8 THE 3IORXIXG OREGOXIAX,-. MONDAY, JULT 21, 1919. ESTABLISHED BY HESBT I PITTOtK. Published by The Oregonlan Publishing Co.. 135 Sixth Street. Portland. Oregon. C. A. XOKDEX, . E. B. PIPER. Manager. Editor. The Oreg-onian is a member of the Asso ciated Frees. The Associated Prsss is ex clusively entitled to the use for publica tion of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this paper and also The local news published herein. All rights of republication of special dispa.tct.2s herein are also reserved. Subscription Kates Invariably In Advance: (By Mail.) Ia!ly, Sunday Included, one year. .... . .58.00 raily, Sunday included, six months..... 4.-J Iaily, Sunday included, three months... 2.25 J-L.ily, Sunday includtd, one month - Jmily, without Sunday, one year........ fi-00 TJaily, without Sunday, 6 months Z.'l. I-iaily, without Sunday, one month ..00 Weekly, one year 10" Sunday, one year..... 2.50 Sunday and weekly - 3.00 (By Carrier.) Paily. Sunday included, one year $9.00 I'ally, Sunday included, one month 75 riaily, Sunday included, three months. . 2.25 T'aily, without Hun-lay, one year....... 7.80 J'aily, without Sunday, three months... 1.95 Xiaily, without Sunday, one month. 65 How to Remit Send postofflce money or ier, express or personal chek on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at own er's risk. (.live postoff i e address ia full, in cluding county and state. Postage Kates 12 to 16 pages, 1 cent; 18 to pages, 2 cents; 34 to 48 pages, 3 cents; F0 to 60 pages, 4 cents; 62 to 70 pages., 5 cents; 78 to 2 pages, o cents. Foreign post 'age, double rates. .Eastern Iiusinesi fflce Verree & Conkr Iin. Brunswick building, ew York; Verree & Conklin, Steger building. Chicago; Verree & "onklin. Free Press building, Detroit. Mich. San Krancisco representative. R. J. BidwelL THE COLrMBIA BASIN'S CASE. That the people of Portland and of the entire Columbia river basin should clearly understand what is at issue in the Columbia basin rate case is of vital importance. The hearing which begins today may and probably will be only the opening of a long contro versy. In order that the. people of this community may be prepared" to go j through to the end, there must be no confusion of thought aa to what thej contend for, or that their contention is inherently just and is well worth the fight. The term "rate case," which is com monly applied to the pending suit be fore the interstate commerce com- i mission, tends to mislead by creating the impression that it merely involves a reduction of rates from one group of towns to another group. It brings before the mind a vision of tomes of railroad tariffs filled with bewildering columns of figures, and the average citizen is disposed to say that he can not get excited about such a complex affair; that it is a matter for traffic experts, not for him, to puzzle out. That is precisely the frame of mind which the men opposed to the claim of the Columbia river basin wish to cultivate, simply because it obscures and hides the deep, sound, underlying principles upon which that claim is founded. . An effort is made by the ports of Portland and Vancouver, the commu nities of the inland empire and the Oregon public service commission to establish a system of rate-making founded on just principles of public policy in place of the practices of railroad policy which are founded on no principle except profit to each par ticular railroad, and which are only modified, not abrogated, by rulings of the interstate commerce commission. It is only necessary to define the workings of this railroad policy in order to condemn it in the opinion of open-minded men. In order to main lain competition without rate-cutting, the railroads which cross the moun tains to Fuget sound agreed with those which follow the Columbia river upon equality of rates between the J'uget sound ports and Portland, it did not matter to them that the dis tance to Portland was shorter and on a water grade, while that to the sound was longer and over the mountains. They based the rates on tiie cost of the mountain haul, and charged them also on the water-grade railroad. The latter road was thus rewarded for its complaisance by an extra profit equivalent to the extra cost of the haul over mountains which were not there and over miles which iid not exist. It was even able tc iiaul traffic an additional ISO miles past Portland to the sound at the samo r.ites as to Portland. Thus it is that Pendleton pays the same rate for a haul of 2 1 S miles over the O.-W. rt. Ss X down the river to Portland as for a haul of 306 milcr over the Northern Pacific to Seattle; YValla Walla pays the same rate for -M miles over the O.-W. It. t .M. to Portland as for 2!)S miles over the O.-W. 11. & N. and the Northern Pacific ia North Yakima to Seattle; I.ewiston tays the same rate lor 35G miles ovei the O.-W. It. & N. to Portland as foi H'.'O miles over the Northern Pacific to Seattle. In each case the cost ol the mountain grade is added to that of the longer haul to Seattle, and is paid for the haul to Portland as well as for that to Seattle. Finding this practice established, the interstate commerce commission went a long step tanner and ordered that traffi-j hauled through Portland to Astoria, 10 0 miles beyond, at the same rates: as to Portland. That practice was in accord with the general practice b which a longer, inferior line was per mitted to charge in some cases a lowei rate than the shorter, superior line? between points at which they compete These practices can be defended on no principle -of justice, and they con form to no system. Tliry survive from the time when the railroads were re garded as private property to be oper ated by their owners as they pleased for their