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TITE MORNING OREGONIAX, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, I9Q8.
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l"ORTLANI, MONDAY, FEB. 17, 1B08.
THE FINAL REFORM.
An addition to our referendum, nec
essary, of course, if the voice and will
of the people are to rule, is provision
for call of the referendum on decis
ions of the courts, and especially most
Of the Supreme Cfturt. It is Intoler
able that the people should not be
permitted to review and pass upon the
laws they are to obey. In the last
analysis the Supreme Court, not the
people, makes the law; and under the
present system the people are forced
to submit, without even a chance of
protest. Decisions are continually
made which they would set aside, by
tremendous majorities, if they had a
chance. Complete deliverance of the
people from the despotism of the polit
ical and legal machine, and above all
from the tyranny of case-made law,
never can be achieved till the right
to call the referendum on opinions of
the courts shall be asserted and es
tablished. A letter from Mr. W. W. Calkins,
of Eugene, on this subject, recently
published in The Oregonian, has ob
tained much notice. In that letter it
was suggested that initiative, as well
as referendum, could be used along
this line, with excellent effect; for
the suitor, if he chose, could bring his
case before the people direct, without
submitting to the delay of passing
through the courts and becoming the
prey of lawyers through the course
of the proceedings. The state would
bear, as in ordinary cases of initiative
and referendum, the expense of print
ing the statement of each case and of
circulation of it among the people. Tn
this way the call of Justice would be
brought home to men's business and
bosoms. Likewise the referendum call,
on such cases as the courts had passed
upon, and with which the people were
dissatisfied, would clear our jurispru
dence of the effects of mistake and
injustice, and would make rules of law
which all would willingly obey, be
cause they would be clear expression
of the true will of a just and en
lightened people, v
The people already have taken the
legislative branch into their hands,
through initiative and referendum,
and the executive branch through new
methods of nomination, and proposal
of the power of recall, which will un
doubtedly be adopted. Now, if the
action of the Supreme Court were,
subject to the referendum, the judi
ciary would be divested of the power
to make the will and action of the peo
ple null, by the method of construc
tion, of which all courts are so fond.
It will not be denied, of course, that
the Government ought to be put in
the hands of tne people without any
reservation whatever, and the remain
ing thing necessary to thi3 end is to
curb the judicial branch, upon whose
will there is now no restriction what
ever. The wonder is that the people have
borne this despotism and oppression
so long. It has always been a long
road, however, to freedom, whose bat
tle ever must be passed on from sire
to son. The method, indeed, is often
a perplexity; but now at last discov
ery and use of the Initiative and.refer
endum will open a door to all results,
and conduct us all to freedom. Prep
aration will be made as soon as pos
sible for initiative constitutional
amendment, so as to bring the third
department of the Government under
the control of the people and to abol
ish the wrong of compelling them to
live under a Judge-made law, rather
than under laws of their own free en
actment. What's the constitution, 'anyhow?
The constitution of Oregon was adopt
ed when there were no more than
60.000 people in the state. There are
600,000 now. "Why should 50,000 peo
ple, most of whom are dead, by or-
dinance enacted BO years ago, rule
over 600,000 now. all of whom are
alive? D the past, anyhow!
HOW THE FRENCH DO IT.
Great ado Is made once more in all
the newspapers over the marriage of
an American heiress, Miss Shonts, at
New York, with the Due de Chaulnea
at Paris. Nobility In France is as
common as plutocracy in America.
And yet there is no nobility in France.
Titles borne or assumed by French
men have no power ori significance at
home. The government of the repub
lic, acting on the principle, or fiction,
that under a regime of equality no
titles can exist, has left to private
enterprise the assumption of titles,
and every upstart ennobles himself.
Many of the titles have no foundation
whatever in ancestry. In other cases
the remote offshoots of ducal houses
set an example in the democratic use
of these .adornments, and in some of
them there are dozens of multiplying
younger branches, each member of
which gives or attaches some titular
dignity to his name and transmits it
to his posterity. The Shonts girl, prob
ably, has got one of these In exchange
for her money. There are thousands
and thousands of such prizes.
A man then in that happy country
may take what title or titles he
pleases; but In all the duties and re
quirements of citizenship, , the strict
est restraint is put upon the altera
tion of the family or baptismal name.
In France any citizen may with success
erect himself into a marquis or count;
but If he take upon himself to alter
the civil names Inscribed on his birth
certificate, he Is subject to the stern
est penalties.
Bodley, in his book on modern
France, has a curious chapter on
these self-created nobles and their
home-made titles. The principal func
tion of this cheap aristocracy seems
to be to impose on people of other
countries, and especially on the wom
en. But these pretenders are really a
burden at home; for each year the
custom increases a section of the com
munity that adds nothing of value to
the country, but actually debases the
national standard of intelligence. "It
is surprising," writes " Bodley, "that
the government has taken no step to
curb the Irregularity, but even con
nives at it by a paradoxical applica
tion of the doctrine of equality. The
fiction is that titles borne by French
subjects have no existence, hence to
recognize them for the purpose of
limiting their use would bring them
into being and thus Infringe the prin
ciple of equality!"
