Morning Oregonian., October 29, 1906, Page 6, Image 6

6
THE MORNING OREGONIAX, MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1908.
mm
Kl'BSCKIITIOJi RATES.
If INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE. "CS
(By Mail.)
lially. Sunday included, one year $S.O0
Daily, Sunday included, six months.... 4.S!5
Dally, Sunday included, three raontns. . .'J5
Daily. Sunday Included, one month 75
Dally, without Sunday, one year 6.00
I "ally, 'without i-'unday. six months 3.25
Dally, without Hunday, three months., l.l'i
Daily, without Sunday, one month 0
Sunday, one year 2. SO
Weekly, one year (Issued Thursday)... 1.50
Sunday and Weekly, one year 3.50
- ' - - B-V CARRIER.
Iaily. Sunday included, one year... O.oO
Dally. Sunday Included, one month 75
HOW TO REMIT Send postofrice money
order, express order or personal check on
jour local bank. Stamps, coin or currency
are at the sender's risk. Give postoffice ad
dress In full, including county and state.
POSTAGE RATES.
Entered at Portland. Oregon, Postoffice as
Fecond-CIass Matter.
10 to 14 papes 1 cent
16 to 2S pages,. 2 cents
30 to 44 pares 3 cents
46 to '0 pages 4 cents
Foreign l'osatge, double rates.
IMPORTANT The postal laws are strict.
Newspapers on which postage is not fully
prepaid are not forwarded to destination.
EASTERN BUSINESS OFFICE.
The S. C. Beckwith Special Agency New
Tork, rooms 4;!-.V, Tribune building. Chi
cago, rooms 510-M2 Tribune building.
KEPT ON SALE.
Chicago Auditorium. Annex, Postoffice
News Co.. 178 Dearborn street.
St. Paul, Minn. X. St. Marie,. Commercial
tatlon.
Colorado Splines, Colo. Western News
Agency.
Denver Hamilton & Hendrlck, 906-012
Seventeenth street; Pratt J3ook Store, 1214
Fifteenth street; I. Welnsteln; H. P. Han
sen. Kansas City, Mo. Rlcksecker Cigar Co
Ninth and Walnut.
.Minneapolis M. J. Kavanaugh, BO South
Third.
Ireland, O. James Pushaw, 807 Su
perior street.
Atlantic City If. J. Ell Taylor.
New York City L. Jones & Co., Astor
House: Broadway Theater News Stand
Oukland, Cal. W. H. Johnson, Four
teenth and Franklin streets. N. Wheatley
Ogdi-n D. L. Boyle; W. O. Kind, 114
2Mh street.
Omaha Barkalow Bros., 1612 Farnam
Mageath Stationery Co.. 130S Farnam; 240
South Fourteenth..-
Sacramento, Cal. Sacramento News Co .
4UU K street.
Salt Lake Salt Lake News Co., 77 West
Second street South; Kosenfcld & Hansen.
Los Angeles B. K. Amos, manager seven
street wagons.
San Dlrgo B. E. Amos.
I-ong Bench. Cal. B. E. Amos.
Pasadena, Cal. A. F. Horning
San I rantlM o Foster & Orear, Ferry
News Stand; Hotel St Francis News Stand.
Washington, I. C Ebbltt House, Penn
sylvania avenue.
0 t!.,ud''1,,hia' Pa: Ryan's Theater Ticket
yORTLANIl, MONDAY. OCTOBER 29, 1906.
IX SAX FRANCISCO.
It would be infidelity to the cause of
decent and honest government to sup
pose or believe that there ia no way of
punishing the thieves who have been
brought to bay at San Francisco, or of
taking the government they have
usurped out of their hands.
These scoundrels are standing on the
forms of law. They are brazenly using
the muniments of government for pro
tection of themselves. But, either
through the law or over the law, a
way must be found to dislodge them
.from their intrenched positions and
land them in the penitentiary. Their
control over selection of grand juries
and trial juries is perhaps the most
dangerous feature of the present situ
ation. The people are talking earnestly
about the formation jot a vigilance com
mittee. Of course if that is the only
remedy it must come; for thieves and
eorruptionists cannot remain in power.
But there should be a better way. At
this distance it is not easy to say or
guess what, way would be best; but it
would seem that if the Governor would
tall at once a special session of the
Legislature, everything could be done
decently, thoroughly and in order. The
entire city government of San Fran
cisco .might be 6et aside by legislative
act. and a new government created.
But what ought to be done, and how,
will depend on the exigency. It seems
to be extreme; yet it ought "to be as
sumed that the lawful authorities of
the State of California can, find means
to deal with Ruef and his gang, with
out forcing the people of San Fran
cisco to resort to irregular and violent
measures.
AN EPI.SODK IN ECONOMIC HISTORY.
A book by Professor Schwab, of Yale,
is devoted to examination of the his
tory of "The Confederate States of
America," from a point of view not
treated fully hitherto; namely, their
history on the financial and economic
.sine. It was on this side that their
failure occurred; and this it was that
weakened and finally led to the col
lapse of their almost unparalleled ef
forts in arms. The subject, therefore,
forms a great and important chapter in
the economic history of our country.
