THE MORNING OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1901.
-he vQ&nmxL
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TODAY'S "WEATHER Increasing cloudiness,
followed by showers; cooler; southerly winds.
YESTERDAY'S "WEATHER Maximum tem
perature, 78; minimum temperature, 57; pre
cipitation, none.
PORTLAND WEDXESDAY, OCT. 23.
IS SOUTH AFRICA.
Great Britain has begun to punish
EEor treason her subjects in South Af
Wca who are rendering1 assistance to the
Boers. This is denounced in Europe as
''inhumanity," and it is said that the
Boers may be expected to make severe
reprisals. That is, they will inflict on
loyal subjects of Great Britain who
may fall into their hands retaliatory
penalties for the severities inflicted by
the British authorities pn, those British
'subjects, of Dutch origin, who sympa
thize with the Boers and give them
aid and comfort.
It is not unlikely that these severities
will be practiced extensively, on both
sides. Such indeed is the determination
on both sides that the war may de
generate Into a game of murderous re
prisal. Bub at any rate, Great Britain
will be forced to go on with it It has
long been evident that the Boer states
w6uld have been forced to succumb,
long since, but for the help they have
received from the British South African
colonies. Cape Town and Natal have
been Boer recruiting grounds; the pop
ulation has invited Boer invasions and
has assisted and succored the invaders;
and the British therefore find them
selves compelled to take severe meas
ures against their own rebels. For, un
like the combatants of the Boer States,
the British subjects who assist them
are rebels, in every legal and actual
sense of the term.
Execution of this stern decree upon
Cape rebels may be expected to cause
the Boers to retaliate upon British pris
oners whom they may still pick up,
here and there; and, moreover, upon
those persons in Transvaal and Orange
States whom they may regard as
friendly to the British and as traitors to
themselves. Should this course be
taken, the fighting will become more
desperate; fewer prisoners will be taken,
and perhaps the war may the sooner
end, since exhaustion will sooner ensue.
From now on, if the resistance shall
continue, there will be increasing
ferocity; for the British will be com
pelled to extreme severities toward
their Cape Colony rebels, and the
Boers have announced their purpose
to retaliate. But, as the New York
Tribune says: "Even If the Boers do
enter upon a campaign of reprisals,
there is no reason to suppose that the
British will thus he driven back from
the policy upon which they have now
entered. They will more probably be
confirmed in it, and will persevere in
it with all the more Inexorable reso
lution. In that case there may yet be
written in the history of the Boer "War
chapters more hloody than any penned
at the Tugela or the Modder River."
3VOT A XEW PRECEDEAT.
President Roosevelt appointed ex
Goveraor Jones, of Alabama, United
States f District Judge upon no other
ground than the patriotic one of nomi
nating none but fit men for office.
Governor Jones is nothing but a Gold
Democrat in the fullest sense of the
word; neither is United States Judge
Toulmin, who was also appointed by a
Republican President The late Judge
Howell T. Jackson, of Tennessee, appointed-
by President HarrisGa to the
Federal judiciary, was an ex-Confederate
soldier and a most uncompromising
Demoprat. Emory Speer, of Georgia,
who was appointed United States Dis
trict Judge, was and is a sturdy
Democrat, and so is George Gray, ap
pointed United States District Judge by
President LIcKinley. Of the excellence
of the appointment of ex-Governor
Jones, of Alabama, It is worthy of note
that among those who indorsed his ap
pointment most warmly was Booker T.
Washington, because he" had always
found Governor Jones firmly standing
up In his place and protesting against
negro lynchings and demanding that
the negro should be given the lawful
trial which is his constitutional birth
right, as it is of every citizen.
It is doubOess true that the appoint
ment of an able Democrat like Gov
ernor Jones to the Federal bench will
not attract any new material to the
Republican party at the South, but that
is not and should not be any controlling
objection to It President Harrison, a
very strong partisan, could not hope to
help the Republican party in Tennessee
by his appointment of a Democrat,
Howell Jackson, to the Federal judi
ciary, but he had known Jackson in
the United States Senate, was satisfied
that he was the fittest man for the
place, and in the same spirit of keep
ing the Federal bench clean of cheap or
tarnished lawyers, President Harrison
appointed Northern Democrats to the
Judiciary. So far as the appointment of
Democrats to office is concerned, Presi
dent Roosevelt has erected no new pre
cedent. He has simply done what Pres
ident Arthur, President Harrison and
President McKInley all did before him
from the high and patriotic motive of
giving the people of the South the best
Judges possible by talcing eminent
Southern lawyers of tried ability and
integrity for a position of peculiar
trust Such Judges could not have been
found in the ranks of the Republican
party at the South, for Its white lead
ers have for many years been little bet
ter than a gang of wrangling spoils
hunters." An imported white Republi
can, no matter how excellent his repute,
would have been naturally distrusted
by the people. No other patriotic course
under the circumstances has been 'open
for the last twenty years, but to ap
point Democratic jurists of high repute
to the United States judiciary at the
South.
OP SURPASSING 3I03IEXT.
