XJms.31UK.VIXi OKEtiOVlAX, TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 1907.
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PORTLAND, TUESDAY, MARCH 516, 1907,
POBIKDONOSTSEFF.
It was the unenviable lot of the late
Mr. Pobiedonostseff, as it is of most
theologians who acquire great political
power, that his sincerity made him a
?ruel ruler and his inflexible integrity
in enemy of the h-umah race. It would
ae an error to look upon Pcfblodonost
stff as a monster of cruelty; so far as
can be learned, his disposition was
kindly and he was distinguished toy his
leal for the welfare of his fellow-men.
It woultl 'bo a mistake to believe that
his character is singular or that Russia
alone could produce a -man at once ,-so.
virtuous and so sinister. 'He was of a
type which has- bad many exemplars,
and almost every nation has at some
time in the course of Its history experi
enced the baneful effects of intrusting
political power to men of ecclesiastical
training and instincts. Occasionally a
prelate, liko Cardinal Richelieu, in
France, has -been able to lay aside the
rigorous mathematics of his creed and
adapt his rules of conduct to the com
promises and approximations which
, mark the course of human affairs; but
such have been exceedingly rare. Much
more frequently the ecclesiastic in ex
alted secular power more resembles
I'hilip II of Spain, who. devastated two
hemispheres for what he sincerely
thought was the glory of God- and
ruined a world-wide empire to enforce
a code of metaphysics. Philip was not
himself a prelate, but his mind was
essentially of the type of Pobiedonost
.seff's. Physical science differs from pure
mathematics in that it professedly pro
ceeds upon assumptions which are con
trary to theory. For tho mathemati
cian the sum of the Interior angles of
every plane triangle is exactly equal
to the half of pi; the straRlht line has
length, but no breadth, and the circle
has area, but no thickness, for tho
physicist, on the other hand, no trian
gle is perfectly true to the prescription
of Euclid; every line has a certain
width and every surface a degree of
thickness. In all directions he departs
front the j-igor of theory and makes
concessions to facts. All his results
are approxima te, his processes meander
through a world of continuous compro
mise. ditlv trcn lue uicuitriiiiu nunu in trie
mathematician and the reaf world of
physical science there exists the same
difference as between the condition
which the ecclesiastical mind seeks to
realize on earth and the incalculable
complexities of actual life. In practice
right and wrong are not often deduc
tions from pure theory. Much more fre
quently they are to be determined in
. particular cases by the possible and the
expedient. What is right in one cmer-
nency is wronr in another; what is
mercy in one slate of circumstances is
gross cruelty when the circumstances
alter. The training of the ecclesiastic,
looking as It does entirely to the ideal
where exact formulas Invariably con
trol, necessarily unfits him for the con
duct of affairs of state. His concept is
of another world, where all error is
eliminated and all uncertainties abol
ished. In endeavoring to conform
mankind to the conditions of' heaven
lie ignores the distinction which Kant
drew between the theoretical and the
practical reason and introduces. a reign
rf insanity which he mistakes for right
eousness." All this happens even when we con
cede that the scheme of tho theologian
Is abstractly desirable; but when It is
essentially wrong, as was that of Po
biedonostseff. then if he trains political
power he becomes indeed a grewsome
figure-, for. he is just as sincere in his
mistakes as he would- be were his con
clusions sound; and he endeavors to
Institute the rule of tyranny with the
same unbending rigor as he might use
In another case to establish liberty.
There is not the least doubt in the
world that Pobiedonostseft beileved the
absolute rule of the Czar Nicholas to
be right, not only as a matter of polit
ical' expediency., but also as the decree
of the Almighty. Therefore to disobey
the commands of the Czar was. to his
mind, a breach- of. the divine law as
well as of human statutes, and a pro
posed charge in the constitution of.
Russia was. an insult -to God. Knowing:
what the constitution or Russia is,
what misery it has-wrought to those
who must live under it and how it' has
depraved the characters of the men
who exercise the almost superhuman
power it gives to the Czar and his fam
ily, we may well wonder how any one
could sincerely and unselfishly believe
that it has the approval of a just God.
Still, that Pobledonostseft was. both
sincere arid unselfish does not admit of
the slightest doubt. He has never been
charged with unworthy personal' mo1
fives. So far as his private character
was concerned, nobody ever accused
him of greed or hinted that his conduct
was directed by fear or favoritism.
But ill spite of his virtues, largely be
cause of. them' indeed, Pobledonostseft
was the evil genius of the Czar and the
angel of 'destruction to tils country.
