TKjS MORXIXG OREGOXIA2T, SATURDAT, DECEMBER 16, 1905.
Entered at the Fostornce at Portland, Or.,
as second-class matter.
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ket and Kearney streets; Foster & Orcar.
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vania nvenue.
PORTLAND. SATURDAY. DEC. 10. 1905.
MONOPOLY THROUGH HIGH TARIFF.
"In the past." says the President in
Ills message, "most direful among the
Influences which have brought about
the downfall of republics has ever been
the growth of the class spirit, the
growth of the spirit "Which tends to
make a man subordinate the welfare of
the public as a whole to the welfare of
the particular class to which he be
longs, the substitution of loyalty to a
class for loyalty to the nation. This in
evitably brings about a -tendency to
treat each man not on his merits as an
Individual, but on his "position as, belonging-
to- a certain class in the com
munity. If such n spirit grows up In
ihis Republic, it will ultimately grow
Jatal to us-, as in the past Is has proved
fatal to every community in which it
has become dominant."
Reproducing this line passage from
the message of the President, the Louis
ville Courier-Journal remarks with re
gret that in that message there was
"no word against that greatest of all
breeders of class prerogative, injustice
and pillage a high protective tariff."
And yet it is well known that the
President is no friend of the monopo
lies created by a high protective tariff,
nor consequently of the high tariff
that produces them. But the mo
nopolies and the tariff that pro
duce? and supports them are so
strong that he is virtually powerless.
Recognizing his limitations, he sees he
must iwait, and, moreover, that the
necessary reform must wait. The monopolies-
have every advantage of posi
tion. They cannot be attacked success
fully In front Change is inevitable,
but It will come about through neces
sary change of conditions. The people
will see. after a while: and that Ihe
party upholding high protective tariff
and the advantages it gives to monopo
lists is to meet one day a crushing de
feat is a sure and certain prediction.
Till that defeat shall come there will
be no Important change In the tariff.
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PORTLAND.
The Quartermasters' Department of
the United States Army, with fully as
great a display of commercial idiocy as
has characterized most of its dealings
in connection with contracts for hay
and oats, is again attempting discrim
ination against Portland. Bids have
been called for the delivery of 2500 tons
of hay and 1500 tons of oats at Seattle,
w ith the proviso that "delivery' at other
prominent railroad points will also be
considered." Investigation as to the
consideration" chat will be given the
bids submitting delivery at other points
discloses the fact that the bidder will
be expected to make delivery at these
other points at a rate sufficiently low
t i absorb the freight from those points
to Seattle, this extra charge, of course,
proving a handicap which effectually
bars all bidders except those doing"
business at Seattle.
Not only Is this attempted discrim
ination against Portland an unbusi
nesslike proceeding which would never
be countenanced In a straight commer
cial transaction, jbut it is a deliberate
attempt to deprive the Government of
the benefit of competition and force the
payment of higher prices than would
be necessary if the bids were not placed
w holly at the mercy of the Seattle job
bers. The geographical location of Se
attle has prevented her merchants from
reaching to advantage the localities
where oats and hay are most plentiful,
and they are accordingly not on even
terms with Portland bidders if the rela
te e merits of the two points are con
sidered. Suffering this natural handi
cap of location so far as grain supplies
are concerned, Seattle could not suc
cessfully compete with Portland unless
some unnatural discrimination was
show n.
It will be Impossible for the persons
responsible for this expensive and un
businesslike transaction to make ex
cuse on the. grounds of inadequate
transportation, for throughout the sea
son there has been no lack of steamers
available for Portland loading at ex
actly the same rates as are paid from
Puget Sound. The matter has been
taken up at Washington, and a strong
effort will be made to stop the Job be
fore it is. put through, tout in this case
it may be too late, as the bide are to be
opened Monday. The greatest injustice
in connection with the transaction lies
in the fact -that it is necessary, every
time a contract is let. for Portland to
make a flght for her rights, so that
actuaMoss of money for the Govern
ment may be prevented.
If ihe purchasing or disbursing agent
of a private concern would continue,
at a loss to his xpertors, to show fa
voritism in the awarding of contracts
after he had once been exposed, he
would be promptly dismissed, and his
dismissal -would serve as a warning to
others who become careless with other
people's money, even though, it be Gov
ernment money. In the case of the
Government, not even a reprimand has
been administered to Seattle's "friend
at court." And every time a contract of
importance omes up, Portland must
make the same old fight to obtain rec
ognition. In oats and hay Portland ex
porters have larger supplies to draw
on than are tributary to Seattle, and
the transportation is Just as cheap as
from Seattle. These facts alone prove
beyond argument that an injustice is
done In not permitting Portland to bid
on the contract on even terms with Seattle.
COOS BAY AGAIN.
The Oregonlan willingly print Mr.