It is always difficult to arouse public
concern over a public danger until the
opportunity for averting that danger
has gone by. This Is pre-eminently
true of the public land question in the
United States. The National domain is
being gobbled -up by unworthy specu
lators, and diverted from its normal
function as a dwelling-place for settlers.
A heritage of priceless value Is being
squandered almost given away to per
jured' purchasers, when it should be
conserved for future generations.
Instructive light upon this reprehen
sible practice is shed by the interview
with Paris Gibson, Montana's new Sen
ator, printed yesterday over the signa
ture of Mr. J. D. "Whelpley, The arti
cle is one of the most valuable in the
series The Oregonian is printing from
the pen of Mr. "Whelpley, who is prob
ably the best newspaper authority on
public lands in the United States. He
has given the matter thorough study,
both at Washington and In the various
states and territories of the West, and
the coming Winter will see a forcible
discussion of public land abuses con
tributed to the leading journals of the
country. In Senator Gibson Mr. Whelp
ley seems to have found a statesman
of his own heart.
The story Senator Gibson tells of the
rape of Montana's public lands is the
same story, names and figures being
changed, that has been written all over
the West and the Pacific Coast Mon
tana is working under the "desert land
act," which Mr. Gibson calls "a bill to
promote perjury," and a similar char
acter attaches in Oregon to the lieu
land law. Railroads have grabbed mil
lions of acres in times past, and timber
syndicates as well as railroads are
grabbing millions of acres now. Six
teen millions were deeded away by the
Government last year, and twenty mil
lions more will go this year. In Mon
tana the 3ear 1900 saw over a million
acres transferred from the Federal
Government to private hands, yet with
all these acres and with all that have
previously been disposed of in the same
way, Senator .Gibson says that not to
exceed 15,000 people In the State of Mon
tana are actually engaged in agricul
tural pursuits.
The Carr holdings in Southern Ore
gon, recently attacked In the Federal
Courts here at Portland, are matched
near Great Falls, where one man has
250 miles of fence inclosing fine farm
lands which he reserves for range.
Montana has a law forbidding sale of
more than 640 acres to one man; but
it is practically a dead letter, as one
man can and does control 50,000 acres
through a lease. Badly as Montana
needs irrigation, Senator Gibson blunt
ly says that Irrigation works would be
iniquitous until the land laws are
changed so that speculators cannot ap
propriate the- improved land, thus clos
ing it to agricultural development. ThlB
is a startling doctrine, but it has a
counterpart in the conviction of the In
terior Department that further creation
of forest reserves is of doubtful wisdom
until the lieu land law Is amended.
Every far Western state should wish
Senator Gibson all possible good luck
in his campaign for honest and salu
tary land laws. In Oregon as well as
Montana, immigration and development
are wofully hindered by the grip of
speculators upon the public domain.
)
PRIMARY INSTRUCTION IN NAVIGA
TION. The' Astorian, convicted of willful and
malicious misrepresentation of facts in
regard to the alleged expense Incurred
by delays to the Glenturret and St.
Donatlen, seeks a further expose of its
disreputable methods by printing the
following:
Two more vessels aro stuck in Portland's
channel. News was received jesterday that
the Italian bark Carlos P. and the big German
ship Renee Rlckmers are fast in the mud a
short distance below Portland, and that the
indications for their immediate release aro not
very bright. "With the Cleomene, which Is tied
up eight miles below the mouth of the "Willam
ette, the total "en mudde" fleet now numbers
three. As several other vessels aro about
ready to start down, the fleet gives promise
of showing rapid increase.
In an editorial whine over the mer
ited castigatlon it had received from
The Oregonian, the Astorlan says: "The
Oregonian refers to the Astorian as a
liar, but neglects to point out wherein
this paper has prevaricated." The Ore
gonian pointed out quite plainly where
the Astorian had printed deliberate
falsehoods regarding the St. Donatien
and the Glentyirret. It will now be a
little plainer in regard to the above.
There is not the faintest vestige of
truth in the statement that "two more
vessels are stuck in Portland's chan
nel." The two vessels mentioned were
anchored in over forty feet of water
when the item was printed in the As
torian, and they will remain there until
they receive their orders - and are
cleared from the Custom-House and
start down the river. The Cleomene
was not aground anywhere between
Portland and Astoria. Such statements
as the above are manufactured for the
exclusive purpose of creating mischief,
and have not a scintilla of truth for
groundwork.
In addition to giving circulation to
these malicious falsehoods, the Astorian
is guilty of another reprehensible prac
tice. With a density of ignorance that
is most profound, that paper prates
about charters, "lay days," etc., with
the same degree of intelligence that is
shown by a 4-year-old child in discuss
ing electrical science or theology. The
Oregonian stated that the Glenturret
finished loading and went to sea before
her "lay days" expired, and accordingly
there was no loss to any one by her al
leged delay in the river. In airing its
knowledge of such matters the Astorian
says:
The Oregonian may spout all It chooses about
"lay days," but no one will believe that a
charterer will bold a ship just for the fun ot
the thing. When a vessel Is loaded by the
charterer it is to his interest to allow her to
proceed to sea at once, whether or not the
time limit has expired. If there was no loss
to owners in the two instances here cited, then
the owners were reimbursed. At any event,
there "was loss to some one.
