10
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1907.
SCRSCKIPTION RATES.
1XVAR1ABI.T IN ADVANCE.
(By Mall.)
Dally, Sunday Included, one year. . . . . .$8-00
Pally. Sunday Included, nix months...- 4-25
Llilly, Sunday tncluded. three months.. 2.25
L)all3', Sunday Included, one month 75
Dally, without Sunday, one year........ 600
Dally, without Sunday, six months 8.85
Daily, without Sunday, three months. .. 1.75
Dally, without Sunday, one month 00
Sunday, one year a 2-50
Weekly, one year (Issued Thursday)... 150
Sunday and weekly, one year 3.50
BY CARRIER.
Dally. Sunday Included, one year &-00
Daily. Sunday Included, one month "5
MOW TO REMIT Send postoflice money
order, express order or personal check on
your lojal bank, stamps, coin or currency
are at the sender's risk. Give postoflce ad
dress in lull. Including; county .and state.
rOSTAOK RATES.
Entered at I'ortland. Oregon, Fostofflc
as Second-Class Matter.
10 to U Pases 1 cent
1 to 2S Pages ...2 cents
80 to 44 Pages .3 cents
tii to GO races ri 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 BUSINESS OFFICE.
The 8. C. JBeckwith Special Agency New
York. roe:ns 4S-30 Tribune building. Chi
cago, rooms 510-512 Tribune building.
RETT ON SALE.
Chicago Auditorium Annex; Postoflice
News t'o., 178 Dearborn stteet.
ft. I'aul, Minn. N. St. Marie, Commercial
Etatlon.
Colorado Springs, Colo. Bell, H. H.
Denver Hamilton and Kendrick. 906-B13
Seventeenth street: Vratt Book Store, 1214
Hfteenth street; H. P. Hansen. S. Rice,
(jeo. Carson.
Kssmii City, Mo. Rlcksscker Cigar Co..
Ninth and Walnut; Yoma Lews Co.
Minneapolis M. J. cavaiuiugh, 50 South
Third.
Icvrland, O. James Pushaw, 30T Su
perior street.
Washington, D. C. Ebb! :t House, Penn
sylvania avenue.
Philadelphia, Pa. Ryan's Theater Ticket
Office; 1'etin News Co.
New ork t ily L- Joni s Co.. ' Astor
House; Broadway Theater News Stand; Ar
thur Hotallng Wagons; Empire News Stand.
Ogdcn D. I.. Boyle; Lowe Bros., 114
Twent -fifth street.
Omnhd Bnrkulow Bros., Union Station;
Mugeuth Stationery Co.
Ies Moines, 1. Mob, Jacobs.
riacrameulo, Cal. Sacramento New Co.,
430 K street; Amos News Co.
Salt Iuke Moon Book & Stationery Co.;
F.nsenfeld & Hansen; U. W. Jewett. P. O.
corner.
Los Angeles B. E. Amos, manager ten
street waxons.
Pnsndcnn, Cal. Amos News Co.
fan Diego B. F,. Amos.
Long Resell, Cnl. B. E. Amos.
San Jose, Cal. St. James Hotel News
Stand.
Dnllns, Tex. Southwestern News Agent.
Amarillo, Tex. Tlmmons & Pope.
San l-'rnncWo Foster & Orear; Ferry
News Stand; Hotel St. Francis News Stand;
L. Patent; N. Wheatley; Falrmount Hotel
News Stand; Amos News Co.; United News
A Rents. 14 V Eddy street; B. E. Amos, man
ac;"r three wagons.
Oakland, Cnl. W. H. Johnson, Fourteenth
and Franklin streets; N. Wheatley; Oakland
News Staad; B E. Amos, manager Ave
wagons
;iIi!Hcld, Nov. Louie Fonln; C E.
Hunter.
Eureka, Cal. Call-Chronicle Agency; Eu
reka News Co.
I'OHTLAXO. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18. 1907.
A COMPLEX PROBLEM.
No doubt the argument' that the income-from
the "liquor tax Is ssential
to support of government will be ridi
culed by prohibitionists; yet It is an
argument that has a very practical
side. The tax on the manufacture
brings into the Treasury of the United
States tl50.000.000 a year. What form
or taxation would take its place? Di.
roct taxation, undoubtedly, of some
kind, which would fall on a class of
people different from those who ulti
mately pay the liquor tax; yet this
class has already plenty of taxes, di
rect and indirect, to pay. But the
Government tax on manufacture,
gnat as the sum produced by it is,
yet is but a bagatelle when compared
with the municipal taxes collected
from the sale. This runs into hundreds
of millions. The little city of Portland
alone collects $325,000 a year, which,
if liquor taxation were abandoned,
would be added to the direct taxes.
The financial side of this subject is
not to be ignored in the discussion of
general and total prohibition. It will
force Itself on general attention and
will prove no unimportant factor. Rev
enue from taxation of liquors, malt,
vinous and spirituous, is an important
part of the revenues of every great
country. The harm done by abuse of
liquors is everywhere patent, but In
the common sense and Judgment of
the world there is difference between
use and abuse, and taxpayers will not
wish to take on themselves, for a sen
timent which all do not share, the
vastly additional burden of taxes that
loss of revenues from liquors would
impose on them.. This consideration
will certainly be a prominent factor
in the debate and in the formation of
final opinion. And while it will be
said that if sale and consumption of
liquors were wholly stopped society
would hnve fewer burdens to carry
and fewer charges to meet, it wou".
not be wise to depend on this-argument,
since, in the long run, the oper
ations of government will be found as
expensive as ever. The official sysgem
will not be cut down.
