Morning Oregonian., February 24, 1908, Page 6, Image 6

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THE 3I0RXIXG- OKEGONIAX, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, I90S.
81BSCRIFTION RATES.
INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.
(By Mll.
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Dally, Sunday included, six months,... 4.23
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Dally, Sunday Included, one month. .75
Dally, without Sunday, one year 6.00
Dally, without Sunday, elx months 8.-5
Dally, without Sunday, three months.. 1.75
Dally, without Sunday, one month 60
Sunday, one year 2.50
Waekly. one year (Issued Thureday)... 150
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PORTLAND, MONDAY, FEB. X4, 1908.
TAFT AND THE COLORED VOTER.
The Oregonian Is constrained to re
mark that It is not a little Interested
In the letter printed today from Rev.
XV. XV. Matthews, presiding elder of
the African Methodist Episcopal Zlon
Conference, California and Oregon. It
is obvious that Mr. Matthews holds an
lmpbrtant and Influential position
among colored people. It may be be
lieved, therefore, that his sentiments,
religious and political, are shared by
many In his church, and doubtless by
many out of It. He protests against
the nomination of Mr. Taft as Repub
lican candidate for President, because
of the Brownsville incident. "Will our
Republican brothers In white allow
themselves to make the awful and ir
reparable blunder of nominating a
man like William H. Taft. vhn thpv
, know has so unjustly treated their
brothers In black by his recommenda
tion for the dishonorable discharge of
three companies of our soldiers?" asks
Mr. Matthews. It may be that the
Republicans will make Just that mis
take, as Mr. Matthews calls it; and
If they should, will Mr. Matthews and
his friends make the "awful and Irre
parable mistake" of voting against
him?
The error made by Mr. Matthews
and his sympathizers is in assuming
and declaring that the colored soldiers
were discharged because they were
colored. Perhaps it Is natural that
they should think so, and perhaps
afto it will be Impossible ever to con
vince them conclusively that it is not
su. nut j. ae uregonian nas no sort
of question that the President, who
dismissed "without honor" not "dis
honorably" these soldiers because
they were in a conspiracy of silence
to protect, certain criminals among
them, would have pursued the same
course If they had been white; and
Secretary Taft, too, was certainly not
, Influenced for or against the Browns
i ville soldiers by the circumstance that
they were black. It may be hoped
that the colored people those whom
Mr. Matthews represents will be
brought to a more reasonable attitude
toward Mr. Taft if he shall be nomi
nated, for the alternative confronting
' them In that event will be Bryan. If
Foraker, whom they ardently support,
should be the Republican, nominee,
there would then be a certainty of
Bryan. Does Mr. Matthews prefer
Bryan to Taft v or any Republican?
Probably not; certainly not after the
enlightening debate on the negro
question In the House of Representa
tives last Saturday. There the real at
titude of the Democratic party to
wards the colored man and brother
was plainly revealed. The Jim Crow
car and the color line everywhere will
be realities, humiliating and unavoid
able, if the Democratic Dartv is ner-
mitted to have its way.
A satisfactory solution to the per
plexities of the colored voter will be
the nomination of Mr. Hughes, of
course. He could and would support
Hughes with fervor and unanimity.
But his plight would be sorry Indeed
'If he were permitted to have his way
in the nomination of Foraker, who
would In all probability be defeated
bj Bryan.
London cables say that an unprece
dented number, of tourists have al
ready booked passage on the steam
ers sailing from New York throughout
the coming season. While the season
Is seldom considered as begun before
April, the big liners Baltic and Mau
retania have already carried capacity
crowds. This is additional evidence
of the widespread effect of the recent
hysterical panic; Harriman builds a
$4,000,000 palace; Morgan buys up
the last remaining vestige of compe
tition to the steel trust; Grand opera
In New York draws larger crowds
than ever before; and the Idle rich in
record-breaking numbers sail to a for
eign shore to spend their money.
Meanwhile It Is not the "predatory
rich," the founders of "swollen for
tunes," or even those who got their,
money by "vulpine cunning" that are
suffering by this pressing demand for
a cessation of the practices by which
one set of Wall-street thieves rob an
other set of Wall-street thieves.
THE LOCATORS HARVEST.
When the movement to recover
from the Southern Pacific lands which
it Is said to hold In violation of. the
law began. The Oregonian suggested
that i Intending settlers on these dis
puted lands would do well to proceed
with as little expense as possible, as
there would for an Indefinite term of
years be a contest the results of which
could not accurately be predicted. This
warning against buying a "pig in a
poke" was not heeded, and the occa
sion has enabled a number of enter
prising timber "locators" to collect fat
fees from about as large a number of
dupes as ever engaged in any kind of
a hunt for land In the Pacific North
west. It is perhaps better late than
never that the Government should
take some action toward protecting
the eager victims who have paid these
fees to the locators In the belief that
they were to secure, for an expendi
ture of a few hundred dollars, land
worth $5000 to $15,000.
