Morning Oregonian., July 13, 1904, Page 6, Image 6

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THE MORNING OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 190
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YESTERDAY'S WEATHER Maximum tern-
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TODAY'S WEATHER Pair and warmer;
west winds.
POKTIiAND, WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1904.
TO BE A LEADING JFEATURE.
The auostion is going to be pressed,
C . .'Jn all the great manufacturing states,
cn the opening of the campaign of
to the close thereof, wnetner me
mocratic declaration as to protective
iff is to have the approval of the
luntry. or not,
That declaration is in these terms, to
r-it: "We denounce protection as tod-
ery of the many to enrich the few.
his is sufficiently explicit. If protect-
ve tariff is robbery It ought to be cut
p, root and branch. The question then
s to tariff is whether duties ought to
e eliminated, or not; whether our cus-
om-houses ought to be thrown open to
orelgn goods, not merely without
thought of protecting any industry of
ur own, but positively for the express
urpose of excluding protection.
Never hitherto has the United States
dopted a policy like this. It has had
Igher and has had lower tariffs; but
ever has It enacted a law on the the-
ry or assumption that "protection Is
obbery," and ought therefore to nave
o standing in legislation.
Situated as we are in the Pacific
States, protection is of much less im
portance than in the older parts of the
ountry, where manufactures are more
highly developed. But even our Pacific
States would not stand for the doctrine
that "protection is robbery," with the
consequence that all thought of it
should be eliminated from the "tariff
aws. These states have commodities of
.value for which protection Js Insisted
n: and will be yet for a long period as
tbe wool of Oregon, the coal of Wash-
ngton and the fruits of California.
But if protection is not to be given up
i In these Pacific States, how will It fare
;-' In other states with the effort to abol-
gm- Ish It? The multifarious manufactures
1J5 st o the 3nsslssJPPl the farming and
P dairy interest along the Canada bor-
j5f f fler, the sugar and rice of Louisiana
r53 and Carolina the whole list of indus-
;! tries that profit or think they profit by
'tS protective tariff, in all or nearly all the
2fb: Ptates of the Union in what spirit will
? bey receive this declaration a few
r:V months hence, when the case must have
if..' 6erIous consideration?
7r It is easy to frame an argument
V --S which will prove, as nearly as argu-
4T- i xnentatlve demonstration can, that pro-
JP- iection ought not to exist. All may be
"S" .$ summed up in the statement that it Is
SJ wrong to use the power of government
7jp to Interfere with prices, since under
such policy some get advantage at ex
pense of others. This is the academic
argument, strong In Its logic. But In
experience and practice the results are
not so simple. Opinion will fluctuate,
now towards one view, now towards
another, as weight Is given on the one
side to the academic argument and on
the other to proofs from experience.
The Oregonlan realizes all the force of
the argument against protection, yet Is
certain of this, that the people of the
United States -will not give up the pol
icy. Or, at least, if they should make
the experiment they would quickly be
dissatisfied with the result and would
return to protection.
But even the Democratic party, if it
6hould get possession of full power,
would not frame laws on the principle
that "protection Is robbery." It would
not dare. Last time it had full posses
sion of the Government it framed the
most unequal and odious tariff law ever
enacted. Favoritism to certain pro
tected interests, and hostility to other
I Interests, were its leading features.
3 This was the act of "perfidy and dis
f4 honor" that President Cleveland de
nounced. Most of the great trusts are
pledged! to the support of Parker and
Davis; and Davis was nominated chiefly
because he is the man to "put up" him
self and to make the others "whack
up." It is from this quarter the asser
tion comes that "B.oosevelt is an unsafe
man."
Adverse criticism is sometimes en
couraging to the criticised. Such criti
cism is that of a "Vienna newspaper on
the American Navy, which is in a bad
way, according to the Austrian writer.
In proof of this ho digs up all the ac
cidents that have occurred within the
last few years and finds in them an
indication that the American naval offi
cers of high rank are Incompetent. To
another observer the oppoiste inference
would be clear. In a navy of the size
and of the activity of the American ac
cidents are bound to happen, and the
wonder Is that they are not more nu-
meJ59US. m&e explosion on ooaru. uie j
AliSSOUrl -WilS uib luuai. bwiuiu, cuiu -mm j
was indirectly caused by the spirit- of j
emulation amongst the men. Defects J
In construction there have been, but I
less than might have been expected In
a new navy. -As a rule, American war
ships are better in every way than the
specifications demand, and such steam
ing performances as those of the battle
ships Oregon and Kearsarge, to say
nothing of the recent ocean cruise of
the Asiatic squadron, are sufficient
proof of unusual efficiency.
CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT.
Again we hear that the Republican
party Is about to destroy constitutional
government, and that the Democratic
party again is providentially charged
with, protection and defense of this
heritage of freedom and hope of man
kind. It is something musty; somewhat
stale. The Democratic party has fits of
quadrennial teijror on this subject; but
this party Is beaten as the years go by,
beaten again, and not allowed to save
constitutional government. Yet some
how constitutional government survives
-from one quadrennial period to another,
without loss of prestige or Impairment
of vigor.