PORTLAND BKEAKXNG RECORDS.
Portland's foreign trade for 1908
promises to break all previous rec
ords, the volume of business for the
new year to date exceeding that of
any corresponding period in the his
tory of the port. Wheat shipments for
the first two weeks of the current
month reached a total of more than
1,500,000 bushels, and there is suffi
cent tonnage to finish loading, before
the end of the month, to increase
these figures at least 1,000,000 bush
els. Deep-water tonnage in port is'
nearly double that of one, year ago,
and exceeds that of all American
ports on Puget Sound combined. The
figures in the latest issue of the San
Francisco Commercial News shows
that on February 13, the ocean-going
fleet on Puget Sound, exclusive of
coasters and regular liners, consisted
of twenty-eight vessels of 53,201 tons'
register, scattered among seven differ
ent ports, while at Portland on the
same date there were thirty-one ves
sels of 61,727 tons' register.
In actual customs receipts, which
are the most accurata test of the real
commercial importance of a port, this
c)ty started in the new year with col
lections of $108,875.73, nearly $3000
more than the receipts at Seattle, our
nearest competitor, and within about
$2 8,000 pf the combined receipts of
Seattle, Port Townsend, Tacoma, Ev
erett, Bellingham and fourteen other
ports in the Puget Sound district. The
increase in breadstuffs exported from
Portland in 1907 was 118.1 per cent
overfhat of the preceding year, com-f
pared with ii per cent increase on
Puget Sound and 1.9 per cent increase
in San Francisco. Portland led all
other Pacific Coast -ports in wheat
shipments, and In order not to give
this fact too much prominence, a Seat
tle trade paper in citing the Coast to
tal of 19,047,917 bushels, adds: "of
which the Puget Sound district con
tributed practically one-half, or 9,191,-
270 bushels." Portland's shipments
were 9,237,437 bushels.
While it would be expecting too
much to score a gain equal to that of
1907, it is novr a certainty that Port
land's wheat exports for 1908 will far
exceed those of the preceding year.
The early completion of the North
Bank road will wonderfully Increase
the amount of wheat reaching tide
water at Portland, and the steady
growth of the jobbing business of the
port will Increase the imports, which
even now are distributed from Port
land in larger volume than from any
other North Pacific port. Viewed from
almost any standpoint, the commer
cial outlook for Portland is excep
tionally bright, but in no other line
of trade will we see greater growth
this year than in our foreign busi
ness. .
USE OF STATE'S EVIDENCE.
The idea is prevalent with a consid
erable number of persons that a pros
ecuting officer should not use the in
formation of certain criminals and let
them go, in order to convict others
usually "higher up." This practice is
condemned by some persons as dis
reputable, and by others as even crim
inal on the part of the prosecuting
officer. One man, writing to The Ore
gonian, asks if the prosecutor is not
causing the informers to commit per
jury and thereby committing suborna
tion of perjury. The letter Is as fol
lows: ASTORIA. Or., Feb. 15. (To the Editor.)
Webster gives the definition of the word
suborn. First. In law to procure a person
to take such a false oath os constitutes per
jury. Second. To procure privately or by
collusion. Third. To procure by Indirect
means. Subornation. In law the crime of
procuring a person to take such an oath as
constitutes perjury. Second. The crime of
procuring one to do a criminal or bad
action.
May a man who Is detected in a crime
commit perjury to escape the penitentiary?
If Jones gives Smith ten dollars to swear
to an affidavit which he knows to be false.
Smith is a grafter and a perjurer, while
Jones Is undoubtedly guilty of subornation
of perjury. This is clear. Apain. Twelve
men are Indicted for committing a crime.
If convicted they all w-lll go to the pen
itentiary. But there is a chance they may
not be convicted. Therefore, the prosecu
ting attorney calls 11 of the 12 Indicted
men Into his office separately and privately,
and informs each one that his conviction is
sure, and that he can escape the peniten
tiary In only one way. And that is by tell-
ing "all he knows" and helping to secure
the conviction of on man who is supposed
to be higher up. If he will do this and help
to convict the one man higher up he him
self will be given his freedom In exchange
for his testimony.
This Is, as I understand it, the so-called
Immunity bath. What I wish to know from
The Orerrnnian is this: Does not the prose
cuting officer by threatening and promising
liberty in plain words ask these 11 men to
commit perjury? Does he not attempt in
the baldest way to suborn perjury? Is not
this the very worst and most dangerous
kind of subornation of perjury?
' JAS.. AXDEPSON.
Certainly not. Perjury is false
swearing. -A prosecutor does not ask
informer witnesses to perjure them
selves. It is almost universal practice
in criminal prosecution for conspiracy
to grant Immunity to some of the ac
cused for their testimony against the
rest.
