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7TTK MORNIXG OREGOXIAX. SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1908.
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3'ORTIjIMI. ttATl RIAV, !H.RCH II. 1908.
THE MINl'SK AND EXCESS.
To the primary law itself and rea
sonable Interpretation and use of It,
The Oregonian has made no real ob
jection. The primary law Introduces a
system that confuses Issues between
parties; but let that pass. It is to an
effort to make a suggestion In the pri
mary law which the law Itself treats
nnly as a suggestion the chief feature
and whole spirit of the law, that The
Oregonian makes Its objection. They
who push this feature as the essence
and substance and heart of the pri
mary law simply go against the con
stitutional method of electing Senators
of the United States, and repudiate the
principle of representative government,
as established by the Constitution of
ihe United States. The vote of the
people may be accepted as advisory,
indeed, this important matter; but
it can go no further. It is not in this
law to destroy distinctions of parties,
or to reject the Constitution of the
United States; but the forced interpre
tation of it gives it this character. It
is against this forced interpretation,
not against the primary law, that The
Oregonian makes Its protest. State
ment No. 1 is merely suggestive. It
loesn't profess nor purport to be any-
thing else. It Is not the primary law.
So as to initiative and referendum.
It is not to the principle that The Ore
gonian makes objection, but to the
perversion of the method to narrow,
cranky and injurious purposes. It
ought not to be invoked for subver
sion of the fundamental principles on
which the state is established. It
ought not to be used for overthrow
of the principle of equal taxation. It
ought not to be employed to convert
the) constitution Into a statute, alter
able in every election. It ought not
to b used to change the customary
. system of representation of the people
in the Legislature, nor to authorize ag
gravation of the evils resulting from
location of the institutions of the state
sway from the capital, nor to mix up
the people on opposition bills none of
which the people at large know about
for regulation of the salmon fish
tries of the state.
These are some of the matters, but
only a part of the present crop. It is
a crop that will increase from year to
year, and run to infinity, under whim
sical suggestion, unless a stern quietus
be put upon It.
A BKNKFK'IARY OF THE TARIFF.
The. late Senator Proctor was one of
he wealtUiest of the wealthy men in
the United States Senate. He was,
moreover, a type of the old-style busi
ness man of his day and generation
in New England. He wsa a man of
influence In Congress from the time he
entered it. in 1891, to the day of his
death, seventeen years later. He was
upright in business, serious in his vo
cation, whether as the developer of
the great marble quarries of Vermont
or as a lawgiver looking to the wider
Interests of his state and the Nation,
including its newly acquired insular
possessions. His most distinguished
olTort in Congress, indeed, was in be
half of Porto Kico and in regard to
our National policy In Cuba. His
treatment of his employes at Proctor
willo, Vt.. the headquarters of his great
marble Industry, was In evidence when
on the day of his funeral, while a typi
cal New Kngland snow storm was
raging, they stood in long lines on the
street bareheaded and reverent as his
cortege passed. No need for his blog
'rapher to say after that spectacle that
he was attentive to the welfare of his
men.
Tet. as cited by the Kansas City
Siar, Senator Proctor was a great
beneficiary of the protective tariff,
which enabled him and others engaged
in the marble business In New Eng
land to sell their products at excessive
rates. The duties on marble range
;rom 65 cents to $1.15 per cubic foot, a
rate so high as to slrut and lock the
door against foreign competition. He
was, says the journal above quoted.
-a good business man and would
doubtless have been rich even without
the aid of protection, but the fact
nevertheless is that his very large for
tune is mainly a product of tariff dis
crimination." What he did was within the law,
and he used all the power that came
to him through opportunity and as a
result of his upright, masterful mind
to keep the law on the side of his
business.
FINE TTNTS" OF LAW.
It' seems to be an established rule
of law and morals in California that
extortion of m6ney for protection of
crime, or use of official authority to
extort money from those who wish to
find an '. open and clear way to "do
business,' free from molestation of the
lawful authorities, is subject to no pen
alty. The courts of California have so
held. It is a fine point, of course; but
judges whose delight it is to stick In
fine points of law and practice have no
trouble to make the point. They
easily find that extortion and robbery.
n certain peculiar forms, are not cov
ered specifically by the statutes. Of
course they conveniently forget all the
principles of the old common law that
stand against extortion and robbery.
How do the courts accomplish it?
Nothing could be- more simple or easy.
It is held that the statute does not
forbid corrupt use of official power
and influence, graft and blackmail.
except or unless threats of "unlawful
injury to property" were the means of
graft and blackmail. But threat to
take away a mere license, the courts
hold, was not a threat of unlawful in
jury to property, since there was no
vested right of license; and the Mayor,
anyway, had the authority to refuse to
renew the licenses of the victims of
his grafting system.
Now that, indeed, is a remarkably
fine point. Any robber on the road
could put up an equal one if he had
the money to hire lawyers whose
subtleties had weight with the courts
of California.