own profit. The duty of public service was almost forgotten, ileuce it was that the advantages of Portland by reason of its shorter dis tance and water grade from the in terior were ignored in rate-making, while Puget sound retained all the alleged advantages of a superior en trance from the sea. Government regulation was established for the pur pose of bringing railroad practice into conformity with the principles of jus tice. Those principles dictate that e ery community shall enjoy all the advantages of its natural location, but shall not be freed from any of the disadvantages. That end can be at tained by basing rates on the cost ol service by the most direct and eco nomical route, without regard to the effect on some other route and some other city. Those principles underlie the present pica for a readjustment of rates by the entire community of the Columbia river basin, for the entire population using the Columbia river route to the sea constitutes a single community commercially. When the government undertook operation of the railroads at the begin ning of 191. it adopted lite very prin ciple, for which tlus community con tends. Congress ordered that the railroads be operated as one system, nd the first order of Hirector-Oeneral MrAiioo required that, in compliance with that law, traffic be hauled over the shortest and easiest lines. In testi fying before'the senate committee on January 3, 1918, he said: One of the most wasteful practice In rail road operation in the past has been th use of circuitous . routes " in the handling of freight traffic, often for competitive reasons. General order No. 1 directed that every thing possible be done to alter this con dition. In order to economize in rolling stock and motive, power, comprehensive studies were undertaken for the purpose of developing new routes which would not only be shorter.- but more economical and ef ficient. That is on of the reforms whicm. lie said, "should prove of permanent value and should continue, if possible, whatever form of control is decided on for the railroads." That reform would not permit freight from the inland empire to be hauled the longer distance over the mountains to the sound in preferenceTto. the shorter dis tance to Portland, for the former haul would use more motive power, fuel and labor. It would, not permit goods from Lewiston. for example, destined for San Francisco to be hauled over the longer, more costly route to Seattle and then to make a sea voyage longer by several hundred miles than that from Portland. When the railroad administration has adopted, a policy directly in line with' the .contention of the Columbia river basin, it would not be consistent for 'its officials to appear in force at the hearing- to support by their testi mony and arguments the past prac tices of the railroads and the present adjustment of rates. That course can only be dictated by expectation thai they will again be employed by the railroads when restored to their owners and that the old, uneconomic practices which the government has condemned and abandoned will be resumed. It should be plain from the facts and principles which have been ex plained and from the forces arrayed in opposition that the people of Port land and of the Columbia river basin are contending for what Is justly theirs. and that it is well worth the struggle or such strenuous efforts would not be made to withhold it. FTBST OF THE FLOCK. The contract for four steel steamers which has been given by the Scandi navian party of business men to the Albina yard is the first to be closed in Portland since the -shipping board lifted the embargo on foreign con tracts. It is the substantial fruit of the journey which J. Fred Larson made to Scandinavia, as are the large purchases of Oregon products which are being made, ahd as will be the regular steamship line to be estab lished. There is no reason to doubt that this contract will prove the first of many. British shipbuilders and ship owners, who at first thought the American shipbuilding industry and merchant marine to be artificial prod ucts of the war, have revised their opinions and now view the United States as a serious competitor. They are unable to produce steel as cheaply as Americans do, and their workmen have become more exacting and Jess efficient than Americans, resuming their pre-war practices. The real demand for ships will begin to be felt when trade is resumed with out restriction, which must be pre ceded by reorganization of interna tional finance. Then cargoes will demand space In daily increasing total, and the extent of the deficiency of tonnage will be realized. UXrOODED COMPLAINT. After passing through Portland look o'tt for the small towns. Most of them a.-e speed traps. Oregon has no law which gov erns them. The towns make their own laws, and in some the rate of speed Is set as low as eight miles. A Justice of the peace and motorcycle cop do the rest. If you can manage to make your trip during haying time you may get through these towns without paying a fine. Kirst you come to towns whre the spvfd limit is twelve miles, and the chances are that you are hooked. Then you come to towns where the limit is eight miles, "and the signs hid in the brush. Naturally you think that twelve miies is the limit and you crawl through the eight-mile town at that rate, only to be hooked again. If the state of Oregon does not want to continue to be a party of this petty graft it will pass a law, as have nearly all stares, setting the Fpeed limits for incorporated towns. Seattle Argus. Possibly the conditions recited pre vailed in the past, . and possibly, too, some! village officials, in pride of au thority, now go beyond legal bounds. So it is well that the traveler be again