THE MORNIKG- OKE&OSTlAls, WEDNESDAT, FEBRUAKY 17, 1904. Entered at th Postofflce at Portland. Ore gon, a second-class matter. KEVIEED SUBSCRIPTION RATES. Br mail (postage prepaid In advance) Dally, with Sunday, per month $0.S3 Daily, Sunday excepted, per year....... 7.50 Daily, -with Sunday, per year .00 Sunday, per year - 2.00 The "Weekly, per year... ...... ......... 1-50 The Weekly, 3 months -50 Dally, per week, delivered. Sunday excepted.l5c Dally, per week; delivered, Sunday lnduded-iOc POSTAGE BATES. United States, Canada and Mexico 10 to 14-page paper....... A.. .......le 16 to SO-page paper. ............ ......2c 22 to 44-page paper... ............... 3o Foreign rates double. The Oregonlan does Txot buy poems or stories from individuals, and cannot under take to return any manuscripts sent to It without solicitation. No stamps should be Inclosed for this purpose. EASTERN" BUSINESS OFFICES. (Tho S. C. Beclewlth Special Agency) Jfew Tork: Booms 43-48, Tribune Building. ChicaEo: Booms 510-512. Tribune Building. jept on sat.k. Chicago Charles MacDonald. 53 Washing ton St.. and Auditorium' Annex; Postofflce Kewt Co.. 178 Dearborn. . , DtnrcWuIIui Black. Hamilton & Hend rlck, 900-012 Seventeenth St; Loutban & Jackson, Fifteenth and Lawrence. Kansas City Bicksecker Cigar Co., Ninth end Walnut. Los Angeles B. F. Gardner, 239 South Epring; OUver & Haines, 205 South Spring, and Harry Drapkln. Minneapolis 1L J. Kavsnaugh. 50 South Third; J Begelsbuger, 317 First Avenue South. New l"o rk City L. Jonas & Co, Astor House. , Ogden W. C. AMen. Postofflce Cigar Store: T. B. Godard; W.0. Kind, 114 25th St-,: C. H. Myers. Omaha Barkalow Brov, 1812 Farnam: McLaughlin Bros.. 210 South 14th; Slegeath Stationery Co., 130S Farnam. Salt Lake Salt Lake News Co.. 77 West Second South St. 6t Louis World's Fair News Co. San Francisco -J. K. Cooper Co., 7 to Mar ket, near Palace Hotel; Foster & Orear. Ferry News Stand: Goldsmith Bros., 23C Sutter; L. E. Lee, Palace Hotel News Stand: F. W. Pitts. 1008 Market; Frank Scott. 80 Ellis; N. TVheatley. S3 Stevenson. Washington, D. C. Ed Brlntanan, Fourth end Pacific Ave,, N. W.; Ebbltt House News titand. TODAY'S WEATHER Showers; southwest crly winds. YESTERDAY'S" WEATHER Maximum tem perature. 46 cleg.; minimum, 30. Precipita tion, 0.17 Inch. IOKTLAND, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 NOT ON RELIGIOUS GROUNDS. Christian sects that undertake to cure bodily ailments by laying on of hands, prayer, fasting, etc, are measurably amenable to the law of the land for the results of malpractice, Just as the more accepted schools of healing are so amenable. Their therapeutic activity is not to be arraigned, either on medical or theological grounds; for the stand ards set up by church or medicine can not be recognized by government. Selfishness and humbug survive in each realm; but the civil authorities will un dertake to protect the weak and help less against murder under any guise. There is the same authority tor treat ing smallpox by laying on of hands that there is for keeping the Sabbath day holy or for the rites of baptism, the Eucharist, or any Christian institu tion, large or small. It says in the Sermon on the Mount that if a man take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also; and in the same, chapter of Exodus that contains the ten com mandments we are forbidden to use rteps in the house of worship or stones; that have been hewn by tools. Both Old and New Testaments are full of commands and prohibitions which are observed or not by the vari ous sects according as they elect to honor some In the breach and others in fhe observanc. Isolated texts are sometimes taken as the foundation for a denominational system. The antag onistic theories and practices of the apostolic age find innumerable expres sions in the gospels and epistles which may be and are availed of to the Infi nite confusion of the evangelical world. The selection of some utterances for ap proval and others for condemnation is purely arbitrary and without defense. "The prayer of faith shall save the sick," enunciated by the chief dictator of the apostolic church, is as authori tative as anything uttered by the par tially independent Peter and the. openly heretical Paul. It is nothing against a religious sect that it bases its theory and practice upon a Scriptural tenet which is disowned by one or twenty other sects. Miracles of Christian Sci ence in the twentieth century are as credible and logical as miracles of St. Paul in the first century. Neither can government discriminate between the pet theories of antagonistic schools of healing. The sick woman has an equal right to call upon allopath, hydropath, medium or divine healer. The heterodox lose patients, but so do the orthodox. It is only that certain physical means of treatment for certain ailments have been so far approved by experience as to be properly enjoined by the state upon penalty of interven tion by force. One of these means is vaccination and isolation In smallpox. This treatment is advisedly and justly enjoined upon all alike, -regardless of medical or theological belief. Interfer ence would be justified In a case where it was proposed to pray for a ruptured artery Instead of binding it up. and this without regard to the religious or med ical faith of the person responsible. The plea "It is God's will," offered in abatement of a death from smallpox, Is quite as pertinent In this case as in countless others where the miscarriage of human plans and the results of hu man crime or carelessness are sought to be shuffled off on the Almighty. I'ERIL OF "PRACTICAL" EDUCATION. The president of Columbia "University said the other day: "The college course Is In serious danger, by reason of the fact that the secondary' school is reach ing up Into its domain on the one hand and the professional school Is 'reaching down to it on the other." This is the oldconflict between the literaryand his torical and the practical and scientific systems of