In most cases', it is the only re
source of the prosecution. How far
it should go is allowed to depend
usually on the judgment of the attor
ney for the state. There may be pos
sible abuse in it, of course. And yet,
after all, the state has a right to em
ploy any means that may fall 'within
its power to discover a corrupt or
dangerous conspiracy against it and to
punish the malefactors. It is usual to
select the principals as the ones to be
punished in such Information. The
prosecuting officer simply represents
the state, and he acts on his test
Judgment for the state's interest. So
ciety would be practically without re
course, were not this method pur
sued. Its interest and safety are the
supreme considerations. . Of criminals
banded together for plunder or other
criminal practices, convictions with
out this method of getting testimony
would be few or none. Had Ruef's
crowd all held together In San Fran
cisco the prosecution would have been
completely foiled. And the crowd was
broken up only by promise of immu
nity to the corrupt supervisors. Had
it not been done, the plunder would
be going on still. And the same in
Oregon. Much as the community may
despise a criminal who informs on a
confederate in order to escape pun
ishment, it is willing to "let off" some
in order to punish others, since oth
erwise it could frequently punish none.
FROTECTTVE TARIFF MTRDEB.
The alarming increase in the num
ber of railroad accidents traceable to
broken rails is again brought to the
attention of the publio by the recent
disaster on the Southern Pacific near
Forest Grove. Twenty years ago rail
road accidents caused by broken rails
were comparatively rare, but today,
nearly two-thirds - of the wrecks on
roads carrying a heavy traffic are
caused by broken rails. Taking a su
perficial view, it might be thought that
this increase in the number of broken
rail tragedies was due to the rails
wearing out, and not being replaced
with new ones. This theory is dis
proved by some very interesting offi
cial statistics, compiled by the rail
road companies for the purpose of
fixing the blame for the numerous ex
pensive wrecks with which they-have
to contend. Incidentally these statis
tics present the iniquitous steel trust
in anything but a pleasing light.
. They show beyond any doubt that
in nearly all of the broken-rail acci
dents, it is a new and not an old rail
that has caused the trouble. During
the year ending December 31, 1906,
out of fourteen broken rails removed
from the Southern Pacific tracks in
Oregon, one had been in service but
four months, four for eight months,
four for six months, two for twenty
months, and one for twenty years, an
other twenty-five and another twenty
six years. In. the face of such statis
tics it is not at all difficult to reason
from cause to effect. When the old
rails which figure so infrequently in
these disasters were made, there was
active competition among the rolling
mills and factories, and whenever a
railroad company discovered that one
railmaker was putting out a poor
grade of rails, orders could be placed
with a rival institution.
The beneficent workings qf our ad
mirable tariff system has put an end
to all this competition, not only In
regard to prices, but to quality as well.
Has any one ever heard of a broken
rail on the main line of the Astoria
& Columbia River Railroad, although
big engines and heavy freight trains'
have been pounding over them for
more than ten years? This immu
nity to broken-rail accidents is due to
the fact that a remarkably low freight
rate from Europe and low prices for
rails abroad, enabled Mr. Hammond,
the builder of the road, to purchase
his rails In England, where the com
petition is so fierce that the' putting
out of rails that would break in from
four to six months would result In
the manufacturer retiring from busi
ness for want of orders. With match
less machinery, good ore, and won
derful facilities, no one doubts for a
moment that Americans can turn out
the best rails, but the greed of gain,
fostered and encouraged by our tariff
system, has destroyed all incentive for
any other policy than that of extract
ing from the consumers the greatest
possible profit at the smallest cost.
The clink of the dollar has deafened
the ears of the Carnegles, Schwabs,
Coreys and Fricks to wails of the dy
ing, and to laments of those who have
witnessed the life being crushed out
of friends in broken-rail accidents,
nearly all of which are directly trace
able to the hasty and cheaply con
structed rails. Railroad wrecks are
always Very expensive for the com
panies, and for that reason, railroad
men' endeavotjto use and maintain
safe equipment, but with the steel
trust there Is practlcallynothlng at
stake except public opinion. We have
long since passed the stage where 'It
cared anything for the public except
to rob and steal under the protecting
wing of the tariff. Perhaps if Uncle
Joe Cannon and Mr. Payne under
stood that Carnegie libraries are less
desirable to some people than the
lives of their friends, they might con
clude that the time for tariff revision
was not near at hand, but actually
here.
A SON'S NEGLECT.
A dispatch from Albion, a town in
Eastern Washington, tells of the re
union, after thirty years, of a mother
with her long-lost and vainly-sought
son. The son left home when a boy
of 16, to seek his fortune in the West.
He is now a man of 46, and his moth
er, during all of the intervening years,
has sought tidings of him in vain.
Only now, as it seems, she discovered
him by accident, and found in the
restless boy, ovef whom she had
yearned with tenderness for so long,
a prosperous man past middle life. A
man of good standing in the commu-
nity, he had "made good," as the
phrase goes, in every way. except in
the expression of filial regard which
should have prompted him to keep his
mother informed of his whereabouts,
his situation and the many little de
tails of his life.
