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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 10, 1905)
THE SIOENING OEEGONIAN, PREDAY, MAKCH 10, 1905. Kuykendall Surprised :at Voters' Protests. ALWAYS SOME COMPLAINT Reply Made to Questions, of Referendum Committee. DENIES LOGROLLING CHARGE President of the Oregon Senate Says He Is Only Too Anxious to Help the People of the State Express Their Will. EUGENE, Or.. March 9. (To the Editor.) As the "referendum committee" at ilc MinnviHe has asked me some question, the answers to which will be of more or less public Interest. I am sure you will rant me space for reply. A straight question and a fair answer are pretty good means of getting at the truth of any subject. I assure the committee that I will try to give a frank and complete answer to every question. I wish them to meet me In this matter with the same eplrit of fairness and earnest desire to get the best results for all our people that I hope to bring to Its consideration. I do sot know any better plan than to quote the questions and reply to each in order. Unaware of General Protest. First Did he. or any of the persons who are so active with him In opposing the ref rendum. make any effort to secure the In- traduction of separate bills appropriating these funds? Did he or any of his friends ever attempt to make the Normal School appropriations a separate bill? So, I did not, nor did any of the other members. I am sure that I did not under stand, and It is probable that the othor members did not. that there was any sort ous protest by the people against putting the Normal Schools into the general appro priation bill. I have served at Ave sessions of the Legislature, at -which regular appro priations were made, and at each of them the Normal Schools were Included In the general appropriation bill, and I never be fore have heard any serious protest against it. . There has been protest; there Is protest against everything done by Legisla tures, but never before this year anything indicating widespread feeling. I was not made aware of this widespread feeling during the session, and I helped to do that which has been done by every Legis lature since the state has supported Us Normal Schools put them In the general appropriation bill. Knowing .now that there is such a general protest I want to do what I can to help the people express their will, clearly and lntelll gently, on this subject. This cannot be done by appealing to the referendum, but can be by the Initiative, and that without crippling all the great Institutions of the state. Denies Normal School Combination. Second The Normal School' counties had tlx members in the Senate and 12 in the House. Will he explain the combination by "which these members were enabled to com- I pel the other 24 Senators and the other 4S ! 'Hcpresentatlveo to do their bidding? The assumption that there was any such combination is purely gratuitous. I am morally certain there was no suoh combina tion: I am very sure that no member of the Senate will claim that he was compelled to do the bidding of the Normal School people or Imperil his legislation. During the whole session I did not hear any Intima tion of an attempt to coerce anyone by a threat to throw the Normal vote against a man or a measure. There was no co-operation of the Normal School Senators for or against any men or measures. They did not von vote as a unit on measures affecting Normal Schools. That the Normal School couutlos were represented by strong, active, able men Is true, and they doubtless did the best they could for their people. But they could not and had too much sense to try to coerce the whole Senate. The "committee" should not forget that a great many people in the state believe in Normal Schools In some form. Our neighbor etate of Washington ceems to favor thorn, too. for their present Legislature has appro priated more for each of her two schools than we did for all of ours together. I assume that a man may be a good citizen, entirely sane, reasonably honest and still beMeve in Normal Schools. Denies Making Promises. Third Is It a fact that Senator Kuyken dall had to promise the Normal School ootmty men that he would "stand in" in or , der that he would receive their votes to elect him President of the Senate? 1 answer no. absolutely and unqualifiedly. Anyone familiar with the situation would not ask such a question. Who were the "Normal ' School Senators?" Pierce and Smith of Umatilla. Chamberlain Democrats. - personally my friends, and good men, but The most active spirits In working the combi nation of Democrats and Republicans against me In the organization; Loughary of Polk, known to be my friend before the fight be came tense; Coshow of Douglas, a Demo crat; Booth of Lane, Douglas and Joneph- Ine. my life-long friend,, whom everyone knows was for me. Normal School or no. 68 d Carter, who was my opponent for the Presidency. Not one of these men ever proposed to come to my support in consideration of my help for the Normal Schools in their coun ties. Nor did I make any promises of help or aid to any of their schools or other -Interests in consideration of their vote for me for President or their help for any of my bills or my Interests. No more honorable men than these Ave were found In the Senate, and yet these are the men whom the "committee" assumes were trading their votes on organization and