On the economic and industrial side,
too, there will be much loss. We are
hopgrowers and vineyardists and pro
ducers of cereals;, we are makers of
bottles and barrels and cases; we are
carriers by water and rail. Thousand
of employers are in these lines of in
dustry and business. Owners of real
estate, in large numbers, also have an
interest, direct and indirect, in one
part or another of this great economic.
Industrial and financial problem.
These facts are mentioned merely to
remind such as wish to think of It
how important and far-reaching the
genera! problem is. Recalling these
various facts, we do not think the
people of the United States will, as a
whole, accept the prohibition pro-'
gramme. It will prevail in many lo
calities, where men vote for prohibi
tion, yet go off at intervals "for a
change" to places where prohibition
doe3 not prevail. In the country dis
tricts, in. the smaller towns and cities,
there will be prohibition through the
method of "local option"; but else
where, in the larger towns and great
cities, for multitudinous reasons, some
of which we have recounted, it will not
prevail. The revenue question is in
it; the industrial question is In it; the
question of free choice and indepen
dence is in it. There always will be
multitudes of persons, especially In the
larger town:; and cities, who will bo
unwilling to put themselves in leading
strings to the state. And all over
the state there will be other multi
tudes who, while willing to join in lo
cal prohibition, will not vote for gen
eral prohibition. Benton County will
give a majority for prohibition in Ben
ton, but will not cast a majority for
prohibition In Multnomah. The reason
is obvious. Country life and city life
have different conditions.
The Oregonian therefore is of the
opinion that prohibition, as a state
policy, -would not carry in Oregon.
It believes such proposition would be
defeated by a heavy vote. We do not
overlook the fact that it has carried
in several of our great Southern
States. That, however, is due to the'
presence therein of a very heavy negro
population, which it Is desired to keep
under control. But it constitutes the
very reason why the people of other
states, who feel able to control them
selves, do not want it. Yet in all these
states there are large districts which
will enforce prohibition for themselves
through local option. They wish and
intend to cut out the saloon at home,
because it has been conducted in such
a way as to make itself a rulsance.
Yet multitudes who vote against the
saloon order for themselves from the
city such liquors as they want. Let us
be frank about this business and avoid
cant and humbug... The people of the
United States, speaking at large, do
not want prohibition. Nor will they
have it. But they do intend to keep
the traffic in liquors within closer
bounds and regulations than hereto
fore. It has been too loose, too free
and too easy. It has fallen too much
Into irresponsible hands. Abuses of
the saloon, abuses of "treating," with
concomitants of gambling and other
vices, have been carried in our coun
try to an extent elsewhere unknown.
The liquor trade has deeply offended
the people by Its intermeddjing with
politics. It has been thrown as a solid
force for or against candidates, and
has provoked Just retaliation. The sa
loon, in many cases, has been permit
ted to be the resort of disreputable
characters. "The lid" is going down
fast on all these abuses, and on "the
revolver habit" that accompanies
them. There will be fewer drinking
places, and these will be, conducted
within strict regulations; else the time
is not distant when there will be no
public drinking places anywhere. In
our old and large cities restrictions
are more closely enforced than in the
smaller ones. It is the small town
or village where the police regula
tions are less strict, and the sense of
responsibility less developed among
the sellers of liquors, that the abuses
are most flagrant. And, moreover, in
such places they are under every
body's eyes. About the fringes and
outskirts of large cities prohibition, by
local option makes progress, yet those
who do not want saloons In a resi
dence district will not vote for prohi
bition in the whole city. All these cir
cumstances are part of the whole
problem; and there are many more.
It is a fiscal, economical, social, po
litical, moral and financial problem,
all in one; and therefore it will be
with us yet awhile, and perhaps indefinitely.
AMERICA'S DELINQUENCY.
A Victoria, dispatch in yesterday's
Oregonian announced the settlement
by the Russian government of the
long-standing thiim of a number of
Victoria sealers seized in 1892. Jus
tice in this case moved with leaden
footsteps, but this belated acknowl
edgment of a commercial crime is so
much better than anything that the
American Government has done in this
line that the Russians are really en
titled to much credit. Among the
four vessels which will receive the
$82,000 damages awarded by Russia
was the schooner Rosie Olsen, and the
case of this particular craft is an ex
cellent example of the monstrously un
fair policy of the Tinlted States re
garding the sealing interests. The
Rosie Olsen was built at Astoria, and,
in company with a number of other
sealing schooners, sailed under the
American flag in the early days of
the industry. But when the first seiz
ures were made in Bering Sea and her
owners realized with deep chagrin that
the British government was protecting
Its sealers while the Americans were
not protected, they promptly .sought
shelter under the British flag.
Settlement of this claim by the Rus-i
ians leaves nothing unpaid except the
claims of the American sealers who
were seized by American cutters.
Every- Canadian schooner seized with
the American sealers has received lib
eral payment for damages, the last
payment by the American Government
amounting to $425,000; but not one
dollar has ever been paid an Ameri
can schooner owner who lost his prop
erty under Identical circumstances
with those attending the seizure of
the Canadian schooners. This dis
graceful sealing policy has afforded
the world with the extremely rare and
humiliating spectacle of the repudia
tion of the American flag by the
American Government. This final set
tlement by the Russian government,
after fifteen years' wrangling, how
ever, may be encouraging to the
Americans who had their property il
legally seized by American cutters.
