THE MORMXG OKEliU-MAN, SAHKDAY, OVUiJlJBJiB 16, 1907. SUBSCRIPTION RATES. INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE. (By Mall.) Dally. 8unday Included, one year $8.00 Dally. Sunday Included, itx months 4.S5 Dally. Sunday Inc luded, three months.. .S Dally. Sunday Included, one month 70 Datlr. without Sunday, one year fl.00 Dal'., without Sunday, six months . . . 8.25 Halt . without Sunday, three montha. . 1.78 Dally, without Sunday, one month 0 Sunday, one year....'. t.W Weekly, one year (Issued Thursday)... WJ Sunday and Weekly, one year 8-50 BY CARRIER. Dally. Sunday Included, one year 9.00 Dally. Sunday Included, one month 76 HOW TO REMIT Send postofnee money rd-r. express order or personal check on youf local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at the sender's risk. Qlvo postofllce ad drs In full. Including county and state. POSTAGE RATES. Entered at Portland. Oregon. Postofllce as Second-Class Matter. 10 to U Pages 1 cent le to 28 Pages centa 0 to 44 Pages 8 cents 46 to 00 Pages 4 cents Foreign postage,, double rates. IMPORTANT The postal laws are strict Newspapers on which postage Is not fully prepaid are not forwarded to destination. EASTERN BrSINESS OFFICE. The S. C. Beck with Special Agency New Tork. rooms 48-50 Tribune building. Chi cago, rooms B10-512 Tribune building. KEPT ON SALE. Chicago Auditorium Annex: Postofllce News Co . ITS Dearborn street. St. Paul, Minn N. St. Marie, Commercial Station Colorado Springs, Colo. Bell. H. H. Denver Hamilton and Kendrlck. 006-ftIZ Seventeenth street: Pratt Book Store. 1214 Fifteenth street; H. P. Hansen, S. Rice. Geo Carson Kansas City. Mo. Ricksecker Cigar Co.. Ninth and Walnut; Yoma News Co.; Harvey News Stand. Minneapolis M. J. cavanaugh. 50 South Third. Cleveland, O. James Pushaw, SOT Su perior street. Washington, D. C. Ebbltt House, Penn sylvania avenue. Philadelphia. Pa. Ryan's Theater Ticket Office; Penn News Co. New York City L. Jones at Co., Astor House; Broadway Theater News stand; Ar thur Hotallng Wagons; Empire News Stand. Atlantic City, J. Ell Taylor. Ogden D. L Boyle; Lowe Bros.. 114 Tcventv-flfth street. Omaha Barkalow Bros., Union Station; Mageath Stationery Co. Dea Moines, la. Mose Jacobs. Sacramento, Col. Sacramento News Co., 430 K street; Amos News Co. Salt Lake Moon Book A Stationary Co.; Rosenfeld & Hansen; Q. W. Jewett. P. O corner Los Angeles B. E. Amos, manager ten street wagons. Snn Diego B. E. Amos. Long Beach, Cal. B E. Amos. San Jose, Cal. St. Jamea Hotel News Stand Dallas, Tex. Southwestern News Agent. El Paso, Tex. Plaza Book and New Stand Fort Worth, Tex. F. Robinson Amarlllo, Tex. Amarlllo Hotel News Ctand. New Orleans, La. Jones News Co. San Francisco Foster & Orear; Ferry News Stand; Hotel St. Francis News Stand; L. Parent; N Wheatley; Falrmount Hotel News Stand; Amos News Co.; United News Agents 11H Eddy street; B. E. Amos, man ager three wagons. Oakland, Cal. W. H. Johnson, Fourteenth and Franklin streets; N Wheatley; Oakland News Stand; B E Amos, manager five wagons Goldfleld, Not. Louie Follln; C R. Hunter. Eureka, Cal. Call-Chrontcle Agency; Eu reka News Co. PORTLAND, SATURDAY, NOV. 16, 11)07. I PROHIBITION OF ARBITRARY IN CKI.ASK. All other producers, as well as the lumbermen. have a right to protest against the making of new arbitrary and higher rates by the railroads. Though , the lumbermen are per haps the principal sufferers at this time, the producers of wool, hops, cereals, fruits and livestock aro also deeply concerned. An arbi trary Increase of any rate on ship ments East, over the rate that long has been In vogue, may be most un fair. At the present time any railroad that desires to change an Interstate freight tariff may do so by filing a new rate thirty days In advance with the Interstate Commerce Commission. It then becomes effective. When a rate Is one of long stand ing, when under the Invitation It has offered and afforded, an Industry has been built up In any locality, or throughout a state or region, It Is most unjust for the railroads to destroy that Industry or reduce Its profits to nothing, by arbitrary Increase of the rate. It is this arbitrary action that the Pacific Northwest now protests. Yet the only remedy seems to He with Congress. The Interstate Commerce Commis sion has no power, as the law now stands, to suspend a change of rate, or to Inquire into its reasonableness, prior to its becoming operative. The power of appeal may be exercised only after the change has gone into effect. Te result, as anticipated, and Indeed as already demonstrated, of the power of the railroads to change rates at will, In the lumber trade of the Northwest, la Irreparable damage. The like arbi trary ruling may be extended to other products. Congress, without delay, Immediate ly after its organization for business next month, ought to pass an amend ment to the interstate commerce act to confer power on the Commission to pass upon the reasonableness of any proposed change of rate, upon com plaint of the shipper, before the new rate can become effective. Such is the nature of the amendment to be offered by Senator Fulton, at as early a mo ment as he may find it possible. To assure justice In these cases it is necessary that the protesting ship per shall first be heard. The right to oppress a whole people is never more to be permitted to the railroads of the country on the plea of the man agers that It is their "private busi ness." Whatever line of business Is actually affected with a public interest must submit henceforth to public reg ulation. The old arbitrary claim, but tressed on pretense of "vested rights," has had its day. Congress cannot dis regard this appeal for relief, through the Interstate Commission, that comes up from so many quarters. The rule should be, and must be, that all