8
TTTE MORNING OREGONIAN, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, I90S.
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PORTLAND. TUESDAY. JAN. 18, 1908.
THE MONSTER THAT DEVOURS OREGON
It has been the policy of the so
called Harrlman system and of Its
management to take everything possi
ble from Oregon, and to return to
Oregon the least possible. Hence
railroad extension In Oregon has been
denied; and the substance of the
country has been sapped to support
speculation in Baltimore & Ohio and
other stocks, and to keep the Gould
road and the Santa Fe road out or1
San Francisco and California. For
years and years this has been going
on, and through all these years Ore
gon has been sucked dry. Some
money necessarily has been expended
on the O. R. & N.; necessarily be
cause the Northern Pacific and Great
Northern were to be met, and trains
had to be run. But nothing In the
way of extensions, or for accommoda
tion of new districts in Oregon.
"What's been the use? The state has
been fenced in.. No other railroad
system could get into it. Millions
upon millions have been taken out of
Oregon and blown i:. elsewhere. And
nothing has been done in Oregon or
for Oregon.
Not only have there been no exten
sions, but the roadbeds and the serv
ice have not been kept up. The
whole system. In Western Oregon es
pecially, Is rotten and dangerous.
The roadbed goes down under the
weight of trains, and engines and cars
sway to and fro. The trainmen well
know the danger, but have to make
their time if they can though the
time requires but moderate speed.
On any train between Portland and
San FranUsco there may be at any
time terrible disaster. The road is
kept up to no efficiency. It will be
simply luck, if there should be no
great disaster. Death's head rides on
every engine. It is better to give the
warning than to join the funeral pro
cession and strew flowers after the
disaster. One starting on any of
those trains would better say his
prayers before he goes to bed.
At San Francisco Bay the Harrl
man system has Anally been com
pelled to make peace with the Gould
system, and arrangements are mak
ing under compulsion of course, for
withdrawal of legal and other obsta
cles that the U. P.-S. P. combine has
maintained for many years against
Approach of the Gould roads to San
,'Fruncisco. Long time the Santa Fe
was fought in similar ways, but at
last, through the help of San Fran
cisco and of the so-called Valley road,
the Santa Fe got in. So the Great
Northern and Northern Pacific are
getting now by a direct line Into Port
land; and wo shall prove very soon
that the game of hog and bluff in this
direction Is at an end. But Western
Oregon still has but a meager serv
ice, and Central Oregon no service at
all. Our people have exhausted every
expedient of favor and kindness. They
have dcult gently with this greedy
monster, in the hope it might soon or
some time be persuaded to render the
service due from It. Rut that mav
be given up as a lost hope. Between
tho people of Oregon and this rapa
cious monster, that absorbs every
thing It can get from Oregon, to feed
the brood engendered by its adulter
ous connections elsewhere, there can
be nothing hut war; and the people
of Oregon will use every means in
their power, through legislation, taxa
tion and use of other roads that con
nect with the statev to prove to it
what its duty to pregon is.
These are plain words. They are
intended to be plain. It is a time for
plain words. Oregon is not yet
wholly subdued to this monopoly, and
will yet be able to make an interest
ing continuous performance for the
monster that has so long been strang
ling It even though still in the mon
ster's coils. Do not forget that the
timber alone, granted to this beast
that lies stretched out like a sea mon
ster "floating many a rood." Is worth
more money today than would be
. needed to build "every railroad re
quired in Oregon, and to put all the
roads now In Oregon In safe and ex
cellent condition. That forbearance
Is no longer a virtue should and will
be the motto of all Oregon, now and
henceforth. In dealing with this op
pressive and devouring monster un
til some recognition of equity and
duty shall appear in its policy of
dealing with the people and with the
State of Oregon.
OUR STAT IX CUBA.
In August. 1806, the United States
was compelled to Interpose between
political parties in Cuba, to avert civil
war. and possible intervention by
some other power. We sent ships
and troops. The factions were quiet
ed and the revolutionaries dispersed.
But It has been costing us a pretty
sum of money. ,Up to October 31,
1907, the total was $8,634,116.64.
President Roosevelt has given notice
of his intention to discontinue Amer
ican occupation by February 1, 1909.
By that time our bill will amount to
at least $12,000,000. This must be
repaid, or security given for it,, before
we get out. And there must be a
stable government for Cuba. Whether
these requirements can be fulfilled Is
a question.
Politics in Cuba are- in a chaotic
state. There are several parties or
tactions, -wnicn refused to get to
gether; and to no one of them will
the others submit. Doubtless very
soon after we leave they will quarrel
again over the offices and over tha
policy of their government, threaten
revolution, end arm against each
other; and we shall again be com
pelled to step in. For we cannot al
low anarchy In Cuba nor permit the
Intervention of any other power.
