THE MORNING OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1908.
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IK1RTT.AND. WKDNE8DAY. MAR. . 1908.
Ml'RnKK MADE EASY.
As an Instrument for the taking; of
human life and leaving behind a wake
of suffering and anguish, the ready re
volver In Oregon, as well as In other
-ttatcs. has made a good start towards
breaking last year's record. In this
ttate the deadly weapon claimed some
thing like sixty victims last year. t
These victims, unprepared to leave the
affairs ot this life, or meet the future.
In nearly every case left relatives or
friends. On one side, widows, or
phans, brothers, sisters or parents
mourned the one whose life was
snuffed out by the ready revolver. On
the other side, life, was darkened for
other families and for friends of the
men who In a fit of passion or while
Intoxicated had committed murder. In
the aggregate thousands of Innocent
people were made to suffer through
the reckless use of these deadly
weapons.
Along with all this anguish and suf
fering, which cannot be measured by
any standards known to mankind,
there was an enormous expense at
tached to murder trials. Families
were impoverished in efforts to save
from the gallows the man with the
ready pistol. Other families, deprived
of a head and provider, became public
charges, and taxpayers were burdened
with heavy expenses for trials which
would nevrr have taken place had
there been some strict enforcement of
a law which could be depended on to
keep the fool and the revolver separ
ate. In an overwhelming percentage
of these murders the fatal shot was
tired on a sudden impulse of the mo
ment, and the murderer, before the
smoke had cleared away, began to suf
fer the keenest pangs of regret. It nat
urally follows that, had there been no
pistol available at the fatal moment,
when for a fleeting instant iu pos
sessor felt the fiendish Impulse to kill,
there would have been no murder.
In other words, the indiscriminate
carrying of deadly weapons results In
a large number of murders which
would never occur If it were not so
eitsy to secure the means with which
to commit murder. If the keeper of
the candy shop near the schoolhouse
would sell dynamite and nltro glycer
ine to the children, he would be haled
into court and punished in short order.
Hut by far the greater number of peo
ple who make It a practice to carry
revolvers become, through possession
of the weap.on, as great a menace to
themselves and to society as the ju
venlles would be if they carried sticks
of dynamite around In their pockets.
It has, from the beginning of time,
been a very difficult matter, in most
cases an impossibility, to protect all
fools from their own folly. It would
seem, however, that society, for both
humane and economic reasons, should
Insist on a law which will prevent re
volvers or pistols falling Into the hands
of any and every irresponsible indi-
vldual who can secure the trifling
amount necessary for their purchase.
This law should provide for the
numbering and recording of every
weapon sold, and should be so strin
gent as to make it Impossible for a
man to secure a pistol except through
license or by permission of the Sheriff,
t'hief of Police or some other officer on
whom would rest the responsibility for
the use of the weapon. The latest
murder and they follow each other
so closely that It Is not always easy to
keep In mind tree latest was appar-
t-ntlv an unprovoked assault by a police
officer; but that same officer had al
ready demonstrated that he was an
unsafe man to be trusted with a re
volver. Were such a law as is sug
gested now in effect, the responsibility
In this case would be divided between
the man who fired the shot and the
authorities who permitted him to re-
iuin the weapon long after he had
demonstrated his unfitness.
Oregon, as well as all other slates
In the Union, has become civilized, ft
Is no longer necessary for citizens o
carry arms to protect themselves.
What is needed now Is a law which
will take away their arms for the purr
pose of protecting not only, the men
who are carrying the guns, but the
people who are at any time in danger
of becoming innocent victims of their
passions. If a law of this character
received no other support than that of
the people who have suffered directly
or indirectly through these needless
deaths, it would carry by a good ma
jority in many localities in the country.
PROTECT OIK "LEGISLATORS.
One is sorry for the weakness of
poor human nature. We find the Til
lamook Herald arguing pitifully, and
plaintively, against the dangers that
beset members of the Legislature.
Here is a passage:
"Talk la cheap, but It takes money to buy
whisky." equally, to buy a Senatorshlp. The
railroad corporations need United States Sen
ators and need them badly, especially In these
parlous and awful times. -
Member of toe Legislature are only weak
vessels of clay.
Some of them have mortgages on their lit
tle homes; others are from prohibition counties
and their thirst Is not easily arranged; few
of them are accompanied to the Capital by
their lawful spouses, and the Josephs are
scarce in this . vain and lascivious world;
othe-4 have town sites which they will. In
nocently, bond, taking a aim down in pay
ment for the option.
Saw ever any one before an appeal
quite so touching as this? Tie up your
members of the Legislature, so they
can't do anything; corral them so that
no temptation can come near them.
It might be well also to emasculate
them. You can't trust these poor
creatures, these weak vessels of clay,
for anything. Even by Statement No.
1 you can't protect them against
other seductions, such as the green
backs of franchise-grabbers, allure
ments of liquor, and the baits of
women.