freight tariffs on interstate commerce and especially all Increases of freight tar iffs are to be approved by the Inter state Commission before becoming ef ' fectlve. Of course the railroads are to have their right of appeal. The rates made on lumber towards the East are prohibitory. Already they have shut down most of the lum ber mills of the Northwest throwing thousands out of employment. Con sidered from the interests of the rail roads alone, the policy is disastrous. With their eastbound business cut off, what Is to become of their westbound business? With the lumber interest annihilated, how much machinery will they haul west? What quantities of general merchandise, when the means of paying for It are cut oft? How many passengers, when no work is to be had for those who would come to the country seeking wages? Under the old system the railroads have been astonishingly prosperous. They have ! not lost money, but made it. Why the change? It is ' greedy stupidity j which supposed it could get more. It ! will get less, mjich less. The true in I terest of the railroads is to promote 1 and encourage Industry, not to stifle it. The course they take is an exhibit of . rapacity that will certainly defeat it 1 self. Something must be left to labor and enterprise and capital in the Northwest, or the railroads will "go ! broke' for lack of business. A BIT OF LOGIC. It is interesting to try to imagine what a satiric dramatist like Ibsen would have made of the case of Nels Steel. According to the report, Nels had $2000 in the Ross bank when the doors closed. Brooding over his loss, he became Insane and his relatives de livered him to the police. Now poor Nels is in Jail waiting for the thera peutic effect of rats and darkness upon his brain, while the man who says he is solely responsible for the wreck of the bank Inhabits a sumptuous man sion in that peace of mind which comes only to those who walk in per fect righteousness. A casuist would have little difficulty In proving that Nels has been put in Jail because of his confidence in the bank that failed. Because of his con fidence he deposited his money; be cause he deposited the two thousand dollars he lost it; because he lost It he went crazy; because he went crazy he was put in jail. The connection be tween cause and consequence is a trifle remote, perhaps, but it is certainly there. It might be demonstrated more clearly by asking the question whether Nels would be in Jail or not if he had kept his money out of the Ross bank. Of course not. Now all the logicians are agreed that when a second event cannot happen without the prior happening of another, that other is the cause of the second. It follows, therefore, that Nels' confi dence in the Ross bank is the cause of his being in jail. A man is always put In jail as a pun ishment for something. The some thing that he is punished for is the cause of his being In Jail. Now the cause of Nels being in jail we have al ready shown to be his confidence in the Ross bank; ergo, that confidence is what he is being punished for. Possibly the punishment is deserved. There are men whose integrity It is lit tle short of a crime to believe In. But In Nels' case there were mitigating circumstances, as there were for all the victims of the failure in question. THE NECESSARY PROCEEDING. Does the country need more money? Isn't honest dealing with the money we have the one needful thing? Money is scarce only because the operators of frenzied finance, the plungers in speculation, the promoters of enormous schemes of graft and rake-off. had obtained access to great banking, railroad and trust funds, and by the enormous extent and ap parent dishonesty of their operations had alarmed the general public. The people then made the run for what portions of their money they supposed might still be left. An Incredible sum was thus taken out of the usual places of deposit. It might amount to one-half of all the money of the United States. Till all this occurred there was no complaint of the scarcity of money. Proof that there was no actual scarcity was afforded by the universal preva lence of high prices, and by the high average level of wages higher than ever before In the history of the coun try. What the country needs, then, is proper control of the brigands of finance. A while ago it had its fight with the inflationists, and brought them un der subjection. It now Intends to bring the brigands and desperadoes of finance under control, by measures which will make It Impossible for them to use In the operations of des perate and rapacious speculation the money to which they obtain access through the present system of corpora tion management. All of these malefactors will not go off and commit suicide, as the presi dent of the Knickerbocker Trust Com pany has done however worthy of imitation the example may be. So it becomes necessary to put the -rest of them under proper control which is the nature of the proceeding against E. H. Harriman, agent of a big group of these rapacious plunderers. THE JAPANESE PUZZLE. Immigration officials in this city have just deported a small party of Japanese who were here without the proper credentials. This Is the first of what promises to be a work of great magnitude. A Vancouver dispatch in Thursday's Oregonian said that Immi- ! gration Commissioner King was startled when Yoshy, a Japanese em ployment agent, Informed him that thousands of Japanese came to the Ca nadian port for the purpose of enter ing the United States. "There Is no fence at the boundary, you know," said Yoshy, the hint thus conveyed il lustrating how easy it is for aliens to come into this country. That the Jap anese fully appreciate the value of Vancouver as a base for operations and a kind of a clearing point for the thousands swarming over