More than any other one man he must
be held accountable for the miseries
which have long rioted in Russia and
which in all human probability must
grow Indefinitely -blacker before the
dawn of peace and prosperity breaks
over that unhappy land. He was be
loved by Nicholas and enjoyed more of
his fickle and superstitious confidence
than any other man. Neither of them
naturally bad or cruel, they formed a
pair at whom history will shudder for
all time. The massacres of the Jews,
the savage slaughters of the peasantry,
the famines mhich desolate the fertile
domains of Russia, the interminable
civil war which spreads death through
all her provinces and the probable dis
solution of society with the unimagin
able horrors that must ensue, will be
charged up in the final accounting more
largely to Pobledonostseft than to any
other person.
WHEX THE MILJLESXirM COMES.
Under the head of "Political Tenden
cies," the Salem Statesman ventures
the prediction "that before ten years
the people will sicken of the initiative
and of the primary system." If there
is any evidence of that tendency. The
Oregonian does not now see it. While
it is to be hoped that political changes
in the next ten years -will be such
that-the peonle will, feel free to repeal
the initiative, there is no reason at
present to belleve: that' such a trans
formation, will. ta.ke place.. .The people
will- repeal the : initiative whenever
they are satisfied that they will get a
square-deal from the , Legislature, and
not before. None-will more, gladly wel
come the coming of that day. than The
Oregon ian. . -
It has -been said in' these, columns
many times and may well be repeated
now that the. people of this state did
not want the initiative and referen
dum, but it was forced, upon them by
men who misrepresented -the people in
the Legislature. ,-"-The .people did not
want the direct primary until political
bosses controlling conventions and
manipulating Senatorial elections made
the adoption of some such law seem
the only relief from an unsatisfactory
system. The people of this state did
not want a railroad commission, but
the railroads forced trie creation of
such a tribunal. The people will hail
with delight the day when railroad
management -will be such' that the
railroad commission can 'be abolished.
A holiday will be proclaimed for re
joicing and thanksgiving when the
people rise up and say, "Away, inlti
ative, we know that the Legislature
will give us the laws .we' want; away.
referendum, we know that what the
Legislature shall enact will meet our
approval." With, .the qualifications here
Indicated there will toe general Indorse
ment of the prediction quoted above.
' But in this same connection a word
must be said relative i to a sly mis
statement or something' The Oregonlan
had to offer a few days ago upon the
subject of leadership.- Says the States
man: "The Oregonian demands the
rearing of some man who will so dom
inate in either hrahch of the Legis
lature that he will be able to force the
other branch to terms upon any ques
tion of legislation." Forcing the Leg
islature to terms upon "any" question
of legislation is vastly different from
what The Oregonian proposed when
it said that "the people of Oregon are
looking for men -whose abilities mark
them as leaders of public movements-
men who are in full sympathy with
the people and who will at all times
and in all places fight faithfully and
intelligently and to the last ditch for
public interests." The Oregonian said
that, one such man with the voice of
the people "back of mm is a majority.
The trouble is that we have had too
many men who -were willing to fight for
"any" legislation, and not merely for
the legislation the people want. The
lack, of men willing to fight for the
people's interests is what makes the
initiative necessary and what delays
the time when the fulfillment of the
Statesman's prediction may be real
ized. WHEN APriX-GROWEBS DIFFER.
It will toe surprising to many to read
that at a meeting of Hood River apple-
growers there was the widest difference
of opinion as to the advantages of irri
gation. There were those who asserted
most emphatically that irrigation is of
no advantage, for, though it may in
crease the yield a little, it does ao at
the sacrifice of flavor and keeping qual
ities. Others, also experienced in apple-
growing, were just as positive in the
declaration that irrigation does not 'af
fect either the flavor; or the keeping
qualities. In a region where apples are
grown with and without irrigation, and
where particular attention is given to
the industry, it would seem that this
would be a question long ago settled
beyond dispute. T
To the inhabitant: of Oregon who
gets most. of his knowledge of apples
through his mouth, and who, being dis
interested, can take, a calm and un
biased view of the question, it seems
likely that the Hood River debaters
were .all right and all wrong in other
words, that each was partly right and
partly wrong. When well-informed
men disagree so radically on a simple
problem, it is safe to assume that a
little yielding on each side would have
brought them pretty close to the truth
Thus, in an attempt at a long-distance
guess, it is The Oregonian's opinion
that irrigation sometimes injures the
flavor and keeping quaiity of apples
and sometimes it docs not. Such a con
elusion is reasonable. It has been
many times asserted that Oregon irrt
gationists use too much water, and the
assertion is not limited to growers of
alfalfa or grain. If. some of the apple-
growers use too much water and give
the roots of their trees .more moisture
than they need for production of sound
fruit of perfect texture and flavor, It i
not unreasonable to believe that injury
will be done thereby. Forcing any ag
ricultural product to" an abnormal size
is likely to be at theexpense of qual
ity. Then, too, the use of water, both as
to time and quantity, must vary with
the'season and the condition of cultiva
tion. Irrigation once undertaken must
be kept 'up, for, it a tree has adapted
itself to ' abundance of water, it will
suffer very seriously f the supply be
cut off for a single season, while a tree
that has not been 'irrigated would go
through a dry season -without harm.