What, then, shall we do? We should
promote virtue, unquestionably, by
abolition and prohibition of Legisla
tures. Short of radical reform, there
Is no - place to stop, no assurance of
safety. Let us pull our people out of
all temptation.
DOLLAR WHEAT AGAIN.
"Dollar wheat" was again in evi
dence in Chicago yesterday, the mar
ket shooting up nearly 2 pents per
bushel near the close. If the Liver
pool market today exhibits its usual
characteristics, this advance in Chi
cago should be followed by a substan
tial rise in the foreign markets. It
has been ten years since the price of
the cereal has run throughout the sea
son at such a high average price as
has prevailed since the opening last
July. Since the 1907 crop began com
ing on the market the shipments have
run very close to the record of the
best previous year In our history.
When it Is considered that the Ameri
can crop last year was 100,000,000
bushels short of that of 1906, and the
shipments from the 1907 crop have al
ready exceeded those of 1906 for the
same period by more than 40,000,000
bushels, the strong position of the cer
eal can be understood.
The American visible, despite its un
wieldy proportions of a few weeks ago,
has been steadily decreasing until It
now stands at a figure 2,000,000 bush
els smaller than that of last year at a
corresponding date, and 6, 000. 000
bushels smaller than in 1906. The
high prices are naturally coaxing out
the reserves, but it is a manifest im
possibility for this country to continue
making heavy shipments from a crop
that was 100,000,000 bushels smaller
than Its predecessor. The Argentine
is, of course. In the limelight Just now
with weekly shipments averaging
larger than In any previous season on
record. This is the' only weak factor
in the market, and. as the proportions
of that crop have been accurately fore
casted, the effect of these large weekly
shipments is in a measure minimized.
Mar wheat is yet several cents short
of the figure it reached last Winter,
when the safety of the Argentine' crop
was not fully assured: but there Is very
little in the statistical position
throughout the world that lends en
couragement to the belief that the
cereal will be much cheaper, and
there is much that inclines to the be
lief that even higher figures may be
reached.
AX ORIGINAL BLUNDER.
It cannot be denied that Mr. C. S.
Hulin. of Newberg, lays his finger on
a real weakness In our educational
system when he speaks of the duplica
tion of courses at Eugene and Corval-
lls. His letter in wnlch this matter
Is briefly discussed appears elsewhere
in The Oregonian today. It Is, beyond
all question, an educational calamity
that the university and the agricul
tural college are not united in one in
stitution instead of being established
In different cities and existing more or
less In the capacity of rivals both
covering. to a certain extent the same
ground.
It is also regrettable tnat tnis weak
ness Is beyond remedy. The problem
of uniting the two Institutions is now
hopelessly insoluble and the same can
be said of the duplication of courses.
Eugene ought not to drop the techni
cal and general scientific courses,
for without them her literary work
would become sterile. We live In a
scientific age and the college which
fails to teach the sciences dooms itself
to intellectual impotence.
On the other hand. Corvallis must
continue to offer instruction in the
more essential literary branches, since
it would be wrong to deprive the stu
dents of a well-rounded education.
They wish to pursue technical courses,
but they do not wish to become nar
row In mind and spirit. The fact is
that the colleges at Eugene and Cor
vallis are compelled by the very nature
of a college to duplicate each other's
work. This is one of the penalties
which the people of Oregon must pay
for permitting their educational inter
ests to be managed by politicians in
the past instead of by experts who had
the general welfare at heart; and it
would be a sorry remedy for the in
convenience to blight the future of the
university by cutting off its resources.
While we have a university let us sup
port it with becoming liberality. If
we desire to Join the group of semi
barbarous states which do not main
tain universities, that is another mat
ter. The genuine remedy for the duplica
tion of courses at Eugene and Corval
lis is. of course, to repair the original
blunder which separated the institu
tions. This looks harsh and radical,
but in the long run it would save ex
pense to the state while it would en
able the people to concentrate their
support upon one strong and progres
sive college instead of two struggling
ones mutually jealous of each other's
prosperity. We do not believe the
farmers as a class -will vote against
the appropriation for the State Univer
sity. They will sustain the institution,
though with a pretty general feeling
that something is Wrong with a system
that compels them to pay taxes for
two colleges where one would do bet
ter work,.
WORK WORTH NOTICE.
In Collier's Weekly "Will ' Irwin"
writes a very remarkable article on
"The American Saloon," It is an an
alysis of the conditions that have led
to the very general effort throughout
the United States to abate the grosser
evils of the liquor traffic, within the
last few years. The brewers and dis
tillers have been forcing the distribu
tion and consumption; the retailers
have been pushing the trafflf) beyond
decency and the natural demand, and
associating with It the propagation
and protection of vices of various
kinds, and politicians have been using
the traffic for profit and means of prey.
There has been, consequently, an up
rising against the liquor traffic, as the
instrument through which all these
have plied their vocation. This article
in Collier's, of February 29, is worth
attentive reading throughout. It af
fords a treatment singularly able of a
topic of the times.