God deliver, us here, where there is
as yet more simple honesty, from such
interpreters, and from such interpre
tations, of law, and of right and
wrong!
' Whatever honests- yet remains in
California should devote itself to com
plete exclusion, from the company of
honest men, of judges who protect
crime in such ways as these.
It is not asserted, nor assumed, bf
course, that judges who render decis
ions such as these have all been
"bought up" by the defendants. But
judges of this class do dearly love nice
subtleties and "p'ints" of practice, and
ambidexterity of argumentation,
which show how learned they are.
VAIN 11.CLATIONS.
When Judge Thomas M. Norwood
retired from the bench of Georgia last
December full of years and honor he
signalized the event by an address on
"The Negro." We have read the ad
dress with such patience as we could
command; but evermore as the queer,
distorted opinions, the barbarous senti
ments, the ferocious slanders on great
and good men passed in review, the
question has Insistently Intruded itself.
"Why should an educated and repre
sentative Southerner send out into the
world a pamphlet like this? What
does he hope to accomplish by it?"
The aged judge's literary effort con
sists of three elements mingled in
fairly equal quantities abuse of the
North,' savage vituperation bf the ne
groes and praise of slavery.
The speech reiterates the old charge
that slavery was Introduced into the
South by the "Yankees." So it was.
Nobody thinks of denying It. But why
drag the accusation from a tomb
where all sensible people are willing to
let it slumber and use it to arouse sec
tional hatred? The sad tale of recon
struction is rehashed for us with fire
and fury, and all that the judge says
about the mistakes and crimes of that
lamentable epoch Is true enough. No
body wishes to excuse or palliate them.
Rational people everywhere are eager
to unite In an effort to repair them so
far as human energy and good will can
do so. Why, then, resurrect their
baneful memory and harp upon It?
Does the judge Imagine for a moment
that he can make matters better by
bitter words and cutting sarcasm?
The common charges against the
negro race are all set forth in the
speech with a relish that can only flow
from uncompromising hatred. Most
of these charges are undeniable. The
negroes are woefully lazy, they are in
clined to forget the distinction between
mine and thine, they shelter criminals
of their own blood and they are far
from being as intelligent as the whites.
They also show a proclivity to revert
to barbarism when left to themselves.
This and much more is freely admit
ted by the negroes' best friends. But
what of it? Judge Norwood concludes
from the facts that we should either
return to slavery or to something so
near it that there is no difference dis
cernible. The humane. Christian con
clusion is the precise opposite of his.
The greater the need ofthe colored
race the more urgent our duty to it.
If it is ignorant we must patiently in
struct, if Its morals are low we must
labor to elevate them, trying, not seven
times merely, but seventy times seven,
and more yet until we succeed.
The two races must manage in some
way to live together here in America.
One would suppose that peace between
them would be preferred to strife by
all concerned, and we believe it is by
the great majority. It is certain that
neither the humanity nor the religion
of the country will permit a return to
slavery, or anything like slavery. The
colored man is our fellow-citizen, and
In everything except social matters he
is the equal of the white, or has the
right to make himself equal if he can.
Why, then, waste time and words
glooming and mourning over the
charms of the civilization that devel
oped under slavery? It is gone and
gene forever. For our part we heart
ily cry good riddance to it. Its men
may have been noble and its women
beautiful, but they belong with the
past and not among the most admira
ble things of the past either. With all
its charm, the boasted civilization of
the old South was semi-barbarous. It
was far from being as much of an im
provement on Europe and the North
as Judge Norwood thinks.
The most curious parts . of this
strange document are the attacks upon
Booker Washington which are scat
tered through it. In one place Judge
Norwood speaks of this great- man as
"the fattest parasite of his race."
Elsewhere he Is "the sleekest beggar In
America," and the contributors to the
Tuskegee fund form a "school of fat,
brainless suckers." He quotes a cer
tain Dr. Graybill who was "disgusted
with the licentiousness of teachers and
pupils" at the famous school. Would
it not be well for the man who could
write such stuff as this to pay some
little attention to his own moral con
dition? In fact, would it not be well
for the entire South to take its mind
off the negro for a while and try to
think of something else? Why not
come back out of the graveyards of the
Rebellion and begin to live in the
twentieth century? Why not take an
active part in our present world and
let the dead world of slavery stay
dead? If the South had a sense of
humor equal to its good intentions, it
would perceive the absurdity of such
threnodies as Judge Norwood's retiring
speech.
LABOR, UNIONS BEFORE CONGRESS.
Representatives of labor organiza
tions of the country, now at Washing
ton to urge Congress to pass an em
ployers' liability act, with various
other legislation for the benefit of
organized labor, passionatefy denounce
the Supreme Court for a recent de
cision rendered by it, which is said to
make "the National anti-trust law ap
plicable to labor as If it were a trust
conspiracy and an organization in re
straint of trade."
The words "trust conspiracy" have
an ugly sound, and are justly odious.