Saln's letter about "Forty Feet at Coos
Bay." But it must say that. In view of
the facts as they actually exls the
letter strikes us as a labored effort to
support a contention pushed for the
purpose of finding fault unreasonably.
The Oregonlan .wishes Coos, Bay not
only to have thirty, but forty, feet, or
as much greater depth as possible. But
it knows something of the difficulties
and limitations Inseparable from the
effort to secure such results; and so
do New York and Boston.
Coos Bay is to have all possible recog
nition and assistance. The Oregonlan
does not say. nobody says, that Coos
Bay should limit her demand to thirty
feet. Let Ihe demand be for as much
more depth as anybody wants. But we
do not forget that this business of har
bor Improvement is a very practical
matter, depending on appropriations;
and long experience has shown us that
different parts of the -country are lim
ited, as a. rule, to their respective or
calculated shares of the dividend.
The spirit of the contention urged by
Mr. Sain strikes us as captious and
querulous. For the assertion or suppo
sition that we of the Columbia River
are trying or wishing to hold back de
velopment at Coos Bay. or the notion
that we think one section of the state
would suffer by development of an
other, is really childish. We are all
going to do our best for the several
ports of Oregon. "We are all ready to
join in any memorial or any effort for
forty feet, or even greater depth, at
Coos Bay.
Harbor improvement at Coos Bay,
and industrial development of the great
country that railroads will make trib
utary to It, will naturally go together.
Taquina Bay also is pushing her claims
anew. All must help and all will help;
for it is "an effort of all for nil."
DEMOCRACY AND TDK ARMY.
Lieutenant-Colonel James S. Pettlt,
military instructor in the District of
Columbia, has expressed some Interest
ing opinions upon the efficiency of ar
mies under democratic institutions.
Putting it broadly, his line of reason
ing is that in a democracy everything is
controlled by politics, the Army with
the rest, and that an army so con
trolled cannot be efficient on account
of four inherent evils bad legislation,
lax discipline, languid patriotism and
favoritism. Despotism, thinks Colonel.
Pettit, maintains the most efficient ar
mies and the great conquerors have
been despots.
There is no denying that some despots
have been conquerors, but the great
majority of them have been cowardly
sots. Some despots have maintained
efficient armies, but it is easy to show
that the tendency of an army under a
despotism has been invariably to de
generate, and that rapidly. ' Empires
acquired by absolute rulers have usual
ly fallen asunder at their deaths, like
Charlemagne's and Alexander's, to say
nothing of the enormous conquests of
such despots as Tamerlane and Jenghlz
Khan. The Roman Empire was built
up under a republic, and during the
whole period Of its. growth the liberties
of the people were constantly broaden
ing. This was one of the most endur
ing of all governments. The Athenian
Empire was not more transient than
Napoleon's, but it was established by .
pure democracy. Our American Nation,
which is certainly entitled by Its area
to the name of an empire, shows no
signs of dissolution as yet, and nobody
can assert that any despot has assisted
In founding or maintaining it. Parallel
with our territorial growth has been
that of the vastly wider British Em
pire under a government republican in
everything but name. During the same
decades the Russian Empire has been
built up under a despotism, but it is
now falling apart while ours and the
British grow stronger every day. -
Let us return for a moment to Colonel
Pettit's four evils, which, he thinks,
tend to destroy the efficiency of armies
under democracy. Bad legislation comes
first. Congressmen, he says, in enact
ing military regulations are guided by
their political preferences instead of the
merits of the case. This Is true enough,
but it is Just as true of all legislators
as of our Congressmen. When a despot
has the making of the laws, is it believ
able that he alms solely at abstract effi
ciency? Very seldom, unless all history
is false. The legislation of a despot
usually enacts the mercenary loves and
hatreds of the clique that for ihe time
being controls him. The laws of Con
gress come out of a clash of interests
for the most part vile, let us admit, but
in that very clash the vlleness tends to
be eliminated or neutralized. For ex
ample, we have the -best-paid army in
the world, and our medical service,
while ludicrously inferior to the Japan
ese, of course, is probably better' than
the Turkish or Russian. The abolish
ment of the canteen was apiece of mis
taken legislation, but It was not
"greased with the slimy oil of political
spoils." as Colonel Pettlt asserts. It
was u cowardly concession, but the
concession was made to a lofty, though
perverse, moral sentiment. As for dis
cipline, a -despot -who is whollydepend
nt upon his army is under stronger
temptation to relax It than a republic,
where the army outs an insignificant
figure. We may deal .somewhat len
iently with deserters and somnolent
sentinels, as Colonel Pettlt complains;
but our soldiers are not permitted to
loot the houses of citizens or shoot
women and children .down in the
streets. "With us the military is held
strictly subordinate to the civil author
ity, and this is, after" all. the really
essential point in discipline. Rules for
desertions and the like can be made
severe whenever it seems worth while.