Jt required ten years of. almost con
tinual "prodding" to force this Gov
ernment to pay the Canadians, and,
now that there are; no debts outstand
ing on sealing account except those
due Americans, some favorable action
may be taken on them, thus permit
ting the close of a very disgraceful
chapter in American maritime history.
STOCK DIVIDENDS.
The Western Union spent so much
money In its recent effort to vanquish
Its striking employes that the treas
ury was somewhat bare in spots when
the time for declaring the regular
quarterly dividend arrived. But the
Western Union, like a good many
other corporations which have an ir
revocable "cinch" on our public util
ities, was undismayel by the shortage
in the cash box and the dividend was
declared and paid not in cash, but
in "stock" which had remained un
sold in the treasury. This transaction
opens up a world of possibilities, now
that the public has been taught the
methods by which two shares of stock
are made to grow where only one had
grown before. By paying in stock it
would of course be comparatively easy
to Increase the size of the dividend,
the possible percentage being limited
only by the amount of stock on hand
when the dividend date arrives.
Naturally a good big dividend, such'
as would be possibli with plenty of
stock with which to pay it, would en
hance the theoretical value of the
stock on which the dividend was paid.
The experience of all trusts, from
Standard Oil down or up to Chewing
Gum, has shown that whenever the
dividend began to assume formidable
proportions it was the part of wisdom
or caution or rascality to authorize an
additional issue of stock, which, of
course, would cause a proportional re
duction in the dividend. The possi
bilities of this endless chain system
of financiering are bewildering in
their immensity." They are remindful
in a manner of the amateur poultry
grower, who, with mathematical cer
tainty, figured that in twenty years
the natural Increase In his flock of
chickens would give him something
like 200,000,000,000 fowls. "I knew
my duty to humanitj'," said he. "and
as soon as I learned that my flock
would ultimately reach such vast pro
portions, I took a hatchet and re
moved the head from each of the
birds." '
Now, if Western Union should fol
low out the system of paying dividends
with stock and increasing stock for
the purpose of paying more dividends
It is difficult to foresee the conse
1 quences. Someone should apply the
' hatchet before it is too late.
I IS FRANCE DECADENT?
' The problem is one which has been
i engaging for years the attention of ob
servant thinkers. Rightly do the his
torians of France descant on the glori
ous part she has played in the general
work of civilization, of the sympa
thetic genius which has seized and
translated for the world the ideas of
reason, justice and all the theory of
life, private and public; of the idealist
perseverance whose experiments have
saved the world so much suffering
and "made of her follies the wisdom
of other nations." It is the idea of
the brilliant French historian Miche
let that his nation died upon the cross
in her "Great Revolution," to expiate
the sins of the whole world. It 13 an
idea, certainly, of deep significance.
"All nations had sinned in her way,
though not indeed to the same extent.
France can even boast, in her fasci
nating fashion, of having pushed log
ical tendencies to their vicious ex
tremes in order to show us the danger
attending them. The types she has
thu3 set up dominate literature and
thought. In her we may see our
selves as we should be, and as we
might have been."
The vitalstatistics again call atten
tion to the fact that her population
makes virtually no gain in numbers.
Last year there were only 806,847
births, while thirty years ago the num
ber was 960,000. What these figures
mean can be seen by comparing them
with those of Germany, where the ex
cess of births over deaths last year
was 792,839; or Austria, where it was
nearly half a million; or of Great Brit
ain, where It was 493,878. Germany's
present rate of increase is fourteen a
thousand, while thirty years ago it
was only twelve a thousand. France
Is short of 400,000 births a year to
meet the proportionate increase of
other countries. This is the more ex
traordinary, because while the birth
rate in 1906 fell 34,000 below that of
the , preceding period, the marriage
rate rose y more than 10,000. The
divorce factor appears to be unimpor
tant, the number of divorces in 1906
being only 2500 In excess of the aver
age during the preceding decade.
France, then, is becoming sterile.
The causes lie in the Great Revolution
and in Its consequences. Bodley, in
his great book on France, explains
that the determination of the peasants
not to have many children, primarily
due to the law which enforces the di
vision of real property among off
spring, has become a habit and has
encouraged the idea that the land is
incapable of supporting even those
who already dwell upon it. In nearly
three-fourths of the departments of
France the population is decreasing.
Only the large cities hold 'their own,
with Paris showing some gain. .
Again, there is the moral and psy
chological result of a' people which
never yet Tias found a political gov
ernment to soothe and weld together
the elements unsettled by the great
upheaval. Factions in France are en
emies of each other, to an extent else
where unknown. All are intensely de
voted to France, but co-operation
among them is impossible.
LETTRES DE CACHET.
It would be absurd to take Mr.
Tillman more seriously than he takes
himself. The vehement South Caro
linian is by no means a fool: hence
It stands to reason that he knows all
about the element of vaudeville in his
speeches and conduct and values it
as an advertisement or for something
else. Perhaps he plays low- comedy
because he likes it, which, after ail. is
the very best ot reasons. In his lat
est Senatorial dithyramb he raves at
Mr. Roosevelt because the President
has not yet put any of the border ruf
fians of finance in jail.