A trust conspiracy fixes the prices of
commodities, cuts out competition and
divides profits. A labor organization
establishes prices also, but does not
suppress competition, since its general
policy is to take all workers into the
union who can be induced to enter. It
is an organization in restraint of trade
only as it tries to prevent persons from
working who are not members of its
order, or to use the boycott on em
ployers who refuse its demands.
Abuses of this kind occur here and
there, and are' to be expected, since
labor will fight, in emergencies, with
such weapons as it can command.
The representatives of labor at
Washington are'asking Congress to le
galize the boycott when used by labor
unions. This is not likely to be done;
but on the other hand they who are
asking that the boycott by a labor
organization shall ,be severely penal
ized are not likely to obtain conces
sion to their demand. There is a neu
tral ground here, between the parties,
over which they .will continue to-fight,
back and forth, as heretofore; because
the law never can deal justly with the
varying conditions of such situations
and contests.
Liability of employers and rights of
employes can, however, be more clear
ly defined by law, and should be. Many
of the states have enacted very ad
vanced laws on these subjects; and
Congress most probably, acting under
Its power over interstate commerce,
and moreover providing more exact
regulations for protection of labor In
all work under actual direction of the
Government, will meet' the principal
demands of the labor representatives,
in these particulars. It probably also
will be granted that no injunction shall
lie against labor organizations, under
the Sherman act; which will leave the
local authorities to deal with dicturb
ances that may arise through strikes
and their consequences.
MR. HUMPHREY'S MISTAKES.
Congressman Humphrey, in his over
whelming desire for a ship subsidy,
continues to handle the truth regard
ing the subject in a most careless man
ner. In the current number of Gov
ernment, a magazine printed in Bos
ton, Mr. Humphrey contributes an ar
ticle on "Our Weakness on the Pa
cific," in which he states that "it was
the subsidized vessels of Japan that
carried her troops to Manchuria, that
supplied them with food and ammuni
tion. It was the subsidized ships of
Japan that made possible her great
victory on' land, and it was from the
subsidized ships of Japan that came
the trained seamen that manned her
vessels of war that destroyed the great
Russian Navy." The attention of Mr.
Humphrey ha3 been called to these
and other similar misstatements a
number of times, but it is possible that
he has repeated them so often that he
has begun to believe them himself.
It was not "the subsidized vessels
of Japan" that carried her troops to
Manchuria. Her transports were, with
but insignificant exceptions, vessels
purchased on "hurry up" orders from
Great Britain, Germany, France and
other European countries, and the
most extravagant prices paid for them
were less than the United States paid
for some of the American-built "gold
bricks" foisted off on our Quartermas
ter's Department during our war with
Spain. At the close of the war with
China. Japan began placing orders
with European shipyards for warships
and merchant vessels. Securing them
at the cheapest market on earth, and
without, any hampering legislation
which forbids a foreign-built vessel to
fly the National flag, she soon accumu
lated a merchant marine of sufficient
tonnage to demand the construction
of local Japanese shipyards for repair
work, and this quite naturally was
soon followed by the building of new
ships In Japanese yards. Soma of
these ships on mail routes are paid a
subsidy, but the hundreds of steamers
which carry the commerce of the
country, and which carried the troops
during the war, are nearly all foreign
built craft operated as business prop
ositions. The United States needs a merchant
marine, and Congressman Humphrey
and every other subsidy-seeker who is
refusing to get it by the same methods
as are employed by other progressive,
nations, is remiss in his duty to his
country. There Is not a single logical
argument that can' be advanced to
show that this country should not be
permitted to secure a merchant marine
or an auxiliary fleet for the Navy by
the same methods followed by the
countries with which we come in trade
competition. "Japan has fully 550
merchant vessels fit for transport serv
ice on the Pacific," says Mr. Hum
phrey. This is probably true, but if
Mr. Humphrey will secure a copy of
Lloyd's Register he will learn that con
siderably more than two-thirds of this
fleet was built in foreign yards, and
the Japanese owners were not com
pelled partially to wreck the vessels
and then commit perjury in order to
secure Japanese registry for them.-
It has been sixteen years since Con
gress first took serious notice of the
business of dabblihg in "futures," but,
with the exception of 1904, when there
was considerable agitation favorable to
a law against the method of buying
and selling grain; etc., only mild in
terest has been shown in the matter.
Several billls have been before the
present Congress, ana the system is
being investigated much more thor
oughly than ever. Regardless of the
evils that seem to be inseparable from
the legitimate functions of the "fu
ture" system of trading, the practice is
overwhelmingly indorsed by strictly le
gitimate grain dealers and millers
throughout the country. That it pos
sesses advantages of unquestioned
value to the producer as well as the
dealer is shown by the recent adop
tion of a similar system in the Argen
tine Republic, a country in which the
producer has always been obliged to
dump his grain on the market and ac
cept whatever price dealers chose to
give him when it was ready to sell. In
no other way can the grain crops of a
large country like the Argentine or
the United States be marketed to ad
vantage to all parties as profitably as
by buying and selling for "future" delivery.