The simple truth is that the only
menaces to constitutional government
which the country ever has known have
come through the Democratic party It
self. Through the action of the Demo
cratic states the Civil "War came. No
menace to constitutional government
could the solid Democratic states see
from their own attempt to set the Con
stitution of the United States aside, and
to set up a hostile Constitution in Its
place.
Moreover, the Northern Democratic
party, in sympathy and more or less
open alliance with the Southern Demo
cratic party in rebellion, denounced as
unconstitutional every effort to save
the Constitution by reducing the assail
ants and enemies of the Constitution to
submission. They forgot at that time
that constitutional government was In
danger, and they set partisanship
above it.
Again, when the time came to take
measures for support and maintenance )
of the money of the commercial world,
the gold standard, this party held that
unconstitutional, too. Constitutional
government would fall, if silver were
"dishonored." But just now we are In
formed officially by this party that the
established monetary standard is not a
possible issue in this campaign; and
fear of the loss of constitutional gov
ernment takes some other silly form or
direction.
The reason why constitutional gov
ernment remains with us lies in the
fact that the Democratic party, whose
policy tends continually to undermine
it, at critical stages in the history of
the country has been beaten. Thus
constitutional government has been
saved again and again.
THINGS MOVING IN WASHINGTON.
When certain Republican politicians
engineered a scheme In the State of
Washington for an. early convention
and a long campaign, the fear was al
most universally expressed that ennui
would seize the public before election
day rolled around. The state conven
tion was called In May and a full ticket
named. Six long months would Inter
vene before November. The voter
might reasonably be expected to have a
surfeit of campaign. excitement In that
protracted period. But so far the most
exacting pessimist must admit that
there has been no ground for complaint.
The Campaign Lie bobbed up Its head
before the state convention was through
with its memorable session, and It has
since then had many busy days and has
manifested Itself In a most amazing
variety of ways and under the most
captivating guises.
Mr. Mead, a very estimahle gentle
man of Belllngham Bay, was up till last
May a most highly respected citizen,
enjoying alike the esteem of his neigh
bors and the regard of the public at
large. But now Mr. Mead has learned
that he Is the efficient and unscrupulous
instrument of corporation greed and the
uncompromising enemy of that large
and broad-minded portion of the public
which proposes to enjoy itself as best it
may on Sunday and every other day.
So the Eastern Washington farmer,
who works the soli, and the Eastern
Washington politician, who works the
farmer, propose pn the one hand to
make trouble for Mr. Mead, friend of
the railroad cormorant, and the State
Liquor-Dealers' Association on the
other hand, under the benevolent guid
ance of Jimmy Morrison, philanthropist,
will see to It that the rights of all citi
zens to drink and be merry seven days
In the week (and mayhap seven nights)
are not interfered with by any Puritan
from Belllngham Bay.
Mr. Mead's qualities as a political
strategist have been hitherto to fame
unknown. But If he manages In the
several strenuous months that are yet
ahead of him to quell the rising storm
In Eastern Washington and to lead the
saloon-keepers of Western Washington
into ways of peace, sobriety and con
tent, then we shall say that he deserves
all he can ' get out of four years at
Olympla.
But the Belllngham statesman Is not
alone in the midst of the maelstrom.
Mr. Coon, of Port Townsend, was nomi
nated for Lieutenant-Governor. Just
as soon as that high distinction had
been conferred on that gentleman, the
Campaign Lie got busy and evolved a
somewhat Indelicate yarn about him.
Then, when the nauseous and disgust
ing details began to pall a trifle on the
public palate, the Lie passed on to
green fields, this time hovering for a
while around the fireside of Mr. Rud
kin, candidate for Supreme Judge. The
consequent publication lacked some
what the startling and sensational
character of the Coon yarn, but It was
sufficiently enjoyable to tickle even a
jaded appetite. Rudkin, It seems, is
married to a woman who was divorced
from a former friend of the Judge a
fine opening for an Industrious and in
genious Campaign Lie, of which as
much as possible has been made.
All these are, we may grant, legiti
mate opportunities for campaign fact,
fiction, fancy, fustian or whatever it
may be; but It would .seem to an Inter
ested onlooker that it Is carrying things
just a trifle too far when a retiring
state official may not be left to enjoy in
peace and privacy the fruits of his
public toll. The State Land Commis
sioner, who was not renominated, finds
himself tangled up In a choice story
about certain questionable dealings in
tldelands with a waterway company at
Seattle. This, we submit, Is foreign to
the legitimate function of the Cam
paign Lie, and Indicates both paucity
of the inventive faculty on Its part
and needless and discreditable malice,
which every Campaign Lie that loves
-its business for its own sake and at
tends totit strictly ought to be, above.
Ere long the Democratic candidates
trill be presented for the suffrages of
the elector and the scrutiny of the cen-
sor. we shall live on In the- calm ana
confident assurance that no Juicy epi
sode of their respective private lives,
past, will be withheld from the obser
no embarrassing incident of a racy
the merciful judgment of a virtuous
press.