It Is not a crime, nor yet perhaps a
misdemeanor, for a man utterly to
neglect his mother in this way, but It
is a cruelty which no one, boy or man,
would inflict, could h realize the
anxiety and suffering which it causes.
Such neglect can . only come from
thoughtlessness that is inexcusable in
a boy and unpardonable in a man
though in truth the mother, in her
joy at finding her son, remembers his
delinquency against her no more.
The common . judgment of human
ity, however, is that from any stand
ard of filial duty that it is possible to
set up among enlightened people, a
man who keeps his home folks, and
especially his mother, on the rack of
anxiety for years, when instant re
lease would follow the receipt of a
letter that he could write in a few
minutes, mall on his way down town
and cause to be delivered at the door
of his old home for two 'cents is
guilty of a sin of omission that' is
unpardonable.
The news from Olympia that Gover
nor Mead ajid Railroad Commissioner'
Harry Fairchild are playing politics
with the Hanford Joint-rate decision
which takes most of the power away
from the Railroad Commission, is al
most unbelievable. It seema cruel to
Insinuate that an extra session of the
Legislature will be called to fix up
the commission law and at the same
time strengthen the Governor's politi
cal fences. Of course Mr. Fairchild
should be given relief of some kind to
get him out of the position in which
the decision has placed him,- for it is
well remembered that when he was
making his famous plea for the pas
sage of the bill, he assured the com
mittee that if it would pass his bill
"we will be in power for fifty years."
This was only four years ago, and
something must be done to prevent
the office getting away for the forty
six years of the unexpired term.
San Francisco is complaining be
cause the Government has turned a
deaf ear to appeals for Federal aid In
stamping out the plague. What's the
matter with Rudolph Spreckels? Ac
cording to Llckum Stuffins, the son of
the sugar trust magnate fairly revels
in delight at the opportunity to give
San Francisco a moral housecleanlng.
Even the unquestionable advantages
of good morals are insufficient to ward
off the bubonic plague.
While rebellion in a household is
generally to be condemned, extenuat
ing circumstances attach to the act
of the San Francisco girl who ran
away and refused to return home ex
cept under promise of immunity from
two hours' piano 'practice during the
remaining years of her minority. Mu
sic does not always conduce to sorace,
refinement or polish; in this case, the
girl just sawed wood.
The Vanderbllt family Is shocked
and grieved because Hetty Green has
told the public that its members were
attempting to pawn their Jewels dur
ing the recent panic. This would seem
to be an eminently more respectable
transaction than buying a foreign rake
with a title, for one of the females of
the- family. There is a chance to re
deem the jewels, but the girl can
never be redeemed.
A New Tork dispatch states that it
was the skill of Due de Chaulnes with
the violin that won the consent of
Papa Shonts to the marriage. There
is nothing in the way of precedent
that lends any encouragement to the
belief Jhat the father of the unfortu
nate Bride will find any escape from
contributing to the remuneration that
those who dance are supposeed to re
ward the "fiddler."
Everybody will be glad to witness
the complete discomfiture of that
Waymire woman, who was tampering
with our Mayor. The courts move too
slowly on such questions. Let us have
the referendum on the case, and full
discussion before the people. You may
depend on the righteous Judgment of
the people, every time.
Merely a new name Is the recently
organized Yamhill Development As
sociation. To our certain knowledge
a like concern has been in active ex
istence for sixty-four years, promoting
the interests of a remarkably rich
agricultural section. Back in the 40s,
as now, the pardonable and truthful
boast was, "Yamhill ag'in the world."
Says the New York Tribune: "The
Oregon man who wants to have the
legal system popularized so that there
can be a review of Judicial decisions
by referendum ought to get a copy
right on his idea." Not necessary.
This is one of those ideas which, once
set free, make conquest of the world.
The Columbia River Fishermen's
Protective Association has filed a pro
test against the removal of Fish War
den Van Dusen. The fishman from
down by the sea should at least have
an opportunity to give his views on
Statement No. 1 before being cast
ruthlessly aside.
It used to be that we associated the
employment of detectives with vulgar
crimes like housebreaking. Until the
past year bankbreaking had not
reached such large proportions as to
need the espionage of sleuths.
The people want, mean- to have,
and must have, the referendum on
Supreme Court decisions. The peo
ple know what Justice is. Trust the
people. Every person will get his
rights, every time.
Chicago is, indeed, a railroad cen
ter. It is the terminus of thirty-four
lines, operating 91,627 miles of track,
or about 40 per cent of the entire
mileage of the United States.
"I said in my haste all men are
liars." Now, some might think Presi
dent Roosevelt wrote, that. But he
didn't. It was another man.
Probably it is too early to announce
what firm the Shonts woman has en
gaged as her divorce lawyers.
Proposed Increase of enlisted men's
pay indicates that Uncle Sam thinks
even the soldier is worthy of his hire.
