Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, September 21, 1906, Page 8, Image 8

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    8
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1906.
Entered at the Postofflce at Portland. Or.,
as Second-Class Matter.
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PORTLAND. FRIDAY. SEPT. tl. 1906.
THE WASHINGTON REPUBLICANS.
The language employed by the Repub
lican State Convention of Washington
In urging the renomlnatlon of Mr.
Roosevelt Is more complimentary to
the President than to his party. The
resolutions clearly Imply two things,
neither of which a loyal Republican
ought to be willing to admit. The first
is that Mr. Roosevelt's "great economi
cal Ideas" and beneficial projects' are
backed by himself alone and not by his
party. The preamble says in so many
words that they "were Inaugurated by
the personal efforts of President Roose
velt." while the following (sentence
adds that the election of any other man
to the Presidency will seriously inter
fere with their consummation. If these
Ideas and projects are the possession
of the Republican party, their consum
mation ought not and does not depend
upon any Individual. There is surely
sufficient power of initiative in the
party itself to carry through whatever
policy it thoroughly approves. Suppose
Mr. Roosevelt should unhappily be re
moved from the scene of earthly affairs
before the next Presidential election.
The supposition is not agreeable, but it
is one of those possibilities which wise
statesmen cannot shrink from contem
plating. Must we believe that in such
a contingency Mr. Roosevelt's plans
r would be dropped because they are his
own exclusively, and not his party's
also?
The second implication is that the
Republican party contains no man with
the ability to take up the work which
Mr. Roosevelt has begun. This can
hardly be the case. It may very well
be true that none of the men who have
thus far entered the race for the Presi
dency measure up to Mr. Roosevelt's
standard; but who shall say what
treasures1 of ability and Integrity lie
hidden In the innumerable ranks of the
party? It would not be pleasant to
think that the Republican party is not
producing today ae excellent material
for high executive office as it ever did.
One may indeed prefer to hope that the
party contains many Roosevelts as yet
unknown to fame, but whom the exi
gency of the times will call from their
obscurity. It is neither agreeable nor
necessary to believe that the hope of
the Nation depends upon the life and
political fortune of any individual. No
body knows what may happen In the
course of the next two years, but, so
far as Is now apparent, Mr. Roosevelt
owes no "patriotic duty to his country"
which calls upon him to break his re
iterated pledge and stand for another
. nomination. His duty to the country
as President has been fully and nobly
performed. There are other spheres
where he can serve fitly and efficiently
after his present term expires.
From these resolutions of dubious
wisdom the student o'f Washington pol
itics may turn , with unmlngled satis
faction to the remarks of Mr. Jones
upon the project to secure direct pri
maries. The resolution in the platform
demands direct nominations from
United States Senators down to county
andr municipal officials. Mr. Jones
agrees with this in principle, but he
contends that the state convention
ought not to be given up. He la un
questionably In the right about this
matter. The state convention is essen
tial to party life. A party without
principles Is a mere maw hungry for
offices; and principles cannot be formu
lated and adopted without some period
ical assemblage charged with that
duty.
Direct primaries do not, however,
preclude state conventions, or even
county conventions, for that matter.
There is nothing unlawful in Oregon,
where direct primaries are now the set
tled policy of the state, in a meeting of
party representatives for consultation
and the adoption of a platform. It may
be assumed that no legislation will
ever attempt to forbid this necessary
practice. The only purpose of the dl
rect primary laws Is to take the selec
tlon of candidates from the bosses and
turn it over to the people, where it be
longs. They are not Intended either to
destroy political parties or to deprive
them of authoritative principles. They
will undoubtedly Increase somewhat
the prestige of the courageous candi
date who takes his political life in his
hands and appeals to the electorate on
an Independent platform, but this is
not necessarily regrettable. Individu
ality is no less desirable in politics
than in business.
The principle of the direct primary
was approved by the convention and
embodied in the platform according to
Mr. Jones' wish. Senator Piles seems
to have been less persuasive upon the
tariff. In hks speech he proclaimed
himself an uncompromising standpat
ter and urged his party to fight "pres
ent revision of the tariff with might
and main." All that the convention
would do was to declare In favor of
nrotectlon, Ot oouj-fio revision is sot
Bt
Inconsistent with protection. Many
good Republicans believe that without
timely revision the entire protective
policy will be endangered. Mr. Piles
thinks that revision would imperil the
lumber Industry of Washington. He
seems not to be aware that the present
tariff, which sets a premium on the
headlong ' destruction of forests Is a
danger much more serious. In a- few
years there will be no lumber industry
to protect. The same process that de
stroyed this business in Wisconsin,
Minnesota and Michigan is running its
blundering course in Washington. The
tariff on lumber conduces not to the
permanent welfare of the state, but to
the rapid enrichment of the trusts.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE.