If the editor of the Astorian would
take the trouble to study up on the
grain business as it is handled the
world over, he would wonder that he
was ever so foolish as to print such rot.
It becomes tiresome for The Oregonian
to see such poor progress made in
learning the truth regarding a very
simple matter, but It Is perhaps worth
one more effort to enlighten the As
torian as- to what "lay days" mean.
Practically all of the ships that are
employed in the Portland "grain trade
are chartered many months before
their arrival. Neither the owner nor
the Charterer can know to a certainty J
tne exact aate wnen tne snip will reach
Portland, and It becomes an absolute
necessity that some provision be made
by which the exporter has a certain
number of days in which to load the
ship. When a ship makes a very long
passage, it not infrequently happens
that her cargo is held on the docks for
her for weeks, and in such cases she is
loaded as quickly as possible. On the
other hand, when a 6hip comes alcng
several weeks ahead of her "lay days"
and her charterer has other ships to
look after, she is frequently held up
until the last moment. The charterer
pay3 for this privilege, and he natur
ally claims his rights when they can
be used to advantage.
In cases where a cargo is sold, the
ship is given orders as soon as she is
loaded. At other times she is held until
the last possible moment, for the reason
that the freight is always 30 cents per
ton less where the vessel goes to a di
rect port than when she goes for orders.
This matter of 30 cents per ton is what
the Astorian calls the "fun of the
thing," and on a 3000-ton cargo it is
sufficiently humorous to amount tp a
very comfortable profit on the cargo.
As a matter of fact, exporters have not
infrequently paid shipowners demur
rage on vessels after their "lay days"
have expired, in order to hold them
until the cargo could be sold to a direct
port rather than send them for orders
at Is 3d more. The Astorian will now
understand why a vessel can remain
In Portland harbor after loading with
out clearing, and at the same time not
be aground. It could have secured the
same knowledge from any longshore
man or stevedore In Astoria, or even
from some of the bright school children
down there.
MAXIMUM PAY FOR MINIMUM WORK
W. Bramwell Booth, who, in accord
ance with the Salvation Army scheme
for social elevation, employs or finds
employment for thousands of poor men
and women of London, recently aroused
the Ire of trade unionists in England
by declaring that "labor leaders are in
stigating their followers to commit
moral suicide." Mr. Booth's arraign
ment, which appeared in the London
Times, contains this plain paragraph:
Tho principle actuating trades unionists
namely, to get the maximum pay for the min
imum work is breaking down tho moral fiber
of British worklngmen and endangering the
highest Interests of the nation. Men who ex
ercise care to give their employers only tho
amount of service absolutely -necessary become
highly specialized cheats and utterly sacri
fice moral and economic considerations.
Only the most obtuse moral sense can
fail to recognize the principle of truth
and honesty that underlies this state
ment. Those who strive. systematical
ly and arbitrarily to secure the maxi
mum pay for the minimum work do so
at the expense of their moral fiber.
That is to say, their sensibilities become
blunted,-so far as honesty is concerned,
by a process so closely allied to theft
that-it may well be held to its kinship
therewith in summing up its Influence
upon the lives of men.
But what of the other side? What of
employers who are Intent upon getting
more than value out of their workmen
for the wages paid? Is this condition
unknown to industrial life? Did It not,
indeed, precede "the practice so sharply
and truly arraigned by Mr. Booth as
a controlling, force in the ranks of
labor? If not, has It not at least kept
pace with it all along the labor line,
now put to rout temporarily by a
strike, and again finding its opportunity
through conditions affecting adversely
the labor market? Clearly, the situa
tion as embodied in the idea of the
maximum wage for the minimum work
is not one-sided. It is retroactive in-'
stead, retaliatory and persistent in its
desire to get something for nothing
overreaching, undermining, scheming,
to an ignoble end.
Two wrongs do not make one right,
hence the rejoinder made by Edward
Garrity, assistant secretary of the
Amalgamated Society of Railway Serv
ants of England, to Mr. Booth's arraign
ment of labor leaders is neither defense
nor refutation. Mr. Garrity says:
Mr Booth wants all the morality on one side.
Tho employers long ago adopted tho principle
of getting everything possible out of their
employes for the wages paid. Self-preservation
has compelled us to retaliate in kind.
We are perfectly willing to give reasonablo
service for a reasonable wage, but we insist
that employers must show an equal -willingness
to give a reasonable wage for reasonable
service. Mr. k Booth takes high ground and
wo would like to come up to his level, but
we cannot, slncp tho employers require our
presence pn a lower level.
These excerpts show, indeed, -a preva
lence of what Mr. Booth calls "moral
suicide" in -the industrial ranks that is
deplorable. When arraignment for dis
honest dealing is met by confession
with attempted palliation on the ground
that, as the other side does, so do we,
the charge of moral suicide as perferred
by Mr. Booth against the army of Brit
ish workingmen, who,- through their
leaders, scheme to secure the maximum
pay for the minimum work, may be
considered' proven. Serious as is the
charge, the confession and the counter
charge set up as "defense are not the
less so. The term "specialized cheats"
is not too harsh to apply to the en
gineers of an Industrial system .whose
processes are "breaking down the
moral fiber" of those engaged, and "en
dangering the highest interests of the
nations."