From the beginning the disadvan
tages were extreme. The newly estab
lished Confederacy was about to begin
a war, the dimensions of which none
could foresee. A revenue system had
to be devised by providing for foreign
and domestic loans and taxes. Before
the war, the currency was very un
steady. It consisted largely of the
states, pf staie. banks, supported by-very-'
"little gold. Even before the outbreak
of the' war many banks suspendedand
gold disappeared.
The main hope of the Confederacy was
in its cotton and tobacco crops; espe
ically the cotton crop, for an extrava
gant notion was held that the cotton
crop of our Southern States was the
most powerful force in the commercial
and economic w.orld. The notion took the
epigrammatic form "Cotton is king."
and throughout the seceding states
It was everywhere believed. Hence
from all sides came proposals that
tho Confederate government should buy
the cotton crop outright with issues of
treasury notes, for the purpose of sup
plying a ready currency based on the
foreign scarcity value of this staple.
"It was the old device," says rrofeor
Schwab, "of converting a form of capi
tal, having, at the time and under the
peculiar conditions a fictitious value,
Into trans form in which it could be
used for paying debts."
The issue of assignats, based on the
security of confiscated lands, during
the French Re.vrilut ion, affords a strik
ing precedent. The plan was long ad
hered to, but never promised sueees.
Cotton bonds were issued in large
amounts, and wero placed In London
and Paris. Some of them were sold at
.about 90, .and for. a. time produced a
"hopeful outlook. But the military re
verses of the Confederacy 1n lSt3 start
ed the bonds on a rapid downward
course, out of which the bankers made
great profits; for they insisted on pay
ment, of gold In large sums, to be used
In bulling the market. This stripped
the Confederate agents of what gold
they had been able to accumulate, and
then the slump was worse than ever.
Blockade of Southern ports, moreover,
made it almost Impossible to get the
cotton out, and necessary goods and
supplies in.
For surp'y of currency for trade and
payment of taxes. Confederate treasv
ury "notes became the earliest and read
iest resource; but no method of re
demption was provided. None Indeed
was possible. Even in the earlier days
of the war their irredeenrability ap
peared in fabulous prices for goods;
and towards the later days of the war
they were merely an incumbrance to
trade and industry. Of course thelr
volume was increased to correspond
with their decline in value; which
again, of course, produced further de
cline. The wonder is that in these difficul
ties the Confederates were able to pro
long the struggle as they did. The
more powerful Northern section was
suffering, too, but nothing in compari
son; and the issue of the struggle de
pended on the available resources of
the two sections. The South had little
variety of industry, had developed few
manufactures; and even had it pos
sessed money, would have been in sore
straits for so great a war. The strug
gle was one of the most peculiar and
instructive episodes in human history.
It was a war begun without any griev
ance save those purely of the imagina
tion; the cause was one which the
South itself is now glad did not Win
and realizes ought not to have won;
but It was a cause that evoked as
much devoted loyalty as has been
called forth by any cause in history;
and it may be doubted whether it was
not supported at greater cost than in
any similar conflict. It had its strength
in the spirit of the people, which was
sufficiently high to shed luster on the
American name 'however mistaken the
cause capable of evoking so mighty
and so sustained an effort.
THE FRUIT IN'BrSTRY.
All attention should ' be directed by
those who grow fruit to production of
the best and most attractive kinds. It
is labor wasted to produce other kinds.
Inferior apples, prunes, peaches, pears
or other fruits can reach no market.
If they have any marks of Injury or
disease, if Insects have been permitted
to infest them, all the worse. The state
has a right to seize and destroy all
such; and the frequency with which it
is done is a good sign for the future.
Oregon is working up on fruit. It
will be but a few years till all degener
ate orchards are cleaned out. It took
a long time to learn . that orchards,
neglected, would run down, without
hope of regeneration. But .there is no
state in which intelligent attention will
secure better fruits, or equal fruits, In
particular lines. If you are going to do
anything in fruit at all it will pay only
to have the best. Any ' of less worth
than the best Is a nuisance.
Great is the Hood River district for
fruit, and great is the Rogue River
district. But they who suppose that
these names include the possibilities of
Western Oregon in this line of produc
tion greatly mistake. Districts vastly
larger there are, in Western Oregon,
that will produce apples, pears and
other fruits as fine; and did produce
others as fine, forty, even fifty, years
ago. But the fruit pests -hadn't ap
peared then. We shall be rid of them
never hereafter, and can keep them
down only by an intelligent and tireless
Industry. But it will pay. Fruitgrow
ing formerly wasn't an Industry. It
was nature. But we must call It the
fruit industry now. Nature will not
do it all. But Intelligent industry will
cause it to do wonderful things.
