Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 11, 1905)
THE JilOBimrO OBEGONlAIf, MX)XDXT, SEPTEMBER li, 190B. Entered at the Postoifloe at Portland. Or., as second-class matter. SUBSCRIPTION BATES. INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE. (By Mall or Express.) Dally and Sunday, per year S"22 Dally and Sunday, six months.. C.00 Sally and Sunday, three months 3.53 Dally and Sunday, per month.......... -85 Dally without Sunday, per year......... 7.j Dally -without Sunday, six months 8.80 Dally without Sunday, three months.... 1.B5 Dally without Eundsy, per month...... .65 Sunday, per year ; Sunday, six months.... Sunday, three months 65 Br CARRIER. Dally without Sunday, per weelc Dally, per week. Sunday lnoluded m o THE WEEKLT OP.EGONIAN. (Issued Every Thursday.) Weekly, per year ..........' 1.50 Weekly, sir months .J "Weekly, three months - IIOW XO REMIX Send postofflce money order, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, cola or currency are at the sender!- risk. EASTERN BUSINESS OFFICE. The S. C. Beckwith Special Agency New Tork. rooms 43-50 Tribune building. Chi. cago, rooms 510-512 Tribune bulldlnc. KEiT ON SALE. Chicago Auditorium Annex. Postolnce New Cc 178 Dearborn street. Dallas, Tex. Globe News Depot. 260 Main street. San Antonio. Tcr- IxjuIs Boot and Clear Co.. 021 East Houston street. Denrer Julius Black, Hamilton & Kend rick. 008-912 Seventeenth street: Pratt Book Store. 1214 Firteentt; street. Colorado Springs, Colo. Howard H. Bell. Dcs Moines, la Moses Jacobs. 300 Filth street. Goldfleld. Nev. F. 6andstrom; Guy Marsh. Kansas City, Mo. Rlcksecker Clear Co., Ninth and Walnut. Los Angeleo Harry Drapkln: B. E. Amos, 6H West Seventh. street: Dlllard News Co. Minneapolis M. J. Kavanaugh. CO South Third. Cleveland, O-James Push aw, COT Superior street. New York City U Jones & Co., Xstor Hase. Atlantic City. N. J. Ell Taylor. 207 North ItUaois ave, Oakland. -CaL W. H. Johnston. Fourteenth and Franklin streets. Ogden F. R. Godard and Meyers & Har ton. D .1. Boyle. Omaha Barkalow Bros.. 1612 Farnam; Mageath Stationery Co.. 1308 Farnam; 2(6 Seuth nth. Saoramento, CaL Sacramento News Co 2fi K street. Salt Lake Salt Lake News Co.. 77 West Seoond stroe South; National News Agency. Yellowttone rark, Wyo. Canyon Hotel. Lake Hotel, Yellowstone Park Assn. Lone Beach B. E. Amos. Kan Francisco J. K. Cooper & Co., 746 Market street; Goldsmith Bros.. 236 Sutter and Hotel St. Francis News Stand; L. E. Lee. Palace Hotel News Stand: F. W. Pitts. 1&08 Market; Frank Scott. SO Ellis; N. Wheatley Movable News Stand, corner Mar ket and Kearney streets: Foster & Orear, Ferry News Stand. St. Louis. Mo. E. T. Jett Book & News Company. 0(1 Olive street. Washington, D. C Ebbltt House. Pennsyl vania avenue. PORTLAND. MONDAY, SEPT. 11, 1005. THE MEMORIAL "BUILDING. Shall we have the Lewis and Clark memorial "building- at Portland, in com ptlance with the thought and undertak ing conceived at the beginning of active effort to create the Exposition? It was lntdhded that the corporation should provide a site and appropriate at least 560,000 towards construction of the building, and the Legislature author ized the State Commission to set aside the sum of $50,000 out of the appropri ation for the celebration, for the same purpose. No permanent "building could be erected, or got under way, for use during the Fair, as was flrst supposud ( might be done, and no site has yet been purchased or adopted; and yet It is hoped that after the Fair Is over the purpose may be resumed. It will depend, of course, on the finan cial success of the Fair and the amount of funds that may be available at its dose; and again on the mind of the stockholders as to disposition of such surplus as may exist. When the stock was subscribed and the money paid in by the people of Portland there was no thought of the possibility of a divi dend. The money was looked upon as a donation, for fulfillment of the pur poses described in the articles of in corporation. If there shall be money left -we may trust the city will provide a site. But the $50,000 appropriated by the state will not be available unless the cor poration shall have at least 559,000 for the building. A permanent Memorial Building, to be used for the various purposes specified In the legislative act, would be an acquisition to Portland and useful to the state. As a home for the State Historical Society, a foundation for a museum of state and local curl ositlos and of historical relics, a gallery of art and a place for donations that would have high value in future times, this founding ought to be created, if there can be found means of doing it. The management of the Fair, we are told, has not allowed it to pass out of itie purview of. its plans. THE NORTH-BANK ROAD. Evidence that the Northern Pacific is determined to come into Portland by a water-level route is accumulating. Big corporations do not spend large sums of money for "unimproved terminal prop erty unless they expect some day to make use of it Neither do they keep in the field largs corps of engineers and right-of-way men unless they have in tentions of securing some returns for the outlay. There is positive knowledge that the Northern Pacific has purchased much valuable water-front property in Portland. There are unconfirmed but pretty well-substantiated rumors that that road is now securing options on additional tracts In this city. For months right-of-way men and engi neers have been at work at various points along the north bank of the Co lumbia River. The day of excessive freight rates and prodigal operating expenses in railroad ing is passing, even in the West, where copper cents are now used in making change, and the railroads must con form to changing conditions. The O. B, &; N. being first In the field for the business of transporting products of