Turning to the question of patriotism.
Colonel Pettlt Is absurdly wrong in
sayjng that our mixed population lacks
the fighting variety, That is precisely
the kind we have in superabundance.
In the Spanish "War. for example, vol
unteers were tatorrsi&gly ntaaer-.
ous and eager. It Is unmliltary. civic,
unronmnUc patriotism that we have
failed to develop, and our want of It Is
a menace to our institutions.
There Is favoritism in all armies, but
certainly most of It where everything
depends upon the likes and dislikes of a
single Individual. In this country there
has always been an effort to make pro
motion In the Army depend more or less
upon merit, without regard to heredi
tary rank, personal feeling or mere
seniority. The effort has been feeble at
times, and never entirely successful,
but, on the other hand. It has never
been abandoned. Army sentiment is
the worst Judge in the world upon the
question of favoritism; its dearest Idol
is seniority, and its worst dread is the
recognition of merit. -
But "with -us, all these matters. Inter
esting In themselves, are somewhat
academic The Army, as Colonel Pettlt
laments, really plays an Insignificant
part in our National life, and most of
us hope to see Its importance diminish
as the years pass. The reign of peace
on earth and good will to men was pro
claimed nearly 1000 years ago; it seems
almost time for it to begin.
SENATORIAL RESIGNATIONS.
The political Ideals of Mr. Edgar T.
Brackett. member from Saratoga In the
New York State Senate, afford a theme
for sorrowful meditation. He unwit-
.tlngly displays their tortuosity in the
course of some remarks upon Chauncey
Depew. Whilom the tutelary deity of
the high-toned American dinner-table.
Mr. Depew is now little better than a
fallen Idol, and,cven the members of
the New York Legislature may safely
venture to shy rhetorical brickbats at
him. Mr. Brackett thinks Depew ought
to resign "because the good of the Re
publican party demands it": not be
cause he is a trickster, a fraud and a
sham. The Senate has several men of
that ilk whose resignations Mr. Brack
ett would never think of suggesting;
and of course. If he thought the good of
the party required Dcpow to remain In
the Senate, he would insist jm his re
maining, with all his sins. Mr. Depew
must resign, not because he Is a dis
grace to the Nation and not because his
example is a menace to the morals of
the country, but because his resignation
would benefit the Republican party in
New York. This Is the brand of polit
ical morality which makes Depews and
Platts possible.
A New York paper adds that "the
honor and dignity of the state demands
of Senator Depew to step down and out,
because his power toerve the state In
the Senate Is gone." This strikes the
reader In Oregon as very funny. The
"honor and dignity" of New York was
not consulted in the least when Depew
and Piatt were sent to the Senate; why
talk about it now? As for serving: the
state, neither of them was elected a
member of the Senate for that purpose.
Thej were elected to serve certain well
known corporations, and they have per
formed that service loyally and faith
fully. It Is a little late in the day to
blame them now for not being able to
do what they neer undertook to do.
Now York has awakened. It seems, to
the fact that the presence of Piatt and
Depew In the Senate "covers her with
shame and humiliation." If every other
.state that has a member of the same
stamp there should suddenly become
conscience-stricken, the penitential
tears of the Nation would solve the irri
gation problem for one year at IpasL
This precious pair has ljen found out;
in bthcV respects It Is hard to sW why
they are any wore? than they have al
ways been, or why there Is any reason
for their resignation that was not also
a reason against their election.
THE CASE OF C HADDOCK.
Nineteen dollars is not much. That
sum is less than Mr. Rockefeller's In
come for two minutes; and yet it Is a
tidy -bit to spend In finding out whether
Policeman Craddock spent five minutes
or twenty on an errand the other day.
Craddock said he spent five minutes;
Inspector Bruin swore It was twenty,
nnd thereby hangs a tale. The Mayor
at $400 a month, and his subordinates
at various gilded -rates aggregating
$1140. met In solemn conclave and spent
half a day deciding this momenfous
question. Half a day at J1140 a month
comes o $19. Thus much It cost to find
out whether Craddock did his errand
in five minutes or dilly-dallied away
twenty of the city's precious Jewels of
time as he lingered by the flowery road
side. This high and mighty tribunal set out
to prove that Craddock had wasted his
golden moments In dalliance; when
they got through the evidence showed
that he had called Bruin a damn liar,
and for this he was duly punished. The
question now la. Does evidence that
Craddock called Bruin a damn liar
prove that Craddock spent iwenty min
utes on a five minutes' errand? We
say not.
A REPORT OF PROGRESS.
The report of the transportation com
mittee of the Chamber of Commerce
might appropriately be termed a
"paean of progress." Never since the
beginning of the Villard regime of the
early '80s have the people felt so confi
dent of coming Into their own. And,
best of all. even the remotest possibili
ties of such a relapse as followed the
Villard excitement have been eliminat
ed, and there Is. practically nothing to
stay the progress of Industrial develop
ment throughout the State of Oregon
and through all of the adjacent terri
tory in the Columbia Basin. All of the
wonderful resources of forest and plain.