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall
and York, after having spent the Inter
val since last April in visiting the out
lying colonies of their future kingdom,
are homeward bound. -As heir appar
ent to the British throne, the Duke has
been enthusiastically received by colo
nists from Gibraltar to Australia, and
from Montreal, at the Atlantic gateway
of the Briitsh-American dominions, -to
Victoria, its Pacific outpost. Royalty,
In strengthening its hold by personal
visitation and active interest in its col
onies, shows great acumen. The "di
vine right" of the ruler is not alone
sufficient to insure his peaceful and po
tential occupancy of the "throne of his
ancestors. The people's consent and co
operation must be insured by intelligent
interest in their welfare. If the Duke
of Cornwall and York virtually the
Prince of Wales needed assurance of
the loyalty of the British colonists to
the King and the royal house, he cer
tainly received it during his six months'
journeyings to and through the out
posts of the realm. The good Queen of
honored memory gave place fitly in ac
cordance with the unhasting purpose of
nature to the men of her line, and
quietly the order changed, giving place
unto the new; not only without jarring,
the sensibilities of the British people,
but winning their commendation. From
an aged Queen in seclusion and a court
In half when it was not in full mourn
ing for more than a generation, to a
King who, as Prince of Wales, had long
been a familiar figure in the back
ground, an heir apparent yet in his
early manhood, eager for travel and
anxious to meet the people, and a bril
liant coronation in prospect, the transi
tion was great and sudden. Quite nat
urally the new order of things Is appreciated.
The late Professor Greenough, whose
name has long been familiar in the
classrooms of universities and High
Schools, did not enter upon the work
in which he was so highly distinguished
until about ten years after his gradua
tion from Harvard. During these years
he was a practicing lawyer of some
local reputation, and a merchant of or
dinary promise. His true vocation was
that of scholar and teacher, and in this
he -was grandly successful. He pursued
it uninterruptedly for a period of nearly
forty years, and, dying, leaves a record
of wide usefulness and great honor. In
his career young men who are relatively
late in life in finding their vocation
may take courage. Allen & Green
ough's Latin grammar is as familiar
to students of the .present as was An
drews & Stoddard's to those of a former
generation. Yet for many years Pro
fessor Greenough's endeavor lay en
tirely outside of classical work. He
will be remembered gratefully by
women eager to pursue the study of the
classics, as an early and active friend
of the scheme that developed Into Rad
cllffe College, in which he was an in
structor In Latin until disabled by ill
ness, two years ago.
To the few faithful Oregonlans who
have stood by the Oregon exhibit at
Buffalo during the months of the Pan
American fair too much credit cannot
be given. Whenever the names of
Henry E. Dosch and Edyth Tozler
Weatherred have appeared In print dur
ing all this itme and this appearance
has not been Infrequent it has been
to announce the triumph of some prod
uct of Oregon soil or skill in competi
tion with the Pan-American world,
Oregon's progress during the past has
been slow. The reasons for this it is
not necessary to recite, since they are
familiar to our people. If, as appears
from the record made at Buffalo, the
apathy of Oregonlans, which has been
given place as chief of these reasons,
is at an end, and the state, through in
telligent representatives, is to make its
resources and opportunities known to
the world, our growth In population and
wealth in the next decade through ad
vertisement and development of our re
sources will outstrip that of the past
five decades in our history. "So mote
it be."
President Roosevelt will reporjt at
Yale University today for duty. The
soothsayer is abroad in the land warn
ing him to "be careful." One of them,
at least, says 'that he has received
through l;ls powers of divination a spe
cial message urging him to warn the
President that "great danger threatens
him between this date and November
3." Proper measures for the protection
of the President from the always possi
ble assault of the vicious and the
treacherous are, of course, taken. Pru
dence dictates this, and its require
ments are faithfully and intelligently
observed. Farther than this, it is not
possible to go. Prophets of evil, by
making public their gloomy prognosti
cations, pave the way for the assault
that they predict by suggesting to the
murderous crank his possible opportu
nity. 'Beyond this they have no weight
or influence.
As to "fudged" clearing-house statis
tics, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer ad
mits that the totals at Seattle are
"padded" or swollen by "the amount of
the checks given in settlement of bal
ances on the preceding day and carried
over." This is not the only method
employed there 'to swell the clearings,
so as to "make a showing," but this
will account for at least one-third of
the average clearings reported at Se
attle. In cities where the statements
are honestly rendered, as in Portland,
these balances are not "carried over,"
but are settled daily in cash. If Port
land should follow the Seattle method
which, however, Portland could not do
because it never "fakes'' business, its
clearings would greatly exceed those of
Seattle. A proposal to do so was be
fore the associated banks of Portland
some time ago, but was distinctly re
jected. It is just one thing after another, for
the comfort, convenience and delecta
tion of the voter. Spectacles are to be
provided by the party committees in
Maryland for the use of the voters in
the polling booths. . Many persons have
dim or defective vision; many have not
skill enough in reading to discriminate
in the dimly lighted booths between
the long lists of candidates; many have
but barely learned to read the plainest
and simplest print, and magnifying
glasses would be a help. So it is said
that 250,000 pairs of spectacles will be
bought by the party committees in the
state and placed In the booths, where
the voters may have use of them. But
It may be feared that the first comers
to the booths will leave few pairs of
spectacles for use of those who come
later In the day.