A gambler will risk not only his own
money, but also whatever property of
others he can lay hands upon. He is
the most untrustworthy of men, for as
there is no limit to his faith in his luck,
so also there is no limit to what he will
steal to stake upon his luck. He never
fails to believe that Jn a little while he
can replace all and thus make good
the loss of money and save his good
name. Hence he not only brings ruin
upon himself, but also upon whoever
trusts him. The wonder is that so
many gamblers creep Into ' posi
tions of trust. They seem to possess
some power of fascination which lulls
suspicion. Employers engage them
without adequate inquiry into their
character and record, and only when
they resort to some such device as Van
Auker is said to have chosen to cover
his deficit does prudence appear upon
the scene.
If Van Auker really robbed the bank
at Rainier, his plan was so clumsily
contrived that detection was almost
certain. No Judicious robber would
bind a cashier with ropes when chloro
form is so much simpler and more ef
fective. A man can bind himself to de
ceive the very elect, but he is not likely
to dose himself with chloroform. More
over, thieves who had taken the trou
ble and run the risk which those at
Rainier underwent would not leave
gold lying in plain sight, nor would
they hesitate to take all the greenbacks
they could find. Greenbacks are as
easy to pass as gold. Nobody looks at
the number of a bill, and It may be
guessed that the bank at Rainier had
no list of the numbers. At any rate,
thieves never hesitate to take them
when they have the chance. If Van
Auker did not himself rob the bank.
the thieves took every precaution to
create the belief that he did; while his
habits of gambling are terribly against
him. If he Is guilty his fate must be a
warning to both employers and em
ployed. If he Is innocent, it is still a
warning, since a man is inevitably be
lieved to be as bad as his habits.
INTERSTATE DEVELOPMENT WORK.
The interstate meeting of the citizens
of Oregon, Washington and Idaho who
are Interested in development -work in
the Pacific Northwest will be held at
Spokane next week. It will be by far
the most important meeting of this na
ture that ever assembled in the North
west, and Oregon will be well repre
sented. Mr. Wilcox, president of the
league, being a Portland man, and this
city being one of the first to take up'
the work of systematized exploitation
of our great natural resources' it is es
pecially to be desired that the delega
tion from here be large and representa
tive. The three states which will be
represented at this convention all have
much in common. None of ther great
irrigation schemes projected for the
Pacific Northwest, and none of the
waterway Improvement projects, can
be successfully consummated without
conferring benefits not alone on the im
mediate locality of the work, but also
on the entire Pacific Northwest.
Portland cannot grow while the re-J
. 1 .3 M .1 . J 1 -
luiujiucr ui uic vvuuu aiuuuu remeijiiK
stationary, and the same factors which
make for the prosperity of Spokane are
also aiding the growth and develop
ment of all cities and towns in the sur
rounding country. The State of Idaho
has long been urging Columbia River
improvements, and recently Washing
ton has Joined in the demand for the
opening of the great highway through
the three states. This question is one
of the most important that has been
taken up in connection with the work
of the league, and at the Spokane con
vention will probably be given the full
est attention. The truth of the saying
that in union there is strength will be
amply illustrated, If there is a continu
ation of the good feeling and desire to
help each other that has characterized
all smaller development work conven
tions in the Northwest.
WORLD'S WHEAT SITUATION. '
The Chicago wheat market, after
many weeks of inactivity, has in the
past four days scored a gain of nearly
4 cents per bushel, and has maintained
Its strength for a greater length of
time than at any previous period this
season. It fcs a hazardous undertaking
to predict the future course of the mar
ket 'on any commodity, the price of
which is governed by such world-wide
conditions as control of wheat. At the
same time, the statistical position of
the cereal is undergoing changes which
seem to warrant belief that the bottom
of the market for this season has al
ready been sounded. Compared with
the figures for the past four years, the
American visible supply still presents a
formidable appearance, but the in
crease last week, in spite of the big
crop and free movement, was smaller
than on a corresponding date last year.
World's shipments last week were
1,000,000 bushels less than on the corre
sponding week one year ago, and quan
tities on passage showed a decrease of
more than 5,000,000 bushels as com
pared with last year.
