T.HJE aiOKSIStt OKEGOXIAX, MONDAY, MAY 18, v 190S.
6
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PORTLAND, MONDAY, MAY 18, 190.
THB NEW CURRENCY.
The contention In Congress over the
new currency bill rests on differences
between those who insist that the new
bank currency should be based on
bonds, as the present bank currency is
and. has been, and those who would al
low the commercial paper of the
banks, and their general assets, to be
used as security for the new note Is
sues. The latter plan, properly safe
guarded. Is certainly the better one;
for it gives a flexible currency, which
may be Issued as wanted and then re
tired. The Vreeland bill provides the
method; but it is antagonized in the
Senate by those whose chief purpose
seems to be to make a new market for
-Government bonds.
'oJotes issued under the Vreeland bill
:ld take the place, virtually, or
'ng-house certificates, which are
in emergencies by groups of
-without authority of law. The
ldos that banks, not less than
limber, within districts defined
Vnay form voluntary assocla
V that If the needs for more
lire so pressing in the opln-
Secretary of the Treasury
lulitlonal issue is necessary.
forming the association may
ourltles, including commer-
ln amounts acceptable to
Iatlon. The Secretary of the
shall then issue to the banks
f soclatlon additional currency
ceed 75 per cent of the securl
fosited. The capital and sur-
he banks belonging to the as
Psi shall be jointly and severally
Jo the Government for any deft
In the amount necessary to pay
hjulating notes in case they are
rdeemed. The amount of such
lonal circulation is not to exceed
V00.00O. For the purpose of draw
tese notes out of circulation as
is the need of them is passed
Pre to be taxed at the beginning 4
rent, and the tax Increases every
lit 1 per cent until the maximum
per cent is reached. In addition
is a bank must carry a reserve in
or lawful money equal to that
i required against deposits. The
also provides for a commission
i h shall consider the whole cur-
question and report at the next
Ion.
fie bill passed the House some days
' by a strong vote, but has been
i ted by the Senate, apparently in
interest of a group of plutocratic
Inelers, who want opportunity, with
Fry increase of the currency, to
ike money out of it In their own
ly. Of these monopolists the Senate
f- the stronghold. A committee of
(inference is called for, the issue of
Cvhose deliberations cannot be foretold.
I The Senate conferees expect to compel
those of the House to yield, but they
may not succeed. The result may be
failure of ail currency legislation.
A COl'RSK IN COOKERY.
The domestic science course recently
added to the high school curriculum
In -this city has already become,
though barely inaugurated, exceed
ingly popular. It is evident that there
is a genuine desire among girls of
high school age to become "good
cooks," the objective point in view be
ing ability, first, to help mothers, next
to prepare dainty and wholesome food
for father, and finally, to provide
palatable and attractive meals in their
own homes as a condition insuring
domestic happiness. This seems to
have been proven by the earnestness
of the appeals made for instruction in
the culinary course, and the replies
that have been received to the stereo
typed question: "Why do you wish
to enter this course?" Let girls who
give such reasons as these learn the
art of good cookery, by all means.
The pity of it is that their educa
tion in this art has not been going on
In their mothers' kitchens and under
mothers' direction for years past.
Since It has not, however, as attested
by the applicants themselves, who are
required to state whether they have
done any cooking at home. It cannot
begin too soon. If kept free from fads,
if plain, practical methods are pursued
and the object of preparing good,
wholesome food without the waste
that follows experiment, is maintained,
the domestic science course cannot fail
to become popular In the homes that
furnish pupils to the high school, as
well as a factor of no mean import
ance in the health and happiness of
the homes over which girls now in
the high- school will in a few years
preside.
"Mothers should teach their girls to
cook," say we of the old-fashioned
brigade. Granted. But If. owing to
conditions incident to the transition era
In which we live. It is not practicable
to do this, then by all means let the
schools take a hand In the matter, to
the end that the next generation be
not born in apartment houses and
brought up on restaurant slops.
bakers' pies and street-corner confec
tionery, and the preparation of good.
palatable, digestible, home-cooked
food become a lost art.
THE FREAKISH RECALL.
So short are the terms of most offi
cials In our state that there Is no need
of the freakish Initiative petition
known as "the recall."
In most cases the term of the offi
cial would expire before "the recall"
could be made effective. Besides, the
recall would be an instrument In the
hands of personal and political ene
mies to trouble and annoy objects of
their dislike.
Applied to Justices of the Supreme
and Circuit Courts, it would tend to
weaken the respect entertained for
them by the people, and ' would fan
party spirit to an extraordinary degree
over officials who should at all times
be as exempt as possible from it
It is vicious, moreover, because It
proposes another ' unnecessary and
positively mischievous change 'of the
constitution of the state.
