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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (May 16, 1903)
8 THE MOSyPJg OREQOyiAN, SATUBDAY, MAX i6, 1903. Entered at the- Fostofflce at PortUn4. Otsxob. x second-class matter. REVISED SUBSCRIRPTJ.ON RA.TBS. Br Mail (postage prepaid. In advance) Dally, with Sunday, per month 2-i5 Daily. Sunday excepted, per year.... 5 Daily, with Sunday, per year s.oo Sunday, per year. The Weekly, per year The Weekly, 3 months -50 To City Subscribers . . Daily, per week, delivered. Sunday e?"'!?? Dally, per week, delivered. Sunday Indudeo.aoc POSTAGE RATES. United States. Canada and Mexico 10 to 14-page jjaper.,.. 1? 16 to 30-page paper 82 to 44-page paper .. J Foreign rates double. Ifews or discussion Intended for publication In The Oregonlan' should be addressed Invaria bly "Editor The- Oregonlan." not to the name f any Individual. Letters relating- to adver tising, subscription or to any business matter should be -addressed simply "The' Oregonlan." The Oregonlan does not buy poems or stories item Individuals, and cannof nndertake to re turn any "jbanuscrlpts sent to It without solici tation. 2io stamps should be inclosed lor this purpose. Eastern Business Office. 42. ii, 43. 47. 4S. 9 Tribune building. Jfew York City; 010-11-12 Tribune building. Chicago; the "S. C Beckwlth Special Agency. Eastern representative. For sale In San Francisco by It. E. Lee, Pal ace Hotel news stand: Goldsmith Bros.. 23d Butter street: Ft W. Pitts. 1008 Market street; J. K. Cooper Co.. 740 Market street, near the Palace Hotel: Foster & Orear. Ferry news stand; Frank Scott. 80 Ellis street, and N. TVheatley. S13 Mission street. For sale In Los Angeles by B. 7. Gardner. 259 South Spring street, and Oliver & Haines, 8 South Spring street. For sale In Kansas City. Mo, by Blcksecker Cigar Co.. Ninth and Walnut streets. For sal In Chicago by the -P. O. .News Co., 17 Dearborn street, and Charles MacDonald. CS Washington street. For sale in Omaha by Barkalow Bros.. ISIS Farnam street; Megeath Stationery Co., 1S0S Farnam street. For sale in Ogden by W. G. Kind. 114 23th street; Jas. H. Crockwell. 242 25th street. For sale in Salt Lake by the Salt Lake News Co.. 77 West Second South street. For sale In Washington. D. C. by the Ebbett House news stand. For sale in Denver. Colo., by Hamilton A Kendrlck. 900-912 Seventeenth street: Loutban Jackson Book & Stationery Co., Fifteenth and Lawrence streets; A. Series. Sixteenth and Curtis streets. x TODAY'S WEATHER Generally fair; slight ly wanner; west to northwest winds. YESTERDAY'S WEATHER Maximum tem perature, CO deg.; minimum temperature, 48 deg.; precipitation, 0.0S Inch. PORTLAND, SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1003 THE THIRD-TERM DISPUTE. The question of a third term becomes an Incidental subject of discussion be cause of the pressure for the nomination of Grover Cleveland by a few Demo cratic papers of the East. Long before the close of Washington's second ad minlstrationu he was waited upon by- committees who urged him to accept the nomination for "a third term," but ' be steadfastly declined. No man ever J occupied the Presidential chair who was so worried and so thoroughly sick at heart of Presidential cares and respon sibilities as Washington. Jefferson's quarrels with Hamilton had made dis cord In his Cabinet; Jefferson's behavior after he left the Cabinet had been so sharp a thorn In the side of Washington that he was in no humor the last two years of his administration to be am bitious for another Presidential term. That he would have been brought for ward as the candidate against Jeffer son and Burr, either In the Electoral College or the House of Representa tives, in 1801, there cannot be much doubt, when we remember the alarmed and excited state of the country. The Nation lost the example of "s. third term" by the death of Washing ton, in December, 1799. Jefferson de clined a renominatlon for a third term in a letter which was prompted by no higher motive than President Grant's letter to General Harry White, chair man of the Pennsylvania Republican State Convention, called to elect dele gates to the Cincinnati convention of 187C. Jefferson found Virginia and the Democratic managers more In favor of Madison. Virginia thought that Jeffer son had had his share of honors; Jeffer son had made himself unpopular by the embargo, so Jefferson declined for the same reason that Grant did in 1876, be cause he found a strong undercurrent against him and feared he could not be nominated. Six spates declared for Jef ferson and a third term in 1809-. About the same number of states in 1876 fa vored Grant and a third term. Jeffer son was forced to decline for the same reason that Grant did because the party managers thought he could not be elected. Jackson was urged strong ly by his party leaders to accept a nomi nation for a third term. Jackson knew that he was sure to be elected, but he declined because he was 70 years of age and suffering from broken health, the result of the hardships of his military careervand the effect of an old wound received in his famous duel with Charles Dickinson. Jackson did notpretend that he declined for any other reason than his age and physical Infirmity. The question of "a third term" presented by the Democratic nomination of Cleve land would be identical with that con sidered when General Grant was urged for the Republican National nomination by his partisans in 1880. It was not a "third term" in the sense that It was declined by Washington, Jefferson and Jackson, for there had beeu an Inter regnum of four years since Grant had retired to private life and been suc ceeded by President Hayes. There was not much real force to the "third-term" argument in 1880, but it was "anything to beat Grant," and the friends of Blaine worked this cry for all It was worth, and, while not strong - enougn to win the nomination, were V strong enough to force the nomination of Garfield, who was victorious through -'the support of the Blaine faction. r Blaine was a very powerful political figure in 