A dispatch from Palouse, Wash., in
yesterday's Oregonian says that the
locating business Is being investigated
by a Portland postoffic inspector,
who found In the small towns of Pa
louse and Portland alone 45 victims
who had paid fees of $58 to the lo
cators. There is an almost Infinite
range of legal obstacles, running, all
the way from the fabled "possesslon-Is-nine-points-of-the-law"
to' the pro
tection of the "innocent purchaser"
who, in the form of a Southern Pa
cific stockholder, has fallen heir to
the Southern Pacific timber holdings
which were originally secured by the
"wicked partner" several "transfers"
ahead of the one by which it fell Into
the hands of those who are now fight
ing to retain it. Now comes Mr.
Riches, the Government inspector, who
Is endeavoring to protect the specula
tors from their own cupidity, and he
says that, even should the Govern
ment succeed in regaining possession
of the land, the applications now be
ing filed would give the people of Pa
louse, Potlatch and a hundred other
localities. In the Pacific Northwest no
prior rights over any other .settler
who might come In when the land
was thrown open, and get some of the
choicest quarter sections for which
other settlers had paid large locators'
fees.
The Oregonian would like to see
this land restored to the public do
main, and fall into the hands, not
necessarily of timber-land speculators,
but bona fide settlers. The present
status of the controversy is such, how
ever, that we fall to see where the
dupes of the "locators" are making
an Investment in any way superior to
the gambler's chance."
POULTRY AND EGGS.
One of the recently issued bulletins
of the Oregon agricultural experiment
station is devoted to a discussion of
the "Poultry Industry of Oregon."
While the pamphlet does not under
take to set foufh In detail the meth
ods of feeding and caring for poultry
It contains much that will be helpful
to farmers and encouraging to those
who contemplate enlarging their
flocks. The bulletin presents numer
ous pictures of movable and station
ary poultry houses, and discusses in a
general way the opportunities for de
velopment of the Industry in this
state. Every larmer who has not al
ready received a appy of the bulletin
should apply to the experiment sta
tion at Corvallis. Bulletins are sent
free to residents of Oregon.
With fresh ranch eggs quoted at 40
cents a dozen In Portland, there
should be no question as to a market
for poultry products at remunerative
prices. When It Is learned that in
1907 Oregon imported from 75 to 100
carloads of eggs from the East, there
should be no fear of oversupplying
the market. At a conservative esti
mate Oregon paid to Eastern produc
ers last year $225,000 for eggs and
$100,000 for dressed poultry. One
would naturally suppose. that impor
tations of eggs and poultry from the
East would be solely for the purpose
of supplying the Portland market, but
It appears that a part of the impor
tations go to the small towns In farm
ing communities, where it should be
expected that more than a local sup
ply would be produced. When the
Eastern farmer hauls his eggs to I
iuwu, seits mem to nis local commis
sion man, and the eggs are shipped to
Portland and then from Portland out
to the rural towns of Oregon and sold
to consumers 'within a mile or two of
Oregon farms, there Is something rad
ically wrong with our farming meth
ods. While the new bulletin, prepared by
Professor James Dryden, does not
discourage poultry-raising' as an ex
clusive occupation, it particularly en
courages this Industry, as an adjunct
of general farm operations. ' The au
thor remarks that poultry and fruit
growing may be well undertaken for
the reason, apparently, that the fowls
do no harm to the crop, as they would
in the case of grain or garden. More
over,' poultry should run upon culti
vated ground, for if the birds run
upon ground that has become filthy
they soon become diseased. Since an
orchard is cultivated all Summer, it is
an almost Ideal place for poultry.
The movable building is the most
approved poultry-house. When prop
erly constructed 'a team may be
hitched to it and the building drawn
in a few moments from one part of
the farm to another, thus securing
new running places and permitting
the plowing up of the ground upon
which the poultry house formerly
stood. The Illustrations In the bulle
tin show all kinds of poultry houses In
use by successful poultrymen.
As said before, the tendency of the
bulletin Is to encourage all farmers to
engage more extensively In poultry
raising. A few men engaging exten
sively In 'the. poultry Industry would
make but little differencp in the total
product, but if a large proportion of
the farmers increase, their flocks to 50
or 100 hens, there will be a very per
ceptible Increase In the output of eggs
and dressed poultry. The man who
keeps 100 hens will not notice the
work of caring for them. To keep
500 to 1000 hens would require much
of his time and Interfere materially
with his other farm work. The com
paratively small flock will get much
of Its feed on the range. .The large
flock must be carefully fed. The op
portunity for development of this In
dustry is one to which attention has
been called quite frequently. Spring
Is now approaching, and soon the
hens will be ready to set. Now is a
good time for farmers and their wives
to consider the. subject of increasing
the flock and providing better facili
ties for caring for the fowls. A good
way to begin Is to read the experiment
station bulletin herein- mentioned.
