8
THK OREGOXIAX. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1908.
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PORTLAMJ. WKDXE8DAY. JAN. 8, 1908.
- OCR MAJESTIC RULERS.
Two venerable bodies that occupy
certain conspicuous places In our
Uovernrrlent the Senate and the Su
preme Court have great dislike' of
Innovations, and naturally also ol
thoso persons whs attempt them.
Never mind abuses. "What was good
enough for our fathers remains good
enough for us. To propose to correct
or abute an abuse, or even a custom,
which has existed from antique time
is to attack the Constitution Itself.
President Roosevelt Is extremely ob
noxious to the ancient sensibilities of
the Senate and of the Supreme Court.
Hence the gray-beards of those bodies
rebuke him ' henever they can! They
may make him President for another
term.
The Senate and the Supreme Court
have always been the defenders of
the old order. Consequently they are
obstacles, invariably, to the removal
of henry abuses that grow up under
our Government, as under all others,
in course of time. Customs,' institu
tions, u.es and abuses, claims of prop
erty and wealth and usages of busi
ness, insisting on freedom from con
trol of law, find their strongholds in
the Senate and in the Supreme Court.
Methods of the' early time, which,
with the new and vast developments
of our industrial and commercial life,
have grown into enormous abuses
and oppressions, are now defended as
vested rights. Through the Senate
and the Supreme Court our Govern
ment, since the vast growth of wealth,
has taken on an aristocratic and
plutocratic character. The plain peo
ple and tho common people find the
Senate and the Supreme Court stand
ing ns barriers against changes and
reforms. Yet there is nothing new
about this. It has been so from an
early day. Monuments of these ob
structions arc planted along the whole
highway of our. National progress.
Tho Dartmouth College case, which
long was supposed to have established
a theory of vested rigit.s forever, was
one; the Dred Scott case was an
other; others still were found in the
difficulty- of forcing the Senate to
give up the defense of slavery and the
support of the silver fallacy. Again,
the Supreme Court became the citadel
of the greenback delusion, and now it
takes its stand against the jvstice of
the effort to enforce a , asonable re
sponsibility on employers for the pro
tection and safety of the working
people of the country. The old
patricians and aristocrats of the Sen
ate hate Roosevelt, as the old slave
holders and their apo'.oglsts hated
Lincoln. And the Supreme Court of
today is anchored, as firmly in its devo
tion to wealth and to the interests of
the wealthy classes as It was in the
days when all Its authority was de
voted to support of slavery and to
the doctrine that the negro had no
rights that the white man was bound
to respect. Whether, In the long run,
we shall still have a Senate and a
Supreme Court will depend. These
branches of the Government are now
the rulers of the people, and l-oog-nize
little or no responsibility to them.
President Roosevelt has repeatedly
urged a reasonable law for enforce
ment of liability of employers for ac
cidents to men in- their employment.
The movements of modern Industrial
life have become so complex and bo
vast that no man employed in these
great services can take care alto
gether of himself. His life depends
at every movement on the vigilance
jjnd fidelity of others. In his mes-
sagea to Congress President Roosevelt
has repeatedly presented this situa
tion, lie has urged that the Govern
ment, in all its own work, should pro
vide limited but definite compensa
tion to all workmen, within the scope
of Federal power; and he has be
lieved that the constitutional power
of Congress io regulate jtomouroi
should be employed also for enforce
ment of reasonable measures of pro
tection against accidents to such as
may be engaged in these duties or
services, and for reasonable compen
sation for accidents therein. A weak
law to .this effect now stands on the
statute book; and the President in his
latest message pointed out its inade
quacy and urged thut in justice , to
employes the law should be strength
ened and made more effective. He
cited the practice or usage in other
countries In this class of cases; and
said that "our practice of putting the
entire burden of loss of limb or life
upon the victim or the victim's family
was a form 'of social Injustice in
which the. United States stands in
unenviable prominence."
But the Supreme Court now steps
In to declare that this mode of pro
tection to life and limb, and compen
sation for loss of the same, is not
within the right of Congress under
the constitutional power given. It to
regulate' commerce among the states.
Congress may indeed regulate com
merce between the states, but not the
relations between master and servant
engaged in such commerce. ' The Sen
ate, , of course, will agree with this.
but the people of the United States
will not; nor will the House of Repre
sentatives, which does not feel Itself
so far beyond the reach of the people
to ignore or defy them.
But it Was only a bare majority of
the Sirpreme Court that thus laid
down the law to the people of the
United States. Of nine Justices four
dissented. More will dissent, after a
while; and the common sense and
necessary doctrine that specific grant
of a power carries ' with it the right
and the ppwer to do everything neces
sary to render it effective, will be
enforced here'in also.