1SS0, and his opposition to S&rant would probably have defeated Ms nomination even if the anti-Grant faction, had not so rleornuslv nrR:fri the obVction of a third term against trie neroxr Appomattox. The essential Weakness of the objection to a third term, when there has been an Interreg num of four or more years following eight years of continuous Presidential service, is Indicated by the fact that today, while few Republican of Demo cratic leading newspapers believe that Cleveland will be nominated, neverthe less few of these newspapers consider the possible antl-thlfd-term cry as a valid and effective obstacle to the noml nation of Cleveland. If this were the only objection. Cleveland would be nominated and elected without much difficulty. Under the laws of New York, while a Sheriff is not eligible for continuous re-elections, he Is eligible lor a "third term," and the mass of the Yoters in both the great parties would cuiisiuer me anu-uura-term cry against Cleveland's nomination as trivial objection; the opposition to his nomination rests in his own party en tirely on the belief that he could not be elected, and in the Republican party there is no opposition to Cleveland's election that is based chiefly upon hos tility to a "third term." There may be some force in the ob jection to a third term when it follows two successive full Presidential terms, but, other things being equal, the American people will never reject lor the Presidency any statesrrian whom they are anxious to elect, upon the flimsy ground that he has already been President for two full terms, if there has been an interregnum between his Presidential service and his third nomi nation. During the twenty-three years that have elapsed since the famous anti-third-term battle of 1880, both parties have become careless, if not contemptu ous, of ancient political precedents and so-called unwritten law. The battle over the question of expansion of our territory so as to Include the Philip pines has proved how little reverence the Republican party has for the Demo cratic Invocation of the Declaration of Independence and the "rights" of Fili pinos who refuse to be "governed"; the agitation of the negro problem at the South has practically devitalized the re construction amendments to the Con stitution. With such irreverence mani fest in both parties for what Is called political precedent, unwritten law es tablished by the Fathers of the Repub lic, traditional policies, etc. It would not be easy to make nomination for a third term a valid, effective objection to Cleveland's nomination or his election if he in other respects was deemed to be the essential man for the emergency. Grant's nomination for a third term was blocked by the powerful influence and following of Blaine; the third-term cry never cost Grant a delegate that would have been heartily for Grant if he had not been a "third-term" candi date. For it was an objection that could not endure analysis. Suppose Lincoln had lived to complete his second term, and after an interregnum of four years had been nominated for a "third term," it Is difllcult to believe that he would have been defeated upon so flimsy an objection. GREAT MARITIME GROWTH. This Is the dull season in shipping In Portland, but during the week Just clos ing local exporters have dispatched a large steamship loaded with wheat for St. Vincent for orders, a large steam ship and a large barkentlne for the Orient with lumber, a ship for Australia with wheat and flour, a large sailing ship for Europe with lumber, and half a dozen coasting steamers and schoon ers to San Francisco with lumber, flour, wheat and miscellaneous produce. In the old days, when wheat was the only commodity that attracted ships to the port, the numerous clearances which have been noted this week would have been considered a good week's business In the height of the season, but the traf fic of this port has been expanded so rapidly wtlhin the past few years that an average of a cargo a day no longer attracts special attention even during the dull season. The departure of the fleet mentioned leaves nearly a dozen vessels In port under charter for wheat. flour and lumber cargoes, and the season of 1902-03 will go out with a heavier vol ume of business at the close than has been recorded in any corresponding pe riod In the past. This steadily Increasing traffic is a more eloquent tribute to the merits of Portland as a seaport than anything that can be written, printed or spoken regarding the subject. The largest fleet of cargo ships ever listed for Portland is now headed for this port, and every one of them is coming with the cer tainty that an outward cargo can be secured as soon as the Inward cargo Is discharged. Shipowners having ves sels idle at Australian ports are offer ing to send them to Portland with coal at 2s 6d per ton less than they will ac cept for San Francisco loading, the dif ferential in our favor being made be cause Portland can supply some kind of a cargo for the vessels after they get here, while in San Francisco they will be forced to Join the already large fleet of Idle ships for which there are no wheat cargoes and no lumber such as is offering In such large quantities at Portland. The river channel between Portland and Astoria was never in better shape than at the present time, and delays on the river are practically unknown. This enables vessels to come closer to diver slfied products of a rich region than they can get in any other seaport in the united States. . The threatened ban dicap of the port through the shoal ing of the bar at the mouth of the river is being removed. The channel Is al ready improving by scouring out where It filled In two years ago, andwlthln a few weeks an enormous ocean dredge will be at work making a channel at the mouth of the river sufficient to admit the largest vessels that can be used to advantage In Pacific trade. Strikes may come and strikes may go, but with such vast natural resources to draw on in the production of cargoes and such a great natural highway for floating them to the sea, the