The figures on these last-mentioned
items of course lose some of their force
when we consider the crop that lies be
hind these shipments and quantities on
passage. . The American crop estimates
have been pared down slightly since
their early appearance, and conserva
tive estimates now do not place the
total much In excess of 60,000,000 bush
els more than the crop of 1905. Viewed
strictly from a domestic standpoint,
this amount might be sufficient to give
the statistical position a topheavy ap
pearance; but. when the movement
foreign is considered, this weakness
disappears. For the first eleven- weeks
of the current season American exports
have been 30,625.000 bushels, compared
with 11,783,000 bushels for the same
period last year. These figures show
an Increased movement, which, if
maintained for but little more than
half of the season, will take care of the
additional 50,000.000 bushels that seem
to be in sight. The greater part of the
strength in the American markets this
week 4s due to the strength in the for
eign markets. Nearly all of the ship
ments made from this country have
been cheap wheat dumped on the mar
ket by, the early, sellers, who seemed
willing to take any price which the for
eigners would offer.
That other countries have not been
such free sellers Is shown by a decrease
of 10,000,000 bushels In the exports from
the principal countries for the first
eleven weeks of the season, as com
pared with the same period last season.
Russia alone is 17,000,000 bushels short
of last year's shipments for the period
mentioned, and Argentine shipments to
September 15 are 10,000,000 bushels less
than they were for the opening weeks
of the season a year ago. These fac
tors in the market, however, are not
serious in comparison with the Russian
situation. The crop report ' of that
country shows a shortage of 112,000,000
bushels as compared with that of last
year, and there is a further shortage of
nearly 300,000,000 bushels In other
grains. The French crop is not good and
the German crop is estimated at only
about 8,000,000 bushels In excess of that
of last year. The Australian crop pros
pects are fine, and it is still too early
to place much reliance on the Argen
tine reports.
Incidentally It might be stated that
crop conditions in the latter country
will shortly begin to be much more
powerful factors In prices than any
thing else which enters into the estab
lishment of values in this country. The
size of the Argentine crop can be fairly
accurately determined by the turn, of
the year, and, If it should prove to be
a large one, the European buyers will
purchase sparingly unless they can se
cure stocks at low figures pending ar
rival of new-crop Argentine wheat.
Stocks In Europe are not abnormally
large, but in this age of steam it is no
longer necessary for them to be large,
for, if the price justifies, immense
quantities can be. rushed in on short
notice. The Pacific Coast, as it always
has been, is handicapped by distance,
and, with ocean freight rates at low
ebb, it is probable that a good share of
any pronounced advance in Europe
would be absorbed by the shipowners.
THE PERSONAL PROPERTY PROBLEM.
The Assessors of Oregon are sup
posed to be wrestling mightily with the .
personal property tax problem. A tra
dition of half a century the practice
of half a century, more specifically
speaking was swept away by a recent
decision of the Supreme Court, which
placed the exemption of personal prop
erty to the value of $300 among things
unconstitutional. This Is all very well,
providing the holdings of the man of
wealth are assessed as strictly accord
ing to their value as are the household
appliances and equipment of labor and
thrift and the tools with. which the me
chanic plies his vocation. We are as
sured that a conscientious effort Is be
ing made by the Assessor of Multno
mah County to uncover thece holdings
and place them upon the list of assess
able property without discrimination,
fear or favor.
An example of the way an important
matter of this kind has long been man
aged in Chicago is furnished in the case
of the late Marshall Field. Mr. Field
was commonly regarded as a business
man of the best type. His success in
acquiring wealth in the ordinary busi
ness of general merchandising verified
this estimate of his business ability.
For some years prior to his death he
paid personal property taxes on a val
uation of $2,500,000. Not long ago the
trustees of his vast estate filed a sched
ule showing that he held taxable per
sonal property of a value of $17,500,000.
.The discrepancy between this sum and
that of the sworn statement of Mr.
Field himself was so startling as to
court Inquiry. This inquiry disclosed
the fact that he had agreed with the
board of Assessors of Crook County to
pay personal property tax on $2,500,000,
declaring, in the event of a refusal to
accept this valuation, that he would
change his residence. With this threat
hanging over them, the tax commis
sioners accepted the offering of the rich
man, and Marshall Field was let oft
with the payment of one-seventh of his
personal property tax.
The adage that half a loaf is better
than no bread has long been commend
ed to prudence as worthy of indorse
ment. Evidently the tax commission
ers of Chicago thought one-seventh was
better than nothing when it came to a
share- in a loaf of such mammoth pro
portions. Marshall Field was the heav
iest taxpayer in Chicago, and his con
tribution, even under his own arbitrary
ruljng of what he would and what he
would not pay, was worth considering.