This is an iniquitous decision, as
Iniquitous as that In the Dred Scott
case, and will have as profound an
effect on the country. First, the peo
ple will resent anew this assumption
of the Supreme Court that it is the
absolute ruler of the country, above
their power. Second, they will insist
on justice for working people in em
ployments necessarily dangerous, yet
employments that are indispensable
to the commerce, industry and wel
fare of the country. - If anything
could 'create a universal demand for
Roosevelt for another term It is the
attitude of the Senate and of the
Supreme Court towards measures
that he has urged for the welfare of
the .industrial workers of the country
against the pretensions and assump
tions of corporate wealth and power.
Every old institution, that feels no re
sponsibility to the people, is a sup
porter of every old. abuso. It is uni
versal history; verified again and
again In our own history by the Sen
ate and Supreme Court of the United
States.
a gratifying report.
Patrons of the State University,
and, indeed, the citizens of Oregon
generally, will read with satisfaction
the report of Dr. J. TV'., Harris, health
officer of Eugene, covering .the year
1907. It is shown that there were
relatively few cases of contagious dis
eases in the locality covered during
the year, while the death rate was
but 5.03 to 1000 population.
The presence and menace of ty
phoid fever have hung heavily over
Eugene for-several years, owing to 'a
contaminated water supply. . Two
years ago the disease was epidemic
and many deaths resulted from It.
This conditions of afairs bore heavily
upon the attendance at the State Uni
versity and caused the sorely beset
faculty much concern. Together with
leading citizens, however, the faculty
faced the situation boldly. Students
were advised and even enjoined to
drink only the boiled water that was
provided for their use and an earnest
effort was made to purify the water
supply in the reservoirs and mains.
The result is shown in the constantly
lessening number of cases of typhoid
in Eugene during the past eighteen
months and finally in the report of
the health officer, which records but
nine cases during the year covered.
This, to be sure, is nine too many, and
shows that typhoid germs still haunt
the water supply presumably that
taken from wellB, of which there is
still a number in use in the city. But
it shows a marked advance over the
conditions two or three years ago,
when there was a typhoid patient in
almost every house In the principal
residence streets.
RAILROATJ DELINQUENCY.
The report of the Interstate Com
merce Commission, transmitted to
Congress Monday, is an Interesting
document, but it throws no light on
and offers no encouragement con
cerning two features which are of
vital interest to the Pacific North
west. The advance in freight rates is
one "which the Commission is wholly
without power to prevent" under ex
isting statutes, and the other is in
adequate facilities for handling the
business of the country. While mak
ing no suggestions for the relief of
future freight congestion due to car
shortage and Inadequate trackage, the
report admits that "if business under
takings proportionately Increase dur
ing future years, the railroads of the
country must add to their tracks, cars
and other facilities to an extent diffi
cult to estimate." With striking fit
ness for the Oregon situation the re
port continues:
Manlfestedly. It is an economic waste for
the farm, the mine or the factory to put
labor and capital into tie production of
commodities which cannot be transported
to market with reasonable dispatch. If the
present output cannot In many instances be
transported except after ruinous delay It
Is not reasonable to (resume that capital
will readily seek investment In new under
takings. It may conservatively be stated
that the Inadequacy of transportation facili
ties Is little less than alarming. '
In so far as this part of the country
is concerned, we have for the past
two years been suffering all of the
Ills that have been pointed out by the
Commission, and It is somewhat dis
appointing that the report contains, no
hopeful' suggestion by which, relief
might be invited. The position of the
railroads is not dissimilar from, that
of the individual in the story who
could see no necessity for repairing
his leaky roof in dry weather and was
unable to make the needed repairs
when it rained. For years the roads
have been working up to the limit of
their facilities and something in ex
cess. . This pleasing condition' of af
fairs made it unnecessary to put forth
any effort to secure business, and in
cidentally made it possible to main
tain rates far in excess of-what would
prevail had the roads. been obliged to
encourage business. Enormous earn
ings were reflected in big dividends,
and big dividends in turn encouraged
stock speculation, which seemed' a
more alluring game than railroad
building. '
.Why Increase the facilities or re
pair the roof, when everything was
running smoothly under a Summer
sky? But now the pendulum is
swinging the other ray. The long
sidings of many of the big railroads
are crowded with cars, but they are
no longer watting for the over-worked
motive power to move them on. They
are laid up to await the return of bet
ter times. There are more cars avail
able than are needed, and the de
creased earnings of the road3 have
cut down the dividends and reduced
the funds which might have been
available for new construction. T'-e
rainy season has set in and repair of
gie roof at '."-is time is too difficult
a task to be attempted.
But so far as . Central and South
eastern Oregon, the Coast regions, and
other neglected parts of the state, are
concerned, there is aversion to dwell
ing under the leaky roof of existing
facilities,' and, if the Government can
find no plan by which we can secure
relief, it may be necessary to go back
to first principals and trom a small
beginning work into a broad and
comprehensive railroad system of our
own. The domain of the railr"oa
ends at tidewater, and all sections of
Oregon are reasonably close to
places where the ships come for Ore
gon products which are distributed
throughout the world.
