La Grande evening observer., August 24, 1917, Image 4

lf I : - , r f - ' , ... wptT) AY AUGUST 24, 1917.
GE FQUR Li ORAOE E-VENllsO. OW.RVEn ,, ' , . -
FRIDAY, AUGUST 24,
EDITORIAL PAGE OF THE LA GRANDE EVENING OBSERVER
a rv TnflartonHAnt NewsoaDer. , '
' ' Published Daily and Weekly at La Grand5, Oregon, by the
LA GRANDE EVENING OBSERVER PUBLISHING CO.
6 MEYERS H. B. LEITER CLARKE LETTER
i'r'; President, , Vice-President Editor and Publisher
''Entered at the Postcffice at La Grande, Oregon, as second
:: class matter. . . -
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THE OBSERVER, 1710 Sixth St.
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A PEOPLES' WAR
"The great fact that stands out above all the rest is that
this is a Peoples' War, a war for freedom and justice and
self-government amongst all the nations of the world, a
war to make the world safe for the peoples who live upon
it and have made it their own, the German people them
io iAnA. onri that with ns vests the choice'to break
through all these hypocrisies and patent cheats and masks
o , j 1 1 it J. rt of miI
of brute force and Help set tne worm ai-ck, cioC
aside and let it be dominated a long age through by sheer
weight of arms and the arbitrary choices of self -constituted
master, by the nation which can maintain the biggest
tiio mnsf. irresistible armaments a power to
tti. aiiiv-o uim a.v - -
which the world haa afforded no parallel and in the face ot
, which political freedom must witner ana pensu.
row Wilson, President of the United States.
. , ; ' O
! t?ttT A PAT JJNG BEHIND.
,"' 'Distressing developments in Russia are reported
' have occurred. The facts arc said to be concealed in Wash-
ington. Probably on the theory that the Germans do not
know what is going on in Russia. This is childish. The
7 'distressing developments" in Russia were caused by
"; German agents and German money. The Kaiser receives
daily reports from his secret agents; no doubt the Kaiser
'' is more familiar with the Russian situation than any man
, . alive today. It is his one card. If Russia stiffens up her
! backbone right now, it will soon be all off with the Ger
man autocracy.
. o
'" When the governor of the state and the State Highway
Commission entered the state from California in their
automobile they were searched just as if they were boot
leggers? This 'is what is disgusting about the present
law. It took it for granted and the ignorant officers who
are enforcing it to the best of their stupid ability also took
it for granted that the governor of the state and the state
' highway commissioners were law violators. Otherwise
1 why did they search their baggage and effects? It is all
right to enforce the law but such insults to the. chief ex
ecutive of the state should cease. If he is not a law up
holder and law supporter who in the world is? And he
ought not to have to prove it. The burden of proof should
be upon the law not the individual,
' 1 O
EDITORIAL COMMENT.
; ' ' Is Japan Looking For Trouble?
(Charlton Bates in Leslie's.)
Tf suspicion of Japan's sinister motives prevails in the
United States, it is due to Japan itself. Suspicion creates
suspicion, and distrust.distraist. ' The eagerness with
which Japan, onflie slightest pretext, parades with a chip
on its shoulder, as if challenging U ncie am, is responbii uu
for the widespread feeling, in this country .regarding tne
sincerity of its professed friendly feeling for the United
States. The American government sent a note to unina
expressing "regret over the dissensions .which were tear
ing that country apart. it was at once cauieu, much, w uo
that .Tnrnn rpspnt.pd the alleged failure of : the -.United
States to consult it before presenting its note and; the
Tokio Times semi-officially used tnis torceiui language:
','The Foreign Office oficials must obtain from the United
States an assurance that it will not repeat its. action in
interfering with the domestic affaire in China, mtfipletejy
ignoring the existence and position of Japan. '- It: added
that negotiations over tne matter naci aireauy oeim wiwx.
the United States and that it was a matter of "great
gravity" as it concerned the future of the empire.
Going still farther, the Tokio paper warned America that
"in order to prevent future misunderstandings, Japan
would seek America's recognition of Japan's special po
sition in China" Other newspapers of Tokio resented the
American note as "a glaring interference with Japan.
They warned the Japanese government that it was prob
ably "an epoch-making precursor of further activities.
If these are the words of friendship and if they indicate a
desire to maintain friendly relations, tnen tne cauiu must
have curiously garbled them.
PHYSICAL VALUATION.
Its Failure Admitted At Washington.
Wash. Valuation of railroads, begun more than four
nrrr. ic, a fniinvo T?n'lronrl men. shinners and even
some officials of Commerce Commission admit unwork-
ability of the act as it stands. Lack ot progress m tne
work has nullified its value. .To make valuation useful,
inno hoPTi (imrfillprl to enter an order re-
Luc ii ii.ijc'1-' --. wvvji x- x , .
ouirinff the few roads already valued to revise inventories
of June 30, 1914, up to date.
Inherent cumoersomeness 01 vaiuuuuu wcuuic, ac
cording to interested parties, originally nullified value of
the act. .On top of that came the war, bringing an era ot
high prices which threw valuations previously regarded
as fairly stable all out of line. A fair valuation three
vnnrs np-o is not. a fair valuation today. The commission
j . - ...
recognizes this. . .