The point, however, is that he did not
pay what the law said he should, but
only what he himself deemed equitable.
The president of an Important civic
body, himself an able lawyer, called at
tention to this fact when the trustees
of the Field estate filed the schedule of
decedent's personal property, citing it
as "anarchism." The term does not
apply, but the absurdity of the claim
of equitable assessment as made under
the personal property tax law is clearly
shown by this conspicuous example.
The people of nearly every American
community, of every urban community
of any importance, have faced this
matter year after year. In Chicago, a
city typical of the enterprise of the
great West, the -miracle of growth has
been presented in every other depart
ment except that of the valuation of
personal property. Year after year a
substantial increase in wealth and pop
ulation has been proudly proclaimed,
while the gross amount of personal
property has scarcely Increased. The
same has been true in this city. We
are assured, however, that the Assess
or's books this year will make an
equitable showing in personal property
valuations. The trappings of the homes
of wealth will be assessed pro rata with
the modest furnishings of the homes of
labor. The boarding-house mistress
will not have to pay more according to
her material equipment for her busi
ness than will the eminent lawyer for
the books that are an important part of
hi? stock in trade. The regal furnish
ings of the private office of the banker,
or that of the president of a powerful
insurance company, will stand- side by
side in the equity of impartial assess
ment with those of the cheaply fur
nished office of the purveyor of small
wares. If these promises are fulfilled,
then indeed will the aesesment rolls of
Multnomah County and of the City of
Portland for this year of grace be a
new book of revelations.
There are degrees of even parental
anguish. The mother who goes to a
neighboring city to claim for burial the
mangled body of her son, killed in the
attempt to "swing himself on the
rods, " represents a bitter phase of such
anguish; but this Is mild by compari
son with that of the father who is
forced to plead insanity for a wayward
daughter, lost to virtue and arraigned
upon the charge of murder, the victim
being her own brother. The pity of the
pitiful is the Just meed which such grief
and humiliation bring in the first in
stance, while the mercy of the merciful
may, well be extended, to the, dlsnatuxed
criminal in the latter case, if thereby
it would bring relief to those who sor
row over her downfall. Maude Cref
fleld and Esther Mitchell living will
never bring anything but shame and
sorrow to those who love them and feel
responsible for their acts; dead they
would soon be forgotten by the public
and remembered only with sorrow, void
of censure and apprehension, by their
kindred. This is not, of course, an ar
gument from a legal standpoint for the
execution of the woman who killed
George Mitchell and for the other
woman, who urged the murderess to
do the deed. From a psychological
standpoint, however, and indeed from
one of simple humanity, it is worthy of
consideration.
San Francisco advices state that the
loss through damages to the ship and
to the sugar cargo of the steamier
Twickenham, which recently grounded
on Puget Sound, will reach $100,000.
Now comes the report that the steamer
City of Seattle, another Puget Sound
bound craft. Is on the rocks at Trial
Island and in a perilous position if a
gale should spring up. It is not yet a
year slnse the steamship Valencia was
lost while trying to enter the Straits of
Fuca. These disasters, together with a
number of minor Importance, again
call attention to the dangers of navi
gation in the waters leading to the
Puget Sound ports. The expense in
curred by the underwriters on Colum
bia River shipping for the past few
years has been light indeed in compar
ison with that suffered In the north
ern ports.
Mr. Gould and Mr. Goodwin, of Los
Angeles, who are charged with irregu
larities in Oregon land dealings, have
gone to the United States Supreme
Court with their protest against having
their cass removed to Oregon. It is
no consolation to them that the only
convictions so far In Oregon were of
Oregon offenders. Perhaps they think
that an Oregon Jury wouldn't discrim
inate. But it would. It would find the
guilty guilty and the Innocent not
guilty. Though perhaps the Los Ange
les gentlemen are quite sure of that.
The Salem Statesman doesn't think
much of Puter's forthcoming book. "It
will not take," says the Statesman.
The American people will not place
much confidence in the statements of a
self-confessed thief, procurer and per
jurer." But twelve men in a jury-box
did believe- what Puter said, and all he
said, probably. So did everybody be
lieve that heard his story. However,
Puter's book may not have to be true
in order to be either readable or sala
ble. The unvarnished tale doesn't
necessarily attract the most attention.