the bound ary line Is Indicated by the modest de mand made on Vancouver for damages suffered during the recent riots. Despite the largo amount of prop erty destroyed and the severe jar given Japanese dignity, the total amount asked by the Japanese was but J 13,500 and this amount was cut down to $10, 775 and accepted without protest, in order that there would be no disturb ance of the satisfactory arrangements under which the importers of these alien herds were working. But the Japanese troubles on the Pacific Coast are not ende4- These diminutive workers from the Far East, together with those other strange people, the Hindus, came into the industrial life of the Pacific Coast at a time when there was more than enough employment to go around. Economic conditions fa vorable to their gaining a foothold were perfect, but, in spite of these con ditions, race hatred developed and there has been more or less turmoil since they landed on our shores. If race hatred and the objection to cheap Asiatic labor resulted in indig- i nitles being heaped on the aliens dur I lng a period of unexampled prosperity. I it is quite natural to expect a great i deal more trouble as soon as there i shall be a slackening in the demand ror labor. Near Bellingham a few nights ago a sawmill where the Japan ese had supplanted the whites as la borers was burned to the ground, for no other apparent reason than that the idle white employes who had been discharged desired to show their aver- sion to the Japanese and those who employ them. Over in Clackamas County a Hindu was murdered for no other reason than that his presence and that of his fellows was distasteful to the whites In the vicinity. These outrages occurred at a time when there was more employment than em ployes. With crimes of this nature being committer! during a period of prosperity. It is easy to understand what may happen when the fight for employment becomes more serious. The seriousness of the Japanese ques tion on the Pacific Coast is not thor ounghly understood in the East, and to this fact Is due much of the East ern protest against the Western meth ods of handling the problem. The lack of knowledge in the East ern States regarding the Japanese Is reflected in a statement in the New York Journal of Commerce comparing the Japanese Immigrant to the new comer from France or Germany and stating that "the Japanese comes to America with the same hopes and as pirations as the average European emigrant to better his condition and enjoy a higher standard of living." This is an error, for the average Euro pean immigrant comes to the country to become Americanized, while the Japanese comes here to get what he can out of the country and still re main loyal to his own country, mean while endeavoring to get a foothold that will admit of his "Japanning" as much of it as is possible.. There is trou ble ahead unless the "fence" men tioned by Toshy Is made alien-tight, and in the most emphatic manner possible-the Japanese should be given to understand that they are a disturbing factor in the industrial world and are not wanted here. ARE THE UNDERWRITERS ASLEEP? The court of Inquiry that has been Investigating the loss of the steamship Queen Christine, wrecked near Cres- I cent City a few weeks ago, has con cluded Its findings. The verdict Is no departure from that which is always handed down at the conclusion of these farces. Few, If any, more fla grant cases of reckless navigation have ever been reported than the loss -of this fine new steamship valued at more than $250,000, the only recent excep tion being the loss of the Tellus, which was run aground in broad daylight and a smooth sea a little while earlier. The Queen Christine, in light ballast trim, was en route from San Fran cisco to Portland, and, instead of keep ing clear of the land, her master was hugging the shore In a fog. When less than twenty-four hours out from the Bay City he met the fate he courted. The court found that the master was "in error in not attempting to verify the position of his steamer; that he should have been on deck, and that he should have familiarized himself with the published sailing directions." As the- master had taken none of these vitally necessary precautions, the court administered the usual coat of whitewash, known as "censure." No wonder that careless navigators, hold ing American license, would prefer that their eases be tried before such "courts" as administer punishment to the reckless navigators sailing under other flags. Any American navigator found guilty of such reckless naviga tion as caused the loss of the Tellus and Queen Christine would in sho-t order be deprived of the right to place any more steamers on the beach, at least until a long term ashore had given him opportunity to improve his knowledge or Judgment. These courts are composed of the Consul nearest the wreck and two shipmasters. Unfortunately, whenever vessels are cast away through such criminal care lessness as was noticeable In the case of the Queen Christine and Tellus this season, and the Peter Iredale and the Galena last season, the port toward which the vessels are bound suffers. The foreign underwriters, who foot the bills. Instead of insisting on shipown ers placing their vessels in the hands of competent navigators, equalize mat ters by marking up insurance rates. In the case of the Peter Iredale it is reported on excellent authority that the master was actually rewarded by his owners with the command of a new steamer. So long as these reck less shipmasters are permitted to go unpunished for their sacrifices of prop erty and the Imperiling of human life there Is small hope of Improvement; but if the wreckers keep up the rec ord they have started on this year there is a possibility that even the sleepy underwriters who -foot the bills may wake up and demand a change in the findings of these "courts" which are so distressingly lenient with the shipmasters. Unless a halt is called it may be necessary to make this much-needed reform an international affair. We dislike to have the reputation of our ports and shore line ruined by a lot of incompetent, reckless, alleged navigat ors. If London Falrplay, which is al ways on the, lookout for a chance to "hammer" Portland and the Colum bia River, would turn its batteries on the men who wink at this criminal de struction of shipping property, it would accomplish vastly more good than it has ever accomplished by mis representing conditions at Portland. The third Russian Douma was opened at St. Petersburg Thursday with great pomp and show. The priests wore the customary cloth of gold and the aristocracy was on full dress parade. Premier Stolypln re ceived a kiss on the cheek from the metropolitan of the Russian Church. But all of this display failed to en thuse some of the members of the Douma, and unusual precautions were taken to prevent Stolypln and others of the royal circle from receiving something worse than a kiss on the cheek. As this is a time when money shortages are bothering the world, it is interesting to note that the Minister of Finance has handed his budget over to the Chancellor of the Douma, with an estimate of $1,257,500,000 for ex penditures, and ordinary receipts placed at $1,159,000,000. Pernaps it was the impending shortage that pre vented some of the peasant members from enthusing' over the situation. The spectacle of the Central Ameri can republics holding a peace confer ence has excited attention of the para graphers who formerly found material for Jokes in the numerous but brief wars which engaged the attention of the peppery lands of the south. But not only did the Central Americans hold their peace conference without killing one another, but they have ac tually launched a scheme for consoli dation of the five republics Nica ragua, Guatemala, Salvador, Hondjuras and Coata Rica. President Zelaya. of Nicaragua, has announced his willing ness to resign whenever called on in order to permit selection of a presi dent for a nation made up of the five republics. Considering the chronic state of revolution in which these small republics live, it seems strange to think of peace settling over them when they are tied together. Still the experiment Is worth a trial, and the very novelty of the situation may keep the dove on her perch for at least a short time. Three steamships sailing from New ' York yesterday carried 5 000 steerage passengers to Europe. Another which ' leaves today with the "overflow" will 1 carry 3000 more, and it is estimated ' that the regular Saturday liners will I carry fully 10,000 steerage passengers. ! The lowest estimates place the amount i of money taken out by these aliens re- turning to their old homes at $200 each. At this low figure the crowd departing from New York wourd take i away nearly $4,000,000. 'This drain began nearly a month ago and prom ises td increase in volume as the de mand for labor slackens in this coun try. No small amount of the scarcity in gold in this country can be traced to the money going abroad for lavish expenditures of rich tourists and in hoards of laborers returning to their old homes. t Of the twelve Jurors who are to de cide the fate of" Mrs. Bradley, the slayer of ex-Senator Brown, of Utah, ten are men who are married and are fathers. Since the two little sons of Mrs. Bradley and the man whom she slew are to figure as the palliative features of the killing, this fact is re garded as distinctly favorable to the defendant. There are, of course, fath ers and fathers, but the man who has pride In and affection for his children, and who regards it as a sacred duty to protect and maintain them in honor before the world, may be depended upon to judge a delinquent father as he deserves, even though this Judg ment Involves the acquittal of the woman who killed him for his alleged parental delinquency. What is to be done to keep up the numbers and efficiency of the United States Army? Not only do the rolls show a shortage of 33 per cent in the number of enlisted men, but young officers are resigning their commis sions because they hope to do better. No fewer than nine members of this year's graduating class at West Point have resigned from the service to en ter mercantile pursuits. For the Navy It Is even more difficult to get men. It is clear that more and better in ducements will be necessary for men in either branch of the service. "Congress has never understood the money question, and it is doubtful If Congress ever will,"- said Senator Bailey, of Texas, in an address at El Paso Thursday. There are some feat ures of the "money question" which are perfectly understood by Senator Bailey, the investigation of his connec tion with Standard Oil disclosing a knowledge of money of the tainted brand that surprised even his closest friends and came very near defeat ing him for re-election. Where, oh, where Is Mary "Yellin' " Lease? A meeting of the Kansas woman suffragists, now on In Topeka, was attended by scarcely half a dozen people on the opening day. The suf fragists are organizing for the purpose of electing members of the Legislature who are pledged to give women the unrestricted right of suffrage. The gallant six are probably re-echoing the slogan of William Allen White "What's the matter with Kansas?" Let everybody who has a vacant space In his back yard plant a Winter banana apple tree. In this way all may be able in due time to sample this beautiful fruit and from his own knowledge decide whether it Is as de lightful to the taste as fair to the eye. Otherwise most people, there being relatively few Vanderbllts