THE , MORNING OREGONIA,, MONDAY, PECflflBEK 17, 1900.
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PORTLAXD, MONDAY, DECEMBER. XT
The Senatorial campaign now In prog
ress Is very gratifying for the entire
.absence of that bitter hostility which
has been wont to mark similar epochB
in our state annals. Credit for this is
partly due to the broad-gauger states
manlike manner in which Mr. Corbett
Is conducting his fight, and also to the
altogether peaceful and amicable cam
paign Senator McBride Is making for
his own re-election. TVe take it that
the temper of the people of the state,
sorely tried in the past by the violence
of our Senatorial disputes, is very much
against another such display of the
strenuous life as we had in 1895 or 1897.
It is to the credit of each of the princi
pal combatants that he recognizes and
respects the proprieties in the case.
Each of them, we fancy, realizes that
there is something else worth having in
this world besides political preferment,
and he will try to be neighborly with
his neighbors, whichever way the vic
tory goes. The first ripple of unpleas
antness on this hitherto peaceful scene.
Is discovered in a simultaneous out-'
break from several newspapers in the
state on the subject of the customary
Republican party caucus for the Sena
torial nomination, held in the early
days of the Legislative session. The
bone of contention is over a proposal
in tire interests, of Senator McBride that
the vote In caucus be viva voce, instead
of by secret ballot, as heretofore. The
basis of the demand lies, of course, in
the suspicion of the McBride forces
that some of their men have been cap
tured by the opposition. So they say
that if there is to be a caucus, let each
man declare himself openly, so the ac
quisitions of the Corbett camp may be
known of all. This is something of an
innovation In caucus procedure, and is
obviously at variance with the tradi
tions of that ancient and not always
honorable Institution; but we do not ad
vert to the proposal for the purpose of
condemning it, as its acceptance or re
jection is purely a matter for the Re
publican members of the Legislature.
It is easy to see where an advantage
might through it accrue to the Corbett
6ide, and a disadvantage to the Mc
Bride side. As a bone of contention let
It be recognized, accordingly, but let
the contention be dignified and in good
temper. Perhaps a compromise may be
effected by agreeing for the presiding
officers of the two houses to announce
a Republican caucus, as they announce
the organization caucuses, leaving it to
the free choice oC members to attend or
stay away, and avoiding the sometimes
annoying proceeding of a caucus "call,"
signed by the majority and grudgingly
accepted by a reluctant minority.
In view of recent occurrences in
Portland, it may be an appropriate
time to repeat the truth that race and 1
religious prejudices, such as the Jew
and the Catholic labor under, are relics
of base, blind superstition, which can
only be eradicated by time and educa
tion. Some Catholics are bigoted and
ignorant, but so are some Protestants.
Some Jews are mercenary, coarse and
vulgar, but so are some Gentiles. Man
kin i Invariably regards the unfamiliar
with aversion and dread. The mon
strous pictures early navigators drew
of the Indians were fully as grotesque
and superstitious as the awe which
moved the Mexicans to kneel down and
worship the first arrivals rrom Spain.
This Instinctive dread, inherited from
cur brute ancestry, and a beneficent
irstrumeht of protection throughout the
whole animal kingdom, nas been fos
tered and perpetuated by the sacred
writings of every nation, which natur
ally imbibed the racial' sense of superi
ority and dread and stereotyped It in
l.trature, where It became a constant
a-1 pervasive force to nobody knows
what distant future. The Jew still re
gards himself as one of God's chosen
V rte. and up to our Civil "War the
Sruth still quoted the ancient animad
version against Ham as a defense of
ruman slavery. The Presbyterian
Church, in Its Westminster Confession,
fI11 perpetuates the fancy of the Apoc
a'vpse that the papal power Is "antl
Cvrlst," and many among us find
j:asure in denying to God any love or
i rcy for the millions born beyond
the comparatively narrow pale of
Christian preaching. The strength of
this primitive instinct is accurately
measured by the evidence it stubbornly
sets aside, especially In the case of the
Jews. There is no more Impressive
favt In ethnology than the eminence of
fielr domestic, philanthropic and
m ral virtues. Their crimes are prac
tically none, and their charity, after
providing for their own, overflows Into
every eleemosynary treasury. The sins
that blacken our Xatlonal life, dlshon
est" profligacy, cruelty, drunkenness
and prostitution, are not theirs. No
homes are happier, obligations more
certainly redeemed, hands more open
and ready In time of neea, than theirs.
Here In Portland their men have added
to the city's metropolitan greatness,
and some of their women are adorned
with virtues and graces that would
adorn any society. J Yet they are ma
ligned and contemned by those in.
every way their inferiors. Education in
the pneness oT,the race and the eTror
of supposed differences is all that can
eradicate the race prejudice upon which
this injustice is based. Unfortunately,
no people is free from the fault It
thrives even where we should expect
Its absence. Who should know and
practice charity if not the Jew or the
Catholic? And yet between these two
exists the most unjust and ungovern
able Intolerance.