As we understand the logic of the
Washington Republicans, it is that,
whereas. President Roosevelt doesn't
want a renomination, therefore re
solved, that we want him. Why not
appoint a committee made up of all the
old-time Washington political Has-
Beens and the Would-Bes to go down
to Oyster Bay and convince the Presi
dent of the error of his ways and get
him to Join the third-term club? There
would be interesting doings.
A San Francisco dispatch announces
that among other vessels damaged in
the Hongkong typhoon was the steamer
Coptic. As the Coptic flies the Harrl
man house flag, it was, of course, nat
ural that she should have suffered by
the typhoon if she was within a few
thousand miles of the scene of trouble.
The Harrlman ship which can keep out
of trouble since Mr. Schwerin took
charge of the fleet would prove some
what of a curiosity.
It will be difficult for Mr. Hearst to
avoid the suspicion that Mr. Mack, of
Buffalo, was enthusiastically for him
for Governor as long as he hadn't a
chance.- But now Mack's for Adorn,
whoever he is. Probably from one of
Buffalo's first families, though that
Isn't the way his great ancestor
spelled it.
The White Star and' Cunard lines
both added an immense ship to their
fleets yesterday, when the Mauretanla
and the Adriatic were launched. One
of these leviathans is 800 feet long and
the other over 700 feet long. The thou
sand-foot ship is rapidly approaching.
When it was learned that Cashier
Van Auker was a gambler, the mystery
of the Rainier Bank robbery was
cleared. The young man who thinks he
can gamble soon discovers that the
public and his employers put him in
the same class with the thief.
The only difference between Mark
Twain and Artemus Ward and Josh
Billings on the great subject of simpli
fied spelling is that Ward and Billings
practiced what they preached. But
where are they now? -
By hedging on the Government own
ership question and saying it is only
his personal opinion, etc.. etc., Mr.
Bryan does much to upset the old-time
notion that it is the business of a great
party leader to lead.
Now that Anna Loubet is safely off
for her native land, we can turn our
attention to Sammy's legs. What has
become of the money that was sub
scribed to buy a pair for the poor little
newsboy?
If President Palma has to be elected
all over again, he will resign, so he
says. With that kind of an opening,
Mr. Taft ought to be able to settle the
Cuban trouble in about two minutes.
Mrs. Watson's recognizance appears
to be just as good as her late bonds
men's $20,000. The court was willing to
take her word for better .or worse.
Even . the old stalwart James K.
Jones shies at Government ownership
and advises Bryan to drop it. If he
doesn't, something else will drop. .
When it comes to Fourth street the
Southern Pacific discreetly declines to
"say when." Meanwhile it has all five
fingers around the franchise bottle.
Just at this moment a few pertinent
remarks by General Weyler on Cuba
and Cubans-I-have-met would be In
order.
But it wasn't the fleas that made
Milwaukee famous. It was something
else made out of hops.
The New York papers are discussing
''How to Tell a Man from Chicago."
Tell him what?
Speaking of Cuba, now we know how
Spain felt.
We have never had finer after-the-State-f
air .weather.
WHAT THE HKARST MOVEMENT IS
A Just and Impartlnl View of the In-
dependent Leasners.
Springfield (Mass.) Republican (Ind.
Dem). ' 5
In trying to do simple justice to the
Hearst movement, regardless of the
personality of Its leader, it is neces
sary first of all to say that the Car
negie Hall convention, both in its ap
pearance and its acts, turned into a
vapid absurdity the oft-repeated
charge that the Hearst movement rested
upon nothing but Mr. Hearst's dollars.
Whatever may be the character of his
supporters at Democratic primaries, no
one can successfully challenge the sin
cerity, independence . and respectabil
ity of his followers of the so-called In
dependence League. The proof of this
is in the fact that Hearst himself
could not control them. It Is neces
sary for their opponents to admit that
they embrace a genuine reform ele
ment which detests all the old machin
ery of the regular parties and despises
the bosses. This element, which in
cludes a strong infusion of former Re
publican voters, differs from reformers
of the Jerome type in being very radi
cal on issues pertaining to the rela
tions between corporations and the city
or state. It is a great pity, for some
reasons, that men with the reform
spirit should be divided, for what
might they not do in' promoting politi
cal and civic virtue were they to strike
as a single homogeneous force?