In localities aggregating many thou
sands of square miles, have been value
less to Oregon. Washington and Idaho,
simply through lack of transportation.
Now they are to be exploited to the
fullest -extent by a system of roads
which, when completed, within the next
two ' or three years,,, will make them
accessible to the world's markets and
open up homes for thousands of peo
ple, some of whom for more than a
decade have camped on the edges of
the -promised landwaltlng the coming
of the railroads.
There is ndthlng experimental -about
this railroad construction which ,1s now
getting under way. When It has been
demonstrated, beyond the need of fur
ther argument, that forests In a certain
locality contain a given number of feet
of merchantable timber, and there Is a
demand at remunerative prices for that
timber, the element of chance Is largely
eliminated from the project of building
the road to that timber. On the other
hand, when the sawmill man Is as
sured that he will have transportation
to market for his product, he will has
ten to begin coining the natural wealth
of the forest Info money. Similar con
ditions exist In the farming districts to
be opened up by the -roads now getting
under way. The productive powers of
the coll are unquestioned, but up to"
tae present time znOUooK of sctm Z
Oregon land; would have been fully as
valuable to the state and the railroads
had It been as -barren as the desert of
Sahara- Now all this is to be changed
and the rich soil Is to have an oppor
tunity in keeping w"lth Its merits.
The transportation committee does
not overestimate the advantages that
will accrue for Portland. When a city,
with only the limited transportation fa
cilities which we have enjoyed In the
past, can overcome so many of its early
handicaps, and expand Into the com
mercial metropolis of the Pacific North
west without the assistance of the
great railroad systems which are now
making tardy recognition o( our mer
its, there cannot fail to be much in
store for the future. Naturally, "we
must have a deep and safe channel to.
the sea." That Is a feature of our fu
ture growtn and development that must
take precedence over everything else,
and the success already atfalned In im
proving the chanel is a guarantee that
the work will not be permitted to lag.
The Inadequate coastwise and Oriental
steamship service of the Hnrriman sys
tem must be replaced with something
In keeping with the growth of the city
and country, and. with the coming of
more competition on land, there will
undoubtedly be corresponding Improve
ment In water transportation facilities.
Direct connection with Alaska Is also
one of the great needs of the port to
which attention 13 called. Portland
Jobbers handle a large business with'
Alaska through -Seattle middlemen, and
this has perhaps' cased their efforts for
direct connection, but the time Is at
hand when a determined effort, should
be made.to get Into that rich trade field
of tha north.
Few persons who have occasion to
use books of reference have overlooked
Bartlett's "Familiar Quotations." one
of the most useful of all. No other
quite takes Its place. The author, as
heretofore announced in The Orego
nlan, died some days ago. at Boston, at
an advanced age- Other compilations
In prose and poetry have been made,
but none has equaled his. In covering
all literature, ancient and modern, sa
cred and profane, extracting gems
from all and putting them in form for
all to select from. In the words of the
Chicago Tribune, his book "is the read
er's as well as the writer's friend. It
makes for accuracy. The memory Is
the most notoriously treacherous of the
faculties. Let a man be never so con
fident In regard to h quotation, he is
pretty sure, when he looks It up. to find
that his memory has been misleading
him as to some word or phrase.
Charles Lamb was excusable for the
many misquotations he made. If he
had looked through all the authors he
bad at his fingers' tips he would not
h.ive.got much -writing done. Life be
ing too short to look up everything,
he seemingly decided not to look up
anything. An" author of our time who
made as many mistakes as did the ami
able Charles would be Inexcusable.
John BartJett has made them needless.
Readers, thanks to him, have a recog
nized right to demand greater accuracy
than was formerly the rule, and quota
tions no longer are subject to the ex
traordinary metamorphoses that they
once took on. Misquotation has become
a sign of literary laziness and sloven
liness." Secretary Shaw is still talking about
the necessity for an clastic currency
and possible needs for relief .to the
strenuous bankers of the East. In a
recent Interview he intimates that the
New York bankers are loaning too
much money to speculators, and also
states that they arc not the only ones
who are crowding the safety limit. Or
dinarily this kind of talk might cause
some uneasiness, but with the farmers
of the country marketing a crop which
In value exceeds that of any previous
year In our history, with Western
banks stuffed with money, exports and
Imports breaking all records and plenty
of employment at good wages for all
who wish to labor. It is difficult to
work up much of a tight-money scare
at this time. The financial distress of a
few Wall-street plungers Is a possibil
ity at any time, but It In no way re
flects on the legitimate financial or
commercial situation, which Is now In
an excellent condition for standing
quite a protracted strain without call
ing for any reserves of elastic currency.