FANTASTIC JUSTICE.
The decision of the United States
Supreme Court 1n . the Williamson.
case is one of those feats of judicial
prestidigitation which make the cynic
smile and the lover of his country
weep. But smiles and tears are alike
ineffectual to stay the "consequences
of this triumph of fantastic logic eveV
commonsense, or to prevent similar
social catastrophes in the future. The
decision ilustrates the truth which is
gradualy dawning upon the country'
that the Supreme Court is an absolute
ruler, above public opinion, above all
considerations of the common 'wel
fare, and .subjeot solely to its , .vn in
terpretation of what the law is or
should be. No ruling body ever exist
ed in any other country with a power
so nearly unlimited as thaA of our
Supreme Court. The Williamson de
cision naturally excites jubilation
among those who have had a hand in
the land frauds, but . all other law
breakers find encouragement and
comfort in it. It strengthens thefeeling
which so many other recent judicial
decisions have fostered that our courts
of last resort may be depended upon
to Interpose every possible obstacle to
the punishment of crime and make
the administration of Justice as intri
cate and expensive as Ihey can.
The point of law upon ; which the
Williamson verdict was reversed is
one of those delicate scholastic subtle
ties ' which lawyers . delight . In and
which the. common mind detests. A
person who wishes to acquire public
land under the timber and stone act
of 1878 must begin by "filing" upon
the tract. Later he makes his "final
proof." . The statute forbids him to
agree to sell the tract before he files
upon it; but be is not forbidden by
the timber and stone actito agree to
sell it at any time between filing and
final proof. When a man files upon
a tract he must swear that he has not
previously agret 1 to sell it, and if he
swears falsely he has committed per
jury! because this oath is required by
law. But when he makes final proof
he can swear falsely that he has not
agreed to sell the land and this will
not be perjury because the latter oath
Is not required by law. It Is required
by a rule of the land office, but the
land office cannot make laws. The
courts draw a clear distinction be
tween falsehood and perjury.
Now perpend. The Williamson in
dictment charged the defendant with
conspiracy to suborn perjury. In
other words, he was accused of hiring
men to commit perjury. The indict
ment alleged that the perjury was
committed by divers persons in swear
ing falsety, when they filed upon land
ufider the timber and stone act, that
they had not alreudy agreed to sell it.
If the evidence at the trial had been
confined to this accusation all would
have been well. Or, rather, all might
have been well, though perhaps some
loophole would have been discovered
even then. To swear falsely, at the
time of filing, that no agreement to
sell has been made, is perjury; and it
was proved at the trial that certain
persons had so sworn and that the
defendant ha 1 hired them to do it.
Hence he had actually suborned per
jury. All this we say was ' proved.
The charge made In the Indictment
was verified by the vidence, and if
the prosecution had only stopped at
that point the Supreme Court would
have had ' to .seek for some other
logical evasion and lerhaps none
could have been discovered, though
that Is supposing a great deal.
But the prosecution did not stop at
the psychological point. It went fur
ther. It called witnesses to prove
that applicants ' for . land . had also
sworn falsely when they made their
final proof; and this was fatal. The
dull brain of the layman naturally
conceives that-this ought to have
strengthened the case. To prove that
the applicants swore as many false
oaths as they possibly could, swore
falsely both ,ln filing and In making
final proof, would seem to mak'e
assurance doubly sure. But the Su
preme Court is of a different opinion.
This august tribunal : holds that, no
matter how much perjury you prove
at the time of filing, if you go on to
the time of final proof and show that
falsehood was committed then, you
vitiate all that you have accomplished.
In other words the trial of a' land
fraud case is a trick of legerdemain
where it is vastly worse to do too
much than It Is to do too little. It Is
like the athlete in the vaudeville
show who tries to grab a .handker
chief in his mouth Cs he turns a
summersault. 'If he. grabs it all Is
well. If he touches it with his nose
instead of his teeth he must try again.
Looked at somewhat otherwise, the
Williamson case stands thus: Suppose
a man is accused of twelve misdeeds.
Eleven of them are" crimes under the
law of the land. One of them is not
a crime, though it is an offense
against the mora.1 law. You make
good your proof of the eleven crimes.
Tou also make good your proof of the
twelfth act, which' is not a crime.
Now in all reason, ough. your proof
of the. twelfth act to annul and de
stroy your proof of the other eleven?
The Supreme Court says it ought.
The game must be. played exactly so.
The magic rites must be performed
precisely according to the set formula.
If there is a variation of one lota,
then the ghosts will not walk. and the
incantation must be begun all over
again. This is the sort of justice we
enjoy in America. Is it any wonder
that our record of crimes scandalizes
the civilized world?
