6
THE MORNING OREGOyiAN, TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1003.
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cipitation, none.
1
PORTLAND, TUESDAY, JANUARY 13.
AT SALEM.
It is freely conceded that the result
of organization fights at Olympla is
very untrustworthy In its bearing on
the Senatorial election, and we have
little doubt that this is also true, pos
sibly in even greater degree, at Salem.
The combination that launched the
candidacy of Mr. Harris was close to
Mr. Fulton, but the combination that
elected him represented very diverse
interests.
So in the Senate. No fact in recent
Oregon political history is better at
tested than the continuity with which
Mr. Brownell has maintained friendly
relations in every faction of the Re
publican party. He nominated Dolph,
he nominated McBride, he nominated'
Sfmon, and, unless we are mistaken, he
nominated Mitchell. That his personal
qualities ore held in high esteem by the
Senate is proven by the mere fact of
his victory over so earnest and able
and steadfast a man as Dr. Andrew C.
Smith. We shall go on record right
here with the prediction that they who
fancy President Brownell'e committees
or even, chairmanships will be in any
sense proscriptive ere likely to discover
their error without long delay.
The Oregonlan may be deceived, but
from the developments at Salem so far
it Is strongly impressed with the con
viction of independent disposition on
the part of the members. "We under
take to ay that there Is not a total
vote of any Republican candidate for
the presiding office of either house
which can be labeled as the sole and
exclusive property of any one party
leader or Senatorial candidate. The
members .are exercising a freedom of
choice which has not been In evidence
at Salem for many years. Dr. Smith's
strength proves it Frank Davey's
strength proves It. Brownell's strength
proves it. This Is a good augury, not
only for the Senatorial election, but for
the more natural work of the session.
We shall find many members, undoubt
edly, who will dare to act upon public
measures without regard to their effect
on the fortunes of Senatorial candi
dates, i
Expectation of great influence on the
Senatorship by the death of Represent
ative Tongue is probably destined to
disappointment. Neither Geer nor
Hermann, we take It, Is likely to barter
away his chance of the Senatorship for
the Congressional bird in the bush,
.which nobody, as a matter of fact, can
promise with assurance. It is a com
fort to know that the First District
has at hand two such ellgibles as Geer
and Hermann, either of whom would
doubtless fill the position with credit.
The Governor would have the pleasure
of winning a race in which, there was
more than one starter, and Mr. Her
mann's Washington acquaintance would
pretty certainly give him advantageous
.positions on committees.
The Oregonlan has not, to Its knowl
edge, admitted to its columns unfair
or partial statements concerning any of
the aspirants in the organization fight;
and it now turns the Legislature over
to President Brownell and Speaker
Harris with every confidence in their
fairness and ability.
PHILIPPINE CONCESSIONS NOT DAN
GEROUS. We pointed out the other day that
the prospect of injury to American In
dustries from low duties on Philippine-
imports Is too slight to account for the
tremendous opposition of the trusts to
the House bill reducing the tariff on
Philippine products from 75 to 25 per
cent of the Dingley rates. We find this
view "shared by the able Chicago Trib
une, which points out that the reduc
tion made in the last .session has had
no perceptible effect on Philippine im
ports. Less sugar came from the
islands last year than there did ten
years ago. Possibly there would have
been larger shipments if the islands
had not been in a bad condition indus
trially. The ravages of disease among
men and animals have effected for the
time being the productive capacity of
the Filipinos.
Meanwhile, as the Tribune suggests,
the Cubans would be overjoyed if they
could get as good terms for their sugar
and tobacco as it Is proposed to give
the Filipino producers. They would
leel mat tneir lortunes were maae, ana
would straightway increase their ship
ments of the two products. It is not
likely that the Philippines will send In
the near future much more than they
are sending now. The beet-sugar men
and the American tobacco-raisers may
not apprehend increased importations
If they do they will tie, up the pending
bill in the Senate, which has only two
months In which to act on It. The
trade with the Philippines, except as
to the single article of manlla hemp,
which is on the free list, has been
smaller than some sanguine individuals
thought it would be. Much was said
at one time about the forest wealth ot
the islands and large exportatlons of
cabinet woods were promised. That
wealth will be developed in time, but
It has not been yet.
This Is not to disparage the ultimate
productiveness -and political greatness
of the Philippines. Their capacity Is
great, and the day will come when the
United States will be an extensive con
sumer of their different products. The
reduction in duties which the House
has voted will hasten the coming of
that day. It will incite Americans to
do in the Philippines what they began
doing in Hawaii when reciprocity, was
established with the United States.
What has held back Philippine 'devel
opment as much as tariff burdens is
the imperfect legislation vouchsafed
along monetary and industrial lines.
MONEY THAT WILL RETURN.
Oregon cannot do better at this time
than to devote $50,000 to making a dis
play of the state's resources and In
dustries at the St. Louis Exposition
next year. This appropriation Is car
ried in the Lewis and Clark bill, and"
will, come out of the $500,000 for expo
sition purposes, leaving 5450,000 for the
Lewis and Clark celebration. The two
expositions will commemorate events
so closely related, and they will them
selves be In such neighborly spirit, that
the appropriation for both may prop
erly be carried in one measure.