education. At bottom of it lies the question whether there should be a college course constructed for It self alone, and for the Intellectual needs of the youth of the time, without refer ence to specific careers; or whether the so-called utilitarian view of education Is to be all In all. In fact, no single rule can suffice for all classes of minds. But it may be accepted as certain that the cojlege course, so-called, w'll be useless to many upon whom there Is attempt to force it. For all such, "prac tical education" is perhaps the utmost need; for one never needs what he can not understand or use. The true education is that course of training which will, raise a human be ing from the bondage of "nature" up towards a typical man one who shall be a man by better right than he Is a machine. In education, as In politics and affairs, the purely materialistic idea is a low one. Life has or should have in it something richer than that. It ought to bring out the best of a man's own independent powers. Edu cation is not fate, but is a process of growth, modified, controlled and per fected by human art. Man is not the passive victim of his environment, but has such power over it of modification and control, as either to transcend that environment or virtually to recreate it. So the main purpose of education Is to enable the individual to participate with advantage in the conscious life of the race. " It Jsa low and false assumption that Instruction serves" "only for the practi cal use. that can- be made of it. It should be - disciplinary rather than merely "practical." . .Then a true cul ture Is likely to be the result of the effort. riTFAIXS FOR DEMOCRACY. The -general "favor extended to the Japanese cause by republican govern ments and their citizens throughout the world may go far toward explaining the leaning shown toward Russia by official Germany. The irrepressible conflict! between- monarchy and democracy is ap prehended more keenly by none than by Emperor "William himself- Hence Germany could not be Induced to sup port the cause of the Boer republics against British imperialism. Hejnce Germany viewed with alarm the im petus given democracy by our activity and successes in the war with Spain. The excuses put forth from Berlin as to the German sympathy with Russia have the insincere ring of afterthought, Germany, It is said, welcomes Russian assertion in Turkey as a check to Ger many's great rival, England; Germany will be prepared to wltr something- for herself in China should Russia be vic torious In Manchuria; as between the Mongolian and Caucasian In this strug gle, Germany will choose the white. All of which theorems are doubtless meant to cover up the ominous dread felt by official Germany lest another great autocratic power shall follow Spain In being bumbled by another great democratic power, Japan, follow ing the precedent set by the United States in 1898. Next to Russia, the great military despotism of the globe Is Germany; and Jt bodes no good to the divine right of Kings and the perpetuity of thrones if the wars of the twentieth century are to be won by representative govern ments like Great Britain, Japan and the United States, over autocracies" like Germany, Spain and Russia. Emperor "William is looking ahead; and it must be said there Is reason for his alarm; for at present there is every Indication that Japan will administer such a shock to "Russia as will set every throne in Europe" on' a tremble. And not only that; but If Japan reaps, as now seems likely, a tremendous victory and as cendency over Manchuria andCorea, she- will be in no. mood to: listen pa tiently to representations rom Ger many and Great Britain, or from Sec retary Hay himself, that some consid erable portion of her advantages gained shall be turned over as a. mark of es 'teem to her European rivals. "We are prone. In the Unted States, to take the demonstration of .democ racy's finality for granted. Probably we are right; and .yet there have not ibeen lacking sonic very acute thinkers who doubt, whether .th$ benefits' of pop ular government are equal to Its losses,, and dangers.; That Is to say, there are philosophers who woulct take Emperor. "William's side in this,, controversy, viewing it as an affair of intellectual interest and moment. They feel that power Is safer in the hands of a trained and permanent ruling class than In the hands of the masses; that when we throw away the accumulated mo mentum of aristocratic courts, estab lished churches and hereditary nobil ity, we deliberately sacrifice some of the most powerful aids to good manners and correct morals. The drift of Protestantism toward rationalism compels many men to' turn to the Catholic Church as the only1 safe refuge In religion; and the drift of de mocracy toward socialism Invites to monarchy or oligarchy as the means of escape from anarchy. The rigors of ab solutism cause us to sigh for democ racy; and the excesses of democracy make us long for the concentration of power In a wise and firm autocrat, to' whom the blandishments of wealth or the mad discontent of the masses would be alike negligible. It-is hardly con-, ceivable that the pendulum which has come so far toward democracy should again swing back toward monarchy; yet the future Is wholly unknown, and this very thing has happened to every great republican era of history Greece, Rome, Venice, Italy, Holland. In case of any general revolt from democracy, to absolutism, in religion, society and'' government, Russia might very easily become the rallylng-polnt of the con servative forces. BRAKE MUST MAKE GOOD. The consolidation of two large Irriga tion enterprises in the Deschutes coun try indicates that the energy heretofore expended in contests over water rights Is to be turned to more satisfactory use. One large corporation with capital be hind it has purchased the conflicting in terests and by applying for 80,000 acres additional has control of over 200,000 acres of arid land. The new company announces that