threatening other legislation In the inter ests of the Normal Schools. Acquaintance With Mills Disprove. Fourth Did Air. Mills or his active sup porters have to promise the Representatives from the Normal school counties that they would support the appropriation for these Institutions, in order that he might be elected Speaker of the House? Is It fair that the taxpayers should pay the price for this 7 I would hardly be expected to answer this question 1 might say. however, that no man who knows Mr. Mills will charge him with having bought the Speakership with premises of aid to Normals or anything else. No One Would Know. Fifth If the referendum Is called and the " 'people defeat this bill. Is not that a notice that the people do not Indorse the Normal school gran . Now we are getting at the real merits of the case. I will answer most assuredly no. This Is the chief weakness of the referen dum, as applied to this case. If the peo ple veto this appropriation bill it may mean any one of numerous things, or a comblna tlon of several. It may mean condemnation ' of .Normal Schools, or of the University, or the Agricultural cojiege. or of all the stat " schools of higher learning. It might mean, and iikw likely would. i . general protest against the large approprl ations of this session, only about one-half .of which are Included In this bllL against the high taxes joI this year, .which. "Sjr the way, r caused wholly by the ap propriations' of two years ago. Finally it might mean a protest against putting the 1 Normals and such Items Into the general appropriation MIL No one would know Just what it did mean. -The referendum on this bill will not clearly instruct the Legislature on any of the above points. Not so with a bill initiated directly for the settlement of the Normal School question. The referendum simply vetoes the bill and leaves us without direct expression of opinion as to our Normal Schools and without a law abolish ing or governing them. The initiative will give a "people's law" governing the whole question as well 'as a "people's opinion" about Normal Schools. Normal Schools Will Continue to Bun. Sixth If this appropriation Is held up by the referendum petition, will the Normal Schools. If they continue to run. not be doing so on their own responsibility, with out the state being in any way responsible? I cannot see how the faet that 4500 citi zens out of more than 100.000 sign a refer endum petition against a general appropria tion bill which carries Items for the sup port of 12 different state Institutions can. be construed as relieving the state from all re sponsibility toward Normal Schools. The state has accepted the property of the peo ple, where these schools are located, with the' understanding that schools are to be maintained and it would be a gross breach of faith to cut them off without due notice and an honorable adjustment of property In terests. Until such notice and adjustment the sev eral boards of regents of these schools -would doubtless feel that It Is their duty to con tinue the schools. There can be no reason able doubt that the next Legislature would feel It their duty to redeem the good faith of the state and pay the teachers who had done two years' faithful work In these schools. We must not forget that the state has established these schools, the Governor lias appointed boards of regents for their con trol and the Legislature has appropriated money for their support. Are we to suppose that these boards of regents will dismiss their schools, allow their faculties to scatter and their classes to break up, simply be cause one-fifth of the voters of the state sign a referendum petition? Are we to suppose that any Legislature will fall to pay these teachers If the boards of regents instruct them to go on with their work? Nearly all of these teachers are poor men and women, -working for small salaries, which will be still further reduced by hav ing to heavily discount their certificates. As a matter of fact, after the hold-up session of 1897 the two Normals then ex isting went right on with their work and the next Legislature appropriated money to pay the full two years. But there Is another reason why we may feel sure that the Normals will ran and their bills will be paid. Last Summer all the present Normal teachers were hired for the school year, which ends about July 1 next. The state fiscal year ended January 1 last. The money from the former appropri ation was exhausted at that time and every Normal and every other state Institu tion has been running since that time on the money carried In this very appropriation bill which it Is proposed to hold up. No Legislature will refuse the money with which to pay teachers the money due them on these contracts. I do not mean to say that we cannot get rid of the Normal Schools or that we ougn sot to do so. but there Is a right way and an honorable way to do this. If it is to be done let it be done la a way that Is con slstent with the honor and the credit of the state. Unable to Answer. Seventh How do the advocates of the initiative know that the people will knock out the Normal Schools? I do not know that they wilt, but if the people want the Normal Schools they cor talnly are entitled to them. I do not want to defeat the will of the people either way, But If the people will not "knock out" the Normal Schools by a direct Initiative against them, how can we expect to knock them out by a process of Indirection that will cripple every Important state inetltutien and cost us over $100,000. Single Board for Normals. Eighth If they know that the people are opposed to the Normal Sehools, why did they make thcae appropriations? 