OREGON'S TAXABLE PROPERTY.
The assessment figures on the total
value of taxable property In Oregon in
1907 In some, of their details show a
decided change in the alignment as
compared with those of the preceding
year. The most startling changes ap
pear In Umatilla and Columbia Coun
ties. The former, which stood in elev
enth place last year, this year ranks
next to Multnomah, while Columbia
has jumped from eighteenth place In
1906 to eighth place in 1907. Marion,
while . showing a substantial gain In
valuation, has been passed by Umatilla
and Is third on the list., Douglas, with-i
an increased valuation of more than
$5,000,000, remains in fourth "place.
TJie other counties, which last year
appeared on the assessment rolls with
property valued at more than $10,
000,000, show but little change in
their order.
On account of the widely different
methods of assessment It Is difficult
to explain some of these striking
changes. In tha Willamette Valley,
where diversified farming has sup
planted wheatgrowlng, yalues of both
farm and city property are increasing
naturally and normally. Some of the
wonderful advance made in Umatilla
Is due to the improved system of farm
ing, but much of it is apparently the
result of a more equitable system of
taxation than was in vogue when
Umatilla was trailing near the foot of
the list of counties on the assessment
roll.
On Multnomah County falls 40 per
cent of the burden of state taxation,
and the prestige will of course be ex
pensive for the Portland taxpayers. It
should be sufficiently impressive, how
ever, to entitle this city and county to
due consideration from other portions
of the state. The representatives of
Baker, Lane, Wasco and one or two
other counties at the last session of
the Legislature joined hands with
Clatsop County in an effort to defeat
the Port of Columbia bjll.'a measure
in which Multnomah, Columbia and
Clatsop alone were interested. The as
sessment figures printed yesterday
show why the opposition was not war
ranted. To meet the demands of the
bill, Multnomah would have been
taxed on'a valuation of $233,141,058,
Columbia $16,786,05, a total of $249.
927,713 for the counties favoring the
bill. Clatsop's share of the cost would
have been based on a valuation of
$5,695,368.
ENVIRONMENT'S DISADVANTAGES.
The appropriation for the North
Pacific pilot chart was recently strick
en out of the appropriation bill at the
solicitation of Representative Mann,
of Illinois. The chart is of inestima
ble value to the commercial Interests
on both sides of the Pacific, contribu
ting, as it does, in no small degree
to the saving of property, and even
of life, at sea. Its cost is but little
more than the salary of any one of
the many thousand superfluous clerks
who clog the Governmental depart
ments at Washington. The gentleman
from Illinois held up the appropria
tion on the ground, of economy, but,
as the saving at most , would hardly
equal the value of the free seeds dis
tributed among his constituents, it is
strange that Mr. Mann did not inau
gurate his policy of economy with
something with which he was fa
miliar. Expert knowledge as to whether a
North Pacific pilot chart Is needed
could be obtained more advantageous
ly at a point less far -removed from
blue water than Illinois. The gentle
man from Illinois protests against
something that our maritime interests
actually require, for much the same
reason that many Innocent support
ers of the ship subsidy scheme, which
we do not need, are in favor of it, not
because they really know that a ship
subsidy would help us, but because
they are ignorant of the. conditions
which govern the maritime commerce
of the world. It was this proclivity
for "butting in" on a subject with
which they were unfamiliar that in
duced the commercial organizations
of Wichita, Kan.; Denver, Colo.; Osh
kosh. Wis., and a number of other
inland cities to "resolute" in favor of
the graft, while at bona fide seaports,
where the subject was actually under
stood, aside from Interested parties,
there never has been a strong senti
ment In its favor.
This is a free country, and there is
no law which'compels the shoemaker
to "stick to his last," but it would
seem Ynuch more appropriate for op
position to such a useful feature of
our maritime interests as the pilot
chart to come from a quarter where
environment would admit of the ob
jector having some knowledge of the
matter. In this particular case, It is
needless to say that, had Representa
tive Mann been in possession of such
knowledge,, he would not have asked
for withdrawal of the insignificant ap
propriation needed.
On the one hand we have a strong
organization of the liquor interests
girding themselves for the coming
conflict and asserting that National
prohibition would be "a calamity only
equalled by the ClvU War," and on
the other we see the anti-saloon forces
perfecting an organization In evry
county of every state in preparation
for the battle that is certain ,to come,
and declaring that the liquor traffic'
i3 a National disgrace and economic
error scarcely excelled by the institu
tion of human slavery. The situation
seems to be about "as critical as that
In which a negro found himself when
he had been chased twenty times
around a tree by a bear. At last, de
spairing of escape by flight, he turned
to the conflict with the prayer, "Lord,
If you won't help me, don't help that
bear, and I'll show you the greatest
fight you ever saw." . .
