Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, March 16, 1908, Page 6, Image 6

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    6
THE MOR ITG OREGOXIAN. 3IOXDAT, MAKCH 16, 1908.
eTBSCRIPTIO BATES.
IXVARIABI.T IN ADVADCB.
(Br M1L
Dally. Bandar Included, on year
Dally, Sunday Included, six month!.... -2j
Dally. Sunday Included, three montha. .
Dally. Sunday Included, on month-. .J
Dally, without Sunday, on year 5.00
Dally, without Sunday, six montha..... e
Dally, without Sunday, three month1.. 1-T3
Dally, without Sunday, one month
Eunday. one year ?
weekly, one year (Issued Thursday). jV
Sunday and weekly. c year
BV CAKKIEB.
Dally. Sunday Included, one year...... "J
Daily. Sunday Included, on month
HOW TO REMIT Send poetottlce money
rder. expreaa order or pereonal check on
your local bank. Stamp, coin or currency
ar at the sender1 risk. Olv pestomc aa
dreae tn full, including county and atat..
POSTAGE BATES.
Entered at Portland. Oregon. Poatofflo
a Second-Clan Matter. . .
JO to 14 Pate eeB
IS to 28 p. I cent
SO to 44 Pases. c"'
i te SO Pace
Foreign postage, double rate.
Important Th poatai i' ar
"ewapaper on which postage la not lulty
Brepald ar not forwarded to destination.
EASTKBir BUSINESS OFF1CB.
Th S. C. Jaeckwlth Special Aaracy New
Torls. room 4S-50 TTlbune bulldln-. Chl
cago. room 10-612 Trlbun building.
KEPT ON SALE.
Chleairo. Auditorium Annex: Postoffloe
Kew Co., 178 Dearborn "treat; Empire
IVewi Bland.
St Paul, Minn. N. St. Marts, Commercial
Station.
Colorado) Spring-,. Colo. Bell. H. H.
Denver HamllloS and Kendrlck. 0-;JJ
Seventeenth street; Pratt Book Store.
Fifteenth street; B. P. Hansen. 8. Klc.
George Carson.
Kanaa City, Ms, RlckaecVer Clear Co.
nmh and Walnut; Yoraa New Co.
Minaeaooll M. J. Cavanaugh. 60 South
third.
Cincinnati. O Toma Nw Co.
( lereUnd. O. Jimfi Puahaw. 0t Bu
fcertor street.
Washington, D. C Ebbltt House. Penn
sylvania avenu; Columbia ews Co.
Pittsburg. Pa. Fort Pitt Newa Co.
Philadelphia. Pa. Ryan'a Theater Ticket
trice; Penn Newa Co.; Kemble, A- P.. '5
Lancaster avenue.
New York City Hotallng's newatanda. 1
Park Row. 88th and Broadway. 42d and
Broadway and Broadway and Uuth. Tele
phone 6374. Single copies delivered; L.
Jones A Co.. Aator house; Broadway The
ater Newa Stand; Empire Newa Stand.
Oa-den. D. L,. Boyle; Lowe Broa.. 114
Twenty-fifth atreet.
Omaha. Barkalow Bros.. Union Station;
liaseath Stationery Co.: Kemp as Arenaon.
Dea Molne. Ia Moae Jacobs.
Fresno. Cal. Tourist Newa Co.
bar ram en to. Cal Sacramento Newa Co..
430 K atreet: Amoa Newa Co.
Salt Lak Moon Book 4 Stationery Co.;
Rosenfeld A Hansen; G. W. Jewett. P. O.
corner; Stelpeck Broa.
l,-ng Beach. Cal. B. E. Amos.
Pasadena. Cal. Amoa New Co.
ISan llego. B. E. Amoa.
an Joae. Emerson W.
Houaton, Tex. International Newa Agency.
Dallas. Tex. Southwestern New Agent,
844 Main street; also two atreet wagona.
Ft. Worth. Tex Southwestern N. and A.
Agency.
Aniarilla. Tex. Tlmmon ft Pop.
Baa Francisco. Forster & Orear: Ferry
News Stand; Hotel St. Francis News Stand:
L. Parent; N. Wheatley; FaJrmount Hotel
Newa Stand? Amoa News Co.; United News
Agency. I4j Eddy atreet; B. E. Amos, man
ager three wagons; Worlds N. S.. 2925 A.
butter street.
Oakland. CaL W. H. Johnson. Fourteenth
and Franklin streets: N. Wheatley; Oakland
Newa Stand; B. E. Amoa. manager flv
wagons: Welllncham. E. G.
Ooldfleld. Ncy. Louie Follln.
Eureka. Cal. Call-Chronicle Agency: Eu
reka Newa Co.
PORTLAND, MONDAY, MARCH IS, ISM.
" NON-PARTISAN DEMOCRACY.
I would seem that there might be a
chance for further success of Hon.
George E. Chamberlain, Democrat, as
a non-partisan. Indeed, from his suc
cess as a Democrat, in his local non
partisan character, he would appear to
have an undoubted right to suppose
he can succeed, as a Democrat, on the
non-partisan "lay," In the great field
of National politics. There is nice art
In the business, as he practices it, for
which The Oregonlan is well disposed
to give him full credit.
Politics, you see, is a progressive
science. The plea of Mr. Chamber
lain a Democrat for Mr. Chamber
lain as a non-partisan, heretofore has
been based on the argument that there
could be no party politics in the office
of Governor, and it could make no
difference whether the Governor was
a member of one party or the other.