informed of his rights and liabilities under the law of Oregon. The state law permits in general a maximum speed on highways of thirty miles an hour. - Municipalities may further limit this maximum within their confines, but not to less than ten miles an hour. But municipalities may thus fix a speed limitation only on condition that conspicuous signs stating the maximum rate are posted on each 'main street, road or highway where the boundary of the municipality crosses the same. The posting of conspicuous speed signs at town and city boundaries is not a directory provision of the law, but a condition upon which munici palities may regulate the speed of vehicles. Speed ordinances cannot be legally enforced unless the condition is complied with, and there are no eight-mile towns in Oregon. SIMMER WEATHER. Kverybody, said Mark Twain, com plains of the weather but nobody ever does anything about it. It is the com mon failing of humanity thoughtlessly to consider its personal comfort first, in disregard of the benefits which may result from a warm spell which ripens the crops, or a rainy season which fills the natural reservoirs or a cold snap which is supposed to make away with next season's orchard and garden pests. And there is also on the side of the occasional weather excess the testimony of Dr. Kllswortb. Huntington of Yale that monotony of temperature and humidity are not good for civiliza tion, that man progresses most where there is a variety of climate. Has it not been disclosed that because of this very fact the Pacific coast is destined to become the craale of a new and vastly superior race? We never get enough really hot weather to become accustomed to it The high record for the district is only 10- degrees, and this has been attained only twice since weather records have been made. We do not have man days in the upper nineties, and these do not come in long series: Ever) three or four deiys the weather changes Grateful breezes blow from the sea and ameliorate our condition. We can always sleep at night. We know noth ing of the comparative miseries of ou Mississippi valley friends who are forced to suffer long weeks of dread ful day-and-night humidity in order that a bumper corn crop may be "made." Ou the exceptional warm day in Oregon the perspiring citizen is apt to believe himself singled out among mortals for especial physical and spiritual discipline. But it is not so. In all the wide country over there i ho better climate than he enjoys, tak lng one day with another. The records prove it. and there is ample confirma tory testimony from those who have dwelt in many places and would not leave Oregon to go back to them even if they could. There are, meanwhile, a few rules to observe which will make hot weather more tolerable. Light clothing sug gests itself, and moderate eating is de sirable, as well as economical. But the greatest panacea of them all is calm ness of the spirit. It is the season when the Don't Worry clubs can do their perfect work. For those who refuse to fuss about the weather the battle is already more than half won. sPEcruinos on vmxrES. If The Oregonian were not men tioned so kindly In the Oregon Voter's summing up of the reasons for Ore gon's rank as the first volunteer state it would not feel free to point out a fact or two overlooked by the Voter in giving so much credit to newspaper patriotism. The Voter's observations are given in full in another column. Briefly, it holds that the record was not due to our small percentage of aliens, for some states with large proportions of foreign-born residents were close com petitors. It was not due to our high percentage of literacy because two states with higher percentages were far down the list. It was not due to climate and beautiful natural sur roundings because two bleak states were next to Oregon. Rather, Oregon's rush to the colors was due to an ab sence of Hearstism, to a patriotic press, a well-organized national guard and the inspiring leadership of Gov ernor Withycombe. As regards the press, it may be added that Rhode Island, which stands third, is the home of the Providence Journal, a newspaper that gained nation-wide attention by its flaming patriotism and its exposure of German intrigues. But alas for speculation, Massachusetts, standing second, has a Hearst paper in Boston, while Cali fornia, fourth from the top, has two of them. But exceptions are sometimes unim portant. One might argue that cour age never gets a soldier a commission because countless brave boys never rose from the .ranks. Similarly, one might argue that resourcefulness never obtained advancement for him because many resourceful men returned plain doughboys. Or that qualities of lead ership were no advantage because many around whom their fellows flocked never got into leather leggings. But the soldier who displayed courage and resourcefulness and qualities of leadership and application and moral character not one, but all of them did not stay plain private as a rule. May not Oregon's place have been attained because it possessed many, if not all, of the factors that create virile citizenship, including a patriotic press. THE SPRUCE FRODCCTIOX INQUIRY. When the congressional committee comes to the Pacific coast to investi gate spruce production, it will see on the ground what was done and why it was done, and will be able to form its conclusions as to what proportion of the waste was the inevitable conse quence of the haste of war and what proportion was due to incompetence and downright graft. That there were some of each of these evils It would be useless to deny, and it will devolve on the committee to discover how much and to place the resr onsibllity. But no just conclusion can bo reached on the