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THE MORNING OREGONIAN, FRIDAY, ' SEPTEJEBEK 16,,490f.
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PORTLAND, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16.
PRESIDENT BIGELOWS PROPOSALS.
The principal Incident of each year's
gathering of the American Bankers' As
soclation is the address of its retiring
president. This year this task has
fallen upon a man of unusual attain
ment in many -ways a man of high
character, eminent business sagacity.
tgreat personal charm and a strong In
clination toward the practical side of
public questions. There are few finan
iciers In the "West, perhaps none, whose
Mews upon currency and 'banking con
cations wouia oe received: with more
respect than will be accorded the ad
ldress of President BIgelow at the New
TTork convention on "Wednesday.
The most impressive thing about Mr.
-Blgelow's discussion of our monetary
-condition Is Its conservatism as com
jiared with the extreme demands made
by our currency reformers. Ever since
.the repeal of the Sherman law, accom
iPlished "by Grover Cleveland in 1833,
istudents and business men alike have
arrayed themselves In the embattled
rranks of Baltimore plan or Indianapolis
plan or Gage plan or Fowler plan, and
insisted that nothing but the adoption
xf some pet panacea could savt us from
ianother panic Yet Mr. Bigelbw con
fines his recommendations to three or
tffour very simple and easy changes In
the present system.
As to conversion of the Treasury sil
ver into subsidiary coin, removal of
the limit on banknote retirement and
deposit of all Federal revenues in banks
.with approved security, we fully coin-
sjclde "with Mr. BIgelow's recommenda
lions. An agreement on these points
chould be had from Congress and
speedily put Into law. Mr. BIgelow
would also have the surplus silver sold
outright, which is probably impossible
and in any event certain through popu
list agitation to bring upon us more
harm than good. The silver burden is
great and potentially dangerous, but its
menace decreases year by -year as It
arrows smaller in comparison with the
gold In circulation and as it is inevita
bly worked up into subsidiary coinage
and lost in the circulation. Every sil
ver dollar turned back to the Treasury
reduces by that much the silver cer
tlflcates outstanding, and these are ab
sorbed by business, which needs them
greatly. Our subsidiary coinage In the
circulation doubles in about seventeen
years. Of the big dollars themselves
we have absorbed $20,000,000 since 1837.
Very similar Is our demurrer to the
retirement of the greenback. Theoret
ically the Government's continued re
fusal to redeem these promises to pay.
a generation after the war and with
coffers running over with gold is little
short of Infamous. And yet in fact no
body who holds them is anxious to be
paid. Their menace to the parity grows
fainter each year, for time and usage
must some day remove them from any
actual place In affairs. It Is ten years
since they worried us so dreadfully.
How much actual possibility of uncom
fortable liquidation is Involved in the
relics of what are still carried on the
books as "u. s. notes outstanding,
$346,681,016," nobody knows. Certain it
is that in those ten years the gold on
which our paper and silver are based
has grown from $500,000,000 to $900,000,
000. It is practically a certainty that
the gold standard Is as safe as law can
make it. Under Mr. BIgelow's pro
posed changes, a fiat President and
.Secretary of the Treasury could over
turn the standard as readily as they
could now, and that Is our only dan
fjer.
It is a very impressive fact that no
body of American public opinion has
so keenly scented the dangers of radi
cal currency ana canning rerorm as
the bankers themselves. They ' have
stood unmoved by the professors and
expert enthusiasts. They nave refused
to indorse retirement or tne green
backs, and have preferred to buy
bonds as now rather than take up with
the "blandishments of an asset currency.
"The reason why they do this is partly
from inherent dislike of sudden changes
from familiar methods, but still more
we think to a sound instinct that pop
ular confidence would be disturbed by
any radical reformation of our nonde
script and unscientific system or lack
of system.
In this we believe they have been
right- Banking systems are like all
other human institutions in this, that
they are slow and organic growths,
their roots in age-long habit, their
branches in the wandering airs of pdp
ular prejudices. It "would be poor pol-
Icy to gain some slight advantage in
our tactical situation at the price of a
jrenerai aistrust wnicn aruui aema.-
err. mi cc mlo-Vit nfi Into n flftTMP of Tin-
v,0-nfr.Tv nnxneasable
, ... f.
nwifoct Tf est? r spa that Air.
- 0 ,n favor
. , , , ne
ua urmK f"V X'
banking reform as possible to crackle
j ,. i.. that uHr.ard of
mo "
all wild vagaries and dangerous
uiciuuDi
ttf.c that T5IND AND OTHERS.
-
Now that Russia has, to an intents
I n.onBBc. Scan rlflirori nut nf ffi n -
1"""! "
cnuna, tne international aspects oi
Tansn's ciirfPSR are -bpelnninsr to at-
nttonflnn than tViA tnorolv
military, jtuu.v .m.umm o,.
"c" ? ' . X,
principally lnterestea in me r ar nrfisi
are already attempting to readjust
themselves to changing conditions. Ger-
many is reported to be anxious about
- nnpnn!; at TCian Hhon. and
Great Britain has actually begun nego-
I U 0 TTTI TTol TTT-t ..Ul-Vi ,V of
" ""-"
present noias Dy agreemeni wun tne
Chinese government until Port Arthur
shall have passed out of Russian hands.
in connection an mieresiing ques-
. . ., . ...