JAPANESE IX sa- FRAXCISCCK
There is a lot of fuss in Washington
and at Tokio, because children of Jap
anese in San Francisco haven't school
room, while some of the white chil
dren have. They are making it an in
ternational star chamber matter. Sec
retary Root addresses the Japanese
Minister on the subject, and Secretary
Metcalf is sent by the President to San
Francisco to inquire and report.
Of course President Roosevelt doesn't
Imagine he can have anything to do
with the schools of San Francisco.. They
are under the law of California. But
the President doubtless is willing to
show the government of Japan that he
is ready to "make an effort."
There have been in San Francisco
separate schools for Americans and
Orientals. Buildings of most of the
latter and many of the former were de
stroyed by earthquake and fire, and
have not been rebuilt. But they will
be, as fast as possible.
But the separate schools will be
maintained in San Francisco; and it
will be better so. In places w here there
is a considerable colored population
mixed schools will not be permitted.
It would run too strongly against race
feeling, or white prejudice, if you will.
It is useless to argue against this sen
timent. The school question in San
Francisco will be settled either by the
good sense or upon, the common in
stinct of the people, and there will still
be separate schools. Meantime it
doesn't appear that the Government of
the United States can have anything
to say about it.
."-. .;--. WHAT IS SOCIALISM? -
The intent of socialism is not equal
division of property. It is concentra
tion of property, rather; that is, pos
session by the state and use by the
state of all the means and Instruments
of production and distribution. Per
haps there are certain small Industries
that the state might not absorb, .but
these would not bo producers of wealth
to the extent of yielding noticeable
profits. Every considerable industry
would, however, come under direction
of the 6tate, " and the products and
profits; would be distributed by the
state, on what would be supposed an
equitable system.
Then each person would have to -do
what the state set him to do. and to
take such pay therefor as the state
might allow. We do not find that it
ever has been reasoned out clearly how
this could be done. But there are pub
lic, utilities, in our cities, to which the
principle or system has been partially
applied; with what degree of success is
matter of dispute. - We do not yet find
the system applied to productive indus
tries, but thus far only to administra
tion. The postoffice and the public school
afford examples. They do not fall
within any of the categories of pro
ductive labor. The state, wanting its
mails, carried, hires.it done, and col
lects part of the charges as tolls and
pays for the remainder by taxation.
Desiring the education of its children,
it builds schcolhouses, hires teachers
and levies taxes to pay the cost. Water
and light are supplied in many cities
in much the same way. But all this
does not touch the central principle of
socialism, which would require the state
to take charge of the production and
distribution of goods, assigning each
worker to his place, paying htm what
It should deem just. In goods or. money;
probably in goods, for services would
be computed in labor time, and the
.value .of, both .thelabor and the goods
would be fixed bythe state.
This would be a very different thing
from dividing up the wealth of the
country, equally or unequally, among
Its people. Oh the contrary, it would
be the completest possible concentra
tion of wealth, under the ownership of
the state.
Right here socialism sticks fast. It
doesn't get ahead at all. Progress is
making in the ownership and opera
tion of public utilities by municipali
ties, and in some countries the railways
are coming under the ownership of the
state though not yet with entirely
satisfactory results, anywhere. But we
do not hear that in any country the
government has yet undertaken manu
facture of shoes, barrels and plows, or
production of wheat, hops or lumber.
It Is important, when we talk of so
cialism, to have some definition of it
at hand, and to keep '. in mind what
we mean, or -intend, by It.
PROFIT IN STATE FUNDS.
The legislature at its session next
Winter will be asked, to -enact a law
providing for the loaning of state funds
to banks which will pay interest on
daily balances. As everybody, knows,
it has been the custom in the past for
State Treasurers to deposit the 6tate
funds in banks, and it has been the
practice for the banks to pay the State
Treasurers for this use of the money.
Though the loaning of state funds Is a
crime and the statute so declaring It
has been upheld by the Supreme Court,
It is evident that the framers of the
constitution , contemplated that the
Treasurer should make a profit from
the funds. His salary was fixed at $800
a year, a sum for which no competent
man would serve If he received no
more. Since the constitution was
adopted, the compensation of . the
Treasurer has been increased by the
allowance of various fees and perqui
sites, until there is no longer any possi
ble excuse for his taking Interest on
public funds. Indeed the last Legisla
ture passed a fiat-salary law which
provide? compensation adequate to the
service rendered, and this act will take
effect at the beginning of the next ad
ministration. It is the duty of the Leg
islature, then, to provide some means
of securing to the state such interest
as can be had upon state funds not
needed for immediate use.
Such a law should be carefully drawn
to. avoid a faulty . system which would
result In loss. A bill for a similar pur
pose was introduced in Jthe last Leg
islature, but with the organization in
the hands of a plutocratic machine the
measure could not be safely passed lest
it be found later to be a new scheme
for the first families to enrich them
selves at the expense of the public.
