La Grande evening observer., May 19, 1913, Image 4

MONDAY MAY 19, 1913.
LA GRANDE EVENING OBSERVER,
PAGE FOUR
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' 5fanin C't!le
II
THE OBSERVER
b ruce d en N i s
t ' ' EDITOR AND OWNER. ,
Entered at the postoffice at La
Grande, Oregon, as Becond claiss
natter. .
SUBSCRIPTION RATES.
Daily, single copy jjc
Daily, per week c
Daily, per month . . 6jC
THE Y. M. C. A. BUILDING.
Selection of the David Fitzgerald
corner for the new Y. M. C. A. build
ing would be a fitting climax : to
the excellent campaign that just
closed here..., The corner ia the ideal
place for the new structure. As orig
inally planned the inside lot was to
have been used, but the wisdom o:
the well seasoned business men in
charge of the location will likely
prompt them to change to the corner
lot -which would settle the matter in
a way that there should be no com
plaint from any side. Other locations
were offered but none seem to fit so
splendidly as does the corner. And
the price is well within the bounds
of eason for a comer lot In fact,
it is "what might be termed .cheap,
judging from the prices being re
ceived for close In business property
in the last few months.
Everything Is almost in readiness
the beginning of the structure, which
will benefit La Grande in more than
one way. . ", (. -
i..v,rtt thB United States are
UllUMftiiv.
now waging. The motive actuating
these campaigns is not one of pure
altruism nor yet pure averice. It
ia what might be called "the highei
selfishness.". It is an appeal to the
citizens of these towns to get to
gether and give a little time and
thought and money to the promotion
of a plan which if efficiently carried
out will result in great benefit to all.
It is a plan to sacrifice small present
interest to great luiure ku,,u
' To give time and energy and mon
ey to the building of one's commun
ity may seem like a sacrifice; but it
is only temporary and well worth the
cost. A bigger, better community
means better business, better wages,
better homes, better people, better
living, and increased opportunities
for individual development and en
joyment of every kind. Though some
little temporary interests are sacri
ficed for this one great permanent
benefaction, it is worth the price.
Community building might be de
fined as broad-minded selfishness. It
means: Be selfish for your town and
neighbor. That is not by any means
a base, and shameless platform to
stand upon. It is not pure and noiy
altruism, to be Bure; but there is
some altruism in it nevertheless It
might be called practical altruism.
"Be selfish for your town and
neighbor." Somehow that sounds
like an echo of the Golden Rule.
THE HIGHER SELFISHNESS.
We are accustomed to hear selfish
ness arraigned by . preachers and
moralists as a vicious cnur""
one to be conscientiously eradicat
ed. They seem to regard it a the
root of all evil; and most' Hkely it
is. i But talk all they may, selftshnw
never has been eradicate from hu
man nature and probably never will
b. .
Selfishness, after all, has its ,usei.
If it is the root of evil, it isalso the
root of much that Is good, and there
is reason to doubt if the world could
get along without it Selfishness is
at the bottom of most humau activi
ties, and as a motive force may be
used to produce justifiable results.
Statesmen and publicists learned long
. ti,. it- ia almost impossible to
sway any. large number of people ny
an argument which aoes nui mu
more or less seinsn appui.
To admit that the mair.vring of
human activity is governed more by
selfishness thnn any other factor may
not be agreeable to thor.e of us who
are accustomed to Inluipvet life uc
cording to a iihilosophv of rosy-lined
idealism. But if truth compels the
admission, let it nut lead to pessi
mism and inert'a. Let us face 1he
fj.ct and make the best oC it. I el as
be wise in our selfishness. Let us
weigh our interests and sacrifice the
selfish inclinations of the moment for
greater satisfaction to come. Let us
pay the price for big things.
This principle finds exemplification
in the campaign for community de
velopment which a great many towns
EUROPE AN ARMED CAMP
If, as Winston Churchill of the
British cabinet suggests, Great Brit
ain and Germany would cease naval
building operations for one year an
example would be set ' tne 'civiuzea
world that in the end must hasten the
day when armament will be limited .
throughout' the .. world, me maa
irv in which these two nations
have indulged for yeara now has had
its logical sequel in an array competi
tion between Germany and France
that in turn has had a reflex effect on
the en the entire continent If pres
ent plans are carried out Europe this
year will be even more of an armed
damp than it ever has been before,
taxation will Increase enormously and
ultimately no difference in the rela
tive military standings will be
brought about, the meeting of each
increase by the various nations main
taining a balance as it has been.