Two construction gangs, one work
ing east and another west, will next
Monday commence laying track at
Lind, Wash., on the Chicago, Milwau
kee & St. Paul extension to the Pacific
Coast. Work on the line is progress
ing rapidly farther east, but this will
be the first tracklaying in -Eastern
Washington. The Milwaukee Railroad
has not announced its plan for reach
ing Portland, but, as it is under the
managtment of business men, there is
no doubt about its finding a route by
which it can enter this city. Mr. Hill
was many years discovering that a
water-level grade offered advantages
over one that leads over a lofty range
of mountains, and, as the country dir
rectly-tributary to Portland and to no
other port has greater traffic-producing
resources than are found in any
other locality in the Pacific Northwest,
there is no likelihood that ' this port
will be overlooked by this latest line to
head for the Pacific Coast.
Representatives of the various
branches of the steel trust met in New
York Thursday, and, after discussing
trade conditions and prices, decided
that there would be no change in the
price of steel. This maintenance of
existing high prices for steel, when
every other commodity except that
controlled by the trusts (Including the
labor trust) has declined, of course ap
plies only to this country. In Europe
there have been heavy reductions in
steel, especially in ship plates, foreiga
builders now taking contracts at the
lowest prices in ten years. As the
American steel trust, after selling a
portion of its output at enormously
high prices, in this country, dumps
the remainder of the output on the
foreign market at very low prices, it
is easy to understand why the foreign
ers regard our high-tariff system as an
admirable policy for them.
The slump In business last year
came too late to spoil a record-bijeak-ing
year in the production of rjhlling
stock for American railroads.. During
the twelve months ending December
31 there was .constructed, exclusive of
cars and locomotives built in railroad
shops, a total of 289,645 cars and 7362
locomotives,, valued . at $477,000,000,
an increase of 25 per cent over the
preceding year. This will undoubted
ly stand as a high record for many
years to come, as business has fallen
off to such an extent that a vast
amount of the new rolling stock has
not yet been placed in service. With
so much money tied up in idle equip
ment, railroad men will be backward
about placing new orders until a long
time after business again gets on the
up grade.
"The German troops had been sent
out to find Simon Koppers, the last
of the Hottentot chiefs, who is still
hostile." says a Berlin cable, and, as
the report was supplemented by the
statement that the German forces lost
thirteen men killed and seventeen
wounded, it is apparent that they
found Simon and that he proved a
very active Hottentot. The incident
shows that the jungles and deserts of
South Africa' must still prove attractive
to old Mars, in lieu of conflicts more
serious than the periodical Central
American revolution or the occasional
sorties of the Moorish bandits.
. One of the most striking phases of
our boasted civilization Is the insecur
ity of property. No investment or in
stitution seems to be indubitably se-
cure. The failure of a Home for the
Aged in Chicago with the attempted
suicide of the inmates reminds us of a
peril that mars the happiness of mil
lions. What would not every careful
husband, father, friend, give for some
financial device which would secure
the comfort of loved ones beyond per
adventure? Many such are recom
mended, but none quite meets the test
of experience.
The Brewers' Association seems to
have formed a large number of good
resolutions which it may be both will
ing and able to keep. Like other men
the brewers find their righteousness
mightily stimulated by danger, but If
they weed out the vile saloons and pre
vent their return they may. save the
decent ones. It Is curious to note that
they expect to do by a simple agree
ment among themselves what the law
has failed to accomplish In every' city
in the country.
Saito, ex-Minister of Commerce in
the Japanese Cabinet, has arrived at
Seattle and will begin a campaign
among union labor leaders in this
country with a view to securing admis
sion of Japanese workmen into organ
ized labor bodies. The general im
presslon will be that Saito will discover
that even Japanese diplomacy and tact
are in a fair way to learn something
of their limitations.
It is computed that if all the Scandi
navians in the country should vote
with the Democrats they could elect
Governor Johnson President. The
computation 4s idle, first because Gov
ernor Johnson will not be nominated,
and second, because the Scandinavians,
being mostly Republicans, would not
vote for him if he were.
Even with our mild climate and
matchless environment there are dis
advantages living so far from the At
lantic Coast. In New York fresh eggs
are only 15 cents a dozen.
Among the very cheerfulest signs of
Spring are the taking out of a dozen
building permits a day in Portland.
This is the average for March.
With the very brief declaration by
the Hon. "Flngey" Connors, of New
Tork, the Johnson boom may be con
sidered, started.
l,ISCOL" AD WHISKY DRINKING
President Had 'o Taste for Liquor or
Tobacco.
Chicago Tribune.
Abraham Lincoln's attitude toward
the liquor question was made the chief
weaDon of the anti-saloon torces yes
terday in the rapidly Increasing agita
tion over the question. Testimony
from dozens of sources was cited to
the effect that Lincoln did not use in
toxicating liquor and that he took the
stand that the "demon rum" must be
the next foe to be conauered in this
country after the reconstruction period.