There Ib good reason for urging upon
the Oregon Legislature prompt action
in this matter. Missouri Is about to re
appropriate $1,000,000 for the SL Louis
celebration, the first appropriation for
that purpose haying lapsed through
non-use within the time specified by
the constitution. That state will be
asked to appropriate money for the
Lewis and Clark Exposition, and there
is every reason to expect favorable ac
tion. But this enterprise in the Pacific
Northwest has not reached so ad
vanced a stage and is not so well
known as the great project for celebrat- I
ing the centennial of the Louisiana
Purchase at St. Louis, and it is not
surprising that the Missouri Legisla
ture should prefer to have substantial ;
evidence of Oregon's good-will before
turning Itself loose In support of the
new fair for old Oregon. Our $50,000
for the SL Louis Fair wHl probably
mean $100,000 from Missouri for the
Lewis and Clark Fair. Not only will
the reciprocity be valuable to Oregon,
but our state needs the service that
can best be rendered, by an adequate
representation In 1904 at St. Louis.
The Lewis and Clark authorities will
have the machinery for making the,
best possible use of any funds avail
able for exposition purposes. Usually
there is much waste In starting and
stopping these movements, because
they do not articulate with anything
else,, before or after. Circumstances
now are such that Oregon, at compara
tively little cost to the state treasury.
can reap large benefit from a liberal
exposition policy, and the Legislature
will do well to seize the opportunity.
IN EVERY WAY, COMMENDABLE.
A tax upon legacies or inheritances
within the limits proposed in the Malar-
key bill which the Oregon. Legislature
will be asked to pass will produce rev
enue without hardship to any property
interest in the state. Through it the
public will get some return for the good
order which makes possible the ac
cumulation of wealth and protects the
Individual in its possession. No limits
are set to individual acquirements.
Though It Is presumed that property
contributes equitably to the expenses
of government, it is matter of common
knowledge that large estates do not pay
in the same proportion as small ones,
and It Is right that the state should
require toll of those passing from dece
dent to heir. The one Is done with it
and the right to bequeath his property
is one that Is conferred, by society. The
other receives something to which he
has no Inherent right, and he Buffers no
wrong when society takes a portion for
the'more equitable adjustment of public
burdens. "
It is proper that the state rather than
the Federal Government should levy
this tax, because It Is upon property
and rights that are under the jurisdic
tion of the state. The purpose of the
measure is wise and just, and the form
of the bill proposed by Representative
Malarkey bears every promise of stand
ing the test of the courts. It touches a
point where taxation will rest easiest,
and it provides reasonable machinery
for enforcing Its provisions. The ex
perience of other states with laws of
this kind justifies the expectation that
good will flow from the enactment here.
It should receive the careful attention
of the Legislature.
KINGS COAL AND COLjj. .
The coal situation throughout the
East and Middle West has assumed an
exceedingly serious .aspect. It means,
not a coal famine in the sense that
there is no coal, "but suffering in .thou
sands of homes because the coal sup
ply is held by men who refuse to dis
pense it at prices even far in excess of
its commercial value, but who corner
and stubbornly hold it for more exorbi
tant gains. Man's inhumanity to man
or what may be termed the utter in
humanity of greed has seldom found
more forcible expression than it finds
In this situation.
The entire section over which the
shortage of coal prevails, in the face
of at least a reasonably adequate sup
ply, Is in the grip of Arctic tempera
ture. The great offio buildings and
apartment-houses in the cities, equipped
with all modern appliances for heat
ing, are pervaded by a frigid atmos
phere which means bitter discomfort
and a long train of evils following in
colds, pneumonia and rheumatic and
catarrhal', ailments. The tenement
districts are inhabited by a suffering
multitude men, women and children
huddled together In the extreme of
wretchedness, with destitution and
death upon their track. As In the ex
treme heats of Summer, children under
5 years and persons over 60 are the
greatest sufferers from the unallevlated
cold, the mortality In both of these
classes being greatly in excels, in Chi
cago, of that of the corresponding week
of last year. Two thousand persons are
sick In the same city, their ailments be
ing directly traceable to lack of fuel.
Chicago, being a typical Western
city, their condition may be held to
represent the results of the coal famine
In other large cities of that section.
While the cause of the trouble primar
ily is the miners; strike, It is immedi
ately due to a preconcerted action
among dealers to hold back the sup
ply for the purpose of forcing prices
still higher. This, at -least, is the only
explanation of the fact, that long train
loads of coal are sidetracked along the
railroads leading into Chicago, guarded
by trainmen whose orders are to hold
the cars indefinitely. It is Inconceivable
that any Americans could become so
maddened by greed as fo enter into a
combination to freeze people to death
for their own profit.