Most of the Cubans who have prop
erty, or are engaged In business and
industry, wish the American flag to
remain. Only so can they see any
hope of peace and prosperity. Gen
eral Palma, most distinguished of the
Cuban leaders, says In a letter pub
lished In Collier's: "Better a hundred
times for our beloved Cuba to be in a.
dependent political situation In which
liberty is prevailing than in a republic
independent of a sovereign . but dis
credited and ruined by blasting peri
odical civil strifes."
It is very doubtful whether the flag
of the United States will ever be
withdrawn from Cuba; yet very prob
able that If It should be withdrawn It
would soon be called back. It may,
perhaps, be withdrawn, now or. soon;
but if it should go back once more
it would stay forever.'
A SPECIOUS HERESY.
The civic situation in Baker City
must excite grave reflections In a
mind which Is inclined to forecast the
effect of present conditions upon the
future of the country. The situation
is all the more interesting because it
is typical. The ministers of the town.
backed by some of the citizens, de
mand the enforcement of the state
laws against gambling and other
vices. The officials decline to enforce
the laws because, as they say. the
majority of the people do not desire
it. We dare say the officials are cor
rect about this. If the people of Ba
ker City wished the .laws to be en
forced it would be done; for if the
present officials refused, others would
presently be installed. The simple
fact that men are kept in office who
decline to enforce the laws proves
conclusively that the majority of the
voters of Baker City do not want the
laws enforced. This admits of no
doubt. However madly citizens may
rave, however vigorously they may
protest, all this signifies little. If they
really desired the enforcement of the
state laws they would put men In of
fice who would carry out their desire.
In declining to put the state laws
in force the officials of Baker City
are therefore undoubtedly conforming
to the genuine wishes of their con
stituents. Their protestation that
they permit gambling and kindred
vices to flourish for lack of evidence
to base prosecutions on may be dis
missed, however, as a common and
shallow subterfuge. When the Mayor
and Prosecuting Attorney of a com
munity really desire to suppress vice
they seldom find evidence difficult to
procure. The police of Baker City
know all about what goes on in the
dens of vice. Doubtless every member
of the force could furnish sufficient
evidence to put the gamblers out of
business. More simply still, the whole
matter could be settled definitely and
at once by a positive order from the
Mayor which the dealers in vice knew
was meant to be obeyed. They can
easily distinguish between an order
which is meant to be obeyed and one
that Is not. They have no standing
in court, and they know it. No peo-
pie In the world are more humbly
submissive to authority than the gam
bling fraternity whenever they per
ceive that authority is not afraid of
them.
But it is not in this phase of the
Baker City phenomenon that we are
especially interested at present. We
are more concerned with the question
when and to what extent the people
of any community within a state are
entitled to nullify the laws of the
state. Are these laws valid in each
community only in so far as the citi
zens approve of them? If this is the
case, then we hav in reality no su
preme legislative power in Oregon.
All that the Legislature can do is to
suggest laws; they have no binding
validity until the voters of each sep-
arate city have accepted them. All
that the people of the state can do
under the initiative and referendum
Is to suggest laws. The validity of
these laws depends upon the prefer
ence of each separate community.
This certainly follows If the theory of
law enforcement is true which the
Baker City officials advance. There
is no such thing as a general law in
Oregon.
It will not do to say that the voters
of Baker City cart nullify some state
laws and not others. All legislative
acts stand upon the same footing.
Those for the control of vice have
just as much and just as little general
validity as those relating to taxation,
If the people of Baker City have the
right to nullify a gambling law they
have also the right to nullify any
other part of the criminal code. To
the unprejudiced mind it appears
that the voters of Baker City have
assumed in this matter a referendum
authority. Suppose some other town
does not like to obey the statutes re
lating to the assessment of taxes.
Taking their cue from - Mayor Johns,
the officials of that town will say:
"We do nbt propose to put the laws
in force because the voters do not
wish them enforced." Would their
position differ In the slightest degree
from that of the officials of Baker
City?
Is it not a fact that all city offi
cials owe allegiance In the first in
stance to the state? In case of con
flict between their obligation to the
state and to their city, does not the
former take precedence? Is not the
Baker City doctrine simply the old
specter of secession rising from its
dishonored grave in a new and some
what more specious form? If the
city may partially secede from the
state, why not the state from the Na
tion? Granting all this, what have
we left but anarchy?
A GOVERNMENTAL ERROR.
It has been with deep regret that at
times in the past The Oregonian has
felt called on to make unfavorable
mention of certain features of the
Government service which seemed to
be paying too great a tribute to the
ory and faddism. Regarding Gov
ernment statistics, however, this pa
per has always had a wholesome re
spect. The assumption that "naught's
a naught and a Agger's a figger,"
whether used by the Government or
by the local mathematicians, has al
ways caused us to believe that an of
ficial Government document on ex
ports and imports could be regarded
as approximately correct in its fig
ures. This belief has received a
slight Jar since the appearance of the
annual reports of the Seattle and Ta
coma harbormasters, " showing ex
ports and imports for the year 1907.