Atlantic coast, among men the majority of whom never saw a spruce tree or a sawmill nor can understand why things are done as they are. Hav ing heard of logs eighty or ninety feet ong, they do not realize that an air plane spruce mill need be built only for twenty-six-foot logs. Building a railroad which is offered for sale be fore it is ever used sounds like prodi gal waste, but everybody, including the president, expected the war to last a year longer. If it had, that railroad would have paid for itself in the serv- ce it would have done by bringing out spruce for those airplanes which were to have finished the German array and terrified Berlin this year. The fact that neither it nor the sawmill were used is one of the wastes for which we found abundant compensation in the saving of life and of other expenditures. There are many things in connection with airplane spruce which can be in vestigated on the Atlantic coast to ad vantage. Why did the administration permit the whole summer of 1917 to pass without doing anything to cope with the seditious strike of the I. W. W-. which paralyzed the lumber industry? Why did it do nothing to speed up production until we had been at war six months, though allied airmen were coming here and begging us to get out the spruce? Why were not the ex perienced lumbermen of the Pacific northwest kept at home to get out spruce instead of being sent to France in the first months of the war, to be replaced by men from all parts of the country, many of whom knew nothing about lumber? While the committee is looking for wrongdoing on the Pacific coast, let it not overlook evi dence of rank stupidity in the war department, especially at its head. Oregon and Washington are proud of the record which they made in producing spruce for the war. If any man has smirched that record in any way, they are anxious to have him sought out and punished. EXTENSION EDUCATION. Growth of the university extension movement, which does not include purely correspondence classes, or Sum mer schools, and which is in addition to the many activities of the Chau tauquas at this season of year, is indi cated by a recent bulletin issued by the University Extension association, in which it is shown that 119.000 per sons are now reached by means of these classes. The number is not large by comparison with the popula tion, but it represents a beginning. Extension work is comparatively new. It has been defined as "an effort to give to the 99 per cent of the people not in college some of the advantages enjoyed by the one-half of 1 per cent who are able to attend the campus classes." If, it says in effect, you cannot come to the university, the university will go to you. The policy. would seem to be vindicated by ex perience in the case of agricultural extension courses, which undoubtedly have made better farmers, by the re sults of greater liberality of policy on the part of public librarians, and by the unprecedented growth of private correspondence schools within a gen eration. Inevitably the college extension will be more widely employed as it be comes better known. Higher educa tion has so insinuated itself into the desires of the people that it is not likely much longer to be denies to any. It is no mere college propa ganda, for example, that has pointed out the relatively greater success 'of college-trained men in attaining pro motion during the war. The Univer sity of Oregon extension Monitor quotes with reserve the statement that 85 per cent of all the officers in the new American army were univer sity men, but certain confirmatory de tails are not lacking. It has been determined, for example, that in tho first cantonment at Camp Taylor there were 25,000 men, of whom 23.600 had taken no college training, while 1500 had done so. At the end of the first three months' period,' men who had shown especial aptitude were recom mended for officers. -Of the 2 3.600 who had had no college experience, 800 qualified: of the 1500 who had attended, 1200 met the requirements. The showing in Javor of college edu cation it being conceded that no undue influence was at work was Impressive enough to create general desire for education. Our demobilized army will be more insistent than ever on educational opportunities. The Monitor describes extension class teaching as a cross between the usual college classroom instruction and correspondence study, with a pre ponderance of characteristics in favor of the college class. There is no spe cial type of person making up the enrollment' in such classes, "unless a common characteristic is to be found in the earnestness with which the students work." They do, indeed, rep resent almost every vocation. "There may be a few chronic lecture goers who attend the classes because they have acquired the habit of attending everything that comes along," but these no more impair the general principle than a few reading room loafers vitiate the good of the public library. It is not commonly known, for example, that it is now possible in states such as Oregon for tho stu dent to obtain by extension work, which need not interfere with his everyday duties, half of the credits necessary to a university degree. Granting of residence credits in itself proves the efficacy of extension class work. Its importance will be realized especially by those who have been thereby enabled to complete college courses that have been interrupted for many years. It is likely to come more and more Into play wlth'the return of college men from the front. It helps to answer the problem of the soldier who is divided between tho necessity of earning his living and the desire to finish the education he had begun when he was called to war. The nation-wide college campus is an ambitious