progress of Portland can not be checked. In no other port on the Pacific Coast can the ship be brought so close to the cargo, and in no other port can such a variety of freight which makes up cargoes be secured. In the lumber trade alone out of Portland three vessels are working for every one that was in service in the trade a year ago, and a still greater Increase is as sured for next season. AUTOMOBILE MANIA. It has been asserted, says the Pitts burg Dispatch, "that no new fad is or can be pushed to the extent of a craze without developing its specific disease." In support of this statement or prece dent thereto is cited the testimony of two physicians of Paris, Drs. Soufiet and Berillon, declaring that the excite ment caused by running automobiles at the highest speed develops a mental stimulation like drunkenness, in de manding more excitement. This, it is asserted, grows into a mental irre sponslblllty which produces indiffer ence to danger and suffering caused by recklessness. Dr. Berillon asserts that the "conduct, language and demeanor ot those arrested for fast driving estab lish the fact of their temporary aliena tion." A bicycle-ridden public will without much hesitancy Indorse this diagnosis as correct Recklessness, Insensibility to danger, disregard of damage and of the rights of others are all distinguish ing traits of the scorcher" on the wheeL It is easy to believe that all of these things may be intensified by the use of the automobile. The Idea that these are symptoms of a new and un named mental trouble rather than the expressions of individual selfishness that Is careless of the "public safety may not readily be accepted, but on second thought it offers the public protection from the consequences of recklessness of this type, which it has long sought In vain. If these people, whether bi cycle scorchers or .frenzied" automobll- ists, are really irresponsible, it is clear that they are dangerously so. If tem porarily distraught, they should be placed in strict seclusion until they re cover their mental balance, and in the strength of restored reason promise to refrain from meddling again with the cause of their undoing. Dri Berillon, it is true, -declares that this disease, once established. Is incur-. .able, but this prognosis should not be accepted without subjecting the pa tients to rigid treatment of the curative order. Let It be understood that every man who dashes along the public thor oughfares at railway speed will be re tired for two or three months to some Institution maintained for the treat ment of the "mind-diseased," and there is good reason to believe that alienists will be relieved of the task that Is com prehended In the diagnosis of a new mental disorder. Let these reckless ones be called crazy, by alt means, and let them be treated like other crazy people, looking to their cure. EXPERIMENTS IX IRRIGATION. Elwood Mead, chief of the irrigation investigation office of the United States Department of Agriculture, after a visit to the North Pacific States, has re turned to the Rocky Mountain region, where he Is preparing to institute irri gation tests along experimental lines which have not before been attempted by the Government, and each of which will. It Is believed, add much practical knowledge to a subject which is ott paramount importance to the great semi-arid region. The first of these experiments will pertain to ''Winter Irrigation." Certain sections of Montana, notably the Gal latin and Prickly Pear Valleys, offer excellent opportunities for such a test. This will be the first attempt of the Government to conduct an experiment in this line. - The object is to reduce to actual knowledge many of the theories that pertain to irrigation, proving or disproving them as the case may be. Farmers In some localities where the water supply is irregular have learned by experience the danger of allowing the Spring freshets to drain off the sup ply furnished by small streams. To prevent this they have converted their fields into storage reservoirs, diverted the overplus of water Into them In the Winter, thus completely .saturating the subsoil and storing moisture against a time of need that would otherwise be lost. In places in California this type of Ir rigation has passed its experimental stage. When water is plenty the sub soil is filled, wells are driven, water Is pumped back at the time at which It will do the rrtost good and distributed through irrigating ditches. A test of this method will be made In Montana next Winter. Two adjoining areas will be used in each experiment, but one of which will be irrigated throughout the Winter. On the following Summer a record will be kept of the amount of water put on each area and of the crops produced on each, thus showing what advantage, if any, Is derived from Winter irrigation. In conjunction with this the Depart ment of Agriculture will conduct ex periments with alkaline soils in order to determine the influence of the chem icals that they hold on Irrigation and crops. These tests are scientific in their nature, but the results are exceedingly practical, since they will no doubt lead to a larger and more Intelligent use of water in semi-arid sections of the coun try, where all of the moisture that Is of any means available .is needed to ma ture the crops. This is distinctively the province of the Government In the work of Irrigation. When fanners know how to apply water to their soils and how to conserve the water supply when, In the language of the Irrigation expert, they "possess knowledge of the duty of water" they will be able to pass from the experimental Into the practical stage without further loss of time. An Isthmian canal that has been the dream of the ages was completed and thrown open to traffic some ten years ago. The- Gulf of Athens on the east and the Gulf of Corinth on the west so nearly cut Greece In two that a ruler of Corinth nearly 600 years before Christ conceived the Idea of completing the task left unfinished by Nature by cut ting through the narrow Isthmus. He was unable, however, to make headway