The best showing that the Govern
ment could make with official figures
fbr eleven months of the year, and
unofficial figures for the remaining
month, was a foreign trade of ap
proximately $71,113,000 for Seattle,
Tacoma, Port Townsend, Everett and
about a dozen other Puget Sound
ports. This represented exports of
about $43,110,000 and imports of
$28,885,000. But the inaccuracy of
Uncle Sam is admirably exposed by
the annual report of the Seattle and
Tacoma harbormasters. The able
seaman who makes a specialty of sta
tistics for the Queen City has not
only proven with his figures that the
Imports at Seattle were greater than
those claimed by Tacoma, but he has
proved that Seattle imported nearly
$1,000,000 worth more than the Gov
ernment has credited to all Puget
Sound ports combined. , To be accu
rate, the Government gives imports
at all Puget Sound ports as $2 8,-
000,000, while the Seattle harbormas
ter accounts for Imports of $28,-
886,853 at Seattle alone. This ought
to make Tacoma feel sad, but the city
of destiny also has a harbormaster
who is not slow on figures, and who
with apparent ease presents an array
of statistics which in some respects
overshadows those of the ' Seattle
man.
The Tacoma statistician places the
imports at Tacoma for the year at
$17,821,360, and the exports at
$28,317,433. a total of $46,138,793.
The inherent modesty of Tacoma Is
thus revealed, for in neither imports
nor exports does its harbormaster
place a higher valuation than is given
by the Government for all Puget
Sound ports combined. The total
foreign business of the two ports as
revealed by the harbormaster's re
ports is J9f.455.294, or $25,000,000
more thai the Government could find
at all Puget Sound ports combined.
The stinging rebukes which have
been called forth in the past when
ever The Oregonian mildly questioned
the accuracy of the figures compiled
by the Seattle and Tacoma harbar
masters, forbids us intimating that
there Is anything wrong with them at
this time. It is simply a case cf
gross negligence and stupidity on the
part of the Government. The offsnso
becomes all tho more glaring when It
is known that the Government has all
kinds of figures whica it couli uso if
it so desired, and might even have
figured 3eattle out to be a greater
port than New York.
Portland, of course, is so far be
neath the notice of our mathematical
neighbors on the north that it may
be impertinent to mention these dis
crepancies. And yet the Government
reports for the eleven months ending
November 30th, 1907, shore- that
Portland gained $6,000,000 in ex
ports, compared with a loss o $1,
000,000 tor the same period by the
combined Puget Sound porta. Now
that the attention of the Government
has been called to this matter, the
records will probably be corrected in
accordance with those of the Tacoma
and Seaitle harbormasters provid
ing the Government can determine
which, if either, of these authorities
is telling the truth.
BAKER CITY'S YARNEY.
Rev. Mr. Varney, of Baker City, is
hard to please. About ten days ago
he sent a most extraordinary commu
nication to The Oregonian, pretty
much in kind with the anonymous
circular labeled "Liars and Cowards,"
which he has just caused to be spread
broadcast throughout Baker City, and
he requested that it be printed in The
Oregonian, anonymously, as "special
correspondence" from Baker City.
The' article was, of course, returned
to Mr. Varney, because The kOrego
ntan could not engage In such dirty
business for Mr. Varney, hiding in his
anonymity, 'or for anybody else for
any reason. The Oregonian did, how
ever, cause some inquiry to be made
Into the situation at Baker City, with
the result that an article from Its reg
ular correspondent was printed but
it does not seem at all to have satis-
fled Mr. Varney. It is of no import
ance that the Varneys of Baker City
shall be pleased. It is unfortunate
that they must be heard.
No doubt the moral situation at
Baker City is bad, as The Oregonian
has more than once said. Several
months since The Oregonian directed
some criticism towards District At
torney Lomax, of Baker City, because
he did not enforce the laws. The
result was an offensive letter from
this same fellow Varney. assailing
The Oregonian for daring to criticise
a good man like Lomax, who, as Var
ney said, didn't enforce the laws' be
cause he couldn't. Now Varney Is
hot after Lomax. among others.
We are Inclined to think the cause
of good government in Baker City
would be better promoted if some
way could be found to induce Var
ney to abandon its championship. He
has too much to say that isn't true,
and he says nothing that is not vio
lent, abusive, vicious and harmful.
Mary Baker G. Eddy, hailed by her
disciples as "discoverer and founder
of Christian Science," has transferred
her residence from Concord to Brook
line. Why this simple act should
have been accompaniel by th!.i
velled mystery is not clear to the or
dinary mind. It is, of course, practl-
cally without significance beyond that
shown by the natural desire of an
aged women to be near her special
church, or to furnish a pleasing
change to a reoluse who has success
fully essayed the role of a mystic.