The coming Legislature should not be
so handicapped. Moreover, with no
mass of charter bills to pass, the mem
bers should have time to Investigate
the subject carefully and enact a wise
law. Other states have statutes pro
viding for the payment of Interest on
public funds, and from these statutes
the Oregon Legislature should be able
to gather valuable Information based
upon the experience of the states that
have enacted them. Among the states
that have provided for the deposit of
funds in banks that will pay interest
thereon are New York, Massachusetts,
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania,
Michigan, Iowa, Nebraska, .New Jersey,
Missouri, North Dakota, and our own
sister state, Idaho. In some of these
states the duty of selecting depository
banks is- left to a "board -and in others
the State Treasurer determines in
which banks the money shall be placed.
In all the states careful provision is
made as to security so that the state
shall be in no danger of loss. The rate
of interest is invariably low, being from
2 to 3 per cent, but It is clear profit,
for the money would lie In the banks if
such a law were not in force.
DOOM OF CORDWOOD.
Will price of logs and labor become
so high that cordwood prices will go
out of sight, compelling fuel consumers
to use coal and the waste product of
sajvmillB slabwood? This question is
no jest. It strikes home to a cordwood
dealer of this city, who recently re
marked that he expected to see the
day when cordwood that is, fir will
be practically out of the Portland -market.
Straight-grained, first-class logs, such
as. make the cordwood which house
holders and other consumers", demand,
have been growing so rapidly in value
that they suggest the time when, for
cordwood, they will put the price of
that fuel above its real worth for fuel.
There are many logs knotty, scrubby,
partly deteriorated and cheap, that
would make cordwood, but not- the
kind that is wanted! '
Then again, the high wages demand
ed for woodcutting put up the price.
It is no easy job to cut and split cord
wood. It requires very hard labor, in
the hot sun or in the wet rain, and
there are other' employments wherein
wages van be earned less laboriously.
Under these circumstances it is not to
be wondered at that men do not take to
the cordwood camps.
And it may be asked, with good rea
son, whether It is worth While to pay
the high price of cordwood when slab
wood, can be purchased much cheaper.
Portland is the greatest lumber-cutting
city In the world. It has a tremendous-waste
of slabs. These slabs are
good fuel not as' good as first-class
cordwood, -yet good enough, consider
ing the price. TJoubtless there will be
"rich" people always using cordwood,
but others more careful of their money
probably will prefer slabwood at half
or one-third the price.
STATISTICAL WORK IX OREGOX.
When, the office of Labor Commis
sioner was created, four years ago, a
number of duties were assigned to the
incumbent, among them the inspection
of factories and workshops, the inves
tigation of labor troubles and the
gathering of statistics. - There were
many who doubted the need of such an.
office,' A Labor Commiasloner could
make himself a- perpetual annoyance to
proprietors of factories without accom
plishing any good for the laborer, lie
could thrust himself unceremoniously
into the thickest of e-ery labor con-:
troversy and do more harm than good.
He could pad statistics until they
would gratify local pride but disgust
every one who later found out the mis
representation. Mr. O. P. Hoff, who has served three
years in the office, seems an efficient
officer. Though he has taken an active
interest in the solution of labor diffi
culties, he -has done eo without at
tempting to dictate or to attract atten
tion to himself. -Hw-has -been tactful in
his persistent effort to reduce danger
to the minimum in workshops and fac
tories, and has doubtless saved many
a life and limb by the protective meas
ures he has induced proprietors to
adopt .Thopgfc his statistics. .ofthlngB
cannot -be-absolutely - correct they ap
pear to have been carefully compiled
and are as nearly accurate as could be
gathered with the means available.
Absolute accuracy Is impossible, even
under the elaborate system employed
by the Government Census Bureau.
The statistics gathered by the Labor
Commissioner and those compiled by
the Assessors in taking the state cen
sus are the only ones of a general na
ture, authorized by the laws of the
state. People of this state and of other
states have a right to rely upon the
official statistics as approximately cor
rect. It would be unwise to attempt
deception, for any man who came here
from the East with -the intention of in
vesting money would hesitate to invest
if he discovered that he had been de
liberately misled;
The people of Oregon will be willing
to maintain the office of Labor Com
missioner so long as it is faithfully
filled by a careful, conservative man.
It seems strange that District Attor
ney Allen has not hitherto taken
measures for' arrest, and examination
of Perry and Rogers, who clearly had
to do with Snyder, the man found mur
dered. There are signs also that point
towards Perry's knowledge of the mys
teries of the bank robbery. The man
called Rogers seems yet to be uniden
tified, and has been lost sight of. The
theory of the detectives and of the
prosecutor in this whole business is un
intelligible. There is very much reason
to believe that Perry and Rogers could
put them on the track of information.
The people of Lebanon, . "where rolls
the classic Santiam," advertise a farm
ers' institute at that' place November
6-7. Santiam is a name synonymous
with Beautiful River, to all who have
seen the stream rushing from its-mountain
sources. The barnyards further
down don't count. Keep on showing
the Santiam and some day the river
will have a poet. But this doesn't re
late to vetch or garlic, Jersey or Berk
shire. Farmers can enjoy fine scenery
best when crops and livestock thrive.