Washington dispatches state- that
before the Senate committee on the
Philippines, Senators Hale and Teller
produced figures in support of an ar-.
gument that the increase of Philippine
trade with the United States had been
so limited that It did not warrant re
moval of the shipping restriction now
in force on trade between that coun
try and the United States. This is
logic of the true Senatorial brand.
The trade with our island dependen
cies cannot increase because we refuse
to permit the islands to have ade
quate transportation facilities Irre
spective of the nationality of the'ear
riers. On the other hand, the trade
has not Increased, so why should we
grant them the better facilities which
are demanded? The Philippine Island
er Is in a position similar to that of
the Indian in the story who had the
choice of the owl, while the white man
got the turkey, and It made no differ
ence which way the offer came up to
him. He always trot the owl.
Richmond P. Hobson, whose fame
rests about evenly on hla Merrimac
episode during the war and his kiss
ing episodes afterwards, insists that
thte country will never be safe until
we build a. continuous pontoon of
warships around the globe. Now comes
U. S. Grant, who shines by the-reflected
brightness of his Illustrious
father's name, and assures us that
500,000 troops would be insufficient"
to garrison properly the Pacific Coast,
and that the Japanese army Is so
well trained" that "I do not think we
could get along with less than 1,000,
000 troops." Naturally these warlike
gentlemen would like to see-this coun
try put .on a war footing on sea and
land, but if Japan ever becomes care
less in her conduct toward the United
States, the affair will be settled , long
before it is necessary to put 1,000,000
men in the field, or a Hobson fleet on
the ocean.
Even men who have made a special
study "of fishery conditions,, and who
have means of investigating the mer
its of the claims of the upper river
salmon fishermen, and also of the
lower river' fishermen, are unable to
decide as between the two. How,
then, can. the whole people of Oregon
be expected to act intelligently and
understanding -upon the two con
flicting fishery bills now before the
people under the Initiative? Fishery
problems are as perplexing to the
farmer in the Interior as horticultural
questions' would be to a man who
spends all his time catching salmon in
nets in the Columbia River.
The death of Crosby S. Noyes, the
veteran editor of the Washington Star,
has caused a feeling of regret in
every newspaper office throughout the
country. Mr. Noyes was 84 years
old. His careej in journalism was
long, useful and brilliant. He set his
stamp upon his work and it was that
of "a purveyor of clean, sound, active
facts." This in addition to his record
In benevolent, educational, charitable
and reformatory work made his name
a synonym of good citizenship, not
only in Washington the field of his
active endeavor but In the ranks of
intelligence throughout the land.
Students at Willamette University
who insulted the president by adopt
ing a blank sheet of paper as a reso
lution of appreciation of his work
should remember that it Is an old say
ing that chickens come home to roost.
Quite likely, In two or three years,
some of these students will be out
teaching country schools, or city
schools, for that matter, and their pu
pils will get into the notion of adopt
ing resolutions. It la well not to vio
late the rule, "Whatsoever ye would
that others should do to you."
Idle workingmen who have energy
enough to participate In a riot ought
to have strength enough to get out
Into the country and get jobs cutting
wood, grubbing stumps or doing other
work that the farmers want done.
Perhaps the wages would not be quite
as large as they have been accus
tomed, to during the "years of labor
scarcity, but the average farmer sets
a good table and the fanner never
falls to pay his laborers. Still, if a
man insists upon going hungry, there
is no way to prevent his doing so.
The Oregon Electric road from Port
land to Salem cost $2,000,000. As one
speaker at a Salem banquet said, the
company has bet $2,000,000 on the fu
ture of the region which that road
traverses. There Is certainly evidence
that some pretty good Judges- have
confidence in the resources and nat
ural advantages of the Willamette
Valley and the enterprise of'lts people.
The prohibition wave is still rolling
on, and now It is announced that the
sale of w.hrsky on Pullman cars will
be prohibited. It is probable that if
the men who are managing the .busi
ness of the late Mr. Pullman were to
take the matter Into court, they could
prove by chemical analysis that the
stuff sold on the cars under that name
Is really something else.
It has- been many months since
Anna Gould got rid of the nasty little
Count she bought a number of years
ago, but she Is still paying bills that
he owed. The French Court of Ap
peals has, Just ordered her to pay
$24,000 to an opera singer from whom
Bon'i bought some Jewels before he
was divorced.
If Salem people should fail to "get
together,' It will not be due to a lack
of effort on the part of the more en
terprising people of the staid city.
Some good work has been done in Sa
lem in the last two weeks with a view
to arousing civic pride and -stimulating
the dormant to activity."
Though Washington's Birthday does
not lend itself to outdoor celebration
except In favored .regions like Oregon,
it still Is the peg on which American
statesmen hang more or less valuable
guide boards for the benefit of future
generations.