1 did not know the people were opposed to Normals, properly conducted. That Is yet to be decided. The people had, by the only means they then had for legislation, estab lished these schools and provided fer their support. We continued the support, but cut out all new buildings, believing that if the people were really opposed to these schools they 'would use their power of In itiative and dispose of the whole question during the next two years. Personally I believed up to the very last hours of the session that the bill creating a new and single board for all the Normals would pass, and did what I could to secure Its passage. In my opinion that would have lead to a solution of the question. Tnat would be a proper form for a bill to In itiate now. giving this board power to act- to close up, dispose of, consolidate or abol ish, as they find best. Question That Needs Explanation. Ninth Suppose the pop!e pay $35,000 In tereKt and thereby save at this time about 400,000 on the appropriation, how much are they loser? This is pure assumption. Wilt the com mlttee kindly show us How the cost to the state will be only $35,000 when the state officers figure It wilt cost mere than $100,000 In interest and Increased cost of supplies Will they also kindly explain exactly how i that saving of $400,000 Is to be effected? It must not be forgotten that the Mil I which It Is proposed to refer to the people only covers about half the appropriations for the session and provides for only the Asylum, Penitentiary. Reform School. Deaf Mute School. Blind School. Soldiers Home, University, Agricultural College and the Normal Schools. All these except the Nor mal Schools will certainly go right along and at an increased cost, because of higher prices paid for supplies. Necescary build ings for several of the institutions would not be built this year, but would have to be prevlded for at the very next session of the Legislature. Referendum a Thing of Expense. Tenth' In what way dees the referendum movement lnteretere with the initiative? Cannot the initiative petit leas be filed in time for the next eelctton and the people vote n that and on the referendum at the same time? It does not Interfere at all. But If the referendum on this bill Is a bad thing and will cost the state $100,000 and cripple all our state Institutions, pile up the people's money in the treasury to be loaned out to the banks and back to the people again, so that we pay Interest en our own money . then we do not want It at alt. I oppose it. not because it will interfere with the In itiative, but because it Is an expensive and harmful thing. Members Are Not Curs. Bleventh 'Will the successful candidates for the Speaker of the House and for Presi dent of the Senate please state what prem ises they had to make as te the appropri ations in order to be elected? This question has been answered above. But to make a distinct answer to each ques tion, will say: The question of appropria-tlonr-Xor any Institution was not raemloned to me by any Senator, or by me to any Sen ator previous to my election as President. In any way whatever that could have ef fected the organization. I made no prom ises to anyone as to appropriations for their support of me for President, or for any other purpose. I have served in the Legislature during six sessions, and I have never found the members to be the contemptible sort of curs some people would have us believe. In the main they are good, clean, honorable men. who want to do the right thing by every man and eery measure. Let us be fair even to the Legislators. The Why of the Change of Plan. Twelfth Since the movement to get up the Initiative Is for the purpose of defeating the referendum movement, is It not a good idea to go ahead with the referendum and let the initiative come later? Since the Initiative is not for the purpose of defeating the referendum, but to get a clear-cut expression of the wilt ef the peo ple on a much vexed question, why net drop the expensive and useless referendum and all get to work with a will on formulating a bill to be submitted and en getting, up the necessary petitions? Selected for Honorable Keaxons. Thirteenth How many of the Senators and Representatives composing the ways and means committee of the late session of the Legislature were from the Normal School counties? Will Senator Kuykendall or Representative 'Mill please explain how so many from these Normal School counties came to be selected for that committee? Did the selection of the members of this committee have anything to do with the organisation of the House and Senate? - This is only another form of "third" and "elerenlh." which 1 have, already answered.. I will only say that no Normal' "School Sen ator was appointed on ways and means be cause he supported me for President of the Senate. No man was appointed on that com mittee or any other for any but an honorable reason. Senator Carter was appointed as a courtesy toward my opponent, though he asked noth ing fer himself when be came to announce that he bad decided to give up the fight. Sea tor Coshow was appointed because I had determined to give the