Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 1912)
THE SUNDAY QREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, NOVEMBER 3, 1912. LETTERS TO OREGONIAN SCAN ISSUES BEFORE PEOPLE Variety of Subjects Are Taken Up and Treated Interestingly Single Tax Generally Condemned by Taxpayers Who See Deception and Danger in Move. 8 CONFISCATION IN SINGLE TAX Innovation Held to De Dangerous and Unjust. PORTLAND, Or., Nov. 1. (To the Editor.) Much has been written and said during the last three months re garding the so-called "single tax" question, but a (treat deal more has elected by the people and Is to fill the office of Governor and draw the sal ary thereto attached whenever a va cancy exists or the Governor Is unable to discharge the duties of his office. The line of succession then passes to the president pro tern of the Senate and then to the speaker of the House. In no event doea the Secretary of State BLUE SKY LAW IS CONDEMNED Belief Pat Forward The Measure Is Unwieldy and Expensive. GRANTS PASS, Or Nov. 1. (To the Editor.) The proposed bill on the or flcial ballot designated "the blue sky law," and to be voted on at the state feated by a big majority vote. It is a misnomer of vicious Intent. It is an absolute fraud, and should be branded as such by every lover of justice and talr play. It Imposes most serious burdens on the very men who are try- been left unsaid for selfish reasons by I become Governor or have any greater election next Tuesday, should be de the supporters of the measures ana Dy I power than he ordinarily enjoys. -ne carelessness on the part of those op- of the most powerful arguments In posed to the same. All that has been favor of the proposed amendment is id both pro and con has not settled the provision that the Lleutenant-uov anything. It has only put the voters ernor shall be presiding- officer of the to thinking for themselves and the re- I State Senate, thus eliminating the bl- sult will be all right and good beyond 1 ennial struggle for the Senate organ!- I In sr. by the expenditure of brains and all doubt, for the electorate of Oregon I xatlon. t I bullion, to build up and put into prax is competent to properly oeciae me i The proposed amendment was care- tical use the latent and most wonder- Question to the best interest of tne fully framed by the last Legislature I ful .resources of the great state of Ore state and perfectly fair and Just to all. I and passed that body by an unanimous gon. The taxes and expenses that will Oregon Juries do not railroad innocent I vote of both houses. The public good I be necessary to carry on the work of people to prison or death, neither win i demands its adoption by the people. C. N. M ARTHUR. Oregon voters favor confiscating- the property of one class of people in the interest of another class wno are ai ready more prosperous than the class singled out to be victimized. If the people who are engaged In business and those successfully retired from business, such as bankers, merchants, manufacturers, street Improvement contractors, capitalists, etc., cannot at ford to car their Just share of the REGULATION OF UNION PICKETS Plea Is Made That Intimidation of Workmen Should End. PORTLAND. Oct. 81. (To the Ed itor.) In reference to Initiative Bill 3t8-369: This Is a measure aimed at taxes, then why should the farmer, lot- Pernicious practice of some organ- . . I i 7.Rt Inn of fnf m datlnp vnrkmAn who owner, home-owner or lana-owner or 1Z I .. j expected to pay all of the taxes, when we all well know that they handle but very little ready money as a class? I know all of the nr.e-spun logic ana sophistry that has been handed out so far In explanation by those selfishly Interested in the support of the meas ure. which would make them and their backers a seal privileged class ana tax dodgers of the 33d degree. So do the voters know and they are completely tired of it and are not asking for any additional installment of the same line nf unsound reasoning. The trouble with the country now is work for whom they please and under conditions which suit them. Threats against life and limb are often connect' ed with "peaceful picketing," and even property la not safe from destruction at the hands of pickets. Hence it seems that It Is about time some measure of protection be accorded those who pay their portion of the taxes of the com' munity. and also those who wish to make an honest living for themselves and family. I ask the workingman. Is It fair for any organization to say "You cannot work here unless you pay us tribute ; -t ' V.. I nd again, is It fair that you should be xnai mere r. '"" J"" hounded even when working where the employer does not permit them to exact this tribute? your employes be followed, slandered. abused or pay tribute? At the present time women and girls who are working to earn their living honestly, are being followed on the streets of this city and to their homes, and accosted in a foul manner, and threatened with violence by "peaceful pickets," who severed their connections with their employers several weeks leged classes, so why should the voters of Oregon go to the trouble to create a lot more, such as department stores nt other merchants, capitalists anil trusts of all kinds? Broad tax exemp tlons such as proposed would be a fine ihlnr for them probably, but IS tnere any good practical reason for making them immune from taxation and at the same time allowing them lull power the same as an actual taxpayer. In deciding- how the tax money shall be ex- nenried? The taxpayers would be In hopeless and helpless minority, while the tax spenders or rather "squander ers." would be in a dangerous majority In all communities. It Is perfectly right and proper that the poor be en titled to their full representation, re gardless of whether they are taxpay ers or not, as that is a condition that cannot be avoided, but not so as to any other class, no difference how much the matter Is urged. The classes that are asking to be exempted from taxation ought to be ashamed of themselves on the face of th nr6nosItion. They