Vast wealth enables Mrs. Eddy to in
dulge any whim that promises to re
lieve the monotony of self-imposed
seclusion. Why should she not have
a house elegantly furnished and fitted
up, with mysterious steel cages at the
top and bottom of the stairs, and
move into it if she so desires? Whose
business is It, since apparently both
she and her devoted secretary, Mr.
Frye, are satisfied with the arrange
ment? M. O. Lownsdale will appear before
the Marion County Horticultural So
ciety this afternoon in Salem in the
interest of his scheme to renovate old
orchards by cutting the trees close to
the ground and grafting new stock
upon the shoots that will follow the
cutting. The scheme has awakened
much Interest and owners of old or
chards are willing and anxious to be
"shown" in the matter of supplanting
old trees with new, without the -tbpr
involved in grubbing out stumps and
replanting orchard lands with young
stock. Orchards thus treated will In
a few years present an appearance at
once unique, beautiful and fruitful a
delight to the eyes of the landscape
enthusiast and a source of profit to
the commercial orchardlst.
The statement has been ' made
many times that in the-period of
prosperity.it has been hard for Uie
workingman to make both ends meet
it was during the hard times, for
the reason that prices of what he
must buy have been as high in pro
portion as wages have been. The
fact must not be lost sight of, how
ever, that during the gcod times all
men who wanted work had it, while
during hard times a very large num
ber were out of work entirely, not
even earning enough to- buy the
necessaries of life at low prices. The
prosperous times have tempted peo
ple to extravagances which prevented
savings for periods of depression.
A yeas ago yesterday and today the
"silver thaw," renowned in the cli
matic annals cf this city and vicinity,
dazzled and astonished the sight of
Oregonlans, old and young. It put
practically all of the telephones of
the city out of commission, pros
trated the forest of trolley poles on
the East Side, and made an Inextri
cable maze of their tangled wires,
and put a glittering embargo on busi
ness of all kinds. The scene was one
of surpassing beauty, and the condl
tlons incident thereto, of surpassing
inconvenience and discomfort. It
lasted but a few days, but it holds a
permanent place in the memory of all
who witnessed It.
One great outrage comes to light
upon the marriage of the Vancjerbilt
girl with the Impecunious Hungarian
Count. One million dollars in New
York Central bonds, left to her by her
father's will, producing at least $40,
000 a year, can't be sold or touched,
and the bridegroom will not be able
to draw on this fund to pay his gam
bling' debts and support his mis
tresses. But then there Is a counter
vailing advantage to the bride in this,
that the Count --ui't reduce her to
absolute poverty, and after she shall
have got done with him she will still
have means of support. Her father
was a man prudence and .foresight.
An American statistician has figured
that for every $30 spent by American
farmers for farm machinery, a tribute
of $5 Is paid to the trusts. This is
paid willingly, too, for is not the
American farmer a believer in the
standpat policy on the tariff question?
No one advocates an entire dlscontln
uance of a protective tariff, but there
are a great many who believe that the
schedules should be revised so that
the tribute should be eliminated and
more protection to American labor
provided.
There are those hereabouts, and
elsewhere in the state, who have been
very kind to the land grafters, yet
who, if The Oregonian had been ex
cusing or defending them, would
have pitched into The Oregonian and
the land grafters in most passionate
style. This is one kind of journal
ism. It is estimated in the long run.
for what it Is worth, and even more,
for what It Isn t worth.
, It would be a pity if men had to
abandon the principles of Washing
ton, Hamilton, Webster and Lincoln,
and adopt the principles of Jefferson
Calhoun, Jefferson Davis and Bryan
in order to get officials who will put
down graft and corruption. But who
will think it necessary?
Persons who write political letters
snouia provide themselves with a
kind of ink that will fade out entirely
in about seven days. That will give time
for the recipient to read the letter
and It cannot be produced as evidence
In court.
The young fool Vanderbilt woman.
whom a "Count" has married for her
money, would better engage her dl
vorce lawyer before she leaves Amer
ica. "Indeed, my lord, it followed
hard upon." said Horatio to Hamlet
It is a pretty safe rule In political,
as well as private life, not to do any
thing you would be ashamed to be
caught at. There are other things
than land fraud trials that can bring
secrets to the surface.
According to the Baker City Min
isters' Association, girls and boys are
allowed to wander about the streets
at all hours of the night. Are there
no parents in that town?
It is much to be regretted that Hon.
W. S. URen is not to be a candidate
for the United States Senate and get
Initiation into practical politics under
Statement No. 1.