" Edward Atkinson. late of Boston,
leader of a hopeless minority of imprac
tical thinkers philanthropist according
to lines which he himself laid down
has passed on and ouL His record was
that of a good friend to the masses, a
good neighbor to the more restricted
circle about him. a man of Ideals rather
than of forceful ideas. He lacked not
principle, intelligence or knowledge, but
he lacked practical application of his
theories to events. He wrote, printed
and disseminated his views for years,
but failed to change the trend of Na
tional affairs as he confidently believed
that He would be able to do, along lines
of finance, economics and labor. If the
theory that a man should be and will
be judged according to his endeavor,
and not according to his accomplish
ment, holds good, the life of Edward
Atkinson was not a failure, although
his effort was but a straw upon the
current of human events, powerless in
any way to stay or turn aside their
usual course.
Of the result of the municipal elec
tion in Astoria, last Wednesday, the
Astorlan says there Is no possibility of'
mistaking the meaning: "the popular
mandate Is for an open town; the very
strength of the majorities constitute Its
most unequivocal feature." The As
torlan's candidates were beaten In the
election.
The Government officials say that
Embezzler Adams is the only one who
stole at the Seattle Assay Office. But
Adams took enough for everybody.
What he lacked In numbers he made up
in Industry.
The transportation committee of tha
Chamber of .Commerce might have
compressed that magnificent report Into
the words "something doing In Oregon"
and have told the whole story.
Between his attempted reform of th
police force and his successful reforna-
of the civil service, we should say that
Inspector Bruin is having busy days.
Mr. Ryan bought the Equitable stock
because "he wanted to make a name
for himself. He succeeded:
It Is a different story when Mr. Har--
riman .tells IL
Miss ReoeewJt is to -fee married We
told you s, ' -
SIU10UETTES
Senator Allison, of Iowa, Is Just begin
ning his -43d year In Congress. 33 In the
Senate and 10 In the Howe. The late
Senator IngaUs once said that Allison was
so foxy he could walk from Des Moines
to Washington on piano keys and not
strike a single note.
The school of experience never holds
graduating exercises.
The successful' auctioneer -Is the most
effective orator.
-
I often wonder when a woman who has
both a husband and a baby gets any
sleep. She I either sitting up of nights
waiting for her Ielgo lord to come home,
or stays awake all night dosing the croupy
youngster with squills.
If the stories told of hazing at Annapo
lis are true, war should have few terrors
for our young middles.
The Senate should bear In mind that in
the digging of canals a pound of blasting
powder Is worth a ton of elocution.
Portland seems to be as popular with
the transcontinental railroads as tha "vis
iting lady" at an Army post.
If President Roosevelt qver finds out
that Hcybura. of Idaho, is fighting him.
the President will probably feel Irritated.
Senator Ankeny. of Washington, has
landed two of tho best committees In
Congress. The Senator seems to be going
some for a new member.
If you are Invited to the Longworth
Roosevelt nuptials, don't send the bride
any Japanese art ware. Alice has Just
expended a fortune In Oriental gift junk.
Commissioner James R. Garfield is to
appear as a witness for the packers whom
he set out to Investigate. Mr. Garfield
seems to have a positive genius for get
ting things "balled up." He is also a
shining warning to young men who seek
to make capital out of being "father's
son."
When a man past CO Is called by his
front name, he has a sure patent of good
fellowship.
Railroad corporations are the only ones
who boast of possessing anything low
grade. After, all. a smallpox epidemic has Its
advantages. Because of this the Oregon
University Glee Club will not be allowed
to make Its annual tour.
It Is proposed tc control the Insurance
companies by a system of taxation. Fine
Idea. Fight the devil with his own weap
ons. The Insurance companies control the
people by a system of taxation. They
hare found It the best policy.
Among the useless organizations of long
haired cranks which this country supports,
the Civil Service Reform League stands
at the top of the list.
"
A woman of 3) who Is witty, wise and
pretty Is the most perfect work of crea
tion. Do good today and commit evil tomor
row, fqr tomorrow may never come. In
this latter Instance procrastination Is a
virtue.
Fashions In epitaphs never change.
Greatness Is comparative, and each pe
culiar variety thrives only In Its peculiar
atmosphere. In a convention of prize
fighters Tolstoi wouldn't be one, two,
three alongside of Jim Jeffries.
Th very good and very bad possess tho
same endowments In like proportions, only
they take different roads to reach their
goals.
Those friendships that last longest are
usually those that are made most quickly.
Indifference Is the surest means of re
forming a flirt.
A mask ball is a charitable Institution
for the relief and protection of ugly
womcn. .
Keep your band on your pockctbook
while you are In the society of the man
who boasts of his honesty.
In this generation, mothers know ' too
little and young girts too much.
When Cupid goes to war he knows but
one successful method of attack by
storm.