It was said, of course, that this would
not apply to any political office, as that
of Senator or Representative in Con
gress: and it was admitted even that
the candidates for President of the
United States could not be expected
to stand as non-partisans. Indeed, it
was frankly conceded there might be
politics in Congress, and the President
might be expected to be a party man.
But, as already remarked, non-partisan
politics is a progressive science.
Governor Chamberlain, Democrat, an
nounces himself a no-party candidate
for the Senate; tells us there Is noth
ing even In National politics that
should cause division among patriots,
but that local affairs in Oregon now
must take precedence over all causes
of National character, in the breasts
and bosoms of men who truly love
their country.
These local issues hinge upon the
new manner of electing Senators, by
enforcement of Statement No. I;
which, however, even the primary law
doesn't undertake to enforce, but leaves
expressly at the option of political
parties and candidates for the Legis
lature. With highest admiration and regard
for Governor Chamberlain, and with
fullest belief In his kindness of heart,
we yet must conclude that he has suf
fered his sense of Justice to go- to
sleep here, and in this temporary lull
of conscience he has despltefully used
Mr. Cake, his competitor, now making
speeches throughout Oregon, as a Re
publican candidate for the Senate, in
which Mr. Cake as stoutly upholds the
primary law and Statement No. 1 as
Mr. Chamberlain does, or possibly can
do. Now, George, can't you be fair to
Harry? Mr. Chamberlain probRbly
will say the Republicans will not nom
inate Mr. Cake, and will not elect him
If they do. All politics have an ele
ment of uncertainty; but we are sure
that on reflection Mr. Chamberlain
will admit that friends of Mr. Cake
and all Republicans who wish to sup
port him have a right to try.
We take it that the course and
outcome of the contest will be this:
Mr. Chamberlain, a pronounced and
inflexible Democrat, and an ardent ad
mirer and supporter of Mr. Bryan,
will endeavor to secure his election to
the Senate as a non-partisan using
his appeal for Statement No. 1 as a
means of getting members of the Leg
islature pledged to him. Democratic
candidates for the Legislature will
take that pledge, for the party advan
tage for non-partisan purposes that
they hope to derive from it. Republi
can candidates for the Legislature
with a possible exception here or
there will pledge themselves to vote
in the Legislature for the choice of
their party expressed at the primary,
and at the polls. In the June election.
The Oregonlan doesn't profess nor
pretend to know which party will win.
Ii doesn't know, and hasn't known for
gome years, that there is any Repub- 1
lican party in Oregon. It is aware,
however, that there is an earnest and
compact Democratic party, posing un
der shrewd leadership as non-partisan,
standing solidly together and
using every device and expedient to
win votes on all sorts of "issues" ex
cept those for which the party ac
tually stands.
THE PROPORTION OF INSANE.
A very good guide to an estimate
of the number of the people of a
modern state is found in the statistics
of their .insane. There Is scarcely a
surer index of population.
In all civilizations on the modern
basis, or under modern conditions, the
number of Insane persons, or of per
sons whose mental condition Is such as
to require the attention and care and
treatment of the state, is about 1 to
360 of the Inhabitants. It is a singu
larly unilorm ratio, differing little In
countries that keep accurate statis
tics. The law that regulates the ratio
or proportion no one knows. The fact
is one of those strange and unaccount
able things in the world of mind and
of men.
In the Insane Asylum of Oregon
there are 1500 patients. Almost, not
quite, all the insane of . the state are
In the asylum under detention and
treatment. On the ratio of 860 to 1
the population is 840,000. The same
ratio gives a population of 730,000 in
the State of Washington, which is just
about the number. .In the State of
New York the number of insane is
slightly In excess of 23,000. The mul
tiplication of the ratio gives a close
approximation to the actual popula
tion of the state. .
In European countries the results
are very similar Some-, mysterious
law makes the ratio. The results
have been observed for more than a
century. Men find the law as they
find the law of gravitation or elec
tricity; but what lies behind the law
they are yet to discover If they
ever do.
But perhaps a far greater propor
tion is Insane, and Society deals only
with those whose insanity is very ob
servable. It was Cariyle who said:
"These British Islands contain thirty
millions of people, mostly fools."
Twelve millions have since been add
ed to the number.
. RIVALS OF PANAMA CANAL.
The reoent pessimistic utterances of
John F. Stevens, formerly chief engi
neer of the Panama Canal, regarding
the future of the big ditch, have at
tracted widespread attention. The
ability of Mr. Stevens as an engineer
and the prominence he has attained,
of course have served to give his opin
ions greater weight than Is ordinarily
accorded to experts who discuss such
topics. According to the Stevens the
ory, the business which the Panama
Canal is expected to carry will con
tinue to go "westward, to the Far
East" by way of the transcontinental
railroads and the trans-Pacific steam
ers, because if this route shall offer
advantages for through freight to the
Orient, it will still be more advan
tageous for traffic destined for the
Pacific Coast ports.
But since the commencement of
work ion the Panama Canal there has
come into prominence another trans
portation route that is already mak
ing heavy inroads on the business of
the transcontinental rail lines, and
will always be a prominent factor in
making of freight rates between At
lantic and Pacific Coast terminals. The
American-Hawaiian Steamship Com
pany, under its latest schedule, is de
livering New York freight at San
Francisco in 26 days, which is faster
time than the average freight train
across the continent. Rates by this
line are lower than by the railroads,
and with improved facilities at both
the Atlantic and Pacific terminals of
the Tehuantepec National Railway the
new line is in a position to compete
for a large share of the traffic even
after the completion of the Panama
Canal.