A SNEER FROM PLUTOCRACY
But Oreatom Gael Ahead om the Line of
Freedom 3fevertbeles.
New York Evening Sun.
Oregon seems to have constituted itself
an experiment station for the country in
the' field of simon-pure democratic gov
ernment which alone approaches the ideal
of the new Jeffersonians. Just now the
initiative and referendum laboratory ts
in full blast out there. Already about a
score of measures have been proposed
which must be put before the people of
the State in the June elections.
Among the measures in question is a fa
miliar one for the purpose of injecting
into government the so-called "recall," a
schema devised for the purpose of re
ducing the chosen representatives of the
people to a state of abject subjection to
public clamor. As Oregon has hardly been
experimenting long enough with the new
fads and theories of unadulterated dem
ocracy to become thoroughly sickened of
them, and is not likely to until it has had
time to consider next June's outcome of
these efforts at lawmaking, the chances
seem to be that the recall will be added
to the initiative and referendum equip
ment of the governmental experiment sta
tion. The equipment will not be complete,
however, until the idea which Mr. W. W.
Calkins, of Eugene, Or., as set forth in
a letter to the Oregonian, has been em
bodied in a properly initiated form and
duly adopted by the referendum vote.
Mr. Bryan may consider that he is a
good deal of a Democrat, and as such
very much of a Democrat, but beside
Mr. Calkins tie is an aristocrat, an oli
garch, a firm believer in autocratic des
potism. We are sure that when he
learns about Mr. Calkins' proposition the
Nebraskan will hasten to bring his views
up to date. Yet all that the Eugene
manifesto- proposes is the extension of
the Initiative and referendum to the Ju
dicial department of government.
Mr. Calkins visits with severe displeas
ure those -half-hearted Democrats who
have "come far short" of giving the new
fad "the scope that it should have in
order really to put the Government in the
hands of the people." He points out that
it is all very well to control .the legis
lative branch of government through the
initiative and referendum and both the
legislative and executive branches through
the recall, but what he wants fo know is
why no curb is proposed tor the Judicial
branch.
Here is Mr. Bryan's opportunity to re
deem himself from the imputation of
being but a half-hearted Democrat after
all. The Nebraskan is certainly an ex
perienced reformer, and If he would but
seile on the chance which Mr. Calkins'
self-effacement gives him there is no
telling what quantities of popularity he
might yet achieve in spite of his past
half-way advocacy of the initiative and
referendum. How he could ring the
changes on the theme of putting the Gov
ernment in the hands of the people with
out any reservation whatever.
Questions for Republicans.
Oregon City Enterprise.
What Is a Republican?
Is he a man who votes the Republican
ticket?
If not, what kind of a Republican is he?
This Is rather a pertinent question at
this time, and will be more pertinent be
for the state and county election next
June.
The Republican party of Clackamas
County, at the primary nominating elec
tion in April, will place before the people
of Clackamas County a set of men for
the various offices to be filled. These
offices embrace three candidates for the
Legislature. The members of the Legis
lature will be called upon to elect a
United States Senator next January. As
suming that the Legislature will have a
Republican majority, it follows that it'
should elect a United States Senator who
Is a Republican. Assuming that a ma
jority of the members of the Legislature
sign Statement No. 1, It follows that
they will vote for the candidate for
United States Senator who receives the
majority of the votes of the people of
Oregon at the June election. Assuming
that this man shall be a Democrat, then
the Republican majority of the Legisla
ture will elect a Democrat to the United
States Senate.
How does this fit your stomach, you
Republicans?
Does this appeal to you, who have been
Republicans from the cradle; you who
are Republicans from principle; you who
believe that the policies of Theodore
Roosevelt must be carried out? If you
elect a Democrat United States Senator,
will that man go to Washington and up
hold Republican policies and principles?
Put your thinking cap on and consider
this matter.
You men of Clackamas County who
are going to become candidates for the
Legislature on the Republican ticket, will
you subscribe to Statement No. 1, and thus
be pledged to go to Salem and vote for a
man who may be a Democrat? Can you
do this and still be a Republican? How
do jou think your fellow Republicans
will like it if you do? How Is your back
bone, and your reasoning power .and
your general Republicanism, anyhow?
Shot by His Own Coyote Trap.
Joseph Herald.
Joe E. Lay, who resides on the old
Musty ranch, Prairie Creek, has been
postered, during the Winter, with coyotes
and finally decided that It would be dead
easy to shoot them with a trap gun.
He drew the carcass of a horse into
a field, put out some poison, then placed
a cocked and loaded shotgun, with a
string running from the trigger of the
gun to a stake near the carcass and had
the trap fixed in such a manner that
anything touching the string would re
ceive a good-sized load of shot.
Monday morning, bright and early, Joe
went out to look at the carcass and
found that some animal had been there.
He moved around trying to locate the di
rection the animal had .taken, when he
touched the string and bang went the
shotgun, part of the charge hitting him
in the calf of the leg. He was brought
to town and placed under the care of a
physician, who extracted most of the
shot. If complications do not set in Mr.