against superstition that shrunk from wounding Mother Earth, and the idea was abandoned. Later the canal scheme was revived by Julius Caesar, and still later Emperor Caligula be came Interested In it. When Venice was mistress of the seas and Southern Greece was in her power, the old scheme was again taken up, only to languish and again suffer abandonment. Finally In 1881 a canal company was 'organized In Paris for the purpose of completing the work. After spending $10,000,000 it failed in 18S0. A Greek syndicate took It up, and finally, at an additional cost of $1,000,000, It was finished In 1893. The canal is only four miles long, and the deepest cut is only 260 feet, but the rock through which the channel was forced was like flint, and the work was neces sarily slow and difficult. And now, after all of these years of effort and all of this vast expenditure of money, the canal Is practically a failure. It saves a distance of 130 miles in the trade routes, but It Is not used. The wind and tide literally run riot through the cut, and shipmasters prefer the old course. With the old-new canal seeking to attract commerce, vessels still go around instead of going though Greece. The canal company has not lost hope, and Is trying to attract commerce, with the possibility of future success, but the canal Is cited as a curious instance of mistaken anticipation in a very prac tical commercial enterprise. Governor Pennypacker, pf Pennsyl vania, has vetoed a bill recently passed by the Legislature of that state which authorized Sheriffs to purchase blood hounds for the. purpose of tracking criminals. In this he was both wise and humane. The use of bloodhounds as a detective agency has of late years become something of a fad, which, when put to the test, has resulted almost unl versally in Titter failure. The useless- ness of these brutes was time and again demonstrated in the Tracy-Merrill chase in Oregon and Washington last Sum mer. The success that attended the use of bloodhounds in slavery days was of a kind that no humane person cares to recall in this more enlightened era. Their ability to take, hold and keep the scent and run down the human quarry in those times was probably due "first to the fact that the dogs were pure-bred and, .again, to careful, persistent train ing for the special purpose of slave- hunting. The so-called bloodhounds In, use where they are used today are seldom of pure breed, and are, relatively speaking, untrained. Even if the use of these brutes for tracking criminals were not open to the "charge of barbarism and to the possibility of a terrible mis take, It would belittle modern detective agencies, the intelligent employment of which renders it almost Impossible for a criminal either to remain In hiding" or to escape. What with the sharpened wits of the detective, the use of the tele graph and telephone In Intercepting the criminal's flight, the dally mall that carries the daily newspaper to every locality, the camera and the rapid-firing long-range gun, Itshould not be neces sary in order to' capture a criminal these days to put bloodhounds upon his trail. The Hessian fiy blossomed on the wheat stalks "in Kansas" yesterday, and the speculative public is now lay ing bets as to the number of laps behind the-fly the chinch bug will be. The Chi cago market, which Is always In a re ceptive or responsive mood, noted the arrival of the Hessian fly with a slight advance all along the line. Following the precedent established by the erratic Chicago market, we may expect another bulge, when the chinch bug reports at headquarters. Another time-honored precedent which the bears keep in stock and which will knock prices will be the announcement that a mistake was made and that the previously re ported Hessian fly Is only a new breed of potato bugs, or that the expected chinch bugs will turn out to be the woolly aphis, which has an aversion to wheat. The hysterical and emotional Callfornlans, who lower the price of wheat when a cloud passes over Cali fornia street, and advance" It when the sun comes forth agalp, are an erratic set of traders, but the bulls and bears of the Windy City, who .pin their faith to Hessian flies and chinch bugs, are what the street terms the "real thing" In working up or working down the market with small equipment of fact. The Democrats of the State of Wash ington are reported to be organizing for an aggressive campaign In 1904,. and Chairman Helfner hopefully expresses the opinion that "there never wa3 a time when they had as good an oppor tunity to get into power as now." It will be more than eighteen months be fore the Democrats will have an oppor tunity to demonstrate the accuracy of this statement' Tn prizefighting, when a pugilist begins, training too long be fore the event is to be pulled off, he generally becomes "stale" and unable to put up his 'best work when time Is called. Perhaps Chairman Helfner might make as good a fight if he waited until after the hot season. There Is plenty of time for a good many things to happen In eighteen months, arid some of the mavericks on which he now ex pects to place 'the Democratic brand may stray back Jnto the Republican corral before the bleak November days of 1904. The colored porters on the Santa Fe Railroad are threatening a strike un less they are granted an increase In wages. Telegraphic advices state that a grievance committee Is at Topeka to confer with General Manager Mudge re garding the matter. As it is the public, and not the railroad company, that pays the larger portion of the porters' wages, the general manager will probably dis claim further liability. A compromise might be effected, however, by permit ting the porters to use revolvers Instead of whiskbrooms in holding up the pas sengers. The news that colored porters receive any "wages" at all may seem strange to a great many travelers who have so frequently been called on to contribute to their support. If the Santa Fe should Increase the wages to a point where public donations are no longer necessary, they should advertise the fact and recoup for