tree accustomed to irrigation will
have its roots most numerous where
the water supply is best, usually near
the surface of the ground. For that
reason suspension of irrigation subjects
the tree to Injury that would not be
suffered by a tree whose roots had
struck - deeper into ;-the soil and had
spread out uniformly in all directions.
There, is no branch of agriculture that
requires so high a degree of intelli
gence, care and skill as fruitgrowing.
Pruning, spraying, thinning, picking
and packing must be done in the right
manner or the best results will not 'be
attained. The- grain farmer may plow
and sow and then wait for the harvest.
The apple-grower must be alert and
active all the time to keep his trees
good condition. In those districts
where irrigation is a feature of fruit
growing the producer has one more
problem to which to give attention. He
who assumes that any one can make a
success of irrigation who can open a
headgate has something to learn, and
he will probably learn it by dear ex
perience. To put on enough . water, at
the right time, and distribute it in the
most effective manner requires thought,
care and labor.
While this subject of fruitgrowing Is
under consideration, it may not be
amiss to call particular attention to a
matter of particular importance dis
cussed by Horticultural Commissioner
W. K. Newell, at Dallas, a few days
ago. Mr. Newell said that he 'believes
more Summer pruning of fruit trees
should be the rule. It Is now the al
most universal practice to prune in the
Winter, while the trees are dormant.
There is an old saying, "Prune in the
Winter for . wood; in the Summer for
fruit." Winter pruning causes the
tree to send out new shoots, forming
new branches. Bummer pruning does
not hav-e this, effect, but causes the
fruit to reach a larger size. Young
trees sho-uld doubtless be pruned in the
Winter, but mature trees will be better
for Summer pruning, though, of course.
some of the branches will need trim
ming in the Winter as well. Mr. New
ell's .presentation of this subject, shows
-that it will not do to assume that
methods ;,once adopted are the ' best
and -should be blindly followed. Prac
tically all pruning of fruit trees is
now done In the Winter, but it w ill not
be -surprising if In a few years more
than half of it should be done In the
Summer.
GRAB BACK THE FRANCHISE, QUICK.
Grabbed from tho city April 6, 1305,
by -franchise speculators, the street
railway franchise of the Oregon Trac
tion Company (Hillsboro line) is about
to revert to the city for failure of the
grabbers to 'keep faith, by building the
tracks and operating the cars within
two years. The city should grab back
the franchise without wasting any time.
and thus end a get-rich-quick scheme
of moneyless promoters. The present
possessor of. the franchise, the United
Railways, has had long enough time to
build the line. It has possessed the
franchise a year or more, and, while
not. responsible for the bad faith of
the men who sold the franchise to. it
still has -had abundant opportunity to
redeem' the pledges made to the city.
Now the city's interest should be looked
to first. - ... -
The franchise covers Stark street.
Twelfth,. Twenty-eighth, and Quimby
and Macleay Park. The Oregon Trac
tion Company was to keep the streets
in good repair between its rails and
outside them for a specified distance.
For use of the streets the city was to
receive, during the twenty-five-year life
of the franchise, the small sum of $35,-
000. To hold the franchise and to guar
antee good faith, the company was re
quired to begin work within a certain
time, and to spend a stipulated mini
mum sum of money in that period. The
company carried out the letter of the
franchise in these two respects, but not
the spirit It laid about half a mile of
double track. . It then quit," and has
done nothing since, nor has its suc
cessor, the United Railways. It tore up
the streets to lay the rails and never
put them back in good condition. The
people along the route wanted the
tracks taken up, since they were not
used and were a nuisance and an ob
stacle to use of the streets by the pub
lie, but could not get rid of them nor
compel improvement of the space be
tween and outside the rails.
Meanwhile the holders of - the fran
chise, unable to build, were hawking it
about, trying to sell it and line their
pockets -with gold, as did their pluto
cratic rivals in the local first-family
aristocracy, when by selling .blanket
streetcar franchises, in the Spring of
1905, the rivals thrust the $4,000,000
proceeds into their pockets and through
their newspaper organ boasted of their
achievement in thus enriching them
selves at the expense of the public. The
lesser magnates of the Oregon Traction
Company, having this golden picture of
wealth before them, tried to sell, too,
but their mightier rivals shut them out
of purchasers and their franchise was
knocked about on the bargain counter
until the United Railways took it up. '
The Oregon Traction Company fran
chise imposed no penalty for the benefit
Of the city and required jno bond. It
was one of those "easy" propositions
which , have victimized the public of
Portland out of millions of dollars.