Simple arithmetic is all that is
necessary to prove how futile such
increases either in army or navy
must be so long as the advance in
expenditure is "covered" by a rival
i rrv i . v.
as soon as announced, inn iemj-
.PRHiit.ion in the warship build
ing race between Great Britain and
Germany for a time held forth the
hope that common sense was about
to rule, but the renewal of army
rivalry on the continent proves that
the situation essentially is as bad
as ever. If, however, as Mr. Church
ill seriously recommended in a recent
speech in the house of commons, the
two principal nations signified their
sincere desire for peace by absolute
ly halting their building program for
ut least a year there would be in that
action a moral example which must
have widespread effect Tried for
one year, the plan possibly would
prove so successful that it would be
for another and prnaps
again for a longer period until finally
Knrone woks up to tne louy ana
futility of its present policy.
THE PHRASE THAT BURNS.
. Now that Woodrow Wilson's "New
Freedom" is securing the wide read
ing that its intrinsic merits deserve
some are objecting to it because it
nnfjiins so many generalities. They
say that. the problems of a country
never were solved by generalities and
seem to think that the president
should have given the public, instead
of broad views on the tariff, the ex
act particulars in which the chemical
or the wool schedule is wrong. '
In his first message to congress Mr.
Wilson thus concentrated his tariff
views: "We long ago passed beyond
the modest notion of protecting the
industries of the country and moved
boldly forward to the idea that they
were entitled to the direct patronage
of the government. At last nothing
is normal, nothing is obliged to stand
the tests of efficiency and economy,
but everything thrives by concerted
arrangement."
That is a generality, but it is a
generality that can be and is being
applied in a very practical way. In
such generalities is wisdom and guid
ance. Generalities like this simply
take conditions as a whole and pack
them into a few sentences that pic
ture the entire situation.
History hardly would be what it is
were it not for the stirring generali
ties particular crises have called
forth.
"No taxation without representa
tion," is the generality on which this
country was founded.
"Give us liberty or give us aeaui.
is a generality. '
"Millions for defense but not, one
vent for tribute,", Is another. Many
of our, current phrases, nice "progres-
oive government" rule 01 tne pur
ple," "special . privilege" and others
that might be cited, are generalities
in which we have condensed the ex
perience gained in numberless, spe
cific instances ' ' ' '
The trouble with many generali
ties Is that they are simply generali
ties, not intended to be applied. We
all know men who rant about the
"evils of city government," and then
forget to vote. We all have met
those who preach the golden rule and
then turn widows out of their homes.
The generality worth while is the
white hot phrase that burns itself
into actual human life and experience
Woodrow Wilson has many of these
pungent, practical generalities. Thn
American people are the better for
hearing them.
PREPARING FOR TROUBLE.
Auto
The Test of Time
Time dotermtnes whether the policies under which a bank Is oper
ated are safe.
This bank has been In business twenty-six years.
It has grown steadily until It bus become one of the strosgest ami
most prosperous financial Institutions in the West.
The soundness of Its policies is attested by the long list of conserv
ative business men who transact their business here; also by an
earned surplus of $130,OJO.OO, the work of time and the res'itt ot
conservative management. fV 9
This bank has facilities for taking care of more high grade busi
ness and offers tta services to those who appreciate the best In
banking.
La Grande National Bank
La Grande, Oregon
Capital. $100.00.00 Surplus. $130,000.00 Resources, 1.100a cw j
DESIGNATED DEFOSITOBY OF IMTED STATES GOYEBSJlEJiT.
UNITED STATES POSTAL SAYINGS DEFOSITORT.
There is a tendency among some
of us to spend as fast as we obtain;
to take no thought of the morrow.
Almost inevitably it brings suffer
ing. The profligate of the present is
the pauper of the future. The man
who has no sickness in his family,
no reverses in his business, no inter
ruption in his income, is experiencing
life at par. He is getting the full 100
per cent
But 100 per cent isn't the average.
Somebody is having trouble. Disease
and death are creeping into some
men's homes, disaster into some men's
business. Ultimately it is pretty cer
tain, by the great law of averages, to
hit us somewhere. The man who is
experiencing none of these troubles is
both lucky and exceptional. The ex
ception is a poor thing to bet on.
If there is any way you can, by
denying yourself a little luxury, by
using a little foresight even at a sac
rifice, you ought to prepare for that
time when the great law of averages
hits you. When that time comes if
it finds you in your own home, with
a little money in the bank or in some
safe investment, you won't have to
suffer or to ask from those who have
shown more sense. You will have
saved both your independence and
your self-respect You will be able
to take the comfort that you ought
to have, to do well by yourself un
der adverse circumstances.
You are living in the sunlight now.
Would you be ready for the night if
it should come? And don t you tmnK
I it likely it will come?
I If the men follow fashion's dictates
so far as straw hats are concerned
I they will look like a lot of animated
i Easter eggs this summer. Some of
I the new straw hats will come in the
shades of brown, green, blue, purple
and gray, with bands to match.
Men's Auto Caps and
Hats
in leather, silk and whip
cords.