The Trans - Missouri Dry Farming
Congress will hold its Becond annual
session at Salt Lake, January 22 to
26. Dry farming holds a place sepa
rate and distinct from irrigation farm
ing, and the Trans-Missouri organiza
tion is engaged In promoting plans for
bringing under cultivation vast areas
olJ land remote from water courses
and unavailable for Irrigation work.
Scientific soil culture and the saving
of the moisture which falls in the
form of snow have demonstrated that
there are great possibilities for dry
farming, and the time is coming in
the . not far distant future when .
reclamation of lands available for
irrigation will have reached a point
where dry farming will become a
necessity for those who are no longer
able to secure good locations either
naturally or artificially irrigated. Both
Oregon ancj Washington have much
land that will some day be devoted to
dry farming, and for that reason the
efforts of the Trans-Missourians will
be appreciated.
Four of the largest diamond and
jewelry firms in New York have batfn
forced into bankruptcy on account. of
the unprecedented falling off in the
demand for high-priced gems. This
liquidation calls attention to but one
of. the many forms of suffering that
the rich have been, obliged to endure
since the financial stringency began.
Not only are they unable to buy dia
monds for favors at their card parties,
etc., but, in many cases, they have
been so haTd hit that entire families
are unable to live in New York City
and have fled in despair to European
Winter resorts, where the standard of
expenditure needed to keep up ap
pearances' is much lower than in New
York. Dollars are scarcer in Manhat
tan Island than they were last Sum
mer, but it is consoling to know that
there will also be- a -shrinkage In
the number of cads made snobbish
through wealth.
The Port of Portland has for the
past three years beSi singularly free
from the sailor abuses which gave
this port such a hard name through
out the .world. There have been oc
casional complaints of minor offenses,
but they have been speedily correct
ed by the boarding-house men who
have at all times been under the
watchful eye of Captain Hoben of "the
Boarding-hou-e Commission. A num
ber, of ex-prizefighters are now en
deavoring to secure a license to en
gage in the business. The competi
tion thus engendered might result ad
vantageously to some of the ship cap
tains, but not to the shipowner, and
the port would hardly gain anything
by the numerous rows that would re
suit from two sets of boarding-house
men pulling and hauling at "Poor
Jack." There is some merit in the
rule of letting well enough alone.
The British ship Port Patrick, find
ing insufficient room on the Pacific
Ocean for herself and the Columbia
River lightship, collided with the lat
ter, which was stationary, and could
not get out of the way. As a result,
the Port Patrick has limped Into
Esquimau, British Columbia, with
head gear damaged, plates sprung
and ' cargo damp with sea water.
Viewed on its merits, this is a plain
case of disaster due to poor naviga
tion and for which no port can be
held responsible. But the able sea
men who conduct underwriting estab
lishments in . Europe will charge the
trouble up against the. Columbia bar,
and their time-honored course in the
matter will, of course,-be approved by
one- or two Puget Sound newspapers,
which never miss making opportuni
ties for saying something "unpleasant
about the Columbia stiver.
A committee of schoolgirls at Pen
dleton, engaged in the study of litera
ture, and wishing to know about the
writers of Oregon, are to have '.'An
Oregon Day" on or about February 7
They request the editor of The Ore
gonian to give them some information
about his life and writings, for use on
that occasion. His life has been too
uninteresting and uneventful for par
ticular mention. - As to his writings,
during the past forty-three years he
has done something on the editorial
page of The Oregonian and has sent
sundry articles, Ofi request, to various
magazines. His other works haven't
amounted to much, just a few such
productions as Gray's Elegy, Bunyan's
Pilgrims' Progress, Goldsmith's De
serted Village, and a few novels, such
as The Vicar of Wakefield. Tom
Jones and The Last of the Barons.
A special committee of the New
York School Board, after due Invest!
gation, has decided that the rod judi
ciously wielded Is not only a good but
a necessary adjunct to school disci
pline. This decision is based upon
opinions that represent the experience
of hundreds of teachers in the public
schools of the larger cities of the
United States. This is a return, under
proper restrictions, to the old methods
by which unruly boys were molded
into law-abiding men.
Says a San Francisco dispatch con
cerning the California Safe Deposit &
Trust Company: "Investigation by
the grand jury revealed a . course of
frenzied finance and reckless banking
almost without a parallel." Probably
the members of the grand jury had
heard of the Title Bank in Portland
therefore qualified their report by in
serting the word "almost.
The nomination of "Chris" Schuebel
to be United States Attorney for Ore
gon is a fine Joke a Joke on three-
fourths of the delegation in Congress
and the entire Republican party of
Oregon. Moreover, it almost equals
the Joke on Schneider.
There are some Republicans who
will complain ' that President Roose
velt" listened to Senator Bourne in the
Schuebel matter. If they didn't ex
pect the President to listen to Bourne
why did they send Bourne there to be
listened to? -
Let the unholy carpers at Law
Giver TTRen understand once for all
that he is the real" thing. He is run
ning the state, including the so-called
Republican party. Ask Schuebel.