Letters of a Japanese Schoolboy"
in Collier's, which have been running
for several months, are the most pun
gent or incisive satires on political and
social life In the United" States that
have been published within the pres
ent generation. The letter In the cur
rent issue is especially fine. The Jap
anese boy has been appointed a spy
by the Emperor of Japan, and he re
ports on what he sees In the United
States In a style that "takes us off,"
as the Sam Slick papers used to say.
'to the nines." Following Is part of
his report of observations on the de
fenses of our Pacific Coast:
Mr. Emperor, you will observe by looking
at it that I am sentlng you one map of
Pacific Coast without no f-ortlflcations on it,
because I could not find none to mark, with
the excepting of Los Angeles, San Francisco
& San Dlegv, which is all very healthy places
for fleets. I hope you will not make angry
cenery and chop me at neck for this. If
you will sweetly refrain I will told you, please,
how Japan Army could took that Pacific Coast
for warfare. Adm. Count Togo must first
tie American - Fleet to Philippine or some
convenient island: then Japan Army can ar
rive to Pacific Coast In row-boats or whatever
Is left. Japan Army next can proceed to
Chicago in Santa Fe trains before encamp
ment of State Militia ensues.
Absent of forts on Pacific Ooaet is not be
cause of a timid fear enjoyed by American
persons, for them gentleman is frequently
found to be very fierce for all fight. It ie
Congress A Senate that done this. Them con
stitutions is - too fond of simple life to en
danger It by shoot-gun and stand-up army.
Very often War Department telephone to
Congress. "Please appropriate for it S280
to put one shoot-cannon up at Ocean View,
Cal., so as to defend It against Hon. Japan.
Send money by return messenger." '
So Hon. Jo-uncle Cannon, who is gun-shy
about fire-arms, hear this telephone and de
clare: "I refer It to Committee on Philippine
Tariff."
This aggravation of Filipino Patriots read
telephone to each other for extent of 1 week,
then refer it down to .Committee on Archi
tecture A Gas-Fitting who reduce that appro
priation to 1175 and pa it along; to Com
mittee on Interstate Commerce which is too
busy making sliding scale of rebates to worry
about shoot-cannon for Ocean View, Cal.
So bill goes down to Senate by mallchute.
There Hon Aldrlck. who fas making speek about
"Sacred Principle of Republican Majority,"
see this- bill and decry:
"What is them bill you bav bring in here
to Interrupt speek?"
"Thin I Pacific Coast Defense Bill, reduced
from $2SO to tl"5," deploy messenger with
respectful salute of hat.
"Refer this to 13th pigeon-hole of Forestry
Committee" irritate this Hon. Aldrlck and
continue gplng on about Municipal Owner
ship of Rhode Island.
So hoh. bill recline In pigeon-hole, hon,
cannon delay in Union Iron Work, Hon. Sen
ate continue to go around for several year,
till one day-time Hon. Roosevelt poke head
In Senate and collapse:
"Where Is that shoot-cannon for Ocean
View. Cal?"
"In Forestry Committee, please." surren
der Senate and foreclose on Itself for Sum
mer recess. Then there Is such race-riot from
White House! banzai. . tear-up, shooting-
gallery sounds, frequent fire-alarms and music
of death: at finally Hon. Leob make bust out
of door bearing in nana freaiaenuai Mes
sage about Bhoot-cannon for Ocean View. Cal,
Them 1 reason. Mr. Emperor, why I be
lieve that Japan Army could make very
pleasant trip to Pacific Coast In ferry boat.
Maybe they would enjoy sea-illness before get.
ting there; but It Congress do not worry about
Coast Defenses, why should that dear Japan
have such a nervous emotion?
There is no room or reason for Joke
about it. In the absence of a fleet
powerful enough to beat them off the
Japanese could land a force anywhere
on the Pacific Coast, which would
carry everything before it, subjugate
the country and compel enormous
tribute; nor could they ever be dis
lodged so long as they could command
the sea. But there are two main rea
sons why it will not be done. First
Japan now has no money; second, the
coast of our Pacific States nevermore
will be left without a fleet for defense.
And coast defenses we shall have, too
some time or other.
FfSEl'DO TAX REFORM.
Pseudo tax reform has encountered
in Mr. George W. Dixon, editor of the
Canbv Tribune, a foe whose lance
seems likely to put an end to the un
couth monster's life. Mr. Dixon has
sent out a circular letter to the Oregon
state press, a copy of which was pub
lished in last Sunday's Oregonian,
wherein he assails the project of
heaping all taxes upon land with argu
ments which are both keen and
weighty. .This project, as he remarks,
is an .offshoot from the economic the
ories of Henry George and it is based
upon the theory that the entire value i
of land is created by society and
should therefore be taken by society in
the form of taxes. The improvements
upon the land, all personal property,
money, all Instruments of debt, all se
curities, all manufacturing property,
are to be exempt from taxation. Noth
ing is to contribute to the support of
the government except land.