Western Australia has decided, by a
vote of its Legislature, to withdraw
from its membership in the Australian
Federation. It holds that the federa
tion is obstructive and repressive, and
believes it can do better by going alone.
It is far distant, the breadth of a con
tinent, from the activities of Eastern
Australia, and It feels that there are no
bonds between "It and the other prov
inces. The referendum is called on the
proposal of secession.
Hood River, Rogue Riyer, Willamette
Valley, Grand Ronde, Harney Val
ley and many other places in Ore
gon produce the finest apples. One dis
trict need not "hammer" the fruit of
another. There is wide room for all
apples in Oregon and no room for
rivals. The outside market wants all
the apples Oregon can produce. As one
of the Santiago heroes said, there is
glory enough for all-.
Hearst declares that he publishes the
only honest and decent journals in
New. Tork. Looks like a concession or
admission that there ought to be hon
esty and decency in journalism; but
how should the prince of yellow dog
journalism know? It never has oc
curred before that -every reputable pa
per in New Tork was against a can
didate. There could be no more decisive ad
mission or confession of guilt "by the
Ruef gang than that afforded by their
own conduct,- desperately taken in the
hope of stifling the proofs of it. The
sorrowfulest spectacle of the modern
time is that of San Francisco sitting in
her ruins, yet plucked by these harpies.
The strike of the grainhandlers at
Portland had one element of weakness.
It was a strike for a higher rate than
is paid at any other port. But since it
Is settled now and both parties pro
fess to be satisfied, business doubtless
will move again; which is good enough.
Secretary Root wants our own John
Barrett -for Director of the. Bureau of
American- Republics, and President
Roosevelt wants him for Ambassador
to Brazil. All this confirms Mr. Bar
rett's confidence in his ability to fill
any 'high office creditably.
The. dropping of a tlmeball on the
roof of the Custom-House building is
the new-fangled method of marking the
noon hour. It Is understood that the
old-fashioned method of marking the
midnight hour has not been superseded
that with the highball.
The land thieves in Oregon couldn't
have their own District - Attorney in
Ofegon, nor their own Marshal, much
as they needed them. Heney was not
dismayed in Oregon any more than he
Is now dismayed in San Francisco.
When W. J. Burns says that he has
the surest proofs against the Ruef
gang that he ever had in any case you
may depend there . will be something
doing. Burns, as was proved in Ore
gon, doesn't talk through his hat.
"Five acres enough," says the Baker
Democrat. Doubtjess,' for some, or
many; but here and there is a man
who wouldn't find six or sixty enough.
It's mostly In the' man, and mighty lit
tle in the acres.
The turning of the first sod. on the
grade for the new "railroad from Til
lamook to the Willamette Valley was
postponed on account of rain. Where
were those sod-turners raised, anyway?
If there is anything more utterly
contemptible, or nauseating, than
Hearst 'journalism, at New York or
Portland, how will you find it or how
will you know it when you see it?
Another paper railroad has come to
nothing the Oregon Coast & Eastern
but its chief promoter. Joe Teal, is just
as Important as ever and ready for
the next.
Governor Chamberlain does not be
lieve the establishment of 'a lute mill
at the Oregon penitentiary Is practica
ble, but he is willing "to be shown."
. Mrs. Terkes-Mizner will sue her
young husband for' divorce, on the
ground of disillusionment. Doesn't she
know what the marital bond is for?
It takes Dr. Coe to get encouraging
words for expositions from Presidents,
Sena-ters, Governors and Legislators
also appropriations.
Everything seems to favor rapid
growth of the census of New Tork City.
Chauffeurs are on a strike.
ELECT JOXATHAST - BOURNE. -
The- Man Whom the Electorate of Ore
gon Has Declared Should Be Elected.
Corvallis Times.
Propositions now made for the Leg-,
islature not to confirm Mr. Bourne as
Senator .are an -insult to the electorate
of Oregon. In the late election more
than 80,000 voters expressed their
choice as to who should be Senator,
and the largest number of votes went
to Mr. Bourne. The action was taken
under authority ot a solemn statute
demanded and enacted by the people
themselves. Mr. Bourne, whether
worthy or unworthy, whether the like
or dislike of this of that politician, is
the embodied choice of the sovereign
citizenship, and there is no one with
any sort of a claim or subterfuge by
which to dispute his title. He is alone
and unchallenged in his position. He
has behind him that plurality indorse
ment of the ballot box which is the
sole means by which a people can rule
themselves. .
To refuse to ratify Mr. Bourne's se
lection would be an open defy by the
Legislature of the will of the people.
It would bring the. legislative body
Into a disrepute that would make It
loathed and hated. The fair-play vot
ers of the state, even though Mr.
Bourne was not their candidate, to a
man want him named as Senator now.
and all such will hold in contempt
the; Legislature and legislators that at
tempt to set aside that which the peo
ple in. good faith and sincerity have
pointed out as their will in the
premises.