UNNATURAL TRADE DIVERSION.
Customs receipts at Portland for the
last two months of the fiscal year end
ing June 30 show a marked decrease
compared with those for the preceding
fiscal year. The decrease is accounted
for by the small arrivals of grain bags,
which in former years contributed so
largely to receipts for duties at this
season of the year. When It Is remem
bered that the country tributary to
Portland will this year turn off more
wheat, barley and oats than ever be
fore, It may seem strange that Impor
tations of grain bags were no heavier.
The dimensions of the crop, however,
this year had no effect on the direct
importation of bags, for local dealers
were satisfied to have California mer
chants handle the bag business, and
millions of Calcuttas which should have
come direct to Portland were first un
loaded at San Francisco and entered at
the Custom-House there, and, after the
duty was paid, sent north, where they
were to be distributed by the Portland
middlemen, who, Instead of being mid
dlemen, should have been Importers.
The uselessness of this roundabout
method of transacting business and In
cidentally throwing prestige to a port
less favorably situated Is frequently
shown by bag ships which have taken
outward cargo from Puget Sound or
Portland to Calcutta, returned to San
Francisco with bags most of which
were for Portland, and, after discharg
ing, come north again for outward
cargo. More grain bags will be distrib
uted from Portland this year than from
all other Pacific Coast ports combined,
and yet the direct importations have
been smaller than in the two light-crop
years which have preceded the present
record-breaker. It is not only in grain
bags that some Portland dealers have
the habit of throwing business to other
ports, but In a number of other com
modities. Few and far between are the
arrivals of Oriental liners at Tacoma
and Seattle without good-sized consign
ments of Portland merchandise on the
manifests, and not a little of this same
class of merchandise Is received at San
Francisco and trans-shipped to Port
land. All this at a time when we have
a regular line of steamers endeavoring
to build up a trade that will offer some
thing better than half cargoes for the
inward voyages.
Portland, of course, does not suffer as
much by comparison with other ports
on this "In transit" merchandise as she
does on the grain bags, which pay duty
and also a profit to the Importer at San
Francisco; but, so long as the freight
rates are the same and our rivals on
the north and south do not practice
reciprocity on these lines, it is just as
well that this city should have full
credit for the business which we actu
ally handle. By carrying out this Idea
of handling our own business we might
force some of the San Francisco bag
merchants to come up here, where there
Is a market for grain bags, but even
this result would not seriously Injure
the city. The Custom-House records
for the fiscal year ending June 30 show
that Portland exported more wheat
during the last twelve months than was
exported from all other Pacific Coast
porta combined. This Tecord will prob
ably be maintained for the fiscal year
now beginning, and, with the prestige
thus gained, it seems highly unneces
sary for Portland to be dependent on
ports north or south for importations
of grain bags that In the end must be
distributed from this city.
In a general way, whatever objection
may be filed against this roundabout
method of Importing grain bags applies
with equal force to a large number of
other Imports which now reach Port
land by way of San Francisco or Puget
Sound. A little more loyalty to our own
transportation lines will cause no finan
cial loss and will reflect credit on the
port.
ANOTHER INDUSTRIAL BATTLE.
The great strike in the packing plants
of Chicago forbodes mischief that will
be widespread and financial disaster
that will be felt In thousands of homes
as well as In many great business en
terprises. Its effects will extend from
the great ranges of the far West, where
livestock interests center, and from
which they radiate, to the kitchens of
the laboring men of great cities. It
will stop the income from large in
vestments, not only in Chicago, but in
Kansas City, St Louis, St Joseph,
Omaha and other cities to which the
sympathetic nerve of the Amalgamated
Meatcutters and Butcher Workmen of
America ex'tends, with controlling
power. It will reduce to compulsory
Idleness thousands of men who cannot
afford the baleful luxury, and cause
them to look forward to the coming
Winter with dread and alarm. More
than all. It will engender bad blood be
tween capital and labor, between em
ployer and employe, the evil Influence
of which can only be estimated.
Michael J. Donnelly, president of this
great labor union, foresees and admits
all of this, but declares that through
two months of patient negotiation he
has done all In his power to avert the
strike, but that he has not been able to
secure a satisfactory adjustment of ex
isting differences. J. J. Conway, super
intendent of the great Armour inter
ests, In behalf of his company asserts
that a strike Is not desired by the packing-house
Interests, but on the con
trary is an event to be avoided If pos
sible. It Is probable, however, that fol
lowing the usual course In such cases,
presumption has engendered arrogance
and concession on either side has not
been seriously contemplated.
The minimum wage for unskilled la
bor Is said to constitute the bone of
contention In this Instance. It Is In
conceivable, except upon the basis of
unreason and stubbornness, that men
should not be able to agree upon what
Is just and fair upon this point There
are no unknown quantities involved in
this problem. It Is easy to assess the
value of unskilled fabor. It Is regulated
largely by the Inexorable law of supply
and demand, and can only be adjusted
upon that basis. It is certain that an
adjustment upon any other will be but
a temporary truce in an exhausting in
dustrial war.
