WEST SHORE.
8!)
Idaho's mortgage tax lav will doubtless be repealed, aa the bill before
the legislature for that purpose eeems to have a large majority in favor of
it. Idaho legislators are wise enough to learn by experience and do not re
quire a cataclysm to open their eyes.
The absurdity of writing letter to the press upon local politics ought
to suggest itself to a man who states in his letter that he is a newcomer and
is not acquainted with the persons about whom he writes. Such people
should refrain from rushing into print until they get their first set of teeth.
For three hours during the busiest part of the day on Monday the peo
ple all over the United States were denied poetofflce conveniences, simply
because Wanamaker's brilliant genius conceived the idea that all post
offices should be closed as a mark of respect to Secretary Windom. Sec
retary Windom himself would never have so thoughtlessly and recklessly
interfered with the business of the country, nor would he have given his ap
proval of this brilliant coruscation of official genuis.
The question of the division of Linn county and the creation of the
county of Santiam, is causing much excitement, especially in the section
seeking to secure a separate existence. It is only a question of time when
all the large counties of the state will be divided, as population and wealth
increase, and it is folly to oppose such movements when the necessary pop
ulation and property exist in the sections seeking to Improve their condition
by securing a county organization better calculated to further their local
prosperity.
What will the governor think of this attempt to foist another commis
sion upon the people in the very face of his decree that commissions mnst
go. Once he shouted lustily: "The Chinese must go I" Is it possible
that he will be as powerless to disperse the commissions as he was to drive
the Mongolian hence? But, possibly, In this instance, the governor may be
right and there is no absolute necessity for a commission to count the bricks
that go into the city hall. Why not let our perpetual police commissioner
have the job ? He understands counting from the ground floor up.
Political finesse is not confined to the party leaders in congress, as a
recent incident in the Idaho legislature shows. A resolution denouncing
the oppression of the Jews in Russia was opposed by a republican member,
and this brought out bursts of pyrotecbnio eloquence from the democrats,
who raised their voices in behalf of the oppressed and downtrodden of the
earth, regardless of race or country. Metaphorically they bruised the heal
of the oppressor everywhere and exalted the lowly. The resolution was
passed with great enthusiasm. It then developed that the republican mem
ber was loaded for b;ar, and had opposed the resolution simply to put the
democrats on record. He then introduced a resolution of sympathy for the
oppressed negroes of Mississippi and other southern states, to ascertain
whether, as he put it, the sympathy of the honorable gentlemen tor the op
pressed ones of the earth was " for export only, or if they also had a stock
for home consumption." The situation was temporarily embarrassing.
It is said that already unscrupulous Immigration agents are advertising
in Europe that there is work In Chicago for men of all kinds at high wages,
and that there is threatened an influx of ignorant laborers from across the
water that will literally flood that city with Indigent and helpless foreigners
unless some action be taken to prevent it. Congress has been called upon
loudly for months to adopt a new and more stringent immigration policy,
but has been too busy In its par titan strife to pay any heed to the welfare of
the nation. The eilverites, the forceblllites, the tarlffltee, the freetraders,
the blowltes and other mites and midgita that compose that honorable body
would do well to lend an ear to the intelligence of the country occasionally.
If they did they would hear the deep rumbling of dissatisfaction with the
present industrial and political condition of the country, due chiefly to our
lax Immigration and naturalization laws. Permanent prosperity for the
working classes of this country can not be expected so long as the igno
rant labor of Europe can swarm hither unrestricted, nor can a healthy
flow of blood be maintained in the body politic so long as it Is contami
nated by transfusion of ignorant, vicious and nnrepubllcan blood from
abroad. Congress should stop the work of transfusion at once and neutral
lie the poison already absorbed, so far as such a thing Is possible.
THE DEKVil.
Nine oat of tan people reported iUrrini In the far rat are people who left comfort
bit homes in Ohio, Indiana, lllinoit and Iowa. They btlonf to Uw treat army ot don't-know-when-thej'Tfrenouf
ha. Prosperity can't travel fait enoof h tor tham. Burlington
Hawkeye.
This is all wrong. There are no people starving in the " far west."
Our crops were the best in the United States and our winter has been al
most like an Indian summer. To be sure, there has been some destitution
in Dakota, but for an Iowa paper to speak of Dakota as the " far west " is
one degree beyond the absurd. If the people of Iowa and Dakota are look
ing for a land of perpetual prosperity, let them seek the " far west " in fact
and they will find It.
At last Montana politicians have permitted the spirit of loyalty to the
Interests of their state to prevail over their fealty to party, and have termi
nated the unseemly partisan wrangling that has kept the state In a ferment
for a year and has prevented all legislation for Its Interest. Enough of the
contesting claimants for seats have retired on each side to permit both the
house and senate to organise properly and proceed lo business. In this
purely partisan strife the best Interests of the state have been mercilessly
sacrificed, just at the critical moment at the beginning of Its career, when
it needed all the united wisdom and statesmanship to give force and vital
ity to its constitution and frame the laws necessary for Its government and
prosperity. Whatever honor there has been in this contest consists entirely
in the abandoning of it; and it Is to be hoped that the legislators of other
states will look upon it as a warning rather than an example.
The reciprocity sentiment has gained ground so rapidly in Canada that
Sir John A. Macdonald baa been compelled to dissolve parliament and ap
peal to the people at a general election. He has taken this step now
because he feels strong enough to carry the elections on the strictly na
tional ground assumed by the conservatives. His argument is that the
general reciprocity policy of the liberals will eventlully lead to annexation
to the United States, and he relies upon the national pride of the Canadians
to support him in his opposition. But there is a large element in the do
minion in favor of actual political union with the great republic, and this
sentiment is a growing one. It Is for the purpose of going before the coun
try for endorsement while he yet feels strong enough to carry the elections,
that Bir John has taken this step. The elections will be held on the fifth of
March, and will be a good Index of the present state of feeling in Canada
towards the United States.
On the center page is presented an engraving of the elegant eight-story
block to be erected by Mr. Frank Dekum on the southwest comer of Third
and Washington, work upon which will soon be commenced. The external
appearance of the structure Is shown in the engraving, which proves It to be
as fine a business block as can be found on the Pacific coast. It will be
100x100 feet, the first three stories of red sandstone and the remainder of
pressed brick with terra cotta trimmings. Steel beams and Iron pillars will
add strength to the building and render it nearly fire proof. A light court,
31x25 feet, will extend from the roof to the second floor, admitting light to
the Interior of the building. The basement and first and second floors will
be arranged for occupancy by the largest retail establishment in the city,
making a store unequaled on the coast, possessing a special elevator, ladles'
parlor, toilet rooms, etc. Above the store the six floors will each be divided
into sixteen rooms, varying from 15x17 to 22x22 feet in site. These will be
reached by two stairways, one on Washington and one on Third street, ap
proached by vestibules with tile flooring and marble wainscoting. On the
Third street side will be two elevators running to the top of the building In
addition to the one in the store. Boilers and engine will be located in the
basement, supplying power for the elevators, for electric lights, for pump
ing water throughout the building from a drive well In the basement and
for beating the building by steam. In all particulars, external and Internal,
" The Dekum " will be a model business building.
A little wish I send to you '
To show what lleth next my heart,
That little heart pierced through and through
By roguish Cupid's feathered dart
I wish that you might married be
In some bright, sunny bower, where
But one man might the wedding see,
And I, that only man, be there.
II. L. W.