ithe'Inland Empire to tidewater, secured the best route to and from that great field for Industrial and agricultural ex ploitation. The Northern Pacific came Into that field shortly afterward. It (found the old company in "possession of the best route down to Portland, and through its Portland ownership, hold ing a firm grip on the business of the port. The country was new and sparse ly settled, and there was no lumber business out of Portland or the Colum bia River district Portland, in short, offered no special Inducements .that warranted the Northern in making a fight for the trade. These conditions formed the groundwork for the excuse made by the land-booming department o-Jthe road for pushing It across the Cascade Mountains to Tacoma. Rates were sufficiently high to admit a handsome profit, over .and above Northern In competition with the O. JL & N. through, being forced to lift the freight a mile nigh, over the Cascade Mountains and then drop It down to water level on Puget Sound. Numer ous reductions in freights have followed since the Northern began business in the Pacific Northwest, and along with these reductions have come wonderful increases in the traffic handled. The volume of this traffic Is now approach ing a point where it will be a physical impossibility for the road to handle it with a single track. Thus appear two strong reasons for the Northern's building a line down the north bank of the Columbia River. One Is the ' need t -another outlet for 'the increasing business that is already overtaxing tha single-track line to Pu get Sound; the other is the necessity of the Northern's being on even terms with, the O. R. & N. in "moving freight to and. from tidewater points. The coming of the Northern road -dawn the iiorth "bank is inevitable. Cir cumstances may arise to retard the 'early fulfillment of the plans, or the machinations of rival roads may tem porarily hold them up, but the traffic at stake is too vast and' is growing too rapidly to Ije forever confined or ham pered by such barriers. It is needless to state that 'Portland will welcome the coming of. this road down the north bank of the river, for it will make tributary to this port a large territory of great richness, from which Portland has been barred by lack of railroad facilities. There are rumors thai the Northern Pacific will meet with opposition and will be hampered by right-of-way ob structions placed In its path by fake companies organized for no other pur pose than to block the progress of the big road. If the blame for this kind of obstruction can be traced down to any rival company which is dependent on Portland for traffic, the results will be neither pleasant nor profitable for the obstructionists. Portland has waited so long for railroad assistance In develop ing the big field which Nature made tributary to this port that the people are in no mood to be trifled with or im posed on. Individuals or corporations placing any stumbling-blocks in "the way of the Northern Pacific's north bank line to Portland will bave cause to Tegret their action. THE HAPrr HOO IIOOS. "Health, happiness and long life" is the motto of that organization of good fellows, the Hoo Hoos, now holding con clave In this city. The order, -which came into existence in response to a desire on the part of a few men di rectly interested in the lumber trade, to promote a feeling of good-fellowship and secure a more perfect co-operation of forces, has grown with a rapidity that is little short of marvelous. The motto, which embodies about all there is worth living for in this -world. Is not always easily followed in the strenuous life of the present day. The Hoo Hoos, however, have set an example which, if followed by those engaged or inter ested in other industrial enterprises, would result in much good. Their or der has drawn together from all parts of the United States the principal men engaged In one of our greatest indus tries. It is strictly a fraternal order, with . no sick benefits or death pay ments, and it lives and thrives solely for the promotion of good-fellowship. It enables men who may be strong business rivals to get together on a social plane and disarm themselves of that suspicion and unfriendliness which. Is not Infrequently an outgrowth of strong business competition. With the cementing of this bond of fraternity there quite naturally comes an ex change of views and opinions which is profitable as well as pleasant to all con cerned. The Southern Hoo Hoo may not be prepared to go the limit in demanding that his brother In the Pacific North west be granted a 40-cent rate Into ter ritory where both would like to do business, but there are a great many other important questions affecting railroad rates and legislation in which they have a mutual Interest With all of their Influence welded Into one solid fraternal organization, they are In a position to wield a -power helpful alike to the possessor of small or of large In terests. The order of Hoo -Hoos is unique, but it will never split over an "assessment plan" or a "sick benefit" Its members, typical representatives of rugged American industrial strength, are a fine-looking body of men, gifted with a personality which is certainly attractive enough to make converts If there are any eligtbles still outside the Hoo Hoo camp. PUBLIC UTILITIES IN OLDEN TIMES. Two conflicting ideas appear when municipal ownership and control of franchise privileges are discussed. One argument is set forth by the enterpris ing citizen, -who says, "I see no reason why the city should not organize and control and operate such, undertakings as efficiently and more profitably to the city than if franchise privileges are granted to private men." But many persons are deterred from joining in such a movement by its novelty, and by doubt of its practicability. To such