It is not timely to propose a repudi
ation of Mr. -Bourne. To engage in
such an enterprise would be to offer
violence to good government, . to In
sult the people of the commonwealth
and traij the name of Oregon in dust
for the amusement of the rest of the
world. Let Mr. Bourne be confirmed,
let him have the distinction he has
won, and let him go to "Washington
-and do his duty there. He can do no
worse, and he will surely do a great
deal better than some others have
done.
THE ARMY CANTEEN.
Facta Derived Prom Experience Are
Worth Attention.
Cnieago Chronicle.
"No compromise with evil," Is a moral
maxim. "Of two evils choose the least,"
is another. "Of two evils choose neither,"
is still another.
The question of the maintenance of the
army canteen has been argued from all
standpoints. The uncompromising prohibi
tionists have maintained that even if the
army canteen was better than the grog
geries surrounding army posts. It should
still be abolished, because the Govern
ment ought not to be parttceps criminis
In the Bale of liquor to its own soldiers.
On the other hand, people who profess
to advocate real temperance have asserted
that the abolition of the canteen was an
Immoral act. because It promoted drunk
eness and debauchery, insteady of lessen
ing them. Such people claim that soldiers
are better off, physically and morally,
when they can patronize the canteen than
when they are forced to use the outside
saloons.
This latter contention has lately re
ceived the support of the oldest temper
ance organization in the United States
Advance Tent, Order of Rechabltes, of
Washington,. D. C. It uas probably been
favored also by a majority of people who
are not partisan prohibitionists. These
latter, of course, deny It ...
We can only deal with evidence, how
ever. Abstractly, there ought to be no
drunkenness; neither should there by any
other kind of vice or crime or wickedness.
But we know .that there Is all manner of
sin.' The question is. Shall. we stand out
for a principle at the expense of practical
results? This is the issue which is in
volved In the matter' of the army Canteen.
Men who are' in a position to know
army officers of all ranks are practically
unanimous in declaring that the abolition
of the army canteen was a wiow to tem
perance in the army. .. There has been a
marked Increase in petty courts-martial
for drunkenness and desertion. There Is
always "pay day" trouble now, though It
was reduced to a minimum while the can
teen was in existence.
There is no use in opposing glittering
generalities or moral observations to
facts. Hence there is no use in well
meaning women exclaiming against the
sin and iniquity of the canteen when ex
pert observation shows the canteen to be
an agent for. genuine temperance.
Instead of declaring the action of the
Rechabites to be "very wrong and very
wicked,", the women composing the most
pretentious temperance organization in
this country would do better to abandon
a policy which is actually an encourage
ment to intemperance though It is osten
sibly aimed at that vice.
THE COAL SHORTAGE.
PORTLAND, Or., Oct. 28.-ITO the Edi
tor WJ-here Is a coal shortage. It causes
as much suffering from cold as from hun
ger The railroads knew It would come.
Yet none of the millions for Wall street
were used to buy and operate more cars.
Do tho railroads plead guilty to- Incompe
tent management, to defrauding the people
again; or to acts of revenge for laws they
do not like and call hysterical?. Probably
It is the same old bunco game, same old
three-card -dealers.
. The remedies are: . . Remove the tariff
on coa-l Government ownership of mines.
3 Legislation granting the Government
power at all times to take over and operate
mines for such periods as it deems- advis
able, and if there Is prom, reduce It so as
to pay the owners not more than 5 per cent
on the fair valuation of their property.
The first remedy will probably produce
more Immediate relief. Let pressure be
brought on Congress to bring It about In
December. Let the other remedies also
have due aDd timely consideration and
action. The people once owned the coal;
why not again?
ROBERT C. WRIGHT.
France Taking- to Lager Beer.
Springfield (Mass.) Republican.
It is surprising to hear that France
is preparing to claim this year the
world's record for the consumption of
beer. According to popular impression
every one in Paris drinks absinthe,
every one in the south light wine and
every one in Normandy cider. But such
generalizations are often deceptive
not all Englishmen, for example, live
maiply on roast beef. Travelers who
have revisited France have noted dur
ing the last ten years a notable change
in the consumption of beer and al30
In the supply of a good beverage at a
low price. Wine is in Its. nature expen
sive; a? a cheap drink it is almost uni
versally either doctored or made out
right in the laboratory. It Is the spe
cial merit of beer that it can be sup
plied pure and wholesome at a low
price, and if people are to drink at all
the growing popularity of beer is per
haps not a bad thing.
Reduced to Dire Extremities.
Washington Star.
What do you intend to do with your
wealth?"
"It's hard to tell."- answered Dustln
Stax. "Since we are not allowed to
contribute to campaign funds there
Isn't -much of anything to -do 'with it
"except to found colleges and fight in
dictments." - The Same 2U00, B. C.
New Tork Globe.
An Inscription 328 feet long has been
discovered in Egypt which describes the
marriage of Rameses 11. About 326 feet
are probably devoted to telling what the
bride wore.