In the official pamphlet containing a
list of the "petitions" and "measures'
no argument is submitted with this
proposition; presumably because even
Its author had not the hardihood to
attempt it.
Scrutinize every proposition to
amend the constitution. It will then
appear how very few of them should
meet with approval. Most of them
are of revolutionary character; and
the only chance of their adoption is
the inattention of the electors.
MALICIOUS MISREPRESENTATION.
The Oakland Tribune, through Ig
norance or malice, has been making
extravagant and unjust statements
about tbe Columbia River bar. The
Tribune terms, the objections made to
the discrimination of Secretary Met-
calf as "childish and unjust," and,
with nonchalant disregard for the
facts, asserts that "one of the most
dangerous bar harbor entrances in the
United States is over the Columbia
bar." The depth, asserts the Oakland
paper, "Is a scant twenty-three feet.
and the mouth of the great river is
proverbially a rough bit of water, as
many a wreck attests." The depth of
water on the Columbia River bar, on
an average high tide, is thirty-three
feet. There is sufficient depth at less
than half tide to admit of the passage
of any ship in the Pacific battleship
fleet, and deeper draft vessels than
most of the craft in this fleet come
and go at all hours without regard to
the stage of tide.
It ill becomes a newspaper printed
near the Golden Gate to make any al
luslon to "wrecks" near the Columbia
River. Not only is the number of
wrecks at the Golden Gate much
greater than those charged up against
the Columbia River, but the loss of Ufa
on single disasters to vessels entering
or leaving San Francisco has been
greater than the aggregate on all of
the vessels that have been wrecked
near the Columbia bar in the past
fifty years. No such wrecks as the
City of Rio de Janeiro have ever dark
ened the record of the Columbia River,
and the Valencia wreck, which cost
160 lives at the entrance to Puget
Sound, could never have happened in
the vicinity of the Columbia bar.
These wrecks are not mentioned as
reasons why the Navy Department
should refuse to send ships to San
Francisco or Puget Sound, but they
certainly show that, from the sta-nd
point of safety, there is no percentage
for the ports which are favored with
a visit from the fleet.
The Oakland paper Is apparently
unaware of the fact that a foot draft
or a. foot In length is no greater on a
battleship than it is on a' merchant
and. as the battleship is much
man
easier handled than steamers of
greater draft and length which come
and go without encountering the
slightest difficulty, there can be no
good reason for failure of Secretary
Metcalf to send the ships here. Port
land has been subjected to a vast
amount of misrepresentation since the
California Secretary of the Navy
placed his ban of disapproval on the
port, but nothing sillier or at a greater
variance with the facts has yet ap
peared than the screed of the Tribune.
BOGUS APPEAL FOB COMMON SCHOOLS.
Many of the opponents, of the Uni
versity of Oregon appropriation bill
base their opposition upon the asser
tion that a larger proportion of the
educational expenditures should be de-
voted to the common schools. It must
be remarked, however, that the anxi
ety of these people for the welfare of
the common schools was not very
much In evidence until the university
appropriation bill came up for consid
eration. Their appeal in behalf of the
common schools may, therefore, be at-
trlbuted more to their desire to defeat
the appropriation bill than to their in
terest in the common schools. Doubt
less they are loyal friends of the com
mon schools, but It is safe to say that
a very considerable proportion of
those who now oppose the university
appropriation make a practice of vot
ing against increased tax levies for
common schools.'
. In his address at Salem in behalf of
the appropriation bill Superintendent
ef Public Instruction J. H. Ackerman
asserted that the university is the head
of our educational system. If so. It
will not be inappropriate to call the
common school the foundation of the
educational system. It is in the corn-
mon schools that everyboy and girl
lays the foundation for his nigh school
and college education, and if that
foundation be weak, the superstruc
ture must forever be unsafe and un
certain. The Oregonian, as a sup
porter of the university appropriation.
proposes also that the common school
system be strengthened, and that by
the expenditure of more money. This
is not a proposal that money be spent
needlessly or extravagantly, but that,
in order to secure a greater public
school service, a larger amount of
money be expended therefor.
The suggestion is this that the
minimum length of the school year be
Increased from four months to six
months. Prior to 1907 the minimum
number of months schools could be
maintained was three, but the Legisla
ture of that year increased the mini
mum to four months. Of course a
large majority of the districts maintain
public schools for more than four
months, all of the city schools having
terms covering eight "or nine months.
But there are many districts in rural
communities that limit themselves to
the shortest term allowed by law, and
as a consequence the children in these
districts do not receive the amount of
instruction to which they are entitled.