Of course, Mr. Tillman knows very
well that the President has no power
to put anybody In jail, but when a
man has made up his mind to be
abusive one reason serves his purpose
as well as another. All he needs is
a text; the sermon then takes care of
itself. The rambunctious Senator talks
as if Mr. Roosevelt could Issue a lettre
de cachet whenever he liked and hale
a trust magnate off to a dungeon every
minute in the day If he was so dis
posed. Perhaps it is unfortunate for
the country that he has not this
prompt remedy at his command. It
would not only be most wholesome
when applied to the freebooting fra
ternity who find the courts so sympa
thetic, but it would also be useful at
times in shutting up certain mouths
which pour out a superfluous strea.
of' sewage. How long would Mr. Till
man remain at large if the President
had the power to shut his opponents
and critics up in j .11?
This is not written to urge that the
President be clothed with power to
issue lettres de cachet, but one can
imagine cases when it would be most
refreshing to see him own and exer
cise it. Such a case would arise when
some Senator, say Mr. Tillman or his
blood brother, Jeff. Davis No. 2, arose
in the Senate and delivered himself
of a stream of vituperation for no
possible reason except to make a sen
sation; or when some trust organ
gravely prints a long list of falsehoods
to prove that Mr. Roosevelt created
the panic which the buccaneers engi
neered to wreck his reputation .and fill
their own pockets. In such cases as
these one almost regrets that Mr.
Roosevelt has not the power to put
people in jail and keep them there
until they learn to behave decently.
But he has not, and for that reason
Mr." Tillman may possess his soul in
peace and make his speeches as scan
dalous as he chooses.
As shown at the recent Interna
tional Congress of Inventors in New
York, about 19,000 applications for
patents on various devices await ac
tion in the United States Patejnt Bu
reau. Five years ago the number of
cases, thus held up aggregated 9397.
To relieve this enormous volume of
delayed or neglected business a strrmg
plea was made for a five per cent
increase in salaries and office force
In the Pensions Bureau, which plea
Congress allowed. A much larger in
crease is now urged in order that this
greater volume of delayed business
may be brought up. Perhaps if the
number of hours a day that Govern
ment employes are required to work
were increased to a reasonable limit,
and superannuated men and fagged
out women who hold positions under
civil service regulations were super
seded by active, effective, competent
workers, the desired end might be at
tained without a horizontal increase
in salaries or doubling the number of
employes'. If all hands could be in
duced to work for three months, as
the accountants In an ordinary whole
sale hardware house that is doing a
heavy business, this great volume of
delayed patent business would doubt
less disappear.
Very appropriately,- the Railway
Critic, published in the interests of
the transportation companies of Amer
ica, reraarka that there i3 a great deal
of the "friendly" in the case of the
City Railway. Company of New York.
It was reported that a "friendly" cred
itor applied to a "friendly" court and
secured the appointment of a "friend
ly" receiver. No doubt the "friendly"
receiver employed a "friendly" law
yer and the bonds of friendship among
those on the inside wre unbroken. It
was this "friendly" attitude among-
the managers that made the mutual
robbery operations possible. It is
quite ,to be expected that the contin
ued "friendly" relations will permit
the robbery to go on in the future and
cover up and protect the thefts of the
past. Th.e chief cause for regret is
that the court became a willing party
to the "friendly" arrangement and lost
Its essential characteristic as an- im
partial tribunal. But New York is a
long way from Oregon and we need
have no fear of "friendly" receivers
who employ "friendly" attorneys.
A slave of the liquor habit, a mother
forgetful of her maternal duties and
a wife faithless to her marriage vows,
a human wreck to whom honor and
decency are closed ports, Mrs. De
Reign, the woman in the Burner sui
cidal case, is mildly determined to
take her own life. To prevent what
Is mistakenly supposed to be a catas
trophe, she has been committed to
the insane asylum. According to the
law of humanity as interpreted today,
everything possible should be done to
prevent this woman from taking her
own life. A mistaken estimate, in
deed, where death is the only solution
left for the ills that beset this per
verted life the only mantle that can
cover this wretched woman's shame.
How the foreman of a logging crew
beat a three-card monte operator at
his own "brace game" is interestingly
told in a story in the last issue of the
Saturday Evening Post. The story is
not only interesting, but Instructive,
for it may save a few people from loss
by playing the gam. Then, again,' it
may save no one. If the effect of the
story should be to tempt readers to
try beating the game, it will have an
undesirable result. There may be
some tricks in his business that the
brace-game operator does' not know,
but it is a safe assumption that he will
learn them as soon as any one does.
In the selection of a director of ex
hibits the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific "Fair
management is entitled to felicitation.
Mr. Dosch is not only well equipped
by experience for the important duty,
but he has equable temperament a
most important quality in an exec
utive officer who must decide among
aggressive rival ' exh.bitors. Besides,
he is certain to put a'.l his energy
into a work that he loves.
Of course, If District Attorney Man
ning should turn the light on the
transactions of the Title Guarantee &
Trust Company there are some who
would accuse him of attacking indus
try and destroying confidence. There
are some kinds of industry and some
kinds of confidence that need to be de
stroyed. Assessment of all property in the
City of Louisville for the present year
is 1160,200,000. Louisville is twice as
large a city as Portland "and thrice
as rich; but her Assessor doesn't know
how to assess, or doesn't.
If you please, Mr. Weather Clerk,
we're not asking-for a "silver thaw"
this year. Our shade trees were
trimmed close enough the last time
to do for a number of years.