"BALLED IP" IX HIS ENGLISH.
NaQve la 'British India Court Mixes
' Idioms, " Bnt t-'ses Good Grammar.
The following Is from & pleading at Bar
lsal. sent to T. J. Armstrong, ot Portland,
by his brother. Rev. W. F. Armstrong, mis
sionary In India. Natives who affect a lit
tle English are fond of working into their
speech. Idiomatic proverbial and colloquial
expressions:
My learned friend with mere wind
from a teapot thinks to browbeat me
from my legs. But this is mere gorilla
warfare. I stand under the shoes of
my client and only seek to place my
bone of contention clear la your hon
or's eye. My learned friend vainly
runs amuck upon the sheet anchors of
my case. Tour honor will be pleased
enough to observe that my client is a
widow, a poor chap with one post mor
tem son. A widow of this country,
your honor will be pleased to observe,
Is not like a widow of your honor's
country. A widow of this country
Is not able to eat more than one meal
a day or to wear clean clothes or to
look after a man. So my poor client
had hot' much physic or mind' as to be
able to assault the lusty complainant.
Tet she has been deprived of some of
her valuable leather, the leather of her
nose. My learned friend has thrown
only an argument ad hominy upon my
teeth, that my client witnesses are all
her own relations. But they are not
near relations, their relationship is
only homeopathic. So the misty argu
ments of my learned friend will not
hold water; at least they will not hold
good water. Then my learned friend
has said that there Is on the side of
his client a respectable witness, viz: a
pleader, and since this witness is In
dependent he should be believed. But
your honor, with your honor's vast ex
perience, is pleased enough to observe
that truthfulness is not so plentiful as
blackberries In this country. I am
sorry to say, though this witness is a
man of my own feathers, that there
aro In my profession black sheep of
every complexion, and some of them
do not always speak gospel truth. Un
til the witness explains what has be
come of my client's nose leather he
can not be believed. He can not be
allowed to raise a castle in the tir by
beating -upon a bush, so trusting to
that administration of British justice
on which the sun never sits, I close
my case.
Times Are Changinfc
William Allen White in Emporia Gazette.
The times are indeed changing and we
are changing with them. In the old days
politicians stood together. It was con
sidered a virtue to stand by your friend
whether he' was good or bad, crooked or
clean. I.i the old days a political debt
'must be paid out of the public treasury,
and if there was law for it no one com
plained. In the old days there was honor
among thieves in Kansas, and no one
told tales, and if tales were told, the
people were taught that the gods1 could
do no wrong; and no one believed the
tales. Less than 20 years- ago the United
States Marshal of Kansas- lay half a
day dead drunk and half naked in the
Secretary of State's office, and the whole
State House and all the reporters in
town came to look at him and laugh.
Less than 20 years 'ago Kansas politi
cians kept their mistresses on the state
payroll and it . was considered good
morals. Less than -20 years ago a man
lost no standing in Kansas politics by
being known as a railroad man in the
Legislature. Less than 20 years ago the
Legislature adjourned drunk and dis
orderly and took home its own desks
and carpets, and the writer hereof tried
in vain to get one of them. Times have
changed and we change with them. The
world is edging along. The thing that
seems all right to this generation will
seem like larceny to the next. The world
.is growing better, and -if you don't grow
better with it the. 'fault is yours. '
. Hearst and Protection.
Washington Star.
A- feature of- Mr. Hearst's propaganda
which is attracting some attention relates
to the tariff. He declares himself-a pro
tectionist. ' His statement is clear.- He
does 'not shuffle, and point out' that in
the levying of taxes for the Government's
support incidental protection is Inevitable.
He pronounces for protection as a policy
as a fosterer of infant Industries and a
safeguard for American labor. Therein
he differs from Democrats of the Tilden.
the Cleveland, the Carlisle, the Watterson
and the Bryan brand. They only tolerate
protection. If they could they would ex
tirpate it. They feel toward it as Mr.
Vanderbilt did toward the public a feel
ing described In print with a dash.
But there have been, and there are
now. Democrats of the belief professed by
Mr. Hearst. Mr. Randa'll in his day was
their ablest exponent.; Mr. Whitney, and
Mr. Gorman were protectionists. James
Smith, Jr., of New Jersey, Edward
Murphy, Jr., of New Tork and Calvin
S. Brice of Ohio, then in the Senate,
helped Mr. Gorman stuff tho Wilson
tariff bill full of protection. A number of
Southern. Democrats favor protection for
local industries, and in order to get that
are always "agreeable" when protection
is demanded by other localities.
What, then, will be the national Demo
cratic expression on the tariff question
in 190S?
A Yellow Method.
Providence Journal. '
A complaint from a reader leads the
New Tork Herald to say that "it has
been the custom of W. R. Hearst's news
papers for many years to instruct their
reporters to use the names of reputable
journals like the World, Times, Tribune,
Sun and Herald in collecting news." In
this way they secure admission to places
where the name of the American is no
recommendation. There are many tricks
practiced by yellow journalism. This is
not the least shabby and contemptible.