CUJU - "'eis. re ui fciuncoa iuiuulo-
tlons of wel Hal wel due to an ad'
vance hint from Japan? The point, so
far as -we are aware, has not been diS'
" ' " V
anoraa an explanation oi xne appareni-
ly aimless action of the British govern-
ment in beginning elaborate fortlflca-
tlons at crpat exnense. and subse-
. ... , t, . .,
xnem. wnai more UKeiy man mat
japan snoum nave quietly nintea tnat
Russia would not always hold Port Ar-
thur? Wrltlne In tho current number
of the Nineteenth Century and After on
the preliminaries of the. war, Baron
SuyematSU says:
ft, . m,i. r-noh
Btate9man told me that France understood
, ..... Rtls.lfl. w Jt waa the sole
, war. ..In
that resrct." h continued. "Enrland was
sharwr. for hi Tindrtiw1 fh Far Fst. and
COnonpntlv th chunrine- !reumtnr.M of
hn trnrlA hfnrn nnv nthnr rwr!dntnl Tintlnn
There Is, I believe, a good deal In It.
Aside from this point, however, which
Is chiefly pertinent as indicating that
the Anglo-Japanese alliance may be
closer than-lt is generally considered to
be, broader issues are being opened up.
"When the Russians shall have been
chased into Harbin, Japan's objects will
have been accomplished, for the time.
at least In the Japanese note to Rus
sla, February 5, practically an ulti
matum, two points were Insisted upon.
"The government of H. M. the Em
peror," said the note, "regard the inde
pendence and territorial Integrity of
the Empire of Corea as essential to
their own repose and safety." The
other point was the necessity of re
specting China's territorial integrity In
Manchuria. Corea is now under Jap
anese influence, and the appointment
of Durham W. Stevens has done much
to strengthen Japan's position there
with other nations. Of Mr. Stevens,
who Is an American, ihe "Washington
Post says that, "few men who have
come to "Washington representing any
foreign nation have won such general
esteem, even In purely official circles."
The question of Corea may be regarded
as settled. Remains the question of
Manchuria.
Japan, as declared In her "ulti
matum," insists upon the maintenance
of China's "territorial Integrity in
Manchuria," Russia has again and
again professed her desire to have the
same end accomplished. "What Is to
prevent Japan, now that the Russian
forces have been driven nractlcallv to
the boundary of the province, from in
. -
viting China to step in and assume the
administration of Manchuria? Noth
Ing; and that such Is her Intention is
to be inferred from the fact that when
Dalny was occupied the Japanese and
Chinese 'flags were hoisted side by side.
So strongly is this course relied upon
in Pekln that, according to a well-in
formed -writer In the Contemporary Re
view, the Chinese have already selected
the officials for the various Manchurlan
posts, and a dispatch in yesterday's
Oregonlan tells of China's efforts to
raise -money for a Manchurlan garri
son. Should Japan take such action.
Russia -would be logically deprived of
any chance to get even, and If she used
force, war with China -would be preclpl
tated, rather a dangerous matter in
view of the international Interests that
would be involved,
Japanese successes have already af
fected European friendships. The Lon
don Times' story, which appeared in
Tuesday's Oregonlan, to the effect
that Germany had formed an alliance
with Russia, or had at least come to a
definite understanding, by virtue of
which Germany would have the support
of Russia in her designs In the Far
East, Is probably greatly exaggerated,
although there are not wanting Indlca
tlons that such a rapprochement is
probable. A French writer, M. de Mar-
smande, In discussing the Franco-Rus
sian alliance, says In the Fortnightly
Review
International interests, moral and economic.
are. In tact, the cause and object of all alli
ances. To deny thlfl Is to deny the witness
of history and reason alike. And from this
point of view the Franco-Russian alliance has.
for some years now, been maintained merely
in obedience to an Impetus once given, but of
which the lorce is slowly and surely expend
ing Itself. Public opinion Is almost ready to
accept some slackening of the bond with ap
probation.
The truth of these remarks is indis
putable. France has gained from the
alliance nothing but the somewhat
doubtful advantage of becoming a
heavy creditor of Russia. Russia, in
the present war, has gained nothing
from" the alliance, and cannot have been
gratifiedby the Franco-British "entente
cordiale" -which has been hailed with
approbation on both sides of the Chan
nel. Germany would be a better ally in
every -way. And from the German
viewpoint Russia would be a better ally
than none, even If Japan were finally
victorious. The prospect of Japan as
the predominant (power in the Far East,
and hand in glove with Great Britain,
is one that lacks charm for the Kaiser.
The red -wave of destruction which Is
sweeping over the forests of Oregon-
and Washington is causing a loss for
-which there is no recompense, and
which can never be repaired. Large
tracts oE the finest timber on earth are
being destroyed, and Incidentally per-.
ishing with this timber are thousands
and hundreds of thousands of young
trees, which, had they lived, -would in
time fill up the gaps caused by the re
moval of the blsr timber. The resent
generation will not appreciate to the
fullest extent the loss that is being oc
casioned by the forest fires, but it Is
not so very far away In the future that
this awful waste of one of Nature's
greatest gifts will be understood and
regretted accordingly. A week or two
ago a $4,000,000 hop crop was in jeop
ardy from rain, and there was an al
most universal desire that the dry
weather continue. Since then the flre3
have increased so rapidly that the value
of the standing timber now imperiled Is.
many times greater than the value of
the hop crop. The wishes of the gen
eral public are not always respected by
the director of the weather, but If such
were the case it is probable that a
drenching rain would soon be falllngDn
the many forest fires in this vicinity.
even though some damage be suffered
by the hop crop.