think to 1ST low and keep quiet. In this campaign NEED OF HOTEL REGULATION and have the matter slip through on , fdlum Inspection I. Defended the thoughtless voter, but let me In- Traveling Man. form those misguided merchants, etc., PORTLAND, Nov. 1. (To the Ed- that the thoughtless voter Is going to ltor.) In The Oregonian's list of rec ho a scarce article on November 6 and I ommendations as to measures to be their selfish hopes will be dashed to I voted on at the coming election Tues pieces quickly, as the poor man does I day, November 5. you advise voting not have to vote for single tax In any "No" on "creating office of Hotel in of its corrupt forms to get a great deal spector," giving as your reason misuse the corporation commission that this bill will Install will fall very heavily on men of enterprise, while at the same time the bill will furnish fat Jobs to drones and "hangers on" at Salem. It will create graft and not curb it. venture the opinion that fully 90 per cent of the people of this state are In favor of a legitimate and stringent law that would protect innocent purchasers of securities of Incorporated companies, but the proposed bill Is top heavy, ex pensive and invalid. It will not only deter new capital from coming to Ore gon, but It will cause much that is al ready Invested here to be withdrawn. This Is no theory. It's an absolute fact. The proposed bill contains nearly 5000 words, while the "blue sky" !aw of the great state of California con tains only 206 words. The proposed Oregon law will require $25,000 per year to carry It Into effect, while the California law will require not one tenth of this sum to put it Into force. The state of California has 70,000 In corporations, while Oregon has only about 11,000. The proposed bill creates trie ortice of "Corporation Commission er," to be filled, not by the vote of the people of the state, but by the ippointment of the Governor. This I ask the employer. Is It fair that Corporation Commissioner may appoint one or 100 assistants and deputies if he chooses to. do so. The deputies are to receive $15 per day and all expenses when ma-king examinations of corpora tions; there Is absolutely no limit as to how many examinations may be made In any. given time. One or 100 different examinations may be made of one single corporation in any one year; Indeed, section 11 gives the Cor ago, and who now, like the dog In the Pfratlon Commissioner "general super, manger, seek to prevent others the vlslon nd control" of every lncor fruits of the position which they left Pirated company In this state, so that and gave notice they did not want. Hen, what do you think of such verbal and physical assaults on our women? If you have a right to demand pro tection, vote 368 Yes. If you think that the above-men tloned Is fair as one man to another. then vote 36S No. Yours very truly, PAUL H. KOEHLER. of the relief that he needs and wants, I of the Initiative. This measure with- hmiiM he can vote for the exemption I out any doubt could be taken care of I rhuniiiinir law. No. 352 on the ballot, and also by the Legislature, but owing to the brokerage and building company, vote against both of the two undeslra- "Oregon system" is allowed through a I indeed every Incorporated eompan ble single tax Dins, numoereu roBi- requisite numoer oi petitioners to De lvely 365 no and Si9 no. wnicn two i voted on by the people at large, mtnilmMitii would unnecessarily re- Should this be sufficient reason that lease millions of dollars of wealth from I the voter should vote no? taxation, without the least good reason i This la a worthy measure and all for doing so. Election did not come I means possible should be taken to pro- I subseauent vear for carrvin out the soon enough and single tax Is already tect the traveling public from fire dan- provisions of this vicious measure. The ger or ills resulting from uncleanli- official cognomen Is "Blue Sky." but ness, etc I It s common name Is "Graft." Its num. The writer Is a traveling salesman ber on the ballot Is 334 ves and 33S no ana nnas it impossmie to stop every Let every voter who has the best in aay in a one structure wnere mere terest of the state of Oregon vote is some cnance oi a person getting out against this bill. , C. L. MANGTJM. in tne smaller towns if he deemed It advisable he could keep one or even more of his deputies In the office of every Incorporated company In this state every day in the year. Notice the word "control." If I understand the English language, this gives him the power to direct the af fairs of every incorporated company In this state, though he may not own a single dollar's worth of Btock of incorporation. The proposed bill prohibits any In corporation In this state from selling any of Its stock for less than Its face or par value. This provision, of course, precludes the possibility of marketing stork of any kind that has not reached the dividend-paying stage. Many great enterprises in their earliest history had to sell their shares away below par. and which In after years paid many millions In dividends. Every publish ing, railroad, telegraph, telephone, mining, navigation. Irrigation, mer- saw and flour milling. and company ex cept banking concerns. Is to be under the "supervision and control" of the proposed "Corporation Commissioner," who Is allowed to expend $25,000 the first and $20,000 for each and every beaten and Us supporters know It, but will not admit it. WILLIAM A. LEONARD. of which have taken action agajnst the measure. Public statement to voters by Gov ernor West, four Senators and five Rep resentatives of the Legislature that passed the law urging support of the Initiative aot. (No. 328). Act gives State Printer $4000 a year, He can make $8000 to $10,000 a year under present law over and above all wear and tear. Interest, risk and ex pense whatsoever, and himself never darken the door of the state printing department. The. undersigned was appointed to the position of expert without sollcita tlon and especially charged by the Gov. ernor to expose this abuse