Luckily for the city, and also strangely,
the speculators have not been able to
"realize", from their high finance. The
franchise appears to be ; within the
clutches of the city. The people's serv
ants in the City Hall should'grab it
back quick and declare it forfeit.
BETTERING THE COMMON SCHOOLS.
Amendments to the educational laws
af Oregon made by the last Legislature
were framed toy educators in the Inter
est of thoroughness and comprehen
siveness along practical - .lines. 'Inci
dentally or sequentially, they will lead
to an increase In the wages of teachers,
and, it may be hoped, to greater at
tention to . the practical education of
the many rather than undue expendi
ture of energy upon the higher educa
tion of the few. -
Governor Folk, of Missouri, noting
the tendency to make our system- of
public education topheavy. says in his
straightforward way: "It is of more
eonsequence that all the people should
have some education than that a few
should be highly educated," and when
he adds, "Every state needs more com
mon sehoolhouses. better equipment,
better-paid teachers and better teach
ers, no school being better than Its
teacher," ...he. says - that which every
friend of the public schools will indorse.
The conditions that -disturb society
cannot be' dealt with in a remedial way
from -the top. down ward. Like the fes
tering sore, they must 'be treated from
the bottom upward "healed from the
bottom," as the surgeons say. In many
states, says Governor Folk, ten dollars
are spent for higher education .where
one goes to lay the foundation of an
education in the common schools. This
refers more especially to the states
whose educational institutions have
been reached by the opulence of Rocke
feller and Carnegie and Stanford, but
the tendency is the same in many
states less munificently endowed.
Wherever such effort exists It is "like
putting a million-dollar dome on a
thousand-dollar -house." Again quot
ing Governor Folk:
It is well enough for men of wealth to en
dow great universities to give uncommon edu
cation to a few, but it would be better it they
would, give some of their millions tor a com
mon education to the many. The donation
of large libraries to cities and towns is a
commendable thing, but if the millions these
libraries cost were given to the cause of
education of the massea through the com
mon schools, the public benefit would be
greater. We need universities and we need
libraries, but these should not cause the neg
lect of the common schools.
The effort made by our educational
workers to take Oregoh out of the list
of the states thus characterized as
maintaining a system of topheavy edu
cation is a commendable one. That it
will result in the betterment of our
common -schools, the -more adequate
pay of teachers who make teaching a
profession instead of a stepping-stone
to some other vocation, and the general
increase of knowledge among the
masses through the village or traveling
library, and the suburban or district
high school, is confidently believed.
iFrom -Spokane to The Dalles in 36
hours Is a reasonably quick down-hill
haul. On the morning of March 19 the
Spokane Spokesman-Review printed an
editorial on "Statesmen UelDed by
Their Wives." On the afternoon of
March 20 the same article appeared
word for word on the editorial page of
The Dalles Chronicle. On March 22 it
appeared in the Salem Capital Journal,
but credited to The Dalles Chronicle. It
must be a good thing. Just about this
time look for an original discovery in
the editorial rooms of the local pluto
cratic organ about "Statesmen Helped
by Their Wives," and the due appear
ance of an able editorial on that sub
ject, the first four words of which
or perhaps five will be "made in Port
land:" ,.'..
The history of graft In San Francisco
shows that the success or failure of a
graft administration depends upon the
character of the man who occupies the
office of Prosecuting Attorney. Graft
cannot be carried on to a very consider
able extent without there being evi
dence of it sufficient to arouse the sus
picions of an alert Prosecuting Attor
ney. San Franciseo has had grafting
bosses almost continuously Since it had
municipal business that afforded oppor
tunity for graft. The election of an
honest man to the office of District At
torney was what led to the prosecutions
now occupying tho attention of the
whole civilized world. Where extensive
graft prevails the District Attorney
must be stupid, indifferent or dishonest.
iTate wives of irascible husbands
should take warning by the fate that
has oefallen Mrs. Loftus, now in the
city jail, and confine themselves strict
ly to the broomstick and the rolling
pin as weapons of marital warfare. The
lapse of prudence which, permitted this
woman to seize and wield a knife as
an implement of discipline and slash
the arm of her unruly spouse is .likely
to result much more seriously than she
intended. No doubt the man needed
to be disciplined. He admits as much
himself. Where the woman made her
mistake was in not sticking to a truly
feminine weapon of domestic warfare.