Masters of finance spoke Monday
night on the monetary problem, each
offering a partial solution. For the
present the plain people acting sanely
will solve it.
Dan McAllen is clearly neglecting a
duty. He hasn't started on a celebra
tion in honor of the first train into
Portland over the North Bank road.
Several fellow-citizens who have
been invited to meet Judge Wolverton
January 13 may be reminded of an
unlucky date.
News reports of Gladys Vanderbilt's
wedding are what the department
store publicity man would call petti
coat specials.
Be early in sending your Christmas
presents and you won't have to be pa
tient later on.
Denver is a mile' above sea level.
Hotel rates there next July will be still
higher. , , ,
GOOD WAY TO PREVENT Nl'RDER
Arreat and Jnll Every Man Found
(arr.vlng a Iltol.
Pendleton Kant Oregonian.
The efforts of District Attorney Phelps,
Sheriff Taylor and Chief ot Police Gur
dane to stop the gun-carrying habit, are
highly commendable and it is hoped that
every man found carrying concealed
weapons will be nabbed and lined the
limit.
Umatilla County has had a lot of sad
experience during the past year as a re
sult of this habit and the taxpayers have
paid the bill.
There is no excuse for a man to carry
a revolver in this peaceable country.
Any man who does it regularly is a dan
gerous man. He is not safe to be at
large. Any flurry of passion Is liable
to cause him to shoot somebody, either
Intentionally or unintentionally and Rn
accidental shot will kill a man as dead
as an intentional shot.
Within the past two weeks a couple of
fellows have made the night hedeous on
Cottonwood street by shooting In the air.
A drunken fool is Just as liable to shoot
into a crowd as into the air and every
man who is suspicioned of carrying con
cealed! weapons should be seised on the
street, in saloons, or. anywhere be can
be found and fined the full extent of the
law.
GOVERNOR HUGHES OF NEW YORK.
Reason Why He Would Be the Moat
Available Candidate.
Yakima (Wash.) Republic.
The Oregonian says that from now
on the minds of Republicans will turn
more and more to Governo'r Hughes, of
New York, as the most available can
didate for President next year. Sec
retary Taft was for a while the popu
lar favorite. That, we believe, waa
because Mr. Roosevelt seemed to want
him chosen. It was not because Mr.
Taft had done anything to entitle him'
to preferment, and it was not because
he was especially available. The drift
of sentiment now Is plainly away from
him.
The Oregonjan points out the reason
In half a dozen' words Mr. Taft is a
representative of controversies in the
Republican ranks.
It ought to be plnin. and we think
It is. that the Republican party Cannot
afford to name a man for President
who would go into the fight with the
bitter opposition of rertain factions
and elements. Mr. Taft could not get
away from this opposition, nor could
Mr. Cannon or Mr. Fairbanks. Mr.
Hughes Is a man who has no preju
dices to overcome. It is true that he
Is cordially disliked by the bosses in
his , own state, but these gentlemen
have so far been powerless In opposi
tion to him and will have no choice
but to support him If he is nominated.
Governor Hughes is one of the most
remarkable men of the day, and the
most remarkable thing about him is
that he has won the absolute confi
dence of the people of the country
without resorting to the use of meth
ods which usually corrupt ambitious
public men, and. which have been a
blemish on, the career of even Mr.
Roosevelt. Mr. Hughes is a man
whose Integrity is regarded as ab
solute. He Is Just as much of a re
former as Roosevelt, and Just as honest
as Roosevelt. Besides that he is with
out doubt an abler man in some re
spects than the President, and he has
the wonderful knack of compelling the
right things to be done without beat
ing the tomtom, playing to .the gal
leries or "appealing to the people." He
is a man of clear vision. He knows
what is right. Knowing the right,
he stands for it, and Is immovable. He
makes no mistakes, he asks no conces
sions, he will listen to no suggestion
of compromise. He stands for what is
right, and thus .puts the politicians In
the wrong if they oppose him.
This remarkable system of playing
tfie political game has enabled him to
accomplish remarkable results as Gov
ernor of New York. He has won
every fight for popular rights, has car
ried out great reforms and has brought
the political machine of that state the
most powerful in the Union to his
feet. He is the most lrresistable man
who ever occupied the Executive office
of New York state, and yet he has
never asked a favor nor sought a
promise nor made one.
HOT SHOT FOR A NOTED AGITATOR.
How One Goldfleld Paper Para Its Re
spects to Vincent St. John.
Goldfteld Gossip.
A couple ot weeks ago there was a
shooting affair on Main street, in the
course of which, as usual, the innocent
bystander got it this time in the leg; and
Vincent St. John, one of the parties in
the affair of the shooting, in fact, the
man who was shot at, ascaped with a
couple of slight flesh wounds. This man
St. John, is a stormy petrel; wherever he
is there is trouble, either active or brew
ing. He was the leader among the So
cialist element of the Western Federa
tion of Miners here during our troubles
last Spring, when you remember our
stocks were broken in price, and the
credit of our mines badly damaged.
Mr. St. John will clearly understand
that we " have no personal grievance
against him when we say that it was a
frreat pity that the man holding the gun
in the recent shooting did not have sense
enough to hold it straight. Speaking as
one who puts the public good foremost
in his argument always, Mr. St. John
will pardon us for remarking that he
would look much better dead. We will
add that we should bo more than pleased
to attend his funeral and see that the
last sad rites were docently obeyed. We
will even go a step further and assure
him that In the hoped-for event of any
thing sudden in the shape of a bullet
overtaking him we will cheerfully sub
scribe for a wreath for the coffin, and
count it money well spent.