It will begin work at once and have water flowing upon the thirsty soil in less than sixty days. All the circumstances seem to Indicate that the company is proceeding in good faith and will reclaim tfie land as fast as It is needed for settlement. If It should fall In this respect, the State Land Board stands ready to enforce fulfill ment of Its obligations In accordance with the spirit and letter of the arid land law. "When the state arid-land law was passed, accepting the gift of Govern ment land under the Carey act, the fear was expressed that under this act spec ulators could secure and keep control of vast areas of grazing land without reclaiming It. This would defeat the purpose of the act, hinder development and create a monopoly. At a recent meeting of the State Land Board, when representatives of the new irrigation company were present, the members of the board expressed in the plainest terms their Intention to see that the provisions of the law are carried out. As stated by one gentleman, the board does not propose that the state shall be held up by a company holding an arid-land contract That is stralght-from-the-shoulder talk, and the board will act up to lts promises. This is a purely business transaction of great im portance to the Industrial welfare of the state- If the Irrigation company proves to be here for the purpose of re claiming land and putting settlers upon it, the state will give It ever' reason- able encouragement. If it has any other purpose, the sooner It Is gotten rid of the better, 'for the Government would vers likely undertake the con struction of a great irrigation system In the Deschutes country if the private concerns were not already there. To construct the works as planned will J cost 52,500,000. If foreign capita comes here and spends that amount of money in making arid land productive, the people of Oregon will- not begrudge them a good profit on their Investment. XOSS TO THE STANDPATTERS. "With the passing of 'Senator HannaJ there has gone out from our political life the strongest individual force in the company of public men whose chief concern Is the shelter of the protected corporations, not only from right and necessary tariff reductions, but even from public inquiry into the privileges and tributes which they are enjoying at public expense under cover of the law. There is the highest Republican, au thority for the doctrine that tariffs need revision from. time to time in the interests of consumers and of justice. The later speeches of President McKin ley were full of this thought. He ar gued strongly for tariff reform as a means to increased prosperity,, espe cially in the direction of better foreign markets. It is not possible 'for us, he said, always to buy and never' to selL "Wherever we find tariffs that are no longer needed, they should be removed in order to stimulate our trade and thus iudirectly our sales abroad. Across the path of every step in this reformatory direction Senator Hanna. stood like a stone waif.. He said that the tariff should never be changed so long as he had power to prevent It Such ..was his force of .character, .such 1 his facility in accomplishing things, that to him the protected interests turned .as to a friend in need. ' He in sisted on justice to the coal' miners; he went to the front for labor on many occasions. But the unorganized body of consumers and the abstract Justice pf honest tariffs had no claim upon him because he knew they had no votes to be delivered in a. body for or against him or his party on election day. It .has been the fortune of President Roosevelt to be circumscribed in his efforts for tariff reform by the ruling coterie In the Senate. All his rec ommendations on the subject have been Ignored. But no one who -knows him can doubt Nfor a moment that when the exigencies of this campaign are over and when the acute stages of Panama and Asiatic matters, have been passed he :vcljl a'd dress himself io tariff reform, with the same vigor and honesTy he has shown in so many other directions. It will be the duty and privilege of. President Roosevelt to assist the pro tective tariff system of the United States, which will be perpetuated whether under honest DIngley or dis honest "Wilson bills, up to a plane of fairness and moderation Which will ren der it Impervious to the attacks of Democratic ,or free trade visionaries. In the main the tariff is approximately fair enough. But Its Inequalities and absurdities are a standing Indictment of Congressional honesty and discern ment The special favors It grants to corporations like the" steel trust and paper trust are. contrary to sound pol icy and common honesty. Tariff re formers In tfte Republican, party, like' Senator Foraker, G,oyernor Cummins ana eDresenat'yje, JBabcotk, will feel more free speak' their minds now than .heretqfor.,. -Tbe President is Just the man. to be interested In their cause. THE HISTORY FOR THE SCHOOLS. The Lewis and Clark Centennial occa sion, now Just at hand, furnishes teach ers o'f the schools of the great North-" west a rare opportunity to Impart to and Impress upon children the facts and incidents pertaining to the history of the Louisiana Purchase and the explor ation and early settlement of the Ore gon Country. There Is not In all his tory a more fascinating theme than this, or dne more replete with the ro mance of exploration and adventure. The facts in the premises are readily accessible, andjnay be succinctly and entertainingly set forth In language that will appeal to the understanding of the child, and at the same time arouse his interest and stimulate his patriot ism. This story is not a difficult one to tell, nor are the facts which compose It Sard to obtain. A simple plan,- sys tematically and carefully carried out, will suffice to put before the school children of the Pacific Northwest facts of local history now a century old that every teacher In our public schools should be capable of presenting and every -Intelligent pupil 10 years old and upward would hear with interest The storyhas been simply told in an "enter taining way for younger children by Nellie F. Kingsley and published by the "Werner School Book Company, of New York, in a book of 128 pages. It is told somewhat more, elaborately fo? older readers In a book written by "W. R. Llghton and published by Houghton, Mifflin & Co., of Boston. It would be well if the more juvenile book were in the hands of every child In our public schools, while teachers might not only read both with profit, but they could find therein material for a story 'to which pupils would listen attentively and eagerly. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction might very properly take the initiative in getting this historical matter before the pupils of the schools of Oregon. It -Is probable that -the mass of teachers are themselves not well In formed upon the simple data that make up this attractive chapter in our National and State history. It would be well to require them to study it, in the concise form given in the books to which reference Js above made, and later, but still very so.on, to compile the story and tell it to their classes in their own words, on days or dates des ignated for that purpose. It would not be possible in any other way to arouse an Interest so universal in a matter that, more than any other. claims the attention of loyal citizens of Oregon and of the Northwest at this time. The plan is a simple one, and Its execution Is entirely feasible. It will involve but little expense and time, and if carried out conscientiously will sow broadcast, so' to., speak, information lacking which our children will be Ig norant of the history of the acquire ment and early exploration of the "West ern half of the .North American Conti nent , Specifically, the history thus dissemi nated will awaken an interest in the Lewis and Clark Exposition that it would not be possible or practicable io arouse in any other way. The Orego nlan believes this to be a. practical as it certainly Is a timely suggestion, and would most respectfully and earnestly "ask the educational authorities" of the state to consider It and if they- deem X it . practicable, to give It their official indorsement. The Outlook a week or two ago called attention to the fact that while there are now 50,000 Porto Rlcan children In school where there was not a school- house on the' island when we took charge of It there are still some 310,000 children unprovided for and no means to provide for 'theim Tlie poverty of the Islanders, it Justly remarks, will keep them ignorant and their ignorance will, keep them poor. - It urges that Congress helpthe island out of this vi cious circle by providing money for the necessary schools' and teachers. The suggestion is a wise as' well as a hu mane one. Once the schools were pro vided, J10.000.000 a year would keep them goings and it would not be many years before the island itself could as sume the burden. But, even if it were to be a permanent charge, it would be cheaper than to foster Ignorance -and backwardness by neglect. Leaving out of account all possible political compli cations from a population reared In Ig norance and exercising the rights of citizenship with, which we have -clothed the Porto Ricans, the. economic advan tages of a high average of intelligence are obvious. "We do a large business with Porto Rico now, but -we should do more if their standard of Hying were raised", as It' can only be raised, by 'the development of intelligence. The Government, or rather that por tion of, the Government which has charge of the transport service, having discovered the location of Portland on the map and incidentally learned that it Is admirably equipped for economical dispatching of , transports, will try .again. The Buford, a 9000-ton vessel. will follow the Dix in loading at this port for Manila, and it is even hinted that others may come here. This will be sad news for the "knockers" at Se attle and San Francisco,. - who have heretofore exerted- a pul" sufficient to drag the- business Into more expensive ports, bub It Is a -demonstration of the fact that right sometimes prevails; even In the Government service. Now that the Ice Is broken, we might go a little farther and ask the Government to in quire Into the matter and learn whether or not ship -stores, coal, etc, are not as cheap at Portland as they are. in San Francisco. Inquiry of this nature might lead to a still greater saving being ef fected, and Portland tradesmen would appreciate the favor equally as much as their. San Francisco brethren, who have for so long shared X'ith Seattle a mo nopoly of the business to the exclusion of Portland. The Chicago' wheat market slumped off about 2 cnts per. b.ushel. yesterday, not because the wheat' which Is used in the manufacture of flour and breakfast foods was any more plentiful, or be cause the cold wave had frozen the Jaws of the chlnchbug, Hessian fly and other accessories of a bull market In stead it was following the laws of .grav itation. When Sir Isaac Newton made his famous discovery of .this law he permitted the pippin to fall to the ground. Mr. ' Armour, who is experi menting with' the law of gravitation as applied to the wheat market, ddes not go. so far with his experiment Before the marked, gets half-way , down to where the -commercial -lavs.