Shipbuilding returns for the United
States as compiled by the Commissioner
of Navigation for the fiscal year ending
June 30 show a total of 1092 vessels of
349,573 tons gross register, compared
with 1215 vessels of 376,502 tons gross
register for the preceding twelve
months. This decrease- Is much' less
'than that shown by the foreign ship-
yards, and is due to the universal de
pression Is shipping all over the world.
The supply of tonnage Is so much in ex
cess of the demand that both steam and
sail vessels of all classes can be pur
chased second-hand for much less than
the cost of construction. If Americans
Were permitted to adopt the same meth
ods for upbuilding their merchant ma
rine as are followed by the great sea
powers of the world, the present stagna
tion In shipping would afford an admir
able opportunity for securing a big fleet
of fine ships at less than the cost of
building. These ships could be given
American register, and, Instead of wait
ing until a merchant marine could be
built, we would be ready to take advan
tage of the revival In freights which Is
sure to come when freight production
catches up with the tonnage supply.
Those devoted to outdoor exercise
should find plenty of interest in the
coming Presidential campaign, for both
President Roosevelt and Judge Parker
are excellent examples of the value of
sports. The President's athletic pur
suits range from riding to jiu-jitsu,
while Judge Parker's morning swims
have lately acquired National fame.
Even the venerable ex-Senator from
West Virginia, Henry G, Davis, declares
that he "would rather ride a horse than
go to the opera any time," adding with
a smile that meant he was thinking of
another distinguished Democrat, "Yes,
I'd rather ride than go Ashing even."
Riding and swimming have displaced
the more meditative pleasures of
angling this year, and It Is now up to
Senator Fairbanks to come out as a
boxer or wrestler of the Republican
team Is to have an equal standing with
the Democratic.
Late reports from Russian sources In
dicate that the great battle of the Man
churlan campaign Is likely to be fought
to the eastward of Liao Yang. The
Russian and the Japanese armies, un
der Keller and Kurokl, respectively, are
face to face on opposite banks of the
Llauk River, but there is nothing to
show when the expected collision will
occur, as the Japanese have the gage of
battle and Kurokl Is sure to wait until
Oku Is ready to bring strong pressure
upon the Russian right flank at Hal
pheng, which Is about forty miles south
of Liao Yang. The two Japanese lead
ers have hitherto worked In perfect
harmony, their movements being simul
taneous, and It Is unlikely that Kurokl
will move before Oku has occupied NIu
Chwang, from which the Russians are
now said to be retreating.
The Russians have at last succeeded
In capturing a couple of tramp steam
ships carrying contraband cargoes, and
by the usual prize court methods have
condemned and ordered them sold
Tramp steamships are cheap In the
present era of low freights and world
wide depression In shipping, and for
this reason the credit side of Russia's
ledger will not make a very Imposing
showing In comparison with the figures
which show the losses of battleships,
torpedo'-boats and other craft that have
Intercepted the fleets of Japan. The
British steamship Cheltenham, the best
merchant marine prize secured since
the war opened, is worth with her
cargo, less than 5500,000, or about one
tenth the cost of some of the first
class battleships which were destroyed
early In the contest
The Mad Mullah Is again displaying
his anger, and, as usual, 1s venting his
displeasure on the British. The foreign
gentleman with the suggestive name
descended on the Somali and celebrated
July 4 by killing fifty natives friendly
to the British and Incidentally running
off a thousand head of sheep and fifty
head of cattle. The Mad Mullah has
been killed so often by cable and mall
advices that the public would really
miss his periodical appearances on kill
ing expeditions. Considering his vital
ity. It Is not surprising to learn from a
London Mall correspondent at Berbera
that the British campaign against him
In Somallland has been a failure and
that the Mullah Is still in full control of
the particular region in which he has
given the British troops so many hard
skirmishes.
A fellow at Pendleton, who prints a
paper he calls the East Oregonlan,
boasts that If he gets a kick from some
body or anybody, it exhilarates, him
mightily. He says it "keeps him from
broodln on beln' a dog." The degree of
estimation in which one holds himself Is
sure to be or to become the estimation In
which he Is held by others. The fellow
at Pendleton snapped at The Oregonlan.
He got a kick and he yelps. But he
brags that for a minute he forgot he
was a dog; and that was reward
enough. Then let it go at that. Of
course now he Is the same cur again.
The accident suffered by Edward J.
Gantenbeln, of East First street, Mon
day, while distressing, conveved at once
a lesson and a moral. The first may be
stated In a few words: Keep out of the
way of fire apparatus, out In response
to an alarm. The second consists In
being duly thankful that the Injuries
inflicted by violent impact with the Fire
Chiefs wagon were not serious.
We notice that a large number of es
teemed exchanges continue to make
their readers hot by telling them to
keep cooL The advice Is on a par with
that about not worrying. Every one Is
going to keep as cool as possible, and
the person that never worries, while
having a good chance of growing fat, is
not likely ever to amount to much.