The Tehuantepec route, by reason
of its ISO-mile rail haul that neces
sitates twice breaking bulk in cargoes
while en route, is at a disadvantage
with the all-water route that will be
followed on completion of the Panama
Canal. This handicap, however. Is
partly if not completely overcome by
the saving in distance. It is but 4226
nautical miles from New York to San
Francisco by the Tehuantepec route,
while by the Panama route the dis
tance will be 5495 miles. This sav
ing of 1269 miles in distance means
a saving of about six days In the time
of the' average freighter. This, of
course, would be Insufficient leeway to
admit the Tehuantepec route's hand
ling lumber or any commodities which
are slow to handle, but as the pres
ent active competition with the Amer
ican railroads shows, the route will
always be a prominent factor in the
making of rates.
The line is known in Europe as the
"British-Mexican rival of the Panama
route," but unless there is a radicaj
change in the conditions governing
the freight movement between the
two coasts, it will always remain more
of a rival of the American railroads
than of the Panama route. On one
point there is not much difference of
opinion the opening of the Panama
Canal, and the Tehuantepec route and
the transcontinental rail lines both
struggling for business, will enable the
shippers to learn just how cheap
freight can be carried between the
Atlantic and the Pacific Coasts.
PACIFIC FLEET NEEDED.
Every true American citizen will
feel a pride In the showing that our
splendid battleship fleet will make in
its triumphal joyage around the
world. It has already accomplished
a feat unequalled in naval history.
The fine condition in which the ships
reached this Coast has astonished the
world. The belief that the long voy
age through cold and heat of two
oceans would develop structural weak
ness or expose defects in the engine
rooms, has all been dissipated by the
matchless performance of the fleet.
But while we are all anxious that the
rest of the world should see at close
range what we have accomplished in
building a navy, it will be a matter of
regret that some of the vessels are
not permanently retained In the Pa
cific. The primary reason for sending this
fleet to the Pacific was to quiet any
alarm that might be felt over possi
ble trouble in this part of the world.
The cruise was also undertaken as a
"try-out" to determine the degree of
efficiency that could be reached on a
long voyage Into strange waters.- It
was an enormously expensive test, al
though It was probably-worth all of
the money that it cost, but now that
the fleet is in the Pacific, in easy
steaming distance of the only part of
the world in which it is ever liable to
be called on for action, it would seem
the part of wisdom to retain as many
as possible of the vessels here. The
parade round the world, as now
planned, is not for warlike purposes.
It is to shot; the rest of the world our
progress in building and handling
ships.
Out here on the Pacific, where our
interests are steadily expanding and
where foreign political conditions are
uncertain, it is highly important that
the ships be instantly available when
needed. Even the Eastern States, which
protested strongly against the voyage,
have always admitted that the Pacific
would be the scene of the next big
conflict between the world powers.
While this predicted conflict may still
be some years In the future, it is most
essential that this Government be in
a position to act quickly if it is neces
sary to act at all. Rushing a fleet
from the Atlantic to the Pacific; in
time of war would be a vastly more
dangerous and . expensive move than
the present practice cruise.
THE CZAR AND HIS PEOPLE.
Recent accounts of Russian affairs
raise a curious question in interna
tional ethics. It is possible for a pri
vate Individual to dehumanize himself
by vice and crime to such an extent
that decent persons cannot admit him
to their society without injuring their
self-respect. Does anything similar
ever happen in the case of a man who
Is set to rule over a nation ? Does tha
time ever come when a sovereign, un
der the shame and guilt of accumu
lated crimes against his subjects,
makes himself an outlaw with whom
no civilized government can hold in
tercourse without violating the com
mon rules of Christian decency?
Something of this sort we have seen
happen of late In the case of Leopold
of Belgium. The offenses against civ
ilization which this monarch has com
mitted have been so numerous and
flagrant that there seems to be a con
sensus among men of right feeling to
avoid him as one would shun a per
son stricken with some loathsome dis
ease. To ask or receive a concession
from Leopold In the Congo stamps one
as somewhat deficient in his standards
both as a gentleman and a Christian.
It is one of those things which cleanly
people do not do.
Morally, the Czar of Russia cannot
quite be classed with Leopold. Fright
ful though the miseries have been
which he has inflicted upon his sub
jects, still It Is commonly agreed that
he has not sinned through avarice and
lust, but rather through cowardice
and mental weakness. Intellectually
deficient, like so many of his col
leagues upon European thrones, lack
ing in those qualities of resolution and
courage which are essential if one
would rule mercifully and well, he has
nevertheless shown at various times a
decided Inclination toward better
things than the dire medieval tyranny
that stifles the life and blights tWe
soul of Russia. That his' impulses
would be merciful rather than cruel,
liberal rather than tyrannous, had his
education been enlightened and his
environment wholesome, we cannot
doubt. He has shown as much by his
conduct on many occasions. But it 13
the unspeakable misfortune of Nicho
las, in addition to his weak Intellect,
or because of it perhaps, to feel an
astonishing reverence for his besotted
priesthood and the degraded supersti
tions which that priesthood teaches in
the place of religion. He hs also an
enormous vanity, an admiration for
himself which is absurdly out of pro
portion to his merits as a .man or a
ruler, and he lives withal in a con
stant cloud of incense to the shades of
his ancestors. These facts, taken in
connection with his belief, undoubted
ly genuine, that the Almighty selected
him to rule over Russia, and that by
diminishing his hereditary authority
he would cross the purposes of hfs
creator, enable us to understand some
thing of the character of this most un
fortunate and pitiable of rulers, this
man whose work, in spite of all his
good Impulses, is wholly evil, this
monstrous anachronism in a world
which purports to be governed by a
just God and the precepts of the
moral law.