OBSERVATIONS BY MR. FIWEGAX.
BY HIS BOSWELL, J. H. MURPHY.
An asset is what's left after they'se et
th' ass.
If Sinnlter Aldrich still thinks Gov
ernor Hughes Is "unknowable" he might
consult Jimmy Hyde.
I see be th' papers that me frind Frank
Davey is purty woll geared.
The only way to understhand Socialism
is to become a Socialist.
.
Says Pete d'Arcy to me: "Political
independence Is the law of the pie counter
where a Dimocrat can't get a doughnut."
Sometimes a man is bigger tlown and
eut than when he's up and in.
If I was the Mayor I'd say to the
Council: "Be ladies, boys, be ladies;
aythur that or th' Juvenile Coort."
" Forecast: Threatening clouds followed
by a forensic blow ttnd San Francisco
quick-steps.
The difference betune Jim Flnnegan and
the president of the Great Northern Rail
road, is the difference betune th" Arling
ton Club an' a policeman's club. It alnt
given to th' proletariat to condemn the
courts and the laws of his country.
Dr. Hlnery Waldo Coe says of Mr.
Ruse'felt: "I expect to see him nomi
nated; I expect to see him elected; I ex
pect to see him serve out a third term."
Alnt there something else ye expect,
docther?
History in the making: First term
Ye ll behave y'rsolves. We wont! Second
term Rate bill: J29.000.000 fine. Usurper,
panic-breeder, monarchist. Put him out!
Next term Penitentiary. All serene.
t
Uncle Jerrj-.
"Lion't be too hard on the man who is.
always telling you his troubles." said
Uncle Jerry Peebles. "Perhaps it's the
only comfort In life the poor fellow
has."
When the Wise Man Fell.
Chicago Rerord Herald.
He never burked the tiger and he never bet
a cent
. That he could And the cup which held the
pea :
He never at a circus tried to crawl beneath
the tent.
Nor tried to pet a fretful humble be.
He never bought a gold rrrick and he never
rocked a boat.
He never tensed a bulldog in hi life;
He never rushed In madly to lay hold upon
the throat
Of a bully who vat pummelling his wife.
He never pulled the trigger of an ancient,
rusty gun.
Just to see It It contained a load or not;
He never, when the gas leaked, started -in
upon the run
With a lighted lamp to nnd the leaky
spot.
He never sign?d a paper till he'd read it
thru and thru.
Ha never skated where the ice was thin;
But they coaxed him Into Wall street when
the sky wan soft and blue,
And they casually atrlpt him to th skin.
ARE FRENCH Dl'ELS SERIOUS
They May Be If Sranagrd With the Care
of a Late Event.
New York Sun.
The curious attitude of the French mind
toward due'.l'.rsg is clearly illustrated hy
some authoritative comments on a recent
meeting. The affair was very "distin
guished." the principals being men of
title and well known sportsmen and all
four seconds prominent figures in Paris
life. The weapons were pistols and the
conditions stringent four shots to be ex
changed at 25 yards within the space of
something more than a minute, and four
seconds to elapse between the final warn
ing "Are you ready?" and the first shot,
thus insuring plenty of time for accurate
aim. As one at least of the principals
was notoriously a dead shot these condi
tions made it extremely improbable that
both men would leave the ground un
scathed unless they fired into the air.
They were guilty of no such mock heroics.
Both were hit at the first exchange.
Neither was killed, however, nor, it ap
pears, seriously wounded, though suffi
ciently disabled to end the encounter.
The Figaro, which is always punctilious
about duels and- permits no scoffing at
them, publishes a long account of tins
affair from the pen of its collaborator.
M. Ieudet. who is a well known authority
on sporting matters. M. Irf-urlel winds up
his account with the triumphant exclama
tion: "After this no one will be able to
laugh at pistol ciuels!" But he has pre
viously made some revelations. ' such as
seldom appear in print, about the inside
management of the fight which to some
minda may seem to discount his triumph.
He states that the pistols had unusually
stiff "puils" and tnat the surgeon who
loaded them remarked, "With such pulls
it will be very difficult to hit." Moreover,
black powder was usJ. "which has much
less penetrating power than the usual
kind." Further, the director of the fight,
contrary to the conditions, did not wait
four seconds after the final "Ate you
ready?" but "tried to surprise the oppo
nents by ordering them to fire at once,
and the exchange took place within one
and a half seconds." The Figaro con
gratulates tha director of the fight on this
violation of the conditions and remarks
about the other "precautions" adopted:
"The seconds deserve praise for the pains
they took to avoid a disaster without in
any way Impairing the serious character
which every duel must possess if it Is
not to be ridiculous."
Seeing that the principals were provided
with stiff pulls and inefficient charges and
were ordared to fire at an unexpected mo
ment the foreigner may fail to understand
how "the serious character of the meeting
was not in any way impaired." The Fig
aro would perhaps answer that the princi
pals faced each other's pistols without any
knowledge of the "precautions." and so
were subjectively exposed to a full mortal
risk.
WOMAN IX HARD TIMES.
Moat Extravagances, In Flush Times,
Arc Those of Women.
Chicago Evening Journal.