Porflrio Diaz has been re-elected to
the Presidency of Mexico, an office .that
he has held continuously since 1877. The
Presidential term In Mexico is the same
as in the United States, so It is evident
that there Is no third-term "bogey In the
Southern Republic
The, careful automoblllst has to share
the burden of ordinances provoked by
the reckless. But then the careful
driver wouldn't exceed the speed limit
anyway, so the only one to suffer is the
mstural-born transgressor.
"I feel twenty years younger," said
Candidate for Vice-Presidency Da
vis yesterday after a horseback ride.
A fine old gentleman, Indeed, in a re
markable state of preservation.
The Oregon National Guard emerges
smiling from a bloodless defeat at
American Lake. What's the use fight
ing when there ain't nothln' In it?
Uselessness of Art.
Atchison Globe.
When we see the picture of. Eve in the
Bible, we are reminded of what a lot of
space Is wasted that could be utilized in
advertising a union suit
"WHITHER ARE WE DRIFTING?'
Statements Anent Oregon's New Ex
periments With New Methods
of Legislation.
The Salem Journal publishes the fol
lowing editorial article, under the title,
"Has Oregon Entered Upon a Revolu
tionary Period?" through which it dis
plays abundance of capital letters to
make it impressive:
While the Republican party has Just car
ried Oregon by 24.000 plurality, .and" that
party has had unbroken power In the Legis
lature. It Is a fact that the only reforms
undertaken in this state for five years past
are un-Republican and revolutionary.
While the Republicans have enacted minor
reforms and improvements, the great changea
In the Governmental policies, and the only
Constitutional changes have come from Pop
ulistic. Socialistic and Prohibition sources.
The Initlalve and referendum was the pet
hobby of the Populist party, forced upon
truckling politicians kneeling at the death
bed of Populism.
The only atate in the Union to adopt the
centerpiece of the Populist crazyqullt, Oregon
has already reaped the harvest in two freak
measures local option and direct primaries.
At the first shake of the political dlcebox
Oregon threw sixes in drawing out of the
Pandora's box of dlreot legislation these two
mleconceivcd Ill-digested, trouble-producing
measures. We escaped woman suffrage by
a hair's breadth.
Anyone who can obtain petitioners enough
under direct legislation can submit the most
surprising and revolutionary propositions.
The initiative and referendum law provides
that the bill to be voted on can go out with
a campaign argument In favor of it.
The oter reads the stump speech that
heads the bill. It seems plausible and he
cuts reading the rest and votes for It.
Colorado is the farthest advanced of any
Western state In the development of revo
lutionary policies and crazy experimentalism.
Oregon Is fast following in that direction.
If Oregon had the woman suffrage law and
the eight-hour law we would be fully abreast
of Colorado with experiments and innovations
and ready for tho first movement that came
along to throw the commonwealth out of
balance and destroy its stability.
If the Initiative and referendum Is to be
tested by the two first measures that have
been forced upon the statute books In Ore
gon, it is pregnant with evil.
Two preachers without pulpits, ministers
without families, and pereons without per
manent residence anywhere, come Into the
state, on salaries from somewhere, and by a
few months' agitation force local option upon
Oregon, and Oregon .taxpajers and producers
will have to pay the bill.
Another local politician, with no reputa
tion but as manager of a handful of Popu
lists in a Senatorial hold-up game, conjures
up a direct nomination law that abolishes all
political conventions and makes Independent
candidacies an Impossibility. And the people
adopt that, too.
That bill is a monstrosity, an absurdity,
and will be shot full of holes in the Supreme
Court.
The cunningly-worded and plausible stump
speech sent out to each voter with the bill
did the business. Not one out of 10 ever read
the bill he voted for. He voted on sentiment
and emotion.
This direct primary law carries the essence
of revolutionary power abolishing tho right
of political public assemblage, and central
izing and monopolizing political power on a
list of voters who arc to publicly declaro
their slavery to party In advance.
Direct nomination by localities, 'emanating
from the people an additional right to ex
press themselves, but abrogating none of
their present rights or privileges, is a sound
principle. It can be safely applied to cities.
That custom is established in Iowa. Ohio
and eome other states. But nowhere but In
Oregon has It been solemnly enacted Into
law that county, district and state conven
tions shall bo abolished.
Those states give the people additional
rights, but take away no existing rights and
privileges.
The right to peacefully assemble and or
ganize political movements, to mako party
declarations, and name candidates In har
mony with those , principles, Is a political
custom underlying Constitutions and all laws
and Governments themselves.
The new direct primary law Is unconstitu
tional because it proposes to saddle tho ex
pense of a second election on tho people to
select one set of officers.
What Is It to the taxpayer that half a
dozen Individuals in some political party
are struggling with each other for the pos
sible chanco of becoming a mere candidate
on oee party ticket or the other?
What value recsed does the taxpayer get
for his money out of this direct primary elec
tion? Tho nominee of tho direct primary may be
defeated by the other party, or he may de
cide not to run. But his caprice costs
money. Where will tho taxpayer ever get
any service In return for his taxes?
If the taxpayer belongs to any party that
casts less than 25 per cent of the vote, this
paying taxes for the primary election will be
his only possible participation. He must
change quarters, and publicly declaro It, or
be shut out.