Nor should we forget, in trying to
account for the tale of crimes - "tich
Nicholas must answer for, that he Is
a born coward. It is not so much
through wickedness as timidity that he
seeks to recall on Tuesday the prom
ises he makes on Monday. It is not
an inborn love of . mendacity that
moves him to deceive his subjects, but
rather a shivering sense of fear for
the consequences of his own conces
sions. He is haunted by the appre
hension that he will go down in his
tory as the Czar who allowed the au
tocracy to be wrecked. He dreads to
be ramembered as one among the
tribe of monarchs who could not pre
serve their Inherited power intact;
and rather than incur this shame he
hesitates not to break his oath at
every turn and Inflict cruelties beyond
all name or number upon his unhappy
subjects. A strong sovereign could
have set Russia free at the close of
the Japanese war. But Nicholas is a
weakling, and he found the task be
yond his powers. Frightened at the
spirit of liberty which he has himself
helped to evoke, he shrinks from Its
presence and seeks to lay it by the
direst resources of the tyrant.
The measureless wrongs of the Rus
sian people move Americans to a bit
terness of Judgment upon Nicholas
which Is in marked contrast with our
customary National habit of tolerance.
We obtained civic liberty through a
struggle whose annals are only slightly
tainted with cruelty. All the more
deeply, therefore, do we sympathize
with the perdurable woes of Russia
and all the keener our exasperation
with the ruler whose selfish and crim
inal folly thwarts the reasonable as
pirations of his people for freedom.
The events of current Russian his
tory fail sometimes to arouse our sym
pathies, however, because their very
horror makes them incredible. They
read to us like a frightful tale from
another planet. We can acarcely con
ceive that they are happening in the
world where we live. It is almost im
possible for us to believe that in the
early years of the twentieth century,
which have otegun so prosperously in
America, there Is a nation on the earth
which Is passing through the tor
ments of Dante's hell to conquer the
commonest rights of man. And yet it
Is all true. It is true that the bold
incentive, the high emprise, the gener
ous courage, which in America make
a path to wealth and honor for a man,
In Russia condemn him to torture,
exile and death. Let those who teach
that the kind of government we live
under makes no difference with our
happiness consider these facts a little
while and see how their opinion stands
tha ordeal.
Great Britain has decided to make
no provision for meeting the four
German battleships of the Nassau type
before 1909-10. This is not only an
abandonment of the time-honored
"two-power" standard, but It leaves
the Mistress of the Seas, in point of
new warships, far below the scale of
Germany alone. This policy of re
trenchment has awakened consider
able criticism in various parts of the
empire. According to the London Sat
urday Review, which criticises the
Naval Board with a freedom that
would make a Hearst paper mild in
comparison, the new construction es
timates are but $37,500,000. compared
with an average expenditure for ten
years ending with 1906 of $41,850,000.
This, despite the fact that construc
tion cost has advanced nearly 80 per
cent In the ten years. From the tone
of tha Saturday Review, some of the
British people seem to fear that Em
peror William may have designs which
he may forget to write to Tweedmouth.
The phantom airship that has been
hovering around Tacoma, Puyallup
and other Puget Sound cities, where is
sold a poor grade of "the stuff that
dreams are made of," has apparently
scaled the Cascade Mountains. A.
North Yakima dispatch announces that
the aerial mystery sailed over that
city Saturday night, "clearly outlined
against the sky above the brilliant
lights carried on the car." When Ta
coma saw the airship, it was reported
to. be flying the Japanese flag, but
the Yakima dispatch fails to mention
what colors it was sailing under after
it crossed the Cascade Mountains. As
North Yakima is the home and head
quarters of the Jones Senatorial boom
in Washington, there is a possibility
that the airship contained some of
the Walla Walla politicians, making a
still-hunt In the interest of Senator
Ankeny's candidacy.
But Mr. Cake, who came out for
Statement No. 1 a good while ago, has
the advantage of anteriority over
Chamberlain. The. latter comes late
to the feast. Should he claim the hon
ors? Besides,' if Mr. Chamberlain
should be elected to the Senate and
take his seat In that body In March,
the duties of. the office of Governor
would fall to the Secretary of State,
Mr. Benson, a vile Republican, and
therefore a rlngster, whom the peo
ple couldn't . trust. But possibly a
way could be devised, under initiative
amendment, to get rid of him before
all the liberties of the people were
swallowed up and lost. Maybe "the
recall" would be sufficient. Anything
to relieve the strain on anxious pa
triotism. It-will cause a pang to all who knew
him to learn that E. L. Coldwell
(Jerry) is dead. He was an excellent
citizen, faithful friend and good man.
As a reporter and general writer on
The Oregonlan for more than twenty
five years he did his whole duty both
to the public and to the newspaper.
His genial nature, quaint expression,
rare humor and absolute devotion to
fairness and truth made friends for
him as widely as he was known. For
some years latterly he has been Inca
pacitated for work, due to a heavy fall
by some accident on the street pave
ment. "Jerry" did his whole duty as a
man,- and reared to usefulness a fam
ily which honors his memory.
Some of you talk about "the peo
ple's choice." When you got JonatHan
Bourne, did you get the people's
choice? No; you got a party's choice
not the choice of a party, either,
but the choice of the fragment of a
parts' that constituted a plurality of
it, among many candidates. Party
fealty, loyalty, allegiance, elected Mr.