Portlanders who growled at one
day of London fog should recall the
contrast with a sleet storm, alias sil
ver thaw, that occurred exactly one
year before.
It is settled that W. D. Haywood Is
to be the Socialist candidate for the
Presidency. Persons of good Judg
ment think he will not be elected.
While Mr. Bryan is on the ground
he may as well take a look at the
White House. In 1896 and 1900 he
didn't have a look In,
DRINK LEADS TO HIS SUICIDE
Beaverton Man Takes Strychnine.
Dies in Presence of Family.
HILLSBORO, Or., Jan. 27. (Special.)
James A Hoover, residing on the A. H.
Johnson farm, a mile west of Beaverton,
committed suicide yesterday morning by
swallowing strychnine, and died in the
presence of his family. Deceased had
lived In the county since 1S84, and was an
Industrious renter. He was a victim of
periodical drinking spells, and after these
sprees was generally morose. Hoover
returned home late Saturday night, and
the next morning did not appear at
breakfast, while the family was eating
Hoover opened the door and asked a
daughter to bring him a drink of water.
The wife, suspecting something was
wrong, asked him what the trouble was.
Come in here and I will show you," he
replied, and pointed to a bottle labeled
strychnine. Mrs. Hoover immediately
sent for a doctor, but her husband died
in a few minutes. Coroner E. C. Brown
held an inqulest. the Jury returning a
verdict in accordance with the facts as
stated.
Hoover was 47 years old and a native
of Audrian County, Missouri. He came to
Oregon in 18S4. He was married to Miss
Mary Adams, a daughter of J. Q. Adams,
and the wife and three children survive.
TOLEDO LEAGUE GETS BUST
Literature to Be Distributed and
County High School Agitated.
TOLEDO. Or., Jan. 27. (Speclal.)-sThe
Toledo Development League held a large
and enthusiastic meeting Saturday, when
the following officers were elected for
the year: William Scarth, president of
the Lincoln County Bank, president; E.
J. Avery, vice-president; C. B. Crosno,
secretary; A. T. Peterson, treasurer; C.
E. Hawkins, J. F. Stewart and C. H.
Gardner, executive committee.
The league ordered printed at once 6000
folders . advertising tu- advantages of
Toledo, the ' climate and the many re
sources of Lincoln County.
Toledo being a school town equal to
any of her size, the league ordered the
executive committee to prepare and cir
culate petitions asking the County Court
to submit to the voters of the county at
the coming June election the question of
establishing a county high school In Lin
coln County.
The league also instructed the execu
tive committee to take up Immediately
the matter of the 4-cent passenger rate
with the officers of the Corvallis & East
ern Railroad in an endeavor to have the
unjust overcharge removed.
NEAL RETURNS TO , BOISE
Cashier of Defunct Bank Does Xot
Fear Investigation.
BOISE. Idaho, Jan. 27. (Special.) H. B.
Neal, who until ten days ago was cashier
of the Capital State Bank, returned this
morning from Portland. He is much
broken in health, and is confined to his
house, where only those are permitted to
see him who are obliged to consult him
about the affairs of the closed bank. Re
porters were admitted to a brief inter
view this afternoon. There have been
rumors of Irregularities in the manage
ment of the bank, it being alleged that a
number of important transactions were
covered .up by Mr. Neal and were not
known to the directors until after the
failure. On this subject Mr. Neal said:
"Everything will be found in good shape
and irregularities will not, be uncovered,
for there are none, I am ready to ex
plain to the entire satisfaction of all
any matters that may need explanation."
Mr. Neal further said he tendered his
resignation some ten days before the
failure because of 111 health.
SEATTLE PEOPLE ARE VICTIMS
Get-Rlcn-Quick Scheme - Separates
Many Prom Their Money.
SEATTLE, Jan. 27. A number of Seat
tle persons have been caught in a "get-rich-quick"
scheme promulgated by pro
moters, who are said to have headquar
ters at Roseburg, Or. Under promise that
they could acquire vvalu&ble timber lands
from the California & Oregon Railway
upon payment of a small sum, well known
persons in this city have subscribed sums
ranging from $25 to $100 to cover the ini
tial expenses In the scheme.
The scheme has been branded as worth
less by the General Land Office at Wash
ington and investors warned against in
vesting where there Is. no hope of return.
FLOUR MILLS CLOSING DOWN
Tacoma Millers Say There Is No
Foreign Demand Whatever.
TACOMA, Wash., Jan. 27. (Special.)
The big flour mills on the waterfront are
running only part of the time as there is
practically no foreign business. The
Sperry mills have been closed down about
ten days and the Tacoma Grain Com
pany plant is grinding flour today only
for the local trade. The Puget Sound
flouring mills are running half time.
According to the flour men the export
flour market Is in deplorable condition
and no orders for export flour have been
booked for some time and at present
there are no prospects for a betterment-
Arrested for Removing Bridge.