Remarks of Lincoln in denunciation
of saloons and other matter pertinent
to the subject will be printed on
postal cards and scattered broadcast
over the state as the next step of the
temperance forces.
Robert T. Lincoln, son of the mar
tyred President, was brought-forward
as a witness that nls latner was a
temperance man. He was quoted by
Alonzo E. Wilson as saying:
"My father seemed to be absolutely
devoid of the taste which is gratified
by wine 'or liquor of any kind.
Charles Edwards, secretary of the
Edwards-Deutsch Lithographing Com
pany, whose mother was a sister of
President Lincoln's wife, said:
"As a boy I .remember Mr. Lincoln
oominar to the home of my father.
Ninian Edwards, in Springfield. We al
ways had liquors on the sideboard, l
never saw Mr. Lincoln take a dr:nk,
but I do not remember that he ever
said anything on the subject.
"In 1862 I was a guest at the White
House. I remember that Mr. Lincoln
disliked tobacco, for he would not let
his Cabinet members smoke during
the 'Cabinet meetings. Secretary
Seward used to come Into my room to
smoke. I have no recollection of ever
seeing the President drink at the
White House.
"It would be interesting to know
whether there was any whisky in the
little country grocery that Mr. Lincoln
kept In Saiem In the early days. Most
groceries of the kind were grog shops,
but I can offer no information as to
that part of his life."
That Abraham Lincoln did occasion
ally take a drink of whisky with per
sonal friends, and that he never used
tobacco, are declarations made by
George B. Foster, an attorney of
Peoria, who is at the Great Northern
Hotel.
"Abraham Lincoln was a temperate
man," said Mr. Foster, "but he would
take a drink of whisky with a per
sonal friend when he felt its need. I
have seen him drink whisky under
such conditions. He did not use to
bacco. ,
"I was surprised to see the news
paper article declaring that Lincoln
never drank a drop of strong liquor.
He did drink it before me and with a
Mr. Rogers at Bloomington in the Sum
mer of 1831."
race: between taft asd hughes
Why the People Appear to Prefer One
to the Other.
Providence Bulletin. Tnd.-Rep.
If Governor Hughes had appeared in
public life before the day of Theodore
Roosevelt the people would almost
surely have turned to him as the one
man In the country to guide them out
of corruption and greed to National
honor and fair play. But the Presi
dent has been working toward these
ends all his life and during this whole
time he has been in the public, yiew.
The people have watched him unceas
ingly for many years, and their faith
in him is as strong now as it ?ver
was. With such a man in the White
House it is only natural that Governor
Hughes, who has served but a little
over one year in public office, la over
shadowed. He makes a worthy fol
lower of Roosevelt, but he cannot at
this early stage of his career compete
with him for public commendation.
Neither is Mr. Hughes the only
worthy follower of the President. Since
the . Roosevelt standard of public ad
ministration has been adopted by the
people as the one that their servants
should measure up to. several men of
the highest character and of eminent
ability have appeared in public life.
One of them, and the man who the
President thinks is best fitted to ad
minister the affairs of the Nation dur
ing the next four years, Mr. Taft, has
had the benefit of wide experience in
solving the greatest problems that the
country has been facing in the Roose
velt regime, and he lacks little if any
of the character and ability of either
the President or the New York Gov
ernor. More than that, he has the
genius for winning the affection of
the masses. His qualities are as much
liked as they are admired.
Under these conditions it is impossi
ble for Mr. Hughes to win the nom
ination by popular demand. But he
may win it If Mr. Taft does not secure
a majority of the votes on the first
ballot and the politicians who are cry
ing "anybody but Taft" unite upon
his chief opponent. The people clearly
prefer the Secretary of War. but if
they should be given the Governor of
New York their disappointment would
probably not be great and their inter
ests would be well guarded.
Do Americana Want Lower California?
Providence (R. I.) Journal.
A California Congressman wants this
country to buy Lower California. The im
mediate prompting of such a purpose is
the advantage of Magdalena. Bay as a
naval station. Although Lower California
Is. generally speaking, a desolate . and
deserted stretch of territory, Magdalena
Bay Is a superb -harbor; its wide and
deep waters are protected by a natural
breakwater, the island of St. Margarita.
Here the battleship fleet will engage in
target practice, by permission of the
Mexican government, which, however,
has refused its consent to small arms
practice on shore. The United States
might have taken Lower California at the
close of the war witn Mexico, out tnere
was no reason to believe that it would
have been in the least useful. Mexico
does not now find its possession of any
material benefit; but, such is national
sentiment in the matter of territory, that
it is improbable that she would consider
favorably an offer to buy. It. As an
available half-way anchorage between
the west coast and the Panama Canal
the harbor could probably be made ser
viceable to the fleets of the United Slates,
especially in event of war.
Lady Toad, Thousand Years Old.