Lay will be around In a few weeks.
Watterson's Declaration.
Henry Watterson, in a two-column,
double-leaded editorial in the Louisville
Courier-Journal (Dem.), writes from
Florida concerning the recurrent talk
about electing him United States Sena
tor, that "if a certificate of election were
placed In my hand I would not go to
Washington to take the oath of office.
If I had wanted that sort of thing I
would have sought it thirty years ago,
when, as a young man, I stood in the
line of succession and all the ways were
open to me."
Ills Redeeming Quality.
Chicago Nerwa.
He does look rather seedy, poor old chap!
HIb ancient hat has wholly lost its nap.
And one catches
Sight of patches
On his shoes, which are not matches.
But I- tell you that I do not care a rap.
If my friends Indulge In laughter when I
take him out to dine,
I assure you I can stand it for that rela
tive of mine.
He Is testy, which la common at hta age.
And a trine often sets him In a rage.
You may wonder
How in thunder
I can bear to knuckle under.
But you'd do the same as I do. Til engage.
For forbearance with the aged la a quality
divine
And I guess that I can humor that dear
relative of mine.
I admit that It la sometimes hard to bear.
That his temper and his habits often wear.
It Is trying.
No denying.
But some day he will be dying
And you see I am his sole remaining heir.
It Is nothing but my duty, so It's wicked
to recine.
And I mean to love and cherish that dear
relative of mine.
NEWSPAPERS OP OREGON.
Gervais Weekly Star.
The movement by certain prominent Re
publicans to revert back to, the old form
of county conventions is certainly a move
ment in the right direction and should
meet with favor from every fair-minded
Republican. The new idea of nominating
candidates is a long way short of being
satisfactory, and If those who are heading
this move will do so with honest motives
a great and wholesome benefit will re
sult. The Dalles Optimist.
Statement No. 1 is something so holy
that it is not safe for poor devils like
the editor of this paper to . say a word
against it. The crank factory at Oregon
City will probably make it a felony for
any man to call it a damfool law, if it
can be called a law. It is about as
needful for an intending candidate for
the legislature to take that statement as
It is for him lo take a dose of physic
when he announces himself. There would
be more sense In asking a candidate to
file one of the ten commandments as
his articles of faith than in subscribing
to Statement No. 1.
Washington County News.
Senator Fulton seems to be wrought
up by the charges made against him by
Mr. Heney even to the extent that he
was about to leave his duties at Wash
ington and come back to Oregon to
answer them. But upon reconsideration of
the matter, no doubt Mr. Fulton thought
that the Oregon people know what a
politician is. There is plenty of time for
the senior Senator to clear his skirts
after Congress adjourns.
Hllleboro Argus.
The Initiative petition to amend the
Constitution in favor of alleged tax re
form, does not seem to be taking well
In this part of the county. The Hills
boro Grange has resoluted against It,
and many persons have expressed them
selves as being opposed to the changes
contemplated by the amendment. It is
estimated that the amendment, if passed,
would result in exempting pearly 20 per
cent of the taxable property of this
county. Of course these figures are not
accurate, but the exemption would come
In that neighborhood. "It prohably would
be better to let the old constitution alone,
In the above respect.
The Dalles Optimist.
Now please notice that every Demo
cratic paper in Oregon is in favor of
every candidate for the Legislature sub
scribing to Statement No. 1. In fact all
of the Democratic and "Independent
organs fill their columns with arguments
to show what a wise and necessary
measure It is. Old Man Bennett has been
brought up in a school where It was
taught that when the opposition press
favored a Republican measure there was
a nigger under the fence. In this instance
the nigger Is a United States Senator,
whom the Democrats hope to elect by
a strict adherence to Statement No. 1
and It is no two to one that Bourne is
not in with Flyspeek on the deal, for
with a Democratic colleague in the Sen
ate Jonathan would have all of the Ore
gon Federal patronage. "The boss is dead;
long live the boss.
Woodburn Independent.
There are many voters who believe
sincerely in Statement No. 1, not that it
will make Chamberlain s prospects of
being elected to the United States Senate
brighter, but that the people should be
permitted to choose their representatives
in the upper branch of Congress. It Is
certainly unfair to ascribe their attitude
with motives for the political aggrandize
ment of any one man. They are earnestly
seeking to uphold a principle and
establish ah Idea. Many others. Republi
cans, would heartily Indorse Statement
No. 1 if it were in accord with the Con
stitution of the United States and also
If it did not pave the way to the election
or selection of a Democrat to the United
States Senate. ' They believe in the
stronger party having the spoils but not
In majority ruling when the whole people
signify their preferences. There is still
another fraction, composed of Republicans
and Democrats, who are tired of partisan
ship and take more stock In the man than
they do the candidate's party affiliation.
COST OP CUBAN OCCUPATION
Teaching Babes Lessons of Liberty
Plies Ip a Bill.