Some popular magazine may make
a hit by asking McKlnley and Puter
tOj contribute a joint article on the
Influence of prison life on creative
literature . -
Two live Issues were overlooked In
the new . declaration of principles by
the National party prohibition and
the political ambitions of a man
B&med Hears.
What .an old-fashioned crowd they,
have in charge of Stanford University.
They -think drunkenness is a proper
cause fop expulsion of a student.
If he had stspected how hard the
Illinois Cannon was going to kick,
maybe -Senator Ankeny wouldn't have
touched the match.
Debating societies will now be tak
ing .up the subject, "Resolved, that It
Is better to be Oslerlzed than to be
Waymlred."
Tendency of National finances Is
shown by $14,000,000 gain In New
York bank deposits the past week.
TUB PEOPLE AMI PRIMARY LMV
They tand By It, But They Don't Be
lieve In Statement No. 1.
Lebanon Criterion.
We believe we voice the sentiment of
the people generally when we say that In
the main the people approve the direct
primany laws of Oregon, or some similar
law which takes the nomination of candi
dates out of the hands of the professional
politicians. And yet there are many
features of the Oregon law which are
both cumbersome and expensive and dis
tasteful to many men, and the result Is
often that the best men and those quali
fied for office will not allow their names
to be used. ' It may be set down as a
fact that the undesirable features which
had crept Into the old convention system
were not so much the fault of the system
as of the carelessness of the people In
taking little or no Interest in political
matters and allowing a few persons to
run things.
Just hcrw Statement No. 1 got Into the
primary law in the shape it did few seem
to understand. We believe the mass of
the people at the time it was made a law
little understood it. The mass of the
Oregon people believe the matter of elect
ing of the United States Senators should
be as far removed from the Legislature
as possible, and they have abundant rea
sons for such desire, as evidenced by only
too many examples In Oregon election of
Senators. The people never understood
when they were enacting the primary
law that a Republican iLeglslature was
bound, to vote for a Democrat for United
States Senator- or a Democratic Legisla
ture should elect a Republican to that
place. It might just as well be set
down now as a fact that they will never
do It- No one believes a Democratic
Legislature would ever elect a Republican
Senator and no one should expect a Re
publican Legislature to give the office to
a Democrat.
SHALL PARTY BE ABANDONED!
Or Shall Republican Legislature Vote
for Republican for Senator.
Junction City, Times.
We do not wish to deviate one iota
from the provisions of the primary law,
we are in favor of its enforcement. With
the Republicans of Eugene we want Re
publican voters to designate their choice
for United States Senator and all candi
dates for the Legislature are expected to
pledge themselves to support the choice
of the Republicans of the' state. What
more is necessary? Do you as a Republi
can expect a Republican member of the
Legislature to vote for a Democrat for
United States Senator under any circum
stances? We do not. Would you take
him by the 'hand and commend his course
were he to support a Democrat? Well;
hardly, x
We are flot condemning any one who
chooses to espouse the cause of Democ
racy, It Is his right and we have the pro
foundest respect for his opinion. In the
past a few Democrats have voted for a
Republican for United States Senator. By
that act tfiey lost the respect of the Re
publican members of that body and were
received with contempt by all setr-respect-lng
Democrats, and have not been heard
from In a political way since.
For the Legislature and for the distin
guished office of UnltedState's Senator we
believe in Republicans supporting Repub
licans and,. Democrats supporting Demo
crats. Two parties are as necessary to
good government as our Winter rains are
essential to good crops.
Statement No. O.
Grant County News.
After all, isn't it Illogical to fight
out a question on personalities first
and on principle afterwards? . The
hard feelings engendered obscure the
Issue of the principle. Therefore, the
News proposes to have all this
changed by Initiative laws, providing
that the first test shall be the strength
of parties and the second one of per
sons. - Thus: At the primaries the
question submitted to the voters shall
be: Do you vote for a Democrat, for
aRepubllcan, for a Populist, for a Pro
hibitionist, and a blank for scattering.
That will eliminate the principle ele
ment, which Is the principal element
Then, at the election, candidates of the
chosen party stripe can fight it out ad
gloriam.
Merely in order to allow this to pre
cede Statement No. 1, this shall be
called Statement No. 0.
HoTr'the Real Estate Asent Got Even.
Lebanon Criterion.
A man last week "who was looking
for a farm to purchase ascertalne a
certain tract he desired was listed with
a local real estate man for sale. In
order to save; as he thought, the com
mission of the real estate man, he goes
out to see the owner of the farm. The
dealer in dirt found this out and got
in communication with the owner and
told him the party greatly desired his
place, and he thereupon raised the
price $5 an acre. The man bought the
place, paying $300 more than he would
have paid if he had purchased it from
the real estate man, and still he got his
commission.
People Don't Want Cannon.
Albany Democrat.