The Oregonian believes that as a gen
eral principle every child In the state
who has not. completed the eighth
grade should have at least six months'
schooling every year. Of course there
may be unusual conditions which
make exceptions necessary, but the
welfare of the children themselves de-
mands that in general they be given
more instruction than that required by
the law fixing the minimum length of
the school year at present. Far back
In
me mountains or on ine piams,
where there may be but one or two
children within a radius of many
miles. It might be impracticable to re
quire that school be maintained for a
period of six months, and yet instances
of this kind must be rare. The law
should be so framed as -to Insure the
maintenance of a school for six months
wherever there are children to be
taught. If a requirement of that kind
would necessitate the levying of spe
cial taxes heavier than the people of
the district could bear, which is not
probable, then the plan of distributing
the school funds should be changed
for the purpose of throwing a larger
proportion of the funds into the re
mote districts. In such districts it Is
very commonly the case that non-resi'
dents owners of timber lands, for ex
amplepay a large proportion of any'
special taxes levied. Few are the dis
tricts that cannot afford to maintain
school for six months by means of spe
cial taxes added to the funds received
from the state.'
Let us strengthen our common
schools by increasing the length of the
school year in those districts where it
is now too short.
WHEAT AND PROSPERITY.
An increasing population, better
farming and attendant higher prices
for land will eventually give wheat-
growing In the Pacific Northwest a
much less prominent position than it
now holds as the greatest wealth-pro-
ducer in this region. But for the pres
ent wheat is king, and last year, at a
ume mat ineo. men s souis it pourea
more millions into the coffers of the
Pacific Northwest than were produced
by any other resource at our com
mand. For this reason nearly every
community In Oregon, Washington
and Northern Idaho still acknowledges
the supremacy of the premier cereal,
and will hail with delight the news
that timely rains have guaranteed suf
ficient moisture to carry the new crop
on to harvest in good shape.
A good crop in the Pacific Northwest
this year would mean more for Port
land than ever before, as the coming
season will be the first in which the
North Bank road will make available
to this city a large area of wheat ter
ritory that In the past has been tribu
tary to Puget Sound. Unfortunately
the liberal drenching of the past few
days failed to extend to points in
Washington where it was needed more
than in Oregon. The "dry district,'
however, is confined to a comparative
ly restricted area. Rain is badly need
ed along the main line of the Northern
Pacific in the vicinity "of Connell, in
the Washtucna country, and in some
parts of the Big Bend. It is doubtful
if it is now possible to repair all of
the damage done by the dry weather
in those sections, but in the territory
which has always been tributary to
Portland, as well as through the great
Palouse country, a big crop is practi
cally assured. If we should have the
usual June rains, the out-turn of this
great region will be fully as large as
that of last year, and possibly some
what larger.
Even in the absence of any more
moisture, something better than an av
erage crop may be expected unless hot
winds appear. This possibility, of
course, stands as a guard against too
much optimism, for the weather is be-
yond our control; but the prospects at
this date are sufficiently flattering to
cause universal cheerfulness. The
faith cure for a money stringency may
be all right to a certain point, but it
can never equal in value as an influ
ence on the market the growing crops
which promise a good yield. ' The
outlook for prices is also very good.
although the average throughout the
coming season may not run as high as
that for last year's crop. This, how
ever, is due to a much more favorable
prospect for crops In other portions of
the United States. It should be re
membered that the wheat crop east of
the Rocky Mountains last year was
more than 100,000,000 bushels short of
its predecessor. This meant that the
farmers throughout the Dakotas, Kan-
I sas, Nebraska and other wheat states
I had approximately 1100,000,000 less to
spend than during the preceding sea
son and the effect of this short crop
was felt in Oregon in other directions
than through an increased price i for
wheat.
The poor crops in the Middle West
made it impossible for farmers to pur
chase Pacific Coast lumber in such
I quantities as they had been using prior
to the poor crop, and Oregon and
Washington mills probably felt the ef
fects of that crop failure more than
those of any other states in the Union.
A good crop throughout the United
States will do more to hasten the re
turn of good times than all other in
fluences that can be brought to bear
on the situation. Whatever may be
the outcome in other less-favored
states, Oregon and Washington are in
a position to continue to enjoy immu
nity from the most serious features of
the recent panic, and. with a good
crop assured, the immediate future
has in store for us nothing which can
cause alarm. N
Mr. Harriman has just completed, at
cost of $3,500,000, an 11 Vi -mile
stretch of track between Omaha and
Lane, Neb., thereby reducing the
length of the main line of the Union
Pacific nine miles. At first glance this
would seem' a large sum of money to
spend on such a small piece of track.
but the saving on a per-ton-per-mil'e
basis by this shortening of the track
will in the aggregate reach a vast sum
every year. Similar improvements on
a much smaller scale are now being
made on the track between Portland
and the Cascades, the original line be
ing reconstructed at a cost greater
than that of the original construction.