scheme. Yet it is the one satisfying answer, perhaps, to the increasing question whether there Is a definite limitation upon the ago when it Is profitable to go to school. The university extension movement was inaugurated in its present form only about fifteen years ago. It has been said that it is now reaching nearly 120,000 students. But In its various phases it Is accomplishing a much greater work. The number reached last year through semi-popular lec tures is estimated at 2.026,330, with an addition of 5, 653.31 who received greater or less benefit from educa tional motion pictures and stereoptl con lantern slides, 93G.55J through outlines, bibliographies and pamphlets used in debates and discussions, 30S. 606 through Institutions and confer ences and 1,265.265 through bulletins and circulars. Making duo allowance for duplications in the foregoing and for persons who may have felt only a passing interest In the deeper pur poses of education. It will be seen that the work as a whole has been con siderable. The slogan, "Learn more, earn more," is not as materialistic as It sounds. The desire to train for better positions at increased salaries Is worth fostering. It does rin deny the cul tural value of education, but Indicates a tendency to obtain greater emolu ment by giving better service In return which is the reverse of bolshevism. If studies are largely vocational, this Is due to the source from which de mands are made. There Is, in fact, a wide range of choice. Promise that the federal board for vocational edu cation will utilize to the fullest pos sible extent the resources of the uni versities of the country in the rehabili tation and re-education of soldiers, sailors and marines is filled with pos sibilities. Tho most significant phase nf the movement, however, is its growth among adults who have taken advantage of its benefits practically without solicitation. Once the appetite for education has been created, a way will be found for appeasing it. One evidence that President Wilson wants something which ho cannot easily get is that he is willing to hear other men talk. Hitherto the common counsel has been very one-sided, con sisting of his telling the other man what to do. There is just enough "kick" in silage to make the stock enjoy it, and. per haps, in the dim future, some scientist may discover a way of putting a human side to it for relief of man grown wary of drinks soft and sweet. As prohibition has surely caused depreciation of the Pabst brewery stock held by Germans, they may set up a counter claim for damage due to the ruthlessness of the drys. The editor of the Seattle Argus, returned from the grand tour, says Washington did not change much dur ing. Wilson's absence. Of courso.no'.. Kept the chanc-e. as' usual, a It would bo interesting to learn 11 those officers alleged to have beaten brutally enlisted men In France were West Pointers, national guard or na tional army men. Pabst brewery stock owned by enemy aliens cannot have much value, but bonds and like securities may bring fair prices when sold at auction ty the custodian. Tho old Adam perhaps It would be tetter to say Noah iu man arouses perceptibly when the car runs by a vinegar factory in the scenty mora. This must be the time of year best to buy diamonds, though nobody knows why except that possibly he has more money on hand. Do you realize the cool drink you sweeten with much sugar has a heat kick in it? Bryan's tour of Oregon Is not trium phal in any sense, but the welcome is hearty. Somebody will make brer or 1-ane county hops would not bring 50 cents. The Rev. Billy must bo included in the hot Sundays. Hello, girls! How's work? Those Who Come and Go. By the time the new Haynes car that Harry Bennett. Salt Lake auto dealer, is driving ovfr the roughest, roads in the west, completes Its 36n0-mlle cir cuit. Its producers are quite sure thev'll be able to Judge how much wear and tear It win stand. Mr. Bennett.- who breezed into the Perkins yesterday. ays the worst feature of the test is that the car Is standing it better than he is. "You can Just bet this Is no pleasure trie for me," he declared. "Be tween tho hot weather and bad roads it s anything but that. A stranger who don't know- southern Oregon routes Is taking hlg chances if he Insists on driving; fast. I had several close shaves with fellows like that on the edc of canyons." Mr. Bennett drove through Nevada, where he says crops are look ing unusually good for that state. He came up through California and left last nlirht for Tacoma, Spokane and Missoula. The worst stretch of road he has struck so far Is between Weed. Cal., and Portland. ''Hands up." whispered the burglar and Kdward W. Coles of Haines, who Is not very tall, looked so earnestly Into the mouth of a revolver that he stood on his tiptoes and elevated his arms to such a height that the highway man had to stop him with. "Here. here, not so high or people will see your hands rom the afreet." That happened not so very many weeks ago in the bank "r In the Eastern Oregon town. Mr. Coles is at the Imperial with J. W. .Maxwell and D. B. Warnaek. All of tnem raise cattle and have brought In a quantity of stock which they eipert to dispose or this morning and carry ujik a young tortune. IVllhops at the Benson yesterday feafted their eyes upon a procession of would-be motion picture oueen. who at about 10-mlnute Intervals came In to deposit their photographs with Wal lace iceid s publicity man. C M. Hill All day a stack of carefully wrapped Pictures fif every type of feminine beauty Imaginable stood at a corner of the desk, gradually increasing? In pro portions until several hundred had come In. Down at the Multnomah where the star himself was enjoying life, the clerks acted