doubters the other argument, based on precedent and' history, may be recom mended. If it be shown that the city, In taking hold of such advantages as follow from public ownership and control, is tread ing a well-beaten and traveled road, some of us may part with our heslta tlona To leave present methods, with their acknowledged scandals, in favor of a return to older ways, is a less ter rifying step Into the dark, if there be ample precedent to light the way. Let us, then, see what history can teach. It Is undisputed that cities have never known a higher prosperity than during the 200 years extending from 1300 to 1500 .A. D. Municipal life, in all its aspects, shone in London, Florence, Genoa, Venice, Nuremberg, Antwerp, Novgorod, Bruges, Amiens. The cata logue might be extended, but these great names suggest themselves be cause the record of their municipal life and interests is written in histories throbbing still with the eager and varied life that is witnessed by archi tecture, art. Inventions, craftsmanship and institutions. The city was far more than a mere dwelling-place, workshop and factory, for Its inhabitants. Private gains, profitable trades, growing fortunes of the burghers, were in plenty. But love for and TJrlde in the city held the first place in the hearts of the citizens. Prosperity, of the city first private gains for the individual always second. Then municipal ownership was in its glory; then the experiments which, In these day, we shrink from touching, were tried out to the'fulL Florence faad its; communal works, canals, tftrrac. viaeyaota. fxult jou dens; Genoa Its port and docks and aqueducts, with clear water piped into basins and reservoirs in the heart of the city, free to all Inhabitants; Man tua and other cities of Lombardy their irrigating canals. Each city, great and small, had its market owned and gov erned by the municipality. Free com ing and going, and unrestricted sale of products, -were guaranteed to. farmer and fruit raiser from the surrounding country. But adulteration was sternly punished, and quality of goods exposed for sale was passed on by the city's officers. True, that "pre-emptlo," the buying up in advance of the market opening of the supplies of grain, wood, butter, intended for open sale, and the hold ing for higher prices, was prohibited and jpunished. We have passed all that nowadays, and the adroit speculator is praised, not punished. But the princi ple runs throughout that public good shall be sought by forbearance from private profit How came It then, that the prosper ity of the city rose to high-water mark, stood there for a few short years, but then saw a sad decline? The story is soon told, and carries a moral to the Portland of today. The wealth of the city, stored in the communal posses sions, developed and extended by the labor of the citizens, became an object of desire for the "flrst families." The burghcrshlp descended from father to son, and was prized more for the chances of -wealth it held than for the duties to the common body politic which it carried in an earlier day. New comers to the city -were allowed to ply their trades as best, they could, but the door of the city treasury, and a share in the city's revenues, were forbidden them. The dry rot of selfishness spread. The spectacle of private gains made by the "flrst families" of the old burghers, from the revenues which should have been shared by all the citizens, excited envy, hatred, malice and uncharitable ness. The prosperity of the city died from within outwards. The strength of the dry, banded for defense, was sapped, and the glory of the municipal ities of those great centuries departed. But the history of their communal possessions, of their -working for the city's good, stands written where all may read. THE AMERICAN BIRTH-RATE. It is not the first time the Census Bureau has called attention to the de creasing American birth-rate. General Franeis A, Walker, Superintendent of the Census In 1S70 and again in 1SS0, dwelt upon it His conclusion was that the heavy immigration from foreign countries -was the chief cause of the falling off in the native birth-rate. So Professor John R. Commons, known for his -work in the Industrial Commission, and Robert Hunter, in his book on "Poverty," argue that the native American is dying out because the Im migrant is coming in to do the work of the country -which, in the natural operation of economic law, Amerlfcan children would have been born to per form. The small American family, they insist is the logical consequence of the desire of American families to maintain their own standard of living against Immigrant rivalry. It is held, then, in other words, by all these authorities, that because more than 20,000,000 foreigners have come to this country since 1S2, an equal or nearly equal number of American chil dren that would otherwise have been born have not been. born. There are those who go further and claim, on te basis of the native Increase in the first three decades of the nineteenth cen tury, that but for immigration we should have had a native population of 109,000,000 in 1900, Instead of a com posite population of 76,O0Q,&fr9. Mr. Hunter adds to this an argument that migration from Europe has not re lieved the overcrowding of the labor markets there, because the artificial and temporary scarcity of population has been met by a stimulated Euro pean birth-rate. These are still conjectures, yet it Is not to be supposed that Europe's myriads could .come to this country without working profound changes. The immigration problem has never been studied philosophically, but the need to do so Is no less urgent upon the Immigrant than It is upon the American native, for the fate of the latters children today -will be the fate of the immigrant's tomorrow. SHAMELESS DELINQUENCY. The records of an