An inquiry has been set on foot In
Chicago, the purpose of which Is to
drive these coal-famine conspirators
from cover and compel them to bring
the sidetracked coal to market and
place It on sale. In the meantime, with
the mercury at zero and likely at any
time to fall still lower, snow covering
the ground and a bitter wind blowing,
the people of the East and Middle West,
may be said to be between the upper
and the nether millstone the former
represented by King Cold, the latter by
King Coal, each In his most uncompro
mising mood. It is evident that before
the tremendous pressure is relieved the
judicial authorities of the state and pos
sibly of .the Nation will be called upbn
to determine whether In this land of the
free commercial conspirators will be
permitted to freeze people to death with
plenty of coal In slgfit.
IRRIGATION ON LARGE SCALE.
The irrigation question has long since
passed the point where the efficacy of
Irrigation in making the wilderness
blossom as the rose requires proof. The
problem of storing water in basins and
distributing It through ditches and ca
nals is, to use a familiar expression, "as
old as Egypt" Joseph, the Israelite,
drew some of his prosperity from a sa
gacious disposal of the waters of the
Nile, one of the canals that he planned
for Pharaoh's people being still in use.
The arid regions of our own country
ocntaln .many traces of a civilization
that was maintained upon an agricul
tural basis through irrigation ill pre
historic days. There is, indeed, no
question whatever about the value of
irrigation as systematically applied to
land over which the rainfall Is deficient.
The main question with us at the pres
ent time is whether the necessity of
lragely Increased agricultural produc
tion and the demand for homes justifies
the enormous cost involved in a Na
tional system of irrigation. Its enthu
siastic advocates take the affirmative
side of this question, while the more
conservative would allow an irrigation
system to develop naturally through In
dividual or state enterprise or the as
sociation of capital.
It is apparent, however, this phase of
the question may be decided, that a
comprehensive attempt must be made
in the notr distant future to govern the
water supply of semi-arid America. The
problem, of avoiding drouth and mak
ing waste lands fertile should be solved
rather upon -the basis of an increase of
homes and population than upon specu
lation. It Is In this interest that the
Government is urged to take charge of.
irrigation as a great engineering prob
lem and develop it in the same spirit
In which It courted development of the
public domain through the homestead
law. It Is urged, on the other hand,
that a Government system of Irrigation
would be, relatively, enormously expen
sive and Its progress would be subject
to long delays while "appropriations
were wasted and haggled over in Con
gress. The Egyptian Government entered
some five years ago Into a contract with
British engineers to curb and store the
waters of the Nile, to be drawn upon
when required for the purposes of agri
culture. The contract has just been
completed. The reservoir, which is a
mighty lake 1-10 miles long. Is expected
to Impound a billion tons of water, and
this bulk, properly distributed, will add
something like a million acres to the
productive lands of Egypt. Conditions
in Egypt differ widely from those that
obtain in arid America. There they
have only the Nile, a sullen, inconstant
stream, upon which the crops of the
country depend almost entirely. In
years of high flood its fertilizing waters
spread over a broad belt of fertile lands
and great crops are assured. In sea
sons of low -water only a narrow strip of
bordering land is reached by the fertil
izing watera The object of this great
engineering scheme is to render every
year In Egypt a crop year, and it is
thought the scheme cannot fall. The
government has thirty years in which
to pay for the work, the cost of which
was $25,000,000. This means on annual
expenditure of more than $800,000, but
the revenue from the extra water sup
ply will amount to about $2,000,000 a
year, to the dams will soon, pay for
themselves.
The matter is of more than passing
significance to us in the present stage
of the Irrigation discussion in this coun
try. With Egypt's capacity for grow
ing grain and cotton so Immensely In
creased, says a late chronicler of this
great work on the Nile, "she is likely
to become an important competitor. In
the world's markets." That Is the eco
nomic significance of the Nile dams and
reservoir. And 'it Is well worth taking
Into account when the possibilities that
wait upon Irrigation are discussed.
The reverence in which loyal Italians
hold the memory of King Victor Eman
uel I was witnessed In a pilgrimage to
his tomb in the Pantheon a few days
ago on the twenty-fifth anniversary of
his death. There was a procession two
miles long on this occasion; over 30,000
people participated In the ceremonies,
and hundreds of wreaths were laid on
the tomb. This popular observance of
an anniversary a quarter of a century
old accords more with the steadfast
character o the royal family of Eng
land during the reign, of "Victoria than
with the more volatile nature of the
j children of Italy. It Is to. the credit of
a nation to remember a benefactor, but
in this practical age "such remembrance
does not frequently take the form of a
pilgrimage to a tomb. Who, for exam
ple, could imagine a popular pilgrimage
to the tomb of Lincoln? And yet what
man In all history Is entitled to greater
veneration, or more loyal tribute of
memory, than our great Civil War
President who fell In the harness?