The question of smoking on street
cars could be settled promptly, with
out Inconvenience tp any one and with
out loss to the company. All that is
necessary is the announcement by those
in authority that smoking will not be
allowed on the streetcars or on any
part of them. The public must and will
ride. The streetcar company is in a
position to dictate terms in this mat
ter. It can- do so without pecuniary
los and to its great gain in the re
spect of a large proportion of its
patrons. Favor is deceitful and protest
is vain;- it is authority that counts
when a public nuisance is to be abated.
Mrs. W. C. Chattin, well known in
this city a third of a century ago, died
at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J.
H. Smith, of Irvington, 3ast Sunday, of
pneumonia. 'Her husband Rev. W. C
Chattin, was engaged in missionary
work on the Yakima Indian reservation
in I860 and later In T. M. "C. A. work
in this city. A quiet, womanly woman
Mrs. Chattin lived a simple, useful life
and passed on full of years, best be
loved by those who knew her best.
"Indian information" is all that is
crafty in conception, sly in communica
tion and intangible as regards proof.
It is the kind of information that bosses
convey by significant indirection, that
henchmen and satellites absorb toy in
tuition. Conveyed perhaps by a look, a
wink or a tip, it is Intelligible only to
those who are read in the subtleties of
graft and greed and corruption.
That Senator Spooner may have had
his eyes upon a salary of $50,000 a year
when he left the Senate is suggested by
the Courier-Journal. He would certain
ly make a better run than some of the
distinguished gentlemen who have no
quit the Senate.
. It is reported that a barrel of salts
was used in treating the 900 veterans
at Fort Leavenworth Soldiers'. Home
who were, poisoned by eating tainted
hash. All the men were saved. There
is nothing that excels the old family
remedies. -
The railroads declare that they can
not carry passengers- In the Rocky
Mountain States at 2 centB a mile be
cause grades are heavy and local travel
light. But none of. the Rocky Moun
tain States have enacted 2-cent rate
laws.
The railroads say they Will be com
pelled to discontinue the special excur
sion rates -because of the 2-cent rate
laws. Here's guessing that excursion
rates will be as numerous as ever.
Our proper elation over the news as
to the nd' of the Nlcaraguan-Hondur-lan
war is greatly minimized by dark
misgivings as to what became of the
mule.
They say the Nicaraguan war is
ended, but stories of bloody ' fighting
continue to' pour in. A.nother . war,
doubtless.
SAN KRAXCISCO ASiD HER LOOTERS
3iewepape?r Comment on Peculiar Con
dition Faring be Bay City. .'
New York American. -In
San Francisco,- as in other, cities.
the public service corporations had long
been accustomed to debauch the local
government and secure by bribery the
llegitimate privileges that enable the
corporations to plunder the public- In
San Francisco they put through meas-
re after measure by buying the needed
votes exactly as they would buy grind
stones or nails. It is time we estab
lished once for all the principle that the
rich, respectable man that bribes a pub
lic officer is at least as detestable and
at least as much to be punished as the
public officer that accepts ' his dirty
bribe.
End of Sehmlta Labor Vnlon Party.
New York Kvening Post.
Nowhere else has there been quit
such a combination .of grafters, corrupt
corporations and labor-union . rascals
working hand and glove to defraud the
public. And it is this same Schmltz-
Ruef labor-union gang which has- eet
tself up as censors of the habits and
morals of the Japanese! No wonder that
he Sun reports that the end of the
Schmitz Ibor-Union party is in sight.
t is far more important that It should
be destroyed, than that the city should
be rebuilt.
llry'a Rlarhta Hawked Far -lrnft.
Chicago Chronicle. v
Nothing could be more enjoyable to
honest people than the &prlrtg house
cleaning now in progress in San Fran
cisco. . . . One source of vice in city
governments is that city officials hold
certain powers and propertv in their
hands in trust for the good Of the people,
and they peddle them out for graft to any
one who wants them, to the injury in
stead of the benefit of 'the people. That
is what ails San Francisco, and that Is
what ails Chicago.
Place Blame Higher I p.
New Tork Tribune.
The prosecutor is right in making every
effort to bring home the charge of brib
ery to the heads of tlie franchise-buying
corporations. The capitalists who preyed
upon San ..Francisco in the hour of her
prostration, corrupted her officials and
bought rights and franchises against the
city's interests should not be allowed to
escape scot free while cheap labor lead
ers, whose heads were turned by their
sudden exaltation, pay the penalty for
their corruption.
Jail the "Respectable (irnftera.
Chicago Record-Herald.