Treasurer Steel and Secretary Ben
son are going to put out Superintend
ent Looney, of the State Reform
School, to make room for one of their
friends. Brother Ross, perhaps. .
PROHIBITION THAT IS IMPROVED
l'a like South, Sober by Law, 25,000
Railroad Men SIsn Fledge.
New York Tribune.
While in Alabama, Georgia and Okla
homa officers of the law were pouring
uptold gallons of . spirits Into the gutters
on New Year s Eve, a very aitrerent sort
of prohibition campaign was moving to
ward Its culmination In the North. It
is reporte that' 25,000 employes of the
Northwestern Railroad Company have
signed the total abstinence pledge, a mon
ster copy, cif which, .with the 25,000 signa-1
tures affixed. Is on its way to the pres
ident of the corporation. The Teason for
this ' wholesale resolution is said to be
found in the rule adopted by the rail
way officials in reducing their forces to
the usual A'inter basis. All total ab
stainers, according to this rule, were re
tained; only drinking men were stricken
from the payrolls. When those accus
tomed to indulge in alsoholic stimulants
learned of this policy they took thought
among themselves, and the earnestness
of their self -searching is reflected in the
great New Year's resolution.
Of these two prohibition campaigns we
prefer the Northern one. Its advantages
appear both In the efficacy of its tactics
and in its freedom from any suspicion of
injustice. Prohibition by statute Is diffi
cult to obtain, even in outward form, be
cause abstainers and nonabstalners are
equally concerned in the enactment of
laws. And the enforcement of law-made
prohibition is still more arduous because
citizens of different proclivities and
habits are found among the police, on
the juries and on the bench. But when
an employer, seeing the greater efficiency
of abstainers, decrees that the permanent
jobs in his business shall go to such men
abstinence acquires a new motive and at
tractiveness. The drinking man cannot
complain that his rights are being tram
pled upon by this office rule, as he plaus
ibly may Under a prohibition law. The
employer simply asserts his right to pick
the men whom he thinks best fitted for
his business. If he fancied that vege
tarians were the best bookkeepers no
carnivorous accountant could well pro
test. If applicants for places resent the
rule they are free to seek employment
where, drinking is not supposed to be
detrimental. The fact that many rail
roads and other large industrial corpor
ations have adopted policies much like
that of the Northwestern may have more
Important consequences than all the pro
hibition laws ever enacted.
BTEW YORK'S SKYSCRAPER AREA
Each New Building Erected Brings
. RuHlmesa to the Others.
Chicago Record-Herald.
In an account of the recent addition
to the skyscrapers in a small area just
above the Battery in New York there
is a list which, includes- one building
41 stories high, one 32 stories, one 28
stories, two 23 stories, two 22 stories,
one 21 stories and three 20 stories. The
owest of these buildings would rank
with the tallest in Chicago and, of
course, they have added enormously to
the. city s office space. But It is said
that there is a demand for the new
offices as soon as the buildings .are
completed, and there must be a steady
encouragement to builders since the
tendency apparently is to coyer all the
available lot with' skyscrapers, and
there are several under construction in
addition to those that have been re
cently completed.
The theory of a possible oversupply
is met by a writer for the New York
Evening Post with the declaration that
in that particular section of the city
building cannot be overdone, and the
further assertion that each new build
ing actually brings business to the
others. He then justifies his belief as
follows:
When the writer sold the Lord's
Court building for John T. Williams,
he recalled the fact that he originally
built it 15 stories high, with plans ac
cepted for four stories more, but. never
had it filled until the Broad-Exchange
building was erected, adjoining, which
Immediately Increased the demand for
space In both buildings to such an ex
tent that it was found necessary, to add
the four stories, and. the 19 etories
were thereafter fully rented.
Birds of a feather flock together in
office buildings, as elsewhere, and ten
ants naturally bring tenants, because
as the occupants increase the building
gains in reputation as a business cen
ter. This is noticeable in Chicago, as
well as in New York, and there in the
necessary condition here for building
activity In a vigorous growth. The
downtown district, which. is very small,
in comparison with the area of the city
and the business needs of the popula
tion, must be largely rebuilt to pro
vide the accommodations that will be
required, in the -near future.
Senator Knox Resembles Grandson.
Pittsburg Dispatch in New York World.
Senator P. C. Knox, who has Presi
dential aspirations, has just seen for
the first time Philander Chase Knox
3d, his grandson, and son of Mr. and
Mrs. Reed Knox. The baby is 3 weeks
old. ' The Senator was holding it gin
gerly on his lap when Judge James
Young,, who accompanied him, de
clared enthusiastically:
"Senator, that child is the very ijnage
of you;"
Senator Knox blushed proudly, gazed
at the baby and said:
"Yes, we do resemble each other
about the. head." .