among us, will be forced to take the growers' statement in regard to the toothsome ness of this splendid apple- Rev. and Mrs. Joseph Hoberg, of McMinnvllle, though not, according to the roster kept by Secretary Hlmes, of the Pioneer Association, pioneers in the strict interpretation of that term, have lived in Oregon forty-two years and are really and truly Oregonians. Serene in their happy age, they recent ly celebrated the fifty-sixth anniversary- of their marriage, glad to be alive and glad that they have lived thus long in Oregon. There is now no California train running through the Willamette Valley by daylight. People who travel on the Southern Pacific will miss seeing one of the most beautiful garden spots in the world. Mr. Bryan was under no necessity of saying that he would accept the nomi nation of his party for the Presi dency, If it were offered him. Long ago everybody knew that Barkis was wlllin'. That alumni banquet behind closed doors in Chicago addressed by Speaker Cannon was attended by the same se crecy which attaches to executive ses sions of the Senate. Well, ,the farmers have had plenty of fine weather to finish up their Fall work, and if they haven't got It done they should not complain at a spell of rainy weather. If ever the country runs short of se curity for clearing-house certificates, there are millions of eggs in cold stor age that are a valuable asset in them selves. What an opportunity for an all Winter discussion was lost by failure to secure the full text of an impromptu essaj-: "Cannon on the Canteen." Under strict classification, Mr. Bry an's announcement that he would ac cept the nomination if tendered will not be received as live news. In the savings banks of Chicago the deposits aggregate-$160,000,000. The withdrawals during the financial flurry have been very small. To Joseph vi. C-nn-n, Danville, 111. Don't monkey with the liquor question. I got stung. C. W. Fa-rb-nks. In this Gould scandal it seems that Buffalo Bill ought to be permitted to plead the statute of limitations. Bryan will not refuse the honor a third rime, wherein be differentiates from Caesar. OXCU MORE, SOCIALISM. And the Argument That It la Not In consistent With Private Property. PORTLAND, Nov. 15. (To the Editor.) In any controversy the side that fears question, argument or criti cism Is either weak, wrong or both. Knowing this, in a spirit of "fair play" permit a word In denial of Socialism being against private property a charge often made by and through the press. Surely, it Is a poor public press that the editors alone voice the expres sion, and a timid one that allows no other. But the fearless editorials from the vigorous pen of its editor makes The . Oregonian's Independence well known. Thus hope holds out the ex pectant permission of a small space In Its columns. . The impression that prevails that Socialism is opposed to private prop erty arises in the difference of opinion as to what should be private. Socialists want all productive means of living, social and natural, to be of collective use and having In common, and all product of the use and having that of the Individual In private -collective means private result by equal own ership and management of them. This gives and protects the right by like power of equal Interests to com mand and share it. By It there Is equal opportunity and use of the means. In this all fare alike in get ting the result. The result being all labor reward, all can have accord ing to industry. By It proficiency can have all within the power of ability and genius. This supplies Incentive and strengthens individuality to the ut most. In all this none will encroach on the right of others, as there will be means enough or like right of use. This will bring about co-operation and place the so-called 'great man" at the head as greater results can so be achieved. mutually benefiting. By equality of right and use the general means of collective having will be of personal interest, and their welfare the common care of each through self gain. This places labof in control of its means and work by which it will be done through the best possible chan nel of success. Socialism Is co-partnership of equal Interests in the living means by which they may be had with out other cost than maintenance pro rata to use and wear. Government by management, control and direction is not destroyed, never will be. But state, as state now Is, an inharmonious wrangle of conflict ing opinions mostly upheld and chang ing with force, will be, under Social ism, communal industry of social pro duction will be carried by collective means of common ownership managed by a true democracy. Harmony, not force, will reign under Socialism. C. W. SAUNDERS. No Socialist ever sees half-way through his own problem. While It is true, in a literal sense, that Socialism is not opposed to private property, it Is true, also, that there is no way, under Socialism, to acquire private property, beyond the barest means and needs of living; for Socialism consists In absorption by the state of all the means of production and control of all the means of distribution; and one person under such a system can have no right to more than another. Were there any preferred workers the system would not be democratic. Equality Is the essence of every scheme of Social ism; and since all could not have sumptuous furniture none could have better than his neighbor, because he couldn't earn it. The state would take all profits and distribute equal rations. Needless to say, the rations would be equally poor. It may bo doubted whether the whole people of the United States would be content to sup on a common basis, though the por ridge might be private property and the wooden spoon the owner would eat it with. THE TELEGRAPH OPERATORS. A Lesson