JAPAN'S INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISE.
A Japanese syndicate is reported to
be securing options on a number of
Puget Sound shingle mills. Japanese
labor has for years been employed in
the manufacture of shingles and lum
ber In British Columbia, but thus far
the little brown men have not secured
much of a foothold In this line of work
on the American side of the line. The
prowess of Japan as a fighting power
on sea and shore cannot do otherwise
than increase her commercial and In
dustrial prestige at home and abroad.
Her overcrowded Islands have long ago
ceased to offer much room for Indus
trial exploitation or to supply employ
ment for her subjects. As a result they
have overrun the Hawaiian Islands and
have been coming into British Colum
bia and the United States In great
numbers. Right In our midst, they are
conducting restaurants, stores, barber
shops and other similar enterprises.
Judging their future movements by
the past, it Is but natural to suppose
that they will branch out and crowd
into any avenue of employment that Is
open. The Japanese as a class are to
day drunk with the wine of victory,
and In their exhilarated condition are
ready and willing to go to almost any
length that their finances will permit
in either territorial or industrial con
quest. The absorption of Manchuria
will offer an outlet for many millions
of the Mikado's subjects, and in the de
velopment of that vast land Japan will
quickly recover from the tremendous
financial loss of the -war. But the
"Yankees of the Far East" are born
traders, and they will branch out and
overrun the world in their quest for
business. The Pacific Coast offers a
fine opportunity for them, for the rea
son that Japan Is much In need of
many of our products. If the Japanese
laborer under the supervision of the
Japanese foreman can make shingles
and cut lumber for the white man, he
can certainly do the same for the cap
italist of his own land who has suffi
cient money to establish the plant.
The Japanese fishermen are catching
most of the salmon that are taken In
the Fraser RIv.er, and their fellow-
countrymen are assisting in packing
the fish, labeling the cases and doing
practically everything connected with
the Industry, except financing the sale
of the pack and paying the employes.
If they can do this under white super
vision there seems to be no logical rea
son why they should not themselves
engage in the business. Japan is now
a heavy buyer of Pacific Coast salmon
and lumber, and she would naturally
show a preference for dealing with her
own people if they become established
on our shores. It will be a long time
after peace Is finally declared before
Japan will feel disposed to permit too
many of her subjects to leave her Im
mediate Jurisdiction, and the new terri
tory which it now seems almost certain
will fall to her in Manchuria will offer
a field for so many of them that there
Is no Immediate liability of a wholesae
Invasion of the Pacific Northwest by
Russia's foe. As a straw of noticeable
proportions Indicating the direction of
the industrial wind, the increasing
numbers of Japanese In this country
And In British Columbia are -worthy of
notice. If they are as aggressive in
their peaceful efforts as they are In the
field of battle, they may some day be
come more Important factors In Pacific
Coast Industrial life than they hold as
shingle-makers, sawmill operatives or
salmon-fishers. This Is an economic
problem that may some day bother the
walking delegate.
ANOTHER TRANSCONTINENTAL ROAD
The announcement that the Mllwau
kee & St. Paul Railroad will extend Its
line to the Pacific Coast has created
considerable comment In the East, and
the early construction of the extension
is regarded as almost a certainty. In
vestigations which have folfowed the
announcement of the securing of ter
minals on: Puget Sound have satisfied
the most trustworthy financial papers
in the East that the present movement
will get beyond the "proposed" stage
The extension will undoubtedly be built
because It Is almost a necessity in or
der to protect the vast mileage al
ready controlled by the road In the
richest portion of the United States
The Pacific Northwest is increasing Its
east-bound tonnage at a rate that at
times taxes the facilities of the roads
to handle It, and the territory from
which this tonnage is coming is so far
from reaching the possible limits of de
velopment that It may be said to be
just at the beginning.
The restoration of peace in the Far
East will be followed In a few years by
an enormous Increase In the trans-Pa
cific trade. That trade -will call for
great quantities of goods from the East
and Middle West, and the transcontl
nental lines which are now hauling
empty cars out here for lumber, shin
gles, wheat, livestock, -wool, etc., will
soon be carrying freight both ways.
This increasing activity in the Far
West and Its trans-Pacific neighbor, the
Far East, will give the roads having dl
rect connection -with the Coast an ad
vantage over the Milwaukee which will
very materially affect the revenues
which It enjoys In Its present restricted
sphere. Unless It strikes out for new
fields and gets on even terms with Its
competitors In the Middle West, It Is in
a fair way to be worsted.
The Burlington system Is a close
neighbor of the Milwaukee. The two
lines serve practically the same terri
tory In several of the principal states of
the Middle West, and naturally there Is
considerable rivalry between them.