The Carnegie Hall convention was,
of course, impressive in the ordinary
spectacular sense, but its strongest ap
peal for the respect of the public con
sisted in its determination not to be
transformed by Mr. Hearst's "general
stafT'V into a mere agency for bringing
about the leader's acceptance by the
Democratic State Convention at Buffalo
as the regular Democratic candidate
for Governor. The plan of the personal
political managers of Mr. Hearst all
along has been to win this Democratic
nomination. A tireless, well-organized
canvass has been conducted throughout
the state for control of the Democracy
and the results up to the present time
are revealed in the number of Demo
cratic primaries Hearst has carried
and the number of delegates to the
Buffalo convention he has corraled. As
a necessary part of this scheme. It was
proposed by the Hearst managers to
have the Independence League, after
nominating Mr. Hearst for Governor,
leave a blank ticket which could be
used as a basis for a trade with the
Democratic party. Mr. Hearst's Buffalo
lieutenants . within the Democracy,
Messrs. Conners and Mack, sent a writ
ten appeal to the Carnegie Hall con
vention to pursue this course and thera
is no possible doubt that Hearst him
self would have welcomed such action.
At this critical point the convention" as
a body demonstrated its own sincerity
and its essential independence of the
political manipulators who are, in fact,
on the Hearst pay roll. A full state
ticket ' was placed in the field and a
defiance of both the old political par
ties was trumpeted through the com
monwealth. It the personality of Hearst could be
dissociated from the movement which
-bears his name it would be found to
appeal powerfully to all Independent
citizens who nurse radical views re
garding franchise-holding corporations
and the general issue best described in
the somewhat hackneyed phrase, "pre
datory wealth." It Is easy to convince
one's self, indeed, that many of the
Independent Democrats and reformers
of the sort recently gathered in the
Albany conference could adjust their
views of public questions so far as to
join forces with the Hearst movement,
were it only -minus Hearst. For both
wings of the reform body, which over
laps Republican and a Democratic par
ties alike, make war on the corrupt
machines and pelf-tainted bosses of
the regular organizations. And while
the one wing goes much farther than
the other in attacking corporations and
in urging municipal ownership projects,
still there . is a common ground of
opinion in hostility to corporate abuses
and desire to enforce the laws against
public plunderers.
One is confronted, however, by the
fact that in no quarter is the Hearst
movement so bitterly opposed as it is
among those who may, perhaps, be
characterized as conservative reform
ers men who- earnestly desire pure
politics, a democracy without graft, a
thoroughly clean and efficient civil
service, a government of, for and by
the people. Eliminating such causes of
difference as semisocialistlc proposals
regarding public utilities, it seems that
only the personality of Hearst causes
the severe condemnation which con
servative reformers visit upon the
movement which now goes by Hearst's
name. That there is little in that indi
vidual's personality, character and ca
reer to inspire confidence among con
servative reformers is too clear for
controversy. His journalism has .often
been atrocious and his personal Influ
ence demoralizing, while his political
convictions have for years seemed to
be governed by the newspaper theory
of "the largest circulation." The gross
ness of his advertising methods af
fronts and disgusts the sober-minded,
and his lavish use of money for his po
litical roustabouts fills the good citi
zen's mind with concern. Mr. Hearst
is himself enough 'to repel many per
sons who have sympathy with the ob
jects identified with the Independence
League, and, on this account alone, the
league must be regarded as unfortu
nate in Its acknowledged leader.
The readiness of .the sincere and un
selfish radicals to follow Hearst re
mains to be explained. In their ranks
many are to be found, no doubt, who
are disturbed by the defects in his
character and the vulgar garishness
of his appeal to the people. How do
they reconcile themselves to his lea
dership? We must conclude that the
simplest answer is the soundest that
they accepted Hearst because he was
at hand, and with his newspapers and
his money was able to make their pro
test articulate in the land. If they
now display enthusiasm for him, it
must be because they are genuinely
grateful for the practical aid he has
rendered their cause, without . much
caring to analyze his motives or probs
his virtue. That the followers have a
surer instinct than the leader as to the
real function of their movement, and
a more unselfish concern In the pub
lic weal, is already demonstrated In
their rejection of the leader's transpar
ent scheme to capture the Democratic
party and turn them Into a mere feeder
of his ambition to be Governor. In
their hands, the Hearst movement
would remain a popular protest, and
the beginning, possibly, of a propa
ganda that might be made to serve
ijiltimatelx g, most excellent -end.
MEAT LABELS TO TEL TRUTH
Wilson's Rules Rorbid Calling Pork
Beef and Libels on Lard.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 20. Further
rulings in connection with the enforce
ment of the meat inspection law after
October 1 next were made public today
by the Secretary of Agriculture and
give an idea of what consumers are to
expect hereafter when purchasing meat
products, particularly canned goods.