insane asylum hold, and in the main conceal, many grew some and distressing facts of family history many acts of inhumanity, many inoldents of taint and of suffer ing that are chargeable, not so much to the mental disease that afflicts the un fortunate inmates as to the cold indif ference or studied brutality of friends, relatives or keepers of these people. While the Oregon Asylum for the In sane has been probably as free from incidents, acts and facts of this type as any other in the land, and much freer therefrom than a majority of such Institutions, it is yet true that Its un written history contains many pathetic chapters In the silent but not less bit ter chronicle of human woe, which Is distilled through slow years of mental darkness and physical helplessness. Human nature develops the same or similar characteristics under the same or similar conditions the world over, and no institution to -which helpless human beings are consigned for social, philanthropic or economic considera tions Is exempt from examples more or less flagrant of the abuse of power on the part of attendants, the neglect by their very own, of those helpless- human creatures, the Insane, the Idiotic, . aged paupers and children dependent upon public charity for the 'care that was their birthright It is not strange, therefore, when now and again an echo of suffering of injustice Inflicted by those In charge of the Insane comes from the great house at Salem to which some hundreds of mentally diseased persons men and women, and, alas! too often those who are scarcely past childhood have been consigned for their own and the public welfare. It -would be strange, Indeed, If this we're not the case. The disgrace of any such revelation does not belong to the state unless the eeho la disre garded as merely the" whim of the ma niac, and the guardians of the state's Interests and its honor refuse or neg lect to give ear to It Oregon legis lators have In the past shown them selves ready to investigate any charges of a tangible nature that have reflected upon the management of the Insane Asylum, though, for reasons similar to those that induce a family to decline to discuss in public details of a disgrace" ful event that has happened -within its circle, he official "whitewash brush" has sosvttwjft feen apgU&d. to some occurrences alleged to have taken place In that 'institution. However, the Ore gon Legislature has never shown a dis position to shirk its duty in regard to the care, custody and maintenance of the insane. There aret of course, abuses of the more subtle character which it is Impossible wholly to eliminate from this problem. Indeed, it Is. In the na ture of things impossible to reach them except in a .general way. One of these is the indifference that amounts to a grave moral delinquency, if not to per sonal depravity in individuals who are otherwise reputable citizens, as wit nessed In the abandonment by -well-to-do persons, to the Ignominy of pauper ism, of a father, mother, brother, sister or child who has -become mentally dis eased. In no case is this delinquency more striking. In no case Is it more utterly . reprehensible, than when the subject Is the mother of a prosperous man whom the country has honored by political position and preferment Such a man is above the statute which -seeks to compel the vulgar churl to do his duty, for the simple reason that para doxical as it may appear, he is below the level of human law, sunk In the mire of selfishness. Impervious to the sting of conscience, and destitute of that basic principle of true manly char acter filial gratitude. We marvel even at the well-to-do churl who Is so de based as to permit a pitying common wealth to maintain his aged mother through the croonings of a second childhood, that are as a matter of con venience Interpreted to mean insanity, to pass the long evening of life incident to four-score and ten years In an In sane asylum unvlslted, unrecognized by him in any way. But a man suc cessful in politics, in business. In finance, who Is thus recreant to filial duty, -what tongue enough shall exe crate? All that Is sensitive to child hood's memories and obligations; all that Is tender and noble in human na ture; the charity that hopeth all things and Is kind; every chord In the heart that Is responsive to the memory of the cradle-song, shrinks painfully from a revelation of this kind and Is fain to protest the cold records of the Institu tion that disclosed it The story of man's selfishness, of human ingrati tude, of unrefined cruelty, of utter, soul less indifference to the claims of high and sacred duty, tells no tale of recreancy that runs parallel to this. The trial by court-martial of the mutineers of the Russian battleship Georgi Pobledonostseff has been con cluded, and three of the men are to be executed. Thirteen of them are sen tenced to penal servitude, thirty-three to disciplinary work, and twenty -were acquitted. History has been making at such a rapid gait In the past few weeks that there has been Insufficient time to form a fair opinion as to whether these mutineers will ultimately be regarded as martyrs or murderers. Whatever may be the final verdict of the world In their case, the deed which brought these men to Judgment was so remark able for the reckless daring displayed that it will live In history with those of Sir Henry Morgan, Captain Kldd and other redoubtable pirates who have sailed under the black flag. Natural allies against Russia are Japan and Great Britain. Lord Kitch ener's memorial to the British govern ment asserts that "India Is no longer fortunate in her Isolation," and he ex plains by adding that the deserts of Central Asia have been spanned by Russian railroads, "which have only 'one possible significance, for we have every indication that our northern neighbor Russia Is pushing