and work for Its elimination. He has discharged his duty as he saw It for which he Is maligned by the State Printer as every thing vile and despicable. The numbers of this measure on the ballot are 32$ Yes, 329 No. Voters are urged to reflect thoughtfully and vote their convictions. R. A. HARRIS. " ' , State Printing Expert. DO NOT PUT AWAY THE NOOSE Capital Punishment Necessary to Pro tection of Society N DALLAS, Or.. Oct. SO. (To the Edi tor.) The Initiative measure to abolish capital punishment which is to be voted upon next Tuesday, la of paramount Importance to the people of this com monwealth. It involves the safeguard ing of the citadel of 'public morals, the protection of .the lives of Innocent and helpless human beings. Its considera tion ought not to be a question of sentiment,- the emotions should not be permitted to bias judgment; the whole question should be viewed strictly from the practical standpoint of efficient government the greatest good to the greatest number. The life of the homicide is not for feited to the law out of a spirit of revenge, but for protection to the lives of other people. Such a law Is a deter rent to the morbid-minded criminal; it often prevents the murderous spark from bursting into flame, and holds in check the hand that would slay. The homicide is a greater scourge to society than a deadly epidesnlc. Peni tentiary walls may kennel him for a time, but the menace of his desperate and murderous outbreak is always lm mlnent. With his life protected by a mistaken sentlmentalism the lives of others become endangered a hundred fold; he rages "red In tooth and claw" while his helpless, hapless victims per ish by the score. The person who fel oniously takes the life of another for feits all Just claims to protection by society. By what token should society throw Its protecting mantle around him? I anticipate the answer; but we are confronted by a condition not a theory. Society stands upon human founda tions and Is governed by human stand ards of right any- wrong. Its great schoolmaster is experience; its educa tion Is coextensive with man's progress throughout the ages, and a knowledge of the law of nature that the unfit must perish. The law, as it Is, gives the homicide every legal protection consistent with the safety and well being of the social organism. To safe guard the life of a person Is right, but to put a premium on murder Is mon strous. ' J. T. FORD. WOMAN'S VOTE AGENT OF GOOD She Will Prove a Power Against Cor r a prion, Sara Suffragist. MEDFORD. Or., Nov. 2. (To the Ed itor.) Will you permit me to call your readers' attention to a point which have not seen mentioned in the many letters from the people, on the question of women s suffrage? My reference la to the mental cause that leads most of the opponents of women's suffrage to sincerejy believe they have good fundamental reasons for their opposition. 1 mean by "most of the opponents those who have come out in the press, as I do not believe all of them have selfish interests which they fear suffrage to women would jeopardize. I think the term "false- modesty" would better express my thought as to the character of the mental cause. False modesty Is a weakness generally thought of as peculiar to women, but Is not the sterner sex also often its victim? I do not doubt the sincerity or good motives of many opponentato enfranchising our better halves, moth ers and sisters, but do think that most of these particular opponents are labor ing under unwarranted apprehensions that the enfranchisement will have a tendency to de-femlnlze or cause our women to become too masculine. There is possibly another class of opponents well within the roid or good Intentions" but their weakness Is short sightedness. I refer to the husbands and fathers who repeat "woman's work is In the home." It Is true It be gins there but that Is not the limit of her field. The good work of the women of the households of many of these men Is neutralized by the thoughtlessness and short-sightedness' In the latter's voting. , Again, many of these opponents are careful about their voting but forget that perhaps his neighbor Is supporting corruption and vice and that without his wife's right to vote his own vote is tied or neutralized by that of the cor rupt neighbor. Is It not better, espe cially if there are children In the home, to have his vote reinforced by that of his wife and also of the- children, aunts and grandmothers, that those children's public environments might be better provided for and the corrup tionlsts relegated to their proper place? C. A. M'LEMORE. FARMER FEARS THE SINGLE TAX Belief Advanced That Adoption Would End Prosperity, EUGENE, Or, Oct. 31. (To the Edi tor.) Most farmers' resent statements recently received by mail saying slngl tax would benefit farmers. sucn argu ments are very misleading. There Is a suspicion that these statements originate with very rich men, who wish to oBcane taxation on untold millions. Skyscrapers, breweries, great stocks of merchandise, all manufactories ana many other forms of wealth would go free, while the farmers' Duraens wouia be Increased. Common sense shows us, without any Juggled figures, that the amount of money to be raised will be the same. If we release large Invest ments In certain lines the remaining capital must pay higher taxes. The land is all the capital that remains. If aingle-taxers expects help from in creased taxation In certain lines and from franchises, why do they not work In case of fire. no night clerk Is employed, no fire es capes, ropes, gong or a sign which would, direct a guest te safety. Each guest is left to his own salvation. It is a common occurence to pick up The Oregonian and read of someone burn ing up in a hotel or rooming-house fire. The State of Washington has a hotel Inspection law and an inspector and which has done admirably good work. Why not Oregon? Let us get on the I band wagon and vote for a measure which will protect lives and forget the misuse of the Initiative. C. I. SERSANOUS. TEST OF THE OREGON SYSTEM Vote en Majority