Examination by an optician recently
disclosed the fact that 20 per cent of the
school children of Billings, Mont, need
ed to be fitted with glasses to correct
defective vision. Out of 500 cases ex
amined, over 50 were found to be.suffer-
ing from nervous headaches and great
irritability. The cause of this defect
ive eyesight in one-fifth of the school
children of a single town on the great
plateau, where .every climatic condition
Is supposed to be favorable to healthful
development, Is not hinted at The fact
merely Is stated, and with this the
school authorities and parents propose
to deal. The cause or causes of defect
ive vision in the young, when every fac
ulty should be alert and every sense
acute, may, indeed, be obscure. . It Is
proof of enlightenment, however, to be
ready to deal with the effect. In many
of the larger cities of the East, where
conditions of life, -including hurry,
noise, ill-lighted school buildings and
tobacco smoke In Ill-ventilated homes,
have combined to weaken the body and
arrest physical and mental develop
ment, the eyes pf school children are ex
amined once a year by opticians and
treated, where necessary, to arrest If
possible the growing tendency to my
opic conditions and other visual defects.
Whether science can battle successfully
against the combined Influences that
are at work upon the eyes of children
to their detriment remains to be seen.
It becomes intelligent parents and oth
ers who are responsible for the care of
the young, however, to make the at
tempt, since defective eyesight through
life is a handicap to endeavor, that la
to be deplored, and if possible corrected.
The key to the success In life achieved
by Thomas H. Tongue Is given In the
words of his friend and classmate, Ben
ton Klllin, of this city: "In his school
days he was no dawdler; he knew what
he wanted and how he was going to ac
complish It. Evenings, mornings and
Saturdays he grubbed on oak grubs and
earned his way; through college In that
way." There Is a lesson In earnest pur
pose In this simple testimony the value
of which not all the advantages of free
colleges can discount The young man
who wants an education and Is deter
mined to get it finds a way, paying, it
necessary, for what he gets In college by
his own exertions. Having gotten an
education, he makes use of it. This Is
the testimony of the life of Thomas H.
Tongue and of the lives of a multitude
of Americans who, like Whlttler's
schoolmaster
Early rained tho power to pay
Their cheerful, self-reliant way.
It is neither a merit nor a discredit
where the necessity for working the
way through college does not exist; but
when It does exist and is overcome by
"an energy begotten of the love of learn
ing, either for Its own sake or because
of the power that It engenders, it does
not find expression In dawdlers In school
or along the rugged ways of later life.
Material relief will come to the frost
bound East by removal of the 67-cent
duty on coal. This will admit Nova
Scotia coal to the populous centers of
the Atlantic seaboard, and may even
ease the stress as far as Chicago. On
this coast it will Improve the mining In
dustry of British Columbia and may
also bring cheaper fuel tp Portland.
The chief benefit from removal of this
duty, however, will accrue to the large
centers of the' East, which are wholly
dependent upon coal for fuel and which,
after suffering all the legitimate hard
ships resulting from the miners' strike,
ere now in the grasp of conscienceless
dealers' combines. These must be
broken. The courts may be able to do
it in course of time, but it is gratify
ing to see in Congress a disposition to
take the matter firmly in hand, to rec
ognize that the situation admits of no
delay, and to provide so rational a rem
edy. The protest of Mr. Shanahan, of the
Oregon Humane- Society, against a bill
now pending In Congress to extend the
time In which livestock In transit from
Western ranges to Eastern shambles
may be kept on the cars without food
or water, from twenty-eight to forty
hours, should be echoed by hundreds
of thousands of voices in the name of
humanity and public health. As Mr.
Shanahan says, and as every intelligent
person who knows anything about the
hardships to which cattle, sheep and
hogs are subjected In transit on the
cars knows, twenty-eight hours Is all
too long to deprive these wretched
creatures of food and water and any
chance of shifting their constrained po
sitions. Any attempt to increase the
time of starvation, thirst and torture
should be met by a protest so vigorous
as to insure its defeat.
The receipts of the Boys' and Girls
Aid Society for the two years ending
January 10 were, in aggregate, $13,
633 75;. its disbursements were $615 44
less. During this period 361 children in
need of care or requiring restraint have
been taken in charge. The work of the
managers and the superintendent has
been carefully atid conscientiously per
formed. Its written records are open
to public inspection. Its unwritten rec
ord is held io trust byj the years, to be
read by those who can understand its
subtle meaning in good citizens and
hajpy home-makers, evolved from way
ward or neglected boys and girls who
were the recipients of its care and
discipline. '
Mr. Borah, though unsuccessful in
his canvass for the Idaho Senatorship,
has pursued an honorable and dignified
course, and is entitled to the respect of
all who have figured in the contest The
young state would have had an able
representative in the Boise man. His
address last night put an end to the
talk that his friends would bolt the cau
cus, and brings him Into the light as a
man who can make a vigorous fight
without cherishing ill-will against the
victor. Mr. Borah's attitude is com
mendable, and It will keep him high in
the esteem of his fellow-citizens.
It is well that the'bbast of "no. hazing
at Annapolis" has not found tongue
lately, else would the veracity or the
watchfulness of the authorities of the
Naval Academy suffer by late develop
ments. No wonder that a lad who de
sires to enter this school must be of ex
ceptionally sturdy physique. The pres
ence of trained bullies in the "upper
class" makes this requirement a neces
sity. The outcome of this latest hazing
outrage Is likely to result In several va
cancies in the cadet corps at Annapolis.