Bourne. Yet this is the very senti
ment now decried and that "the new
method" would destroy.
Mr. Chamberlain Is a great admirer
of Mr. Roosevelt, tells our people so
in his announcement and thinks all
Roosevelt men ought to vote for him.
Perhaps they will. But Mr. Chamber
lain will speak and vote for Mr. Bryan;
and if the two shall be elected, the
one to the Presidency and the other
to the Senate, the poor Republicans of
Oregon may well fear that in all mat
ters that relate to their political wishes
and interests they will be forgotten.
The name of "Jack" Matthew's be
gins to reappear in the political lit
erature of Oregon, the double object
of its use being to produce a fright
about bossism, and to put the name
of The Oregonlan In odious company.
Let' that pass as a joke; but if there is
a dead rat in the political sewer It is
Jack Matthews. Brethren, don't
worry.
Ruef confessed to Burns, and Burns
told the San Francisco Bulletin, and
the Bulletin published the statements
of Ruef as to Tevis, and Tevls sues
the Bulletin for libel. The press has
made a mighty mistake, evidently, in
publishing things about the good men
of San Francisco. Ruef and Schmitz
and Tevis will make 'em all sweat
for it.
Before you undertake to disprove
the statement that Hood River or
chards will be worth J1000 an acre,
even if apples are a dollar a box, re
member that it was made by a man
who started with nothing but energy
and intelligence for capital and got
rich in a few years raising apples.
If the Southern Pacific had sold
those granted lands in the last five
years, instead of barring out buyers,
there would be still more Innocent
purchasers behind whom to take ref
uge. Twas a good thing the Republican
Convention in Marion County did
when it turned down a motion to rec
ommend a legislative slate. Give
everybody a chance.
Europe thinks we are too bump
tious, says an observant American just
returned from a tour. England and
Spain have good reason so to believe.
We bumped them.
Isn't this a rainstorm? Isn't it?
Why, then, as our old friend Falstaff
exclaimed, "I'll tickle . your catas
trophe." After all, the only statesman in
Clackamas County without smirch is
Mr. BrownelL
STAMPIXG on BUBONIC PLAGUE. 1
Medical Aapret of Prevention Wrk
at Snm Francisco and Seattle.
Chicago Record-Herald."
vThere bas been no great excitement
over the suggestion for a war against
rats in this city, but such a war is con
sidered absolutely necessary as a pro
tective measure upon the Pacific Coast.
We have already called attention to the
fact that many thousands of rats have
been killed in San Francisco to prevent
the spread of the bubonic plague. Up to
December 1 there had been 109 cases of
the disease there, wblcb had resulted in
66 deaths. , A campaign of prevention had
been carried on by Federal and local
authorities, but with all that had been
done there was a feeling that the local
papers were more Intent on suppressing
A special commissioner for the Journal I
of the American Medical Association was
very outspoken In his criticism of the
secrecy that was maintained.
We find now that what we said is sub
stantiated by the president of the Board
of Health at Sacramento. That city has
been free from the plague, but does not
propose to neglect precautionary meas
ures because of Its escape so far. It is
proposed that a large fund shall be
raised to provide for an incessant war
against the rats, and that the import
ance of the subject may be thoroughly
understood the Board of Health has is
sued a pamphlet 'in which it says:
"The bubonic plague is primarily a dis
ease of the rat. It Is transmitted by a
flea. A flea living on an Infected rat be
comes Infected. If the infected flea bites
a human being the person bitten becomes
infected with the plague. The percentage
of Infected rats In San Francisco has in
creased threefold since September last.
An epidemic 1b possible there when Sum
mer begins. There are no cases of bu
bonic plague in Sacramento. We want
none, but we are in great danger."
- Regarding San Francisco, the president
pf the board indicated at a public meet
ing that there was an apathy there that
deserved .censure, and something worse
than apathy. One paper absolutely denied
that the city bad had a case of the
pleague. In an interview a citizen of
San Francisco had charged that Dr. Blue,
surgeon in the United States marine serv
ice, who is fighting the plague, was
seeking to work up a scare for his own
benefit. On the other hand, at this same
meeting a representative of the marine
service said that the people of San Fran
cisco were aroused now and that they
were doing about all that they could do.
So far as we know, only one of the
Pacific Coast cities besides San Fran
ctaco has had a case of the disease, and
that is Seattle, where there had been two
cases only up to December. It does not
appear that the country generally Is in
danger, but obviously It is a matter of
National concern that such a pest should
be got rid of as speedily as possible.
TRIBUTES TO MR, BRYAN.
The Mnae Fa I la Into One of Her Gnshy
; Moods.
Chicago Inter-Oeean.
Former Governor Vardaman of Mis
sissippi is now editor of a weekly which
he calls The "Issue, . published in Vlcks
burg. It Is a journal of the order of The
Commoner, which is edited by a gentle
man whom former Governor Vardaman
greatly admires.
So greatly does he' admire him. indeed,
that in a recent number of The Issue he
devotes a column to eulogizing him on
the first page, closing the eulogy with
this tribute to Mr. Bryan from the gifted
pen of Edwin Markham:
Thrilled with the cosmic oneness he will rise.
Youth ;ln his hetrt.and morning in his eyes,
While glory fallen from the' far-off goal
Will send mysterious splendor on his soul.
Him do the tollers know to be their friend.
Him will they follow faithful to the end,
Though every leaf were a tongue, to cry.
Thou must! t
He will not say tlje unjust thing is jut.