Every Oregonlan should read the ac
count in yesterday's paper of the pro
ceedings of the State Historical Soci
ety. We have already alluded to the
Lewis and Clark expedition and the
celebration determined upon for Port
land In 1905, commemorative of that
great epochal event in American his
tory. Also of much Interest and value
is the annual report of Secretary
Young, which contains important refer
ences and suggestions in connection
with Oregon history. Pre-eminent per
haps is the showing of researches made
in original sources. Personal reminis
cences of four notable pioneers have
been put into print, and Invaluable ma
terials have been located in the Gov
ernment archives at Washington, nota
bly the reports of early Indian agents
to the Interior Department and log
books of early navigation In the
Navy Department. It is a truism
now that newspapers are the true
sources of present history, and Into
this rich vein early Oregon dipped
somewhat In letters from early pio
neers to their home papers in "the
States." A monument is to be raised
at one and perhaps two historic sites
of beginnings of Oregon, and a highway
commemorative of the Oregon trail is
recommended. Professor Young's ref
erences to the Importance of the His
torical Society's connection with "some
great library" are suggestive rather
than specific. There is no such library
In the state now, but there ought to be,
there must be. Inasmucn as the Uni
versity of Oregon has been in the fore
front of the plans and labors of this
historical work, many will see at once
the desirability, if it can be arranged,
of establishing some such relation be
tween the Historical Society and the
University's library, already creditable,
but presslngly In need. Sacrifices and
benefactions. If not considerable slate
appropriations, will have to be made
in order that the State University's li
brary shall be worthy the state, and
In keeping with the ambitious plans
and devoted labors of our historical stu
dents. The matter Is of graver concern
by reason of the efforts being made by
the University Itself, and the present
efficient and earnest organization of its
boards and faculty. The work done by
President Strong and Professors Young
and Schafer deserves recognition from
all interested in Oregon's history; and
means must be found for some suit
able acknowledgment. Probably noth
ing would be more welcome or useful
than aid to the University's library.
What is Portland going to do about
bringing Nehalem coal in here by rail?
Several men of good judgment and re
sponsibility, notably State Senator Ful
ton, vouch for the excellent quality of
the coal, and Mr. Hammond, it will be
remembered, once .offered to build the
railroad provided certain concessions
were made him. The assertion has
been made perhaps it is exaggerated
somewhat that the difference in cost
between a visit to Puget Sound and
one to the Columbia River, growing out
of the price of coal at the two places,
is, to a trans-Pacific steamship, $1500.
These figures could be snaved down
considerably, and still leave a margin
of great incentive to the. development
and delivers of cheap coal for Port
land. It Is evident that Ihe project Is
getting attention in railroad circles,
and it may yet be carried out by some
existing railroad company. But If It Is
not, -then Portland must Itself investi
gate the Lower Nehalem coal, and If
its quality and quantity prove as al
leged, open the mines and build the
railroad. Mr. George T. Myers recently
offered $25 to start a subscription to
Investigate the coal problem. This is
not enough to do much with, but we
have no doubt that Mr. Myers will give
many times $25 to help along the coal
problem if -we are sure we have found
the right coal. Jt will take something
like $1,500,000 to build the railroad.
Portland can raise this amount in sub
scriptions to stock, easily. If some ex
perienced railroad builder is put In
charge of tht work and if the scheme
is promoted w Ith something of the im
and determination our good friend Dan
McAUen has shown In the matter of a
World's Fair. The little City of Salem
has refunded Its debt In 4 per cent call
bonds, all taken by Its own residents.
Certainly Portland can float $L50,000 In
railroad bonds to bring coal In here and
establish Impregnably me city's com
mercial and manufacturing supremacy.
It is the purpose of The Oregonlan to
pursue Its investigation of the coal
problem, and It Invites the aid and co
operation of any who are qualified to
assist.
Our gentleman burglar contributes a
new type to local criminal a'nnals, and
will doubtless show the detective world
that 1 is never too old to learn some
thing new. Here is a man who sets
at defiance all the traditions of crim
inology. The crook Is always known
by his haunts. The detective genius
trades him to his lair. He leaves his
telltale evidences behind him In pawn
shops, saloons, brothels and gambilng
places. He consorts with bartenders,
macquereaux and confidence men. He
spends money freely, he has mysterious
conferences, he has suspicious absences
and periodic departures. But with Mr.
Nicholson, so-called, now of the City
Jail, all these familiar clews went
amiss. When he should have been
shaking dice and shooting craps on
Burnside or Everett street, he was
wearing kid gloves and chatting at the
boarding-house table like the high
minded gentleman he is. He entered
houses like a man, through the front
door in broad daylight, avoiding at
once the dangers and the embarrass
ment of nocturnal misadventure. He
sold his property in a manly, straight
forward way. Instead of getting drunk
and betraying himself to some con
scienceless pawnbroker. When his sur
plus reached exportable dimensions, he
shipped it out of town in approved
business fashion and sat with othr es-
tlmable gentlemen in the Pullman.
Alas, that one or such enterprise ana
refinement should come to the prosaic
end of arrest and detention in the Po
lice Court! His graces are such that
even his victims may share in the gen
eral beguilement at the tales he tells.