Treasury officials fear the extermina
tion of the seals in Behring Sea. Many
American and Canadian sealers, tempo
rarily thrown out of employment by the
British-American prohibitive agree
ment are sailing under the Japanese
flag and. making large catches. Unless
this Government Insists on the c6mplete
cessation of hunting within the slxty
mlle zone, the Prlbyloff Island herd will
be practically wiped out.
President Dole has weathered many
a storm in his little, dusky Isle In the
mid-Pacific, but he never came under
the condemnation of a Senate commitr
tee before. He will doubtless get proper
hearing, but the adverse report now In
Washington will be rather hard to over
come. Now,, who will do better than
Dole?
SPIRIT OF THE NORTHWEST PRESS
Quality Better Than Ever.
Hood River Glacier.
The New Year's Oregonlan Is a great
paper. It Is not so large as in former
years, but the quality of Its reading mat
ter and Illustrations Is better than ever.
There May, and There 3Iay Not.
Dufur Dispatch.
A large number of the newspapers of
the state are fairly falling over one an
other in their efforts to slobber over
Charles Fulton as a Senatorial possibil
ity. May there not be a difference In the
morning?
If
Etc.
The Dalles Times-Mountaineer.
If the Hon. C. W. Fulton, of Astoria,
had received 44.697 votes for United States
Senator last June, wouldn't he think It
awful cheeky for any fellow in tho state
to bob up now and ask the Legislature
to elect him to the United States Senate?
Did the president of the last Senate vote
for the Mays law, or did he not?
Simply Perfect.
PrlneviUe Review.
The New Year's Oregonlan for 1903 is
far ahead of all. others ever issued, and Is
simply perfect. It contained 48 pages
filled with facts and figures concerning
our state, plainly and correctly set forth.
It Is a number that should be In every
home In Oregon and filed away for fu
ture reference, as it Is an encyclopedia
of useful Information. It should also
havo a wide circulation In the East, as it
would be the means of bringing many
settlers to Oregon.
The Centennial Emphasized.
Tacoma Trade.
The Portland Oregonlan New Year's
number is a magnificent newspaper of 4S
pages, containing Portland's Invitation to
the world to participate In the Centennial
gathering to be held in that city In 1905,
and the message of Oregon's great expo
sition to the wide world. It is a Lewis
and Clark edition, filled with matters of
historical Interest and of present statis
tical value, as well its with valuable de
scriptive matter regarding Oregon and
her natural resources. In order, however,
to tell the story of Oregon properly, much
space and attention are given to both
Washington and Idaho.
The "Mandate" Defended.
Salem Statesman.
As a double dose of high-handed ma
chine politics, embodying a direct and
plain violation of the state constitution,
combined with a scornful disregard of the
popular vote on United States Senator,
where the highest candidate obtained in
many cases more votes than the Legis-latI-o
candidates themselves, this propo
sition takes precedence without rivalry.
Luckily, this revolutionary programme,
which Is advocated by a few newspapers
whose advice goes counter to the votes of
the people of their respective counties,
will find few, if any, supporters among
the members of the Legislature. No man
who cares anything for the future of the
Republican party In Oregon will lend
himself to this brazen attempt to "disre
gard the popular mandate."
Only One of Many.
Salem Journal.
It was after a long siege of "strained
relations" with Secretary Hitchcock that
Hermann went out, and not until it was
demanded. Charges have been preferred
against two of his subordinates, and they
will in the end also have to. go. Beyond
that probably Httlo will come of the mat
ter, as Hermann Is only one of many Ore
gon politicians who are engaged in the
"land business." The Republican party
has no more discreditable chapter In Its
history in tho Weat than the loose man
ner In which it has squandered the public
school lands and allowed the great cor
porations to steal the timber lands. Bln
ger Hermann is made the scapegoat at
present, but no one seriously believes
that any real and permanent reformation
is aimed at or will be accomplished.
Ascendancy of the Country Press.
Eugene Register.
Country newspaper men are becoming
an important factor in the development
of Oregon. Formerly the papers of the
metropolis governed the destiny of Ore
gon, but in these latter days the country
press are shedding their swaddling
clothes and stepping into the arena with
the metropolitan journals, and their In
fluence on legislation and public matters
is shaping the course of the newer Ore
gon. If the country press declared to
day against' a $500,000 appropriation for
the Lewis and Clark Fair, the Legisla
ture would not have the temerity to pass
the measure over the veto of the country
dallies and weeklies. Likewise, the posi
tion of the country press on Senatorial
matters Is the Legislator's safe criterion,
for that demand reflects the wish ot the
lawmaker's constituency, and where he
has failed to respect that wish his voice
is rarely ever heard again in the Legisla
tive halls. Yes, this is the day of as
cendancy for the country press In Oregon,
and it Is well for the state that such Is
the case. It Is 'Oregon's safeguard against
rank political corruption and unwhole
some legislation. It Is the time reflector
of the genius of the state.