Amendment Regarded aa Sla-nlf Irani. WHY WOMEN SHOULD HAVE VOTE Salem Voter Gives Reasons for Sup porting- Equal Suffrage. SALEM, Or.. Oct 31. (To the Ed ltor.) I shall support the suffrage amendment because It Is Just, because the Intelligent women want It, because all women need It, because It would make the women more intelligent, bet ter companions for intelligent men. bet ter citizens, better wives, better moth ers, better sisters, better sweethearts, better teachers and better and safer companions for the children and the youth of the state. I shall vote to give women the ballot, because they have political opinions and have the same Inherent right as the men to express them, and make them effective. The ballot Is the American Instrument for PriPTT.lVn not XAlTn fh TTH ltor.) I am delighted at a chance to lvln Political opinions effective ex for those things' to help the common set forth my view. In The Or.egonian th. .tit. wtoo wished the bal i - i in...tinn- o I raartWntr th tnalorltv Amendment. All 1 wuulcn ia wno wisnea tne Dai peopie inaienu ui i r . "a ktll& I iir" " - Vw" AZ'""' TT" " k " . I lot. I would vote to let them have It. Ktr IV ueiiem. iiiiiiiviiaii . i v..r nnmhori rf f.rmArii have a hard 1 derstana It time as It is. They are already cis - ... .... I -l-f4ii as 4-riai flfnirnn svafain nrrtn ti i Joker to benefit millionaires.- y --".;" " " Z'ZZZ, " " for the time will come when those who "v., 1 "Kl ,., I... .V.. criminated against. Who ever heard of farmers who could work on the eight-hour day plan? Their land would soon go for taxes and single tax will hasten the day when vast numbers of this hill vet I am verv alad It Is on the '""' appreciate me sunrage now win l i. .arrlu mn.t .11 h. u a niuu as any 10 exercise it,-ana jections offered against the Initiative lu tha,nk the yoter who Ka' them and referendum chiefly that the peo- ta? Privilege. nl r not capable of aovernlne be. . " w 1 n come an established fact. In other four-square rail pen until It gre farms will be sold for taxes, as nobody I ,rd ai hand and by the law of the fittest." and If the If the bill passes, the system large enough to have the run of the ld for taxes, as nobody i .",' A,.Ji K pasture. When I laid down one corner will want land and the rate of taxa- " i. h.. .VH,.i of the pen. it refused to come out. Then the survival of bill passes not. the system baa stood the test. If the people can't see that under such law no bill, good or bad, would have any chance to pass; if they con elude that all that can't reason out the l , a mA riwM.rlt, t9 Kill mrtA Anma to a conclusion should be thrown perience will, no doubt, be paralleled against such bill; If they can't see that " " t ,, , oppose ine sui- ,r..A n .. frage. I shall vote for equal suffrage land, not on account of single tax, agalnst or for a bill when they are In because all of the states surrounding wnicn is iruj cus niello doubt, now effects an injustice to tne " . . " " satisfaction and Is depressing values. extent of the number of such idiotic intelligent. Just as good and Just as tlon will go higher and higher. self-respecting farmers who can do ao will quit the business when the time comes that they are required to pay in taxes anywhere near the rental value of their land. Single tax will prove to be the heaviest blow ever struck at the prosperity of farmer In Oregon. ' Farmers go to Canada be cause they can get homesteads, cheap I removed the pen entirely, but still the frightened little creature would not budge, and it took all my strength to remove It from Its old environment. After it got used to its new quarters, It gamboled and frolicked and enjoyed itself like any normal calf. This ex- It Is most unjust class legislation. JONATHAN JOHNSON. FOR A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR Creation of New Post Urged as Hnv inn- Many Advaataaea. PORTLAND. Or., Oct. SI. (To the they know the are not voting-against votes, then the quicker our system poi sons Itself to death the better it win be for Oregon. A vote that is not cast can t Justly count either way. and any one that votes either way when they have no choice can't reason straight. How do handsome aa any of them. JOHN W. JORY. Editor.) One of the pending referen dum measures that deserves the sup port of every voter who is Interested In improving the character of our state government, is the proposed amend ment to section 8 of article V, of tho constitution of Oregon, creating the office of Lieutenant-Governor. Under the present arrangement, the Secre tary of State becomes Governor when ever a vacancy occurs or the chief ex ecutive is unable to perform his du ties, and at the same time continues to act aa Secretary of State, thereby filling two Important offices simul taneously, drawing two large salaries and having two votes upon all state boards and commissions. This arrange ment places too great a burden upon one man and also clothes him with too much authority, however capable or trustworthy he may be. Besides this, the plan whereby one man may draw two large salaries Is altogether unbusinesslike and not in keeping with the spirit of American government. The proposed amendment provides a plain and businesslike method of succession to the Governorship by cre ating the office of Lieutenant-Governor, who Is also to be presiding offi cer of the State Senate and whose com pensation is to be $5 a day when the Legislature is actually In session; no other tees or emoluments are provid ed, so the creation of the office will Impose no burden upon the taxpayers. The Lieutenant-Governor Is m Ip their own Interest? C. A. REICHAN. PUBLIC COJTTROL OF HIGHWAYS. FLAT SALARY SYSTEM IS URGED. Suggested Change Discussed Br State Printing Expert. SALEM. Oct. JO. (To the Editor.) The state printing problem, now before tne voters, is summed up as follows: unspeakable abuse in state printing recognized for 10 years with attempts in every Legislature during that time to correct It. Every attempt to date defeated by the beneficiaries of the abuse. Flat salary law enacted by