There isn't a hair on the top of the
head of either.
The Oldest Peer.
Kansas City Journal.
The oldest . British peer is Lord
Gwydyr. aged 97. He was 6 years old
at the time of the battle of Waterloo and
enjoys the distinction, probably unique, of
being the only person now living who was
present at the coronation of four mon
archs. It Is related of this venerable In
dividual that when a boy 10 years old he
went from the gardens of Gwydyr House,
Whitehall, to the Speaker's steps at
Westminster in his grandfather's state
barge, manned by liveried oarsmen, and
was present in Westminster Abbey when
the crown tu placed on the head "of
George iv; acting as page to bis grand
father. Lord Gwydyr.
Jilted, but She Doesn't Cry.
Washington (Pa.) Dispatch in New
York World.
Charles Davis failed to appear at his
intended wedding. Hie bride-to-be,
Elizabeth Clark, was ready, and nearly
200 guests were at the residence of
Mrs. A. H. Bover, Miss Clark s step
mother. Instead of breaking down and
crying. Miss Clark, when Informed that
the wedding must be postponed Indef
initely, . told the guests she was glad
she had discovered Charlie is a quit
ter" before it was too late.
The Dawn of Peace.
Selected.
Put off, put off your mail, O Kings,
- And beat your brands to- dust!
Your hands must learn a surer grasp.
Your hearts a better trust.
Oh, bend aback the lance's point.
And break the helmet bar;
A noise is in the morning wind
But not the note of war.
Upon the grassy mountain paths
The- glittering hotits Increase
They cornel They come! How fair their feet!
They come who publish- peace.
And victory,' fair victory,
Our enemies are ours
For all the clouds are clasped In light,
Ad all the earth with flowers.
Aye, still ' depressed and dim wltb dew;
'But wait a little while,
hd with the radiant, deathless rose
The wilderness shall smile.
WHITE LAW RKID AS DIPLOMAT
Newspaper Editor's Success as Speech
maker at LohiIob Embassy.
Washington (D. C.) Star. .
The presence of Whitelaw- Reld in the
country on leave makes It timely and
agreeable to refer to the distinguished
success with which he is meeting the ob
ligations of the most important of our
diplomatic posts. We have for years
sent of our best to represent us in Eng
land, and their services have largely con
tributed to the establishment of the very
eordial and desirable relations that now
exist between the two great English
speaking nations. In 50 years our com
mission has been in the hands of Adams,
the publicist and statesman; Lowell, the
poet and critic: Welch, the great mer
chant; Phelps and Choate, leaders of the
bar: Bayard, the political leader, and
John Hay. .the poet, journalist and-man
of wide- and general accomplishments.
The list is a source of pride to all Amer
icans. Mr. Reid, in all that he has done in
England, has fully Justtfied the choice
which added his name to this roll of
honor. His course in office, has been
careful, and his part In both the diplo
matic and the social life - of London
played with the ease and finish of a
trained man of affairs, thoroughly
grounded in both the history and the
conventions of the times. The American
embassy in London during his occupancy
has been representative of our best
estate,' and our best feelings toward our
British cousins.
The British public has grown to expect,
and apparently to enjoy, addresses from
our representatives, and it calls upon
them In circumstances demanding their
best powers of response. Mr. Reld has
met this obligation quite as felicitously as
he has any of the others. His addresses
have been marked by taste and wide
reading, and a gift of expression which
years ago won him a place in the front
rank of American Journalism. .Mr. Reid
certain to receive during his visit or.
this side many evidences of the high ap
preciation in which he la held by nis
countrymen.
TELLS ABOUT HIS "JACK-POT."
Mr. Johns Says He Doesn't Want to Get
Into Another.
BAKER CITY, Or., Jan. 7. (To the Ed
itor.)! have been patiently waiting for
one of my. associates to give The Orego
nian the desired Information 83 to what
is meant by "jack pot."
Under the facts . stated by him, I do
not think Dr. Moore makes a correct use
of the term. He Is quoted as saying that
all the fees paid to the State Medical
Board are placed in a "Jack pot and
divided equally among its members. This
must be sui ' generis with the Medical
Board. It . Is certainly an exception to
the rule to have an equal division ot tne
funds in a "Jack pot."
I am at a loss to know why The Ore
gonian should refer this question to East
ern Oregon; Judging from the past, it
Is very apparent that people In eastern
Oregon have but little knowledge about
"jack pots.
Personally, my own knowledge has
been, limited and very expensive. Ac
cording to my understanding of the term.
about two years ago I got into a "Jack
pot" with my friend Mr. Withycombe,
Mr. Geer, ITr. ' Schelbrede and the late
lamented Harvey Brown. 1 have always
thought that- "pot" was mine until Brown
came In and that then both Mr. Withy
combe and Mr. Geer, etc., run out on me.