These lines will no doubt attract con
siderable attention, and it Is only rea
sonable to expect that many attempts
will be made to equal or surpass them.
This being the case. The Inter-Ocean
hastens to enter what promises to be a
friendly and Interesting competition:
Falsed by his chlnwork. upward doe he soar.
Wind on his stomach, thunder in his roar.
While glory fallen from th far-off goal
Bends out mysterious cyclones from his soul.
Him do the pee-pul know to be their friend.
Him will they follow faithful to the end.
Tho' now and then when he draws breath for a
Fresh gust
They P'ale for fear hi windbag's going to bust.
Of course, these lines may yield a point
or two to Mr. Markham's in chaste
beauty, but in the matter of truth, which
Mr. Tolstoi pronounces the foundation of
real art. we feel sure that they atone for
any lack of the divine fire.
The Largest Engine.
Philadelphia Press.
Pennsylvania will be the possessor soon
of the largest stationary engine in the
world. It is now being erected at the
Carnegie Steel Company's plant at
Sharon.
Without foundation plates or flywheel,
the engine weighs 550 tons. Two of the
castings weighed 118 tons each, and to
transport them special flat cars had to
be built.
The engine's capacity is 25.000-horse-power.
yet only one man will be required
to operate it.
As the' engine will be used for oper
ating the rolling machines It will be sub
ject to great strain. At the end of each
run it will have to be reversed quickly
and the load will vary from nothing to
its maximum power.
A Forecast ' for the Sooth.
New Orleans Picayune.
Fortunately for the South, it is able to
secure but a small part of the Immigra
tion that is flooding the Northern states
at the rate of a million a year. The pros
pect Is that Southern Europe will in the
course of a few years empty its entire
pauper and criminal, population into our
Northern states, with the result that
Americans born, not being able to com
pete with the foreigners in thrift and
shiftiness, will remove to the Southern
states, where the greatest progress and
development are to take place, so that the
crusade which a sectional government is
making against the South in the matter
of foreign immigration will finally prove
the greatest blessing possible.
Definitions by Little William.
From Judge.
Dust Mud with the juice squeezed out
Ice Water that stayed out too late and
went to sleep.
Fan A thing to brush warmth off with.
Stomach The home of the swallow.
Salt That what makes your potatoes
taste bad if you don't put some in.
Junction A place where two railroads
separate.
Wakefulness When your eyes are all
the time coming unbuttoned.
Responsibility What would be on one
button if the other one should come off
my trousers.
When a feller has low temperature, he
has cold feet; when he has high, he's hot
headed. Considerate Bridget,
Lipplncott's Magazine.
Mistress Bridget, I hope you're not
thinking at all of leaving rse. I should
be very lonesome without you.
Maid Faith, and it's not lonely ye'll
be. Mostlike, 111 go whin there's a
housiful o' company for luncheon or
dinner.
An Artful Dodger.
To dodr Wis creditors required
6ueh vigilance and vim.
An auto car he went and hired.
And now they're dodging him.
Boston Transcript.
AMERICA'S CLEAN PRESS GALLERY
At Washington, D. C, a Vital Force
la Molding; National Issues.
Boston Transcript.
Tn this country we have no profes
sional association of writers for the press
corresponding to "the institute of Jour
nalism" In Great Britain, which has prac
tically the power of disbarment. While
laywers. clergymen and physicians have
disciplinary code comprehending their
professions, the journalists of the (Nation
have not yet an organisation capable of
enforcing the well-recognized ethics of
their calling on all who follow It. The
press gallery at Washington. D. C. comes
as near to being a governing organiza
tion within Its sphere as any we have,
for Its standing committee can disbar
members violating the rules governing
correspondent from exercising tneir func
tions at the capital. The rules in question
are those approved by the Speaker of the
House and the chairman of the Senate
committee on rules. Their general pur
pose is to keep eon-esponder.ts disinter
ested with regard to legislation before
Congress. Members of the press gallery
are prohibited from being the agents or
representatives of persons or corpora
tions having legislation before Congress
under penalty of loss of the gallery
privileges. Similarly employment paid for
out of the Federal Treasury excludes.
Proof of false answers to these tests of
eligibility works exclusion. Expulsnon
from the gallery Is a very serious penalty.
Recently two correspondents have been
brought before the standing committee of
the press gallery In connection with "the
Lilley charges." While exonerated of lob
bying and corruption, they were neverthe
less reprimanded, though restored to their
privileges. The committee found that the
literary work which they performed for
the Electric Boat Company was done m
their Individual capacity In the recess of
Congress, and did not bring them within
the prohibition of the rules. They were
Indiscreet and an admonition was deemed
sufficient, there being no evidence that
they were corrupt. This reprimand or ad
monition should have a good effect for
which all journalists who have the good
name of their profession at heart should
be grateful. A corrupt Journalist is a poi
soner of the source of the public's Infor
mation, and one suspected threatens the
public's confidence In the profession as a
whole. The corps op-ashmgton corres
pondents endeavors to prevent the revival
of conditions of a former era, the unregu
lated days of the calling.
General Woodford To Boom Hughes.
Brooklyn N. Y.) Eagle.
Stewart Ij. -Woodford has been elected
to be the head of the National league of
Republican who seek the nomination of
Governor Hughes for the Presidency
General Woodford has had a great deal of
political experience and is not averse to
having some more. A general In the
Army, he was afterward a military
magistrate in reconstruction times. Lieu
tenant-Oovernor of. New York, he was
elected Governor, but was counted out In
the opinion of many of both parties. A
member of Congress and minister to
Spain, he kept in touch with large affairs.