VANCOUVER, Wash., Jan. 27. (Spe
cial.) .Paul Tappendorf, a prominent lum
ber manufacturer and member of the
firm of Tappendorf & Tenny. was ar
raigned in the Justice Court today charged
with removing and destroying a bridge
on the Stockford road. For several years
the lumber company used the road as
a private thoroughfare and claim the
fcridge was built at Its own expense.
Later the county bought the right of
way.- but according to Mr. Tappendorf.
failed to pay bis firm for the bridge. Tap
pendorf brought the matter before the
County Commissioners several times, but
they failed to take any action. Finally,
considering the property still his own, he
removed it. This resulted In his arrest
on the complaint of H. L. Parcel, who
has been using the road as a means of
getting in and out of his farm.
Trails, in Bine Mountains.
WALlA WALLA, Wash., Jan. 27.
(Special.) A network of trails through
the Blue Mountains lying within the
Wenaha forest is rapidly nearing com
pletion. Cabins have also been built for
the use of the rangers. The completion
of the trails will greatly facilitate travel
through the mountains. Chief ranger J.
M. Scbmlts has Just returned from a tour
of inspection in various parts of the
reserve, and is highly pleased with the
progress made.
Halibut Schooner Lost.
SEATTLE. Wash., Jan. 27. Special.)
The loss of the little halibut schoon
er Petrel with her master. Captain
Chris Jacksonand an unidentified man
in Pybus Bay, near Petersburg. Jan
uary 8, is the news brought to Seattle
by the steamship City of Seattle. A
squall struck the Petrel and she turned
turtle.
Leg Severed by Train.
" VANCOUVER, Wash., Jan. 27. (Spe
cial.) Mathew White suffered the loss of
a leg today in trying to -board the cow
catcher of a moving train. Missing his
footing he fell beneath the wheel;, and
his right leg was severed below the knee.
IS A HINDU A WHITE MAX?
Or Can Black Men Other Than Ne
groes Become Citizens.
ALBANY. Or.. Jan. 27. (Special.)
Can a Hindu become a citizen Of the
Untied States? This is the question
confronting County Clerk J. W. Miller."
D. S. Kehar and S. Wasson. employed
in a sawmill at Crawfordsville, ap
plied today at the County Clerk's of
fice to declare their intentions to be
come citizens. The question arises as
to their race and a construction of the
naturalization laws, which contain
this provision: "Clerks of courts
shall not receive declarations of In
tention to become citizens from other
aliens than white persons and persons
of African nativity or of African de
scent." Attorney A A Tusslng, of
Brownsville, who represented the
Hindus, appeared before the clerk
equipped with authorities who appar
ently prove conclusively that the
Hindus are of .the Caucasian race,
though in appearance the applicants
for citizenship are very black.
Leuniy tierK miner nas not yet de
termined what action to take in the
matter, hut it Is probable that the
Hindus will be allowed to make their
declarations and the question will then
be up for decision before the Bureau
of Immigration and Naturalization of
the Department .of Commerce and
Labor at Washington.
Kehar and Wasson are educated
men, both in their native language
and in English, and were able to write
their own applications.
MUST NOT SELL TO DRUNKARDS
Tacoma to Prosecute Saloonmen
Who, Violate Liquor Law.
TACOMA, Wash.. Jan. 27. (Soecial.)
Trouble in plenty is fn store for saloon
keepers in Pierce County who sell liquor
to persons who have been adjudged
habitual drunkards. Judge Arntson has
decided that all saloon owners and bar
tenders are liable for violations of the
law, which will hereafter be rigidly en
forced. Not only must liquor dealers
take care that no liquor is sold to habit
ual drunkards, but they must also keep
a complete list of these unfortunates
posted in their places of business ' and
make sure that the names of all habitual
drunkards are on these lists.
Failure of the saloonkeepers to comply
with the law will result in vigorous
prosecution and the loss of licenses.
Prosecuting Attorney Rowland has de
termined to accept no excuses for the
breaking of the law, which for years, has
been a dead letter. Further than this.
prosecution will not be limited to saloon
keepers.
SIGNATURES EASILY SECURED
Friends of" Hood River County Re
spond Readily by Petitions.
HOOD RIVER. Or., Jan. 27. (Spe
cial.) Reports received today by the
committee having the county division pe
titions in charge show that enough
names have already been secured to in
sure the matter a vote at the June elec
tions, and residents of the proposed new
county who know of it are now san
guine of success. The work of securing
signers was not begun until tive days
ago, but returns from workers show that
Hood River furnished 1100 petitioners in
favor of the new county; Baker City,
319; Pendleton, 526; Albany. 1000: Astoria,
360; Portland,. 5500: Oregon City and Sa
lem, 1160; The Dalles, 350, and Sherman
County, 400. Ten petitions that are still
out and have not been reported on are
expected to show 1000 more names. Al
together the total signatures secured is
in the neighborhood of 12,000, or 4500
more than the law requires.