Democrats fair rep resentation on all important committees.' Senator Loughary was appointed because I believed him to be a good man fer the place and I was not disappointed In him. These three questions of a personal na ture are hardly worthy of so much space, but so much has been said and Intimated along this line that I feel that a fall and explicit denial will tend to clarify the situ ation. As I read over my answers I find I have not said seme things that It seems to me ought to have a hearing at this time. Not Sore of Purpose. I am not sure that I know Just what the purpose of the committee Is In attempting to Invoke the referendum, but as near as I can tell from their statement and questions they wish to abolish part or all of the Nor mal Schools. They also wish to condemn the form of the general appropriation bill now lc use by our Legislatures, in which Items for the support of many Institutions of different kinds are grouped together. Now if these are the purposes of the movement I submit that they can be much more certainly and promptly and perma nently effected by the initiative than by the referendum. The latter at best can only In a very vague and Indefinite way advise the Legislature at its next session. The former will give us a clear-cut law governing both these matters. I wish to assure the committee of my per fect good faith In this matter, and that I will gladly co-operate with them In an effort to Invoke the initiative on these two points. I believe In Normal Schools, hut we shall never have successful Normal Schools unless the state at large approves and stands by them. Let us now put the matter squarely to the test and settle it once for alt Let the People Decide. There can, be no gain for ths Normals to have them hanging on In uncertainty from year to year. They cannot grow and do good work under such conditions. If schools are to be abolished It Is far easier to let it be done by all the people than by the Legisla ture. It divides the responsibility. Four short bills, of a dozen lines each. can be drawn, one abolishing each of the schools. Then the people can dispose of the question as they choose. One longer WU can be drawn creating one board of regents for Normals, be they many or few. providing for the conduct of existing schools and for ths disposition of property of any abolished. Or the whole case can bo disposed of with one bill creating a board with power to act. Division of Appropriation BllL I would also favor Initiating a law pro lldlnr that the general appropriation bill be divided Into groups of allied items. For example, one bill could cover the State- house and the state officers and offices. another the penal Institutions, another the educational institutions and so on. Tou may ask. Why not pass such a bill In the Legislature? One Legislature cannot hind another, but I do not believe any Legislature would disregard a clear-cut command of the nooole on such a point. I have already spoken to two thoroughly competent men to assist In drawing bills along these Hues to be submitted for the consideration of anyone Interested. I shall be pleased to answer any further questions of the "referendum committee" or to co-operate with them In any rational effort looking toward a relief of the evils of which they complain. But they will have to show me wherein the people of the state will be benefited by applying the referendum to H. B. No. 371 before I can co-operate with them in their present efforts. W. KUYKENDALL. BOY CRUSHED BY CAR-WHEELS Tried to Crawl Under Train to Reach School on Time. HOOD RIVER Or.. March 9. (Special.) This afternoon at Monomlnee. four miles west of this city, the wheels of a freight car passed over the body or trie 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. McLaln, severing; one leg and badly bruising' the other. The little fellow started under the slow lv movinc train In answer to the school bell. He was conscious when the physi cians arrived and was taken on the aft ernoon train to Portland. The lad was removed to St. Vincent's Hospital, where he died last night at 3 o'clock. Millers Confer at Albany. ALBANY. Or.. March 9.-kspedaL) The Willamette Valley and Southern Ore iron Millers' Club met here In annual ses sion this evening. Many millers and warehousemen from all parts of Western Orecon were present. The members re ported operations during the past year and abuses In the matter of supplying farmers with sacks were discussed at length. Plans for curing the evils were proposed, but nothing definite was de cided upon for the reason that some of tho londinrr operators were not In the club. Views on the conduct of the mill ing business were given by some or tne leadlnc members. It was decided to make a concerted effort by organization In pushing the sale of Western Oregon flour In tho markets of the world. On the question of the sack evil, the executive committee will hear the iews of millers and make recommendation to the next meeting as to the best plans to be pursued. The executive committee Is composed of D. L. Kevt. Porrvdale: J. E. Trucks, Lebanon P. C. Hanson, Cottage Grove; Sherman Swank. Aumsvllle: Frank Gibson, Rick real I. Medford Subscribes to Railroad. MEDFORD, Or., March 9. (Special.) The citizens of Medford during the last two days have subscribed for .517,000 worth of shares of the Medford & Crater Lake Railroad Company. The company desires that JS.O00 In shares be taken In this city and vicinity. The full amount will undoubtedly be subscribed. The company agrees to add $30,000 to the 523,000 for the purpose of constructing the first 15-mile stretch of the road. This will Insure the building of the road as far as Eagle Point, after which the com pany has assurance of the necessary funds to finish the 30-mile line to the, big timber of Butte Creek. Land Withdrawn in Wheeler. THE DALLES. Or., March 9. (Special.) The local 'land officers were tonight ad vised by telegram from the Commissioner of the General Land Office that the sec retary of the Interior yesterday withdrew from all forms of entry except under the mining laws the following described lands: Parts of sections 1. 