He "led in the canvass which elected R.
B. Hayes Governor of Ohio, and came
within nipping reach of the Vice-Presi
dency when William A. Wheeler received
the nomination. We do not know that
Mr. Hughes will be nominated for Presi
dent, but Mr. Woodford will labor hard
and speak often and eloquently to bring
that about. He would not make a bad
Governor or a poor United States Senator.
Should Mr. Hughes become President, he
may be able to choose either office. Those
who mourn the loss of Woodruff would
be consoled by the gain of Woodford.
Senator For alter In Weak Health.
"Washington (D. C.) Letter to the Brook
lyn Ea1e.
Senator Foraker was physically ex
hausted after his brief but bitter speech
on the floor of the Senate in ; which he
attempted to prove that in at least one in
stance "coercion" had been tried by the
administration in influencing the utter
ances of a Federal officeholder. Foraker
is not in the best of health. Apparently
he is a sufferer from some complaint
more aerlous than worry and overwork.
His complexion la sallow and his features
are drawn. The speech, which lasted
only about 20 minutes, left him in a drip
ping perspiration and it took him a couple
of hours to recover his wonted composure.
Senator Foraker voice, too, while addressing-
the Senate, suggested feebleness.
It lacked the old-time fire and vigor, and
save at one or two points there was an
absolute absence of the usual das-h and
fire that formerly made the Ohio man one
of the most effective speakers in the Sen
ate. The Oresonian."
Chehalis Bee Nugget.
The Oregonlan has recently announced
its withdrawal of support to the Oregon
Republican party, and state that hence
forth the publication will be independent.
A newspaper of its standing and influ
ence Is able to make such" a move and
hold its own as a useful and necessary
medium. For years The Oregonian has
ibeen one of the strongest publications
editorially In the United States. It has
been a model for hundreds of other hum
ble newspapers throughout the Ndt-thwest,
and more than likely the majority of its
Oregon contemporaries will continue to
so consider it. Whether the rank and file
will accept the teachings of The Oregoni
an under its new colors remains to be
seen.
five to One.
Memphis Commercial-Appeal.
Five pints of milk
To five quarts of water
Briny Into ociety
The milkman's daughter.
A FEW SQUIBS.
Mr. Cessidy lat the boo. looking at tha
fciraffe) An phwy dos th brute hov such
a long neck? Mr. Cassidy T' reach his
head, av coorse. Puck.
Blobb Do you consider his table man
era good? Slobb They ought to be per
fectly good. At any rate, they have evi
dently never been used. Philadelphia Rec
ord. "What are the most powerful explosives
known?" queried the young man. "Two
prima donnas in one opera company. re
plied the ex-treatrlcal manager. Chicago
Daily Newa.
l have a Spring poem here," said the
young man -with the long hair, "that I would
Hke to read. "Very well," replied the busy
editor, "if It's short enough you can do It
you go down the elevator." Chicago
Post.
VGraclous," exclaimed Mrs. Goodly, "Just
listen to that clergyman! I'm positive he's
swearfng. Evidently he's mimed his voca
tion." "N'o," replied her husband. "I think
It was his train." Philadelphia Press.
First Suburbanite Did you attend the In
dignation meeting of the commuters last
night ? Second Suburbanite No; I'm too
sorry for the railroad. Why, I would Just
as soon hold an indignation meeting over a
deaf, dumb and blind man. Life.
Lily Bell No. Rufua; Ah cain't marry
yo JeM yet anrhile. To'll hab to wait. Ru
fus Why for mui I wait, Wly Bell? Lily
Bell Cause three of the families mammy
washes for done quit her an now she
eca'cely makes 'rough to support me an
paw. Judge.
Cond-jctor (to driver who "has been pulling
up constantly within the last few hundred
yards) Bad times fer cobblers, Bill. Peo
ple -ain't wearln' their boots out much.
'Ere's a bloke wants yer to pull up agen
at the next 'ouse wl the blue blinds.
Driver (sarcastically) Ho! yus! Aak Mm
which part o" the 'ouse 'e'd like to b druv
to inter the parler wl tha family, or hup
to ! room in the battle. We're on'y 'ere
to erblige! Punch.
"Brother." said the evangelist to a man
who had expressed a wish to abandon his
post and adopt a better way of living, 'do
you think you can walk in the straight and
narrow path?" "Straight and narrow?"
am lied the new convert. "Why. parson, that
will be a cinch for me. I've been a tight
rope walker for ten years." Philadelphia
Ledger.
NATIONAL GlARD
PROM now on th principal topic of ;
conversation and Interest among
riflemen of the Army and Guard !
service will be the National matches to
be held at Camp Perry, Ohio, this Sum- '
mer, says an official circular Just issued '
by the National Board for the Promotion
of Rifle Practice. The states are rapidly
being equipped with the new Springfield
rifle and every rifleman will have an
opportunity to try out the new weapon
for several months prior to the opening
of the big shoot. The attendance promises
to be larger than ever before, several
states and territories heretofore not rep
resented having planned to send teams.
There will also be a marked Increase in
the number of individual riflemen and
clubs from all parts of the country. The
War Department will have on hand more
regular tioops for line and pit service.
The prize list, too. will be augmented. ;
the range facilities will be largely in- 1
creased and the attendance and standards
of marksmanship doubtless will be the ',
greatest In history of rifle competitions. .
The National matches will open on the
morning of August 21, as already an- '
nounced. The nr.t event will be the Na
tional team match, to be followed by the !
