langer In Seattle only during the Winter sea
son, according to a representative of that
firm, and this stock venture ts a purely
personal undertaking. When the regular
season closed he evidently leased the thester
and Installed his company, with tbs conse
quences already given In the commumce
tioa. Deliberate desertion of compsniss Is one
of the most monumental offenses Id the
theatrical business, and Is being taken up by
organised actors. The Actors' Equity Asso
ciation makes special provision for such
cases and pursues all offenders to the limit
of the law.
Twenty-Five Year Ago
From The Oregonian, September 4, Hit.
Walla Walla E. V. Ferry seem to
have the leading sentiment for Gover
nor, and Patrick Henry Wlnstoa, of
Spokane, will make the nomination
speech for John L Wilson for Con
gress. Wilson seems to have the lead.
Washington In his annual report
Secretary of War Proctor intends to
call attention of Congress to frequent
desertions from the United Slates Army.
The first steamer to Myrtle Point, on
the Coqutlle River, reached that town
Saturday.
San Francisco The Union raclflc
railroad now proposes to consolidate
six more branch lines. Including Colo
rado Central, Denver a Midland, Den
ver, Marshall a Boulder, Salt Lake
Paclflc, Georgetown, Breckenrldge a
Leadvllle and Colorado a Central of
Wyoming.
Henry Falling Is In San Francisco for
a few days.
Chicago Editor Medlll. of the Chi
cago Tribune, who has returned from
Europe, says he Is ashamed of the
American exhibit at the Paris Exposi
tion. The men at the head of It he says
are untrained but are "talking "very
bumptiously "
The special manufacturing edition of
The Oregonian will be published In a
short time.
Dr. T. T. Keene, who was private
secretary to C. H. Prescott when he was
reneral manager of the O. R. a N. Co,
died at his old home tn Massachusetts
two weeks ago.
There wasn't a quorum at the monthly
meeting of the water committee yes
terday. Those present were: H. W.
Corbett, W. S. Ladd. C. H. Lewis, J.
Loewenberg, A. H. Johnson. L Ther
kelsen and T. M. Richardson. R B.
Knapp Is in Europe; S. G. Reed, en route
home from New York; Colonel L
Flelshner Is slok; H. Falling Is out of
town; F. E. Beach absent, and W. K.
Smith at the beach.
The "Dr. Pohlel" who fell from a
Union Paclflc train In Nebraska several
days ago was Dr. Albert Pohl. of Port
land. He died soon after the accident.
Judge Deady has been somewhat In
disposed for several daya.
Dr. Clarence L Nichols, who has bean
studying In Europe, sailed from Liver
pool for home this morning. He Is ac
companied by his brother, Ernest, and
brother-in-law. Rev. H. I Bates.
Rev. J. W. Bushong. new minister at
Centenary M. E. Church, and his wife
are expected in about 10 days. Rev.
Bushong Is from Cincinnati.
P. E. Gerould, of this city, figured as
the hero in an encounter with a burly
burglar at Beaverton early Monday
morning.
Sidney Dillon. New York financier
and ex-president of the Union Paclflc,
is tn Portland and says the Northwest
Is a larger country that he supposed.
Life of First Papers.
TROUTDALE, Or., Sept ft. (To the
Editor.) I wish to know how lone
the first papers of American cltlzen
ship remain legal if the second papers
have not been taken out at the end of
two years. How long after that do
they remain legal?
A SUBSCRIBER.
Some courts have held that an alien
who filed declaration prior to Sep
tember 37, 106. may be required to
file a new declaration. The present
law does not fix a time for expira
tion of declaration papers.
Wi r Pictures
From the Front
The first actual photos in the
great war are at hand. Four pacts
of them will be shown Sunday, to
gether with a comprehensive map
of the war zone. These stirring
photos tell the true story of many
phases of the deadly conflict.
Europe's Women Officers.
They arc women of title and
command famous regiments al
though, of course, they do iiot ap
pear on the firing line in battle.
A full-page feature in colors.
Picturesque Policemen.
There are 500,000 of them in
Europe who may be called to the
front. There is no more pictur
esque force in the world. Half
page with 12 photos.
The Innocent Bystander.
A detailed xtory of Belgium, the
rich, cultured, progressive little
country that has been crushed by
the Uermnn advance.
Boy Scouts in War Zone.
They may play an important
part in the fray. The valuable
service they can render is made
the subject of a page article with
many photographs.
War Sketches.
A celebrated English military
painter presents in three powerful
paintings' scenes at the firing line
and mobilization points. The pic
ture "Before Liege," showing Ger
man Uhlans, is a powerful action
picture.
The Mikado. '
The War Lord of the Far East
is the subject for Sunday in the
War Lords' series. Full page in
colors.
Queer Cures.
Vodoo medicines and quack cures
of primitive people are shown in
contrast with modern medicine.
- The Worker's Lot.
The American working man is
a fortunate individual indeed when
his wage is compared with that
of workers in other countries. He
earns as much in an hour as the
average foreign workman is paid
for a whole day.
Sketches From Life.
Pages from an artist's notebook.
Pheasant Farming.
It is both pleasant and profit
able. Illustrated with photo).
The Lifesavers.
An illustrated article on the
perilous life of men who operate
the lifesaving stations along the
Oregon and Washington eoaat.
Scores of Other Feature.
Order early of your newsdealer.
A