Harry Murphy had a remarkably
good picture In The Oregonian: Can
non standing pat, his speech made 34
years ago, his gavel nearly mashed to
pieces, his cigar chewed at the end,
suRgestiva of his career. Put these to
gether, says the artist, and make a
President. No thank you, the people
don't want Cannon. He may be a
genius after a fashion, but he Is not
of the Presidential timber. Give us
almost any one but Cannon. He might
burst.
Makes the Plug Better Than Ever.
Eugene Guard.
Did you ever notice that tobacco is
always clean? If a man drops a piece
of meat, no matter-how clean the floor
may be. he will either give It a kick
or pick It Up and lay it to one side.
He will never eat It. But let him drop
his plug of tobacco on the ground and
no difference how dirty the spot where
it fell, he will pick it up and give It a
careless wipe on hl3 coat'sleeve or the
bosom of his pants and then take a
chew with a greater rellsn than ever.
Wbat Does a Poor Man Want T
East Oregonian.
Take an acre of arid land covered
with sagebrush and worth but $2.50
per acre in Its raw state and add just
a little "elbow grease," a little water,
a few fruit trees and a little alfalfa,
and you have all the way from $200
to $400 worth of property. And still
there are pessimistic cusses who say
there is nothing for a poor man In
Umatilla County. How much does a
poor man-want, anyway?
Think: of It Only Seven Yeara Old.
Sllvertonlan Appeal.
Fred NIggli, the 7-year-old son of
George Niggli, who has been hanging
around the city for some time, will
probably be sent to the Boys' and
Girls' Home in Portland. Monday
afternoon the authorities took the mat
ter in hand and the wayward young
man wlll-be taken care of. He has not
been home for some time, and It seems
that his parents cannot, or do not
want to manage him.
COLORED MAN'S VJEWS ON TAFT
Hop Republican will Not "Make the
Mistake'' of Nominating; Him.
PORTLAND, Or., Feb. 22. To the Edi
tor.) I noticed Wednesday morning. Feb
ruary IS, an editorial article in The Ore
gonian under the heading. "Mr. Taft and
the Colored Vote," in which the colored
voter was taken to task fur his apparent
reticence in not falling Into line with the
Taft faction in the present political
struggle that seems to worry both Mr.
Taft and his friends. ' The editorial ad
vances a thought that is both Interesting
and serious. Not alone is It so for the
colored man, but equally as much so for
the white man, especially the white Re
publicans, a;
I am really glad to see that the time
has come, and that it has made manifest
its presence at the doar of the Portland
Oregonian and other thinking and lead
ing Journals, that the negroes' vote In
this country has become a factor that the
National campaigners will have to reckon
with If they would successfully carry the
National elections. That the next elec
tion will mark a close contest between
the National Democratic and Republican
parties Is obvious. And if the Republi
cans should make the blunder in the Na
tional convention of nominating the
wrong man, why to be sure the Demo
crats will win with hands down.
But will our Republican brothers in
white all aw themselves to make the awful
and irreparable blunder of nominating a
man like William H. Taft, who, they
know, has so unjustly treated their
brothers In black by his recommendation
of the dishonorable discharge of three
companies of . our soldiers, a part of
whom had not even been charged with
having . taken any active part in -the
Brownsville disaster, while those who
were charged' with the crime have never
as yet been proven guilty of the crime as
charged.
But in order to satisfy a discriminating
and unjust Southern populace our brave
soldiers who have ever stood by the old
flag, and who fought bravely to main
tain the glory of her brilliant stars and
stripes against the Insults of any and
every foe, were themselves ungraciously
insulted, and brought to disgrace mainly
by the dictations of Judge Taft. And
until he or his coadjutors can demon
strate to the satisfaction of the colored
voters that such action was not the
basis of either a disliking or a total
disregard of the honor, rights and privi
leges of our race, our attitude toward
him as a public officer will remain the
same.
Thaf'such an attitude of the colored
voters is dubbed "revenge," as The Ore
gonian would put It, we most respect
fully but emphatically deny. The matter
Is this: A contention for equal Justice
and equal rights before the law. a prin
clple which the Republican party boasts
of guaranteeing to every man and citizen
of the United States.
Mr. Taft covets the highest and most
responsible place of honor in the gift
of this party or Nation the Presidency,
and yet he has not fully kept the faith
with his party, nor party principles as
Secretary of War. Should any fair
minded man vote for Mr: Taft?
The Oregonian mentioned Mr. Bryan as
the man allied with the party that stands
for negro disfranchisement and "Jim
Crowlsm." Those are . factb that we
know and cannot deny; but suppose wa
should play the fool to Jump over to Mr.