Prior to the extension of the Burling
ton to Billings and the direct connec
tlon there with the Northern Pacific,
the two roads were on pretty even
terms for the business originating in
mutual territory. When the Burlington
emerged from the "granger" class of
roads and by affiliating with the North
ern Paclflc became in effect a transcon
tlnental line, ' It may he said to have
left the Milwaukee "bottled up" and
unable to participate In some very rich
trade The Mlhvaukdi made a track
age arrangement with the Union Pa
cine, and has since handled consider
able Paclflc Coast business from its
direoc territory, out it nas been at a
disadvantage compared with its com
petitor, and will continue to be until
It can reach tidewater on the Pacific
over its own tracks.
It has grldironed Iowa, Minnesota,
"Wisconsin, most of the Dakotas and
portions of Illinois, Missouri and Mich
igan. Pacific Coast lumber Is finding a
big market through these states, and
the demand Is steadily Increasing as
the forests of that country are vanish
ing. The "through roads" from the
source of supply will have the advan
tage, in this trade, and they will also
be better equipped for handling the
west-bound traffic -that originates In the
territory of the "granger" roads. Rail
roads are much like other industrial
enterprises In that they cannot stand
still, but must either keep up with the
procession or go out of business. There
Is a rich country lying between the
present prairie termini of the Milwau
kee's Dakota lines and tidewater on the
Pacific Coast. Other roads have been
moving Into the country, and the Mil
waukee must do the same of lose both
business and prestige In the territory
where it is now. firmly Intrenched.
In the matter of finances for build
ing the Pacific Coast extension, the
Milwaukee Is probably better equipped-
than any other road that ever started
across the continent. The company sev
eral months ago authorized the Issu
ance of 25,000,000 of new stock, none of
which has yet been used. Additional
financial strength is given the road by
the fact that "William Rockefeller Is the
.largest individual stockholder and a
number of other Standard OH capital
ists are interested. The plans thus far
made public Indicate that Tacoma will
be the terminus of the line. This fact
will not lessen the interest that Port
land will have In the matter, for this
city has already forced recognition
rrom other lines which paused for a
time at a Puget Sound terminal. "When
the Milwaukee & St. Paul begins run
ning through trains to the Pacific Coast
they will come Into the Union Depot in
this city about five hours after- they
reach Tacoma.
The Novoe Vremya, the leading Rus
sian newspaper of St. Petersburg, Is not
a humorous publication in the sense
that we regard Puck, Judge and similar
papers, but since the opening of the
war with Japan It has frequently given
the public some delightful bits of un
conscious humor. For example, it conv
ments on the Lena as follows:
The appearance, ot the transport has already
thrown a panic Into the contrabandists of the
Paclflc Coast and created a tremendous sensa
tion throughout Europe, only showing bow
the slightest success on the part oj Russia
creates apprehension throughout the rest ot
the world.
The Lena, one of the remnants of a
shattered and scattered fleet of Rus
sian vessels, limps apprehensively into
a neutral port seeking repairs and
safety, and in the mind of the Novoe
Vremya editor the feat becomes an
other Russian success. The Juvenile
ostrich, which sticks Its head In the
sand in an endeavor to hide from the
public, displays more wisdom than Is
shown by the Muscovites who seek to
hide their defeats and misfortunes from
the public simply by labeling them as
successes. Even one of the "slightest
successes" on the part of Russia might
create a tremendous sanation on ac
count of Its rarity, If for no other rea
son, but we must have the real thing
before we begin the applause.
Russia has bowed to the modern doc
trine that war should be made to press
as lightly as possible upon neutral ar-
etrles of trade. Her modification of the
Czar's proclamation of contraband is
in accordance -with American and Brit
ish proposals, as the two nations most
immediately and largely concerned in
the peaceful continuance of trade with
Japan. Foodstuffs,- Russia now an
nounces, will be merely conditional
contraband. In other words, such
property -will not be seized unless it is
clear that It Is Intended, for the use of
a belligerent nation's fighting force.
This Is the most important point In the
negotiations, and marks an Important
diplomatic victory. Railroad mterlals
will still be held contraband by Rus
sia, It Is announced, and while the de
cision is not in harmony -with the for
mer, It is not likely -to create much
friction. Presumably this decision of
tne itussian government was reacnea
after the prize court had dealt with the
case of the British steamship Calchas.
The vessel is to be released, but part of
her cargo, consisting of flour, cotton
and timber, Is to be confiscated. The
decision Is totally at variance with the
government's announcement, and will
probably be set aside at St. Petersburg.
There was a time when a large num-
her of Englishmen were engaged In the
"bogus lord" business in this country.
Possession of a cockney accent and a
suit of broad checks was all that was
required to set up In business that be
came profitable or otherwise, as suckers
were plentiful or few. Is It possible
that the Japanese, with true Oriental
thrift, are about to glean this closely-
reapea nemr Jbrom St. Jfaui comes a
telegram telling of two Japanese cruis
ers that chased the Lena into San
Francisco, the story being on the au
thority of "Count Yama Oslchl." The
Japanese Consul at San Francisco, who
is naturally Interested In al! that ner-
tains to Ihe case of the Lena, does not
believe the exciting story from St. Paul,
because, as he explains, there Is no
such Count as Yama Oslchl.
Keats, In his "Ode to Melancholy,"
speaks of the man -who
With strenuous tongue
Can burst Joy's grape against his palate fine.