This extraordinary piece of reform
is fathered by the Oregon Tax Reform
Association, whose members are ob
sessed with a false and dangerous the
ory. If their proposed law should be
adopted in June, it would be one of
the worst calamities that has ever be
fallen the State of Oregon. It would"
throw the whole system of taxation
Into irremediable confusion, for one
thing; but that we could endure if
good were ultimately to flow from it.
Good cannot flow from it, however,
tsothing but evil can possibly result
from a scheme in itself so irrational
and so contrary to all sound economic
doctrine. The pseudo reformers are
making a great effort to delude the
farmers into voting for their insane
measure. If they should succeed and
the farmers should actually cast votes
enough in favor of the bill to make it
a law, they would regret their action
to the last day of their lives.
Mr. Dixon asserts that if all prop
erty should be exempted except land
the consequence would be that the
farmers would have to pay all the
taxes. Not quite all. perhaps, but it
would come pretty near to that. City
real estate would find means of shirk
ing the burden. Political influence
would come in. Corporate and indi
vidual wealth would exert Its pull. The
corner lot of the millionaire would be
valued at a trifling sum and the home
stead of the farmer would be loaded
to its ruin. Better might the farmers
of Oregon mortgage their farms today
for half their market value and pre
sent the proceeds to the tax reform
ers than vote for this ruinous bill. The
mortgages might possibly be paid oft
some time; but the crushing burden of
a tax which exempts all the corpora
tions, the trusts, the money sharks,
the millionaire mortgage companies,
and falls on land alone must bring
about the suln of the lanSowners. .
Mr. Dixon remarks with great co
gency that we have the remedy for
the withdrawal of unimproved land
from the market in our own hands,
without any change in the law. The
assessment upon these tracts can be
raised to a figure which will make it
unprofitable to hold them quite as well
now as it could were the constitution
amended. The only difficulty is to elect
Assessors with the necessary back
bone and integrity. Can that difficulty
be removed by a constitutional amend
ment? We fear not. We fear that it
will remain with us until we begin to
put men into office for their ability
and character. When that time comes
the wrongs of unequal taxes, together
with most of the other Inequities of
government, will disappear, but the
adoption of the single tax will not has
ten its advent.
Emma Goldman declares (admit
ting, however, that she knew nothing
of tho details of the murderous attack
upon Chief of Police Shippy, of Chi
cago) that his assailant, Averbuch,
was not "an anarchist," but simply a
fanatic." This is a distinction with
out a difference. The terms are syn
onymous when applied to individuals
who are incited to the murder of men
In official life by the mouthings of
women of the Goldman and Parsons
stripe on the tyranny of governments
and the woes of the unemployed. A
fanatic" this fellow certainly swas.
Nature, according to expert medical
opinion, laid the foundation for his en
trance into this class in an abnormal
cranial structure. Personal Incapabil
ity and unfortunate environment culti
vated the ready soil, and Lucy Par
sons, Emma Goldman et al. sowed the
pernicious seed, which, upsprlnglng,
grew into a baleful desire to murder
some one in' authority. Who so fit a
subject as the Chief of Police of a
great city charged with the duty of
restraining and keeping within the
limits of the law- those who would set
it at defiance? The result is told in a
dastardly attempt at murder, the
wounding of four persons more or less
seriously, and the death of. the would-
be assassin. The status of a criminal
of this type is fixed by his associates
In life and his apologists after death.
It is immaterial whether he is callled
a fanatic or an anarchist, since these
terms are in his case interchangeable.
Portland dispatched twenty-two car
goes of wheat, flour and lumber to
China. Japan, Europe, Australia and
South America during the short month
of February. There are now in port
under charter to load outward with
wheat, flour and lumber, twenty-one
vessels, with half a dozen others fully
due. The January fleet carried Oregon
staples of a value of approximately
$3,000,000. The value of the February
cargoes was about tz.tuu.outi, ana
March figures will be about the same
as those for February. Exclusive of
the coastwise business, Portland ex
porters have cleared an average of
1100,000 worth of the three staples
mentioned, every business day since
November 1. These figures account
In no small degree for the elimination
of the financial stringency, so far as
Portland and Oregon are concerned.
It is rather late for the circulation
of referendum petitions, but events of
the past few days have brought to
light in our present laws a serious do
feet on which a referendum poultice
should be placed at the earliest possi
ble moment. This grievous defect is
in the statute which, as it now stands,
compels the man signing a note to
honor his signature for the full
amount of the obligation. The neces
sary change should be made at once
or some of our eminent statesmen may
have an Insufficient amount of money
to carry them through to the United
States Senate.
The Japanese government is de
manding an apology and an indemnity
from China for the seizure of the
steamer Tatsu Maru and threatens to
resort to force unless the proper
amends are made. Having taken the
measure of China, Japan is in a po
sition to make demands with a fair
degree of assurance that they will be
met.' Of course, with another nation,
like the "honorable" United States, for
example, the apology without the in
demnity might be gracefully accepted
rather than precipitate a war.