Whatever criticism may be directed
against Mr. Harriman's stock market
deals, or his dilatory tactics regarding
opening new territory, he has through
out his career displayed remarkable
and praiseworthy consistency in his ef
forts to keep his roads in perfect phys
ical condition.
The latest Issue of the New York
Financial and Commercial Chronicle
contains a detailed review of the bank
clearings of the principal cities of the
United States for the first four months
of 1908. In the Pacific division and
in the country as a, whole Portland
makes a very ' good showing. San
Francisco shows a decrease of 31.1
per cent, Los Angeles 28.9 per cent.
Seattle 21.1 per cent, and Portland but
17.8 per cent, with the average de
crease for the entire Pacific group 27
per cent. The average decrease for all
clearing-house cities in the ' United
States for the four months was 2S.8
per cent. It is, of course, not very
pleasing to be obliged to mention any
decrease as beta fir favorable, but it la
gratifying to note that Portland con
tinues to make a much better compar
ative showing than the other large
Coast cities, or than the average for all
of the clearing-house cities of the
United States.
In Alberta, Canada, on the Canadian
Paclfio Railroad, about sixty miles
north of the Montana line, a large
herd of buffaloes has been wintered.
with very little loss. There are about
400 head, and' 100 calves are expected
this Spring. These buffaloes have
been fed on. hay all Winter, but they
foraged a good deal for themselves.
The Canadian government is fencing
in a large preserve, in which the herd
will be cared for and protected. An
other herd, nearly as large, has been
wintered further east, and the two will
soon be Joined, making the largest
herd of buffaloes known to exist. By
the end of the year the herd will num
ber nearly one thousand, with a prob
able net Increase of 25 per cent annu
ally.
Elljah Cosgrove. of Quincy, "III., a
fisherman of repute, relates that ten
years ago he was fishing in one of the
famous resort lakes of Indiana, when
he dropped a J 10 gold piece into tiro
water and saw a pickerel swallow it.
Since then he has fished assiduously
for the pickerel, and a week ago last
Saturday caught it. Opening the fish.
he found the original f 10 and $8.59 in
small change being the. Interest that
had accrued while the money was on
deposit in the fish. That story could
De beaten by almost any of our Port-
Iand fellows who go a-flshing in the
Trask River, or other of our Coast
streams, and we know It.
It doesn't appear that Mr. Chamber
lain can really expect to gain anything
by his pose for non-partisanship. It
can hardly mislead anybody. He will
be a non-partisan till a party ques
tion may arise; then as surely a Demo
crat as any Democrat of them all,
from 1860 down to the present day.
But some think no party question will
ever arise again,
The appropriation tor the State Uni
versity most certainly will be upheld.
It should be upheld by a great major
ity, so as to emphasize the position of
the people of Oregqp in the matter
of upholding the university. Next to
the shame of turning down the appro
priation would be the shame of
small majority for It.
x
In many ways the single tax is the
most dangerous proposition before the
people. It would cause revolutionary
change in our system of taxation and
finance. Doubtless it will be rejected
Dut it snouia Be rejected by such a
vote as will prevent forever its reap
pearance in Oregon.
The Legislature will be Republican;
tne majority will be committed to
Statement No. 1, and it is quite.. ridic
ulous to say that it will not elect Mr.
Chamberlain, should be receive the
plurality of the popular vote. Don't
worry,, about that. There will be
worry enough without it.
A union of strikebreakers in East
ern cities is the latest labor union.
One would think this a contradictory
p"siness. but they declare their organ
izatlon a legitimate anion. They are
going to "put the kibosh on scab
strikebreakers."
Steamboat racing on the Columbia
Is really a fine sport, and will continue
to be until there is a collision or
blow-up, or other disaster. It will do
a lot of sood, then, of course, to put
I o."v uuom u me peni-
tentiary.
' Be on the lookout this week, all
along the coast of Oregon, for the war
fleet. There will be many visitors to
coast points. Weather may be clearer
on the coast than it is in the interior.
Nothing but the fear that he may be
brought to the surface again con
strains us to refrain from Inquiring as
to the whereabouts of Hon. Leslie M.
Shaw, Iowa s late favorite son.
Small use to complain of the alleged
mistakes of the late Republican State
Convention. Nobody supposes that
dissension in the party could be made
deeper or wider than it is.
Probably the most suitable general
definition of a reformer is a person
who has a burning desire to regulate
other people's affairs.