Such a man is evidently Thomas
Jones, of Newberg, who saved up $80 to
have a good time in Portland. Within
the first few minutes of his good time
Mr. Jones was "doped" and robbed of
his eighty dollars In a lump. It Is not
strange to say that Mr. Jones' palate
fine vas not sufficiently tickled with
this sudden bursting of Joy's grape,
and that his soul is now with Melan
choly's cloudy trophies hung, for this
only bears out Keats' assertion that "in
the very Temple of Delight veiled Mel
ancholy has her sovran shrine."
NO TRIMMING HERE.
We do not have to guess at oar own con
victions, and then correct, tho guess If It
seems unpopular. The principle which we
profess are those in which we believe with
heart and soul and strength. Jlrn may
differ from as; but they cannot accuse us
of trickineas or Insincerity. The policies we
hare pursued are those, which we earnestly
hold as essential to the National welfare and
repute. Our actions speak even loader than
our words for the faith that Js In us. We
bo&e our appeal upoa what we have done
and are doing, upon our record of adminis
tration and legislation dnriag the last seven
years, in which we have had complete con
trol of the- Government. We intend in the
future to carry on the Government in the
earns way that we have carried it oil In tho
past. President Boeeevett.
THE SLEEPLESS NIGHT. .
Chicago Tribune.
Insomnia, per se, would not be so full
of torture if it were not so Incurably
pessimistic It will not allow a man to
He awake and think pleasant thoughts,
nor will it permit his mind to be a
blank.
"Hello!" croaks a voice at some un
earthly hour, "How's business? wtf
haven't had a talk for some time. Tell
me all about everything.. Let's see. The
last time we talked you were pretty
badly off. Yes, I remember. Things were
going to the bow-wows.
"What's that? You were needlessly
worried over trifles? Well, I have my
own opinion as to that. I thought you
were on your last legs. But anyhow, as
between us two, how'a business? 1 m
Interested In you. You're worse off than
you Imagine. How's the bank balance?
"It's rather low. is it? Never mind
about the money that's due you. How
do you kn6w it will ever be paid? So
the balance Is low, eh? Now tell me
what you're going to do. How can you
pay your bills? You can't pay them.
An Idiot could see that you re done
for.
You don't know about that? That's
the trouble with you. You don't know.
You don t know enough about your
business. That's why I want to talk It
all over with you."
So they, talk and argue and -wrestle
In the stillness of the night. The tired
man tosses and turns and opens his
eyes and stares Into blankness. Then he
closes his eyes and say that he Is going
to sleep.
"You are, eh? Who's boss here? Now,
listen to ME. We're going to start In
and discuss your business from top to
bottom. We're going to take It up point
by point and get things straightened
out. If it s possible, which I doubt. Now,
let's get right down to business. What's
olng to become of all that unim
proved property you owe money on
What will become of you when the
mortgage Is due. It's due next week.
What undertaker do you wish to pre
side at your funeral?
"So, you'll renew the mortgage? That
Is, youwill IF you can. Do you hear
me? I Bald IF you can. But you can t.
You're cornered. You're up a tree.
You're In the air In the air. They vo
grot you. Still you've a chance. Maybe
you can break into a bank and steal aH
the money without being caught. You
see, rm trying to encourage you. Ma
ha! You would be all right If you were
not a fool. If you had any brains you
could be just as successful as othor
men. There's no reason why you
couldn't. So cheer up. It might be
worse. Of course It might be worse, but
I can't imagine it.
"Now, go to sleep. Go to sleep. You
can't, can you? See, that's the trouble
You might do something If you would rest
at night Instead of thinking about your
business. Good-by. I'll try to get around
to your funeral."
The genial visitor departs and the
man hears the hired girl in the kitchen
getting breakfast.
GAMBLING NOT NECESSARY.
Spokane Spokesman-Review.
For a time, at least, public gambling in
Portland seems to have been stopped. If-
the city remains closed long enough to
have the fact demonstrated that people
can get along very well without public
gambling establishments, the games are
not likely to be reopened. Every time
gambling Is put under the ban and the
law Is enforced, it is harder to reopen, be
cause the public becomes convinced that
it is by no means essential to a town's
prosperity that places should exist where
men may try their luck and lose their
money.
At every antlgambllng crusade the argu
ment has always been advanced that a
suppression of the public games would kill
the town: that money would not come In
from the outside; that people In neighbor
ing cities and towns would remain away;
that money would not be circulating as
freely; that a depression would set In, and
that trade In general would lose. This ar
gument has often carried conviction, for
no citizen cares to do that which will
turn lively times Into dull times.
But actual experience shows that there
Is not much justification for this reason
ing. There has been temporary depression
In gambling circles when the resorts have
.been compelled to close, but it Is not a
depression that has ever seriously affected
any substantial Interest of the commun
ity. Any harm done has been greatly
overshadowed by the good done.
"With gambling closed, there Is not as
mucn money noating . around among
dealers, professional players, boosters and
the hangerson of the gambling establish
ment, but there Is more in the pockets of
the men of moderate means, who largely
support the gambling-houses when they
are running. There Is less money to be
wasted by those who like sport and high
living, but there Is more to brighten up
little homes and give the family that
which it has not had when the head of
It was squandering his earnings over the
green ciotn. in the end trade is dolnjr
quite as well, and there Is more happiness
ana contentment in the community. And
when a city has once tried to tret alone
without public gambling, it finds after a
while that gambling Js not greatly missed
and that a benefit has been worked by its
suppression. .