An eminent Englishman well known
to students of history felt of the blade
of the ax which was soon to cut off
his head and remarked that it was
sharp medicine but a sure cure for all
ills. That is probably, what Mr. San
Jose scale thinks when he hears the
relentless blows of the fruit inspector's
ax upon the roots of an old and neg
lected apple, tree. The ax will cure
many a diseased tree if properly used.
Looters took J300.000 from the
Banco de Mlnero, Chihuahua. Com
pared with raids on New York and
San Francisco strong boxes, this is
child's play. Even in Portland, J.
Thorburn Ross beat the Mexicans by
several hundred thousand.
The people should demand tha( at
the next session of the Legislature the
committees on banking shall not be
controlled by bankers. Then perhaps
we shall have laws under which bank
looters can be punished.
Oregon is a rich state, but just think
how much richer it would be if Har
riman did not take away and spend
elsewhere the millions he collects from
Oregon growers, shippers,- travelers
and consumers.
Now that he is dead. Averbuch may
be classed as a good' anarchist.
SAD PLIGHT OF A FAVORITE SO
tscle'Jse Tssass and Hla Rickety
Bssdwagsa,
Providence Journal.
Despite tbe fervent tribute of a fidus
Achates, things, are not goin altogether
well for "Uncle Joe" in Illinois. Mr.
Boutell may acquaint the members of the
House with the transcendent claim of its
Speaker to be President, but in Chicago
and elsewhere the ominous shadow of
the Secretary of War begins to loom upon
the political horizon. The Republican
state central committee has. It Is true,
given Mr. Cannon an official indorsement;
but as it calls for hi nomination on the
ground that the policies of Mr. Roosevelt
could not have been carried out without
the sneaker help, and urges that these
policies would be safe were the speaker in
the White House, the argument can
hardly be considered unanswerable. Ijt Is
rather late In the day to picture "Uncle
Joe" a an earnest reformer or to contend
that he has done more for reform meas
ures than he has deemed expedient as a
sop to public sentiment. He is. in fact,
a known reactionary: and if he could
possibly be nominated at Chicago all the
interests most opposed to the administra
tion would not conceal, their delight.
In these circumstances the consolation
of being a favorite son does not go
very far: but the Speaker may be de
prived even of that. There is a spread
ing sentiment for Mr. Tart In Illinois:
Judging by the reports in the Chicago
papers there is much positive enthusiasm
In his behalf. Now It Is obvious mat, on
the ground of capacity and desire to carry
out the president s policies, mere can txs
no possible hesitation between the
Speaker and the Secretary of War. The
former would be at best an unwilling con
vert, admitting the possibility of hi con
version. Mr. Taft. on the other nana,
ha been closely identified with these
policies. But the point is hardly worth
arguing. "Uncle Joe" has been so con
spicuous an advocate of special privilege
that his appearance in the role or apostle
of the square deal would be nothing less
than howling farce. He could hardly
keep up the Joke long enough to be nomi
nated, not to mention being elected.
Favorite son or mot. the real meaning ot
his candidacy is that he would be, were
be President, an efficient Instrument oi
reaction.
If the Speaker is to -be defeated even in
hi asniratlon to tose for a ballot or two
as a favorite son, it Is plain that the only
practicable way to compass that result is
by active work for Secretary Taft. So
far as can be Judged he is the one can
didate, apart from Mr. Cannon, who has
any real chance In Illlnpls. The position
taken by the state central committee is
obviously opposed by a large and growing
body of party sentiment; and it may be
that when the delegates are chosen this
sentiment will have had its due effect.
The rest of the country cannot but hope
that Illinois will have courage enough to
refuse to' commit itself to the candidacy
of "Uncle Joe," despite appeal to local
pride. In fact, it is difficult to understand
how there can be any local pride among
self -respecting. Republicans in such a can
didate. HER "RIGHTS" HER INTERESTS
Consideration on a Recent Decision ot
the Supremo -Covrt.
New York Evening Mail.
When it is a conflict between
"woman's rights" and woman's inter
ests, or at any rate those interests of
the race intrusted to her keeping, wom
an's rights must give way. That i
the law of this land, as Just declared
by the National Supreme Court, to
which an Oregon statute limiting the
employment of women In factories to
10 hours a day was referred.
Although this law seemed to Impair
freedom of contract and to violate the
14th amendment, to the Federal Con
stitution, which says that "no state
shall make or enforce any law which
shall abridge the privileges or immuni
ties of citizens of the United States,"
the Supreme Court has sustained it. It
does so even while it practically avows
that were a similar attempt made to
impair a man's freedom of contract and
limit his working hours, it would veto
it. As Justice Brewer puts it, "Legis
lation designed for her protection may
be sustained, even when like legisla
tion is not necessary foe men and could
not be sustained."
Women, then, are a special class, and
so legislation in 19 states similar to
that of Oregon declares them to be,
although in New York State the Court
of Appeals took the opposite view last
year and held that the 10-hour law
was unconstitutional. Woman, says
Justice Brewer, needs "legislation to
protect her from the greed as well as
the passion ot man," and her maternal
duties to the race Justify the state in
enacting it . Yet the result, in any
case, may be to limit her means of
earning a subsistence and supporting
those dependent on her.