In November, 1906, there were imported
through New York diamonds and other
prec.ous stones to the viilue of $!.T51.447.
Last November the Imports of precious
stones totaled only $024,655. a decrease of
$1,826,792. This change was undoubtedly
due to the linancial stringency. When
money becomes scarce men do not buy
jewels and other expensive luxuries for
women; that is evident.
Men's luxuries are cut down, also, but
men have very few such extravagances.
If a man has a yacht and automobiles,
the chances are that he has them, not for
ills own pleasure, but for his wife's or
for that of his feminine friends. The
necessary living expenses of even rich
men, taken by themselves, amount to
very little in comparison with their an
nual outgo. What, for example, does
Stuyvesant Fish care about a palace at
Newport and another in New York? But
Mrs. Fish cares, and so Stuyvesant has
them. Nine-tenths of the money spent
by the men of the United States is spent
for women's benefit.
Consequently, when money is hard to
get women have Jto suffer, whereas men
suffer very little, 'except through sympa
thy. Tolstoi, in the Kreutzer Sonata,
calls attention the fact that all the great
and splendid shops of the world are al
most exclusively for women," dealing In
women's goods; and this is as true In
Chicago as In Moscow. Rut In hard
times women cannot make - purchases.
loubtlnss the dressmakers and furriers
of New York and Paris have endured bs
great losses as the diamond merchants.
Just Issue Greenbacks.
New York Evening Post.
It was Inevitable that the old quack
notions about currency should be trot
ted out In a time like this. Yesterday
we saw a bill introduced to "base"
money upon cotton. In the prolific days
of 1893-96 there was a great crop of
these "basing" plans. Iron in tha
mines, coal in sight, hay in bales, etc..
were proposed as the true security on
which to issue currency. The simplest
way, of course, is that which Tom Wat
sdVi urged yesterday upon the Presi
dent, to "base" your currency on noth
ing, and just Issue greenbacks to fill
every pocket. Rut this is to overlook
one Important difference between the
present Treasury situation and that of
1893. Then the Government was short
of funds: but today it has more than
J200.00n,000 of surplus. If greenbacks
were "issued," they could only be in
payment of Government obligations or
purchases of some kind; they arc not
tossed out of the windows to the
crowd, bs Mr. Watson seems to sup
pose. With over $200, '100,000 to the
good, the Treasury would look foolish
to put out promises to pay. For tho
same reason. It did look foolish in put
ting out bonds and 3 per cent certifi
cates. Chicken tinmbo.
letter from Southerner in New York
Sun.
The real chicken gumbo is made by
boiling a chicken in a pot of water till
the meat falls from the bone. Pick out
the bones. Cut In small pieces about one
quart of okra or gumbo, which is the
same thing, and cook in the pot with the
chicken. Season with onion (itist a lit
tle). When all is eonked very tender put
in the pot a few shrimps end oysters, it
you care for them. When serving put in
the soup plate first a tablespoonf til of
well boiled rice and cover with the
chicken gumbo.
This is a dish fit for the gods- when
made right. This with hot biscuit or
beaten biscuits will make a very hearty
and delectable meal.
HlRh Tide Brine Rtttn in Pent.
Washington (1). C.) Dispatch.
High tide the other day drove out
rats from the piers at Boston, and in
two hours business men and hoys killed
more than 1000 of the animals.
Th Financial. Knro.v.
rtenver Republican.
When the street's .last flurry is ended, and
the strong boxes open prie'l.
When the oldest knocker has faded, ai;d the
youngest doubter has died.
We shall rest, and faith we shall ned it.
from the talk that is needlessly blue.
Till the Master of All Finances pays off in
his coin ever new.
And those that had faith shall be bRppy
they shall sit in a greenback chair
And shall play with a bulging canvas that
is filled up with gold coins fair;
They shall find real optimists with them
J P. and likewise John D.
They shall talk for an age at a sitting, and
always Prosperity.
And only t'ortelyou shall praise us, and only
t'ortelyou shall blame.
And all shall be paid in real money
cashier's checks will go in the flame
And each for the Joy of the spending shnll
scatter his gold near ami far.
And shall spend his last dtrllar not squeeze
it for the God of Good Times as They
Aral
MUSIC
f m IUI.IAM PRVETTE. t'.ie bpritone
J with Kritzi Scheff, is a lin.il
descendent of the Scotch po"t.
Robert Burns, a fact that seemed to have
escaped the notice of Portland Scots who
very much enjoyed the music of "Mile.
Modiste." Pruette is fln accomplished
musician, has a repertoire of 120 operas,
and ills voice was trained in the pore
Italian school of vocal music by Ettora
Barilli, a half-brother to Adelini Paul.
Pruette's smooth emission of tone and
correct vocalism nre admirable. One of
his first professional engagements was
with the Mapleson Opera Company,
when the two stars were Pattl and Nico
llni, the tenor. The .opera that Pruette
particularly figured in was Gounod's "Ro
meo and Juliet," in which he was the
Count de Paris.
Now, it so happened that the profes
sional wigmaker of the company dearly
loved a Joke and knowing that rfuctte
was a stage "greenhorn" at the time,
offered to make-up the baritone's face
for him. Pruette agreed. White grease
paint was .used on his face and his cheeks
were rouged and whitened to a brimstone
degree, etc. It so happend that he and
Juliet had to "open'' by first walking to
the footlights and suddenly gazing upon
each other. When Patti sw that bine
white face glaring at her in the dim
light, she recognized that n make-up
Joke had been played on the young rwtri
tone, and was so agitated with silent
laughter that she dropped her handker
chief. But both ringers managed to sing
their lines. Pattl afterward presented
the handkerchief she had dropped to
Pruette, who kept the relic until it was
burned with more of his personal ef
fects in the New York Vendoiuc lire
about 32 years ago.