In my Judgment, when a Republican
becomes a candidate for a primary nom
ination to a state office, he will get
into a "Jack pot," especially if he is an
Eastern Oregon man. While I thank The
Pregonlan and my other friends for hon
orable mention as a candidate tor cong
ress, I have no desire at this time to get
into another "jack pot" and prefer to
practice law and live In Baker Citv.
CHARLES A. JOHNS.
. King Edward as a Farmer.
Westminster Gazette.
The rich crop of prizes which ' the
King's cattle and sheep have won at the
Bingley Hall show, Birmingham, is the
latest demonstration of His Majesty's
success as a farmer, of which he is so
deservedly proud. When the King be
gan breeding, nearly 40 years ago the
Sandringham farm lands were in an al
most hopeless condition, barren and
barely capable of cultivation. Today, ac
cording to Rider Haggard, ' "It is a won
derful farm, for nowhere is so much
high-bred stock to be seen on the same
area." But probably nowhere will you
find such an rrray of plates and cups
won. at ' shows as that whicli Sandring
ham boasts. At a single exhibition His
Majesty once won no fewer than 14 first
prizes. In 1903 he captured five first
prizes and cups, In addition to numer
ous seconds and thirds: in 1904 his prizes
numbered 20, In 1905 he won a champion
plate, a challenge cup and 18 other
prizes, including four firsts, while last
year he took at the Smlthfield show ten
firsts, nine "breed" cups and plates, six
other prizes and several "highly com
mendeds." and every prize winner he
has bred himself. .
Too Little Money for Him.
Prineville Review.
"In order to become rich," says Life,
"it is necessary merely to follow the
perfectly simple 'procedure of any king
of finance. Thus: Borrow all the money
you' can upon the property you already
own. Ith the money buy more prop
erty. Combine the two properties, float
a loan, and with the money buy a third
property. Merge the three properties, use
the merger for security for a loan, and
with the money buy another large proper
ty. Consolidate this with the others, select
a board of directors, and authorize your.
self to float twice as muoh stock as there
already is. Sell this stock and with the
money buy nve or six more properties.
Yes: and if the sucker crop falls and
there is a crash, you can always claim
there isn't enough money in the country,
New Rooks Received.
Chicago Journal.
"How to Use a Pitchfork" By Senator
Benjamin R. Hlllman. A handy guide
on the use of sharp sentences and
speeches. Very pointed. For sale at all
agricultural supply stores.
"Colored Vocabulary" By Bob Evans.
Gives the reader an insight into the use
of variously, colored words, mostly pur-
nie. On sail around the Horn.
"How to Become Famous" By Gee
Bernard Pschaw. Tells how to artistic
ally knock newspapers and how to use
the pronoun "I." Author admits it Is a
good book. For sale wnerever it is Kept.
"Me, Me, Me" By Elbertus Hubbard.
A story of the author by himself. Be
gins with "I" and ends with "Me."
Makes the reader feel like a period. Very
Hayloftle. All tin shops.
The Zany
. " London Outlook.
I remember when a circus clown was
spoken of as -a "zany" a word found
only in colored alphabets for children
disinterred from the dictionary to meet
the exigencies of the letter Z. This is,
I think, a beautiful word. It is,' of course,
the soft Venetian form of Giovanni, as
S3. Giovanni e Paelo is "Zanipolo" in the
speech of the gondoliers.
Fastidious Burglar's Critical Taste.
Washington (D. C.) Dispatch.
A thief who robbed the house of J.
Edward Hurlock. of Millington, Md.,
left a note saying: I have called
again, and hoped to get money and a
dress for my wife. Don't care for your
silverware."
5s Silk Hat," Says Speaker Cannon.
Baltimore News.
Speaker Cannon has never worn a
silk hat, and says He would not wear
one should he become President.
POTPOURI
BY NANCY LEE.
One of the best-known Captains in the
Navy, who for years has been identified -with
California, was originally from the
Blue Grass State, and holds an enviable
record for the apparent ease with which
he consumes unlimited quantities of al
cohollo beverages.
After the San Francisco fire many of
ficers arid their wives were stationed tem
porarily at the Mare Island Navy Yard
and in the adjoining portion of the town,
Vallejo. In the latter burg the aocommo- ,
dations were extremely poor and a '
gaudily furnished apartment over a
saloon fell to the lot of Captain and Mrs.
Y. Here a wife of a brother officer called
one afternoon, and in the course of the
conversation condoned with Mrs. Y.',
owing to the fact that she was forced to
live over a saloon.
"Oh." said the Captain's wife, amiably,
"you wouldn't mind it in the least, after
having lived with one for 20 years."
.
When a woman has a will of her own,
she also has amonopoly on wont's.
Evolution of one "department" store:
Lowif, blowit, owit, goit.
One of Tacoma's wealthiest citizens was
in Portland not long ago and was invited
to take an automobile ride with a friend.