Now Nat Goodwin wants to marry
Edna Goodrich, an actress. Nothing
to the rumor, then, that Nat. is, or was,
married to Maxlne Elliott?
No doubt the little continental Jour
ney now being taken hy Prince de
Helie and Anna Gould is only an imi
tation honeymoon. ,
Is anybody running against Taft for
that Presidential nomination?
STUDENTS FOLLOW TRADE.
Failure of Ortgoa's Appropriation
Would Help California.
PORTLAND, 'May 16. (To the Editor.)
The following table represents the num
ber of OrtRon students in attendance at
Stanford University since its opening in
1S91:
1W11-P2 241 1S99-1900 .. M
1S12-93 29I1!X-01 ....50
IJWS-M 60ilft"l-2 N.21
1S3-9S i lwt2-l 2S
lRS-6 5Tj l"3-lt
1MW-S7 58! 1004-05 .
IS9T-08 K2I MXi-i-OS
leWS-98 521 lflooT SI
Hy a comparison of this table with the
catalogues of the University of Oregon
it will be seen that in The -early history
of Stanford University there were as
many students from Oregon in attend
ance at that ope University as were in
attendance in those years in the tour
college classes of our own State Uni
versity. The table further shows that
after a period of decline in the attend
ance of Oregon students at that Uni
versity there has - been a steady in
crease since the year 1901-02.
It Is not the purpose of the present
writer to go- into the causes of this re
cent increase, hut these numbers as they
appear in this table give food for thought
in view of the issue now before the peb-
ple of Oregon. It means that California
has in the past done a large part of the
higher education of the children o Ore
gon and Is doing so again. If the present
Oregon State University appropriation
should fail It Is certain that California
would do an Increasing amount of such
educative' work in the future.
Another consideration- of some weight
is the fact that California, through the
pushing of transportation lines Into
Southeastern and Southwestern Oregon,
is already drawing an important part of
Oregon trade. It Is certain that to a
considerable extent, students will follow
trade. This is especially true when the
center to which the trade tends is the
most commanding educational center on
the Pacific Coast, and not far behind
some of the larger educational centers
of the Atlantic Coast. Add to this, that
the education of students in the neigh-
borhood of San Francisco lays the foun
dation for future business relationships
which will Inevitably bring about the
further result that trade will follow
students.
If San Francisco is going to educate
the boys and girls of Oregon the trade
of Oregon will more and more go to
-San Francisco. For it Is true that, given
the situation that he have here, while
students follow trade, trade In turn will
follow students.
Stripping the question of all that In
the course of the discussion has gathered
about it, the issue in June is simply this:
will Oregon furnish the higher educa
tion for Oregon boys and girls, or will
Oregon leave it to San Francisco and
take the consequences, whatever they
may be?
J. R. WILSON.
TOO
MUCH BURDEN ON LAND.
Shows Single Tak Isn't Farmers' Friend
and Helpa Privileged Claw.
LATOURELLB FALLS. Or.. May 16.
(To the Editor.) It seems to me only
the highest kind of ignorance, stupidity.
Injustice and selfishness to propose
law to the people of Oregon to tax in
future only land values In this state and
no other whatever. And It seems curious
to me that people of our state will and
can vote for the enactment of such
law ' who are endowed with the same
mental gifts as we are.
Society, and nothing In the world but
only society, creates all and every value
for society be it land, stones, diamonds,
gold, silver, metal, wood, water, coal-oil,
coal, minerals, gas, meat, eat, dHnK,
clothes, buildings or products of any kind
Without the need and the use by society
of anything In existence it can have no
possible value. No power of sane reason
ing can ever get around this undeniable
fact. By what sane reason then shall
in the future only the value of land be
taxed a value whlcji society creates,
ana not ail other values created Dy so
ciety alike?
Land has, in fact, no more value to
. farmer or to any other land-owner
than the pen of a bookkeeper, or the
tools of a carpenter, or the factory of
millowner and canner, or ships and
rolling stock of transportation lines have
for their owners. Why, then, in the
name of justice and sound reason,
should only the landowners be compelled
in the future to pay taxes on his tool
like property, which he owns and must
have in. order to earn' an honest living
with that tool, and not all others in like
manner?
Is it not an outrageous injustice to
tax a poor farmer probably a hundred
times more than a clerk or bookkeeper
who needs no costly land and other
costly tools to earn a living, and who
earns probably five or six times more
with a good deal less work, and who de
mands the same protection and benefit.
or even more, which comes from taxation
and government?
L. FERDINAND FLOSS,
A Natural-Born Kicker.
IS THERE NOTHING NOW IN PARTY?