Lejrlsla ture of 1911 after bitter struggle to Advice on County Road BUI Offered by Mr. Colvlg. ALBANY. Or.. Oct. 31. (To the Edi tor.) Constitutional amendment No, 360 Yes, Is the only measure now pend. defeat It led by business associate of lng that can be safely acted upon with- I oiaie rrinier. exponents oi measure out delay. It does not require any In- desired eniorcement at once, but were ternretatlon of the courts. It is plain compeuea to suDmit to amendment de home rule. It gives the people of the laying operation until January 1, 1915, counties absolute control over the I whereupon they volunteered assistance building of their public highways. If to put it into operation as soon as pos. It is adopted it wtllvbrlng milllona of sible by the initiative. monev to be expended in permanent Initiative to put legislative act Into roads. This money will employ all men effect December 1, 11Z, placed on bal and teams who need work. It will draw money from the East on the sale of the bonds, and the good roads resulting will bring people here to locate, and in the years to come to help us pay tne bonds. lot. Vigorous fight begun against both Initiative bill and legislative act by State Printer involving expenditure of thousands of dollars. Law branded by him as a scheme of union printers to Mr. Sam Hill. the"leadlng good road gain control of state printing. builder of America, approves this meas- Initiative Indorsed by fatate Grange ure. and says of it over his own slg- n annual convention at KoseDurg. aub- nature: sequently Investigated at request of I have made a careful examination State Printing expert by local Salem of the proposed bills . . . and I be- Grange with result that local Grange lleve that No. 360 is entitled to the sup- withdrew indorsement. Action of. Sa- port of the people, and they will not lem Grange followed by Marlon and make any mistake in adopting it." Linn County Pomona Granges and a Should the people intrust themselves meeting ot masters or local Granges of with the control of their own road Multnomah County. There are some ISO building? If you think so vote "S I local Granges and some 14 Pomona wm. M. COLVIG. I Granges In the state, only three or four A HARDSHIP OiV LAND OWNERS. Such Is the Effect of Single Tax, Says Investlffator. PORTLAND, Nov. 1. (To the Editor.) The measure of graduated single tax to be 'voted on Is obviously un just, because the burden of taxation is to be borne mainly by a certain class. namely land owners. If is true that im provements on land are exempted, but how many will care to make improve ments on land that is losing its value to a great extent in consequence of such tax? If one does' make Improvements the money required has to come In a great measure, from some other source than the land, because the mcreasea tax on the -land, which will Inevitably follow as a consequence of the exemp tion of improvements thereon, will greatly reduce the profit from the land. If one Is without means to make mucn improvements on the land, he will still have to pay as much tax as the rich man having land of the same value. Aside from these considerations, the measure is also unjust, because it gives to those having other kinds or property equal protection and the franchise. without an equal burden In the support of the government. It cannot be said to be even expedient. Is it expedient to discourage the cultivator of the soil by taking away so much of his profit? Is it expedient to discourage' the cap italist from engaging In the lumbering business by depriving him of the con trol of a sufficient supply of timber to Justify him t,o Invest his capital In that business? Is It expedient to discourage the capitalist from engaging in mining by an unreasonable tax on his mine? Does the laboring man reap any benefit from a law that discourages the use of capital for developing the natural re sources? The answers are obvious enough and against the measure, even to be tried as an experiment. No one will maintain that our present tax law Is perfect, but improvement can be at tained only on the rational and Just principle of equal tax. P. HJELSENG. SINGLE TAX WILL NIP FARMERS. Arguments Submitted to Show Effect on Cost of Living. PORTLAND, Oct. 31. (To the Edi tor.)--The absurdity of the arguments of the Single -Taxers Is also shown by their statements that their scheme will induce the landless to leave the cities and go "back to the country." When they attempt to exempt all personal property and pile all taxes on land and thus reduce the price, tne land ouye will have to accept the burden f these taxes. But they also contend that the exemption of personal property win bring in more factories and otner in dustries to enjoy this exemption, xnu Increasing the tide to the city or youn men discouraged by the greatly in creased taxes, and encouraged by th hleher wages in the city. . The single taxers insist that the high cost of living will be reduced by high taxes on land.. Everyone knows that much the greater part of this high cost is caused by the coming to the cltv of an increasing number of youn men from the country and by thel numbers Increasing the demand for and the price of rents and the demand for food, clothing, etc., ana tnus Keeping nrlcei high. The criving ot young ue ginners to the towns by excessive taxes on unimproved lands ana tne attract ing them there by exempting personal property from all taxes cannot fail to result in still higher and higher cost of living. It Is very dangerous to adopt a com plete revolution in a most Important function of the Government. Many men to whom the scheme looks plausible will, if the same is not turned down, find himself in desperate circumstances and not one of the advocates will be able or willing to comfort mm. , E. F. RILEY. fact any other class of personal prop erty or business. If the single taxers want to be fair, explain how the poor man or woman will be affected wno is putting in $5, $10 or $50 each month for the purchase of a lot for an m vestment, and make it clear to him or her why it is h'ghl moral to adopt a tax plan that will wipe out his or her equity for the benefit of the man who Invests in personal property. i Lincoln issued a proclamation to pay the Southerners for their slaves.