Perhaps the corporations had to do
business with the politicians to get a
start. They are expansionists and pre
fer finally to deal with rogues rather
than with honest men. Moreover, they
are a permanent while Ruef is a pass-
ng phenomenon. It is to be hoped that
if he is punished they will not remain
unscathed. , Better almost to let Ruel
go and to put a -few substantial citizens
in the public" institution at San Quentin.
I.abnr OriEnnlaAtiona Clean Honsc.
New - York Globe,
The exposure Is the worst known in
America since the days of Tweed. The
corrupt "combine" among the Aldermen
of St. Louis uncovered by Governor
Folk was not one-quarter- so bad. The
supreme object should be to put business
criminals, and not merely the politicians.
in the penitentiary. It is time for working-
men's organizations to clean house to
repudiate practically all of present day
labor politicians.
Heney With Tllden and Folk.
St.. Paul Pioneer-Press.
Should Prosecutor Heney succeed in
placing Abe Ruef and flls official abet
tors behind the bars, he will well de
serve the high place in public esteem
won by Samuel J. Tilden in his encounter
with Tweed, and by Folk In his battle
with the Butler crowd.
Bear Hero Save rrrorrning Mate.
New York World.
Thousands of visitors at the Bronx
Zoological Park one recent afternoon wit
nessed a thrilling rescue from drowning
by one" Alaskan brown 'bear of its play
mate. , ,
Spectators In front of the bear cage had
been watching Admiral and Bob, two
bears from the .-Admiralty Islands, frisk
ing around for several hours in the bear
tank.
During one of these playful "duckingn"
Admiral, after holding Bob under the
water for a while, climbed out of the tank.
With the passing of time and ithe failure
of Bob to emerge. Admiral, peering into
the tank, saw -that, his playmate was
slowly drowning. He dived into the water.
with a. splash.
Slowly he managed to pull the drown
Ing bear to one end of the tank, where
there are two steps that lead up to the
floor of the cage. Pushing .with all his
energy. Admiral succeeded in rolling Bob
up over these stairs and on the stone
floor.
With the water atreamlng from Bob's
mouth. Admiral quickly rolled the oear
on -his back and then rolled him around
on the floor in an effort to get the water
out of his system. By this time Thomas
Mulvihill. a keeper, had arrived on the
scene with a barrel. With this he quickly
entered the cage and placing the bear
across it. began moving it from side to
side. Slowly the work of resuscitation
progressed until finally the bear who had
so nearly lost his life was brought back
to lite.
I'. S. Government-Built Shlpa Beat.
Rear-Admiral Coghlan . in Leslie's
Weekly. .t
The Government builds . the best
ships that float. That is certain. The
Connecticut Is the finest vessel of her
rate and size in the world, and she was
built in a Government Navy Yard.
Government money is spent honestly.
There are no fights and squabbles to
get what the contracts call for. If it
does cost . a little more money It is
worth it. !-In the progress -oi building
up our Navy for the last twenty-one
years we are gradually getting to what
is the nucleus of a very fair navy. We
who are interested, in the upbuilding
of the Navy want mora ships. We are
today endeavoring, to get what we have
been quietly working - for the last fif
teen years that is. large ships with
heavy batteries- and great speed. But
the sea-going classes and the mer
chants are conservative. It takes a
long time to change them. Take, for
instance, the case of the flrat monitor.
It took the Government a long time to
adopt the plans. These monitors were
intended for smooth water and not to
go to sea. In -the early days we were
occupied in getting this type of vessel
made into a battleship. We didn't
want the monitors because they were
unstable. It is only when we get the
big battleships, whose movements are
so slow -and steady, that we get the
best results for warfare.
Free Seeds.
Minneapolis Tribune.
Straight down the aisle he bravely bore
A banner they had seen before;
A llac; that his constituents
Had brought him when he Journeyed hence;
And on the breathe that rose and fell
Boone forth the words he loved ao well:
"Free seeds!"
"They don't come up." the knocker aald;
The farmer member shook his head;
"That cuta no Ice at all with me.
The main thing la they're given free,
And my Seedan 'twould surely be
If. this bill falls to give to me
Free seeds!"
Some Crooks. !
Catholic Standard ami-Times.
Some people pride themselves that they -
Succeed where others fail.
By which they merely mean to say
They've never been In jail.,
PORTLAXD'S. CAPACITY FOR TEARS
The Limit by No Means Reached Whew
"BnttrTfly" Was Here.
Chicago Inter-Ocean.
It is said by no less an authority than
The Portland Oregonian that at a recent
performance of "Madam Butterfly" In
Portland the audience shed two gallons
of tears. .'