So It Would Appear from the Action
of Oregon Republicans.
The Dalles Optimist.
We used te thinx that people were
divided on party lines because they be
lieved that one party was right and the
other wrong; or at least they thought
one was nearer right than the other. And
having chosen a party, it was supposed
that they would do what they loyally
could for the success of the party of
their choice. But we have learned during
the last two or three years that the Re
publicans of this state have not, as
party, acted upon that rule, but have been
fighting for the success of their old-time
enemy.
Some say that if we have no Repub-
liean party In the state we at least hold
the most of the offices, which shows
that we are far more numerous than the
Democrats. That Is true. We are twice
as strong, numerically, as the other
party, but we win by the traditions of
the past, by the old teachings and doc
trines, which are slowly slipping away,
and it will only be a few short years un
til the Democrats will wipe us off the
map. for no party can live without or
ganization, and under the present law
there is no chance for the majority party
to organize.
A good many are saying there is
nothing In party. They want to do away
with party. All right; but if you scratch
that man, or those men, you will find
they are not Republicans, but heart and
soul desire the destruction of our party.
No real Republican will admit that this
country would now occupy the high plane
it does if the people had not divided on
party lines, and no good Republican will
admit that any other agency made us
what we are except our party. A man
who has not that faith, and cannot give
his reasons for it, is not a loyal Repub
lican. '
The Republicans took charge of this
country when it was a sixth-rate power.
plunged In debt. In the throes of war,
half slave and hair tree, disorder on
every hand, and within a decade they had
made It a great power, and in 40 years
we were one of the first nations on earth
and the only retrograde movements made
in all that time were made by a Demo
cratic accident.
Drunk In Seattle.
Efveryborys Magazine.
The intoxicated Individual who, after
bumping Into the same tree 13 times, be
moaned the fact that he was lost in an
impenetrable forest, is no greater dis
grace to modern civilization than the
hero of this story:
A citizen of Seattle who had looked
upon the wine when he was no longer
sure what color it was. In the course of
his Journey home encountered a tree pro
tected by an Iron tree-guard. Grasping
the bars, he cautiously felt his way
around it twice.
"Bother It!" he moaned, sinking to the
ground In despair. "Locked in:"
MEANS PRACTICAL
Pulnta Out That Farms, fe
Mar Revert to tbe
SALEM, Or., May 16. (To
In a folder circulated by
taxers, Tom L. Johnson is
saying, he was most emphatical.1
favor of the single tax on lan.
was desirous of placing all taxes or
values."
Now. will some aeble advocate o
single tax explain the difference be
a "single tax on lands" and a single ta
"land values?" What is the workable
ference? Land as now assessed hi
gon is about two-thirds of the whole
sessment of the state for 1907. Then
all other property is exempted from tai
1
atlon. It will exempt one dollar out
each three, and the other two will ha
to bear the burden. Thus. If a farmer ha
land worth tXiOO. and W00O worth of im
provements and other personal property,
making altogether 3000, and the tax rate
Is 10 mills, his tax will be $30. If we
adopt the single tax idea and impose the
whole burden on the land, the rate must
be raised- one-half, or from 10 mills to
15, and the land must pay the whole of
the $30, instead of S20, as before.
It is evident that this increased burden
of $10 would not extinguish, or even ser
iously impair the value of this farm. My
question, therefore, is: Do single taxers
propose to go further and make a greater
levy than necessary for governmental
purposes, just to force private owners to
surrender their titles to the state? I
admit that by the use of the taxing
power this may be done. But do the
Bingle taxers propose doing this?
JOHN P. ROBERTSON.
WATTERSON IS OPTIMISTIC
Thinks This Is Good Year for tbe Rs
publicum Party to Lose.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
Some let-up in the extravagance of
Congress some economics of adminis
tration and- abatement of taxes a few
peeps into the budget of governmental
expenses are most desirable. Shall the
scrutiny be committed to the spend
thrifts themselves? The old broom Is
a trifle worn and a great deal dirty.
Only a new broom can be depended on
to sweep clean and to sweep well. If
for nothing else, let us have a change
of parties though but for the sake of
the change.
The one-party power is almost as
dangerous as the one-man power. The
Democratic party, intrenched behind
the institution of African slavery, grew
strong enough to make its exit the sig
nal for a bloody war. The Republican
party, the bloody shirt waving o'er it,
came perilously near Mexicanizing the
Government through the attempted im
peachment of a President who had com
mitted no legal wrong and was only
faithful to his oath of office, and it
actually stole a Presidential election by
appealing to sectional passion and in
voking the machinery of the organ
ized power which was yet in its hands.