National pistol matches and National in- ,
dividual matches. The National Rifle .
Association will arrange its programme t
to that Its matches can be completed the ;
day before the two days allotted for prac
tice for the National matches. Immedi
ately before the National Rifle Associ
ation matches will come those of the
Ohio Association. Including the contest
for the Herrick trophy, one of the hand- ;
comest In the world. It is probable that ;
the New Jersey Rifle Assnciation will I
follow with Its matches during the first
week in September, as usual.
It Is unlikely that the National matches .
will again go to the magnlfirient Ohio '
range. New Jersey will make a de- '
termlned effort to get them back to Sea
girt and, other ranges are. being talkpd '
of for the 1W9 shoots. Many improve
ments will be noted this year and Ohio ;
will do Its utmost properly to care for
the visitors. Transportation facilities
will be greatly improved and arrange
ments will be made for subsistence of the !
very best.
The distances for the National team
match remain unchanged, although an :
important change has been made In the '
order of fire. The skirmish run will come :
In as the fifth stage, being preceded by
the 200-yard slow and rapid fire, and the
600 and S00-yard ranges, and will be fol
lowed by firing at 1000 yards. The new
1600-yard range, which the new rifles re
quire, will not be used in any of the
competitions, although a range of that ,
distance te to be marked off for experi
mental purposes. In the National In
dividual match, the skirmish run will
come first, as last year. Eight additional :
gold medals and a similar increase of :
silver and bronze will be given in the In
dividual match, the cash prizes remain- j
lng unchanged. The ammunition for usa ;
In all National matches is being manu- "
factured this year by the United Statel 1
Government, exclusively.
The big ceremonial event of the year
will be the inspection and review for Gov- !
ernor George El Chamberlain. Friday
night, March 27. Governor Chamberlain, '
as commander-in-chief of the Oregon
Guard, will attend with his military staff ;
and inspect the Third Oregon infantry. !
the Battery and Hospital Corps. Ad-i
jutant General W. E. Finzer. Colonel j
James Jackson and other prominent offi- ;
cers of the state service, will accompany ,
the reviewing party. Colonel C. E. Mc
Donell, of the regiment, has Issued or
ders for a full turnout of his command
and has urged the various company com
manders to have every man on hand.
Captain Welch has ordered a full turn
out of the battery. The review will bs ;
held in the big drill hall on the first
floor of the Armory.
. . ,
The first shipment of ammunition for j
the new Springfield rifles is not yet at !
hand, although several cartridges hava '
been secured. The cartridge is found to :
have a bullet weighing 150 grains. The 1
bearing surface is .33 inches. The powder
Is pyro-cellulose and imparts a muzzle
velocity to the projectile of 2io0 feet pet
second. Extensive and successful experi
ments have been made to reduce tha
erosion attendant on high velocity anl
the result of these experiments is em
bodied In the new ammunition. The life
of the average gun with the old am
munition was about 1000 rounds, although
the new Springfield barrel, used with fhe
pyro-cellulose powder, is good for 50O
rounds or more.
Presentation of the regimental colors
to the Fourth Oregon Infantry, at the
Eugene headquarters is to be made an Im
pressive military erent Tuesday. Gov
ernor Chamberlain and staff. Adjutant
General Finzer. Colonel Mcponell and j
possibly a number of other officers sta
tioned at Portland will go to Eugene to
participate in the ceremonies attendant j
upon the presentation. The regimental j
colors were but recently secured and un
der the stringent reorganization order
sent out by the War Department two
months ago it appeared for a time as If
they would not be needed. However, ex
tension of the period for reorganization
to 1911 will give ample time in which to
recruit the Southern Oregon regiment up
to a 12-company basis. The colors will
be presented by Governor Chamberlain
and received by Colonel George O. Yoran,
on behalf of his regiment.
Indoor athletics continue to receive en
thusiastic attention from the local
Guardsmen and the Armory is nightly
the scene of spirited practice games or
competition events. Membership in the
Guard carries with It many things in the
way of wholesome diversion and the
facilities for beneficial amusement and
practical instruction Is unequalled by the
average club. Besides, membership tn
the Guard costs nothing, each enlisted
man receiving all privileges of the
Armory and every Item of equipment, .
from campaign hat and uniform to
bayonet and rifle, without paying a cent. (
Military training Is a thing worth seek- :
lng In the light of recent history, for in :
the event of war every able-bodied man
would be liable to go to the front either
as a willing or drafted volunteer. Tho
man without training, of course, would
be relegated to the grade of "high private
in the rear rank."
...
The first battalion drill of the year nas
held Wednesday night at the Armory.
Tho First Battalion. In command of
Major F. 8. Baker, had a large turnout
and the drill was a successful one. few
errors being made. The First B.-ittalinn
will have Its second drill next Wednes
day night.
. .
Non-commissioned officers' schools have
been put on an active basis by the several
local companies as well as by the. Bat
tery and Hospital Corps. The standard
of warrant officers is much higher than
ever before. The man who gets stripes
now must win theTn in a competitive
competition, without favor to any man.
Do It Now.
After Kipllni Houston Post.
Ood of our fathers, known of old.
W brine our troubles all to the.
This new briirht coin or yellow sold.
Send us a few that we may ee
This motto that aside was set;
pleas do it now, lest we forget.
W have not had one of our own
And so know not of its design.
Pend us that the whole truth be known-
Not many, Just ay eight or nine;
Pray do it soon and stop regret,
Lest we forget, lest we forget.