The blot upon his otherwise unique ca
reer 4s its ending in this conventional
fashion, like that of the most plebeian
housebreaker. Would that his story
might throw some light upon the habi
tat and system of our precious brace of
footpads, who are making night dread
ed by belated pedestrians, and promot
ing a lively Interest in proposed charter
amendments!
STEPS TO BE RETRACED.
In another column an inquiring cor
respondent Is enlightened on the sub
ject of the Claytoh-Bulwer treaty's In
hibition against fortification of the Nic
aragua Canal. The fact is that the
business-like way to proceed in the
Nicaragua matter would have been to
abrogate the Clayton-Bulwer treaty
amicably with Great Britain, which
probably does not care nearly so much
about the canal as we imagine, and
then the way to the Hepburn or some
similar bill would have been clear.
From this course we were deterred by
the overwhelming antagonism in Con
gress to such abrogation, which was
formally proposed In a bill Introduced,
if we mistake not, by Senator Morgan,
and also by Secretary Hay's laudable
desire to achieve the neutralization of
the canal.
As the Hay-Pauncefote treaty, how
ever, must be regarded as practically
killed, we Inevitably recur to the abro
gation of the convention of 1850. The
Clayton-Bulwer treaty has, in fact, no
reference to existing conditions. Its
object was to facilitate construction of
a canal, while existing conditions are
such that Its practical effect is to pre
vent the accomplishment of that object
We can, of course, honorably terminate
a treaty which would indefinitely bar
the construction of a canal demanded
by our Interests and the commerce of
the world. Repeatedly within the
present century the powers of Eu
rope have disregarded treaties on
the ground of a material change of
circumstances. In the Franco-German
war of 1S70 Russia gave notice that she
could no longer be bound by the pro
visions of the treaty of Paris of 1S56,
prohibiting her maintenance of a navy
In the Black Sea. A treaty, of course,
is not lightly set aside; but treaty stip
ulations are not permitted to survive
their usefulness so far as to hamper
national development and check the
progress of civilization.
A prime merit of 'he Hay-Pauncefote
treaty Is that it prserves so much of
the old treaty as prohibits either power
from extending Its dominion over any
portion of Central America. It would
have been expedient for this reason to
ratify it, but since It is not likely to be
ratified in acceptable rorm to Great
Britain, we shall be justified by Euro
pean precedents in notifying Great
Britain that we shall no longer con
sider ourselves bound by the Clayton
Bulwer treaty. A report of the Senate
cbmmittee on foreign relations In the
Fifty-first Congress, which was signed
by John Sherman, William M. Evarts,
George F. Edmunds, Jphn T. Morgan
and William P. Frye, declares that the
construction of the Nicaragua Canal
may justly and honorably proceed with
out regard . to the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty, because of the repeated viola
tions by Great Britain of the provisions
of the treaty, which declared
That neither party to the convention should
occupy or fortify or colonize or assume to ex
ercise any dominion over Nicaragua, Costa
Kica. the Mosquito Coast, or any part of Cen
tral America.
The conclusions reported by the Sen
ate Committee on foreign relations of
191 are as follows:
If thee proceedings on the part of her Maj
esty's Government, in repcct of ete of the
most important subjects of the convention and
In absolute opposition to It. do nt discharge
the United States from all and every of their
declarations and engagements stated in that
convention. It Is lmpossibl to conceive what
oeotd.
In view of all these consideratisni, the com
mittee is of opinion that the United States Is
at present under no obligation, measured either
by the frrns of the convention. the principles
of public law or Rood morals, to ref.-aln frcm
prompting, la any xvay that It maj deem bst
for .ts Just Interests, the c-metructioi of this
canal without regard to anything contained In
the convention of llTO.
Our relations with England have un
dergone some change since 1SS1. We
are in honor bound to treat her with
courtesy and respect. How far that ob
ligation would Interfere with outright
denunciation of the treaty is uncertain,
but could be easily ascertained through
the usual resources of diplomacy.
Evidence accumulates that our monkcy
Hke gyrations on the canal are not
worrying Great Britain nearly as much
as they are making us look like a par
cel of Ignorant and vacillating school
boys. DECLINE OF BICYCLE INDUSTRY.
In quick response to the demands of
the bicycle craze, beginning about 1895
and running wild for two or three
years, enormous sums were Invested In
bicycle manufacturing plants. The In
evitable has quickly overtaken this In
dustry. Overproduction, combined with
thfc drop of the bicycle to a basis of
utility, has worked disaster in this
business, not only In a considerable de
gree, In this country, but In Germany
as well.
Consul Talbot J. Albert reports from
his consular district, of which Bruns
wick is the center, that a number -of
bicycle factories therein have gone into
liquidation or limited their output to
save themselves, within the past sea
son. Some have undertaken the manu
facture of othpr machines, thus reliev
ing the market from a surplus produc
tion of inferior wheels and slightly In
creasing prices.