Cleveland was merely an aplsode an
Interim a snap-shot. Is It not time to
give the great body of the poor, plain
people a chance, leaving old high tariff
and high finance both out of the run
ning and the betting?
The Republicans are split wide open:
This is their year to lose. The dinner
pail Is growing emptier and emptier.
The voters are getting in the humor to
try .Democracy a licK or two.
The Ragman went to the Bagman,
A-walking In the barn;
Says the Bagman to the Ragman,
I will do you no harm."
On the contrary, as the song goes on
to relate, and as the Democratic party
may say to the voters of the United
States, "I will do you much good!"
Once again, then, to your tents, O
Israel !
Lrve 95 Years In One House.
Barnesvllle ' Correspondence ' Columbus
Dispatch.
To have been born and to have lived
in the same house for 95 and 90 years.
respectively, is a record that perhaps few
individuals have ever won. But such
is the record Of Alexander and Betsy Ogg,
brother and sister, and venerable citizens
of Warren Township all their long lives.
Both were born and are still living in
the house where they first saw the light
of day near this city. Mr. Ogg and his
sister are perhaps the .oldest living per
sons who were born in this township
away back In the wilderness days, and
considering the great shifting of the
scenes that has transpired during their
long lives, it seems remarkable that they
should have remained in contentment at
the place of their birth and in the same
house that first sheltered them in their
infancy.
Superstitions Landlord, "13" and "23."
Logansport Dispatch to Indianapolis
News.
The limit of superstition has been
reached by Landlord Miller, of the
Johnston Hotel, in this city. For years
this hostelry has been known as the
jonnson iotei. The other day a new
electric sign appeared in front with the
words "Johnson -Hotel." Many thought a
mistake had been made and rushed to
Miller, but . he informed them that no
mistake had been made; that he had"
changed the name from "Johnston Hotel'
to "Johnson Hotel," because there are 13
letters in tbe first name.
Miller says many traveling men had
noted the fact, and that as a result they
retusea to stay at tne house. Miller also
changed room No. 23 to Parlor A. He
says drummers are as superstitious re
garding room 23 as they are of room 13.
Class Distinction in Graveyard.
New Tork Sun.
The agent for a cemetery company was
expatiating on tne good points of a cer
.tain lot. Presently the prospective our
chaser interrupted with the enumeration
of several prominent families owning
property tnere.
Is this lot near theirs?" she asked,
The agent admitted that it was auite a
aistance on.
"Then," said the woman, "I don't want
it, I'd rather pay more and get In a good
neignDornooa.
The agent collapsed.
ias It come to the point." he said
"where people consider their next-door
neignoors even in a graveyard " .
A FEW SQUIBS.
"Everythine comes to him who waits.
mused the man in a restaurant: "but it
comes coia." i.i:e.
"So you are s-oins- to run
strictly par-
tlsan publication?" "I am.'
"wnat will
its motto be?" "All the
fit," Washington Star.
news printed to
Aunty "Tommy. I out threa r.le- In her
jMieraay, ana now Tnere is only one. How
is mat r- i-ommy -.fiease. it was so dark,
auntie, i aran t see that one:" fundi.
"Verena. Is that younir man out In th
Kitchen your first beau?" "Fur tse- land's
saKe, no. mum: I'm his nrst sweetheart,
Tnou?n; tnat s wny t nna 'lm Interestin'
mum." Chicago Tribune.
She making up) "And you win admit
you were wrong?" He (a young lawyer)
"No, but I'll admit that an unintentional
error might have unknowingly crept into
my assertion. iawn ana country.
Short "Yes, I believe some fortune tel
lets are on tne level, isot long ago one
agree 10 lcu mo aorneimnff aoout my fu
ture for a dollar." Long "Well?" Short
"I gave her the money and she toM m th
time would come when I would wish had
my dollar back." Chicago Dally News.
"Ob," sobbed Mrs. Casey, "some wan told
me husband. Pat, that he c'd have his pants
pressed be lettln' th' steam roller run over
thlm. an' Pat trofd th' scheme." "Well,
phy do ye cry?" asked her friend, Mrs. Gar
rlty. "Ohl" walled the wife, "Pat forgot f
take th' 4ants off first!" Judge.
She (indignantly) "Why did you fail to
keep your appointment with me yester
dav?" He "I'm awfully sorry, but I was
compelled to wait la a restaurant until It
was too late." .She ticlly) "Pardon me.
but I thought you had a position in a bank.