In a Simple Law of Industrial Economics. New York World. It is a painful thing to see the doors of the telegraph companies closed against the striking operators as they seek to re turn to their places. The strike has long since been broken. New men are at the keys, and it Is no longer a question of higher pay but of employment on any terms. The strike of the telegraphers has dif fered from others in the enthusiasm with which it was entered .on. No walking delegate worked it up for his personal benefit. It was a popular uprising, begun with a hurrah which forced the officers of the organization into the fight against their bette- Judgment. The activity and encouragement of the women participat ing gave It an unusual sentimental char acter. Its failure has been due to a cause re sponsible for the breaking of many an other strike the ability of employers to draw on a National reserve of labor too great to be controlled by any organization or union. Telegraphy, though calling for Intelligence, application and a high degree of accuracy, is not skilled labor In a limited sense. Thousands of boys are at this moment "picking it up" with key and sounder or learning it in commercial schools, as thousands have before them. Nor do telegraphers form a close guild capable of dictating terms. Their defeat has been a sorrowful lesson in a simple law of Industrial economics. PUNISH SLANDERERS OF BANKS. New Jersey Has a Law Making the Offense a Misdemeanor. Daily Banker and Stockholder, November 8, 1907. The State of New Jersey has a law pro viding that any person who shall wilfully or maliciously Instigate, make, circulate or transmit to another or others any statement untrue in fact, derogatory to the financial condition or affecting the solvency or financial standing of any bank, banking Institution or trust com pany doing business in the state, or who shall counsel, aid, procure or Induce an other to start, transmit or circulate any such statement or rumor, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. This act ought to be adopted throughout the country and It Is one of the acts which the law committee of the American Bankers' Association recommends. We are In a crisis of ex treme public sensitiveness about banks. The slightest derogatory word or careless publication may mean heartache for some banker or possibly ruin. The sensational use of the incidents of a banking crisis is deplorable enough without the element of malice or sheer recklessness. Like Givinar Money to a ProdlKal. HAINES, Ore., Nov. 13. (To tne Editor.) The Oregoniah's editorial of November 12. "Just the Plain Way," Is the clearest and most sensible explanation of the cause and Eolution of the present financial panic we have seen, not excepting any exposition by any of the national period icals. We wish that every member of the House and Senate might have this article before he has cast a vote for an "elastic currency." It seems to us that furnishing more currency now would be like sending or giving money to a prodigal before he had had any idea of Improving his ways. If our President is not receiving the Oregonian we would like the privilege of sending him this special . article. HAINES MERCANTILE CO.. By J. F. O'BRYANT, Manager. The Hhower Harp. F. D. Sherman. The strings are made of rain, and when The branches wish to dance again. They whisper to the Breeze, and ha Brings another melody. NO ROOSEVELT REACTION. Remarks on Some of the Phases of Recent Elections. New York World. However anxious we are to find some thing in Tuesday's elections which can be construed as a wholesome and adequate rebuke to President Roosevelt we have been unsuccessful. However anxlons we are to find en couragement for the Democratic party and evidence of brighter Democratic prospects, the returns refuse to assist us. On the contrary, the figures justify President Roosevelt's exultant boast that the returns are "extremely gratify ing" and that as a whole "the showing has been an improvement over what it . was four years ago and eight years ago." j Comparatively, the Republican party polls its heaviest vote In Presidential years; the Democratic party in off i years. This was an off year. There should have been decisive Democratic victories with corresponding Republican defeats. Where are they? - Not In New Jersey, although in the early hours of Wednesday morning the World deluded itself Into such a belief. The Republicans have carried the state, and, as the President points out, by a larger majority than they had In 18P8, when Voorhees was elected Governor by 6500, although two years earlier McKin ley had a plurality of 87.600. The bitter est anti-Roosevelt sentiment in the coun try now exists in New York south of Chambers jtreet. Nowhere is this senti ment better reflected politically than in the great commuter vote of New Jersey. Taking this fact into consideration, the Bavlng of that state to the Republicans was a remarkable achievement. Kentucky has gone Republican for the fourth time since 1894, and Wilson's plu rality for Governor is greater than the combined Republican pluralities in the three other elections. Nebraska. Mr. Bryan's own state, has given Increased off-year majorities to the Republican candidates. - The Republican candidate for Governor In Massachusetts polled more votes than all his opponents com bined. Despite a fusion defeat In Man hattan, the Republicans carried Brook lyn and held their own in the state. In deed, they have done more, for if the Independence League is to be a perma nent factor, the Democratic party may be as sadly split in New York as It Is in Massachusetts. The truth Is that the results through out the country evidence no diminution of Republican strength and no abatement of Mr. Roosevelt's popularity. Perhaps Mr. Bryan and his