aa heralds for those who desired to give him a first nana glimpse or their charms. i i unnno not, - is me ad monition of W. H. Norton. Portland """""" man wno makes the Multno mah hi headnu.rtsr. Vr - -v- , ...J. rerurned from a month's tour In Cll- i-rnia ami when he left Red Bluffs the thermometer at(tot -r i.a w - o clock In the morning. While In Kan i-rancisco he saw the former proprietor Of the IlirhtAn I i , V. i . city that bear the sameisme. who he " na ifn or the Odeon, a fa mous restaurant and cafe. People on the Pnclf(r roast who never heard nf Frank Waterhouse of rc generally considered by ho f"l cUrks as lacking In education. Mr Waterhouse la a capitalist and among me iew lines or business he la n gaared in are bnnklng. shlpbuiMlnar and general Insurance. Likewise he is the father Of M. Waterhouse of the same cny. wno dropped into the Multnomah y esicruay on a Drier visit. Anout 2n years ago rr. R. F.-Newell neBan practicing medicine In Kpokan ...... -iT-n m n ever since. ne has Just stolen a few days away.from his patients and visited Portland on Ms way to the coast. Dr. Newell Is at the ImnaH.I Mnupln Is a town out In the middle or tne ucsrhtites valley where the pop. illation consists chleflv of stockmen It Is also the town that Sir. and Mra. V. D. Ptuart, who are staying at the imperial, came irom. The Multnomah will be without Its manager. A. B. Campbell, for the next two weeks Mr. and Mr. Camnhei left Paturdny night for Seattle and Lake Washington, where they will pass iticir vacation. Bdward P. Tucker, who h K looking af:er the northwestern busi ness for a San Francisco house the past three years, with headquarters at the Portlind hotel, has joined the Wur- litier people of Chicago as genera manager of their branch office at Se attle. The Benson's chef. Henry Thiele. Is cisiminjt some or the credit for the re covery of Miss Ruth Hnndley of As toria from a serious operation. All of the time she was In the hospital the cner aaiiy sent her a trav of dainties Miss Handley has just teturned to her nome. B. C. Cnrrlngton. who has a store Astoria where he sells gas engines to iiriiriinrii inpjr can pro out over the bar. retrlstored at the Imnerial yesterdny. Mrs. Carrincton made the trip to Portland with him. With two of his children. Alberta and Robert. R. MeMurphey made a trip from Eugene yesterday and registered at the Imperial. Mrs. MeMurphey has been active in state Eastern Star circles for many years. Two visitors from the cattle country et the Multnomah are Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Ashhv of Prlnevllle. The latter Is a dr.uehter of Ex-Congressman J. N. Williamson. Mrs. S. M. Woodward and Miss Eliza beth Woodward, who passed the nlarht at the Benson, are from Hamburg Hamburg. Jows. They are making a tour of the west R. B. Porter and John r. Porter of Spokane are staying at the Multnomah while looking over their shipbuilding and hotel Interests In this city. Thev are Interested In the Grant Smith Porter company. Boyd Mendenhal. manaser of Hal -tom's dry goods store at Tillamook. Is at the Oregon. He has Just returned from a trip to San Francisco. Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Rice of Seattle passed . yesterday at the Imperial. Mr. Klce engages In the hardware business. George H. Sharp, wool buyer for a Boston firm, who has been at the Port lard recently, returned yesterday from a trip to Hood River. Three men who braved rough roads from Colfax. Wash., drove up to the Perkins yesterday. They were L. E. Greer, M. 1. Greer and M. Greer. c. n. Southwlrk is a Yacolt tirrber man to be found at t h Perkins. He Is connected with the Murphy Lumber company. P. 1C Thomas, auditor of one of the C&iifornia state departments. Is at the Multnomah while here from San Fran cisco on business. Albert O. Peer of Seattle was at the Benson yesterday. He brought his ma chine along with him from Pugct bound. Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Lilly- of Atchison. Kan., registered at the Seward Satur day. They passed the week-end on the Columbia highway. C. H. Welder of Albany spent yeater day in Portland, stopping at the Se ward. W. K. Purdy, Salem real estate dealer, was at the Oregon over the week-end. A Kelso. Wah., visitor at the Ore gon Is F. I j- Stewart, who runs a bank in that town. C. W. McKean. proprietor of a men's furnlshlnsrs establishment in Walla Walla, is at the Oregon. j More Truth Than Poetry. I J By Jaaaea J. Moatasrme- 1 1 THE FIRST CRADLE. When little babies lived in caves, their toys were bits of bone And all the cradles that they had were solid blocks of stone. And oftentimes the stone was hard, and people passing by Would hear the babies move about, and bump their heads and cry. But when their mothers scolded them and told them to be good The babies Just put up with it the very best they could. One day a wise cave mother, with her baby on her knees: Sat watching two bright orioles that flashed about the trees. She saw them rushing to and to and oarting nere and there With bits of sticks and wisps of straw and pterj dactyl hair. And presently beneath a branch she saw a swinging nest Where soon the little orioles would sway and rockand rest! For days she thought about the birds. and how with tender care They made their babies soft and snug. up yonder In the air. And then she made long ropes of yarn the way she'd seen them do. And presently she had a nest to hold her baby, too A nest all lined with gosling down, and warm, and sort, and deep. And that same right her baby had his first sweet, dreamless sleep. You'll often see the orioles that pass on whirrlnic winir And If you'll follow them you'll find Just where the cradles swing, i Way up upon the topmost boughs' where everv wind