Ned Braddock 1755.
John Williamson Palmer in Tale Alumni
Weekly.
Said the Sword to the Ax, 'twixt the
whacks and the hacks,
"Who's your bold Berserker, cleaving for
tracks ?
Hewing a highway through greenwood and
Slen,
root-free for cattle and hearC-free for
. men?"
"Braddock, of Fontenoy, stubborn and
grim.
Carving a cross on- the wilderness rim;
In his own doom, building large for the Lord.
Steeple and State!" said the Ax to the Sword
cam the Blade to the Ax, "And shall none
say him nay?
Never a broadsword to bar him the way?
Never a bush where a Huron may hide.
Or the shot of a Shawnee spit red on his
side?"
Down the long trail, from the fort to the
ford.
Naked and streaked, plunged a moccasin'd
horde;
Huron and Wyandot, hot for the bout;
Shawnee and Ottawa, barring him out!
Reddn'lng the ridge, 'twixt a gorge and
gorge.
Bold to the sky loom the ranks of St.
George;
Braddock and Fontenoy, belted and horsed.
For a foe to be struck and a pass to be
forced.
'Twixt the pit and the crest, 'twixt the
rocks and the grass.
Where the bush hides the foe and the foe
holds the pass.
Beaujeau and Pontlac, striving amain;
Huron and Wyandot, jeering the slain!
Beaujeu, bon camarade! Beaujeu the -Gay!
Beaujeu and Death cast their blades in the
fray.
Never a rifle that spared when they spoke.
Never a scaip-Knue tnat balked In Its
stroke
Till the red hillocks marked where the
standards had danced.
And the Grenadiers gasped where their sa
bers had glanced.
-But Braddock raged fierce In that storm
by the ford.
And railed at his "curs" with the flat of his
sword!
Said the Sword to the Ax, '.TVhere's your
Berserker now?
Lo! his bones mark a path for a country
man's cow.
And Beaujeu the Gay? Give him place, right
or wrong,
In your tale of a camp, or your stave of
Dfjf"
song."
"But Braddock of Fontenoy, stubborn and
grim.
Who but he carved a croro on the wilderness
rim?
In his own doom building- large for the Lord,
Steeple and. State!" Said the Ax to the Sword.
AN IMPUDENT THREAT.
Chicago Inter-Ocean.
A strange tale comes from Washing
ton. It is to the effect that H. H. Rog
ers, in behalf of the . "Standard Oil
group" of millionaires, recently visited
the President and explained that the Su
preme Courts decision In the Northern
Securities case had caused him and his
associates grave apprehension.
He had heard, Mr. Rogers continued.
that the Administration contemplated
similar action against the United States
Steel Corporation. He wished a frank
statement of the Administration's policy.
He asked, in fact, whether tho President
meant to enforce the law against him
self and his associates as he would
against other people.
The President, ignoring the insult of
such a question, explained to Mr. Rogers
that he had no intention or desire to
harass business Interests, but as the inter
pretation of the highest court had left the
law no longer doubtful he had no choice
but to enforce the law. If the Steel Cor
poration had been acting contrary to the
law he would expect it to conform to the
law, and hoped this would be done volun
tarily. Reasonable time would be given.
and no compulsory action taken until
It became apparent that there was an In
tention to defy the law. But action would
have to be taken against all corporations
which failed, or refusad. In a reasonable
time, to adjust themselves to the law.
Without violating his oath ot office he
could not do otherwise.
Then Mr. Rogers tried to convince the
President that It was "Impracticable"
for the United States Steel and other con
solidations now to obey the law. He
hoped the President would reconsider his
determination, especially if he expected
to succeed himself as President. The Pres
ident answered that he had.no discretion,
as he must enforce the law
Then there will be war." Mr. Kogers
is said to have exclaimed, rising from his
chair.
"War or no war," answered Mr. Roose
velt. "the law shall be no by-word.
Such is tho stranee tale that comes irom.
Washington a tale that would be lncrea
ible were It not known that the man wno
asked the insulting question represented
those who have on other occasions dls
played a similar Impropriety of conduct,
and were it not known that the men who
made the Impudent threat have not hesi
tated in the past to attempt similar inso
lent dictation.
We have but to remember the famous
Rockefeller telegram to the Senate. At-
temDts were made to shuffle off responsi
bility for that unon tho folly of young Air.
Rockefeller, but whatever Its source Its
arrogance was seen to be typical of tne
attitude of the men now said to presume
to threaten the President of the united
States.
That these .men should have presumed
to ask that Insulting question and to
make that Impudent threat Is therefore by
no means incredible. There Is one point,
however, that these gentlemen would do
well to remember. When they threaten
war unless then can have Immunity from
the laws they threaten more than Theo
dore Roosevelt They threaten the Presi
dent of tho United States and through
him they threaten the whole American
people.
They would do well to rememDer wnat
Is the fate of those who challenge
the
American people to war.
THROWING AWAY CHANCES.
New York Evening Post.