I wasn't aware that you were a waiter.'?-
Chicago Daily News.
it
ben
to
even t
ture be
The reasoi
ure are the
the Statement
an indirect mea
tsenators Dy tne
The measure Is Na
of people. First areV
believe In direct electio
They Insist that the framers
States Constitution acted wise?
viding for the election of one bra
Congress by the people and the othe
the state Legislatures, thus establishing
a system which would guard against
over-conservatism on the one hand and
over-radlcaliam on the other. People
who take this view assert that corruption
is not a necessary Incident of election of
Senators by a Legislature and that a
healthful public opinion will eliminate
this evil and that then there will be no
objection to election of Senators as now
provided by the United States Constitu
tion. Another class opposed to this bill
is composed of -those voters who believe
In the direct election of Senators, but who
are opposed to doing it by means of such
a scheme as Statement No. 1 or the meas
ure now under consideration. They say
that If direct election of Senators is to
become the rule in this country, let the
change be made by constitutional amend
ment and until that can be done, let the
procedure prescribed by law bo followed.
It is pointed out that the observance of
the principle Involved in this measure will
compel members of one party to vote for
candidates for Senator belonging to an
other party and entertaining radically dif
ferent views upon all the important is
sues in National affairs.
TROUT-FISHING IN THB ROCKIES
Difference In the Fishes on Opposite
Sides of the Range.
Forest and Stream.
No state in the Union can boast of more
square miles ot territory for trout fishing
than Colorado. This area Is of coursa
limited to the mountain sections. Since
our National Democratic Convention Is
to be held this year In Denver, I deem It
no more than fair to advise my Eastern
brothers of the rod where they may go
most comfortably from Denver and what
can be expected of their quest after trout.
Our trout west of the snowy range are
all salmon-tinted and, as a rule, are
more numerous and larger than in the
waters of the eastern watershed. The
fish known as the native In waters
flowing east of the watershed are yel
lowish to dark brown in color, depending
on the degree of sunlight to which they
are subjected. They have black spots
and their flesh Is white in 'color. These
are very hardy fish and will live In the
snow water up to an altitude of about
10,000 feet.
In one stream that I explored carefully
there were found no fish whatever from
this altitude to the stream's source, a
distance of .11 miles, although there ex
isted as beautiful pools and riffles for
them as there were below that altitude.
I asked an old fisherman who had lived
near the stream for 20 years as to the
reason for this, and his opinion is that
the food upon which the nsh live does
not exist at this distance from the
stream'B source, owing to the low tem
perature of the water and of the atmo
sphere during the time when the sun U
not shining.
The native trout are as eccentric In
their ways of taking the fly as one could
imagine. They will swim slowly toward
the lure and when within a few Inches,
will suddenly dart and seize It. They
seldom leap clear of the water as do
the other species. They are really a
better bait fish than the other species.
Days when they absolutely refuse thefly
they can be relied upon to take bait.
As to flavor I except none they are the
best eating and of the most delicate flavor
of any trout that swims, and I have
tried tnem from the Allegbanies to
Long's Peak.
As to bait I might add a word. Earth
worms are not native to the soil in th
Rockies, but exist only where planted
near some spring or in moist ground.
Grasshoppers are the standard bait and
are best used upon leaders weighted with
a split shot about one- foot above the
hook, the reason for this being that the
waters are so very swift that the bait la
soon whipped off If allowed to float.
Safe and Sane.
From Puck.
And now he stood forth acquitted by
a jury of his peers of the monstrous
charge of murder.
"Safe!" he cried, pressing to his bosom
the wife who had trusted in him through
good and evil report.
"And sane!" she sobbed, for there had
been no expert testimony.
An Ancient Instance.
New Tork Sun.
Caesar had thrice refused the crown.
"However," he remarked, "I dts.
tinguished myself from Roosevelt once by
writing a message of only three words."
He felt that his laurels were secure.
EMERSON,
Grateful is a world to thee.
Glorious bard of liberty,
Teacher, seer and scientist
or life divine; all do insist
Thy name shall honored be.
But highest tribute may be paid.
And best returns for worth te made.
By living what his brave soul dared
Pronounce the truth, though friends de
clared Him heretic. If undismayed
We'd firmly stand for what he stood.
We'd learn that wisdom. God and good,
Is ours first-hand. If we'll be free,
By heeding less conformity.
And more the truths of brotherhood.
He bids us build this world of ours,
As it should be. Ideas tho powers.
Which as we recognize, unfold.
And perfect sway o'er matter hold;
Which proves them spiritual dowers.
Appreciation best we show
For thoughts, when we beyond them grow,
Till others that still more reveal.
Enrich our lives and make us feel
The author's Joy to have it so.
And when from matter ruled by mind.
One step advanced in truth, we find,
That naught but spirit is. or lives.
In the peace such revelation gives
r. hares Emerson, serene and kind.
Rosine Starr Crisler.
ber