Offers Him Moonlight on the Lake.
Woodburn Independent.
BInger Hermann has resigned as Com
missioner of the United States Land Of
fice because his resignation was requested
by the Secretary of the Interior. We will
not judge at this time whether Secretary
Hitchcock Is In error, but accept the fact
that Commissioner Hermann has to go,
and the further Information that he Is
coming to Oregon to be a candidate this
Winter for United States Senator. Here
Is where wo must point out his great po
litical mistake. When a man becomes op
timistic regarding the prospects of self,
he should also exercise common sense
and at least a little perspicacity. Mr.
Hermann must surely see that thero Is no
show of him being elected Senator this
year, but by keeping out of the race this
Winter he would have a much brighter
chance of securing the plum In 1907. It
would be only four years out of a job,
and displaying a disposition to give others,
who have done as much for the Republi
can party as he, a fair deal. Is BInger
Hermann of such huge dimensions that
anybody else In Southern Oregon In such
dense shadow cannot be seen? If so, our
sympathy goes out to the little fellows of
Southern Oregon and to that section of
the state.
Origin of "Inland Empire."
Spokane Spokesman-Review.
Apropos the New Year's edition of the
Spokesman-Review, a reader inquires
about the origin of the term "Inland Em
pire," so often used In this paper In de
fining . Spokane's commercial territory.
The Spokesman-Review regrets Its in
ability to name the author of the phrase.
The term was more or less in general use
when the writer came to the Pacific
Northwest in 1881. About that time a
paper called the Inland Empire was pub
lished at The Dalles, in IJastern Oregon,
and the writer has an indistinct recollec
tion that Thomas B. Merry, an old-time
Oregon newspaper man, who published
and edited It lay claim to the honor of
coining the phrase.
At -that time the term was generally
understood to 'apply to all those parts ot
Oregon and Washington lying east of tho
Cascade Mountains, .and to Include as
well Southern Idaho. In more recent
years Northern Idaho, Western Montana
and Southern British Columbia, by com
mon consent, have been "annexed."
The expression is a happy one for local
application, but it must be admitted that
It is rather meaningless to Eastern read
ers. There Is no better term, however, at
hand, unless the region be recbrlstened
l,the Spokane country."
EVEN OXNARD LEARNS.
Chicago Inter Ocean (Rep.).
Washington dispatches say that the
Oxnard bect-eugar lobby has ceased op
position to justice and reciprocity with
Cuba. The speedy ratification of the
pending treaty with Cuba is confidently
expected.
Like all senseless agitation, the op
position to justice to Cuba, organized by
the Oxnard clique of beet-sugar mill pro
moters, has brought Its own punishment.
Even Henry T. Oxnard has been educated
into some semblance of reason by disas
trous personal experience. He has found
that his apparent victory in preventing
justice to Cuba was a defeat which bade
fair to prove fatal.
Mr. Oxnard's chief business Is not the
manufacture of sugar. It Is the promotion
of sugar-making enterprises. His reason
of existence and the chief source of his
gains is In convincing capitalists that
beet-sugar mlllo are paying Invest
ments. He has found that his
argument against Cuba was an
argument that beet-sugar mills are
not paying investments. Hence his
own interests have forced him to face
the truth and admit that justice to Cuba
will not Injure the beet Industry.
A few years ago Mr. Oxnard was telling
Investors that beet-sucar mills were
bound to be enormously profitable, with
or without a protective tariff. Then he
chopped about and rent the heavens with
cries that the beet-sugar industry would
be ruined it the slightest reduction were
made In the tariff for Cuba's benefit. His
two sets of arguments were mutually de
structive. Investors fought shy of beet-
sugar projects. When solicited to engage
In them they quoted Oxnard the lobbyist
against Oxnard the promoter,
So Oxnard has been compelled to assert
that as a Dromoter he told the truth and
that as a lobbyist he did not tell the
truth. 'He has been compelled to do this
to save himself and the beet-sugar In
dustry from the distrust he was creating
as a lobbyist. Now It so happens that as
Promoter Oxnard did, as a rule, tell the
truth. There Is an enormous future for
the beet industry. And that future Is In nc
way affected by giving Cuba a chance to
prosper. The only people affected are the
European sugar-growers, for whom
Oxnard was all the time fighting, against
his own Interests.
The education of Oxnard and his de
luded beet-sugar backers was a painful
and expensive process. The obstinacy of
Oxnard and his backers hampered the'
development of the American beet Indus
try, deprived the American people of
profitable commerce, and almost drove
Cuba to despair. But that education
would seem to have been finally com
pleted. Even Oxnard learns, and justice
to Cuba will speedily be done.
HoVr to Rend the Nevrapaper.
Chicago Tribune.
In talking about newspapers notlongago
a college professor is reported to have said
that 20 minutes a day was all that one
ought to give to newspaper reading. It Is
to be feared that such advice will fortify
the skipper and the skimmer In their helter-skelter
habits. Not that there Is no
justification for skipping and skimming.