BADLY
FRISCO PRESS OX ABE RCEF.
United In Demanding That He Bo
Called to Account.
(San Francisco Bulletin.)
Does any one believe that Schmlts and
Ruef will dare remove the District At
torney in order that the crook they
would put in his place would dismiss
Heney and thus nullify all that has been
accomplished toward sending the arch
criminals to the penitentiary? -
Acting Mayor Gallagher has hinted at
such action. No less than 10 felonies have
been committed by Ruef that could be
proved in court today. Gallagher, tho
acting Mayor, is, next to the Mayor and
Ruef, tho most important criminal. It
will not lie possible for him to assume an
air of dignified innocence on the one
hand, or by dismissing the District Attor
ney, convince the public of his guilt on
the other. His crimes are many and can
be proved. Ruef, now at bay, holds to
the hope that he may stilt fix the voting
machines' and elect Cook. Conlan and
Mogan to try him in the Superior Court,
and Cook to pass on his case as presid
ing Judge of the Appellate Court. This is
the ruse. The crook at the bar will throw
himself upon the mercy of his friends on
the bench. Even that will not save him
from the penitentiary-
San Francisco Examiner.)
The business of running to earth the
men who robbed the city of the trolley
privileges, protected vice and crime, and
spent the city's money that was set aside
for reopening the streets on. stuffed pay
rolls, or on men who did nothing for
their wages, should be a simple affair
compared with that of breaking up a
ring that contained men of such astute
ness as Senator Mitchell, Representatives
Hermann and Williamson and the ablo
conspirators who were leagued with them.
With such leads as those given by Rea
gan and Maestretti. and the raw work
of the boodllng Supervisors, there should
soon be a good haul of rogues in the San
Francisco jail. It is gratifying to have
the assurance that tho prosecutors are
"after the big rascals." The little ones
do not matter. But if the people can see
the influential men of tho administration
in the dock along with the prominent cit
izens who bribed them there will be a
better chance for honest men in San
Francisco.
(San Francisco Call.) "
Ruef Is like a rat in a corner. He
knows his finish is near, but he shows his
teeth and threatens. He is preparing", he
says, to Institute a private "crusade."
and promises that he will "run out of
town" some of .the men who have -promoted
the investigation of himself and
his gang of heelers, official and unoffi
cial. "I have the dope," he says, "on
some of these men who are so bravely
talking about purifying the city and send
ing men to the penitentiary, and I prom
ise you that they will be glad to leave the
city, and that before long. Instead of
acting as prosecutors, they will be run
out of town."
These are brave words and- if Ruef can
make them good his hitherto unsuspect
ed devotion to the ten commandments
should he cs.use for civic rejoicing. But
this devotion appears to be incomplete.
If these wicked people who have had the
temerity to investigate Ruef are the real
sinners, why should they be "run out of
town?" We do not propose to run Ruef
out of town, although he might be im
proved by a trip "across the bay."-
THE GERMAN SECRETS.
How the Hohenlohe Memoirs Became
Public.
London Saturday Review.
An event described by the German Em
peror as involving "incalculable" conse
quences has naturally set all the news
papers of Europe talking about, it and
speculating on the incalculable. The
event is the publication of the memoirs
of Prince Hohenlohe. the third German
Chancellor. ' ' ' '
It comes ont at last-that it Is the enter
prising publisher eager for advertisement
who has sent proof sheets to the papers.
And what does the irresponsible chatter
of the newspaper correspondents - then
make of the telegram? The suggestion is
that the Emperor is afraid that this
knowledge of his Austrian proclivities
will spoil some-deep-laid plan he is con
cocting with Russia. , Many subsidiary
topics arise frim the publication of these
memoirs. Will the delayed third volume
of Bismarck's memoirs be published?- The
manuscript is said to be at the Bank of
England. Would this agree or disagree
with Prince Hohenlohe's account of
Bismarck's dismissal; and what of , the
account written down in detail for the
Emperor by Herr von Botticher? Pro
fessor Geffcken In 1SS8 was prosecuted for
publishing the Emperor Frederick's diary.
Will there be any prosecution in this
case?
A ' Word to the Lad.
- S. I!. Klser. in' Chicago Record-Herald.
When all the world Is old, lad.
And all the hills are brown;
When all the days are cold, lad. '
And all the leaves are down.
Then you will sit and sigh, lad;
For chances thrown away
And the appetite for' pie, lad, .
That you possess today.
But have your little fling, lad;
Be gleeful while you can;
It won't be always Spring, lad,
No matter how you plan. '
" Put sober thoughts to flight, lad.
Of toilsome ways and rough;
Today you have the right, lad;
You'll lose It soon enough.
Positive and Comparative.
Catholic Standard and Times.
Man's words to man are often flat,
Man's words to woman flatter',
Two men often stand and chat.
Two women stand and chatter.
TANGLED!
From th New Tork MaiL