Taking the Victoria bicycle works, at
Nuremberg, aa an example, It Is shown
that this company was founded In No
vember, 1S95, with a capital of $297,500;
immediately the subscription price of
shares rose 161 per cent. During the
first year dividends of 15 and 17 per
cent were distributed. At the end of
I July, 1897, new stock to the amount of
a,ouv v?u-5 cieaieu ana uuereu tu iei
old shareholders at 190 per cent. In
j 1S97-9S the dividend was reduced to 10
per cent. The year 1S9S-59 closed with
a loss or $21,420, and the present Busi
ness year will close with a still greater
loss.
In enumerating the causes of the de
cline of the bicycle Industry In Tier
many, American competition Is given
first place. It is no doubt true In Ger
many, however, as in the United States. J
that the use of the bicycle has fallen
to a business basis. That is to say, as
j an expensive toy as something new
- ana in every way cesiraoie as a pos-
session for all classes and both sxes, It
has to a very great extent disappeared.
Many, perhaps a yeany Increasing
number of ."business men and women,
use bicycles, but the numbers of those
who spend their leisure awheel and
make leisure In order to spend it thus,
have perceptibly diminished in the past
two years.
Things or this kind adjust them
selves. A boom in wmUever direction
Is but a boom, and cannot, in the very
nature of things, last. .AIL that Is use
ful or conducive to legitimate pleasure
In the bicycle has survived. The bi
cycle craze has to a -very large extent
given place to bicycle common sense,
and when bicycle manufacturers ad
just their business to the new orders
the few will have a prosperous trade
and the many will engage in other and
more stable lines of business.
Somebody asks, 4iWhat Is a govern
ment good for which cannot furnish
justice to Its citizens?" It would be
well for him to Inspect his notion of
justice. Does that government which
furnishes alleged justice to litigants at
expense of taxpayers furnish Justice to
taxpayers? "But what Is a government
good for which cannot furnish justice
to Its citizens?" When citizens must
tax their neighbors, must make their
neighbors pay In order to get justice
for themselves, justice Is as absurd and
Inane as the Mars railroad. No man Is
Just who compels another to pay taxes
for his benefit. What justice Is there
In making the so-called rich pay for
alleged justice simply because they can
afford It? Is there justice in taking
away from a man because he has some
thing? A man is sure lo commit injus
tice who does not pay for what he gets.
If the function of government is Justice,
that is the function of citizens towards
each other. The surest way for a man
to achieve Justice is to keep out of
litigation at expense of taxpayers, even
If he Is poor. Co-operation of lawyers
to this end would assist In consummat
ing it. And when we want' to know
what a government Is good for which
cannot furnish justice to Its citizens, let
us include property-owners among Its
citizens.
The Sacramento Valley and North
ern California, as well as portions of
Nevada, have been visited by a drench
ing rain, which, while temporarily de
structive In many minor instances, can
not fall to be productive of good re
sults, both, to the agricultural and
stockgrowlng Interests of the state. A
deluge of rain, beaten Into the earth
by a furious wind. Is not a pleasant
experience while It lasts, but It Is far
preferable to a long season of dryness,
from which the earth shrinks and be
fore which vegetation shrivels for days
and weeks without hope of timely re
lief. Anything but drought, to the
born-and-bred Oregonlan, accustomed
a he Is to llfe-glvlng. never-falling
moIstu'-B. While, therefore, we may
sympathize with our neighbors to the
south of us for the damage tcproperty
caused by the storm, we may also con
gratulate them upon the rainfall so full
of promise for the next harvest.
One of the most powerful arguments
against the shipping subsidy bill that
has yet appeared Is a very comprehen
sive pamphlet from the pen of Samuel
Adams Robinson, M. D., a prominent
and Influential citizen of New York,
who has come to make Portland his
home. Dr. Robinson Is a large owner of
New York water-front property, and
his efforts against the bill must accord
ingly be strictly Impartial. In his pam
phlet he submits diagrams and com
prehensive statistics which show In a
striking manner the false nature of the
prospective "benefits" which are to re
sult frcm the passage of the bill. An
Interview with Dr. Robinson appears In
another column.
Mothers o men and the Republic,
swaying mighty destinies of the Nation,
not the little destinies of the home;
bawling politics from the stump, rejoic
ing in factitious crown of glorious
womanhood,-chattering to assemblies of
fetid, ribald hearers, and breaking
down the barriers which feminine na
ture gav: answering coarse jibes with
unsexed repartee, and annulling the
only genuine rights of women; elbow
ing Italians and Chinese In the exercise
of assumed, not God-given functions;
men In aspect, gesture, stride and voice.
In all except the female fact; all this,
another good and wholesome argument
gone wrong In the domestic calm o"t
Mrs. Lease.
Bryan says an election Is not neces
sarily conclusive on any 'question: If
this is the only comfort the poor man
gets, let hire enjoy It. Perhaps the
electron would have been more conclu
sive If It had concluded the other way.
However, it was more conclusive than
he dares to think, therefore he does
not think.
Bryan wll: start a paper In order to
get Into touch with social, political and
economic problems. Nothing would
succeed like success if he could succeed.
If this enterprise shall succeed In get
ting him Into touch, It will be very
much like success.