-.of i.ravlta tloit would 'send it, this, latest friend of the farmer catches It and givesr-itan,-. other upward boost Other wheat kings have pursued the same 'tactics In the past but' the violent exercise necessary has generally "knocked their crowns off before the experiment was . concluded and in the end wheat landed where the pippin did that is, where the support was natural, and not artificial. The prospective opening of the Crow reservation; In Eastern Montana, is a source of gratification to the people of that section of the-Rocky Mountain re gion: The bill providing for this has passed the lower house of Congress and the Senate Is on record as being friend ly to the measure. The land that is to be thrown open to settlement. When the necessary preliminaries are arranged, i3 well adapted to purposes of agriculture, and stockralslng. The land laws. In a case of this kind, are strictly enforced, thus Insuring their occupancy by set tlers of the Homebuilding or permanent class. All Eastern Montana expects to' profit by the addition of this large body "of arable and Irrigable land to the pub lic domain. "While It may be noted as. another step toward the gradual extinc tlon of the Indians, .through. Indulgence1 in the vices of civilization which large sums of money in hand make possible to them", it Is still lh, accordance with the law of progress, the "wisdom of which cannot be questioned. Mr. Moso, the Japanese Consul at Montreal, has arrived - at : Ottawa to make a protest against the- Japanese exclusion act recently passed by the British .Columbia Legislature. "Japan ese cheap labor has played the same part In the development of the "West ern provinces of Canada as was played by Chinese labor In the early develop ment of Oregon and "Washington. As "hewers of wood and drawers of water" they were of valued assistance lh pav ing the way for the higher-priced white labor which came later. However,- the Japs are not wanted in Canada, and the Chinese are not wanted Jn the United States, and Mr. Moso might as well go back to Montreal and wait patiently until he can bring his countrymen Into Canada on the same terms that they have been going . into Corea, and may later go -Into- Manchuria, Siberia and any other old place where their fancy leads and their gunboats follow. In 1804, when Napoleon threatened to Invade England, the English Ministry sanctioned a project for destroying the enemy's flotilla collected at Boulogne by means of copper vessels of an oblong form filled with combustibles and so constructed as to explode by clockwork In a given time. These vessels were to be towed and fastened under the bot toms of the enemy's gunboats by a man In a small raft who might possibly elude detection in a dark night This primitive torpedo-boat proved a com plete failure, and the marine torpedo does not seem to have been very effect ive in warfare before our Civil "War of 1861-63. . Cost of. Siberian Railroad. United States Consular Reports. The construction of the great Trans-Si bcrlan Railway, comprising a length of 5042 versts (593a miles), has cost $40,259,401 rubles (hm.554.41o), or an average of 103, 9S7 rubles ($33,553) per verst (JS1.326.S4 per mile). The loss endured through the dls orders in China is estimated at 10.000.000 rubles (J5.150.000). The Ministry of "Ways and' Means of Communication has found Isi necessary to enlarge the rolling stock of the fourth-class service to TOGO cars, to be used for transportation of laborers, emigrants and recruits. fc ' BENEFITS RAILROAD COMPETITION' Chicago Record-Herald. In the struggle which is now Kolnsr on among "Western railroads for the grain tramc tne country is receiving, an In structive lesson on the results' of the operation of competition in the transpor tation world. The value of the lesson is not diminished by the fact that traffic officials disguise the situation by calling it a "war or rates instead of a com petition in rates. That the immense grain tonnage of the territory west of tho Missouri River and east of the Rockies is being competed for Instead of being carried on rates which are the re sult of general agreement Is due largely to President A. B. Stlckney. of the Great "Western Railroad. Recently Mr. Stlck ney completed a line Into Omaha, through which the grain rates had been so adjust ed that the grain was rarely If ever stopped In that city, but was carried through by roads having lines both east and west of the Missouri River. In order to enjoy some of this business Mr. Stlckney put In proportional rates through Omaha, which enabled grain to be warehoused there and dealt In. In other words, his rates threw all the grain Into Omaha, there to be competed for by the roads east-bound. Competition was there by created, and the next move in the game was a reduction of 2 cents from Nebraska nolnts to Chlcaro made by the Northwestern to prevent the stoppage of grain in Omaha and thereby continue in the enjoyment of the through haul from the territory beyond the Missouri River. The law of competition again forced .rresiaeni aucxney to luriner reauce nis proportional rates, which he did 5 cents per 100 pounds, in order to protect his In terests and maintain the grain market which he had made it possible to establish at Omaha. This reduction has been met by reduc tions on grain through Kansas City, caused by the competition between locali ties and cities, which In turn has affected the roads frcm the Missouri River terri tory to the Gulf. Forced by the compe tltion of the lines extending east from the river, and unwilling to haul grain Into Kansas City, there to be competed for at low rates, the Santa Fe has reduced the rates on grain from interior (Kansas points direct to the Gulf 5 cents per 100 pounds in order to enjoy a long haul of over 900 miles. The Irony of the situation Is further disclosed by the fact that very recently the railroads successfully defended before the Interstate Commerce Commission the reasonableness of a 2S-cerit rate on grain from the "Wichita territory to the Gulf and then raised the rate to 30 cents. Hav Ing done so they now voluntarily, but owing to competition, reduce the rate 3 cents below the figure held by tne com mission to be a reasonable one. Traffic men declare that competition such as now exists with respect " to Western grain Is ruinous war, as it results in rates which leave no profit To this the Railroad Commission has always replied that when .the rate on .a commodity approaches the margin between profit and loss competi tion Is bound to cease at about the point of equitable and just rates. Russian Force in Manchuria. Now York Sun. On January 