New York Herald.
Mrs. Spade " Foot, the lady toad in
Bronx Park, who had been asleep a
thousand years, has not been on speak
ing terras with any of her tribe since
back in the sub-paleozoic age. She
went to sleep long, long ago and the
limestone formed about her, and a few
months ago -a prospector's hammer
smashed her couch. She was brought
to the New York Zoological Gardens
and was watched with great interest
A week or so ago Mrs. Spade Foot
began to wake up and take -notice.
She ate a fly or two and this was greet
ed as the breaking of her fast of 1000
years. Now she is building a nest.
Prohibition and the Dissolute Darky.
Lowell (Mass.) Courier-Citizen.
For the first time in 13 years, there is
not a negro in the city prison at Atlanta.
Georgia, and the fact is passed to the
credit of the new prohibitory law. No
doubt it deserves it.. The law was made
for that very purpose and apparently it
is accomplishing what was Intended. To
separate the negro from alcohol is the
motive of Southern prohibition generally,
and so long as the colored man can be
prevented from forming clubs, which is
the white man's privilege, the separation
will continue. The end in this x-ase jus
tifies the 'means, as the dissolute darky
has been a serious drawback to the ad
vancement of the South.
DEATH RATE AMONG THE STATES
Pulmonary Tuberculoala Leada, but Na
tion 'a Health Bill Eaeoarsgrs.
Springfield, Mass., Republican.
The Federal census bureau is now
making yearly reports on mortality stat
istics from such states and cities as
maintain a carefully conducted registra- I
tion of deaths and the causes thereof.
This so-called registration area was very
small when the bureau began Its work I
several years ago, but it is being con-
stantly enlarged, and for the report for
1006 issued recently It embraces 15 states,
the District of Columbia, and 77 regis
tration cities In non-registration states.
These states and cities had in 19j an
estimated population of about 41,000.000.
or nearly one-half the population of the
continental United States. The registra
tion area is being steadily extended. The
average death-rate for all the states in
the retristration district was 16.1 in 1SU6.
compared with 16.2 in 1905, and 16.3 for
the average annual rate from 1901 to
1905.
These are very low figures. They com
pare favorably with present death rates
in foreign countries. But it is when this
present death-rate of 16.1. over an area
peopled by above 40.000.000 persons, is
placed in comparison with rates which
used to orevail In the earlier half of tne
last century, that the progress of man
kind in mastering the forces whtcn pro
duce premature death is made impres
sively manifest. As this census Bureau
report says, "the tendency in the larger
countries with a population of similar
character to that of the United States
now seems toward an annual dea.h-rate
of about 15 per 1000 or leaa."
Next to pulmonary tuberculosis as a
chief cause of death comes pneumonia
with a rate of 149 per 100.000 of popu
lation, followed by heart disease, 130.7;
diarrhea and enteritis.- 122.9; Bright's
disease and nephritis, 99.8; apoplexy, 71.8.
and cancer. 70.8. A generally increasing
mortality rate from cancer is indicated
for areas where statistics for a serieB of
years are available, and the report says
that this is true of foreign countries as
well. It is a disease against which
medical science seems to be making no
headway, and we are left as much In the
dark respecting the reasons for its In
crease as respecting its nature and the
means of combatting it.
DISPENSARY SCHEME A FAILURE.
Politicians Head a Graft and State
Paid High Price
Columbia, . S. C letter In Chicago
Record-Herald.
The state of South Carolina has gone
out of the whisky, business, and Senator
Tillman's hobby, the dispensary, has col
lapsed, leaving a pungent odor of cor
ruption, bribery and graft, which has
long been suspected, and is now being
exposed by exhibiting the books, which
show that the state has been paying
from 25 to 75 per cent more for liquor
than the catalogue prices. For example,
ordinary whisky which costs 38 a case
at any grocery has been billed to the
state for $12; St. Julien claret, worth $4
a case, at 36.75: Bass' ale, usually sold
for 31.67 a dozen, has been billed at 32;
bottled cocktails have cost the people of
South Carolina 38.50, when they were ad
vertised for 36.50. and so on. In the set
tlement of accounts the dealers have
almost invariably submitted to a reduc
tion, and several of them have frankly
explained that the excess was required
for commissions to politiciana who se
cured them the trade.
These exposures have been made by J.
Fraser Lyon, the Attorney-General of
the state, assisted by Colonel Felder, a
leading attorney of Atlanta, who has
gone over the dispensary accounts care
fully with experts, and has compared
every purchase for several years with
the market price of that particular form
of wet groceries on the day it was
bought. The overcharges have been
regular and systematic, and it is believed
that they have been divided among the
members of the "plunderbund," as the
organization is called. There is no evi
dence to show that Senator Tillman par
ticipated in the graft, but members of
the Investigating committee declare that
they have evidence to show that he knew
all about it and refused to interfere.
A Delpble L'tterance of Watteraon.
Louisville Courier-Journal (Dem.).