Most people prefer to bo comfortable to'
being good.
There is one river that Is never closed
to navigation. It Is called the Styx.
No man can be sure of his love for a
woman' until he sees her with her hair In
curl-papers.
Insolence Is the self-defense of the lg
norant,
The remembrance of a love often sur
vives the love itself, aa twilight survives
the day.
A fan Is a necessity for society women
who can no longer blush.
One may trust his dog always r a man.
as far as the first opportunity. -
ARTHUR A. GREENE.
The Case of Senator Mitchell.
Louisville Courierr Journal.
The correspondents are. dwelling quite
naturally upon the innovation apparent
In the 'attitude of the United States
Senate toward Senator John Hippie
Mitchell, of Oregon, just deceased.
A man who served In the United States
Senate 23 years and then, old and feeble,
tumbled from high estate and went to
his grave wrecked financially and ruined
in reputation Is a figure who must be re
garded as the protagonist of a tragedy.
Senator Mitchell's story must strike
everybody as one holding Infinite
pathos. There should bo no bitterness
toward him now. But also there should
be no false and offensive sentimental-ity-
A Sobs or Winter.
SetaerriUe Man.) JoersaL
Ts Frort Klag now boa hta throne.
The merrorr own tl wr.
Th trefi .axe bare, bst the ran Is fcrtckt
Tbl clMX December dir.
Tfce aBoral&c is trc& wtih the frosty air
Tbat acts oar blood axlow.
Awt with the SaniT&cr atektslac heatl
Hurrah Tor the Ice and ns!
Hurrah for the aJeichhelto mtrrr chlagv
And the rinr of the sfcatr steel!
A -xvlcacae cha&xe from the HK&tslsr
And the thu!era router pJ.
Hurrah, for the whirling drtfta of mir
Swift vRHur. far and sear
And the awir ahoTel. tea? 8r, Wt targM
Sw mm irW Saris he her
HOW THE INVESTIGATION BEGAN
Two Reporters Are SaW to Have
Started Great Insurance Upltcaval.
From Success Magazine for December.
There would have been no Investigation
of the Insurance companies had it not
been for the recent disclosures made by
David Ferguson, a reporter for the New
York World, who began by prodding the;
officers of the Equitable about James
Hazcn Hyde's Cambon dinner and other
evidences of ruinous waste.
At the outset. Ferguson was laughed at
by the men he approached. Hyde and
Alexander, the two heads of the Equita
ble, denied everything, denied that there
was any factional uprising In the Equit
able, or the slightest unfriendliness be
tween Mr. Hyde and Mr. Alexander. But
the reporter kept on prodding and digging
patiently until he gained the confidence of
some one on the Inside whose name will
probably never be known.
From that time on Ferguson had the
situation in his own hands, and what fol
lowed is thoroughly known to the Amer
ican public today, having resulted In the
greatest upheaval ever known In the his
tory of American finance. Compelled, by
the persistent revelations Ferguson was
making, to undertake an Investigation.
Francis Hendricks. Superintendent of In
surance for the State ofNcw York, filed
away a lengthy document containing the
testimony he had taken, and it remained
for Louis Seibold. another World reporter,
to procure a copy of this secret report,
which made the longest "story" ever
"run" In a newspaper about a single Inci
dent 112,000 words.
It Is still a matter of keenest specula
tion among the newspaper men of New
York how Seibold obtained possession of
a copy of a state document, and it will be,
probably, a mystery forever. Reporters
of Selbold's type never betray confidence.
Were the secrets of Messrs. Ferguson and
Seibold known concerning the great Insur
ance exposure, they would, undoubtedly,
make good reading, but these men made
pledges of confidence for tho public good,
and It goes without saying that those
pledges will dlo with them.
Diamond Cutters Danger.
Chambers' Journal,
Many people are unaware that a consid
erable danger menaces the cutters of dia
monds in tho form of that dreaded mal
ady, lead poisoning. In tho cutting of dia
monds the gem to be operated upon is
fixed In a "dope." consisting of a hemi
spherical brass pan at-thc end of a rod of
thick copper wire. The stone can then be
set in any desired position relatively to
the cutting wheel by bending the copper
wire. The cutting wheel or disk, which
revolves extremely rapidly. Is fed by a
polishing medium, consisting of pulverized
diamond and olive oIL As tho work pro
ceeds the diamond Is constantly wiped
with the bare hand to clear it of this
medium and ascertain how far the cutting
process has progressed. The diamond is
set in the "dope" by means of a solder
which is an alloy of lead and tin. This
is heated until It is kneadable, when it is
pressed Into the "dope" and smoothed by
means of the fingers around the projecting
diamond, which Is thus held firmly in
place. One setter handles about 200 dopes
every day, and both he and the diamond
polisher get numerous particles of lead
alloy Into their fingers and the palms of
their hands, and sooner or later lead poi
soning Is apt to result. The government
of the Netherlands has offered a prize of
ffXiO florins for a medium which shall re
place the lead alloy for fixing the diamond
in the "dope." The medium must be suf
ficiently cheap to be adopted by the dia
mond setters, and it must fulfill tho vari
ous conditions of the work. The present
alloy, being a good conductor, allows the
heat of polishing to be drawn away by the
copper rod. whereas an ordinary cement
would itself become melted. Competitors
must send in their results before January
1. ISO'S, together with any samples or speci
mens which may be necessary for the elu
cidation of their Ideas. '
Aro Diseases Increasing?