22 the London Times pub lished a dispatch from its .renin corre spondent giving the total Russian force east of Lake Baikal at 3115 officers, 147,479 men and 266 guns. Nothing, however, was said of the authority on Which this state ment was based. Now, apart from any reinforcements that have been sent out from European Russia and the military districts of "Western Siberia during, the past five months, the aggregate strength of the army In Eastern- Siberia and Man churia, now that it Is placed on a war footing, should, according to a .French statement drawn from official sources, be at least 50.000 greater than that given out from Pekln as above. In addition to the reinforcements that have been dispatched from Russia since the beginning of September, when the, sit uation. ,had become decidedly acute, tne Russians have lately been recruiting a large body of .Mongpl horsemen under Russian officers, who are being trained to fight Beer fashion. These are separate from the plastonnl, that Is, local and native levies of com panies and battalions destined to cover the advance or retreat and flanks of an army In the field. Associated with these are -the okhotnlkl, groups of 64 men, se lected for their marksmanship and daring. In each battalion of Infantry, for special ly, arduous and risky duties. Cfiances of Dark Horses. . Kansas City Journal. The dark horse has great advantages as a candidate over an aspirant who has long been an active and prominent par tlcipant lh public affairs. Such men as Henry Clay and James G. Blaine have hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic supporters who are willing to go to any lengths to secure their success. Unfortu nately, however, they are also sure, dur ing their long careers, to have excited violent animosities against themselves In their own party as well as among the op position. An unknown candidate may not arouse great enthusiasm in his own be half, but. on the other hand, he has not the disadvantage of exciting strong an tagonisms among the opposition. He is expected to poll -his entire party vote and to draw some strength from other parties, and several times In the past dark-horse candidates for the Presidency have fully met these expectations. Two Dogs That Had No Show. New York Sun. Cerberus was guarding the entrance to the Infernal regions. "You Just tell the Mayor," barked the three-headed bowwow, "that I sympa thize with him in the job of keeping the lid on. As Dante, however, failed to make a note of it publication was long delayed. Jd Mother Hubbard had gone to the cupooara to get ner poor doggie a bone. "That's just where she made her mis take," growled the knowing canine. "If she had gone to the bench with 'me, the dear girls would give me all I could eat" Living before the days of dog shows. the poor dog lived too early. Our Pension System Discounted. John Ambrose Gould, a Sergeant-Major of the Royal v arwlckshlre Regiment. was tried recently at Dublin for forgery (he was acquitted), and it appeared that he was in receipt of a pension from the crown conferred upon an ancestor who owned Boscobel House, and concealed Charles II there and in the royal oak of Boscobel, In the chase after him which ensued on the defeat of "Worcester field. Wars of Ten Years. There have been five important wars be tween nations in ten years, viz: 1SS4 War between Japan and China. 1S97 War between Turkey and Greece. 1S9S War between the United States and Spain. 1S99-1902 War between Great Britain and South African Republics. 1S04 War between Russia and Japan. Russian Loans. According to French authority, Russia's four loans total the colossal sum of 51.40O, - 000,000, most of which came from France. Russia has now practically used up these loans on building the Trans-Siberian Rail road, the new fleet and internal Improve ments In the waterways. The Trans-Sibe rian line alone has proved a terrible drain, the deficit last year reaching ?20,OQO,000. The Last Hope of the Immortals. New York Sun. Hebe bad just been succeeded by Gany mede as cup-bearer. "If he doesn't do." groaned the gods. "we shall prooaDiy have to get a China man." Thus we see that the servant question was rife even In Olympus. PRESIDEXT AND WALL STREET Kansas City Star. A reader of the Star desires to know what President Roosevelt has done to op pose Wall street or hamper the trusts; what has become of the Northern Securi ties case, and whether the Secretary ot the Treasury "has not rushed to Wall street every time a monetary stringency threatened 1t" As a reason for seeking' this Information the writer says: "I be lieve that I am not alone In my doubts as to the sincerity of Wall street s opposi tion to Mr. Roosevelt" It Is necessary, of course, to distinguish between legitimate Wall street the nat ural center of American finance and spec ulative Wall street, which Inflates stock ana promotes monopolistic enterprises. The President is not hostile to organized capital so long as Its purposes are honest and its methods -lawful. Secretary Shaw has -been less disposed than most of his predecessors to come to the aid of the banks. When he has drawn on the Treas ury to relieve a stringency he has sent re lief through the Subtraasuries, and even Western banks look largely to the ,New York Subtreasury for relief. There is nothing questionable in any relief that he has thus far given. President Roosevelt has consistently op posed special Immunities and favors for great corporations. A3 Governor of New York he securecL the passage of a law tax ing franchises. That was one of his first offenses to Wall street. As President he has recognized two great evils growing out of present conditions the organization of trusts, through which the masses are imposed upon and competition strangled, and the inflation of stocks, through which Innocent purchasers are deceived and fleeced. For the first he demanded more far-reaching laws and the enforcement of existing statutes against extortion and the restraint of trade. For the second