Suggestions to Governor Geer for se
lection of a text-book committee have
been so heterogenously liberal that
probably he will have to follow his own
judgment, af'er all.
The legal profession is said to be
averse to limiting appeal of cases to
the Supreme Court. Obviously. The
legaPprofesslon Is very much neard oh
this matter.
The pace of the six days bicycle race
at New York was killing. Not, how
ever, so killing as We could wish.
China will accept the terms imposed.
New terms are now necessary.
Toivne Jnt Short.
St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Charley Towne will enjoy the proud
privilege: of belpg a United States Sen
ator for Just four weeka. For the point
made by Senator Chandler when he pre
sented his credentials Is perfectly well
taken. The Governor's certificate says
that he has appointed Towne to serve
until his successor Is elected and quali
fied, but as Senator Chandler pointed
out, the Constitution provides that If va
cancies In the Senate "happen by resig
nation or otherwise during the recess of
the Legislature of any state the Ex
ecutive thereof may make temporary ap
pointments until the next meeting of the
Legislature, which shall then nil such va
cancies." The Legislature of Minnesota
Is to meet on January 7. Mr. Towne,
notwithstanding the mistake in his cre
dentials, was promptly admitted to his
seat yesterday, December 10. so that he.
wfll sport the dignity of a United States
Senator for just 2S days. Of this some
22 days will probably be deducted for the
holiday recess. Fotu Sundays -may ibe
deducted from the 'working, days, leaving
the new Senator about 13 days of actual
sitting in his Senatorial seat. For 12
days he will dazzle the Senate with his
refulgence and then, lnk below the hort
Eon, leaving It in darkness. This is bad
for the Senate, hut It is enough for him.
Henceforth in popular parlance he will be
Senator Towne to the end of his days.
And he will ectfay the distinction of hav
ing been an actualSenator for probably
a shorter period than an 6ne whd has
ever had a eat in that body.
i
SUBSIDIZED STEEL BARONS.
WJay Caa't TJaer Compete- af Some
Abroad.?
Chicago Tribune.
A London dispatch reports the arrival
at the -Clyde of a shipment of 3000 tons
bf steel plates and angles from the -tfofka
of Xhe Carnegie company. "Steel plates Tar
shipbuilding purposes have been sent from
this country to Great Britain since 1SSS.
This Is the largest single shipment thus
far repored. Another dispatch announces
that the Norwegian Government has
awarded to American companies the en
tire contract lr.800 tons ror steel rails
for the slate railways for this year. Last
year the contract was divided between
the United States and Great Britain.
The railroad ahd steamship freights on
these steel plates mentioned did not fall
below $6 75 a ton and may have exceeded
that figure. Yet In spite of the handicap
of these freight charges the price ob
tained for the plates was 52 50 a ton below
English figures. It Is quite gratifying to
know that American manufacturers west
of the Alleghanles can undersell in Glas
gow their English competitors. This Is
evidence of amazing Industrial progress.
That progress Is not recognized In the
metals schedule or the present tariff. If
the plates which have Just been sent to
the Clyde had been made abroad and Im
ported by an Arnerlcan shipbuilder they
would have had to pay a duty of not less
than $3 50 a ton. That Is the "protection,"
which the Carnegie company enjoys now
In American markets, In addition to the
protection afforded by ocean freights.
It Is e Ident that the Carnegie company
has more protection than it would need
even if the cost Of production of steel
were to decrease somewhat in England or
Germany and Increase somewhat In this
country. The serious question Is. how
ever, whether that company and other
manufacturers In the same business are
using these high tariff duties to make
American shipbuilders and railroad com
panies pay more for plates and rails than
foreigners are required to pay. Are
these manufacturers by reason of ex
cessive protection to have two price
scales, one for foreign and the other for
domestic consumers, the latter being the
higher of the two? If so, no time should
be lost In revising duties of which so bad
a use Is made.
It Is known that the export price of
steel rails Is materially bel5w the domes
tic price. There Is reason to believe that
this has been true of steel plates. If the
domestic price had been a fair one the
Cramps would not be considering the ad
visablllty of buying a large steel plant, so
as to be able to get plates at a reason
able figure. The general Government
has had .to pay too much for armor
plate, and the shipbuilders too much for
the materials used by them, and the man
ufacturers have become millionaires.
There are many men In Congress who
have protested energetically against the
exorbitant price that the Government has
had to pay for steel. Nobody has pro
tested there against the excessive price
private consumers have to pay. No effort
b being made todeprIve the Carnegie
company or the other members of the
steel pools to which It belonss of the
power to exact subsidies from domestic
consumers. Representatives who have a
lively Interest In the welfare, of their con
stituents would investigate this subject
thoroughly and then legislate eo as to
make l.t Impossible for American manu
facturers to charge unreasonable prices
at home while demanding reasonable
prices In .foreign markets.
w
A RAILROAD OX REFORM.
BurHnBton Crusmle Ajralnat Liquor
nnil Tobacco.
Chicago Times-Herald.