Primary elections to nominate candidates
should not he held at public expense, any
more than any other party caucus, primary
or convention.
Of course, such a revolutionary, abortive,
rudimentary, obnoxious miscarriage In the
way of proposed legislation will be shot full
of holes when It gets beforo tho Supreme
Court.
There are some things that cannot be done
by popular vote. You cannot hang a man
by general election.
The purpose of this article la not to dis
cuss the details of direct legislation, local
option or direct nomination. It Is to call
attention to the departure from orderly legis
lative reforms and to show the advance in
the direction of chaotic, disorderly non
reform. Oregon should, call a halt before eentlmen
talism ha3 gone to seed. That is what ails
Colorado. There political institutions are un
dermined. There stability has been knocked
into a cocked hat. Colorado politicians
yielded to the demands of the nostrum
vending demagogy until their streams of
statesmanship are spread out thin and shal
low, like the ever-widening waters of the
River Platte, until they have lost themselves
In the shifting sandbars and quicksands on
the trackless deserts of Irresponsible craving
for experlmentallsm.
Colorado has reached a point where the
stability of the commonwealth Is gone. Shall
Oregon follow her example?
Colorado cannot pull herself together and
establish the "status quo" of self-respecting
statehood without a bloody revolution. Let
Oregon pause before It la too late.
JAPANESE WIN SMALL BATTLES
Russians Dislodged From Several
Positions After Hard Fighting.
TOKIO, July 12. The Japanese Taku
shan army Is moving northwest from Slu
yen. It fought a series of small battles
with the Russians on July 9 to 10. The
army was divided Into two columns. When
the flrst column approached Chle Kuan
Chlng, the Russians started southwest
through the valley, but at 5 o'clock In
the evening, they took up a position on
the heights west of Chou Chin Chiang.
The Russians were dislodged at dusk,
when the second Japanese column ad
vanced along the road toward Tong Chi
repulsing small bodies of the enemy en
route. They attacked the advance line of
the Russian? near Slu Tang Laku. The
Russians were reinforced and compelled
the Japanese to withdraw. At dawn on
July 10, both columns attacked and dis
lodged the Russians from the heights
west of Slachlaku. The Japanese pursued
them and again attacked a etrong position
held by the Russians at Slutehlkou. After
a desperate fight, the Japanese occupied
the position.
After occupying Kalchou, General Oku's
army on Sunday moved northward. The
Russians have strong defenses at Taplng
shan, Nluznlhan, Wangmatal, Chlnghl
shan and campe near Kuo Chiapao- Gen
eral Oku probably will attack these posi
tions as soon as his troops are rested. In
the flghtB of July S and 9, the Japanese
'lost about 150 men. The Russian losses
are believed to have been heavier than
the Japanese.
BRITAIN EOLDS yP THE WORK.
Men to Meet With Americans to In
vestigate Boundary Waters
Not Named.
"WASHINGTON, July 12. Owing to the
procrastination of Great 'Britain, the
American members of the International
Commission to Investigate and report on
conditions and uses of the waters adjacent
to the boundary lines between the United
States and Canada have been unable to
begin their duties.
The rivers and harbors appropriation
act of June 13, 1S02, provided for the ap
pointment of three members of such a
Commission, and requested the President
to extend an invitation to the British
Government to appoint a similar number
to represent Canada thereon. The mat
ter was duly brought to the attention of
Great Britain, which readily consented to
enter into the arrangement.
After much correspondence, however,
during which that Government was ad
vised that the American Government was
still awaiting developments, the Ameri
can Government. In January last, was In
formed that William Frederick King,
Chief Astronomer of the Department of
tho Interior, had been designated as one
of the Canadian members of the Com
mission. Since then, no further appoint
ments have been made, and the whole
matter. In consequence, Is being held In
abeyance.
FOR SALE OF THE FRIAR LANDS
Philippine Commission Decides on
a Policy.
WASHINGTON, July 12. The Bureau
of Insular Affairs of the "War Depart
ment has received a copy of an enact
ment of the Philippine Commission, pro
viding for the temporary leasing and
sale of the lands commonly known as
friar lands, for the purchase of which
the government of the Philippine
Islands recently has contracted. It J
provides for surveys, and permits the
present occupants of any such lands
either to buy or lease them, leases to
be for three years and at a reasonable
rental. Those wishing to purchase may
do so at the actual cost to the Govern
ment, and will be allowed ten years to
pay for the same in equal annual in
stallments with Jnterest on deferred
payments at the rate of i per cent. All
unoccupied lands will be offered for
sale by tho Government to other parties.
Tho act further provides that all Ir
rigation works, common to all proper
ties, shall remain under tho exclusive
control of the government of the
Islands.
All money derived from-the lenslng-o
these lands is to constitute a trust
fund for the payment of the principal
and Interest on tho bonds Issued by tho
Philippine Government for the purpose
of raising money to pay the purchase
price of these friar lands.
WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY REPORT
Board Appointed by the President
Completes Its Labors.