Practitioner.
There can be no question that the preva
lence of certain diseases has increased
during the last half century. Conspicuous
among these aro diabetes and Insomnia,
both of which are largely due to the men
tal stress of a harder struggle for exist
ence. The Increased consumption of alco
hol and the free use of narcotics are also
responsible for many morbid- conditions
unknown to our hardier forbears.
But, in comparing the present preva
lence of diseases with that of the past,
there are several factors for which due
allowance is often not made. One of these
Is that our forefathers died, as a rule, at
a considerably younger age than their de
scendants; if they did not perish by the
sword they were mowed down from time
to time by the i-lagu and other devastat
ing eridemlcs. In this way they escaped
many of the diseases not only of old age,
but of advanced middle life.
Again, it must not be forgotten that
each generation represented to a much
larger extent than Is now the case the
survival of the fittest. Most of the weak
lings died In childhood. The triumph of
modern hygieno is that it has preserved
a large proportion of these lives: on this
we may fairly pride ourselves from the
humanitarian point of view, but we must
not shut our eyes to the fact that it has
the serious drawback of lowering the gen
eral standard of health and of sapping the
vigor of the race. Ano'ther factor which
must be taken into account in estimating
the prevalence of diseases is our vastly
greater power of recognizing them.
Miss Canada Talks.
Harper's Weekly.
Addressing Canadian teachers, the
Hon. Mr. Sutherland. Speaker of the
House of Commons, urged that United
States magazines be boycotted because
of their boastfulness. Ho modestly
added: "Man for man. Canadians arp
more intelligent and better educated
than the citizens of any country, an
cient or modern." "We shrink from
comparing our own benighted popula
tion, but we cannot refrain from sug
gesting that some ancient people might
have been in the running If they too
had enjoyed the advantage of United
States magazines.
Not a Good Subject for an Operation.
-Judge.
First Physician Did you advise an oper
ation? Second Physician I was about to do so
when I happened to see a letter which
was on the patient's desk.
First Physician What did the letter
say? '
Second Physician It was trom. his bank,
telling him that his account was over
drawn. A Silent Toast.
Stephen Chalmers In the Baltimore Kews.
To the Ion jr. sweet shadows of sunrise
To the coo of the doves tn the trees
To the breeze and the woods and the wood
land. ' And the breath ct the tropic eai.
To the- motet, raw odor of n Ian tains '
To the cooIea of fresh-cut sheaves
To the nerferae of ripe olrcento.
And the oraaee's iceated leaven.
To th trill of the "chit" In the Joncte '
To the solitaire's moralnr comslaint
To the scent of the kin la the pastures.
And the bills rha sunbeams patnt.
t
To the rVw- o the moon on the. ocean
To the rajs on the jsoentanx aides '
To th cltat of the light os the palmfronds
In the dear old aitdataht rides.
To the aljchts all alone In the ziorr
Of the bush with the llsaxd and owl
To the whlrt'lax Uil Is the tree fern.
And the alxfcr wmd's dlsmel howl.
To the BjHsned face la the mooellcht
To the kiss of a laAdhora bride
To the last fatet'rhtser at sartlnr.
'Tf the fitsefc at th wM: "Sie rtie."
SOME THINGS
IN THE OREGONLAN
OF TOMORROW
First and foremost, the most .com
prehensive telegraphic news serv
ice by tho Associated Press and
special correspondents, of any Pa
cific Coast newspaper: then the
customary departments, and:
INCIDENTS IN JESUS LIFE
REPRODUCED TODAY
Evangeline Ben-Olicl. a missionary
' who spent several years in Pales-
tine, writes- an intensely human
story of the daily life of natives of
Bethlehem and Nazareth, who to
day give vivid Illustrations of Inci
dents that occurred during the life
of the Master. It Is Illustrated with
scenes from the Holy Land.
ONE MYTH THAT
WILL NOT DOWN
It Is Santa Claus, ever maintained
by the faith of children. A special
contributor tells of the form this
patron saint takes in the various
nations of Christendom, showing
with pen and picture slight varia
tion according to environment, but
In spirit the same the world over.