Persons who are inclined to regard the
new ordei of the Burlington Railway sys
tem against drinking and smoking among"
Its employes, while on duty, as unneces
sarily harsh need only to ponder for a
moment upon the great and. unusual re
sponsibilities that are Imposed upon rail
way men. Some conception of this re
sponsibility may be gained by the pas
aanger who retires for the night in a
"sleeper" On the "Denver flyer" If 'he
will but take a Tittle 'time to reflect upon
the absolute manner In which he com
mit?' his life to the keeping of train
men and train dispatchers. His safety,
as well as the safety of hundreds of
others, depends net only upon the cle'ar
bral..ed men In charge of the train but
'upon the men who operate the signals,
who Issue orders and who la'ce what may
be regarded as a minor part In the op
eration of a great system.
As a matter of fact the Inhibition of
Bmoking ar;d drinking of intoxicants by
employes while on duty has been in fore?
on the Burllnjrton system as well aq
upon several other railway systems 'for
some time, -but new force is given to it
just now by the appearance for the first
time ol the following in the new printed
book of rales issued by the Burlington
Company:
"The use of intoxicants by employes
while on duty Is prohibited. Their habit
ual use or the frequenting of places
where they are so.d is sufficient caus for
their dismissal.
"The use Of tobacco by employes when
on duty In or about passenger stations
or -on passenger cars Is prohibited."
ThP traveling, public will heartily and
unqualifiedly commend these regulations,
and no employe, who has a proper con
ception of his responsibility as a part of
a great transportation system will object
to them. The Tailway company, It will
be observed, does not assume any right
to ay how employes shall conduct them
selves when off duty, but no right-minded
person will denv'the fact that a man who
Is If the habit of frequenting saloons
when off luty Is an unfit man to have
any terlous responsibility which In any
way -wmcerns the operation of trains.
The edict agalnat smoking In trains or In
depots Is equally commendable, not only
from the standpoint of decency and clean
liness, but In the Interest of a hlsher
efficiency on the part of employes, manv
i of whom are not at their best when under
tne soponnc innuences oi nicotine.
Canal for Sliipi, or a Cnnnl for Gun.
N2w York Times.
The Administration wishes to construct
i the Nicaragua Canal In order that ships
may pass through It from ocean to ocean.
j treaty and of the principle of neutrality
wish to construct a canal for forts and
guns rhfey want a chance to exhibit the
military power of the United States, a
place where we can shor our teeth to the
nations.
We do not think the American people
will care, to spend $200,000,000 for a
canal and then spend $200,000,000 more
for fortifications, guns, and garrisons.
They have not yet shown themselves
willing to spend money -enough for the
construction and equipment of coast de
fenses for their own seaboard. They
might disappoint the canal fortification
party by declaring themselves content id
use the canal as a commercial waterway
without going to enormous expense to
secure by the building of forts what
they can get for nothing under th
treaty.
Is there anybody at Washington st.
duH and credulous as to believe that the
persons who are raising all this commo
tion about fortifications, the Monroe
doctrine, and an American canal, really
want to see any canal built? Is it not as
plain as a pikestaff that they seek to
kill the canal by killing the treaty?
SEVENTEEN HITS ON SUBSIDY.
New York Journal or Commerce.
First It is voting money raised by tax
ation to persons who are conducting busi
ness for their own profit.
Second The limitation of' the amount to.
be disbursed to $9,000,000 is a deception.
At tho hearing before the House commit,
tee the chairman, General Grosvenor,
Bald: 'T presume that we may assume
that if the $9,000,000 is exhausted and tho
resdlt has been very beneficial that our
successors will have intelligence enough
to increaso" "Undoubtedly," interrupted
ex-Senator Edmunds, tho attorney for the
shipbuilders.
Third On the other hand, If It does not
greatly stimulate shipbuilding there will
be agitation for a larger subsidy, just
as this measure is urged On the ground
that the postal subsidy of 1S91 was not
sufficient.
Fourth Much the greater part of the
$9,000,000 will be absorbed by ships in ex
istence and those under contract; there
can bo no considerable increase of our
shipping without running over the $9,000,
000 or reducing the rates of subsidy,
which are stated to be now as low as
possible to put our ships on an equality
with those of England.
Fifth The subsidy assures the country
of no additional shipping facilities; it is
a bonus for business most of which is
now carried on for private profit.
Slxth-It offers no promise of lower
freight rates; its purpose Is to meet what
are alleged to be 'additional expenses.
Therefore It is of no Importance to Amer
ican shippers.
Seventh As shipping Is how offered as
fast as the need of it arises the value of
foreign markets Is no excuse for this
measure.
Eighth A committee cf the National
Association of Manufacturers has certified
that in the case of South America all
the shipping we can use Is Offered to us
now. In other directions we are generally
better supplied than We are iff the direc
tion of South America.
Ninth The International Seamen's
Union, In Its recent convention In Bos
ton said there was nothing In the bill
to Increase the number of Americans who
would go to sea.
Tenth Thera Is no protection of the
Government If, In the event of war, it.
should need steamers; the owners may
demand any price they can get the Gov
ernment at a moment of desperate need
to pay.