"WASHINGTON, July 12. The Joint
"Wireless Telegraph Board appointed by
the President and composed of Rear-Ad-mlral
Evans, Chairman: Rear-Admlral
Manney, Chief of Ordnance; Brigadier
General Greeley, Chief Signal Officer;
Professor Willis Moore, Chief of the
Weather Bureau, and Commander Jayne,
completed Its labors today and submit
ted Its report to the President The state
ment was made that the report was a
unanimous one.
In Its deliberations the Board considered
every possible field of usefulness of a
Government wireless telegraph system.
One of the principal and most perplexing
questions It had to deal with was whether,
under certain conditions, commercial mes
sages should be handled. This point, how
ever, the members of the Board refused
to talk of, nor would they give out any
statement regarding conclusions reached
by them on the subject of wireless tele
graphy as a whole.
Alaska Cable Soon to Be Opened.
WASHINGTON, July 12. Brigadier
General A. W. Greeley, Chief Signal Of
ficer, is preparing to leave here shortly
for Seattle, and Sitka, Alaska, where he
will attend the formal opening of tho
Government cable between those two
cities. Tho last stretch of 130 mlle3
from the Sitka end Is now being laid,
and It Is expected the line will be com
pleted and In working order before
long.
American Squadron Reaches Trieste,
TRIESTE, Austria, July 12. The Amer
ican battleship squadron arrived hero to
day from Cerfu, and exchanged salutes
wltn the land batteries.
JAPAN WANTS 10,000 BRONCHOS
Texas Firm Is Arranging for Their
Early Shipment.
CHICAGO, July 12. A dispatch to the
Tribune from New Orleans. La., says:
Creole ponies from the prairies of South
west Louisiana and broncnos rrom tne
plains of Texas may be fighting the bat
tles of Japan within two months. It Is
learned that a Texas firm has been ap
proached by Minister Takashira, of Japan,
with a view to securing 100,000 head of
horses of the type now used by the Jap
anese cavalry.
The Creolo ponies and Texas bronchos,
with wonderful staying qualities, easily
fed and kept, are considered Ideal mounts
for the Japanese sabermen, and It Is un
derstood that negotiations have been
opened with the traffic department of the
Southern Pacific Railroad for a largo
amount of stock cars, so that everything
may be In readiness to rush the ponies to
San Francisco, thence by ship to Corea.
Two British Steamers Stopped.
PERIN. Straits of Bab El Mandeb,
July 12. The British steamer Menles,
from Clyde for Shanghai, which ar
rived here tonight, reports that she and
the British steamer Crowe Hall, from
Clyde, for Kurracheo, were stopped Juno
11 In the Red Sea south of Jedda, by
the Russian volunteer fleet steamer St,
Petersburg, which carried eight guns
and a large crew.
Both steamers "were boarded, and all
their papers and manifests overhauled.
The vessels were detained four hour3,
after which the St- Petersburg steamed
off to tho northward.
Russia Has Already Secured Loan.
BERLIN, July 12. All the speculation in
the domestic and foreign press re
garding the assumed plans of M. Wltte,
president of the council of Ministers, to
negotiate a Russian loan during his pres
ent visit to Berlin, has been shown to be
incorrect by the announcement today that
the loan was arranged prior to M. Wltta's
departure from St- Petersburg. It appears
that representatives of two Berlin banks,
who hitherto have acted as Russia'3
agents, went to St. Petersburg three
weeks ago and signed a contract for a
loan which the Berlin Neuste Nachrlchten
says amounts to $62,500,000, bearing 5 per
cent interest. How soon the subscription
will occur, 13 not yet known.
Treaty With America Promulgated.
ST. PETERSBURG, July 12. The corpo
ration treaty between the United States
nnrt Russia, negotiated by Ambassador
McCormlck, was formally promulgated to
day. (The corporation treaty provides that
American and Russian corporations may
sue in the courts of both Russia and the
United States. Previous to the promul
gation of the treaty American concerns
could be sued in Russia, but could not
bring suit in that country.) -
NOTE MDJOMMENT. , ,
Important Interview With? Parkar
ESOPUS, July 12. (Special Correspond
ence.) On my arrival here I was assured
by many newspaper correspondents that
an attempt to Interview the Democratic
nominee for President would result? gnly
in failure. Nevertheless, I determined -to
persevere in the mission that brought me
across the continent, so this morning I
was on the springboard when Judge
Parker came down for his morning swim.
I managed to obtain a most satisfactory
Interview, which I now send you ver
batim, remarking in passing that It Is
the greatest polltloal scoop of the century.
"Good morning. Judge. I congratulate
you on your nomination." t
"Thank you."
"Did you send your famous telegram
'collect'?"
"Is it true that you have sworn to
punch Hill's head?"
"How much do you expect Senator
Davis to contribute to the cause?"
"Have you decided, in the event of your
election, whether Belmont or Bryan shall
be Secretary of the Treasury?"
"I think that's all I wanted to ask.
Good-bye."
"Good-bye."
The packers send their men packing. '
If Nature were more of a -tactician, sha
would bring the cloudburst and the forest
fire together.