In view of the facts and .figures pre
sented with this statement, it does not
seem like an exaggeration. In the first
place. It is stated as a fact that there
were 2000 In the audience, and that evcry
rnan woman and child wept when they
saw . Butterfly with her baby waiting at
the.-window for the American husband
and father who neglected 'to return as he
faithfully promised to do in the first act.
In the next place, say that -each per
son in the audience shed on ao average
a teaspoonful of tears. TlreVe are 1024
teaspoonfuls to a gallon.. One thousand
persons, therefore, would shed approxi
mately one gallon of tears, and 210 per
sons two gallons. So there you have it.
But this is really not the most serious
side of the Portland case. Two gallons
of tears shed in teaspoonfuls through
out a large theater woukl be. no more
than a sprinkle here- and there. Very
true. It would hardly be noticed by
the house cleaners. ' Very true.
But suppose tluit some evening "Ca-
mille'' should be produced in Portland
by Mme. Sarah, "or that Portland should
turn out to witness "11 Trovatore," and
should become hysterical during the
Tower scene, or that the Clybourn Ave
nue Thespian stock company should go
out there, and produce "East Lynnc,"
or that the -Seattle Amateur Dramatic
company should come down there and
the Portland audience should burst Into
tears at Pauline's passionate farewell
forever to Claude Melnotte, should we
not again be called upon to read the
aeartrending particulars of more dis
astrous floods in the Puget Sound dis
trict? We rather think so. Nobody will, or
can, -object to a bucket or two, more or
less, 'but the weeping habit is one that
grows on a community. It used to be
so bad In Omaha at one time that all
stock actors and actresses ' appearing in
meioorama insisted upon appearing on
the stage out there in rubber shoes and
mackintoshes on account of the all-per
vading dampness of the theater interiors.
Klf il RECOUXT FOR MR. HEARST
Rerord Showa Persistent Absenteeism
From Congress.
New York Sun.-.
In strict Justice to the gentleman who
has recently represented the Eleventh
District of New York in the House of
Representatives at Washington, we have
gone carefully over his record of attend
ance and public service during the session
mat closed on March 4. We have done
this in a spirit of fairness, in order to
see ! whether the concluding mouths of
Mr- Hearst's term-of office afforded any
indication of -belated reform in his habit
of persistent absenteeism, or any evi
dence of a new conceutjon of the mihlln
duties and responsibilities be had not only
voluntarily assumea -Dut Had also ear
nestly besought from his fellnw-citlioris
If we had found such evidence we should
nava hastened to publish the discovery:
and the publication would have given us
inucn pleasure.
The record of the Hon. William R.
Hearst for the second session of the
Fifty-ninth Congress probably his last
opportunity to prove his worthiness for
legislative off ice is here presented:
Days In session to March 4 '. . . 71
Pays when Mr. Hearst may have been
present ; I-j
Days when he seems to have been absent 6H
Total of rollcalls to March 4 a:l
Reprenentatlve Hearst recorded as voting 0
Recorded as not voting an
BIIIk introduced by Representative Hearst S
Petitions- presented by Representative
Herst w o
speeches-by Representative Hearst 0
Inrtdf.utaJ remarks by Representative
Hearsti fj
ThW closes a chapter most discreditable
to a young man whose personal ambition
to be a statesman was in itself praise-
wormy, most disgusting to the citizens
who At his solicitation permitted him to
become their Representative, most an
noying to the taxpayers whose money he
has taken without rendering equivalent
service and most instructive to all per
sons who are asked to contemplate the
possibility of his entrance into any other
putJllo onice requiring fidelity to trust
and a reasonable attention to business.
And there is no going behind these re
turn!, .
Where Editor I-yon Got It. -
Albany Herald.
Across the top of the front -page of the
Salem -Journal last Wednesday appeared
the following- motto: "Look up, not down:
look out, not In; forward, not back; move
ahead.'.' Thursday morning the Albany Her
ald placed the same motto at the top of
Its ' first page. Plagiarism, plagiarism:
Oregonian.
"Tis false, 'tis false? The motto re
ferred to first appeared in the Herald
and three days after was appropriated
by the Journal. The Herald however,
does not make any special claim to
originality for the moto, as the thought
was suggested by a convict in the
penitentiary. An unfortunate printer
once got side-tracked and landed in
the Oregon penitentiary. While there
he was . permitted to print a paper.
"'Look out, not in; up, not down," was
constantly Impressed upon- the readers
o'the prison paper.
SPRING
; sjj .
From the New Tork Press,
THE I.II.IK8 WEXT-. SOON BE BLOOMING ON" MR. CRAVEN'S MICK HEAPS.
MRS. W(iJORTH'S RECEPTIONS
An Viewed -''by An Ohio Republican
" ' evrapnper.