Eleventh The steamers that will be
built under the influence of this measure
will be of little or no service to the
UnUed States as armed cruisers. "We
know as practical men that the 21-knot
ship Is a bad ship for the shipowner, and
we know from the Inquiries we have made
as to what ships will be built 1$ this
bill is passed that all the vessels con
templated will be vessels of moderate
speed, none of them exceeding 17 knots."
Testimony at the Senate hearing.
Twelfth The greatest share of this sub
sidy, amounting to $300,000 or $400,000 per
ship per annum, will be paid to a few
express passenger steamers, which carry
very little freight.
Thirteenth The highest rate of com
pensation would be made to the class of
steamers of least value to the Govern
ment nd the most economical to their
owners "I should say joffhand that the
H-knot ship of the largest possible size
that wduld carry about 10.000 tons
would 'be the ship that under that (sub
sidy) bill would get the best compensa
tion. . . That Is, 14 knots is abou
the speed that we think Is economical
speed to do the business." Testimony at
House hearing.
Fourteenth There is nothing In this
bill for the Government and nothing for
the producers of our exported merchan
dise; the sole beneficiaries are the ship
owners and builders, and the shipowners
of France, which has Very much such a
law as this, complain that the shipbuild
ers have marked up their prices and got
all the bounty away from them. .
Fifteenth This JjIH was confessedly pre
pared by the men who expect to get the
money and vho have employed counsel,
Mr Edmunds, to persuade Congress to
vote It to them.
Sixteenth Commissioner "Chamberlain
admits that under fhe Senate bill eight
tankerb of the Standard Oil Company will
get over $71,000 a yearv but it is believed
that there are 25 of them which can be
brought -within the provisions of the bill
and U get 5C0,T& a year.
Seventeenth Subsidies "have been de
fended on the ground that they constitute
a logical part of the protective system.
This Is not true. Mr. Cannon, of Illinois,
Republican, defeated the renewal of
Roach's Brazilian subsidy on the ground
that It Increased our Imports very much
more than our exports. Henry C. Carey
expressed the wish that the Atlantic
were a sea of fire, so that It could not
be crossed. Horace Greeley said: "When
It takes the whea the flesh, the corn
and. the cotton to- a distant manufactur
ing center, a locomotive is an exhauster,,
its smoke is a black flag, and its whistle
13 the scream of aft evil genius." How
much more Is the smoke of a sfeamer
carrying these things out of the country
a blacfc flag. Professor Robert JSUls
Thompson, of the University of Pennsyl
vania, says it would he, better to hang a
man than to make a common sailor of
him, and that "J6hn Fitch's application
of steam "power to navigation has ren
dered no greater service to mankind than
this, of reducing the number of those who
are required to conduct the Interchanges
of commodities between nations."
Xo Fortifications on the Canal.
GARDINER, Or.. Dec. 12. To the Edi
tor.) Will you kindly publish that part
of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty which at
present seems to stand In the way of
the construction and fortification of the
Nicaragua Canal by the United States
Gcvcoiment? CITIZEN.
The Governments of the United States
and Great Britain hereby declare that
neither the one nof- the other will ever
obtain or maintain for Itself any Exclu
sive control over the said ship cahal,
agreeing that neither will ever erect or
maintain any fortification commanding
the same, or in the vicinity thereof, etc.
Clayton-Bulwer treaty, Art, I.
Tlie Mother Sainted.
James. Whltcomb Blley.
And yet she docs no -stlr
Such illnqe Velghs 6n her'
We hear tlie drip
Of xixrircyps aa we ress
Our kisses acsweriess
On brovT and Up. ,
Not even the yearnlns- touch
Of Upe she loved eo moch
bhe made their breath
One with lier owA will -she
Give answer to and "be
Wooed back Iro'm Death.
And thenrh he Kneel 2nd "pleaA
Who wa her greatest need;
And on her cheek
Lay thfe soft baby face
In Its old resting place,
Eha will not speak.
J
. NOTE AND -COMMENT.
i '
Here's hoplhg thatrBryan. wfll havi
more luck la Journalism than he did in
politics.
MeKlnlev Is not writlnir the Conores-
s!6nal Retford's; although" hef aid write "the
Presidents message.
A white man narrowly escaped lynching
In the South Saturday. Color-blindness
can do a good deal of mischief some
times. If we had to choose the man who Is
serving his country the more. Kruger or
Tewet, the choice would be easy and im
mediate,
A Philadelphia dry goods-clerk com
mitted suicide by driving a,palr of scis
sors through his neck. Of course th
act was one of shear madness.
A Free Sllverite may refute that he Is
either a knave or a fool, but the ex
ample of Bryan, the criterion of Sllver
ltes, does not strengthen the refutation.
A war between Portugal and Holland
will mean the eventual expansion of some
of the larger powers of Europe. As for
Portugal and. Holland, well, they never
would be missed.
Somebody presumes to complain of ob
structed sidewalks and to ask for what
reason sidewalks are not available to pe
destrians. Why. simply because. Isn't
this reason .plain enough 7
The sum total of knowledge has been
so augmented of late by sundry and di
verse contributions an evolution and
Christian Science that these formidable
subjects now actually are beyond the
stage of comprehension.