10. 11. IT, 13. 14. IS and 21, T. " S., R. 23 E.; parts of sections 1 to 15, 17 to 24, 26 and 27, T. 7 S.. R. 24 E.; parts of sections 20 to 35. T. 6 S.. R. 24. E., and parts of sections 31 to 35. T. S., R. 25 E. These lands lie In "Wheeler County In the vicinity of Lone Rock and Wag ner. Reformer Talks at Astoria. ASTORIA. Or., March 9. (Special.) Kang Yu Wei. president of the Chinese Reform Association, and his secretary ar rived from Portland on the noon train and were the guests of the local society during the day. This afternoon Kang Yu Wei addressed a large crowd of his coun trymen at Fisher's Opera-House and this evening he was the guest of honor at a banquet given by the 'members of the lo" cal organisation. He will leave tomorrow morning for Los Angeles. Road to Connect the Two Towns. CHEHALIS. Wash., March 9. (Spe clal.VThe Board of County Commis sioners, in session this week has been ex amining -the country between Chehalls and Centralia with a view of establish ing a permanent wagon road between the two towns. Monday a party of citizens from Boist fort was before the board conferring as to the advisability of changing the road over Bolstort Mountain so it will go around and save a heavy grade. D 0IS0N IN BOTTLE Mrs. Stanford Died of Dose of , Strychnine. URY BRINGS IN. ITS VERDICT Deadly Drug Was Placed With Bicar bonate of Soda, With Felonious Intent, by Some Unknown Person. HONOLULU. March 9. The Coroner's jury tonight returned a verdict that Mrs. Jane I! Stanford died an unnatural death. Th wnltat mvb that death was due to strychnine poisoning, the poison havmg hn lwvl,, Into hnttlA of btearbon- ate of soda with felonious Intent by some person or persons unknown to" the Jury The end of the Inquest with a positive verdict of murder leaves the police of Honolulu as much without a clew as when Mrs. Stanford died. High Sheriff Henry said after the Inquest that It was his opinion that the strychnine was placed in the soda in San Francisco by a mem ber of Mrs. Stanford's household. At the Inquest Dr. Shorey testified that the strychnine used, as shown by the tests. was a strychnine such as is not used gen erally for medicinal purposes, but used principally for poisoning animals. This statement Is regarded as of possible as- sintance in tracing the purchase of the strychnine. The Jury returned the verdict after about two minutes deliberation. Told to Stay in Honolulu. HONOLULU, March 9. The fact that Bertha Berner and May Hunt, secretary and maid respectively, to the late Mrs. Stanford, will not leave Honolulu on the Pacific Mail Company's steamer China tomorrow, but will remain until the sail- Ing of the Oceanic Steamship Company's vcasol Alameda, Is due to police lnstruc- tions to the two women. Attorney-Gen eral Andrews suggested that they should not be allowed to leave before the arrival of the detectives from San Francisco on the Alameda, which is due here at dawn tomorrow. BOX FACTORY IS DESTROYED Loss Is Estimated at $20,000, Mostly Covered by Insurance. LA GRANDE, Or.. March 9. (Special.) Last night fire destroyed the planer and box factory of the Grande Ronde Lumoer Company at Perry. The loss Is .estimated at J20.000, mostly covered by insurance. Fire was communicated to some box cars of the O. R. & N. Co., which were standing on a side track near the mill. totally destroying two and partially de stroying one. ine ore is supposed to have originated in the box factory about midnight. Tie Mill No. 2 Burned. GRESHAM. Or.. March 9. (Special.) Tie mill No. 2, situated about ten miles east of here, burned early this mornliig. the loss being about $10,000, witn only small insurance. Fire was discovered about - o'clock but It was too late to save the mill, which burned furiously with an east wind fanning the flames. By hard work the lumber In the yards was saved. The mill be longed to Proctor & Beers, and was the best mill of Its kind In tbts section. About 20 men and bulf a dozen teams are thrown out of employment. It Is not probable that the mill will bo re built on Its former site, owing to the growing scarcity of timber. The own ers have other mills and will probably rebuild in another locality. Shoots Abductor in the Ear. WAPATO, Wash.. March 9. (Special.) Last night J. J. Brown, of ZUIab, Bred four shots at Charles Lorlenskay, who Is charged with kidnaping Brown's daugh ters. Lorlenskay traveled with a minstrel show, and It is alleged persuaded the two daughters of the farmer, aged 14 and 13. to leave home. The father followed and found them in the hotel together. As soon as be saw Lorlenskay he began shooting and fired four shots, one of which passed through Lorlenskay's ear. The latter