While this decision does not bear
directly on woman's claim to the ballot,
it does so indirectly. It asserts the
right of the community-; a right, by
the way, which has been exercised in
practice, with or without formal Justi
fication to' judge her demand for the
suffrage not by her natural "right," so
called, not Dy tier wishes as expressed
in agitation and petition, but by the
effect that It assumes female suffrage
will have upon women themselves, the
family and the state.
A Proper Protest.
Jewish Tribune (Portland.
'Our United States is a Christian
country" is dinned into our ears toy the
various associations of clergymen. "Amer
ica for the Americans'' Is another senti
ment heard from some who consider
themselves good Americans. Both of these
have the good of our country near at
heart. They consider their policies as
necessities for the salvation of - our
country. Yet neither of them has ever
thought of the fact that both statements
are un-American, and are the outcome of
narrow-mindedness. Our country is
neither Christian, notwithstanding Judge
Brewer's liliputian booklet, nor is it
limited to Americans to people who had
the opportunity to arrive in this country
before other suffering humanity. The
United States is the country where suffer
ing humanity finds a haven of freedom: it
is the land where the oppressed find
liberty, the downtrodden equality, and the
persecuted Independence. It Is neither the
country of a certain religion nor is it the
Jand of the already established.
Senator Vance' Financial Knowledge,
Washington Herald.
During his short speech on the Aldrich
bill yesterday Senator ldge recalled
story which he said the late Senator
Vance used to tell and which the Senator
from Massachusetts said was recalled to
him by the apparently limited knowledge
of the present membership of the Senate
regarding financial problems.
Senator Vance, he said, during one of
the great financial crises of the country
went down to North Carolina to make an
address and was announced to speak on
the financial questions of the day.
When he faced his audience he modestly
admitted that he was not an expert on
financial questions, and said that in, fact
he knew very little about finance.
"About the only financial principle with
which I am entirely familiar," Senator
Vance added, "is that it takes two names
to float my note.'"
- Furniture Blue In tbe Mmisf,
Hartford (Conn.) Times. '
In moving a red-hot stove in a furni
ture wagon stored with household goods
in WInsted. conn., the stove set fire to
the furniture. . and the fire department
deluged the wsgon in the street
SAYS- WOMEN ARKST FOR SALES
Mn. Abigail Scott Dnmtlway Revile
to Charge f Aatl-SBrTra;l.
PORTLAND, March 2. (To the Ed
itor.) It is a sad commentary upon our
struggling civilization for a person
claiming to be a woman, though writ
ing over the suggestive signature of
"De Foil" (whether a real name I know
not. as with all her vaunted superior
wisdom, founded on experience, I never
had heard of her' before), to have the
audacity to assert that all women are
"for sale," and are, for that reason, not
to be trusted with their inherent right
to a woice in the government for which,
at the peril of their lives, they supply
all iu soldiers, and in addition are
taxed without representation and gov
erned without consent.
Verily, the days of Delilah are still
with us. Voter of Oregon, can you not
see in the transparent sophistry of the
De Foil letter the "fine Italian hand" of
the one recently Imported woman in
Oregon who is, posing today as the O.
A. O. F. E. F. W.?
I wish to say, in reply to the scores
of women who called me up yesterday
by telephone- to protest against this
sort of ."wily cunning." as well as to
another score, who called in person for
the same purpose, that there isn't any
cause for worry.
Such sophistry may make an excuse
for the adverse vote of some man who
whips his wife or deserts his family,
but all such men will vote against us.
anyhow. So. no matter. Just go on.
carrying your flag of truce. Cook your
husbands' meals, prepare the older chil
dren for their duties at school; wash,
dress and nurse the babies and grand
babies as though nothing new or
strange was about to happen to en
large your spheres of usefulness or op
portunity. The very leading men of
Oregon are on our side. They have ini
tiated the campaign that is now jpon
us. and they are quietly preparing to
"make good," as they mean to prove to
you In the ides of June.
The world Is moving, and men and
women are moving with it, marching
on together, in time 'and tune to the
eternal -harmonies of liberty and Jus
tice. ABIGAIL SCOTT DUNIWAY.
FARMERS AND THE IMIVERsITV
Inquiry mm to Why Course Are Dupli
cated at Eugene and Corvalll.
NEWBERG, Or., March t. (To the
Editor.) The referendum is said to
have been Invoked by "some farmers,"
and the farmer is held up to contempt
for starting the movement. It Is the
same familiar, word of Vanderbllt, say
ing, "The people be d d," and It is
Juot this spirit that is making th
common people tired.