that Mows 1 Will lull the baby orioles to beautiful repose. And when you hear their evening song; that a like a sliver bell Tou ought to thank them very much, because you sleep so well! Bulla and Bulla. A South African bull recently brought IU.600. The Irish variety are sold to the comic papers t about 10 cents a line. Off t.ronlnx Imitortaaee. One swallow doesn't make a spring, but nowadays It constitutes a danrer- ous offense against the statutes in such cases made and provided. WT Be Kxcluslref It Is our belief that the allies onpht to accept the offera of all the hlehly placed Germans who want to be tried Instead of the kaiser and try them immediately after the kaiser's convic tion. CAl'E OF ENMs-TMFNT RF.CORO Trees aad t.orrrnor Chief Factors la Pntttas; Oregon First. Oregon Voter. "Are Oregonla ns fundamentally more patriotic than others?" asks the Ore gonlan in seeking an explanation of Oregon's matchless war record In con tributing proportionately more volun teers than any other state. It would be unfair to assume that such Is the case, although the record might Justify the assumption. "Was It because there Is a small per centair of aliens In the stater' Hardly, because 30 states have a smaller pro portion of foreign-born population than has Oregon, and some of the states with heavy proportion of foreign-born popu lation were close competitors of Oregon in percentage of volunteers. "Was it due to the high percentage of literacy?" Hardly, for the two stales with higher literacy perrentaEea than Oregon were far down the list In con tributing volunteers, while Oregon's closest competitors were states with considerable percentasrea of Illiteracy. "Was it because the sheer charm of existence In Oregon inspires a deeper conviction that this Is a country worth fighting for?" This really might explain a lot, ns Washington with equal cli matic blessinus, was near the top In the volunteer I1.-.1 and sunny California waa above W a s h I n a t o n . but bleak Massachusetts and Rhode Island were higher than either and next to Oregon. We do not believe the reason for Ore gon s record is to be found in climate, scenery, parentage, blood, un Inborn Americanism or school education, much as Oregon has to be proud of in all these. Rather, was It not in part due to the daily- presentation of the great issues of the day by an unusually pa triotic press throughout the state? In Its press, Oregon Is singularly fortunate compared with other states. While in Portland, the Journal waa alow to dls cover or present the deep issues in volved, it was never so bad as the Hearst press, which covered California. the Mississippi Valley and the Atlantic seaboard with Its vile pro-Germanism after as well as before the war. The press of the south was partisan and paciflttie because it was partisan. Meanwhile the Oregonian was second to no newspaper in the entire country in sensing the possibilities even as soon as the shot was fired In Serbia. Its out standing, sturdy Americanism char acterized by thoughtf ulness and a sense of responsibility, was a powerful factor In shuplns; public opinion and arousing patriotism. The press of the outside state was quick In Its perceptions and with few exceptions showed early pa triotic leadership. Then Oregon had a well-organized national guard, with traditions worthy of honor. CJovernor James Withycombe was an Inspiring leader In mobilizing the national guard and stirring patri otic sentiment- His robust American Ism was a factor even though he was a native of England. Memories of the battleship Oregon probably had their Influence In stimulating naval enlist ments. THE LIGHT THAT NF.VF.R FAILS. Wearied and tired and alone, 1 knelt in a pew one day. The light of the candle shone. The altar draped In gray. I felt the weight of my sins. That on my soul heavily lay. When the lights elowly dimmed And gradually died away. I prayed looking up for release. As a troubled one would pray. That the anguish of mind would cease. I was seeking the better way. When suddenly, at the organ's pause. Through the old church window pane A glorious light from heaven falls. Like sunbeams through the rain. 'Tw-as the heavenly light of God. That shines. O! everywhere. CIvltiK life and beauty to the pods of flowers on the altar there. When the cross Is heavy and wronrs Bring the teardrops 10 me and mine. And the clouds are dark end longr. I know thit the light still shines. The light of the world from above Through the old church window pane Brought Joy and peace and love. As the choir sang softly Amen SAM SIMMONS. serv!c-e Huftoa Award. PUAIR1K CITY. Or.. July 19. t To the Kdltor.I Seeing the articles In The oirgonlasf about the S. A. T. C. mem bers not being given service buttons. I would like to know Juet what they arc and how obtained. Am 1 entitled to one? I saw- service with the lth divi sion but did not get overseas MX -SOLDI KR. All men who were actually In the service receive a bronze service button, and you may obtain one by applying to the army recruiting office, Worcester building, Portland. In Other Day. Twrnfy-nve Y ran iiw From The. Oreaonlaa of July 21. 