vociferous admirers can explain how it happens that in an election which should show great Democratic gains and hold out new hope and promise to the Democratic party not a shadow of a shred of com fort can be found. THERE IS MORAL PROGRESS. The Gain That Comes Throwrh Quick Commuieation Among; the People. Corvallls Gazette. Time was. and the day Is not far past, when there was practically 'little or no public sentiment In Oregon on any question. This is easily explained. There was little material out of which to build up public sentiment, and that was dispersed over a wide area. Com munication was difficult, expensive and infrequent. Not only were the several sections of the state Isolated from each other, but the whole state was Isolated from the rest of the country. Under these conditions It was next to impos sible to create any decisive public sentiment on any question; not, in deed, because our people were Im moral or dead to moral purposes and obligations, but because of great ob stacles which prevented the creation of general public sentiment and made the unification of existing sentiment quite impossible. Public sentiment had no form of crystallization, was with out force and became heedless, negli gent and weak. Under these conditions the politics of the state was debauched, whole sorrie laws were violated with Impun ity and dishonesty, -trickery, fraud and malfeasance made It appear that the conscience of our people was "seared as with a hot Iron." ' Not so. The moral sentiment of the people simply needed to be aroused, unified and stirred to action. Pulpit, press and rostrum worked long, earn estly and efficiently to this end and today the moral public sentiment of our people la as pure and active as In any state In the Union. Oregonians have been fortunate that they have had all through the years one great, able, fearless Journal which has wisely seen the moral fiber In every public question and always has been enough courageous to stand firm In Its support though It sometimes had to stand quite alone. The signs are propitious. Never in their history have the American peo ple been so fully aroused; never have tney Deen so unanimously determined that right, truth. Justice and right ousness shall prevail. The moral sense of the Nation is aroused and Is rapidly crystallising In all directions. No longer may It be defied. The rogue may not become an honest man, but he must cease his roguery or be de stroyed. Theaters and the Public. PORTLAND, Nov. 15. (To the Ed itor.) I was at the Marquam last night and witnessed the quite hilarious presentation of "The Heir to the Hoorah." There Is a genuine Western hporah about the piece that Is very relaxing for this bank-bustlng sea son. Then, the Marquam itself is In viting. Its old-time friends are happy it still retains something, at least the name, of its original ownership and management. But alas! the hand of the cheap theater artist is now in evi dence. Have "Foster and Kleiser" be come the great artists of the West, or have we become so venal and vulgar that we appreciate nothing but vul garity, beer and billboards? One would hope that the ui sightly signs that everywhere disgrace the city would not be forced upon us at the theater. Is there not one management in the city whose sense of the fitness of things would give us a theater with a decent drop curtain? O temporal O mores! We are a patient and long suffering public. How long, Oh Cateli ne, wilt thou abuse our patie' ce? W. A. DALY. Sunday in the Philippines. St. Paul Pioneer Press. Until a few years ago. the Philippine islanders held their Sunday on the day which was Monday to the inhabitants of the neighboring Island of Borneo. This curious anomaly arose from the historic fact that the Philippines were discovered by Spanish voyagers com ing from the east, around Cape Horn, while Borneo was discovered by Portu guese coming from the west, and sail ors lost or gain a day, according to their direction In crossing the Pacific. "Ould Doctor Ma'Glnn." The ould doctor had only wan fallln. It -stayed wld him, faith, till he died; And that was the habit av wearln' His darby a trifle wan side! 'And twenty times dally 'twas straightened. But try as he would for a year. Not thlnkln'. he'd rive It a leather A thrifle down over won ear! It sat film lop-sided and aisy ; It throubled his kith and his kin But ach, 'twas the only thins crooked About our ould Doctor Ma'Glnn! And now that he's gone to his Glory Excuse me, a bit av a tear Here's twenty to wan that his halo Is slantin down over his ear! Arthur Stringer In Smart Set. INATipiNAL (jlARD THE annual report of the Inspector General showing the relative standing of the various organizations of the Ore gon Guard was made public yesterday in a tabulated statement issued from- the headquarters of Adjutant-General W. E. Finzer. " The report shows that at the last annual Inspection a Eugene Infantry company, then commanded by Captain Creed C. Hammond, stood" at the head of the list with Company K, of the Third Infantry, a close second. Third place goes to Battery A and fourth to Com pany C, also of the Third Infantry, The relative standing of the other organiza tions, of the Guard Is shown by the order In which their designations occur, as fol lows: Company M. Salem. Captain Charles A. Murphy; Company C, Eugene, Captain John M. Williams; Company H, Portland, Captain Charles T. Smith; Company D, Roseburg, Captain Frank B. Hamlin: Company H, Portland, Captain Roy M. Doble; Company A, Baker City. Captain Samuel .White; Company I, Woodburn. Captain Frank W. Settlemier; Company B, Ashland, Captain James E. Thornton; Company B, Portland, First Lieutenant. Walter W. Wilson: Company D. The Dalles, Captain Gustav R. Bartell; Com pany F, Portland, Captain W. B. Odalo; Company