In the matter of announcing his mar
riage. Senator Clark evidently believes
f the adage about better late than never.
The girl that can't go to the beach
needn't worry. The bathing dresses have
none the better of the shirtwaists this
year.
President Diaz, of Mexico, has been re
elected. Election day for him comes
round as regularly as birthdays for other
people.
Berlin has a cat that sits or sets on
eggs and hatches 'em out as well as any
hen. Now If Berlin will produce a hen
that catches mice the balance will ba
even once more.
At Tacheklao the Russians captured a
Japanese whom they judge from his "at
tire to be a bank clerk. The Russians
must be shrewd observers, for there ara
few Americans who could tell a bank
clerk by the clothes ho wears.
An auto described by Its owner when
he's telling a friend how fast be can run
It seems quite different when he's ex
plaining to the court that he couldn't pos
sibly do more than eight miles an hour In
it.
From one of tho "advice" departments
in an Eastern paper we learn that a
"two-ser" Is a Summer girl thatls never
seen by herself but always with a Sum
men man dangling around her. Evidently
a twoser must be more attractive than -a
twofer.
According to a recent legal decision a
boy Is worth twice as much as a girl. A
coon dog, according to a young man of
New Boston (Mass.), Is also worth mora
than a girl. This dog-loving young man
was courting the same girl as his brother,
and when the scared brother offered him
his prize coon dog to withdraw from the
race, why, he withdrew. Apparently the
young man is convinced that good coon
dogs are scarco, while girls are plentiful.
Russia Is not without internal troubles.
Visitors from Odessa have Introduced
mixed bathing at a llttlo village named
Kultchuk, much to the horror of the vil
lagers. A local priest goes so far as to
curse the sea dally for permitting Itself to
be defiled, winding up with a prayer to
the waves to arise and overwhelm the
"unchristian men and women, whose con
duct makes the fishes blush." Here 'Is a
phenonomenon that should not escape the
attention of Professor Jordan. Fishes
that blush are unknown to the Pacific
Coast, and a trip to Odessa In a Govern
ment vessel would bo a pleasant addition
to Professor Jordan's already extensive
list of similar excursions.
Cats have no terrors for some Oregon
robins. A story that recently appeared
In The Oregonlan told how one of the
birds went into battle with a prowling
cat as readily as the Japanese meet tho
Cossacks. Tho English robin is a much
smaller and weaker bird than Its Oregon
namesake, but It appears to be courage
ous enough at times, as the following
story from the London Globe shows:
Tho other day, while a gentleman of Port
hallow, St. Keverne. was walking past a
farm in the neighborhood, he was attracted
by a robin, which Hew about him, flapped
its wings In his face some two or threa
times and appeared gTeatly excited and dis
tressed. The gentleman's curiosity being"
aroused, ho watched the robin for some time.
It flew toward him and then baclc Into the
hedge a short distance away, uttering appar
ently cries of distress all the time. The gen
tleman walked toward the hedge where the
bird seemed to wish him to come, and, creep
ing up close, he discovered a medium-sized
rat. which had got Into tho robin's nest and
was devouring one of tho little young birds.
At the sight of the gentleman the rat Jumped
out and was knocked senseless on the road.
When the robin saw the rat lying: on tho
road she flew at It and pecked l viciously.
The rat was killed and thrown over the hedge
into the field, and as the gentleman walked
away the robin seemed to chirp him -her
thanks. There were four youmr birds In the
nest. One was killed, but the other three-
were freo from Injury.
WEX. J.
OUT OF THE GINGER JAR.
Madge What makes you think that hand
some music teacher Is mercenary? Mar
Jorle Ha charges Dolly's father $2 an
hour foSroaklnc love to her. Town Top
ics. ''Q1
Mrs. Burker Sarah Miller had the as
surance to look me right in the face and
tell me I was looking- horrid I Mrs. Slydeir
Ypu ought to have told her you didn't mind
such reflections as that Boston Transcript.
"Tes," said the young man, "the girl I
am engaged to Is an angej." "Oh! sure."
sneered the scanty-haired man who had
been up against the matrimonial game for
many years; "that's what they all sayi"
"But she Is all right." continued the smit
ten youth. "Even mother says she is too
good for me." Chicago News.
Arested for Murder of Mine Manager.
DENVER, Colo., July 12. Newa was
received at a detective agency here today
of the arrest of Jesse K. Shields, a mem
ber of the Cooks' and Waiters' Union at
Silverton, Colo., on the charge of having
murdered Arthur Collins, the English
manager of the Tomboy mine at Tellu
ride, who was shot from ambush about a
year ago. Shields Is also accused of kill
ing W. J. Barney, a deputy employed at
the Smuggler Union mine, near Tellu
rlde, who disappeared three years ago.
Shields was taken to THellurlde today.
Deny Headquarters Are to Be Moved.
DENVER. Colo., July 12.-;OfncIals of
the "Western Federation of Miners deny
the report of- the contemplated removal
of the headquarters of the organization
from this city to Lead, S. D.
-.
-JM