he de manded publicity, believing that the im position of watered stocks would be re duced to the minimum it published state merits of actual conditions were exacted To these ends he asked and secured the creation of the new Department of Com merce, with special powers and faclll ties' for regulating practices and exposing conditions. This department has made substantial progress under Secretary Cor- telyou, although much time necessarily has been given to organization. Under the President's instruction At torney-General Knox proceeded against the Northern Securities Company and se cured a verdict In the lower courts. The case Is- now awaiting the action of the Su preme Court of the United States. This case has been especially offensive to Wall street because the President did not give warning to the railway magnates that he intended to bring action. In .order that they mlgljt prepare for the slump In watered stock that followed. They rea soned that inasmuch as they had contrib uted liberally to Republican campaign funds they deserved this special consid eration. The President malntalped that they must be treated merely as offenders against the law. , The beef trust was proceeded against and the case was won In the lower courts. The Supreme Court of the United States remanded the case, and it will be tried again, jlnjunctlon suits are proceeding against 14 different railroads, to break up unlawful combinations to fix rates. The action against the Salt trust resulted in a plea of guilty, a fine and the breaking up of the organization. A case Is pending against the Jacksonville Wholesale Groc era Association. The suit against the coal carrying roads of the East will be heard by the Supreme Court of the United States March 17. and the same tribunal also has the action against the Louisville & Nash ville Railroad for arbitrary overcharges to dispose of. There Is a case against the cotton trust for discrimination In "rout ing." Tho Standard Oil trust has been asked for a statement of its business and has refused to comply, and action to test the publicity law will be brought against this creat corooratlon. President. Roosevelt has done all that, he has een able to. do to check the abuses of the trust and railway, comblnatjpns, ana everything possible to promotethe legltl-' mate, Interests of' the colintry. There. As not the least doubt that 'speculative Wall street is against him. Yarn of Washington Correspondents.. Chicago Chronicle. Lese majeste has become an actuality In connection with the Roosevelt admin istration. The last victim of the Presi dent's displeasure is Miss" Margaret Wade, a very charming, talented and painstak ing little woman who writes on soclar" matters for the Washington Post She Is a level-headed, unobtrusive, but never theless thoroughly capable newspaper worker. For years she has enjoyed en tree to all. the homes In Washington. Every woman conspicuous in the social forces of tlie capital Is her personal and cordial friend. The other night Mtss Wade went to the annual Congressional re ception at the White House. Following her usual practice on such occasions, she began to mingle with the guests, and was amazed to be Informed by ah usher that she would have to take a' place In a corner and remain there. She explained that she was present by the president's Invitation, that she had work to do and that it was necessary for her to move with freedom through the rooms of the executive mansion, but the usher was In exorable. He told her that he was obey ing orders. Nevertheless, Miss Wade followed her own inclinations. The next day Secretary Loeb called up the editor of the Post and practically demanded Miss Wade's dismissal from tho paper. The editor asked Loeb to explain his reason for making the demand, where upon Loeb replied: "Come up here and I will tell you all about it" "My office is. in the Post building." , said the editor tartly. . "If you want to see me you can come down here." That ended the matter, and in the mean time Miss Wade Is not a visitor at the White House. On a previous occasion the President demanded the dismissal of John H. O'Brien, then a political writer for the New York Sun and now private secretary to Mayor McClellan. There Is a record of still a third case. Miss Wade has the sympathy as well as the moral sup port of the entire corps ot correspond ents. Advice to a Lover. Anon. The sea. hath many thousand sands, The sun hath motes as many; The sky Is full of stars, and Love As full of. woes as any": Believe me, that do know the' elf. And make no trial by thyself! It Is in truth a pretty toy For babes to play withal: But O the honeys of our youth Are oft our ace's gall! Self-proof in time will make -thee know He was a pronhet told thee so; A prophet that. Cassandra-llke, Tells truth without belief; For headstrong Youth will ran his race. Although his goal be grief: Love's Martyr, when his heat la past. Proves Care's Confessor at the last. Petaluma's Half-Million Hens. From Track News. The town of Petaluma, Cal., Is one of the greatest egg-producing centers of the world. There are In this town 500,000 hens, and last year their owners shipped 2,600,000 dozen eggs and sold 30.000 dozen poultry. As many as 14,000 dozen eggs have been shipped la one day. Wouldn't it be a good idea to "plant" more of our Eastern farms to poultry? Fading Inducements. Denver Republican. The English aristocracy has tabooed the use of "my lady" In addressing women of title. Pretty soon there will not be "anything to Induce an American, heiress to marry a nobleman. NOTE AND COMMENT, Octosyllabic Epics. . "tt'AR AND THE SCHOOEBOY Huss; "4 Jap; Fuss; '.Scrap. Cuss ' Maps! There is a youns fello-cr named Dunne, " Who thinks making debts la great run; tsxit collectors declare -In a tone ot despair: 'We will never be done dunning Dunne." A new Roosevelt club: Michael Davltt has presented the President with a black thorn. The surprising thing about Representa tive Shafroth's action is the surprise it