G. Albany. First Lieutenant OUn B. Stalnaker; Company L, Captain Abna B. Rogers. Company K, which took second place In the order of merit, is in command of Captain Ryland, O. Scott, and Battery A. in third place, is in command of Captain Hiram V. Welch. Company C, winner of fourth place, was commanded at inspection by Captain Loren A, Bowman. The order of merit Is based on attend ance at Inspection, ceremonies, conditions of arms, equipment, uniforms, books and papers; efficiency at drills in school of the soldier, manual of arms, firings, squad or section and platoon and com pany movements, and extended order; efficiency of officers, military courtesy and general discipline. Many officers are already looking for ward to th- next annual inspection, those at the head of the list with a view to maintaining their lead and others with the intention of getting higher ratings. A meeting of considerable Importance in Guard circles will be that of Wednes day night, when the officers will enter tain General James A. Drain, president of the National Rifle Association. While the General's headquarters are In New York and he seldom gets nut on the Coast, he Is well known locally, having been Adjutant-General of the Washing ton National Guard for a number of years. General Drain comes in the interest of rifle shooting, to which subject the Gov ernment has been devoting a great deal of attention and money of late. During his stay he will assist In the organization of a state rifle association, the prelimin ary work for which was undertaken some time ago by General Finzer. A recent circular issued .from the War Department, refers to General Drain's work as fol lows: "In connection with the revived Interest In rifle practice the War De partment Is highly gratified at the -progress helng made in the organization of rifle clubs throughout the country. The National Rifle Association, under the ener getic direction of General James A. Drain, its president. Is especially active in -organizing such clubs. Affiliation with this association obtains for the clubs many advantages In the way of reduced prices for Government ammunition and rifles, medals and Nationnl marksmen's reserve buttons and the like." On Wednesday night at the Armory. General Drain will be tendered a recep tion following his address on rifle prac tice. The reception will he given under the auspices of the National Guard As sociation. The Invitations Just mailed from headquarters state that the recep tion will be held Tuesday night but sub sequent word from General Drain as to the dnte of his arrival has necessitated the change to Wednesday. Company n, of Albany, stands in danger of being mustered out of the state service for inefficiency. The attention of the commanding officer there has been called summariljr to the fact that the company failed to measure up the required average strength for duty at camp of instruc tion and rendezvous drills, which must be at least two-thirds of each unit. Com pany G has been advised by headquarters that unless a marked improvement is shown within a very short time, steps will be taken to muster the command out of the service. It Is hinted that other company commanders are to receive similar communications, although the number is limited, as the majority of tho comnanles never were in better condition, both as to membership and general effi ciency. The indoor rifle range is being freely used at the Armory and many excellent scores are being made. A table showing the result of the range competitions of the past target season is shortly to be Issued from headquarters. Advices just received from the War De partment Justify the statement that the National Guard. is shortly to be equipped with the new Springfield rifles. There is som question as to whether the Ordin ance Department will be able to issue tho new rifle in time for the out-door rango practice of the coming season but the Issue wm surely be made and at no far distant date. The regular Army will soon be equipped completely with tho new model of 1903, and the Issue to the Guard will speedily follow. Tt is stated that the new rifle would long since have been issued except for changos In the ammunition. Theso changes were such as to greatly In crease the range and efficiency of tho weapon and at the same time neces sitated re-chambering. A new powder. It Is learned, has also been adopted, calcu lated to reduce the erosion attendant on high velocity, and some time may be required to lay In a sufficient supply of nAn.-. !'.--. , ' OdTlpr chief of ordnance, has announced that he ex pects to be able to state definitely by January 1 whether tho War Department will be in a position to noncr '""--' a 1 iftAO n.l fnr f-nilirmillK tltO UOU 1UI IIIC WW Hiuuoi w. - Guard in time for Spring practice. My ... . . rim- - making the issue in tne pr.nK u w . tt. save a arcrt ernin:iii wuum w a.ui ."-- - expense that otherwise will be incurred in providing new Krag Darrein iu. rifles' that are now Daaiy won.. Camp Perry, on Lake Erie, will doubt less be again selected for the National rifle matches of next year. The rarse Is being extensively improved and bears i.,un.nt r the National Rifle As sociation. The matte- will be definitely tfd at the meetinc n v asningion. u. C of the National Board for the promo tion of rifle practice. This meeting oc curs in January. The concert of the famous Kilties Band will be repeated at the Armory tonight nd it is expected that every seat wni na occupied. The Kilties is not oniy dus ui the most noted bands in the world but the programme Hcludoo a number of novel features, such as scotcn aances, vocal mimic and fine solo work. The con cert Is for the benefit of the Guard, the proceeds, above expenses, going to the furnishing of the new company quarters at the Armory.