This Tacoman bears the reputation of
having the almighty dollar first in min
above all things, and an incident on this
occasion seems to prove it. Going at ter
rific speed, the motor became unmanage-.
able and the chauffeur called out that he
would have to run Into something that
he couldn't stop it. Whereupon the Ta
coman cried out: "For heaven's sake (or
words to that effect), pick out something
cheap."
The crematory is earning dividends by
burning the dead. Now, wouldn't that
incinerate you?
An old colored preacher in the South
was discoursing one evening on the sub
ject of the flight of the children of Israel
across the Red Sea, and he addressed
his hearers as follows:
Bruthers and sisters, when de chlllun
ob Israel rushed down to the Red Sea,
pursued by Pharaoh's army, der was a
thick coat ob ice friz ober de sea, an' de
chillun was able to rush 'cross de ice
and save theirselves. But jes as
Pharaoh army reached de middle
ob de stream de sun come out an' melted
de ice.' an', all de army was drownded."
At this moment a long, raw-boned negro
slowly arose in the oongreation and ad
dressed the minister, saying: "Look heah.
Mister. Fa-hson, ain't yo' sorter mixed in
yo' discou'sa? Now, 'cord In' ter de
geogtry, de Red Sea is somewhar neah
de equator, an' dey nebber was no ice
friz down neah de equator."
The old minister smiled a knowing
smile, and. leaning forward, replied:
Now, look heah, brudder, I 'spected
some ob you . Booker T. Washington
smart Elick niggers to 'spute my discou'se.
but I wants tec tell you all one thing.
At de time er de flight ob de chillun ob
Israel ober de Red Sea dar warn't no
geogfry and der warn't no equator,
neidder."
Man wants but little here below. Hs
usually gets it.
'Did you ever 'sit in' and get froze
out'?"
"No; but cine time I 'antled up' and
fell down." '
Too many cooks. spoil the broth. I've
known one to do it.
. e
On Ralph Stuart's recent visit to Port
land he told this story on his boys: Upon
the birth of the youngest boy the proud
father escorted the eldest lad (aged 5
years) to the crib where the slecpii z in
fant lay. -
"Aren't you proud of your little broth
er?" he was asked.
"Yes," he -replied, .hesitatirufly; "but,
gee! ain't he sunburnt!"
-
"I've got a dog," said Brown, "with
more Intelligence than most people. The
other day I was walking doiwntown, when
suddenly I stopped abruptly and said:
'Fido, there's something I should have
attended to, but I can't, to save my life,
remember.' Would you believe me, that
dog sat right down on the sidewalk and
scratched his head and tried to help me
think."
A Portlander who was frequently gui..y
of errors In grammar at one time cher
ished ambassadorial honor and finally
obtained a flattering position In one of the
foreign countries.
Two men were discussing the situation,
when one declared: "I hear Blank was
desirous of being made Minister to Eng
land, but, of course, he couldn't make
it." ' .
"Why not?"
' "Well, he couldn't speak the language."
Hymn of the depositors: "When I can
read my Title clear,"
. Colonel J. ."Ham" Lewis as a Jest.
Chicago Tribune, Jan. 2.
Robert Emmet Burke wished everybody
good luck yesterday except Colonel .James
Hamilton Lewis.- Even during the season
of good cheer Colonel Burke tould not
bring himself to see Colonel Lewis as the
Democratic nominee for Governor. It la
not a case of ill will towards Colonel
Lewis; merely a case of skepticism.
What will make this the more irritating
to Colonel Lewis is the fact that no less
a person than Colonel William Jennings
Bryan considers Colonel Burke's poli
tical judgment as the most sane, safo
and sound in Illinois. '
If he had given a moment of reflection
to it he would have realized that nothing
crude or brief could dismiss Colonel
Lewis from public attention, or sum
marily dispose of him as a possible Gov
ernor of Illinois. What Colonel Burke
meant to intimate was that Colonel
Lewis was too effervescent and volatile
to be effective politically in districts not
acquainted wth him and his art. Colonel
Burke expressed the fear that Colonel
Lewis would be regarded as a Jest.
An Apron String.
Elizabeth Payne In Harper's.
I'm a foolish little apron
Lawn and lace, you know the kind
"WiTh blue bowknots on my pockets.
And pert strings that tie behiad;
But I wreak the deadliest havoc
That the heart of maid could wish.
When she wears me, superintending
Barehits In a chafing dish.
Be it boys of gay and twenty.
Or grave widowers, twoecors.
Be It benedict, or even
The elusive bachelor
When they mett my ways beguiling.
Oh, I chuckle" while I win!
For they all says she is, somehow,
"So Intensely feminine!"
She has giv-n up athletics:
It's no lonptT worth hr while
To acquire tan and freckles
Coif meant many a weary mile!
I'm a foolish little apron. '
But there's nothing that can vie
In man's heart with such a combine
As that chafing diah and I.