1S94 San Francisco. It la rumored here that negotiations have been started which are expected to end the South ern Pacific strike by Moruiay. Ex-Deputy Postmaster A. A. Frank lin died at his residence on the east side yesterday, aga 68. P.ev. Henry M. Field of New York. brother of the late Cyrus W. Field, ar rived here yesterday from Alaska. Of the 2S0 who started for the ascent of Mount Hood today, about 160 reached the summit. Pickwick, a young earner pigeon, arrived- yesterday with a mes sage from the Maxamas at Government Camp. Fifty Years A art. From The Oreronlmn of July ri. Mark Twain is expected to reach the Pacific coast in about two weeks. B. Herman is authority for the state ment that the survey on the Rosehurff Coos bay road is being pushed rapidl ahead, but says no definite route ha -been selected. The state teachers association wr.! 1 hold its annual convention at Salem, beginning July 27. and lasting four day s. The ladles of the First rresbyteria i church will ho'd a fair and sociable this evening in the basement of the church. "Even as You and I." Kj t.rare K. Hall. The world Is full of malcontents. t" w-ant to cbarc the rls.ti Of everybody, everything, in every w they ca n ; There's quite enough repair work. If . Ilfcten to their plea. To lufep mankind employed, high-sp-e-i. throughout eternity; But when they're closely questiored as to chances they would brinr. They really haven't reached thai po:n: nor figured out a thing! The world abounds In malcontents, wl- voice the direful err That In another "atmosphere" their tears would quickly drv: That, were their lot "cor. rental" they would glow with loving pride. And make an earthly heaven of their humble fireside: But though. In desperation, all their mlhery they flaunt. Not one I've met has ever yet knots n what It is they want! No use to charge to outsli!e facts your mudiled mental state. Tou own tl.e apparatus and its yours t" operate ; Another place perhaps might prove more pleasant that is true. But you'd cloud it Just as surely If the same thourhta went with you! I find no fault with those who c!imh. and true ambitions vaunt. But ere you start look In your heart and know Just what you want: OCTII EMI BRIDr.E tVOILD HKLI' Coagestloa Promoted by I.ocatloa of Preaeat River Spaaa. PORTLAND. July 19. To ihe Edi tor.) There are four sld"s to a nv. generally. Original Manhattan. New York, was a triancle and had only thrc, sides, or more exactly speaking, tvo sides and one end. Portland, however, has two sides and two ends. The two sides the east side and the west side are uppermost In our minds. The tvn ends the north end and the south enn. especially the south end are frequently overio-jked. The heart of the west side business district Is served directly by one hrldce. on Morrison street. North of Morrison street bridge are three brldires all c hi necling the west side of the city with the north end of the ewst side. South of Morrison street, one bridge only connects the west side with the laree (territorially and populously) south end of the east side. A new brlnse south of the Hawthorne bridge would not. 10 any extent be an obstruction to river navi gation, neither would it be on obstruc tion to street navigation, such as would another bridge or tunnel leading di rectly into an already congested dis trict. Why this mania to crowd rverythinc Into the center of town? Are we still in the villase stage with a "Main street" running through the center of te-own. b'gosh? On the contrary, we have a large and growing city with two ends to serve, as well as two sides and one middle. The east side is extended now towards the north and the Fouth to the very limits of Mul'.no'nah county. Any auto driver ttruck, delivery flagon, or pleasure carl wtil tell you, If you ask him. that a few blocks one way or the other, is much preferable to winding and twisting and haltina: and backing and filling through consisted streets. Well then, it would set in wie. In con sidering plans for future tuunels or bridges to bear in mind the several other problems besides obstructions to river navigation. For one. there is u. crowded center of the west side, already congested nearly- to the breaking point; and for another, there Is the large and growing south end of the east side, t be adequately served. EX-VILLAGER. METRIC SYSTEM MOST PRACTICAL Volume of Air SubXaare- Ia Obtained - Kaaily Mara It la Applied. .NEW YORK. July 14. (To the Edi tor.) Tho letter printed in The Ore gonlan June i in regard to the metric system, from Mr. Klink. Is interesting but does not ring true to form. Metric welshts snd measures are especially desisrncd for practical use. They are designed on the decimal basis and all reiated decimally to each other. For Instance, one cuuhlc centimeter of wa ter weighs one gram. li'OO cubic centi meters of water weighs 100 grams, and one cubic meter weights 1 metric ton. That is. If you know- the specific grav ity of any substance you know th weight of a clvcn volume with the least possible effort. Such advantages can not be employed with any other tjn tems of welgMs and measures. The troy system la preferable to tb avotrdupoi-. In tho troy system t grains equal one ounce, and 12 ouncci make one pound. In the avoirdupois system 4 3 7 :- grains equal one avou -dupois oiame. and IS ounces make a pound. Wt-.erevrr grains are used It is very often reressary to turn rrains into ounces. This process is done hy dividlng by 41? S. Kverybody a inilts that the. Ueclnikl system Is preferable. These who do not know the facts say: -Why can you not use the decimal system with the old weights and nie-s-ures?" Let such good people endeavor 10 work out a few of the problems that have to b worked out In the grocery store or machine shop and they will see that tie International metric weicrhts and measures are best. We not only desire to do our part in helping to bring In the metric weights and measures, but to have them brought In in the best way for all concerned. HOWARD RICHARPS, JR.. Secretary American Metric Asn. Soldiers' Mileage. MT. SOlA. Wash.. July ir. (To tl,. Kdltor.l Please let me know when- I am to send for niy additional 1 'i cent mileage due me for railroad fare on m -discharge from the army. reccivt : 3 1 cents and I now- hear soldiers re ceive i cents. - A. Ri:.DKR. Take up the matter with the nearest army recruiting office. A