the extra cost with an Increased travel which will surely follow such an Innovation. From Germany comes a report by cable, under sanction of so eminent a scientific body as the Berlin Medical So ciety, of a new remedy for consumption, called "sanosin." A physician of repute is quoted as saying that a number of patients, mostly workingmen, had been cured of the disease, and that, too, with out interference with their work. The news Is likely to be received with In credulity on this side of the Atlantic. While modern bacteriology has done wonders In the last twenty years, and no man dare declare offhand against any new discovery. It Is almost beyond belief that at last an agency has been evolved to overthrow the hitherto In vincible enemy of mankind. With the failure of Koch's lymph, though it gave the world the boon of antitoxin, hope for a remedy for consumption sank low, and no subsequent experiments have revived It. The oldest Inhabitant, the weather man and the Indian who came here "earlier than that," as usual, differ slightly as to the stage of water that will be recorded In Portland when the June rise reaches its crest at Portland. There Is such a large element of chance In this matter that it Is very difficult for any one to make an accurate fore cast without -knowing just what tem perature will prevail for the next month. Davy Crockett, in traversing an Incftan-haunted region, was credited with the admonition to "Put your faith In God, but keep your powder dry." Part of this advice might be extended to the dwellers along the lowlands, with the additional suggestion that they keep their fiatboats handy. In his address this week to the stu dents of the Jacksonville High School, Professor B. F. Mulkey, of the Ashland Normal School, said: "Every man In the United States Is a part of the Gov ernment If he chooses to be; the power of the Government Is the sum of Its units." Theoretically, this Is very fine; practically, every man Is a fraction and a very small fraction at that of the unit represented by the political boss. Even in his own ward he could not be expressed with less . than four decimals. The death Is recorded of Joseph Bashaw, of Marlon bounty, at the age of 115 years, the chronicler adding that he was undoubtedly "the oldest man In Oregon." It may. Indeed, be hoped that this estimate is true. The years of a human life, when nearlng or having passed the century mark, can be. little more than a feeble record of existence, barren of hope and earthly aspiration and physical comfort. The man who shoots a member of his family for a burglar is of a tempera ment too excitable to warrant him- in .keeping firearms about his house; Bet ter let a real burglar get away with your valuables than, to shoot your wife on the supposition that she Is a night i prowler. SPIRIT OF THE NORTHWEST PRESS Give Astoria a Chance. Eugene Register. While Seattle and Tacoma are pulling hair over which shall entertain President Roosevelt, Theodore might cut those places out and take a run down the Co lumbia and get some conception of the grandeur of the father of Western waters. He Saw It AH the Time. Gervals Star. Unionism strives to enforce Its demands by using the referendum as a club. This was not the original Intention of the act, but It Is the ultimate result. It la not a surprise, either; those who looked ahead through the clouds that surrounded this bill prophesied all this and more. It is therefore no surprise. Greater as the Day Roll By. Tacoma Ledger. Withal, It Is pleasing to reflect that the President becomes greater as he becomes better known. He assumes an aspect o reality; no longer is he- the mere chosen head of the Government, but flesh and blood, a living, virile force; a man whom to honor Is a delight, and who has won a place in the esteem of his fellows for that which he la, and is doing. One Opinion of the Referendum. Astoria Astorian. Oregon has discovered what the initia tive and referendum means: namely, that it Is always a dead letter unless some body wants to use It for Improper pur poses. Ordinarily the people tako..not the slightest notice of it, and you cannot get them to come out when the referen dum Is asked for. In other cases It Is simply used aa a club by one set of In fluences .to coerce others. k No Telling: What He May Do. Woodburn Independent, No one really expects that President Roosevelt will make a speech in favor of the candidacy of Binger Hermann. There has been nothing of a political nature so far in his trip, and he Is not foolish enough to break such an admirable record during his brief visit In Oregon. Yes, he may shake hands with Binger in a hearty manner. They belong to the same party and are not enemies. Time to Cry for Good Roads. Lebanon Criterion. Now since the mud has dried up we hear little agitation in regard to good roads. In fact at the present time the roads are excellent and need little fixing. Next Winter when the roads are again rivera of mud we will hear more good roads talk but it will then be too late to do any "good roads" work until tne next dry soason when the roads will be good again and won't need fixing. Cnllfornio, Crows a. Little. Sacramento Record-Union. The Portland "Oregonlan" says that President Roosevelt is now in tho land of flowers, but that he will not see ijer fectlon in the rose until he reaches Port land, and that the first crop is "ripe" there on the 21st, We have not the slight est objection to our contemporary boast ing of Its beautiful city. To wit, "Sally In our alley Is the prettiest girl In town," and very properly so. But when It claims that rose development in Portland or anywhere else upon the Pacific Coast sur passes rose growth In California, and es pecially in Central California, it speaks from ignorance. Good Tiling- for Eastern Oregon. . Dalles 'Times-Mountaineer. Of all portions of Eastern Oregon The Dalles and Wasco County have the least direct interest in the building of the port age, for here we have nothing to gain by the opening of the Columbia to free navi gation above this place, although the im provements to