The Salt Lake Tribune, under the
new ownership recently announced,
now makes its appearance. The sale
of the paper by P. H. Lannan, and the.
retirement of C. C. Goodwin from the
editorial chair, are notable events in
newspaper history of the country. They
are events of the kind that mark the
close of one era and the beginning of
another. We shall still have, the Salt
Lake Tribune, and, as the years go on,
It may be expected to keep pace with
the new era; but we shall not have
Lannan and Goodwin, who, up to this
time, have made it all that it has been.
The Island of Samar must be tran
quilized. It has become necessary. I
is peopled with savages upon whom the
purposes of benevolent assimilation are
lost. The Island of Samar is a good
place to make a solitude and call it
peace.
These are strenuous times. Witness
the labored effort to make much of the
fact that President Roosevelt enter
tained at dinner Mr. Booker T. Wash
ington, of the Tuskegee Institute.
SUPPLIES OF SCHOOL BOOKS.
One of the difficulties in the way of
supplying text-books to the schools of
tho state appears in the following com
plaint and suspicion reflected from the
columns of the Corvallls Gazette:
Tho inability of school patrons to secure
text-books causes great annoyance to a largo
number of people throughout the state. Pat
rons have another year to effect the change
of text-books, and it 13 our understanding
that old books may be used in the meantime
by the various schools, provided that the
Board of School Directors are willing that
their use may be continued. But In case
the old books are not changed for tho new
by next December their owners will -not be
allowed the exchange price. Benton County
educators have discussed this matter pretty
freely pro and con and some of them havo
voiced tho opinion that tho present unsatis
factory state of affairs should not b& laid at
the doors ot the various supply depots of the
state. Their reason for this conclusion Is
that tho publishers aro holding up orders for
books with the hope of delaying the exchange
until after December, when they may secure
better prices for their books.
It was foreseen last July when the of
ficial selection of text-books was
made, that It would bo a very great
task to get an adequate supply of books
to the numerous depositories in time for
tho opening of schools In September. At
that time there was considerable criti
cism of the law on the ground that the
time between the official adoption and the
opening of schools was too short. How
ever, that was the law. and the State
Text-Book Commission followed it, doing
its work promptly as possible In order
that there should be more time to get
the new contracts in operation.
Another difficulty met is that of ar
ranging the supply depots as required by
tho law. Usually there is but one dealer
in a small country town. It sometimes
happens that he is not willing to supply
books for tho prices named In the con
tract. Then the publishers must hunt up
somebody who will. This usually occa
sions delay.
Oregon's state depository Is with the
J. -K. GUI Co., in Portland. This con
cern avers that overy possible effort has
been made to comply strictly with the
terms of tho contract between the book
publishers and the state, but admits that
in a few cases it has been impossible to
make satisfactory arrangements. The
demand for new books could only be esti
mated in advance of the opening of the
schools. It proved In several instances
to be much greater than the estimate.
In these instances there were delays be
tween the exhaustion of the first supply
and tho arrival of the second, but these
delays are said to have been slight. Or
ders were telegraphed and all haste was
made to rush the needed books forward
by fast express and in some cases sup
plies were borrowed from San Francisco,
in order that the inconvenience to the
schools should be the least possible.
Though slight delays have occurred, the
GUIs say these have not been nearly
so great as some persons have been led
to suppose, and supplies are going for
ward every day to meet all demands.
Some of the complaints are manifestly
captious not made in good faith. Con
ditions that were deemed excellent under
the old contract are In a few cases put
down as intolerable under tho new one.
In several of the counties more deposi
tories are maintained than are required
by the contract. In a few instances
complaint has been made that certain
books could not be obtained (such as
spellers, which were not changed by tne
new adoption), when the local dealers had
not intimated that they did not have a
full supply. Of course the delinquency
of the local dealer Is technically charge
able against the publishers, because he
acts as the agent of the publishers In this
matter, but failure of supply in cases of
this kind cannot bo attributed to design
on the part of the publishers. So far
is It from being the purposo of the pub
lishers to keep the present supply low
in order to force purchases over beyond
the date when the exchange will be per
mitted, that some of the purchasers havo
already Intimated that exchange will be
allowed after January 1, 1902, in remote
localities where there may be good rea
son for failure to effect exchange within
the contract period.
The manuscript for the Orpgon section
of tho geographies was in Portland for
rovislon when the books were adopted.
That left only six weeks for this matter
to be sent to New York and for the sec
tion to be set and printed and bound In
the books and the books shipped to Ore
gon and put out In the local depositories
In time for the opening of school In Sep
tember. This was done, and it was quick
work.