The Democratic party Is exceptionally
fortunate this year In having at least two
potent issues on which to go before the
electorate. Its platform rightly denounced
the protective system as the robbery of
the many in the interest of a few: upon
the questions of Imperialism and Execu
tive usurpation Its utterances are of no
uncertain sound. Yet there is a noticea
ble timidity all along the line In joining
battle manfully, which is In marked con
trast to the attitude of the Republicans.
Said Mr. R. B. Armstrong, the Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury: "The Repub
lican managers and rank and file express
a willingness to meet the Democrats on
any question or Issue. If It Is the ques
tion of the personality ot the President,
that suits them exactly. If It 13 the tariff.
the Philippines, the Isthmian Canal, well
and good." This shows the confidence of
Republicans in a waiting game. As is
evidenced by the attitude of their organs
In this city they have no Intention of do
ing much more than fall back upon their
record In office. There never was a bet
ter opportunity, therefore, for the party
of the opposition to oppose their political
rivals with all that enthusiasm which Is
ever associated with a just and righteous
cause.
There never was a time when the voters
of this country were more ready to pass
calmly and thoughtfully upon the argu
ments of either side. All the bitterness of
the last two campaigns has passed away
with Bryanlsm. Since there 13 no longer
any danger of an attack upon our finan
cial system, people are ready to discuss
and to ponder Governmental policies and
methods and to cast their votes according
to their sober conclusions. This Is proved
by the variety of reasons given by bolt
ers, whether Republican or Democratic,
for going over to the other side. Plainly
the conditions favor that party which ha3
an earnest message for the people and
knows how to carry it into every home.
There Is no mystery about successful
campaigning.
Readiness to stand up and avow your
beliefs is the keynote, as the Republicans
have shown and are showing. They have.
at least, the merit of flying their banners
where all can see. But the counsel of
timidity and of shuffling which Is urged
upon the Democrats by those who talk of
Republican majorities in Maryland, West
Virginia and New Jersey, In case the
fateful words, "tariff for revenue only."
should be spoken, is also the counsel of
elaborate political suicide. If the Demo
cratic party Is again to tro down to de
feat it should succumb while fiehtins
bravely for what It considers the right.
If beaten on the tariff issue as laid down
In the St. Louis platform It will fall hon
orably to triumph another time. But it
the defeat should be due to feebleness
and Inaction to that which marked the
contest in Vermont the party of Cleve
land and Tllden will be again disgraced.
ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
PORTLAND. Sept. 15. (To the Editor.)
notice this morning in your excellent Journal
an article entlUed "Free Speech in Oregon."
and I read it with a great deal of Interest
You thought that I would hardly dare to go to
tho extent that The Oregonlan has in allowing
free expression of views through your columns,
I wish to say that I am in favor of the fullest,
freest and roost compl&e freedom of the press
and of speech. Any cause is a poor one that
cannot stand free discussion. Indeed, I have
always regarded It to be a confession of weak
ness when any one seeks to avoid It, and I re
joice to learn that your great paper has always
permitted all to be heard who would preparo
their views In a proper manner. ro wonder
that your paper has been the euccess that It
has.
In a little town in Chester County, Pennsyl
vania, some years ago where I lectured I saw
a hall that had been erected and dedicated to
free speech. It seemed that In the early
days of the agitation against slavery the
churches In that town woujd not permit their
pulpits to be used for anti-slavery lectures, so
this Quaker built a hail, had it well furnished.
and dedicated It to free speech, and had It
understood that any man or-woman of any race
that had anything to say to the people, upon
application the hall would be opened, lighted,
and In the Winter, warmed and ventilated, free
of charge to the lecturer. Iso limitation at all
was placed upon him as to what he should say,
And when the-good man died he ordered in hi3
will that the hall should be kept up for the
purpose tor wnicn it waa duuu i always
thought that that man should have a monu
ment erected by those who believe In free
sneech and a free press.
As long as The Oregonlan anow3 its columns
to be ueed for the freedom of thought to every
one, whatever ne may nave to ray, may pros
perity continue to come to It, and may its
days bo multiplied. JOHN SOBIESKI.
NOTE AKDC0MMENT.
A Curious Coincidence.
In answer to the problem propounded
by A Subscriber in this column on Sep
tember 14:
When first the marriage knot was ty'd
Between my wife and me.
My age was to that of my bride
- As three times three to- three.
But now when ten and half tert "years
We man and wife, have been.
Her age to mine exactly bears
As eight Is to sixteen.
Now tell rae, pray, from what I've said.
What were our ages when we wed?
we have received the following clever
letter giving the solution:
Portland. Sept. 14. (To Note and Comment.)
The answer to ths problem aubmltted by your
Milwaukle Subscriber" is very simple. In
deed. I had no more than finished reading his
clever little verse when I had the solution of
his apparently knotty question In my grasp.
to wit: At the time they were married the
man was 45 and his wife 15 years old.
I will frankly state, however, that It is not
that I am unusually bright, nor yet that IN
am an adept at figure, that I solved the
problem so quickly, but simply because by a
coincidence my mother was 45 when I waa 15.
and I remember calling her attention to the
fact that shv was Just three time's as old as
I. Curiously enough, I had never noticed It
before. When I was 16, to my great amaze
ment, the flgures would not come out right.
Somewhere about the middle of the past
Summer I became 30, and my mother Is now
60. It waa only a few days ago that sho called
my attention to the fact that she was gaining
In the race, since she was now only twlco as
old as I.