be made are all within the county. We already have the benefits to be derived from an open river, for we have an open river to the sea. But real izing what a benefit this is we desire that our neighbors to the east shall enjoy the same benefits, and we are pleased that the business men of Portland are coming to their assistance. Politics and Law of Libel. Spokane Spokesman-Review. The truth Is, the forces back of the Pennsylvania libel law are essentially po litical and essentially machine the same Influences which tried to muzzle the press In th Washington Legislature last Win ter. The outcry comes from a lot of politicians who are smarting because they have been exposed. The people have no complaint. They know that no responsible newspaper assails the business man, the farmer or the wage-earner who may be attending to his owruprivate affairs. Pub lic men and public affairs are proper sub jects of press criticism. The people want it so, and so it will continue to be. One Good Professional Politician. Walla Walla Union. Had Theodore Roosevelt sought office for the sake of Its financial consideration it would be different. But he was born with a silver spoon In his mouth. He al ways has had a reasonably good income and has made more money with his writ ings. He studied law, but finally made up his .mind to enter politics as a profes sion, and if there can be such a profes sion no man has served more to elevate Its position. He chose to work Instead of banging about fashionable clubs or being In the "400.". So while it is true that he has always sought office, he has been a professional politician who has done a vast amount of good for hlg country. It is .to be regretted there are not more office-seekers of the Roosevelt stamp. No Excuse for Lynching:. Idaho Statesman. In a frontier community where there Is no pretense that the machinery of the Government has been put In good work ing order, lynchings in extraordinary coses, in which they are demanded in the interest of public safety, can be condoned. It was so In some parts of the West years ago, but there Is no longer any portion of the United States where the In terests of justice cannot safely be left to the care of the courts. Neither In the West, in the South, In the Middle West, nor in any other, section does there re main any valid excuse for lynching. When mobs gather about jalls break down the doors, and, taking wretched malefactors or Innocent persons out, do them to death, they cast odium upon their country In the minds of all people of other countries where human passions are held In better restraint by the laws. General Miles' Report. New York Herald. Old proverbe says, "That byrd ys not honest That fyleth hys owne nest." It,must be very painful to General Miles as the commanding General of the Army to find that his report on the Philippines is given to the public The suggestion that he encouraged the clamor for Its publication is really incredi ble. What man in his position, with nice sense of honor and a high regard for the good name of the service, would rake over the ashes of conflict In the hope of finding something which would encourage the enemies of the American soldier to picture him as a brutal and cruel mon ster? Who ever heard of the head of an army discrediting It before the world by re hearsing in an official paper mere hearsay stories gleaned from the enemy and which, as he admits, "cime to his notice in a casual way"? As a matter of fact, most of the incidents to which General Miles refers were made public very long ago, and their perpetrators have been courf martialed and punished or dismissed. If the author of this report were what Mr. Devery would call "chesty," jealous or Itching for publicity, its preparation could be explained, but otherwise and as the work of the commanding General of the Army, the document leaves tbe pa triotic citizen, "jpoeed, puzzled and per- Flexed." - NEW BUILDING TRADES MOVEMENT New York Times. ' The conditions now existing In the building trades are Intolerable. That they are so Is perhaps the natural result of the fact that In these trades the relation be-, tween employer and workman Is casual, forming and dissolving as buildings are begun and finished. There can be no community of interest among persons thus accidentally and temporarily related. Another reason Is that the assembling of the elements of a building Is skilled labor of the kind with which machinery cannot compete. All that can be desae by ma chinery In the preparation of materials Is now done, but the actual erection of a building Is and must remain hand labor. The builder who takes a contract goes Into the open labor market and hires such men as he-needs. Ho cares nothing for them nor they for him. The conflict for advantage begins with tho excavation of the cellar, and does not end until the last touch has been given to the Interior trim. Such conditions give the profes sional agitators of the labor movement a great advantage. From one after another of the great organized Industries they have been driven by the establishment of stable conditions which leave no room for their special activities. The building trades do not admit of this sort of or ganization, and they will remain the storm center of disturbance until labor takes the matter In hand and brings or der out of chaos. From the admittedly incomplete statistics of the Labor Bureau of this state it appears that In the year ended with September. 