If a man is a farmer, bent by unceas
ing toil and stained by the grime of
the furrow and the stable,' he must
bend his back to the burden and is
barred from all criticism of the kid
gloved and silk-stockinged "gentle
men" who enjoy the sinecures at m
gene. The farmer must dig and groan
and sweat and pay his taxes, which
grow so fast that to all but one in a
thousand, perhaps, the benefits ot this
and all other colleges are out of the
reach of his sons and daughters. Im
migrants coming to Oregon are opposed
to maintaining a department of engi
neering in a school of liberal arts at
Eugene, when that department Is
taught at Corvallis in the Agricultural
School. They say, bring our public
schools to a higher standard and when
a student finishes the 12th grade let
him pay for his higher education and
get it where he pleases. The Univer
sity of Oregon does not attract any
newcomers. c s. huus.
OREGON BOY'S WIRELESS PLANT
Latter I Completed In Four Week'
Time, After School Hour.
LOS ANGELES, Cal., Feb. 25. (To the
Editor.) Some time ago I noticed an
article in a Portland newspaper about a
young man completing a wireless tele
graph system. I wish to say that Edwin
Collis Lovejoy, a native Oregonian, and
now a resident of Los Angeles, Cal., cont
pleted a wireless telegraph system at
the age, or 13ft years, making an tne
instruments except coll and re'eeivers. He
9 able to receive messages from the
Pacific Wireless," but these of course
are not sent to him.
Edwin has Just reached his 14th year.
For two years he has studied book after
book on electricity and has Been expert
mentlng making batteries and numerous
other articles. His wireless telegraph
plant was begun and finished after school
hours, In about lour weeks time.
MRS. LOVEJOY,
The Principle the Same.
Eugene Register.
In a Presidential election the voters
vote for Presidential electors and not for
President. Why. Is this so? Simply be
cause our Government is a representa
tive government and as such provides
that Presidential electors chosen by their
respective parties meet in electoral col
lege and bya,party vote choose President
of the United States. As the popular will
of the party is expressed at the polls
in choice of Presidential electors so under
the direct primary law Is the popular will
of the party expressed at the polls for
choice of Senator and choice oi party
legislators to elect that choice.
You do not think, do you, tor one mo-
mpnt that in the Presidential election
if Taft or Hughes should be the choice
for President that Democratic electors
from Oregon would vote for either or
them for President? Certainly not. they
would vote for the Democratic candidate
even though he! be the minority candi
date. Neither would the Democratic elec
tors from Oregon vote for Taft
Hughes if one of them carried the state
for President. Then wny snouia ttepuo
llcan legislative candidates vote for
Democratic candidates for United states
Senator even if. in a political mixup a
Democrat should carry the popular vote
of the state. The principal involved in
each case is just the same.
Record of Toltof Voice.
Yasnava Polyana (Russia) Dispatch
Count Leo Tolstoi nas received from
Thomas Edison a phonograph of the
latest and most improved pattern. With
the Instrument came a letter from the
a Trtnricwn inventor expressing nis man
regard for- Count Tolstoi, and requesting
that the Russian auinor senu. nun a. pnu
nographic record of his voice. Count Tot
ml -will send Mr. Edison a cylinder bear
in veral interpretations of Gospel texts.
He will seak in English, of which he has
full command.
Just to Be a Boy Again.
Chicago Record-Herald.
-Jut to be a child again." sighed the mil
llonaire.
"Knowing not that woe exists, free from
very care:
Just to be a child again, filled with boyish
glee.
Free from all the 111 I bear and from sor
row free.
Round the corner lay boy, fretting In hi
feed.
"Gee, I wlsht I tru a man," dismally he
s1d:
"Every winter seem to bring some disease,
omehow.
Had the scarlet fever last got the measles
now.
"Yes; I've had the chlckenjox
and
the
jaundice, too:
Spose I'll have the mumps the next
ways somethlnr new;
-al
When you're sick there ain't no fun, cause
you feel so sas:
When you're well you go to school ge,
but ure i sao. -
"Just to b a boy," the man murmured with
a slrh.
Free to frolic as I pleased, all thing yet
to try:
ah. bow small men's triumphs are, what
a nrice we nay
For the little that m-e get aa w scheme
away.
BY LILIAN TTNOT.B.
SH WEDNESDAY named in refer
ence to penitential dust and ashes
marks the opening of the great church
fast of 40 days, which season of repent
ance, self-denial and good works com
memorates the fasting and temptation of
Christ in the wilderness and Is a fitting
prelude and preparation for the joy of
Easter. It was not until the ninth cen
tury that this time of fasting for the
Christian world was definitely fixed: but
from that date on both civil and eccle
siastical laws were made in support of
it. Indeed, as late as the end of the 17th
century in England the eating ot flesh
meat. If not of eggs and cheese also,
during the 40 days of Lent was legally
punishable by fine" and Imprisonment.
Apart from the inner religious signifi
cance of Lent, there is no doubt that its
outer observance was beneficial both
-from an economic and a dietetic point
of view after the heavy meals and meats
of the Winter; but the housewife had
cares of her own in connection with it.