escaped, but was later ar rested by the Sheriff. A crowd gathered and cried for revenge against the klp- naper. but they could not find him. Co-Operative Exhibit From Douglas. ROSEBURG, Or., March 9. (Special.) The Roseburg Commercial Club has In vited all other commercial bodies in Douglas County to co-operate In prepar ing and maintaining a suitable exhibit o: Douglas County products at the Lewis. and Clark Fair. Representatives from all parts of the county will meet In Roseburg March 23, to further this work. A shipment of ore for the mining ex hlbit has already been made, and larger consignments are to follow. The teachers In the various schools of the county aro actively preparing an educational exhibit. Team of Normal School Debaters. MONMOUTH, Or.. March 8 (Special.) In the tryout for the debating team held last night at the State Normal, C. G. Springer, of Philomath; Miss Lotti Schrnidll, of Oregon City, and, Herbert Coffey, of Camas. Wash., were chosen to uphold the normal In the coming con tests. The nrst debate of the season will be held with McMlnnvlIle In the assembly-room here on Friday evening. March li. Fire In North Yakima Store. NORTH TAKIMA. Wash., March 9. (SpeclaL) Fire occurred In the store of A. B. Brown at 6:45 this evening and de stroyed J10CO worth of goods. The origin la unknown. When discovered the in- terlor was afire and the front had blown out- ONE OF THE ETJSSIAN YASNS Talks of Japanese Repulse After Re treat Had Actually Begun. MUKDEN. Tuesday. March 7 (even Ing). via St. Petersburg. March 9 (4:25 P. M-). The positions are unchanged today and, though the Russian left flank has fallen back slightly, this is not considered important except as showing the persistence of the Japan' ese attempt at tbo envelopment or roll Ing up of both the Russian flanks. The Japanese were last night re-y pulsed at Putiioff Hill, Kandollsan and Goatu Passes. The fate of the embattled right wing still-hinges on the Shakhe River, where the Russian troops are holding out welL The siege guns accumulated in the center by both sides have been shown to bo unimportant to the present move ment. For three days past acrimonious artillery engagement has been going on opposite Suchlatun. which the Rus sians were holding strong and while they have withdrawn from Suchlatun. in order to correct their battle align ment, yet they recovered and controlled the village of Machlapu. The railroad appears to be secure on the west and the Russian positions through the center and right -are main tained, but the importance of the first six days' fighting; on- the right is con firmed and the effect on the present struggle is apparent. The flanking and counter-flanking by the Japanese to the north along the railroad is now the main feature of the situation. Some Japanese prisoners were brought In from the west today. LATEST AT RUSSIAN CAPITAL Linevitch Sends Help to Kaulbars, Though Almost Hemmed In. ST. PETERSBURG, March 9 (2:30 P. M.) Yesterday General BHderllng's army. which held the center, fell back on the Hun River, clinging all the day desper ately to Madyapu. at the apex southwest of the city. One of General unevitcne corps was hurriedly withdrawn during Wednesday night and dispatched to the I support of General Kaulbar's hard-pressed forces, who were ngnting on. uenerai Kod's flanking legions west and north west of the city. At the same tlmo the remainder of General LJnevltch s army fell back to the north bank of the Hun River, where It checked temporarily tho pursuing column of General Kurokl. who hemmed him In west, south and east. All day yesterday and last night wounded. munitions, baggage and stores streamea northward- The railroad and tne iian- darin road were almost blwAed at the last tho fact that moment, aoiwiuuwuu.ub an immense amount of stores, etc removed last week. was The Russo-Chlneie Bank removed to Tie Pass Sunday. The trains were run under the Japanese guns westward, some projectiles reaching the railroad General Nogi, according to tne latest authentic Russian reports, has already reached a point opposite the station of Houshatai. halfway between Mukden and Tie Pass, but it Is believed that his left is swinging still further north for a blow at the line of communications, wmcn would realize Field Marshal Oyama's plan for closing the Iron ring. The Tokio report that the railroad is actually cut is not confirmed here, the telegraph office on the contrary declaring that communication with General ituro patkin is still open. General Honors Brave Private. MUKDEN, March 9. During the fight ing yesterday General Kaulbars decorated with his own cross of St. George a sharp shooter named Ivan Barkoff. who, though wounded in the hand, declined to go to the rear and have it bandaged. General Kaulbars, on ascertaining that Barkoff wj previously been twice wounded at the &tti of T.lao Tanc- and at the Shakhe River, dismounted, kissed the man and pinned his cross on Barkoffs breast. The fighting on the right flank was so severe that yesterday the supply of bandages was exhausted, and the surgeons were so fatigued that they were scarcely able to hold their Instruments. The weather was warm today. SILVER LAKE'S ADVANTAGES Open Winters and Plenty of Water I Help Farming. s POR.TLa.ND. March 0. To the Editor.) Under the caption "To "Water Dry Lands' there was an article in The Oregonlon which Is stated to be an epitomized statement of