forward her preparations for the contest In which we shall have to flght for exist ence." Great Britain, then, must be the ally of Japan for defense of their common interests In Asia, against Rus sia. Here is the explanation of the new treaty between Britain and Japan. Science Is contemplating the substitution- of the hearts of monkeys for those of men when the latter have worn out the heart which Nature gave them. The life and conduct of some men is such as to make it a certainty that they will not be losers by the pro posed change. If the plan works suc cessfully, "chicken-hearted" prizefight ers may have an opportunity to change that useful organ of their physical sys tem. Professor Lounsbury, of Tale, tells us that great authors use the words "He" and "lay," and "sit" and "set" without discrimination so often that their errors go unchallenged. Some truth here. "There let him lay," wrote Byron. "His time was as little valua ble as that of a setting hen," -wrote Thackeray. And yet discrimination is possible. Acting Chief of Police Grltxmaoher proposes to reform the slovenly man ners of some of his patrolmen. This Is well, but we submit that a better purpose will be served if he reform the slovenly morals of the detective force. All cropa in the Northwest 'are now in except hops. Good -weather this week -should bring nearly all the hops in. Seldom has so dry a Summer been known in the Oregon country. , All streams are at the lowest And, now that another 'great contest is ended and another great Nelson en rolled among conquering fighters, let us visit the Fair a few more times and then get the children ready for school. Next Sunday, down in Lower Califor nia, Just over the line.' near Son Diego, female bullfighters will "perform." Is there no vocation hitherto held by man alone that woman will not Invade? The hero of Trafalgar, Just a century ago, did not .get as much publicity at the time as did his namesake at Colma last Saturday in a different sort of fight Hard as was the task of making peace at Portsmouth with Japan, Rus sia "will have a harder task of making peace with her people at home. Harper's Weekly hands it to the Pres ident classically, thus: "Theodorus Pa cificator Maxlmus? Sure!" Christianity and Power. Life. Is it a forest of steeples pointing to heaven that makes nations Christian, or Is It rather the practice of doing unto others as they would be done by, not to speak of the practice of turning the other cheek? If Christian nations wero to take their Christianity seriously, what would be the effect on their dominance? And would the title of small heathen nations to their real eatste "be more or less valid? OREGONJOZONE Mr. Morrison My wife has begun to say eyther and nyther. " ' Mr. Alder How do you account for" that? Mr. Morrison I opened a bank account the other day. A Utah man declares that the word "dessert"- is derived from Deseret He says It means something that is to be "et" Even if this theory is -proved to be Incorrect the popularity of pie won't be affected. Delectable reading was dished up by i-ie San Francisco Bulletin the day before the Nelson-Britt affair, when interviews on the expected outcome of the fight were printed under the names of the Chief of Police, several captains and serg-eants of police and the Police Judge of San Fran cisco! These officers of the law all pre dicted a Britt victory, in the most ap proved pug slang. They are prophets without honor in their own country now. "Miles and Byles is the Massachusetts Democratic ticket" says the Milwaukee Sentinel. We don't know who Byles is, but Miles and Byles beats molles and bolls. Two young women of Chicago are start ing westward on a trip around the world, expecting to walk most of the way. "Wo are informed that they wear boots knee high. That will protect the brave trav elers against the perils of mice. One way to get a broader 'view of life Is to climb a mountain. It Is a slow day when the Associated Press fails to send out a story about the hanging of two negroes by a Mississippi mob. The Army Veteran. "I served 'li years in the Army," began the seedy-looking man In the remnants of a blue uniform. "Say no more," Interposed the kind farmer; "my two sons are fighting for their country now, over In the Philip pines. My house and all it has are yours. My boys are in General Wood's com mand. Who was your commander, my friend?" "Booth-Tucker." Undo Robert's Essays. NO. S APOLOGIES TO THE PRUNE. King Prune, I hereby kowtow to the earth in your majesty's presence and plead forgiveness. Not long ago I uttered words of derision concerning you, the Which I now do eat That Is, I eat my words; also, prunes. Until very recent date, my Impression of a prune was by no means such as would pass muster In an Oregon or Cali fornia fruit market It was the Eastern view. To me a prune was a mere mum my, black as the pit hard as a flint and tasteless as leather. But that was the boarding-house prune. In Oregon I have met the prune in its pristine prunenesa. It grows two inches In diameter and weighs half a pound. Its face has the rosy blush of youth. Re move Its cuticle and you lay bare a most delicious morsel about eight big bites of the delightfullest fruit known to men or gods. This is the prune on its native heath, where it happens. You don't know it Is a prune until somebody tells you so, and then you don't believe it until you are forced to read treatises on the pedigree of the prune. Finally you come around to comprehend the true nature of the prune. Tour system calls for prunes, and you will not be without them. You sing the praises of prunes from early dawn to late candlelight and then turn op the gas and continue the song; and you are glad, even proud, to be full of them. The Happy Igorrote. He wants but very little here below: A lady's working basket for a hat And for his suit