The moment I read the verse I recognised
the situation. I modestly take no credit to
myself. AN EAST SIDE READER.
P. S. I did not hesitate to state my age (of
course, you know I am a woman "by ths "post
script") because I feel that my Identity la
safe. The East Side Is populous, and is etill
growing. That Is not by way ot advertise
ment, but merely & fact.
That Is woman's way. Hero is the same
solution reached by Jhe rocky road of
algebra:
Portland. Sept. 14. (To Note and Comment.)
The solution of the problem In yesterday's
Note and Comment column Is easily obtained
algebraically:
Let x equal age of bride.
Then 3x equals age ot groom.
x plus 15 equals age of bride after-15 years.
3x plus 15 equals age of groom after 15 years.
8 (3x plus 15) equals 16 (X plus 15).
3x plus 15 canals 2x plus 30.
x equals 15, age of the bride at wedding.
3x equals 45, age of the groom.
CARL DILLINGER.
The Sporting Printer.
Thero are many stories tpld of baseball
cranks, but none better than one about
Larry Powell, a printer, who had worked
la almost every state of the Union. On
one of his visits to Portland, Powell made
several acquaintances, and five or six of
them decided to go tb tho Sound by side
door Pullman. Getting ditched near Che
halls, the boys dug up all the money that
was in the crowd and gave it to Powell,
who was to go up town and buy the ma
terials for a mulligan stew. In about
20 minutes, the marketer was seen on his
way back, and the near prospect of a
savory dinner began to fill the hungry
prints with holy joy. When Powell ar
rived within speaking distance, he waved
a baseball bat and cried, "Well, boys.
let's have a game ot ball."
He had Invested the entire funds
in a
bat and ball.
Qualfications.
This Is the time of year that we
read
announcements to the effect that
Harry Smithers, the famous, football
player, will have charge of the Latin
classes at Dewey Academy.
William Duffleflnger, one of the best
guards Yale has produced, has been en
gaged as assistant Instructor In mathe
matics at the Shatter Military School.
The English classes at the General Alger
Preparatory School will be under the
charge of B. Snlffton. Snooks, who made
the sensational play that brought -victory
to Yarvard last season.
Foolish Sex.
The girl that blistered on the beach
To add a tan to Nature's charms,
Now suffers In. her toll to bleach
The self same tan from neck and arms.
If a polltaxon men Is unconstitutional.
why not onogs?
An Everett correspondent deplores the
'race war" that Is now going on in Man
churia.
Kurokl, having made his dispositions
for the battle of Motien Pass, quietly
fished for minnows while his subordinates
carried out his plans. This beats Grover
Cleveland.
You can't fool some people. The peo
ple of Cleveland, having found the body
of a woman jammed Into a trunk and
sunk beside a dock, suspect that a murder
has been committed.
Frank W. Higglns, the Republican nom
inee for Governor of New York, comes
from Cattaragus. He hasn't got much the
better of some of the Manchurlan villages
In the matter of euphony.
Wlth grief we hear from Mukden that
the city of Liao Yang Is no longer tho
prim and decorous place It was when the
Russian standard floated over It. With
the advent of the Japanese, says the man
in Mukden, Liao Yang has lost Its high
moral tone, and many music halls have
been opened. Music halls In full blast
after the Sabbath-llke peace of Russian
occupation. What a change, what a fall.
It needs a Parkhurst or a Brougher to do
full Justice to such a state of affairs, and
we do not wonder that the man in Muk
den writes of It with evident pain. Of Rus
sian decorum there is no need to speak.
The observers who tell us that the fall
or evacuation of a Russian post is her
alded by the flight of "soiled doves," as
rats are said to leave a sinking ship, must
have mistaken sisters of charity for
daughters of Joy.
WEX. J.
OUT OF THE GINGER JAR.
Uncle Henry Did Charles graduate with hon
ors at his college? Uncle George Honors? Oh.
yes; they don't count honors In the game now.
Boston Transcript.
"I never knew a man of more regular hab
its.' "I should say he was! Why, he never
uses an Irregular vefb If he can help It."
Clevoland Plain Dealer.
Hearing of a tax assessor who had been way
laid and shot by robbers. Brother Dickey said:
"How truly do de Bible say. 'De way ot de
tax assessor Is hard.' "Atlanta Constitution.
Harold Did your charity ball realize any
thing for charity? Dolly Well, rather. Old
Jabez Gotrox sat In a draught, got pneumonia,
died next day, and left $10,000 to an orphan
asylum. Puck.
"Don't git out o patient wlf de man dat
thinks he knows It all." eald Uncle Eben. "De
chances are dat he's gwlne to git all the lesson
he needs when he stahts In takin his own
tips." Washington Star.
"No, sir, I never borrow trouble." "Neither
do I, so why should I sit here listening to your
argument about the wickedness of docking
horses? I don't own a horse, and I never ex
pect to." Chicago Record-Herald.
Grace Will took me to lunch down town to
day. Ethel What did you have? Grace Oh.
nothing much. Just green turtle soup, pate de
fole gras, canvasback duck, some anchovy
salad, ice cream an(J coffee. He wanted to
have meat instead of the goose livers and duck,
but I wouldn't let him on account of the strike.
Tou know. I want him to economize. Cincin
nati Commercial Tribune.