Publishers have consented to receive
in exchange several books that do not
legally fall within the definition of those
entitled to the privilege. This is true of
geographies and readers and of some
others. The geographies qualified by law
for exchange were Montelth's, but the
publishers consent to accept also the New
Natural, which had never been legally
adopted, but had been introduced after
the repeal of the old liw and were used
merely by common consent. In the case
of the readers the Barnes series was the
only one previously legally adopted, but
tho Harpers series had since come to be
used to a considerable extent, and the
presest contractors receive them on equal
terms with the Barnes books In exchange
for the Cyr readers. It Is clear that in
these cases there was no legal obligation
on the part of the publishers to accept the
Harpers readers or the New Natural geog
raphies in exchange, but the fact that
they are thus received Is a material ac
commodation to school patrons. There
are cases, however, in which it is far
from clear just what books are properly
exchangeable, but these are In the High
School and supplementary lists and there
fore concern comparatively few people.
Of course, where schools retain unau
thorized books, as they have a right to
do throughout the present school year
If they so choose, they have no right to
complain if such unauthorized books are
not kept In stock In Oregon. Dealers
would certainly be glad to supply these
books, as they would any other miscel
laneous works. But this has absolutely
nothing to do with the present contracts
for school text-books: and yet complaints
have been received from schools In which
the unauthorized books are used as If
publishers were bound to supply those
books at local depositories the same as
the legally adopted books.
It is hardly to be expected that a mat
ter of this kind will be adjusted without
complaints from some quarters. Some
of the complaints are, without doubt,
well founded and drawing attention to
real delinquency will bring a remedy for
the defective service. But it should bo
recognized that it is a heavy task to
change text-books for 100,000 school chil
dren, scattered over a state like Oregon,
and captious criticism is -out of place.
"Where good faith Is shown and there is
substantial compliance with contract
terms, that should be enough for the
present. As weeks pass and there Is op
portunity to get the system in better
working order, there should be improve
ment In the service, and complaint and
official action will be proper If there be
none. School book contractors ought to
be, and without doubt will be, held to
the terms of their contract under the law.
but any contract must be construed with
reason, with due regard for the circum
stances of the case. No harm can come
from watching these matters closely,
however.
Good Bargain.
New York Tribune.
Is Wisdom justified of her children? It
Is now generally admitted that Uncle
Sam made a shrewd bargain when he
bought Alaska from the Czar of All the
Russlas. The annual production of gold
alone Is sufficiently large to prove that
the purchase was judicious. And yet our
Government was criticised severely for
a time In certain quarters for the acquire
ment of that vast territory, and many a
jester made merry over the annexation ot
a lot of icebergs, populated only by polar
bears. So ran the jokes of that period.
Does any Intelligent American now regret
the raising of our flag over the north
western part of this Continent?
AMUSEMENTS.
''A Soldier's Sweetheart." a tale of love
and war, with the war a long way to the
rear, was the offering by the "Wiedemann
Company at the Metropolitan last night.
Jack McDonald, who Is well worth seeing
In any part he attempts, played the sol
dier, and Mr. and Miss Wiedemann car
ried a side line of comedy which made a
heavy hit with the house. A Villain
named Don Jose also ran and came very
near landing the sweetheart, but her
heart was true to the soldier all the time,,
and Don Jose finished a bad second.
The specialties between the acts vere
new and good and did much to send the
audience away happy. Tonight "Little
Miss Thompson."
"YON YONSON" DRAWS CROWDS.
Swedish Character Drama Breaking;
Old Records at Conlrnj's.
"Yon Yonson," the ever welcome Swed
ish character comedy, which is the at
traction this week at Cordray's. has thus
far broken Its record of two years ago,
which up to now has been a precedent
In the theater. The singing and playing
of Knute Erickson, who Is the "Yon"
of the piece, are no less an attraction
than his funny dialect and droll comedy,
and the speclilty numbers contributed
by other members of the company are
all drawing cards. The play Is one of
the kind which leaves a pleasant Impres
sion, being free from anything that Is
not clean and wholesome, and being full
of the best kind of innocent merriment.
The engagement this year has been lim
ited to a week, owing to necessity to fill
many dates during the Coast tour.
COMIXQ ATTRACTIONS.
"West's Minstrels at the Marquam To
night "Bis Bill" Devere.
William H. West's mlnlstrels, which
this year Is almost a new organization,
having retained only three of the star
features of last year, will be seen at
the Marquam tonight and tomorrow
nlcht. Billv Van Is the best-known of the
r holdovers, and will be welcomed by scores
of admirers who made his acquaintance
last year. Clement Stuart, Robert
Dredge and Wilson N. Miller are three
new sollsts Imported by Mr. West from
England. Georgle, a musical prodigy, Is
another new-comer for whom a great
deal is promised. McMahon and King In
a comedy specialty, Carr, McDonald and
Parshley, In "a musical act, the Rio
troupe of acrobats and Zeb and Zarrow,
cyclists, complete the vaudeville attrac
tions. Mr. West's first part is said to be
better than ever.
"Bis; Bill" Devere.
"Big Bill" Devere, whose laughing song
in "A Black Sheep" Is so well remem
bered, has this year embarked on tho
amusement sea In a new comedy entitled
"A Common Sinner," which will be seen
at the Marquam Friday and Saturday.
Mr. Devere is said to fit his new part
exactly, and he carries with him a3 as
sistant fun-makers a large company of
comedians and pretty girls. Plenty of
wit and music are promised for the pro
duction. "Rudolpli and Adolpli" at Cordray's.