Bryan and his party, It would simply
be a case of Jumping out of the "frying
pan" into the fire. But If the grand old
party will maintain Its sanity by nominat
ing Mr. Hughes, if they conscientiously
feel that they must turn down the honor
able Senator Foraker, ' then the colored
-voters can feel that It has not thrown to
the winds Its manhood, nor surrendered
their claim for equal rights before the
law as American citizens by voting with
the Republican party. Mr. Foraker and
Mr. Hughes both stand for such prin
ciples, and such men can be safely
trusted. The Oregonian Is of the opinion
that the negro has no ethical motive for
opposing Mr. Taft. To speak the truth
we as a race entertain no personal feel
ing of dislike against any man In this
matter, but are unremittingly opposed to
any man's election to office who shows
a single scintilla of bias to men on ac
count of their color -or previous condi
tion. The colored race Is not as criminal
as some one would make himself believe,
especially In this matter. It is simply a
case of fair play and equal Justice that
we call for, and not a toleration of
criminality.
- The colored vpter holds the balance of
power In such states of the North and
Middle West as will give such a number
of electoral votes as will affect for weal
or woe the party gaining or losing
such a balance. We propose to make use
of our ballot in an intelligent way, so
as to Becure our God-given rights as
American citizens. Not personal revenge,
but equal rights Is our shibboleth.
REV. W. W. MATTHEWS.
Presiding elder A. M. E. Zion con
ference, California and Oregon.
- Yew Tree 3000 Years Old.
The Scotsman.
The nldwt yew tree not only In Scotland,
but in Europe. grows at Fortlngall In Perth
shire. According to a scientific calculation
of Its age by the late Sir R. Chrlstison, It Is
at least well over 3000 years. If sir Robert's
estimate Is correct the Fortlngall yew must
have been of "goodly size" at the time when
King Solomon reigned over Israel.
Some of the cypress trees about the Bay
of Monterey, California, are believed to
be even older. What is really surprising
is the smallness of the district in which
these trees grow.
Advice for Democratic Governor. '
Sllvertonlan Appeal.
If Governor Chamberlain gets into
the United States Senate he will do
so on the strength of the Republican
vote, of Oregon, and the interest mani
fested by him In the Heney-Fulton dif
ficulty would seem to be an unwise
movement right on the eve of the
greatest fight for political honors that
he has ever undertaken. The Governor
would act wisely If he should encour
age Fulton's candidacy.
What Harriman Should Do.
Forest Grove Times."
If Harriman would use a small per
cent of the money which he receives
from the farmers in placing the South
ern Pacific Railroad in a safe condi
tion, and not quite so many millions
in the lawlng of other roads and the
construction of elegant residences, we
would not be compelled to chronicle so
many fatal accidents.
Where Will the Third Occur t
McMlnnvIlle Telephone Register.
Tuesday seems to be Sf unlucky day
for the .West Side road. The Sheridan
local was wrecked on Tuesday near
Forest Grove, and the local freight was
wrecked at Whlteson on Tuesday Just
one week later.
IIott the State Looks at It.
Cottage Grove Leader.
Portland is to have a $4,000,330
packing plant. Score a. big success for
the metropolis. Every such enterprise
secured by Portland has Its correspond
ing benefit to the balance of the state.
6torm and Calm.
Clinton Scollard in "smart Set.
Not always for me the calm.
And the breath of balm
Blue skies over vale. -And
the nightingale
Sinking Its silvery , Dsalm! .
Rather, to 'pitch my blood
To. the flow of flood.
The wild wind-welter and strain
Of the driven rain.
And the thunder's clash and thud!
Without some tang of strife.
With fervor rife.
Tame Indeed Is the taste
lOood brew gone to waste!)
Of the wine In the cup of lifel
NATIONAL GUARD
NEVER In its past history has the
Oregon Guard been in so satis
factory and efficient a condition;
as at the present time, according to
accounts given by Colonel James Jack
son, of his annual tour of inspection,!
which Is now drawing to a close. While '
Colonel Jackson, who Is making the In
spection on behalf, of the War Depart
ment, has made' no formal report on
his work. It Is learned from him that
he Is more than satisfied with the
showing made by not a few commands.
With only two or three companies yet
to be heard from, the Eugene Infantry
organizations at this time stand at the
head of the list. Both A and C of the
Fourth Infantry reported for inspection
with an attendance of 100 per cent.
Nearly every command inspected has
had an attendance of more than '."I
per cent. .Further than that, the disci
pline, military appearance, condition of
.equipment and bearing of officers and
men have been all that could be de
sired. It Is assured that no command
will be mustered out for Inefficiency
because of this year's Inspection.
.Next to Eugene, the largest infantry
turnout was at Pendleton, where Cap
tain Kern had iB per cent of his men
on hand. Captain Wilson had 93 per
cent of Company B out at the local
Armory; Captain Sam White, at Pen
dleton, scored 92 per cent; Captain!