engineers' reports, but which contains some misleading statements. Let us take the temperature of the "low desert" or "Sliver Lalca desert." for example. It Is stated that the lowest temperature ever known waa 24 degroea below xero; but It Is not stated that temperature was reached onlr on the date of the freezing up of the "Willamette River at Portland, and that with that excepUon the records kept by the United States Commissioner at Sli ver Lake show that zero is seldom reached. and that 5 to 10 degrees above Is the "se vere" weather of this region. Consequently the inference that might be drawn from the mere statement of 24 below being the lowest ever known, when made without qualifica tion, is as misleading as to state the lowest ever known in Portland without any qualify ing statement. The unquestionable proof of mild "Winters on the "low desert" is the fact that stock of all kinds range unpro tected all "Winter thereon without freezing or starving to death. It should be borne in mind that on the date that 24 below waa reached In Silver Lake. 45 below was recorded In Baker City and 00 below at North Powder, bat the peo ple of these two communities are wont to boast of their "open "Winters." In the article in question it Is stated that the general elevation of this country is about 4700 feet above sea level, which places it fully 700 feet higher than it is. It Is also stated that frost occurs every. month In the year, and that such crops aa. potatoes and tomatoes cannot be grown. This is a sad mistake, for last year the post master and the United States Commissioner at Silver Lake each had potatoes, toma toes and other vegetables, which they grew without any protection from frost, and the tomatoes were blooming and bearing last September. Furthermore, the town of Sil ver Lake la at least 100 feet higher than the "low desert." and all settlers concede that It Is more subject to frost. Snow falls on this "desert" about as It falls at Condon; seldom lies more than few days, and never drifts, as "Winter winds are practically unknown on the "low desert." In fact, over one-half of the mois ture that falls on the "low desert" In the "Winter Is rain, and the luxury of slelgh- rlding is as unknown as it Is In Portland. Frost occur In low places. Just aa It oc curs all over Eastern Oregon. Occasional frost in low places does not prove any re gion to be subject to frost In the general sense. For instance, at Piano, frost occurs in the river bottoms every -month In the year, but on the level on either side of the river tomatoes, peaches and all kinds of vegetables grow unprotected. There are thousands of acres of fertile AN EASY WAY. To Keep Well., It Is easy to keep well If we would only observe each day a few simple rules of health. The all-Important thing is to keep the stomach right, and to do this It is not necessary to diet or to follow a set rule J or bill of fare. Such pampering simply makes a capricious appetite and a feeling that certain favorite articles or looa must be avoided. Prof. Wlechold gives pretty good advice J on this subject- He says: "I am 68 years I old and have never had a serious Illness. and at the same time my life has been largely an indoor one, but I early discov ered that the way to keep healthy was to keep a healthy stomach, not by eating bran crackers or dieting of any sort; on the contrary I always eat what my ap- petite craves, but dally for the past eight year I have made it a practice to take one or two of Stuart's Dyspepsia Tablets after each meal, and I attribute my ro bust health for a man of my age to tho regular daily use of Stuart s Tablets, Mv physician first advised me to use them because he said they were perfectly harmless and were not a secret patent medicine, but contained only the natural dlzestlves. peptones and diastase, and af ter using them a few weeks I have never ceased to thank him for his advice. "I honestly believe the habit of taking Stuart's Dyspepsia Tablets after meals Is the real health habit, because their use brings health to the sick .and" ailing and nreserves healtn to tne wen and strong." Men and women past 50 years of age need a safe digestive after meal3 to in- Bure a perfect digestion and to ward off disease, and the safest, best known and most widely used Is Stuart's Dyspepsia Tablets. They are found in every well-regulated household from Maine to California and In Great Britain and Australia are rap idly pushing their way Into popular fa vor. AH druggists sell Stuart's Dyspepsia Tablets, full-sized packages at 50 cents, and for a weak stomach a 50-cent pack age will often do $50 worth of good 3E You have never been offered such choosing in Parlor Tables. Now that our new Tables are coming in we have nearly one hundred and fifty pretty designs for you to select' from. Round, square and oblong Tables in oak, mahogany, maple and ash. Any -size you want. Tables that will harmonize with any room. The prices will please you. As Low as $2.00 land in the "low desert" tnat ao not require Irrigation, aa the o!l is a Una loam tnat holds moisture well, and there la an annual rainfall of about 17 inches, which Is two Inches greater than at The Dalles and about six inches greater than at Condon. Further more, water Is found by boring or digging at a depth of from 10 to 20 feet, and alfalfa mnta xtll rpaiUlv nanetrAte such soil to that deptn thus insuring abundant crops of al