"Rudolph and Adolph," the attraction
billed for Cordray's following "Yon Yon
son," is a new musical comedy In which
Dan and Charles A. Mason arc starred
and Lottie Williams Salter plays the lead
ing female part. It has been a -decided
success wherever It has been seen and
comes heralded by many flattering press
notices. It is being presented by a cast
of fitness. Including Beatrice McKenzie,
Lew H. Newcomb, Nellie Haskell, Ive
Merlyn, Eddie Russell, the Sisters Lau
rence, Harry James and William O'Day
as principals, with others.
LEWIS AND CLARK CENTENNIAL.
Eastern Oregon Will Heartily Sec
ond the Efforts of Portland.
Pendleton East Oregonian.
H. W. Corbett has contributed towards
the preliminary discussion anent the
Lewis and Clark Centennial by the pub
lication of a letter that offers suggestion
worth careful consideration. Following
Mr. Corbett's letter. The Oregonian also
presents some views that will exert
weighty Influence In directing opinion as
to the wisest course to be pursued. The
gist of both expressions Is that Oregon
has announced to the world that the cen
tenntial Is to be celebrated In 1905; that
having sent forth this announcement, the
state cannot afford to abandon the proj
ect; that to attempt an exposition upon
a scale like tho&o measuring the fairs
at Buffalo and St. Louis would be to in
vite disaster, inasmuch as Oregon is 3C0O
miles away from the majority of the peo
ple of the country, and can hope for an
attendance comparatively small from all
bu the Coast states; and that, therefore,
the Lewis and Clark Exposition must be
planned upon a scale enabling the people
Oregon to more than keep the promises
they made beforehand.
It should be borne In mind that each
great exposition given must offer some
individual features not characteristic of
others. The Lewis and Clark Centennial
will commemorate the expedition across
the continent that was the beginning of
the development of the great empire ly
ing beyond the Mississippi River. "West
ward, Ho," was the motto, and Westward
tney came. Tiie Intervening years have
witnessed the occupation of that vast
area and Its subjugation. Now, a new
task of conquering has been set the Amer
ican people, the scene of performing of
it being across the Pacific, to the West
ward. Logically, the Lewis and Clark
Centennial, while commemorative of the
1S05 expedition, must also emphasize some
thing In the present and must reach out
into the future, and these last two prin
ciples must find scope for application in
the Oriental phase. The centennial must
be Illustrative of the Orient, its trade
possibilities, its peculiar modes of life. Its
everything that can be temporarily trans
ferred here and offered as an object les
son to the nation. In this will it find an
excuse for existence in the eyes of the
Nation at large, and therein will consist
the magnet to attract people from the
East.
And Portland must take the lead. It is
for us to follow, and to Portland tee East
Oregonian, speaking In a measure for
Eastern Oregon and for Oregon at large,
desires t say that we, the people of the
commonwealth, merely await your pleas
ure. We are with you heartily. We will
second your efforts. We will give of our
resources to make the centennial worthy
the brilliant future awaiting the state
that has so glorious history and such In
spiring achievements of the past by the
men who here carved out a government
and created a commonwealth.
The Promlsln Man.
Frank L. Stanton in Atlanta Constitution.
"He's a promlsln feller." they tell you
They know him all over the Ian":
He's the man of tomorrow
To ever' one's sorrow
He's the promlsln, promlsln man!
If yer mother-in-law has departed.
An you want a pallbearer at han
"Whilo you're forcln 'a tear,
Ho'll exclaim, 'Til be there!"
But he isn't the promlsln' man!
He asks you tf come to his weddin.
An' you're there with a fiddle an ban';
An' the bride's in her place
"With tho blush on her face.
But they can't find the promlsln' man!
He's here an' he's there ever' minute.
But lay a hand on him who can!
The despair of the people
From cabin to steeple
The promlsln', promlsln" man!
"When he reaches the world that's above us
(An such, to be sure. Is his plan).
They'll say at the gate:
"He la forty days late
To hell with the promlsln mant"
NOTE AND COMMENT.
However, it Is just as welt to keep our
umbrellas within reaching distance.
Kitchener must be careful, or be will
not finish the Boers within the time limit.
It Is a safe bet that candidate Shep
ard can sec nothing funny in Mark
Twain's latest utterances.
The Sultan of Turkey probably cannot
understand why so much fuss is being
made about just one girl.
Admiral Schley has not retired so far
that he cannot come to the front when
a vindication 13 in order.
The coronation will be handsomely
mounted and costumed with much atten
tion to historical accuracy.
The Ethiopian may not be able to change
his skin, but all colors look alike to the
President of the United States.
What will magazine readers do when
all the officers now figuring In. the Schley
case begin, to write their side of It in
10-page articles?
Now that the Boers have marched to
the sea. General Kitchener will have the
satisfaction of seeing them go broke
against the seaside hotels.
Just as the South gets up a burst of
righteous indignation at the BooKer
Washington incident, the President gives
another job to a Southern Democrat, and
it Is up to the indignant ones to kotow.