Cleveland Leader.
Word comes from Washington - that
Mrs. Nicholas Longworth. Jr., is rapid- '
ly taking her place as a leading. host
esfi and that her Tuesdays at home . .
are brilliant social features. Ordinar-.
By such an announcement would at
tract scant attention. The sight of
matrons, young and old. going in heav-
ily for entertaining is too common at
the Capital to be spectacular. Every
one big enough to get into the social
register is either host or guest. Tho
social action is so swift and constant
that, according to the cynical observer,
only the corpse stays home in Wash
ington at time of death.
Sack of Mrs. Longworth's conspicu
ous hospitality is the shrewd plan of
a devoted and ambitious wife. She is
easter-for her husband to succeed in
politics and so' she is grafting a for
eign custom on American society. Sho)
is aiming to start a political salon.
ThHt flourishes In London, where thy
petticoat influence is wide and strong
in politics. . -
A wise, bright, tactful wife is one '
of tho best asst-ts of the budding Brit
ish statesm-in. She makes his nom at
tractive to tho men in power, whii-h
is- a ' big st-p. She brings his best
qualities to th-'ir friendly notice. She
keeps him at his tasks when he is lazy;
curbs him wht-n he gets unduly Im
patient: guides him skillfully in tick
lish places and jockeys him along un
der the wire when, if left to his own
running, he would nave been distanced,
in all probability.
All thwse wonders are achieved. :
mark you, by women who are more
kindergartners In the school of life,
while the American matron is a grad
uate with the highest honors. Our
women, whatever their social stand
ing, are quick-witted, energetic, re
sourceful, convincing, cajoling and al
together fascinating. They have beau
ty and good taste; all the decorative
qualities. They - have adaptability.
They are at home anywhere and every
where. New honors develop new graces, au
tomatleally. A shop girl marries iv
multi-millionaire and has the breed
ing of a duchess at once. A morn
schoolgirl becomes the first lady of
the land and her grace, her dignity,
her self-poise are immediate and phe
nomenal. We send our American girls hap
hazard to the courts of Europe, and
they win all eyes by t'-ieir beauty, their
grace, their breeding, their frankness
and their brilliancy. The President's
daughter made a. striking impression:
so did a handsome Cleveland girl many
years ago, and it is still vivid. We
score all along the line.
The American girl Is the best help
meet of man because she is the hrst
all-around girl in the world. She do s
everything nnd does it well. If she
starts a aalon it will succeed in nil
ways. It will "entertain and reward
IIS guTSl, It will ,uuvai Lie pet irtu i
its hostess.
THEY THRIVE UNDER PERSECTTTIOX
Railroada Show Increase -Ylth Rebates)
and Passes Eliminated.
MinneaioIis Tribune.
It is amazing to see how the railroad
of the . "United States thrive under per
secution. For the past five years they
have' been "under the harrow. The Presi
dent has been after them continually in
the courts and through the Interstat
Commerce -Commission. Cringress !m
been interfering in their business wit1
restrictive legislation. The State T?gipJ
Iatures have been doing their part nK
passing bills to reduce rates and in
crease taxation.
" One would naturally expect to see som
marks of this continual persecution in
the business of the railroads. Yet nrtthin
seems to be the' matter with them ' excer
over-prosperity and tlte common affli'
tion of a restricted money market. The;
cannot buy equipment or build track fa
enough to handle the increased busine;
that is offered. They cannot horro
enough .to make the improvements cail
for by their enormous traffic
This is the only complaint they mak
of the persecution ithey -have suffere1
but they seem to be no worse off tha
others. When a railroad and some oth
borrower compete in the money marke
the railroad is apt to get the bett
terms. The Japanese government is pay
ing higher interest on its refunding boni
than, tlie Pennsylvania Railroad, pays o:
its foreign loan.
There is no evidence of suffering froi
persecution in the report of railron
earnings for 1906, just made public. O
the contrary tn gain of earnings
without' parallel in the history of an
year in any country. The American ral
roads have earned $250,000,000 gross an
ISo.OOO.OOO net more in 1906 than In 190
The increase -in ten years from 1896 i
tl.335,000,000 gross and J424.000.000 net, Onl
once in the ten years was the gross in
crease over 1200.000,000 and then the ne
increase was only 50,000.000. .
Of course much of the astonishing 1n
crease of the last year is due to th
growth of traffic that lias glutted line
and congested terminals. But is not som
part of it due to the increase of ne
earnings by cutting off freight rebate
and free passes? Have not tho railroad
received directly a larger profit from th
same expenditure by the very persecu
tion against which four leading presi
dents are going to the White House v
protest?
SIGNS