falfa without irrigation- Cultivation will keep this soil constantly moist, making gen eral farming and frultraislng perfectly feas ible. In fact, the prevalence of this water strata near the surface puts these "low des erts" of Lake County properly in the class of sublrrlgated lands. J. L. CLIFF. Charity Towards the Rich. PORTLAND. March CTo the Editor.) Tour censure of the City Board of Charities. It appears to me. is slightly unjust. Tou seem to Ignore this first great principle. "Charity begins at home." The persons em ployed by the board coma within this rule, and cannot be expected to labor for noth ing. Investigation is absolutely essential in contemplated cases of charity to avoid the merest possibility of a mistake. Should all of the money at the disposal of the board be devoted to delecting unworthy applicants the motive would prove praiseworthy. Love of our fellowmen by Christian rule must be measured by love of self. 'Tore- thy neigh bor as thyself." How can it be said that "we love our fellow unless we protect him THE HARRIS TREATMENT IS GOOD BECAUSE IT CURES No Medicine No Surgery The scientific world no longer questions the ability of certain men to cure disease without the use of medicine. People believe in being cured without medicine. They be lieve it still more In Portland since Dr. Harris came in their midst and treated so many sick people without the use of medicine. Those sick ones are recovering under this treatment, because It Is a treatment that Is adapted to each individual case, and so sensible and rational that the patient Immediate ly understands the method of ap plication, and understands how and why It will help him. This is one of the principle reasons he gets ben efited by thlsjtreatment. The reason the patient under stands Is because Dr. Harris knows how to explain it. He knows what treatment to give to the Individual person. When you cure the indi vidual you cure the disease. The cure remains permanent, because the person has been cured, and so instructed, that he. understands the prevention of disease thereafter. Things appeal to people, only as they understand them; this Is why the Harris treatment appeals so strongly to people. Character Is strengthened by this treatment. One Is taught the substitution of "I can and Will" for I can't. A person who can do any orfe thing material thing regardless of haw many things he thinks he .cannot do, can be cured, and at the same time be taught how to master difficulties he had never dreamed of mastering- because those things previously mastered the individual. 23-24 Selling-Hirsch A School of Instruction This school, of instruction will commence on the thirteenth day of this month, next Monday evening at eight o'clock, at room 23 Selling Hirsch building. - All those persons who have expressed a desire to . understand more of this wonderful science will kindly call prior to that time and make final arrangements. No one is admitted to these lectures except those who have paid for the entire course. This first course is so reasonable that anyone interested in the learning of a profession, or in the subject of perfect health, can take advantage of it- Tou should not neglect to look Into this matter today, and not later than tomorrow, for this is an opportunity you will never have pre sented to you a second time. If you axe not entirely satisfied with this -course of instruction, your money will be refunded as soon as you ex press that desire. I do not want something for nothing and i guarantee satisfaction, in everything I do. Any amount of sick people have been cured by atr tending this course of lectures, for they teach you how to live; how you get sick, and how to get well and remain welL Dr.CW. Harris, Portland, Or. 1h New Arrival In Parlor Tables from the despicable "cuss" who aims to eat his "mess of pottage"? However. I believe & sufaclent sum should be set aside to place a few flowera upon the graves of those who may "In good faith" die from hunger while these humane precautions are being taken for their preservation. EDWARD EMMETT. Looks for an Early Spring. SALEM, Or., March 8. (SpeclaL) "I don't believe there is any occasion for alarm among- fruitgrowers on account of this warm weather," said Commis sioner C. A. Park, of the State Board of Horticulture, today. "It is true the weather will bring the fruit buds out earlier than usual, but I believe we will have an early Spring, and that there will be no cold weather here after. I am told that there Is very little snow in the foothills, and for that rea son It Is unlikely that we will have lata frosts." Petty Offenders Work on Roads. COLFAX. Wash.. March 8. (Special.) The chain gang, composed of petty of fenders, serving sentences in the County Jail, struck yesterday and refused to work on the county roads. They were locked up and fed bread and water. To day they weakened and returned to work after a good breakfast. All petty prison ers are to be worked on the county roads under the present administration. Surgery is a science, but Its own exponents admit it is very often misused. I send cases to surgeons every day, and I cure a great many cases that sur geons say can be cured only by an operation, and no guarantee accompanies any operation. It X cannot cure you, I will. so advise you., but many a life has been saved from despair and worry by consulting me before going through an operation. Building