Girls In Cleveland. O., are employed to
deliver telegrams. There will be no gain
of time by the new plan, for the time con
sumed by the boys In. spinning tops and
watching dog fights along the way, the
girls will use before they start in seeing If
their hats are on straight.
The number of students enrolled this
year at the Auburn, N. Y., Theological
Seminary, a Presbyterian institution, is
onlv 72. contrasted with 91 In 1S0O, 105 in
1S0D and 123 in 1S97. President George B.
Stewart, after going over what he con
siders the minor causes of this falling
off gives as the two chief causes the
"loss of prestige in the ministry, and the
Increase of materialism in society and tho
church."
In some parts of Peru for example. In
the province of Jauja hens' eggs are cir
culated as small coins, 4S or 50 being
counted for a dollar. In the market
places and In the shops the Indians make
most of their purchases with this brittle
sort of money. One will give two or
three eggs for brandy, another for Indigo
and a third for cigars. These egg3 aro
packed in boxes by the shopkeepers and
sent to Lima. From Jauja. alone several
thousand loads of eggs are annually for
warded to the capi-al.
A thousand years from norw. perhaps,
We'll travel through tho air.
And every common citizen
Will be a millionaire:
No burglars bad will prdwl by night
Or hobos beg by day.
The man who hog3 the end car seat
"Will vanish quite away:
A thousand years from now. perhaps,
Tho Boers will not show fight.
And Upton find the cup has grown
Transferable and light.
A thousand years may bring great chango;
Wo even must allow
The court ot inquiry may end
A thousand years from now.
The New York Tribune makes note of
its receipt of "a large, handsomely bound
volume" entitled "Political Cartoons:
Gathered by Their Target, Richard Cro
ker," with a card enclosed on which was
printed "Compliments of Richard Croker."
On the title page the baron has placed his
portrait, and on the fly-leaf is this in
scription: To my friends whoso confidence was un
wavering when the shafts were barbed with
mallco and falsehood, and when wit or humor
fashioned tho arrow, mingled their laughter
with mine, this collection from leading Amer
ican cartoonists is offered "Gathered by Their
Target."
The newest social fad In Paris Is to
go In a party and act as supers- at some
theater. These society butterflies in
search of a new sensation are not called,
upon to say anything, but they spend an
hour upon a stage in a bona fide, money
making play, among professional actors
and before a genuine audience, for the
theater is- far up along the boulevards
near the Place de la Republlque, and tho
piece is a strenuous melodrama. The
amateur supers act a "fashionable throng"
In a restaurant of the Bols de Boulogne,
very well put upon the stage. All they
have to do is to eat supper and drink
champagne while the chief characters
harrow the audience.
Where does a man live when he 13 on
a boundary? This old problem has cropped
up again In the English courts. One bar
rister solved It by ruling that a man lives
In that parish where his front door Is sit
uated; but what If the imaginary line run
under the middle of the step and come
out at the back of the house? Something
very like this actually exists at North
wlch, in England, and as a consequence
the occupier of a small cottage for many
years has claimed and exercised the right
of voting In two parliamentary districts.
Perhaps the best general rule for settling
boundary disputes Is one which was
formulated by an English court In 1815.
A man who "lived In two parishes" be
came a. pauper, whereupon a dispute
arose as to which should maintain him.
Models of the house and the bed on which
he slept were laid before the court,, that
It might ascertain how much of his body
lay In each parish. In the end it was held
that he was "settled" where his head
("being the nobler part") lay.
PLEASANTRIES OF PARAGRAPHERS
Mamma What's the matter, Willie? Didn't
you have a good time at the party? Willie
Naw! "Why? Didn't you get enough to cat"'
"Yes; but I didn't get too much." Philadel
phia Record.
"He's a nice little horse (I saw him myself),
and the dealer says I may have him for a song.
"Would you advise me to buy him?" "That de
pends upon your eyo for a horse and his car
for music." Brooklyn Life.
"Worked Both Ways. "It's a poor rule that
won't work both ways," said the old gentle
man as ha stood the boys up back to back,
and operated the ruler so that It caught one or
the other of them, both golnp and coming
Chicago Post.
Politician (arranging for music at political
meeting) I'nt that a big price? Vou may not
have to play half a dozen times during the
whole evening. Brass-band Leader But. my
dear sir, we have to sit there and listen to the
speeches. Tlt-Biti.
Hard to Identify. "That Is Jimmy's hair."
said the foo'balt player. laying out his trophies
after the game, 'and this Is Btlly'a nose, and
this is Tom's ear. and this eyebrow belongs to
young Rusher, but I can't identify this finger
to savo me." Baltimore American.
A Suggestion. "No. I'm not very well im
pressed with the house." satd tho prospective
tenant. "The yard Is frightfutly small, there's
hardly room for a single flower bed." "Thlnlc
so?" replied the agent; "but er mightn't you
use folding flower beds?'" Philadelphia Press.
Helpful Suggestion, Bonis Naggui, I'm
writing a story I would like a name for. It's
somewhat on the plan of "Ships That Pass In
the Night." but I want the title to bo as dif
ferent from that as possible. Naggus How
would "Elevators That Pass In the Daytlma'
do? Chicago Tribune,