Buffalo Express.
Governor Magoon says the direct cost of
that little Cuban Insurrection of 1906 to
the Cuban national treasury has been
JS.000,000. It may be a few cents over or
under, but that is what it amounts to in
round numbers. Indirectly, of course, the
Insurrection has cost Cuba quite a bit
more, just how much no one' can ac
curately estimate. The check to the in
vestment of capital, the loss of credit,
lessened production and all that must run
Into a pretty penny, but that does not
make the grand total of what the in
surrection ought to cost Cuba. There are
also the expenses which the United States
has incurred in pacifying the island.
In the urgent deficiency bill, which Is
now before the House of Representatives,
there is an item of $1,000,000 to defray the
expenses of our present occupation of
Cuba, A motion to cut it out on the
ground that Cuba ought to pay the ex
penses of its little political jollification
has been defeated. But it will be diffi
cult to convince many of us hat it is
not a legitimate charge against the Cuban
government. We have already spent a
good deal of money on Cuba's account.
We went to war for It and after the war
was over we stepped in and organized its
government and put it on a solid work
ing basis. When we withdrew we had
spent a good many millions. We had no
desire to step In again, but the Cubans
made It necessary: they asked us to come
in and straighten out their affairs for
them. Then why shouldn't they make
good our outlay? If they are made to
pay that bill now they may not be so
ready to incur another like liability.
The Democratic Two-Thirds Rule.
" Boston Transcript.
Democrats who do not want another
Bryan nomination should remember that
the two-thirds rule of their conventions
was designed to put a check upon Im
pulsive selections. Thirty-five per cent
of the Democratic party, by standing
firm, can compel it to nominate some
body else. Will such a fraction arise?
Por No. 1.
Irrigon Irrigator.
Speaking about this No. 1 statement
reminds us that it is true to its name,
and the men who advocate it are looking
out purely and solely for No. 1.
I
A FEW SQUIBS.
"De rich '11 have a hard time glttln' into
heaven." "Yes; an' dat's a comfortln'
thought, but It don't help de po' man w'en
rent 'is due!" Atlanta Constitution.
The Cashier If this gets out, our depos
itors will be down on us in force tomorrow.
The President Well, we'll give them a run
for their money. Puck.
First Lady (accidentally meeting second
ditto) Well, my dear, you never come to see
mel Second Lady (with emphasis) Aly dearl
I'm always coming. Punch.
Mr. O. Pen Heart Well, here's a nickel
for you. Frosty Foster Ten cents, please.
De price uv bein considered charitable has
gone up wid everyt'lng else. Judge.
"Father. I'm afraid I shall have to ask
you for a little more pin money." "Pin money!
This Is the third time this week. What are
you buying? Diamond pins?" Dertolt Free
Press.
"Now, Johnny," said the teacher, as she
opened the natural history, "you can tell us
how a bat hangs with his head downward."
Johnny thought for a minute and then up
went his hand. "Well, Johnny" "Ploase
ma'am, do you mean a chimney bat, or an
acrobat?" Chicago Daily Jtews.
INATIpNAL GlARD
jy ARKSMAN3HIP Is to be the sub
1 I ject of greater Interest than ever
before in the National Guard during the
coming season, chiefly because of the
Issuance of a new and modern rifle, tin?
1906 model Springfield. The first ship
ment of these guns will be ready for dis
tribution to the Oregon Guard within the
next few days, word having beea re
ceived by General Finzer- during Hie
week that the guns are en rout from
Washington, D. C. The new rifles aw
by no means an experiment. The Army
has been uslne them two seasons ana
have found them superior to the Krar;.
Velocity Is Intensified and erosion is re
duced to a minimum verging on eliml
r.ution of that principle.
To the Guard, of course, the guns will
be altogether new. and even the most
expert riflemen will find need for wtcks
of experiment. Those wnn have had
close and trustworthy friends in their old
Krags will have to make the acquaint
ance of the new arm, trying it out for
clays on all ranges to find' out where the
zero is and what the minute, peculiarities
ct individual guns may be. It Is said
of the new gun, however, that there Is
more precise uniformity of mechanism
than in the Krag. but the fact remains
that it-Is as much the difference In ln
dividual marksmen as in the arms they
use that make familiarity with a weapon
a necessity.
Camp Perry, on the south shore of
Lake Erie, is again to be the scene of
the National rifle competitions, this
year. Definite announcement of that
fact has been made by the War Depart
ment. It Is also reasonably certain that
Oregon will send a team and that the
competition for places on this team will
be keener than ever before. With the
change in rifles, new marksmen may
stand a better show of qualifying dunns
the state match at Roseburg. At least
the old invincible group of experts will
be put to the slight disadvantage of
learning the new gun.
An Interesting table showing the gain
which Oregon and other competing states
and teams made last Summer In the
National match, over the year preced
ing, is shown in the report of Colonel
H. K. Evans, U. S. A., issued last week.
The table of points paired Is as follows:
Navy 4eam, 2S0; Massachusetts. 242;
Ohio, SM; U. S.-Cavalry team. 175; Wash
ington State. 337; Pennsylvania. 372; I".