There certainly Is. The perfect, ne "plus
ultra reader Is the one who can adjust his
speed to the Importance of the matter
which he is perusing, who can float lightly
over passages which do not con
cern him, and plod conscientious
ly through passages which do concern him,
who has acquired the power of rapid sur
vey without losing tho power, whenever
it is necessary to exercise it, ot accurate
Insight, This kind of reading machine,
capable of being adjusted to any required
velocity and to any required degree of
thoroughness, will do more work In a day
than any other kind of reading machine
that can be devised.
It remains true, however, that most peo
ple skip and skim unlntelllgently. They
fall Into ways which are fatal to mental
health. They become too cursory. Such
people should give their paper more than
20 minutes a day. They. ..need not read
everything' that the paper contains. The
headlines will enable them to pick out
those articles .Which are of particular
value to them.' Other people will pick
out other articles. That Is the plan on
which the dally paper is constructed. It
Is not meant In all Its parts for all peo
ple. What It attempts to do la to give
each of Its readers the things which he
Ik Interested In. When he has found
those things he should read them carefully.
Unless he does he will And that his ac
quaintance with current events Is exceed
ingly unsatisfactory. The farmer who
plows through the columns of hl3 paper
with much more care than speed is, of
all men In the country, the best informed
on many subjects of political moment.
The thing we need is. perhaps, not that
newspaper reading should be less absorb
ing but that It should be moro discrimi
nating. A Phase of Life Insurance.
New York Sun.
Insurance against loss now takes so
many forms that no new phase of it is sur
prising. One English company even In
sured against loss a manager who had
Invested a large amount In a theatrical
production and was so unusually nervous
about the success of the enterprise that he
made an arrangement with the insurers by
which he was to receive a certain sum
which would cover the expense of the pro
duction In case the receipts did not reach
a set amount at the end of a fixed period.
But no such complicated form of theat
rical Insurance as that has yet been heard
of. The last Interesting Instance of this
kind of Insurance is reported from Phil
adelphia, which Is the headquarters of a
firm of managers controlling the services
of one of the most popular comic opera
comedians In this country. The enterprise
for which they employ him depends, of
course, on his personality, and any harm
that befell him would entail serious finan
cial loss on his managers. So they have
just Insured his life for $50,000.
Only the Monopolist Benefited,
Boston Advertiser.
The tariff on coal protects nobody out
side of the coal trust. It does not protect
any one single wage-earner In an anthra
cite mine or In a bituminous mine. It
merely enables multi-millionaire coal
mine owners to wring somewhat larger
profits out of the shivering misery of the
public The tariff on beef products pro
tects no farmer, no cowboy, no man who
with his hands does the work of a butch
er. It protects half a dozen enormously
rich and closely combined monopolies in
Chicago and Kansas City, and that is all.
It protects them by leaving unprotected
to their rapacity all the men, women and
children in the United States who eat beef
or who would If they could afford to pay
for It at tho artificially enhanced trust
prices.
A Pluralist Is Positive.
Philadelphia Record.
In a bill before Congress the plural num
ber Is dropped for the United States and
for the pronoun "they" is substituted the
singular pronoun "it," The framers of the
Constitution knew something about the
English language and the character of
this Government In saying: "Treason
against the United States shall consist
only In levying war against them or in
adhering to their enemies." In another
clause of the Constitution it is written:
"The United States or any of them' The
new lawmakers would say, "The United
States or any of It." which is treason
against good language and common sense.
The Girls' Misfortune.
New York Sun.
Professor Wenley, of the University of
Michigan, tells his class In philosophy that
"it has been discovered In the university
laboratories that girls' ears hear a higher
range of sound than do those of boys."
Naturally. The feminine sensibilities are
more delicate and acute than those of the
grosser sex, and their capacities of rap
ture or agony greater. But mark tho pun
ishment that accompanies the gift. The
men make the most noise. The women
have to drink it In to the last dregs ot
vibration.
NOTE AND COMMENT.
They're off arSalem!
All Is not gold that one gets in his pay
envelope.
Those seem to be pretty lively stockmen
who are now meeting in convention in
Kansas City.
If talk would burn, then the numer
ous conferences over tho coal situation
would afford Immediate relief.
PmiinWir "Rrnrlnnd and Germany will
again act in concert when it comes to
declaring a blockade on Mr. Kipling.
Congressman Bowersock is, from Kan
sas, but Is no relation to Jerry Simpson,
who boasted that he didn't wear 'em.
The Philadelphia newspapers print as
news, but without comment, the fact that
a young lady there has been asleep for
three weeks.
Wo llko all things In rhythm that are terse.
Though soma be bad and some a little worse.
But let us lift our prayers In concert now
To put the kybosh on the Khayyam verse I
The Crown Prince of Slam cables a de
nial of the report that he will wed an
American girl. What was it the jolly
milk maid said?
The Chicago Record-Herald declares that
Chicago Is the greatest railway center In the
world. It Is also the greatest stockyards
scenter. The Commoner.
Et tu, William!