- That was an honorable thing to do, but can you imagine a more dishonorable act than to take away from our small In vestors all they have by the scheme of single tax? Most every man and woman in Port land owns an equity in a lot somewhere which they are purchasing purely for an investment Please allow the sin gle taxer to explain how these people will be affected, and do not waste any time on the capitalists and large land owners, and single tax will be easll defeated three to one. If all the small investors must lose all they have In order that the large investor may lose, I think it is high time that our schools take up the teaching of morality so the coming generation will have some Idea of the right to live on this earth with others. JOHN C. ELDRIDGE. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT SUPPORTED. FARMER OPPOSES SINGLE TAX Strong Reasons Given for Voting; Against Plan. HILLSOBORO, Or, Oct. 28. (To the Editor.) As a farmer and landowner whose holdings are practically all in a high state of cultivation and with good improvements, I shall vote against single tax for the following reasons: It is a communlstio scheme with the ultimate aim of state confiscation of all property, and I have no desire to have my property confiscated. Say what you will about the high price of products, the farmer is receiv ing only about one-half what the con sumer pays, and after his bills are paid at the end of the. season he seldom has anything left above fair wages for his time. A Greater Oregon cannot be built up by forcing land into cultivation upon which men cannot make a decent 11 v ing. Much land now in cultivation is but poorly tilled because our markets are Inadequate to take care of the pos sible output. Consumers wishing to buy cheaper should devise and put in prac tice better methods of getting closer to producers rather than attempt to force production up to a point where the farmer would be a mere man with a hoe. If cities and towns shall vote single tax it will be construed by the farmers everywhere as attempting to evade their Just share of taxation, and good will now existing will be strained. Any farmer would prefer to bear a reasonable share cf taxation in prefer ence to producing crops which he can not dispose of. Is or can law tlnkerers inspire con fidence in manufacturing enterprises through offers of exemption from tax ation. This little "protective tariff" Is intended to look dazzling now but en terprise looking for a legitimate profit knows well that these communists would turn and rend It as soon as its business was well established. R. E. HARBISON. LIGHT SOUGHT ON SINGLE TAX, Voter, While Somewhat In Dark, Says He Will Play Safe. CORVALLIS. Or.. Oct. 31. (To th Editor.) Overshadowing all other questions In this election in Oregon is Lhe Question of the single tax on lanu How to vote on that question I do not know. Early in the season I wrote few letters asking for information, bu although I received many letters and a number of books and pamphlets, and men even came from a distance to in tervlew me and Instruct me, still I did not receive any light. I am in the dark now. There has been nothin publicly advanced in this campaign but what I had considered and a good deal more that has not been advanced. But as yet I do not know how to vote on the quest-Ion. There are those who point to British Columbia. A man told me yesterday that Vancouver, for instance, has now 240,000 people, this large Influx of pop ulation attributed to the beneficent in fluences of the single tax in that city, This Is indeed instructive, but frankly I don't believe it. Therefore, not hav ing received any light on this ques tlon I am going to apply a rule I in variably follow. When I don't know what to do, don't do anything. If vote for the single tax I am certainly doing something. If I don't vote at all I cease to be entitled to the fran chlse. Therefore, I shall vote against the single tax. J. H. WILSON. FOR' SINGLE BOARD OF REGENTS, Co-ordinate Activities of Two Schools, Says F. G. Young. EUGENE, Or.. Oct. 80. (To the Edl tor.) An automatic adjustment of the support of the University and the Ag ricultural College Is most desirable. It removes from politics and makes pos sible systematic planning of the activl ties and development of the two Insti tutions. But even more Important than the mlllage-tax feature is the provision for a single board of regents. The soiia basis of reason for one board for the two Institutions inheres in the fact that the University and the Agricul tural College are but Instrumentalities of the people for doing the work of higher education needed by them. The activities of the institutions should thus be eo-ordlnated. The work of ad ministering these agencies as co-ordi nated parts of the system of higher edu cation for the people of Oregon can be rightly assigned only when entrusted to a single board representing the peo pie. F. G. YOUNG. REALTY OWNERS AND SINGLE TAX Scheme Would Throw Heavy Burden on - Investors In Lota. PORTLAND, Oct. 29 (To the Editor.) There is probably no city in America today where the people are so heavily obligated for real estate as In Port land. These people earned their money to Invest in this real estate just as honestly as anyone could. They bought It under our present system of taxa tion and it seems to me that it is up to the honorable citizens of Portland to keep good faith with them Just as much as if they had invested their money in a mortgage, stock of mer chandise,, manufacturing plant or in Charge Made That Leniency Does Not Advance Reform. CORVALLIS, Or., Oct. 31. (To the Editor.) The bill to abolish capital punishment in Oregon ought not to carry for the following reasons: The wife murderer, the disappointed lover, the raper of little girls and of aged women and their murderers will all go practically free in Oregon if this bill