S. Infantry, SS; New York. 1H4: New
Jersey, 2?4; Minnesota, 225: Illinois, 204;
Wisconsin, lStl; Marino Corps, 71; Dis
trict of Columbia, Michigan, 2i'.2:
Oregon, 310; Maryland. 300: Georgia, 370;
Iowa, 218; Connecticut. VJo', Colorado,
237; California, 81(1: Montana, 273; Flor
ida, 9C: Kansas, 2P4: Indiana, S'.K: Texas.
32S; Missouri, WW; Oklahoma. SiO; We-?t
Virginia, 539; New Mexico, 4(!4 : Missis
sippi, 835: South Carolina, 1 IS; Alabama,
649; Tennessee. 107; Louisiana. 112; Vir
ginia, 398. Nebraska and Vermont were
the only states making less points, the
first named losing 47 and the last 76.
Colonel Evans, who acted as executive
officer of the matches, makes one rec
ommendation in his report which tho
average marksman will hardly be ablo
to accept. He terms the practice of firlmr
pieces to foul them as unnecessary and
more a matter of superstltitutlon than
of demonstrated good. He recommends
that this practice be forbidden undor
penalty of disbarment from the match.
The Colonel's suggestion may apply to
the new Springfield, but the utility of
fouling the Krag is indisputable. Doing
away with that would make it necessary
for marksmen to make new calculations
in firing the preliminary two sighting
shots.
Success is already assured for the reg
imental ball which will formally open
the newly remodeled ballroom at the
Armory. Washington's birthday fs an
auspicious date for the ball. As to th
attendance, there can be no doubt, for
reports from the various company com
manders show that the supply of tickets
Is all but gone. The proceeds will b
used in fitting up tho new gymnas um
and the buying and Installing of "gym"
apparatus will be taken up next week.
The new ballroom is- the finest In Port
land without exception, and possibly the
finest on the Pacific Coast. The exposed
beams, high wainscoting and artistic ar
rangement of lights make further deco
ration unnecessary. The ballroom will
be the scene of many pleasant military
functions during the rest of the season.
The celebration by the battery recent
ly of its 42d anniversary was a pretty
event, the officers and men making the
anniversary the occasion of a hanquet
and reunion. The battery now has its
full complement of men, has the latest
field rifles and equipment and could take
the field at a few hours' notice. FleM
batteries of as high standard are very
scarce either in the regular or Guam
service. The officers are Captain C. I'.
Welch, First Lieutenants Ie M. Clark
and Frank I. Randall and Second Lieu
tenants Krupke and Ottetstedt.
Colonel McDonnell's recent talk to the
commissioned and non-commlssloned of
ficers of the Third Infantry and Pattery
A is having a beneficial effect on dis
cipline. While going exhaustively into
the subject of the qualifications of a goo.l
soldier. Colonel McDonell laid particular
emphasis on tho necessity of eo-opera-titon
of subordinates with company com
manders. The company commander has
a hard row to hoe at best, and has need
of the hearty support and co-operation
of every officer, warrant or commis
sioned, In his command.
A full turnout of the regiment is ex
pected for Washington's birthday when
the battalions of the Third Regiment,
stationed in Portland, will participate
in the rose-planting ceremonies. Th.
turnout will be in blue uniforms, with
ponchos hung to the belt for use In caaa
of rain. Every man stationed In Port
land is urged to report for this paraae.
Cupid's Yoke Is Heavy.
Hillsboro Independent.
W. H. Marden on Tuesday of this week
filed In the Circuit Court a suit for di
vorce from his wife, Ltllie. a widow with
five children, whom he married in this
city August 8, Ux7. The plaintiff says
in his complaint that the defendant has
been guilty of cruel and inhuman treat
ment, and has heaped upon him gross
personal Indignities which has made liv
ing with her unbearable. She has, lie
declares, used him with utter contempt
and at times shot language at him, which
would, if put In type, burn holes In the
newspaper. He says that when he f,oes
to his meals her five children are doir.
all the honors, at the head, foot and
sides of the table, and he, like the fifth
calf, had to await until a vacancy oc
curred. This, to him, has been anything
but filling and very annoying. Conse
quently he wants a divorce and wants it
bad.
Candidates and Advertising.
Albany Democrat.
In several places In Oregon the news
papers have formed combinations ant
agreed upon prices to charge candidates
running for office. The sentiment seems
to be that running for office is a dust
ness proposition, and that the candidate
who wants to run should put up the
same as others who advertise. If a man
running for President of the Unite 1
States had to do that it would bankrupt
any one but a millionaire. It is said that
several who ran for office two years as-
got their fill, the cost being unreason
able, particularly where they failed to
be elected. It Is hardly a case for hair
splitting. Some things should bo paid for
and others should not.