'The genial temperature, with the boys
bathing in the river, birds whistling lb
the gardens and the house fly refusing
to go into Winter quarters, makes it
hard to believe that Winter is really here.
The howling wind and driving-raln Sat
urday night sounded wintry enough, but
yesterday morning the sun shone out, at
odd spells, With the warmth and bril
liancy of 3Iavr and robins were heard
whistling and calling to each other In all
the gardens about the city as blithely a
if they had just returned from their
Winter's migration. Flowers of many
kinds ,are still blooming in the gar
dens, and tho3e who have been anticipat
ing a hard Winter have come to the con
clusion that the chances are more favor
able for an old fashioned "Oregon
Winter." There is, however, still plenty
of time for enough hard Winter to satisfy
anybody.
"People wno own boarding-houses in
Portland have what Is called a 'gOod
thlng,T a 'cinch,' comparea with the way
boarding-houses are run In the East,"
said a Massachusetts man, who has been
living in Portland for about one month.
."Why? There is more money to be
earned in the business here. In most
of the Portland boarding-houses the pro
prietor serves only two meals on Sun-
days. Now, I've been educated to be
lieve that a live man must get three
square meals every day. There are some
men. of course, who do not get any meals
f at all, but they are dead. Imagine what
a proprietor of a boarding-house having,
say, SO boarders, can save, who only gives
his boarders two meals on Sunday. No
wonder he wears diamonds." as the
man with the grievance finished, a little
man with a aulet voice, said: ''blister, It
"seems to me that you had better change
your boarding-house."
The company of apprentices of the
North German IJoyds, who have been
visiting this city on the ship Kerzogian
Sophie Charlotte, have created a very
favorable Impression. Such a fine look
ing, 'well behaved, gentlemanly and digni
fied lot of youngmen, so neat and clean
looking in their nicely fitting uniforms,
would be a credit to any country, Dur
ing their stay here they Indulged In no
unseemly pranks and got Into no scrapes
while on shore leave, as might have been
expected from a lot of healthy boys re
leased from the restraints of life on
board ship. They visited the cjty m-t
seuto, marched through one of the largs
department stores and. In short, went
everywhere "and saw everything wortn
seeing, and under all circumstances con
ducted themselves with propriety. They
show the good effects of proper train
ing and tlisclpline on the young, and
many Who met tnem say it would be Jv
j fine thing If a training ship of some kind
.could be provided for a large number oC
boys here who have the makings of good
men In them but who, owing to lack of
restraint or discipline of any kind, are
degenerating Into hoodlums, prowlers of
the streets "by night, breakers of win
dows and not infrequently worse, and
who are on the down grade to, a bad end
ing. There is crying need ipf. bright
young men for the Navy, and there Is
plenty of raw material at "hand and all
that Is needed Is some way of securing
the training necessary to make the boys
respect themselves and respect others, In
order to become a credit to the state
and Nation.
PLEASANTRIES OF PARAGRAPIIERS
Irate Father--I never rave npr father Im
pudence when I was a boy. Son May be yonr
father didn't need it Harlem Life.
Toons Lady What I I shall only have one
husband all my life? Gipsy Woman Well,
what can you expect for a shilling, miss?
Tit-Bits.
Her Idea.-Sly Husband Csnarllng) Tou
married jne for better or worse, didn't you?
Wife (hesitatingly) Tes. but I supposed I
would have some variety. Detroit Free Pre.
Great Expectations. Jack Bachelor So you
beve named him after a Vice-President? Ned
Kewpop Tes; we want him to start out in
life totally unknown, and taafce a name for
himself. Judge.
Fixed. Judge Now, tot Ixfr. yovr are on
your oath. Do you understand what that
means"? "Witness Why er I don't Jest--er
reclcoB Judge Do you know what you'ra
expected to tell? Witness Oh, yes, the law
yer that hired me wrote It all down -bo that
I could learn It by heart. Philadelphia Press.
Mrs. Hocorn But. Mandy, I don't see why
you don't want to marry Silas Beanblossom.
He's prosperous enough. He's Just put a new
"L" on his house, Mandy I don't keer.-mawv
He kin put the whole alphabet on his house
If he wahts to, but this bere literary life never
did appeal to me Baltimore American.
A Protest "The first thine that struck me '
when I arrived in Congress, said Representa
tive Husker. "was the useless exptravaganco
displayed." "To what point do you refer?"
"This practice of tending bquqtrets to Senators
and Representatives. It ought to be stopped.
Here Fve rot to pass up a lot of money to a
florist for roses and carnations or else hang
'around and look as If nobody loVed rce.''
Wahlngton Star.
m
When Yon Are Old.
W. B. Teats. '
When you are old arid gray and full of sleep
And nodding by the fire, talrtr down -this book.
And -slowly read, and dream of the of t look
Tour eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many lov ed your moments of glad grace.
And tovel your beauty with love false or true;
But one man loved the pilgrim soul In you.
And- loved the sorrow of your changing face.
And bending down beside the .glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, now love fled
And paced upon the Mountains cveraeasd.
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.
r,