. I look again, and what do I see? Sen
ator Jonathan Bourne. of Oregon,
was right after all; so was Tom Law-
eon: so was Bat Masterson. The
third termers have captured the con
vention. Owing to the conspiracy of
Hughes, Fairbanks and Cannon, Taft
lost on the first ballot by a single
vote! Then, of a sudden from the
southwest corner of the hall--comes a
ripping, rushing sound the delega
tion from Arizona, flanked by the del
egation from Hawaii sounds the bold
anthem the wardogs of New Mexico
and Porto Rico are howling down
the center aisle sweep the' legions of
civil service reform, led by Hitchcock
and Bonaparte in a twinkling New
York changes her vote from Hughes
to Roosevelt Ohio catches the infec
tion the solid South, with Clay Ev
ans In the lead, brings up the rear
guard, crushing even Foraker and his
black horse cavalry from the back of
the stage a screen Is unrolled and a
banner of prearranged electric lights
bursts upon the view, and we read in
blazing letters
"Four years more
Of Theodore "
and. amid the blare of trumpets and
the howling of voices, and the crash
ing of bands, up In the gallery Hetty
Green shakes her bombazine skirts
and hoists her red cotton umbrella,
and says: "What was it I told you, you
idiote?"
Now Boys. All Tosetbrr!
Baltimore News.
Mrs. Hetty Green says that she would
prefer her daughter marrying "a live,
energetic newspaper man" in prefer
ence to any duke or count that ever
lived.- There seems to be no limit to
that woman's rare judgment and good
common sense.
Bill's Bad End.
Bt. Louts Post-Dispatch.
I got a letter, parson, from my son away
ont West.
An' my heart's as heavy as an anvil In my
breast.
To think the boy whose futur I had so
proudly planned.
Should wander from the nath of right and
come to such an end.
I told him when he left ua only three short
years aeo.
He'd find himself a j,lowln In a mighty
rocky row.
He'd miss his father, counsels, and hi.
mother's prayers, too.
But he said the farm was hateful and he
rruessed he'd have to go.
I know there's bif temutatlon for a
youngster in the. West.
But I thought our Billy had the eourajre to
resist.
An" when he left us I warned him of the
ever-waiting- snares.
That He like hidden sarpenta in life's path
way everywheree.
But Bill he promised faithful to be keerfuU
and allowed
He'd build a reputation that would make
us mighty proud.
But it seems aa how my counsels aort o'
faded from his mind.
And now the boy's in trouble of the very
worste.t kind.
His letter, came eo seldom that I somehow
sort ,of knowed
That Billy was a-travellns In a mirhty
rocky road.
But never once imaained he would bow my
head In shame.
And In the dust woudl waller hla old daddy.
honored name.
He writes from out in Denver, and th.
storv. mig-hty short.
I just can't tell his mother, it would break
her poor old heart.
An' so I reckon, parson, you might break
the news to her,
BtU'a been sent to Congretuh hut ha. doesn't
any what fex.
BOOr ik'
yi ITHIN the past few days, tha
VA cables toll us. Enslish authors
have, with praiseworthy effort.
boen Interesting themselves in public af-
taira. For Instance, an anti-censor dfra
onstration called on a governmental of
ficial, and J. M. "Thrum." Barrio, ofin
called the shyest man in England, made
the opening speech, and A. Pinero and
Sir William S. Gilbert also spoke against
such an unpopular official as a play-examiner.
An agitation Is now going on to try to
secure . the liberty of a little airl who
has recently been sentenced to five years'
imprisonment in an English reforma
tory for what cause is not made ciear
and ainonr those who have made strong
representations to the British government
against this seemingly severe sentence are
Eden Phiilpots and Beatrice Harradcn,
the latter of "Ships That Pass in the
Night" fame.
Tile case of Nicholas Tchaikovsky, a
Russian, who is well ,-nown In England
and who for a political offense is now a
prisoner in the fortress of Saints Peter
and Paul, is also winninc the symrn-
thies of the literary profession over the
seas. Among those foremost in the agi
tation to try to secure clemency . for
Tchaikovsky and Thomas Hardy, he of
"Tess" fame, Mrs. Humphrey Ward and
George Meredith.
Jerome K. Jerome and W. W. Jacobs
are running against each other hard to
secure the crown of the pre-eminent
humorist of England. Mr. Jacobs is tak
ing life easily at his Essex home and says
that the only literary work on which he '
is at present engaged is a novel entitled
"Salthaven," which- is appearing serially
and will be Issued In book form this Fall.
Mr. Jerome is working around Brussels
on his way back from Switzerland, and
reports that he has many literary irons
in the fire. In a few weeks from now
he promises a book of short essays and
In the Fall a volume he calls "The Pass
ing of the Third Floor Back." which is
-described as - "collection of tales of a
mystical character." Mr. Jerome also
plans to finish before long a light, humor
ous novel.