of clothes( his shirt and so Forth, Just a simple four-in-hand cravat No mansion fine he asks: a hut of sticks. Thatched o'er with bay, Is quite enough to keep Him sheltered, and he never minds the ticks And other bugs that visit him in sleep. Ho's not an epicure: a bunch of rice. Boiled in a pot of steaming soup a cup. And that's a dinner; though It's very nice Jf he can add a fricassee of pup. Happy the Igorrotal Not for him" The- monthly bill for rent, the. tailor's Jog Of memory; his needs so very slim, -His sole concern Is o'er his dally dog. ROBERTUS LOVE. Republican Harmony. , Salem Journal. The effort of the state chairman. Frank Baker, to hold a harmony conference is commendable. It is stated clearly and emphatically that this is In no way to be an effort to set aside the direct-primary law. With that understanding all Republicans can unite In a jollification on the date set by Mr. Baker. It Is good for brethren to dwell together in peace and harmony, and we cannot have too much of a good thing like that It would not be a bad Idea to hold a har mony conference in each county in the state, and let the underlings practice har mony. Some of the counties are as badly cut up with factions as the party in the state, and need harmonizing to a consid erable extent A Marlon County conference will not be out of place, and it should be made to include all the rambunctious cattle who have bucked and balked at different times, In the past Let them come out and bel low and paw the air and hook up the dust and work off the accumulation of political bile. Then, with their political livers in better order, or their paunches reduced to normal size from over-feeding at the crib, and their cinches tightened up from lean and hungry desire, they can go down to the state pow-wow and not convert the whole thing into rival war dances of two hostile Indian tribes. Here's luck to you. Brer Baker, In your effort at harmonizing the G. O. P. In a state where it Is much needed. Pushing; the Old Folks Aside. Atchison (Kan.) Globe. When the babies are cross and a man would like a quiet retreat there Is none for him. But In a few years, when the children are grown and he Is In the way, the daughters and mother put their heads together and originate a den. There Is no den for the mother, because she gracefully eliminates herself by sit ting In the kitchen or running over to a neighbor's. It is her natural disposition to hide In a corner or remove herself entirely, and it is not the natural dispo sition of the father. Hence the den. It has a couch and some pipes and tobacco, and the books which the neighbors haven't got around to borrowing as yet, though if father begins a story today the book will be found to be loaned out when he wants to finish it tomorrow. The den Is a fashionable way of pushing the old man out If there is one in your house, Mr. Man, don't fee deceived- LIMITED FRANCHISES, SOUND POLICY Perpetual Privileges, Says Jerome, Should Never Be Granted and Prin ciple of Municipal Ownership Is Proper. James Creelman In New Tork World. District Attorney Jerome was making a chair In his little workshop at Lakevllle when the question of municipal owner ship as a political Issue In New Tork this year was presented to him. Kneeling In the shavings and sawdust his muscular arms bare and his legs clothed in blue overalls, Mr. Jerome was a picture. The rain dashed against the windows and lashed the tops of the cedars outside, but he paid no' attention to the storm and went on with his work- "Buslncss, Not Political Question." "Tou can't base a political party or a political campaign on the question of mu nicipal ownership." he said, "simply be cause sensible men have no real difference of opinion as to the principle involved. It la a business rather than a political question. "I take It that all men know that public franchises originally belong to the people as a whole, and I believe that all sensible citizens have come to the opinion that the ownership of such franchises should never again be permanently alienated from the public; that all franchises should bo granted for limited terms and adequate compensation! "Each franchise Involving the use of the streets or other public property should be dealt with separately as a bus iness proposition according to the exist ing conditions. The city should be in a position to make the best possible bar- i gain in a limited lease, or. if extreme conditions should make it impossible to lease a franchise for a necessary improve ment upon reasonable terms, it should have the power to do whatever seems most advantageous from a business standpoint" "Even to build, own and operate transportation, illumination and tele graph and telephone plants?" "Tes. even to building, owning and op erating street railways, gas and electric light plants, telegraphs and telephones. There should be no hard and fast rule The City of New Tork should be in the same position to deal with Us business affairs that every Individual occupies in dealing- with his private business. A business man can hire some one to do his work or he can do it himself. The city should have exactly the same right It should be able to weigh each matter as a separate business question and do what at that particular time and in all the sur rounding conditions seems to be wisest. "Citizens may differ greatly as to what should be done with any particular fran chise, but they do not now differ as to the fundamental idea that the permanent ownership of franchises should never be granted on any terms to individuals or private corporations. "Nothing could be more absurd than to adopt an abstract rule that would tie the city's hands and prevent it from making the very best bargain possible at any time. "It it were possible for us to foresee all the changes that the progress in art and science wilt