carries. The Governor's policy toward felons, treating them as men in whom remains some manliness, would make It easy for even the most desperate crim inal to shortly regain his freedom, in an honor camp. If not in an honor camp, their treatment in the peniten tiary would be tender, probably better treatment than the world afforded. The vital question Is whether this sort of "punishment" will work reform. If it would, no one would complain. But It does not. Statistics show that but a small percentage of desperate criminals ever reform. That being true, why allow them to retain their miser able lives, why make the already over burdened taxpayers maintain them un til they die? The percentage of life criminals who escape is large. Take the country over, get down to statistics again, and this will be found true; Then this wild man 'again preys upon society. Who Is safe when he is at large? Our present system affords him every opportunity to Keep out of prison. Even when taken red-handed he has the right to interpose insanity as a defense, but tne moment a jury convicts your crimi nal then is the time for society to at tend Its own business and allow the officers of the law to handle the crjml nal. When the criminal succeeds in com mitting the capital crime, that moment he has earned death. Establish the fact and let the law take its course. This is not legal murder, as many have It. A legal murder is where the wrong man is hanged. There Is quite a dlf lerence Detween hanging the wrong man and hanging the murderer of whose guilt there can be no question. By all means vote to retain capital punishment. G. R. FARKA, M. D. OREGON SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. Changes Might Well Be Made, Says A. 5. Hammond. COQUILLE, Or., Oct. 30. (To the Editor.) The "Oregon system" in Its present form is not only Impracticable it is Impossible. To begin with, it must be remembered that "the people" includes all the fools as weir as all the wise, but if there were only the wise to consider, there Is no set or combination of men wise enough to make wise laws in this fashion and I will point out a few of the reasons. Under the present initiative plan the laws are framed by one man. or one small set of men, working In secret. The people do not have an opportunity to take part in this at all. When a proposed law has been all prepared the people are allowed to say whether they think it good or bad, but they cannot change It or adopt what is good and reject what is bad. They must swallow all of a proposed law or reject all. So, no matter how wise they may be, they have no opportunity to use their wis dom. The initiative purports to put di rectly into the hands of the people the making of their own laws, but it does nothing of the kind. All the people are allowed to do Is to eat the cake. If they like, but they have no part nor lot in choosing the ingredients nor in mixing them. That is a secret process known only to a chosen few. This is all wrong. Here Is a better way: Let there be submitted to the people from time to time such concrete questions as are of general interest, such as: Shall all taxes be collected from land? Shall counties be allowed to vote bonds to build roads? Shall women vote? Then, whenever the people have expressed themselves as favoring any certain plan of action the next Legislature must proceed to carry their wishes into ef fect before attending to any other bus iness. Your "300 words" limit prevents my referring to other features of the Oregon system." A. a HAMMOND. SINGLE TAX AND CHEAPER LAND Adoption of Plan Would See Fall is Property Values. PORTLAND. Oct. 30. (To the Eld tor.) Can you give us some additional light on "graduated tax" on land. Sup pose a person has bought a lot on Washington street and paid $250,000 for it and erected a $125,000 building on it and that building contains $125, 000 worth of merchandise. Under pres ent conditions there Is a tax levied on land, building and merchandise, on $500,000. As I understand it, this new arrangement would exempt the building and merchandise and the tax would be raised on the land only. The tax rate now is 22 mills, but if half the taxable value Is taken away, the same amount would have to be raised on half the value, so the tax rate would be 44 mills, would it not? But In addition to this there would b an added "graduated" tax of 30 mills, making the total tax on that land 74 mills. Now, It occurs to me that prop erty which is taxed over 70 per cent of its value would not have much of any value, would it? If It did not, what would the Assessor use as a basis of fixing its value? And where would the taxes come from, for the exempt prop erty could not be made to pay? And If the Assessor arbitrarily fixed a value on land, could not an owner go into court and prove that land taxed at over 0 per cent was valuless? Again, all the single tax men I meet insist that single tax will at least cut land values in half and probably more. I have heard it stated that suburban lands held at $800 per acre could be bought for $50 per acre, probably. Here Is the pain. Take Laurelhurst, East moreland and Westmoreland and the hills back of the city. Millions of dol lars have been spent in improvements, grading, hard surface streets, sewers, etc., and the work bonded. If the value of the land back of the bonds is de stroyed will not the city find Itself held for millions of dollars- worth of Improvement bonds and the genera taxpayers have to pay It, and If the value Is pretty well gone out of land and only land can be taxed, where would we be at? Many men who have a little surplus from their business have put it into a speculative investment, paying some down and giving notes for the rest. If the value Is taken away from their In vestment will not their notes be sued out and many merchants and others bankrupted? I confess to being simple and dull, but the more I ponder this whole thing the greater seem the ramifications, and I fear that many unsuspecting persons will find themselves sandbagged in the dark with a law that they believed