GIVES HIS BODY TO STUDENTS
Friends of Seattle Sailor Comply
With Unique Request.
SEATTLE, Wash., Jan. 27. (Special.)
The body of Edward Owens was shipped
to the Medical College at Portland to
night. Mr. Owens, who was 63 years old
at the time of his death Saturday, left
a will bequeathing his body to some
school of medicine or to some medical
student who was studying independently
of a school. The will was left with the
Longshoremen's Union with instructions
to see to it that its terms were fulfilled.
Mr. Owens was not eccentric, save for
the one hobby that he wished his body
to be used for the furtherance of scien
tific research. He was an old sailor,
coming to Seattle many years ago from
Australia. He left no relatives in this
country, but had often spoken of a sister
in Australia.
CASHIER PRATT PUT ON TRIAL
State's Case Weak Evidence Shows
Factional Fight in Glendale Bank.
ROSEBURG, Or., Jan. 27. (Special.)
The case of H. N. Pratt, cashier of
the Glendale State Bank, was called
in the Circuit Court today. So far the
prosecution has' not made a strong
case. One feature developed today
was that there are two factions in
the bank, and the arrest of Pratt was
to a certain extent the result of fac
tion trouble. The case is being fought
with vigor on both sides.
Non-Suit in Stoessel Case.
PENDLETON, Or.. Jan. 27. (Spe
cial.) The Stoessel $7500 damage suit
came to an abrupt end In the Circuit
Court this afternoon, when Judge
Bean granted the motion for a non
suit. Dr. Emil Stoessel died last Oc
tober in a Portland hospital from the
effects of injuries received In a run
away accident near Pendleton. His
wife recently brought suit for dam
ages against the livery firm of Russell
& Laing. The case will now be ap
pealed to the Supreme Court.
The attorneys for the defense made
no specific denial of the facts alleged,
and, holding that such failure to deny
was an admission of th truth.'the at
torneys for the plaintiff rested their
case without attempting to make any
proof of their allegations. The motion
for a nonsuit was then made and
granted.
Why Charter Was Canceled.
ASTORIA, Or., Jan. 27. (Special.) Dr.
Holt deceived a letter today from the
quarantine officer at San Francisco,
stating that the reason the certificate of
the steam sehboner Cascade was can
celed was that when the vessel was
being fumigated at the Bay City her
hatches were opened two hours before
the required time had expired and her
master refused to delay his departure
even after the vessel's owners and agents
had been notified of the dereliction. The
Cascade was- fumigated In the regular
manner here and if any charges are to be
made against the master of the craft,
they will come from the San Francisco
office of the quarantine service.
Astoria Marine News.
ASTORIA, Or., Jan. 27. (Special.) Cap
tain Vesey, Lloyd's surveyor, made a
survey today of the British bark Claver
don. which drifted onto the sands during
the gale of a few days ago. He found
the vessel had not been damaged and the
lightered portion- of her cargo will be
replaced at once.
The schooner King Cyrus has cleared at
the Custom-House for Rcdondo with a
cargo of 860,000 feet of lumber, loaded at
Rainier.
POPULAR ELECTION OP SENATORS
The States Poshing the Necessary
tAmendraent of the Constitution.
Springfield (Mass.) Republican.
There are two ways o securing amend- r
ments to the Federal constitution. Con
gress by a two-thirds vote of both
branches may propose amendments
which will take effect when ratified by
three-fourths of the states through their
Legislatures or special conventions. Con
gress, on application of the Legislatures
of two-thirds of the States, "shall" call
a convention to propose amendments
which must afterward be ratified as
stated.
On four separate occasions the Houss
of Representatives at Washington has
adopted by the required vote an amend
ment providing for the election of United .
States Senators by popular vote in the
several states: but the Senate in each
case has refused to consider or vote
upon such a resolution. If tho country
wants this change It cannot get it evi
dently through the usual method of
amending the constitution. The Senate
blocks the way effectually. Its members
are self-interested against the popular
vote plan.
So there is now resort to the alterna
tive method of obtaining amendments.
The Iowa Legislature last year led off in
a movement to send to Congress a com
pelling petition or application from the
Legislatures of two-thirds of the states.
Eleven other state Legislatures prompt
ly followed suit, and they were not all
confined to the Western states. The New
Jersey Legislature was among the num
ber. Thirty-one states must Join in the
movement to make it effective, and it
is now thought likely that this number
can be obtained. Comparatively few
state Legislatures will be In session this
year, but next year may see Congress
forced to act in the matter.