1902, 11,210 work men engaged in building operations lost 15S.316 days by reason of strikes and lock outs. In New York City alone 7630 work men lost 76,630 days' work from other causes than the scarcity of employment- The labor employed in building opera tions has never been more than partially organized. Probably as many men are out of the unions as in them. We also have the paradox of competing unions striking to destroy one another. These ! conditions have led to the formation of an Incorporated- society known as the In dependent Labor League of America, Its objects are stated as follows: To protect workmen In their Independence. To avoid strikes and lockouts, boycotts and blacklists. To obtain "high wages, satisfactory hours and conditions, by: (a) More Intelligent application of the work men's energies, (b) Harmonious co-operation between employers and employes; (c) Legiti mate business methods. To furnish favorable conditions for training apprentices. In order that boys may become successful workmen. To provide lectures and demonstrations on trade subjects for all members. To compel officers of the local, state and Jfa-, tlonal Governments to enforce the laws. To protect members against unjust treat ment from employers by du-i process of law. To provide an employment bureau for mem bers. To provide means for members to guard against sickness and accident. To provide In all lawful ways for the wel fare of the members and the maintenance of their rights under the laws .and the Constitu tion of the United. States. This is a very attractive prospectus. Whether It can be carried out depends wholly upon the willingness of the em ployers to co-operate with the member ship in accomplishing the objects sought. To this end it will be necessary for them to enter into agreements with the Inde pendent Labor League, promising Its members every advantage secured by the unions through strikes and coercion. They must further engage to maintain a board of arbitration to Tvhlch all disputes shall be referred for prompt decision, and pledge themselves to abide Tay its awards. Through Its employment bureau the leaguo must bind Itself to furnish a suffi--cient supply of skilled labor to any em-r ployer or contractor who compiles with the decisions of the board of arbitration in good faith. There Is no room for strikes or lockouts in such a system, and if they occur, the persons responsible for them, whether employers or workmen. should be promptly and Inexorably ex cluded from further participation in Its benefits. On the other hand, if the work men discover that through membership In the league they suffer disadvantage as compared with union workmen; that they are expected to work longer hours or for less wages than the unions have secured, and that they are serving as a club to defeat the plans and purposes of the unions for the advantage of the em ployers, they will make short work of the league and go over to the unions. It all depends upon the nature and honesty of the co-operation given to the move ment by the employers. The men are not actuated" In this matter by any senti ment of loyalty to the contractors. They want the best terms obtainable for faith ful and continuous labor, and unless they get them they will make no sacrifices for the benefit of the speculative and con tracting builders. If membership in the league and obedience to Its principles are of advantage to them and to the trade they follow, they will join and support it. The matter presents Itself to the con tractors and builders as a simple and per fectly Intelligible business proposition. Xo Cnnse for Excitement. Kansas City Star. Admitting all of the offensive vulgarity and commercialism attending an affair like the Yarmouth-Thaw wedding and the features of proper taste and sensibility, it offers no especial reason for excite ment. Titles have become a fad among American heiresses, and there are enough poor noblemen and slips of royalty In Europe to accept all of the attractive bids that are made for coronets and like decorations. To self-respecting, clean- minded people this is 'an odious sort of traffic Society as a wholfe need concern Itself very little with the doings of what is styled the smart set since there Is too much heart and decency in the country to warrant any fear of commercialism in tha family and home as a practice, and 'not forgetting that people who sell themselves for money or titles or anything else are always sure to be well cheated. A Sew Catholic Bible. Tho Very Rev. Dr. Charles P. Grannan, of the Catholic University at Washington. has been appointed a member of the In ternational Biblical Commission created by tne pope to conduct extensive re searches in order that the Catholic church might possess tho best, translation of the Bible. The commission has been increased from the original 12 to 40 members, and work has been begun through correspond ence. A session of all members is ex pected to take place at Rome in the Autumn. The Faces That Smile. S. W. Gillian In Baltimore American. Brother, your are gazing backward toward the scenes of your mistakes; Tou are weeplnc o er your errors till your proud heart almost breaks. You're repenting and regretting, you are sigh ing, "O, alas!" And you're mlsslngr all the glories of. the pres ent as they pass. Leave tbe grim and grewsome picture look the other war awhile. Tor the face that's toward the future Is the face that wears a emile. Tou are lost In contemplation of, the blunders you have made: You are sighing o'er the countless times your soul has been dismayed. But the future's sun Is shining- on the future's verdant trees, And. the future's birds are singing you are missing all of these. Cease that -useless gazing backward, look the other way awhlloc - Tat the. faces toward the future are the only ones that smile. When your back Is to the future then the blaz ing lamp of hope Throws your shadow o'er your landscape and with blinded eyes you grope For the blessings that had vanished with the times they strove to bless; Face about and you'll discover all your grcp- Ing'tf fruitlessness. You'll be dazzled by the glory of the prospect for awhile. Bet with face turned to- the-, future you will learn to wear a, snlls r ; , NOTE AND COMMENT. The Master Plumbers will form a com bine. This oiight to be called a read-pipe cinch. 