The title of Miss Sedgwick's new
novel will probably be "Annabel Chan
nice." "The scene," says Miss Sedgwick,
"Is laid In England, and the theme is
very dramatic a knot sharply unraveled
In the space of about one week. There
are four characters, and no more, of
any Importance Annabel Channlce: her
son, Augustine: her husband. Sir Hugh
Channice, and anotner woman. Lady
Elliston. The story centers in the 'rela
tion of Lady Channice to her son, a
boy of 19, and to her husband, from
whom she la separated." Miss Sedg
wick Is therefore going again to pre-!
sent the study of a middle-aged hero-1
ine. The authoress concludes her revala--tions
by exclaiming. "I think I cannot j
say any more, without .'giving away'
my story:"
Sir John Tenniel was 88 the other tlav, i
and from his life of retirement in Maidu!.
Hill can look back on a career of wonder--ful
Industry, during which he drew some.;
2500 Punch cartoons, and a far more!
memorable feat made the original "Alice'
In Wonderland" illustrations.
a
Suitably enough, Herbert M. Hopkins'
new story "Priest and Pagan" will be!
issued at the same time as Rev. Wash-!
ington Gladden s "The Church and Mod-'
em Life." for in the very preface the
author proudly saya. referring to the dis
turbed, self-conscious period through
which the church is passing, "The way
of life is not obscure, and it seems al
most absurd to indultre the fear that the
church, after toeing providentially guided
through so many centuries, will fail to
find 1L"
Edward Bulwer Lytton Dickens, young
est son of the famous novelist of that
name, shows that he Inherits a good share
of his distinguished father's humor. Th
younger Dickens Is a member of Par
liament in Australia, and not very long
ago was interrupted in the course of a
speech he was making by a snappish
member named Willis.
"Mr. Speaker," said Mr. -Dickens, with
biting sarcasm, "It may be remembered
by some present that my father coined
an expression which attained some popu
larity. 'Barkis is willin". The circum
stances of today are such that I am
strongly tempted to reverse the picture
and say 'Willis is barkin'.' "
It is hinted that tor the time being
Mr. Willis was crushed.
Mis. Frances Hodgson -Burnett's last
novel, "The Shuttle." is now in its fifth
edition. This, according to the publishers,
brings the total copies issued to a num
'ber somewhat in excess of lflO.OuO. The
book is still quoted as a "best seller."
From the public library reports it also
ranks first in frequency of demand.
a
It is related by those who ought to know
that at a certain social gathering recently
an enthusiastic admirer greeted Mrs.
O. Henry, the wife of the novelist, who
was present on the occasion, with a hurst
of unconcealed delight. "Oh, -Mrs.
O. Henry." she exclaimed. "I have been
just longing for this opportunity and I
am sure you will not deny me. Could
you will you tell me why It is that your
husband always dresses his heroines in
crepe de chine?" The query proved too
much for Mrs. O. Henry, who accordingly
referred the matter that evening to her
husband.
After a painful interval of silence the
novelist replied, with a somewhat feeble
attempt at a smile, "Why, the fact is,
my dear, there are only two kinds of
material used for feminine clothing with
which I am personally familiar. One of
these is crepe de chine and the other is
calico. Now. on thinking the matter over
carefully, it did not seem appropriate
to dress a heroine in calico, so 1 adopted
the simple and happy expedient of ar
raying them all In crepe de chine.'
"The Judgment of Eve" is the title
given to May Sinclair's new novel, issued
simultaneously by Harpers with Mr.
Howells' "Fennel and Rue." this week.
Reprints of Thackeray's "Contributions
to Punch" and two novels by Wilkle Col
lins, "Man and Wife" and "I Say No,"
are also announced.
a
Tn his new work, "The Prolongation or
Life," Elie Metrhnlkoff. subdirector of
the Pasteur Institute, Paris, explains at
great length, in the liRht of additional
knowledge gained in the last few years,
his main thesis that human life is not
only unnaturally short, but unnaturally
burdened with physical and mental dis
abilities. Be analyzes the causes of these
disharmonies and explains his reasons for
hoping that they may be counteracted
by a rational hygiene.
"Interpretation of the Bible." by Tro
fessor George Holley Gilbert. D. D.,
formerly of Chicago Theological Semi
nary, covers the earliest rabbinic -interpretation
of the Old Testament and its
interpretation by Phiio; then its use by
Jesus. . which the author regards as of
fundamental significance, ' though quite
neglected In the past, and its use by the
New Testament writers: the interpreta
tion of early Christian writers from Clem
ent of Rome to Irenaeus; the Alexan
drian and Syrian types of Biblical ex
egesis; mediaeval Interpretation; Interpre
tation as practiced by tne reformers; inter
pretation in the 17th and 18th centuries;
and finally the great movement toward a
more scientific interpretation which has
marked the past 50 years. The book gives
illustrations from early writings, with
critical comments thereon, and is ful.y
thnugh not blindly In sympathy with
what is known as "modernism" in the
roojrenien.t.