Murphy, at Salem, had a turnout of 95 '
per cent. Cottage Grove, Captain John
son; Albany, Captain Wynn; Wood
burn, Captain Settlemier; Company H,
Portland, Captain Dobie, and the com
panies at Ash'land and Rosvburg each
got an attendance rating of not less
than !0 per cent. Those to fall below
90 were G, at Oregon City, and F and
C, of Portland, and these three went
above SO.
Company G of the Third and Com
pany E of the Fourth Infantry have re
ceived the highest markings of the out
side companies for condition of arms.
The Krags were found to be in perfect,
condition at those two places. Colonel
Jackson says the mlitary appearance'
of all the troops was cxcpllent, except
In Company D, at The Dalles, where the.
turnout was above 90 per cent, but'
there was a large number of recruits,;
who had not .yet een whipped into
first-class military shape.
Companies K and E. of Portland, and
the McMlnnvIlle company are yet to be'
Inspected. K will be inspected tomor
row night, and as It Is one of the very
best companies in the Guard, a good,
report Is assured from Captain Scott's
command. Company E, which will'
turn out Wednesday, Is also among the1
crack companies, and will acquit It
self with credit.
Battery A and the Hospital Corps;
both passed creditable inspections. The!
Hospital Corps had 90 per cent of its
men present, and proved itself efficient' '
In all lines of work. The Battery turn-'
out Friday night was one of the finest;
military spectacles witnessed in a long
while at the Armory. The attendance!
was complete, and the men demeaned:
themselves like regulars. It Is doubt-l
ful If there Is another battery of equal:
efficiency In the-Guard service of the!
United States. Captain Welch and his'
officers merit the congratulations that
were showered upon them following the;
successful Inspection for all have been;
tireless In their efforts to bring the;
command up to its present high state
of efficiency.
All Infantry In the state, together,
with the Hospital Corps and possibly!
the Battery, will participate In the big,
Joint maneuvers at American Lake;
next August. All doubt as to the as
signment of the Oregon troops was re
lieved yesterday by receipt of a com-'
munication from the War Department.
This document was addressed to Adjutant-General
FInzer, and advised him
that the Government will furnish;
transportation and pay for the Oregon
troops In a sum not to exceed $20,000.'
Sustenance must bo provided by the
state.
Just whether the Battery will go to
these maneuvers Is a question yet to
be settled. There are no facilities
there for artillery practice, and the
officers may prefer to go to Gearhart,
where target practice may be engaged
In. Marksmanship Is no less important
In artillery than with Infantry, and
hence the desire of Captain Welch and
his men to get the most 'aluable train
ing possible. The maneuvers open Au
gust 3, instead of August 10, as pre
viously stated through error, and will
continue for a period of 10 days.
The local troops made a splendid
showing In the rose-planting parade
yesterday. The turn-out was not large,
but the men of the Third Regiment, thn
Battery and Hospital Corps did credit
to themselves. Persistent applause
along the line of march showed that
the public attitude towards the Guard
has undergone a marked change during
the past few years since the Guardsmen
of the country so amply demonstrate
their worth in the ypanish-Ameriean
War. The turn-out was in blue uni
forms, with rifles and skiearms, and the
column passed through the principal
streets of the city in- column of four,
headed by Colonel C. E. McDonell and
staff.
Major Frank S. Baker, State Inspec
tor of small arms practice, filed his re
port with General FInzer yesterday on
his investigation of range practice de
linquency throughout the state. Major
Baker's report shows that there were
comparatively few cases of delinquency
and that for the most part target prac
tice was given its full measure of at
tention during the past Summer. Mc
MlnnvIlle proved to be the principal
offender, and 17 men were tried ther?
an8 found guilty. Eugene developed
three delinquent. Cottage Grove 1, and
Pendleton 2. A number of Important
recommendations are made in the re
port, and these will be communicated
to company commanders shortly.
The most elaborate and most suc
cessful military ball yet held at the
Armory was that of Saturday night,
when the newly-remodeled ballroom
and quarters were formally opened.
Three hundred couples were on the
Ideal maple floor, and the event was a
pleasant one In every respect. Splen-.
did music was rendered hy the regi
mental band and orchestra.
The purpose for which the ball was
given was fulfilled, and a fund which
Insures complete apparatus for the
new gymnasium is now at hand. Pur-'
chase and Installation of this equip
ment will be taken up without delay.
While the showing made by the
Third Regiment and Battery in the
parade Friday was excellent, officers
have cause for complaint In the fac,t;
that many employers of Guardsmen re-!
fused to let the soldiers off for 'thej
parade. The result of this mercenary!
spirit was that at least E0 per cent'
of the regiment could not appear. a
crusade against employers who are In-'
cllned to be arbitrary In such matters.
Is to be taken up, with a view to im
pressing such men with- the Impor
tance of Guard work In Its every de
tail. Those who are loudest In talking
of the lack of need for training in
time of peace are generally loudest
also In their clamor for protection,
when" war comes.
p
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