Anything savoring of a false or decep
tive name will not be tolerated and no
picture, design or device which gives
any false indications of origin or qual
ity will be permitted on any label, as
for example the picture of a pig ap
pearing on a label placed on betf pro
ducts, or the picture of a chicken -upon
tne laoel of a veal or pork product.
Georgraphlcal names are allowed to
be used only with the words "cut,"
"type," "brand" or "style," as the case
may be, except upon foods produced or
manufactured in the place, state, terri
tory or country named. For instance,
"Virginia ham" must be marked "Vir
ginia style ham"; "English brawn"
must be "English style brawn"; "West
phalia ham" must be "Westphalia style
ham." The word "ham," without a pre
fix indicating the species of animal is
considered by the department to be a
pork ham. but trimmings removed from
the ham and used-in the preparation of
potted meats or sausage, or when used
alone, may be known as "potted ham"
or "ham sausage.'"
Frankfurter sausage no longer can
be known as such, but must be called
"Frankfurter style sausage."
The rules clearly define what con
stitutes pure lard, but prescribe that a
substance composed of lard, stearin or
other animal fat and vegetable oil may
be labeled "lard compound."
Among the restrictions are the fol
lowing: "Picnic hams" cannot be called
"hams," but may be called "picnics" or
"picnic shoulders"; "little pig sausage"
may be called "little pork sausage" or
"pigmy sausage"; extract of beef must
be actually made from beef, and veal
loaf cannot be called such unless the
meat used is veal only.
The same rules apply to other canned
products, and manufacturers are
warned that the rulings do not exempt
them from the enforcement of the laws.
WANTS MEAT INSPECTION.
London Calls for Action and Wilson
Says Go Ahead.
LONDON, Sept. 20. The city corpora
tion, at a meeting held today, resolved
to exert pressure on the president of
the Local Government Board, J. Burns,
for the introduction of a bill for com
pulsory inspection at the time of
slaughter of all animals Intended for
the food of man, as well as the official
stamping by the inspectors of all meat
found to be without disease. This bill
is to provide further that all foreign
killed meat brought in be required to
comply with the same standard as
home-made meats.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20. Secretary
James Wilson, of the Department of
Agriculture, today, when shown the
London dispatch regarding the action
of 'the city corporation in pledging
Itself to urge a bill for the compulsory
Inspection of carcasses at the time of
slaughter, said It was a step in the
right direction. He felt sure that any
standard set by the British government
could be- fully met by American pack
ers and he therefore had no fears that
the exportation' of meats and meat pro
ducts from this country to England
would be diminished by such a law.
Denies It Is Subject to Law.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29. The first
case Involving the application to for
eign products of the new meat inspec
tion law came up today before the De
partment of Justice, when counsel for
a company of Switzerland argued be
fore Assistant Attorney-General Robb
to show why its product should not
be subjected to the operations of the
law. Counsel stated that the product,
which is a bouillon made at Kempttal,
is in every sense a completed product
when It Is shipped from Switzerland to
the United States and is subjected to
no additional treatment after Import
ing. Therefore counsel asked the Sec
retary of Agriculture for a letter stat
ing that the article was not subject to
the meat inspection act. Mr. Robb has
taken the application under considera
tion. The decision will be of the great
est importance to a vast importing in
terest in Europe.
REGINALD A SEA PRIZE.
American Schooner Has No Papers
and Is Taken by the Kestrel.
VICTORIA, B. C, Sept, 20. The Cana
dian fishing protection cruiser Kestrel
arrived at Comox this afternoon with the
American fishing schooner Reginald in
tow as a prize, seized for alleged fishing
and hunting In Northern British Columbia
waters. The Reginald had three men
on board and no clearance papers.
Those on board were unable to give a
satisfactory account of themselves and
the schooner was seized.
The vessel, which is a small schooner
of 10 tons, was provisioned for a long
cruise.
Kuropatkin's History of War.
ST. PETERSBURG, Sept. 20. General
Kuropatkin has completed his book re
viewing the Russo-Japanese War. The
work Is In several volumes and has been
submitted to the General Staff. It may
not be permitted general circulation.
THE POLITICAL BILL SYKES
GIVEN FREEDOM OF FAITH
Czar Issues New Law Carrying Out
- Past-Due Promise.