created. By announcing a "great battle" every day the news should be made to fit the fact on at least one day. The Russian General Plug might be a useful man to stick into a shot hole; In other ways he appears to be a. failure. Even the torpedo-boats of Russia are heavily armored, bearing such names as Bezposhtchodnl, Bezupretchnl and Blesty aschtchl. Under the caption "Socal Events," in the New York Mall and Express, the first item is headed, "Kettledrum for the Aged." Wouldn't this be more appropri ate for the young?" Some years ago, says the El Paso News, one man bet another that he could not move an ordinary brick tied to the end oi a cord two or three miles long. A straight and level road just outside Chichester, N. Y., was selected for the trial. The brick was not moved, and the jnan lost his bet for a large amount It was stated by some one present that the brick, although weighing only seven pounds, would from a distance of two or three miles repre sent a dead weight of nearly a ton. The sorrows of Winter are many. Here Is an unusual one. described by the De troit Tribune: At best "Winter Is .a dreary season, but It has Its diversions along with Its cool -streaks and its Icy perils- Arriving at the gate from a dance late at night, a Benton Harbor maiden uttered a Uttle shriek and exclaimed. "O Sly! see how the snow has drifted! I never can wade through It to the door." George took the hint. His' heart was great within his bosom, and his muscles swelled as he responded. "I'll carry you." That was Just what she wanted, and he took hold and was doing very well till his unrubbered feet struck the Ice beneath the drift. There was a brief, manly struggle, but it did not count for much, and the hero was soon buried beneath the snow, frills, furbelows and delicate edgery. They got out somehow, and he tried his hand at explaining that as a "common carrier." he was not responsible for safe delivery under conditions where fail ure was due to the Almighty, but It was as. much as ever he could do to fli it up with her. Many moons have passed since the name of Professor Trlggs hummed along tho wlrus, but the worthy educator has not been Idle. He has been engaged In prose cuting a libel action, which, fortunately for all but Triggs, was decided against him. Professor Triggs had given the world a poem. Indecently looking a gift horse In the mouth, a critic became dis satisfied and scored, scathed, scorched, and excoriated the Trlggslan verses. An action for libel was the result and the court, whlchiundoubtedly had more of an ear tor law than for poetry, decided' that the critic was justified In his scorinjr. scathing, scorching and excoriating scorn. Poor Triggs, how painful it must be to live In a coarse and material world, where even poetry from Chicago University Is criticised. We may be sure that President Harper In his recent declaration that the professors might say what they liked about Mr. Rockefeller had no Idea of en couraging mere outsiders to criticise the faculty. W. E. Vlgus. who Is now an Alderman at Salt Lake 'City, was formerly chief op erator of the Associated Press in tho same place. He had an office room of his own, with a "cut-In" on the wire, which he was very prone to use, frequently but ting In on some operator. Each telegra pher has his own form of signature, usu ally chosen for its brevity, and Vlgus used "VI" as his. When an operator "breaks" In receiving a message, he goes back to the last word he took correctly and re peats it, so that the message may be re sent from that point It happened on one occasion that Sam Small, In taking a mes sage In Seattle, a city that he still Il lumines with hl3 presence, broke on the word "vividly," and Vlgus, who was busy In his office, was Instantly aroused by hearing "vi-vl" hi3 call, clicked out on his receiver. ".This Is VI." he hammered out "what is it?" "Vl-vi," went Small. "This Is VI what do you want?" "Vl-vi " "This is VI," and the wire falrl smoked. "Vl-vl" came from Small, still trying to pick up his story. "This Is V" but at this point the op erator from the next room rushed In and dragged Vlgus from his chair. WEX. J. OUT OF THE GINGER J-AR. "Hang this' old boat I can't sleep with all that clanking!" "Well, what do you expect on a Sound steamer?" Harvard Lampoon. "You have seen this book, I suppose. What do you think about it?" "Well, there's ono good thing about It." "Indeed?" "Yes; It's simply Impossible to dramatize it." Philadel phia .Ledger. "That's Mr. Pompus, the hokeypokey mag nate. He belongs to our church." "Ah. In deed! How interesting! I had inferred from his attitude that the church belonged to him." Brooklyn Life. "Have you no pride?" "Jfaw," replied the street beggar. "But I'm goln ter lay in er supply when it gits er trifle cheaper." "Gets cheaper! "Yep. .Pride, dey say. is bound ter have er fall." Chicago Daily News. Visitor What a racket the steam makes, clanking through the pipes! Flat Dweller (shiveringlyYes. It reminds me of one of Shakespeare's plays. Visitor Which "The Tempest?" Flat Dweller No. "Much Ado About Nothing." Town, and Country. "How did you like the intermezzo at the opera last night?" asked Mrs. Oldcastle. "Not very well," replied her hostess. "Joslah thought he was great but It always turns mo against a person when they have their whiskers running down to a-point that way." Chicago Record-Herald. Mountaineer Child (In Tennessee) Are you a literary person, sir? Astonished Tourist Yes; why do you want to know? Mountaineer Well, papa is out of work just now. and he said that If you were a literary person, per haps you would pay us SO cents -a day for talking dialect for your book. Baltimore American: "Do you believe that worry ever killed a cat?" asked the man who enjoys propounding foolish cuestlons. "I should say nott" ex claimed the chap who is willing to answer. "I've been worrying how to get rid of our neighbor's caterwauling beast for a month past, but it seems healthier "than everl" Cin cinnati TlmesTStar,