4 '.App'arenty?tho only thing eft for Con gressman Humphrey to do Is to go ahead and be damned. ' r ",; ; The test given by McEwen the hypnotist on Thursday demonstrated his ability to "look in the book and see." A number of deaf mutes In Chicago are to give an operetta, and oh, what a relief It would be to most of us to attend! Mr. Harriman, was able to pass, through Ogden and Green River without stopping his train. Most travelers would like to be able to do the same. We are Informed that Portland will still "continue to enjoy her share of the trans port business." At times the War De partment is really humorous. Several robbers, at Helper, Utah, en tered a saloon yesterday, and, after joking with the bartender, they removed $2000 from the till and departed. They might be called Merry Helpers. An Eastern scientist jjays the moon con trols the rain. We never knew before, arid we are glad to learn. We always had a sort of an Idea that J. P. Morgan had something to do with It. The company which is to repair Morri son and Washington streets must bo firm believers in the old adage, "It Is never too late to mend." They seem to be put ting off tbe mending as long as possible. If King Edward visits this country and bucks up against tho Tacoma-Seattle com bination, he will surely wonder why a lone King stands so high when It Isn't even as good as a pair of deuces. A visitor in the city yesterday wanted to know why tho workmen on the Seventh-street improvement had struck. He was Informed they had not struck at all, and that It was simply the way the pav ing company does business. A St. Louis politician has confessed to crimes, saying ho could not stand the mental torture resulting from the unlaw ful acts. This Is the first time on record Where any politician has ever been known to have had any mental torture. Jl. tall, slim man boarded a street-car In Washington wearing a rather flashy looking get-up, consisting of checked suit, tan shoes and straw hat with a flaming red band around it. The conduc tor disapproved of him audibly, saying among other things: "Them dudes make me tired." He watched his passenger get off at the British Consulate, but refused to modify his opinion when informed that the tall man was Sir Michael Herbert, King Edward's Ambassador to the United States. In a lecture delivered to students of Columbia University Judge Cox, of the United States Circuit Court, told of a young lawyer who came before the Supremo . Court to argue a case in which he was also defendant. Addressing the court, he referred to the old French adage that he who argues his own case has a fool for a client. After the case had been heard he left for his home in St. Louis, asking a friend to notify him by wire when the decision was handed down. This was tho pithy telegram he received: "Old French adage affirmed"." Evidently it was with great sincerity that a guide in the Yellowstone Park wrote of hls appreciation of the President in a letter to a New Havener, who once availed himself of his services there, and also gained his friendship. "We had a nice Winter," he wrote, the New Haven Register, making the matter public "The Snow Is nerley all gon. The President was up to see me and stopped 2 days and had a good time, he is still In the Park and will be threw In' 4 or 5 days, he Is en joying himself and having a good rest from all bisness. He Treated me fine. I was wel pleased with him." Charles H. Robb, Assistant Attorney General of the Postofflce Department, has a fund of apt stories which he tells with considerable effect. He was asked the other day regarding the status of somo matter In connection with the Postoffica frauds. "I don't care to say Ju3t at pres ent. It might put me In the position of an old country Justice whom I knew once. He nearly always- had. & strong opinion regarding cases that came before him. One day after he had decided an Issue he walked down town with ona of the liti gants. The latter was asked bjra friend how he had come out in court, We won all right,' said the old Justice before the plaintiff had time to answer." A curious difficulty has arisen at Llan dudno, Wales, where the lessee of a theater had undertaken to produce an historical drama written and performed in Welsh. The play Is based on tha career of the last native Prince of Wales. The company had concluded th final dress rehearsal and Welshmen wero look ing forward to tho reproductions of Welsh life and language of six centuries ago, when the British censor of- plays stepped. In. His protest was that he can not license a play which ha cannot under stand. So "Llewelyn eln Llyw Olaf" (that Is Its title) Is hung up. But even If tha censor cannot be expected to learn Welsh before May 28, the advertised date of pro duction, one wpuld think that he might find some one able to judge a play written In a language spoken by over 1,000,000 Inhabitants of Great Britain. PLEAS ASTRIE S OF PARAGRAPHERS She The minister Is very broad In his views, lie Yes, and as long as he Is broad. Yon kcrs Statesman. She I know you must have made love be fore to some other girl. He But I had you In mind all the tlme-Llfe. Mrs. Trotter I don't know what Is the mat ter with tfiese slippers. Her husband Perhaps they're large enough. Puck. '06 So Cutterly had to leave college! What a sad condition of affairs! 05 Nay, rather, a sad fair of conditions. Harvard Lampoon, Husband (angrily) I never saw a woman a hard to please as you are. Wife (calmly My dear, you forget that I .married you-Chlcago Bally News. . Clara What are you reading now? Dora Historical novels. Clara Do you like them? Dora Yes. Indeed. There Is eo much, I can skip. New York Weeklj. "If a fairy should appear to you and offsr you three wishes." said the imaginative young woman, "what would you do " "I'd sign the pledge," answered tha matter-of-fact-man. Washington Star. "I thought Smlthera had given up his how in favor of automobiles, but I saw him buy ing a heavy pair of animals today." "Oh, they are- merely to bring- Jhe automobile home, when they break dovn. Cincinnati Commercial Tribune. In a class of a certain Sunday school near HaryhiH, a question was put to a scholar as to why such jl strons bond of love existed be-, tween Jonathan and, David. There was silence for some considerable time, when jone of the youngest remarked: "It was Jlst because David wis walkln oot wl Jonathan's slater." That teacher did ruat yanme tbe subject further- i Glasgow Evening Tine.