The reform appears to be a desirable
one. Mere wealth as a qualification for
membership in the United States Senate
will count for less with the people of a
state than with a Legislature, whose
much smaller numbers make it more
easily subject to Influences of this kind.
The deadlocks which so frequently at
tend election by the Legislature, as the
Kentucky case currently illustrates, and
which often leave a state without full
representation In the Senate, would be
impossible under election by the people.
It is furthermore becoming evident that
most of the states and a great majority
of the people of the country want this
change, and that fact is enough in itself
to make up a conclusive argument in
favor of it. The movement Btarted by
the Iowa Legislature ought to succeed.
CANADA'S LESSON IN BANKING.
Depositors Are Protected fcy System of
Mutnal Insurance.
Omaha Bee.
The lawmakers of Washington, D. C,
and the financial experts who have been
devoting much thought and speech to
proposed reforms in our banking system,
the creation of a central bank, the protec
tion of tho funds of depositors, and other
related questions may find a lessoii In the
recent closing Of the Sovereign bank of
Canada and the disposition of its business
without the creation of a ripple upon the
surface of financial, commercial or Indus
trial affairs of the Dominion.
The Sovereign bank ranked among the
10 big financial institutions of Canada. It
had branches in 76 towns and cities, and
carried something like $30,000,000 in de
posits. When its management decided to
place the bank In liquidation, the backing
association of the Dominion took over the
Sovereign, arranged for the disposition of
Its affairs, and business went on the next
morning as -though nothing had happened.
While the shareholders of the defunct
concern may lose considerable, depositors
need not know that the bank has failed.
They are put to no Inconvenience except
that of going to another bank, which has
charge of old accounts of the Sovereign.
This is due solely to a system of mutual
protection and insurance that exists
among Canadian banks. The government
has no part in It. except a supervisory
control of the investment of the funds
raised on Joint account.
In this country the closing of the doors
of 76 banks, big or little, on one day,
would probably precipitate a panic and
would certainly mean destruction of as
sets and loss by depositors. The Cana
dian Incident argues the need of co-operation
among banks, the necessity for
mutual protection of the general banking
Interests. It furnishes evidence also that
the remedy lies as much with the banks
as with the lawmakers.
Without the Canteen.
Army and Navy Journal.
The comparative figures concerning
alcoholism In the United States Army
and those of foreign nations tell a
story which should attract the atten
tion of those who oppose the restora- '
tion of the Army canteen. The figures
for the United States Army are for the
year 1906, and those relating to foreign
armies are for the latest year obtain
able. The admission rate in the United
States for the year was 30.58 per 1000
of mean strength; in the British army,
1.09; French, 0.29; Prussian, 0.08; Ba
varian, 0.06; Dutch, 0.24; Russian, 0.01;
Spanish, 0.01; and in the Belgian, 0.15.
The Teturn of death rates is meager,
those for the American Army relating
only to troops within the continental
boundaries of the United States. The
death rates per 1000 of mean strength
are as follows: United States, 0.02;
British, 0.07; Russian, 0.001.
In all, or nearly all, the armies for
which the admission rates for alcohol
ism are given above the troops are sup
plied with malt liquors and some with
spirits. In the United States Army
alone is the soldier forbidden to pur
chase beer or light wines at his post
exchange. How this deprivation has
worked to his disadvantage and injury
is best told in the figures cited.
Haa a Joke on Rockefeller.
Cleveland (Ohio) Dispatch in New Tork
Times.
Valentine Christ Is 111 in a little house
in Bond Road, in the congested down
town district. He has amassed more
than a million dollars In the 53 years
since he began working as a boy of 13
as a tailor's helper. Now he laughs
at what he calls a huge joke on John D.
Rockefeller.
Christ, son of a Bavarian immigrant,
owns scores of houses, one a costly
dwelling adjoining the Rockefeller estate.
Forest Hill, but relatives and tenants
occupy them. He is bedridden, and had
just completed the tale of his hoarding,
when he said:
"One day I needed money. I asked
John D. Rockefeller for $16,000. That,
was six years ago. He gave it to me at
5 per cent."
"Have you paid him?" was asked.
"No. Why should I? It costs me 6,
and I have had better than 10 per cent
from it all the time."
When Tariff la Settled.
Atlanta Constitution.
Of course, we'll settle the tariff question
in time. Three-Roads gazette.
Prosperityll come to this trust-ridden land
When the tariff Is settled is settled!
We'll pay up our debts and we'll drive four-in-hand
When the terrible tariff Is settled!
That's Just why we're nettled
It's plain as the day,
When the tariff la settlsKl
I We'll holler "Hooray!"
Frosperityl! come with a blare o' the band
When the tortuous tariff is settled;
We'll march to the music an' about o'er tbs
land .
When the wonderful tariff Is settled.
That's Just -why we're nettled
It's plain as the day, ,
When the tariff la settled
She world will be gray.