When Brignoli. the great tenor, first
came over to this country from Raly,
many phrases in the KngliFli lansiMge
puzzled him greatly. He was very p,u.i:
lar among his associates in old Mapleson
opera diys. especially In New York, and
when he arrived at the theater for re
hearsals, mornings, his newly-made
friends said to liim: "Good morning-,
signor! How do you feel tills morning?"
This form of salutation, at first,
aroused Brignoli's derision, and one day
he gave vent to his deeply-seated wrath.
He was standing near the stage door,
mentally comparing the intricacies of tlia
Knglish language with his beloved Ital
ian, when a member of the company
passed, saying: "Morning, signor. how
do you feel now?- Better since you've
had breakfast?"
"My health quite we!! never better."
said P.rignoli, in his uueer, broken F.ng
lish. "I did not know that you people,
are a race of physicians." Latsr. when
his mistake was explained to him, he
laughed heartily.
Sembrich, the prima donna soprano,
who Is quite a favorite in this city,
possesses muscles which would put tlio
average man to shame the result of her
persistent piano practice. On one occa
sion while riding her Bnrhary mare
along one of the Berlin parade grounds,
the animal reared and became unruly,
and there was a struggle of about rive
minutes until Sembrich tamed down the
animal. Sembrich did not notice that an
interested group of persons had assent
bled to watch her taming process, among
the spectators being three army officers
on horseback. Suddenly, the tallest of
ficer rode up to the singer, saluted, and
sa id :
"Madame, if you were not the greatest
soprano in the world, you would be em
press of- the circus." The speaker whs
Emperor William of Germany.
.
When John Follis, 5S years old, died at
the home of his daugiiter, Mrs. Millard
Bertram, in Anderson, Tnd., a unique
character passed away. Mr. Follis had
traveled continually for 10 years past in
the West and South wort. IK carried no
old fiddle, and in Mexico phivoil for
dances and concerts. Once In- dropped
his iidiile in the tltilf of Mexico and
swam a half mile to recover It.
. Shortly before lie died, surrounded by
his children. Mr. Follis had his children
open a trunk, and to each lie gnvc .1.
pair of horns from deer, mountain sheep
and steers. Then he called for a Mexi
can gourd that he carried. In it he cut
a hole, extracted the seed a ni .-Misally
dividing he gave 13 to each of his chil
dren. "Now tune the fiddle," said the dying
man to his oldest son. Mr. Follis was
civen the tiddle. and as lie drew the bow
across the strings of the instrument the
old fiddler parsed away.
Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler, the pianite,
lias been receiving ovations remarkable,
for their warmth, wherever she has
played this season.
"
A cable message from Paris is to the
effect that Kthcl Aitemus. the young
Philadelphia pianist, was very successful
at hrr professional debut there recently.
Miss Aitemus has been enzpat-d as a.
soloist for one of the Philadelphia Or
chestra's concert?.
Charles Bond, of Boston, who psid for
the musical education of Geraldin
Farrar, has a new protege in Ada Cham
bers, for two seasons soprano soloist with
Sousa's Band. Bond will send Miss
Chambers to Kuropc, and he expects that
she will become equally as famous as
Miss Farrar.
Having quarreled with her husband.
Prince Victor, of Thurn and Taxis, of
Austria, the Prlnce?s Josephine has
Joined the singing section of a chorus on
Broadway. The Princess says jhe wiI
take this niears of earning her living.
Before tier me.rrlnge to the Prince shft
was Mrs. William Pilic, of Chicago,
av.tl hofure that was Miss Josephine West,
of Jacksonville, Kla.
"Musical America." in fn dispatch from
Pittsburg, announces that at a recent
concert there women were requested to
remove their hats. The women -who did
not wish to ronioly with the request
went to the rear of the house.
Unfriendly relations still exist between
Miss Bessie Ahott. the soprano, and Heln
rich i 'onviefi. aoeordlntf to the soprano
herself. Mls-i Ahott riled a suit against
Mr. Conried last So'lnsr, in which she
asserted that he hail not kpt his con
tract with her.
This season It was thought that the
legal war had been averted, but Miss "
Abott says the case wi!I not be settled
out of court. Tim soprano has made t
rantroments for several concerts in New
Tork City. By the terms of Mr. Conrled's
contract sioh enpaements , were to be
made only witn his sanction. Consequent
ly it is expected that Mi.'.i AboU's first
appearance at one of these concerts will
bring the various is-su'-s to the attention
of the court.
Meanwhile Ms Abott's action for
JfO.OOO against the Metropolitan Opera
Company for breach of contract and Mr.
Conried's retaliatory action for an In
junction are on their respective calendars
of the Supreme Court awaiting trial.
o
A new J.CO.oo pipe orcan. the largest on
the Pacific t.'oas.. is helr.g kuilt for St.
riomlnio's Church. San Francisco. It
will have !0-Y n'pes. and it Is expected
that Dr. II. J. Stewart will be continued
s organist. Tn opening recital will oc
cur Christmas day.