$1.00 to $1.50
Madcap Auto Veils
for women and misses,
$5.00
The
Season
"Will Soon Be Here"
SEE OUR SHOWING OF AUTO
COATS, SUITS, CAPS, GLOVES
AND ROBES.
Make Your selection early-While
, you can choose from a complete
new line.
Block Auto Gloves
In many different weights and
styles. All sizes. Prices are ..
.$1.50, $3.00, $3.50 ana 4.ou
KENYON AUTO COATS
for both'men and women-both rain and dust
proof. Prices from $15.50 -to $25.00. ., , .;
WHIPCORD AVTO SUITS
Very popular for either auto or outing use.
Made.inr.the new.Norfolk styles. Prices -1
$6.00 and $10.00 1
CHIEF JOSEPH : AVTO ROBES AND BLANKETS
"Manufactured especially for this store. ' ' . "'.:. ..
Many attractive patterns' to select, from and sizes , and weights to '
please every fancy. Every auto owner should have one of these. .v
CHIEF JOSEPH BLANKETS I CHIEF JOSEPH ROBES
$5.00 and $7.50 I $7-50
Women's l lJCf t"
and Capes. V til SSVil W rtMlT $1.50 to $2.50.
A Washington man is trying to get
the courts to give him the right to
carry his wife on the, rear seat of his
motorcycle built for two. in order
to promote happy home life, the
courts should crant his request, for
any wife who will ride on the extra
seat of a motorcycle must absolutely
worship her husband.
A good many of those southern
colonels will have some difficulty in
getting down to grape juice, but they
will have to do it to stand in with
the administration.
A noted French scientist is coming
to this country to learn the Ameri
can language. He may as well make
up his mind to remain several years
if he expects to get all of it.
The young women of a Chicago
church congregation cannot agree up
on the ideal man. Living in Chicago
maybe they never saw one.
Mr. Wilson says he enjoys the ex
perience of being president. Well,
he will certainly have a gxd dal
of experience before he geU thrwh.
When you see a man stop to kick
a banana peel off the sidewalk into
the gutter, you know what has hap
pened to him sometime in his career.
Perhaps the $100,000 worth of
human hair found hidden in New
York was a treasured tuft from the
glistening dome of John D.
A poker chip in a man's pocket is
often taken as conclusive proof he
had not spent the pight with a sick
friend.
OWN A HOME.
Wandering youth brings wander
ing age. Own a home.
The family that rents is only camp
ing out. Own a home.
The man who rents is a ship with
out an anchor. Own a home.
Better be a cottage owner than a
castle tenant. Own a home.
Have some place somewhere where
you are boss. Own a home.
If you want to increase your chest
measure six inches, own a home.
The rain makes the sweetest mu
sic on a man's own roof. Own a
home.
It is a fragile cord that binds a
family to a rented ohuse. Own a
home.
Share something with your wife
besides a rent receipt. Own a home.
Don't spend your whole life on
somebody's else property. Own a
home.
The landlord won't care how much
noise the children make if you own
a home.
The bride is entitled to something
besides credit sit the grocery. Own
a home.
All the ground some men ever own
is six feet they don't care about.
Own a home.
The world looks twice as pleasant
to the man who views it from his own
front stoop. Own a home.
Your children won't understand
the Declaration of Independence in a
rented house. Own a home.
A few dollars planted in a vacant
lot are seed from which will grow
your own vine and fig-tree. Own a
home.
Don't spend too much sympathy on
animals that are born in captivity,
while children are born in flats. Own
a home.
We must spend money for neces
sities; we should spend it for invest
ment; we may spend it for pleasure;
when we spend it for a home we
spend it for all three. Own a home.
Secretary Daniels will remove all
slang from the navy. He should also
send the navy a supply of pink tea.
A French scientist declares that
man is descended from the bullfrog.
Which may account for the croakers.
We'll stand for the Bulgarian but
termilk and the Bulgarian colors, but
never for the Bulgarian blouse.
A Chicago magician's wife- is- mis
sing. Perhaps the magician haa her
concealed in his silk hat.
No Time for Notions.
A very dirty boy attended a certain
school. One day the teacher sent the.
boy's mother a note saying that he
was not clean and that she ought to
bathe him oftener.
The mother sent the teacher a note
in reply, in which she said: "My bey
Bill ain't no rose. Don't smell bim;
learn him."
Notice to the Public.
On and after May 12th, 1913, the
firm of F. M. Boch and P. F. Rohr is
dissolved by mutual agreement, Mr.
Rohr's interest having been purchas
ed by J. I. Lcbert. The new firm as
sumes all the company's debts, and
all accounts are payable to the new
firm.
P. F. ROHR.
F. M. BOCH.
HlXITSr : ' 6-14-5t