bring, we might be able to lay down some permanent fundamental rule of dealing with municipal franchises. But as no man can say today what con ditions or what Improvements will exist ten years from now, no such rule Is pos sible. As I said before, sensible men do witte, russia;smaster mind E. J. Dillon in Review of Reviews. It Is Impossible In a sketch which roust be short and eclectic to unfold the com plex scheme to which Witte attached his name for all time. Its ramifications ran through every department of political, so cial and commercial life In Russia. Its effects, like those of a revolution, will not at all disengage themselves for genera tions to come. That scheme comprised the reform ot the imperial bank, the Introduc tion of a gold standard, and the fixation of the value of the ruble; the extensive employment of foreign capital, the estab lishment of an alcohol monopoly, the de velopment of savings banks, the spread of technical education, the emancipation of peasants, dissenters and heretics as well as Jews, from the galling network of special restrictive legislation. In a word, it embodied all the practical corollaries of the Incipient reform inaugurated by Alexander II when he struck the rusty chains off the limbs of millions of serfs. It is hardly too much to say that a Rood deal, perhaps most, of what Is good or hope-giving In the Russia of today owes Its origin. Its preservation or its develop ment to the Insight and energy of Serslus Witte, as manifested in this "revolution from above." Witte is a man of strong temperament, kindly disposition, is generally fair to his enemies, always loyal to his friends and continuously polar with all humanity. His faults are the exaggeration of his quali ties or their indirect results. In his case, tho needle of human perfection, intellec tual or other, trembles and does not Invariably point to the north. He has made many mistakes, because of his habit of learning mainly from experience, whose school fees are exorbitant As the most serious of all. I set down his sys tem of taxation. But much will be for given to him by history, because he has accomplished much. He is in sympa thetic touch with every class, every ele ment of society In Russia, and has a firm grasp upon the deepest strain of thought and feeling there. Being himself alive in every fiber, he delights In seeing tho vital forces of others deployed, for his attitude toward subordinates and fellow-workers is encouragement not re straint Even at its best, the political and social framework of Russian society gives but little scope for healthy human energies all the greater, therefore, is tho need of bracing sympathy and stimu lus. Witte is gifted with a degree of Intui tion little short of prophetic He foresaw the war with Japan years before It broke out, and most of the salient events of the past 12 months he predicted several years ago. A man of that caliber, who sees when his fellows are blind, speaks out when others are tongue-tied, and works when they are Idle, must of neces sity have many and unscrupulous ene mies. In his own country Witte is gen erally unduly praised or Immoderately blamed, and most of the literary portraits of him are little better than caricatures. Much water will flow from the Nova Into the Finnish Gulf before a faithful pic ture of the man as he lived and worked can be drawn and painted. As physically he towers above the common run of men, so intellectually he is often able to take a much Wider survey than they can of things beyond the narrow horizon of the moment As I remarked In the beginning of this article, he Is a creator rather than a product of his native land. Sergius Witte Is to his countrymen what Anglo Saxon America is to the rest of the globe. But however great his inborn gifts, and however serious his various errors, the Impartial biographer will char acterize him in the words of the great German poet "His striving wa3 with lov ing, his living was In deed." In tho Hush of 1050. Chicago Tribune. The owner of the great dairy was showing a visitor aroupd the plant "All these thousands of cows," he said, "are milked by machinery. The milk Is conveyed Into an immense res ervoir, from which it s carried In underground pipes at a speed of a mile a minute to all points within 50 miles of here. The system works perfectly, and yet, there Is one great drawback." "What Is that?" asked the visitor. "Well, of course, there's no cream any more. It Is Impracticable for us to separate it here, and in this age of the world nobody has time to wait for It to rise." t not quarrel on that point, and, therefore, It does not furnish ground for a separata political party "The mm who voted away the perma nent ownership of street railway fran chises In Nw Tork for practically notn lng were not always actuated by corrupt raotlvts. In many cases they were sim ply phort-slghted and improvident. They were In such a hurry to build up the city, so eager to Improve the value of real estate, that In some cases the public was quite as anxious to secure the railways as the men who got the franchises. Objections to City Ownership. "While I can see no objection in princi ple to municipal ownership and operation of street railways, lighting plants or tele phones and telegraphs, it must not bo forgotten that municipal administration of such business ha3 been shown to ba wasteful. "Besides, It should be remembered that many franchises have already been grant ed In perpetuity, and It would requiro legislation and condemnation proceedings to reacquire them. It is a subject involv ing hundreds of millions of dollars, and Mayor Dunne's experience in Chicago Is a good illustration of the fact that it is one thing to advocate on the public plat form a scheme requiring gigantic capital, and quite another thing to put It In ac- tual practice. "The City of