CHRISTMAS OUT-OF-DOOR
SPORTS
All more or less dangerous, as to
bogganing in tho Alps, yachting on
ice, Jumping on skils. racing on
snowshoes these well Illustrated,
together with an article showing
that association football a rational
form of the game is obtaining a
foothold In America and may sup-
plant our brutal Thanksgiving
game It Is suitable for Christmas.
A CHRISTMAS
CALICO CAT
Louise Lexington contributes a
very pretty little story, appropriate
to the season, that girls will enjoy,
and maybe mothers, also.
FRANKLIN'S CONTRIBUTIONS
TO AMERICAN LIFE
Next month, this Nation will cele
brate the bicentenary of her most
useful citizen. In anticipation.
Claude IL Van Tyne. professor of
American history. University of
Michigan, has written a popular
article detailing the many reforms
this philanthropist and philosopher
'set in motion whereby life in city
and country became less burden
some. Every school child should
read this story of America's-most
public-spirited man.
ODD UTTLE HAPPENINGS
DURING THE YEAR
A bright newspaper man. who
keeps a record of all the world's
big events, sets down also tho
strange and curious things reported
since last New Year's. The lights
and shadows of life thus shown
furnish entertainment.
WHY NEGRO SUFFRAGE WAS
FORCED ON THE COUNTRY
In his recollections tomorrow.
Judge George H. Williams tells
how the states wh'eh had been in
rebellion, by attempting practically
to re-establish slavery, drove Con
gress to submit the Fifteenth
Amendment. He gives an estimate
of the character and public service
of Charles Sumner, who cham
pioned tho negro cause.
THE MESSAGE OF THE
PILGRIM FATHERS
Dr. Newell Dwight Hillls. for his
Sunday sermon, takes a text that
appeals to the patriotic spirit of
the country from Massachusetts
Bay to the Pacific Ocean.
PORTLAND PESSIMIST
IN EUROPE
M. B. Wells does Holland on thr
Nellie Bly plan, and tells about
the Journey: then ho gets pardon
ably sentimental over certain
places In Scotland.
CROSSING THE AMERICAN
DESERT IN AN AUTO
Percy F. Megargel, the adventur
ous athlete, who is well known in
Portland for hl3 transcontinental
automobile turns, contributes an
illustrated article to the sporting
section, on his experiences cross
ing Jho Great American Desert.
Facing a sandstorm and ferrying
the automobile across the Colorado
River in a rowboat, aro described
In a way that wilt be of Interest
to all automobile enthusiasts.
EMILIE FRANCES BAUER WRITES
OF MUSIC AND DRAMA
Emille Frances Bauer, the talented
writer on musical and dramatic
topics, contributes a weekly New
York letter. Her descriptions of
new plays, personal gossip about
members of tho profession, reviews
of concerts and operatic perform
ances, will keep her readers well
informed as to the musical and
dramatic news of the metropolis.
This week she tells of the "original
Mrs. WIggs." and her J25O.00O' dam
age suit. Dr. Max Nordau's new
play entitled, "Tho Right to Love."
which promises to rival "Mrs.
Warren's Profession," and also
writes on the music season now at
Its height.
"APPLIED CHRISTIANITY"
WEAPON IN WAR ON VICE
"Applied Christianity" is tho weap
on that the Men's Resort and Peo
ple's Institute is using in its war
fare on vice. This is a downtown
Institution, and It competes with
saloons and dancehalis for its
share of public attendance. Reading-rooms,
free lectures and enter
tainments, gymnasiums, classes
where practical instruction is given
children, play-rcom, -are some of
the features of this institution's
work, which la described in art
illustrated article.
DO WOMEN'S CLUBS
FOSTER RACE SUICIDE?
That Women's Clubs tend to under
mine the home is an accusation fre
quently made by those seeking to
find a solution to the race suicide
question. This subject Is now be
ing investigated by the General
Federation of Women's Clubs.
Members of the Portland Woman's
Club are firm In their denial that
there is anything in club life to
justify such an impression: on the
other hand, they contend that the
visits of the stork to the homes of
'clubwomen are sufficiently numer
ous for the public good. Prominent
Portland - women contribute their
views to an Interesting symposium.
GROWTH OF ROMAN CATHOLIC
CHURCH IN OREGON
The work of the Roman Catholic
Church In Oregon along religious,
educational and charitable lines will
be described in an article which will
be Illustrated with pictures of many
leading Catholic clergymen of the
state. Especial emphasis will be
laid on the progress of Catholicism
in Portland, where plans are now
being made, to erect one of the, most
handsome and costly cathedrals in
the West.
TALL BUILDINGS RISE ON
UPPER WASHINGTON STREET
A number of pictures will be print
ed on the real estate page showing
the great activity In building -upon
upper Washington street. The'illus
tratlons will be accompanied by an
article telling of the buildings
which ate to be erected In this part
of the city in which a large amount
of cr.p-ltal will be Invested during
the aext ypar.
V