to be a beauty when they voted for It. I am not a stand-patter. I am a real progressive, but this is one thing I be lieve Oregon will show great wisdom to let alone. Let some other state have those chestnuts and not burn our hands. E. T. JOHNSON. IN .FAVOR OF MAJORITY RULE Measure la Gone Into and Indorsed by J. A. Buchanan. PORTLAND. Nov. 1. (To the Ed itor.) Ballot numbers 310 and 332 are calculated to create majority rule un der the Initiative. The proposed amendment to Section 1, Article IV of the Constitution adds only one sentence to the section of the Constitution in force at this time, as follows: 'No measure submitted to the people at any election under the Initiative shall take effect or become a law un less It shall be approved by a majority of all the electors voting at such elec tion, whether voting on such measure or not." i The question involved is what shall be considered a majority vote sufficient to pass the measure, a majority of those voting on the bill Itself, or a ma- ority of all those voting at the elec tion. Under the law as it now stands, if a majority of those voting on the bill favor it, the bill becomes a law and thus all those who do not vote oil the bill at all are counted for it in or der to make a majority of all electors voting. In our State Legislature a majority "of all Is required. The same rule ought to apply to initiative bills because all electors are now law makers. The present law Is unfair and unjust to the majority. Many laws have been enact - d by a minority of tne people. No matter how few votes are cast on a measure, if it has more for it than are cast against it. It becomes a law. Carry the argument to Its legitimate conclu sion and if only 1000 votes are cast for measure and a less number opposed to it, it would become a law. The majority rule amendments wlll not effect the initiative except to re quire a larger vote to pass initiative bills, and that is right. The majority should rule. J. A. BUCHANAN. EQUAL SUFFRAGE NOT PRUDENT. Opponent Says Step Is One of Serious Importance. PORTLAND. Oct. 29. (To the Ed itor.) Regarding the question of wo man suffrage, there are many logical reasons why women should not be giv en the ballot, which reasons cannot at this time be given and comply with The Oregonian's suggestion to corres pondents to write short articles, con taining not more than 300 words. So far, I have failed to see or hear any arguments favoring woman suffrage worthy of serious consideration. I heard a man say the other day that the ballot In the hands of the average wo man is about as dangerous as a razor In - the hands of a small child. While this . Is probably putting It a little too strong. It Is, nevertheless well enough to be careful, and not further nanciicap the state by cranky legislation. What are the conditions in Oregon at the present time, as a result of experl- . mental legislation? Is It not about time for the people of Oregon to settle down to a sound common-sense basis of action concerning governmental af fairs of our state, and cease to be the laughing stock of the Nation? In states where women are allowed to vote, con. dltions have been made worse by rea- . son of their ballots. This Is borne out and sustained by' facts, notwithstand ing statements to the contrary. The women of California will greatly swell Roosevelt's majority over Taft, and the same can truly be said of every other state in which women have the right of franchise. You will find that during a political campaign the women, as a rule, will be with the noisy ele ment, because of their emotional na ture. What would become of Taft in the present contest if the women throughout the Nation had the right to vote? I am afraid he Is last as it Is, but he would be beaten beyond recov ery If the women were allowed to par ticipate In the election. This article Is not Intended so much as an argu ment against woman suffrage, but Is more In the nature of a signal, warn ing the people of danger ahead. Con sider well the question of woman suf frage before casting your vote on next Tuesday. A. J. LITTON. WOMEN WILL HELP CONDITIONS Given the Ballot She Will Prove Powet For Right, PORTLAND, Oct 30. (To the Edi tor.) The citizens of the state of Ore gon are about to decide by their bal lots the greatest Issue of the day, 1. e., "Shall -we men extend to our mothers, wives and sisters the right to voter' We are going to vote the first meas ure on the ballot "300 X Yes." because we are absolutely convinced that by extending the right to vote to women we can make no mistake; on the con trary, we will eliminate the possibility of establishing sweatshops in our com munity; will prevent the children from being commercialized by our great child labor Industries, and lawless cor porations, and the white slaver will find his occupation gone, because our good women are sure to inaugurate a crusade, backed up by their votes, that will forever put a stop to his damnable system. We have no hesitation in predicting the foregoing beneficial results, and would urge every falr-minded'cltlzen to vote "300 X Yes." J. A. Madsen, James Magulre, Phillip . R. Pollock, C. M. Rynerson, W. L. Sullivan, William MacKenzie, H. G. Parsons. DIVISION OF COUNTIES OPPOSED. Conviction Is Reached that Measure Is Outrageous. PORTLAND, Nov. 1. (To the Edi tor.) Number 348 on the ballot la bad. It is the measure providing lor con solidation of contiguous cities and cre ating new counties. It was designed and proposed by the interests which were burled under majorities of tens of thousands two years ago. Its en actment would nullify that over whelming defeat. It provides that In the formation of a new county only those residing with, in the boundaries of the proposed new county shall have a voice in the de cision. The voters of the parent county out side of those boundaries are helpless, even though they may outnumber thoBe within the proposed new county 10 to one. Under this bill not a county In the state could escape division. No state In the Union ever passed such an outrageous measure. E. S. ROLFE.