If It be notfan impertinent question,
win some one 'tell us what Mr. Schwab
does to earn that million a year? We
all know how he spends It.
Governor Dole appears to be about the
whole thing in Hawaii., and the politi
cians admit they are afraid to beard him.
Those who have seen portraits of Gov
ernor Dole will not wonder at It.
A prizefighter's jaw was broken during
a contest in Baltimore Saturday night,
and his manager gravely announces that
this will necessitate his indefinite retire
ment from the ring.
Tho next time we are appealed to In
aid of the famlne-strlcken people ot In
dia wo shall recall that seven-mile pro
cession of gold-mounted elephants, and
the fact that the Delhi hotel man charges
$200 a day for board.
Indiana, not to bo outdone by the tales from
Kansas, has come forward with a big vegeta
ble story. A farmer came Into Friendsw.iod
tho other day bringing with him a turnip whlrh
was 30 inches In circumference and weighed 12
pounds. Philadelphia Ledger.
Now watch Kansas!
All "the nations represented at Venezue
la's capital and pretty much all of "Vene
zuela were at La Guayra to see United
States Minister Bowen off for Washing
ton. Let us hope that they will all be
thero to greet him In the same spirit when
ho goes back.
Should those first 100 American miners
whom the Czar will permit to prospect for
gold In Siberia find what they are look
ing for, wo will bet our friend Nicholas
a red Oregon apple that all his 6,000,000
soldiers can't keep the rest of the Amer
ican miners out.
New Jersey Is the corporate home of the
trusts, and the State Legislature Is ever ready
to fly to their relief. St. Louis Republic.
We deny it. The New Jersey Legisla
ture, In aid of the trusts or of anything
else, may walk, run, ride., slide, crawl,
waltz, jump, hop, skip or gambol, btt It
cannot fly. It Is a body that Is not to be
made light of.
These are names of towns In Wales,
.according to the London Daily Chronicle,
and we confess our admiration for, the
railroad conductors on the line that runs
through them:
Paragahapeelalangamukalana.
Pltakandahoragollemukalana.
Damunugahawalakadamukalana.
Malkekunelangahcnedenlya,
Banasalagodellemukalana.
Dodangahamullatennahena.
Lintotadenlyakumburuyaya.
, Munamalgaliamulakupbura.
Karendagahamulakumbura.
Mananhenepahaladeniya.
Overheard over the long-distance from
Salem:
"I see Jones has got 45 votes certain."
"He had, but "
"And nine that he's suro to get."
"Well, you see "
"And 19 that are doubtful, which are
likely to como his way."
vYes, but "
"And 29 that have pledged themselves
to vote for him on the second ballot."
"Looky-here, I "
"Which makes him a winner even it
Brown gets all tho rest. I wish you'd
tell Jones for me "
"Say" desperately "I ain't got time to
spend the day at the telephone. They
havo just taken a roll call, and Jones got
six altogether. Call off, will you?"
Mrs. Frank Foster has never been ac
cused of being a strong-minded woman,
but some there are who have strong
mindedness -thrust upon them, says tho
St. Loul3 Globe-Democrat. She found It
so at the church meeting on the South
Side which released her husband from
tho pastorate of the Memorial Congrega-
tlonal Church so "that he might accept
another calL "Mr. Foster may go," said
a lady of the congregation, rising In meet
ing, "but we are not going to let hl3
wife depart. I therefore move that she
herself be chosen our pastor." Another
lady promptly seconded the nomination,
and, to the dismay of the minister's wife,
a vote was taken, and she found herself
unanimously elected pastor. Now, this
Is hot contrary to Congregational usage.
In the East, councils are called every
now and then to install a woman, not a
man, as pastor of a Congregational
church. Mrs. Foster 'is just as truly
chosen pastor as are some of those hap
less couples wedded who are married for
fun by a man who turns out to be a
Justice of the Peace. But she does not In
tend to compete with her husband in the
field of preaching, and she has already
announced that she will decline the call.
PLEASANTRIES OF PARAGItAPHEIlS
Rodrlck You say he has faced bursting
shells. What battle was he in? Van Albert
None! Ho Is a chestnut roaster. Chlcaso Dally
News.
Sunday school teacher And It took Noah a
hundred years to build the Ark, Street Arab
What was the matter was thero a strike?
Puck.
"You think I make some pretty bad breaks,
don't you. Fred?" asked the. young wife. "Yes,
dear," replied the husband kindly; "but they'ra
not like the breaks mother used to make."
Yonkora Statesman.
Mother It seems to me it took Mr. Sophl
qnlte a while to say "good-bye" last night.
and wouldn't see me for another year. Mothei II
For. a whole year? Daughter That Is cr f
nc won't be back until 1003. He s coming
New Year's day. Philadelphia Press.
Mother Have you any waterproof boots fot
a boy? Salesman We have waterproof boots,
ma'am: but they are not for boys. Mother
Why don't you have some for boys? Sales
manWhen somebody ha3 Invented a boot thai
has no opening for the foot to get Into It, wi
may hope for boys' waterproof boots, not be
for. Boston Transcript.