New Tork Is very near Its prescribed debt limit, and yet there aro doctrinaires who contemplate projects ot municipal ownership as lightly as a hen would contemplate the laying of an egg. "Such people apparently don't consider the stupendous financial questions In volved in their theories, but go on tho theory that the Lord will provide. "The ideal policy would be to allow the city power to grant franchises for any length of time, but not forever. Tet hu man Judgment is so fallible and the ten dency to corruption is so strong that it would be well to set a maximum time lim it for all public franchises. "Probably a maximum limit of 20 years for all franchise leases would be a good thing. "It all comes down to a question of the honesty. Judgment and experience of tho men who are intrusted with authority to deal with the granting of franchises. Tou can't make any law that will absolutely guard the city against official corruption or bad Judgment, although by fixing short time limits for franchise leases you can give the people opportunities to correct blunders or crimes on the part of their representatives. City Should Be Unfettered. "The slightest examination into this question of municipal franchises from a hard-headed business standpoint reveals its complicated and changeful nature and shows at how many points the city can Improve Its revenues, compel good serv ice at reasonable prices and generally in crease the public comfort, safety and hap piness by having complete freedom to deal with such franchise or lease of a franchise as a separate business propo sition, the time limit and the terms to depend in each case upon the facts in that case. "In other words, the city should always make the best bargain it can. That is business, not politics." HEALTH Of SCHOOL CHILDREN Harper's .Weekly. . Following the Investigation of an as sertion made last Spring that a seri ously large proportion of the school children of New Tork went to school without their breakfasts, the health authorities here determined to Investi gate the general health of the New Tork school children. As the result oC examining 13,941 children, they report that 6234 require medical attention; that 3314 have bad teeth; that 3219 have defective vision; that 1623 show nasal breathing; that 2604 have swelling in the anterior glands, and 706 in the pos terior glands; that 1092 show bad nu trition and 823 bad mentality, and that about 2000 more have other specified defects. Whether the result of the ex amination was surprising to the au thorities we do not know. It showed, apparently, that more than half the children had nothing the matter with them that required medical attention. That showing Is more likely to sur prise the experienced parent than the tale of diseases. Pretty much all chil dren in all planes of life need medical attention from time to time. The teeth of all American children seem to need annual repairs from the time they are 7 or S years old. A large proportion ofi the contemporary children have imper fect eyesight; many of them have ade noid growths that should be removed or tonsils that need to be reduced. Al together it is a matter of average ex perience that the proper raising of a human child Involves an annual bill for repairs and improvements by surgeons, doctors and dentists. Some of these repairs and Improvements are extreme ly important to the child's future health and comfort in living. That the health of the school children should be watched by competent experts, and de sirable restorations made in them, is a matter of first-rate Importance, and it is good to know that It is v being? done, but Dr. Bigg's report of dis eased and defective children Is not necessarily alarming. Nearly all of us, young and old, are more or less dis eased and defective. That 13 one ofi the conditions of human life. It needs attention, but it Is not desperate. BITS AND SKITS. "What i tho matter with him? Is ho all had?" "Dear rae, no. But his bad tralta happen to bo out of fashion." lite. La4y Can he say. "Polly, want a cracker?" Dealer Ho kin say Polly wants everything, mum. Ho used to be owned by a trust mag nate. Judge. "Jeeh's letter from the city sounds like ho was homesick," said Mrs. CorntosseL "Ho ain't homesick," replied her husband emphat ically. "He's broke." Washington Star. -vvillle I never make any noise running downstairs, grandma. Willie's Grandma That's a good, hoy. Willie Tes, ma'am. I always slide down the banister. Philadelphia Record. "Yes, ho doesn't do anything but pick, up pins all tho time." "Well, well, that's a queer superstition." "Not at all. It'a an occupation. He's employed In a bowling al ley." Philadelphia Press. Tho Heiress Papa, I am considerably em barrassed to discover that I am engaged to marry both tho Duke and the Count. "How like your mother, to jump la and buy more than she wants, Just because It Is cheap I" Ufe. Colonel (to recruit. Just enlisted, waiting outsldo orderly-room) Look here, my lad, doa't you know that a soldier always salutes an officer? Recruit I've ald "Good mamla to eo once already. Punch. The Unusual Mistake. Nearslgnted Stranger (at swell banquet)! beg pardon, but you are the head waiter, are you not? Distin guished Guest Good- gracious, no! I'm only tho Baron de Burgool Chicago Tribune.. "Oh, John!" she exclaimed, "now that you've seen my new bonnet, you simply can't regret that I got It. Isn't It Just a poemf "Well, If It Is," replied John, "I guess a proper title for It would be 'Owed to a aillllner.' " Phlla delsbla Prees. First Fond Jfamma. (whoso hopes have lately been dashed) Our heartiest congratulations on dear' Violet's engagement, Mrs. Hookham. Second Fend iMamma (whose hopes have been realized) Thank you. We arc delighted. Captain Norton Is such a charmmsr fellow. First Fond Mamma Tea, and so self-sacriSc-lng Punch. ' '