Bringing data up to date will require much work by
iun -..nnAa vnirtctntin nbofkinfr over all cost items and
figuring of increases incost, from the smallest spike to
the largest locomotive. .
Railroad men further declare the system is basically
thnt it nPTiTii.ts piidless arffument over fair values.
One of the most difficult points is that relating to appraisal
of intangible properties and elements or vaiue. jvtuuuciua
and the commission are hopelessly at odds on some of
. . " . . n ... J "I . 1 t 1 1 n rt,v
Adoption of arbitrary stanciarus or yaiue uy cum
mission is possible. This, the roads are prepared to claim
would bring confiscation and herald the downfall of the
independent railroad system. The railroads are ready to
throw some of the disputed points into the courts if the
commission does not adopt their views.
Only a very small percentage of railroads Iras been
valued so far. Valuations of a dozen or so roads appraised
are being bitterly contested. Boston News Bureau.
SPECIAL' SALE OF
SILK SWEATERS
Here are some of the most popular shades
and color x'ombinattons of the season
Green, Kose, Gjold and WhiteV andorn- ri
binations of these. - - . 'i. .; ': :
We feature the best ; of silk sweaters,
made up in all desirable styles :;
This, season the demand has
been exceptionally great for
. these silk sweaters, and we
have carried a splendid vari
ety througnout the season.
We now -offer j our remain
ing stock at-1-.
.... ...
1-3 Off
ON DISPLAY IN OUR
READY-TO-WEAR DEP'T
-I
i M?
sumption that he shares New England's desire to see the
processes of our diplomacy opened up to public view:
Wherever any public business is transacted, wher
ever plans affecting the public are laid, or enterprises
rvnViinrr tlip nil ho. welfare, comfort or convenience
go forward, wherever political programmes are form
ulated or candidates agreed on that place a voice
must speak with the divine prerogative of a people's
will: ' "Let there he light." . .
of "New Ensrland todav in regard
the diplomatic correspondence of the Government since
President liooseveit lert tne vvnue xiouse. ojci mc
l;ght.'.W '.
Supporting' the
Government
This is a time for every citizen to support the
United States Government and many are doing so
at considerable cost or snorifico to themselves.
We have joined the Federal Reserve Banking Sys
tem established by the Government to give greater
financial stability and strength to the member banks
and protection to their depositors.
You can give yuur support to this great Govern
ment enterprise and n'.so obtain Its protection for
your money by becoming one of our depositors.
A BIG DAY.
if ,.-;n v,n n hire rinv wlinii tli p. Ln Grande Hospital boys
pass through to join the Rainbow division iu the East.
We should all be on Hand to welcome mem on wen wuy
to France. '
WATERMELON
On Ice-2y2c per lb.
-0-
Member
Federal Reserve
System
La Grande National Bank
The Voice of New England.
New England is not alone in demanding an end to dip
lomacy in the dark. Toward the close of his term m the
Senate it was Mr. Root, unless our memory is at fault,
who protested against the failure of Congress to continue
its annual appropriation for the publication each year ot
the diplomatic correspondence of the Department of
State, covering the preceding twelve months. But he pro-
tested in vain, for since iyu or iyuo we neu ruuiv, i
fi, i,i;,.ntimi pnllpd. has not appeared. Prior to that
tinie its appearance was eagerly awaited by every news-
paper office in tne land, ov every uuiar, sum uy tuau
who were fortunate enough to receive this diplomatic year
book from their senator or representative in Congress.
In addition to tlie volumes aistnouiea inucinuy umu
were on sale at the government printing office.
The diplomatic correspondence of the Taft and Wilson
administrations ha not beeen publishd and therefore the
Red1 Books for those years are missing. From time to
lime in the last four years the people have been vouch
safed a few of the exchanges between Washington and
the war capitals of Europe, but the communications given
out have been an exceedingly small part of those dis
patched and received. Not the President, but the Con-
gross is primarily to blame tor tins lapse mro secret di
plomacy. Therefore the people have a right to look to
nnirrrve nnt npvt. spssion. but now for an appropriation
la rare enough to cover the cost of resuming the publication
ot the lied Hook and winging tno scries up 10 uaie. i uere
never was a time when the people so sorely needed to be
informed in regard to foreign policy as they do todav.
mm . x: ...i, i, ,1 i..
i nere. never a nine nii mi: niii- uu m ufu.n
interested in foreign policy as they are today. The sur
prising thing is that President Wilson has not already
taken Congress to task for its shortcoming on this score.
These words from "The Xew Freedom" warraut the as-
Home-grown Com, large ears 30c Doz.
New Apples for Sauce or Pies
A full line of Fruits, and Vegetables
If you are going camping or fishing let
us supply the eats.
Phone Main 75
The City Grocery
& Bakery
The Home of Fancy Groceries
I
FORDS! FORDS!
MORE FORDS!
I HAVE SOME G&E AT BARGAINS IF
TAKEN AT ONCE '
GEO. B. RICHARDSON
Foley Hotel Bldg.