First come the disposal of unlawful
foods, arranged most conveniently in
connection with the feast days of "Collop
Monday" and "Shrove" or "Pancake" '
Tuesday, which preceded Ash Wednes
day, and. In the words of an old writer.
'shewed -by a practical lesson that the
rebellious man is better introduced than
driven to mortification of the flesh, al
though a very necessary and indeed a
universal observance." On "Collop Mon
day" all the meat on hand was cut up
into "collops" for salting and drying un-
til Baster, and every one consumed large
quantities of collops, eggs and bread.
The meat being thus disposed of, the
next day's feast of pancakes removed
temptation as far as the eggs were con
cerned.
Fish was then, as now, the proper
Lenten fare, and many were the ingen
ious ways in which it was prepared to
keep the letter while breaking- the
spirit of the fast. A rather in
teresting example of such "dodging" is'
seen In the fact that beavers and otters.
whose flesh was esteemed a delicacy.
were allowed to pass as "fish," since
they were taken from rivers, and an ot
ter was considered a fitting and valuable'
present to offer to a bishop during Lent.1
I have a fine old recipe for stewed bea-1 "
ver-tall which comes not, as you might'
Imagine, from American pioneer sources.
but from the household traditions ot a -German
Roman Catholic family.
This zeal for a fish diet would appear.
however, to be not entirely a matter of
religious principle, and may even 1iave
been tainted with something resembling
graft If they had anything so modern in
the 14th century, judging from a remark
of Froissart's. He says:
There were daily delivered to the German
In the army, ten ton of herring for Lent,-
nd 80O carp without counting all other sorts;
of Osb which cost the King Immense sums.!
The fast was encouraged for political pur-;
poses, to promote tbe fisheries and naval sen-!
lc to th aaving and Increase of butcher
meat.
Dispensations could be obtained for
those physically' unable to endure tno
fast sometimes for those who could also,
and Sunday brought some amelioration
of diet even to the strictest; for Sundays
are not counted in the "40 days." An old
rime names the Sundays as follows:
Tld. Mid, Mlrera. -
Carting, Palm andt Fase-egg day.
"Carling Sunday" was also known .as
"Mothering Sunday" and is connected
with a certain kind of cake given to the
serving lasses and lads who had a 'holiday
and visited their parents on that day.'
"Pase-egg day" is of course Easter. A
very curious custom connected with Lent
at the English court ceased abruptly on
the first Ash Wednesday after the acces-;
sion of George I. There was a highi
official known as the "King's Cock'
Grower, " whose business was, during
Lent, to crow the hours instead of leav
ing the announcement to the watchman'
in the regular way. The new Prince of
Wales, afterwards George- II. was just
sitting down to supper when this digni
tary entered and in a most realistic
manner crowed ten times. The Prince
not unnaturally concluded that some in
sult or mockery was intended and started
up indignantly demanding the crower's
instant removal and punishment. "From
that period," says Brady, "we find tio'
further account of the exertion of the
Imitative power of this important officer;
but the court has been left to the voice
of reason and conscience to remind them
of their errors, not to t,.at of a cock,
whose clarion called back Peter to re
pentance, which this fantastical and silly
ceremony meant to signify." Nowadays
the keeping of Lent is too often regarded
in a manner similar to that -of an old
lady whose daughter a member "by
marriage" of the Episcopalian Church
had announced her intention of keeping
strict Lent. "Well, my dear," said her
mother, "of course you'll please yourself,
but for my part I'd sooner be comfortable
than fashionable, any day."
But all of us, of whatever creed or
opinion, can agree with the spirit of
Herrick:
Is this a fast to keep
Th larder leane
And cleane
From fat of veale and sheep?
Is It to fast an hour
Or ragged to go
Or show
A downcast look and eoure?
No, 'tis a fast to dole
Thy sheaf of wheat
And meat
Unto the hungry oul.
It Is to fast from strife.
From old debate
And hate.
To circumcise thy life.
To show a heart grief-rent.
To starve thy in
No bin:
And that's to keep thy Lent.
Item About Canada,
Imports into Canada in 1907 (esti
mated) from the United States will
amount to 1165.000,000. against only
178.000,000 from Great Britain.
Canada's government revenue trom
all sources this year will be more than
$100,000,000. In the first seven months
the customs receipts increased 16.500.000.
Mr. Thompson, Canadian member ot
Parliament for Yukon, declares that
within five years the Klondike gold
output will reach $20,000,000 a year as
the result of the operations of the big
dredging companies.
The annual report -of the Canadian
Department of Trade and Commerce
show the total grain crops of the sea
son of 1907 to be more than 415.000.000
bushels, of which 125.000,000 bushels
were wheat and 202.000,000 bushels oats.
A Slab.
' Louisville Courier-Journal.
There's talk In literary circles of cel
ebrating the centenary of Edgar Allen
Poe. Without speaking slightingly of
that master worker in his craft. It may
be eald that the event cannot be cele
brated In the proper spirit in Alabama
or Georgia without violating recently
enacted laws.
I