ST. PETERSBURG, Sept. 20 The As
sociated Press has been informed by
a member of the cabinet that within a
few days laws of religious freedom, re
moving practically every restriction and
disability under which the dissident faiths
in Russia have labored, will be promul
gated. The first, Including . measures for
the distribution of land, already has been
published.
The new laws are in effect an ampli
fication and confirmation of the emper
or's ukase of April 4. 1905. which, although
it establishes a large measure of toler
ation and enabled thousands of dissenters
to leave the Orthodox church and enroll
themselves under the faith of their
choices, never became fully effective.
This was partly owing to the failure of
the elaborate supplementary legislation
needed, but chiefly to the arbitrary in
terpretation of the emperor's ukase by
the principal authorities, who construed
it as they saw fit. In some cases the
workings of the ukase -were almost en
tirely nullified.
Under the new laws, which will be pub
lished while no parliament is sitting, the
various sects, unless they engage in crim
inal or immoral practices, may receive
upon application the sanction of the gov
ernment. This will confer upon their
clergy practically the same status as is
now enjoyed by Orthodox priests. They
will have equal rights with the Ortho
dox church In the matter of erecting
school and church fcullciings and the
receiving of proselytes. "In fact." an
Orthodox priest said to the Associated
Press, "they will be more free than the
Orthodox church, which is the state
church and subject to a mass of state
regulations."
The cabinet will next take up the
project of law enlarging the rights of
Jews, which has Just been elaborated
by a commission. This measure has
been somewhat restricted, the adminis
tration believing that full equality in the
present state of public opinion In Rus
sia can and should be given only by
parliament.
The administration, after several
months' consideration, has determined
against granting compensation for the
foreign property destroyed during the
Moscow revolt. , The claims arising from
this cause amounted to $S&,000.
The deputation of Jews that visited
M. Stolypin and referred to the predic
tions of an anti-Jewish attack at War
saw, which are being circulated in the
Russian and foreign press, was informed
by the premier that, according to re
ports from General Skallon, there was
not the slightest reasons to expect ex
cesses or disorders. Nevertheless, he or
dered that all necessary measures be
taken to prevent an outbreak.
The premier expressed the hop and
said he was confident that Siedlce would
end the history of anti-Jewish disorders.
While refusing, in the absence of com
plete Information, to discuss the doings
of the soldiers, the premier said he had
no desire to shield them. Their ex
hausted condition, he continued, coupled
with nervousness resulting from frequent
attacks on patrols, was accountable for
breaches in discipline.
HOLD CONGRESS IN FINLAND
Democrats Will Prepare Campaign
and Drop Vlborg Manifesto.
ST. PETERSBURG. Sept. 20. A call
for a national convention of the Con
stitutional Democratic party to elaborate
a programme of tactics for the coming
parliamentary elections has been issued
by the central committee, which has been
In nightly session here for some time.
The congress will be held in Finland
October 6, the committee having been
informed that the government, realizing
that repressive measures can only serve
to strengthen the party, has abandoned
Its intention of suppressing the congress
and Is willing to permit of its meeting
anywhere except in St. Petersburg.
The Viborg manifesto probably will be
kept in the background at the convention,
the party leaders now being convinced
that its Issuance was a tactical mistake
due to the Insistence of the radical wing.
Neither the non-payment ot taxes nor
the refusal of military service, a mem
ber of the committee admitted, is a prac
tical measure at present.
REDS WILL TAKE LIFE FOR LIFE
Furious Manifesto Caused by Execu
tion of Girl Assassin.
ST. PETERSBURG, Sept. 20. In re
venge for the execution of Zenadie Kon
oplianlkovo, the' assassin of General Min,
the Social Revolutionists are sending
broadcast a violent manifesto directed
against Emperor Nicholas and vowing to
remo'ing one or another of "the props
of the cowardly, murderous autocracy."
The manifesto ends as follows:
"The die has been cast. One thing
remains: Annihilate mercilessly all ene
mies of the people. There must be life
for life, death for death, cent for cent.
With the illuminating memory of Konon
llanlkovo to guide them,' all true Rus
sians must strike terror to the hearts
of the executioners."
Peasants in Grip of Famine.
ST. PETERSBURG. Sept. 20. The of
ficial report Just issued gives but little
ground for expectation that the famine
which has already a grip on many prov
inces in Russia will be less this Winter.
Although the Winter wheat harvest was
above the average. Spring wheat proved
a disappointment.
The Zemstvo coffers are empty through
the failure of the peasants to pay taxes,
and all the work of relieving the famine
falls upon the central government.
From the Washington Post.