8
THE CORNING .OREGONIAN. TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1908.
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PORTLAND, TCKSDAT, MAY IS, 1908.
THE "THO-TH1KDS" AND "UNIT" RULES
Protest in the Democratic party
gainst "the two-thirds rule" was due
long ago, but the party has held to
Its tradition, which had its start in
the desire of the slaveowners to en
force minority control, for the safety
of the "peculiar institution," and in
the anti-National character of the
party which always has exaggerated
state authority and kept the states at
the front as the units of party action.
The Democratic party never yet has
admitted that the United States is a
Nation, but it has held that Its Gov
ernment was merely the agent of the
states; and in accord with the doctrine
of state sovereignty and of state eu
' premacy, the state In. Democratic
conventions has been regarded as the
normal voting unit. Hence the cast
ing of the vote of the state as a unit,
by the will of a majority of the dele
gation, has always been recognized as
legitimate and regular; and when the
vote of a state has been divided It has
been by the will or consent of the dele
gation, not of the convention. In
Republican National Conventions the
course has been different. Delegates
elected by districts cannot be over
ridden by the unit rule.
The old slaveowner, to which the
Democratic party always was sub
servient, feared the greater political
power of the free states; and to put a
check upon it insisted upon the two
thirds rule as the law of the party.
Acceptance of this anti-democratic
practice was part of the price exacted
for the steady and powerful support
of the party of the slave states. The
unit rule. In the delegation of the
state, was managed as a further ex
pedient; for any growing rebellion
against slavery, among the members
of the party in a free state, could thus
be held down. Besides, the unit rule
was a continual assertion and re
minder of the majesty of the state,
which was a very dear Democratic
party doctrine, that presently found its
expression in the secession of the
whole group of Democratic states.
Then the Civil War, in which the
secessionists had the sympathy of a
vast body of Northern partisans, and
Immense encouragement - from them
throughout the struggle. The Civil
War itself was simply an accentuation
of the logical issue between the po
litical parties of the country. The
party of Jefferson never has been will
ing to yield assent to the fact that the
Constitution of the United States
creates a Nation, but has continually
set up state and local authority against
the effective use of National powers.
This yet remains the main line of
demarcation between the. political
parties of the country.
However, now it begins to look as
if the two-thirds rule and the unit rule.
which the old pro-slavery , and state'
sovereignty oligarchy set up for con
trol of the Democratic party, might
be subjected to a shock, and per
haps overturned. Bryan will have
majority of the convention. Whether
he will have two-thirds. Is a question
that gives concern to him and to his
friends. Douglas was beaten by the two
thirds rule at Charleston, in I860.
Bryan might be beaten by it now. His
supporters, therefore, are beginning to
exclaim that this un-democrattc
method ought to be abandoned. On
this appeal there Is room for boundless
eloquence. Is a minority, it will be
urged, always to have power to beat
the majority? Is the practice of a
party always to belie its very name?
A similar contest over the unit rule
may likewise result in overturn of the
ancient relic of state sovereignty. Sup
pose a bunch of -the delegates of New
York shall wish to vote for Brvan, or
Johnson, afainst the majority of
1 tbe delegation, and suppose- they shall I
: ,h.l. K t n n l.'.ii. nn tha '
carry their fight to an issue on the
floor of the convention. Any majority
strong enough to repudiate the two-
thirds rule might turn its power in
this direction also. The outlook pre
sents some -possibility of a warm con
test in, the convention. It would be
encouraging to see the Democratic
party clear ' itself of the practices of
the old pro-slavery and state-sover- i
eignty era, which, through progress of
ideas and events, are now really but
superstitions. But it may be impos
sible even yet for this party to get
quit of its old oligarchical habits, or
to acknowledge its conversion from a
state Democracy to a NationaiDemoc
racy, or to a party of National
methods, suited to National aims.
THE ANSWER IS NOTHING.
The misfortune of Mr. Cake is that
he stands as the candidate of the party
that represents, or once was supposed
to represent, the great idea of National
unity, of concentration and enforce
ment of the idea of mighty National
purpose; of extension and expansion
of authority, under National direction,
beyond the lines marked out by small
local communities and small local
statesmen In a word, of a party
actuated by a mighty National spirit,
as against the small views and narrow
purposes of such subdivisions as
Mississippi and Oregon.
It is a misfortune now to stand as
the candidate of this party, since In
Oregon this party has been for years
growing forgetful of its purpose and
mission, has surrendered to the ad
versaries that It formerly had the
spirit to meet and combat; till now,
having forgotten or put aside Its prin
ciples and purposes, it has no spirit
for anything.
Time was when the Republicans of
Oregon would listen to an appeal, on
high principles, for candidates who
represented the spirit, the history and
the purposes of their party. They
don't now; they haven't been doing it,
during years past.
Very well; it must be so. But it is
a misfortune to any candidate, as it
has been a. ' misfortune heretofore to
The Oregonian, these many years, to
attempt an appeal to a party that has
forgotten its own history and the
history of its country, Is indifferent to
the great ideas that gave It its crowning
glories, and no longer knows that the
doctrine's and purposes of its adver
saries have not been, nor can be, safe
for the country. Which is to say that
the Republican party has ceased to
exist, as a vital and effective force, in
Oregon. But what is to be done about
it? Nothing. Ephralm is Joined to
his idols. Let him alone.
But, asks a classical writer, what
must the priest be where the monkey
is a god? What must a party be
whose leaders and . statesmen are
U'Ren and Bourne? -
THK WORLD MOVES.
Forty-five years ago it took The
Morning Oregonian four days to reach
Cottage Grove by the swiftest methods
of conveyance then available. Now,
by virtue of the recent change in the
Southern Pacific time table, it' reaches
the busy little town the other side of
Eugene in time for breakfast on the
morning of publication. This is some
thing of a change, and it is a change in
the right direction.- There has been
no standpatlsm in tho efforts of The
Oregonian to reach Its sirbscrlbers.
The speed of delivery has-been contin
ually revised, and always downward.
Now the time has come at last when
every town in Oregon between Salem
and Ashland will receive its metropol
itan paper on the day of publication at
least, and many of them in time for
enjoyment with the morning coffee.
Even for Salem this will be a new ex
perience. Though only some fifty
miles from Portland, the capital of the
state has never before known the se
rene beatitude of devouring The Morn
ing Oregonian and a fresh-laid egg at
the breakfast table simultaneously.
But the new state of affairs must be
exceptionally pleasing to a college
town like Eugene, where all things in
tellectual are relished. Naturally the
hlgh-browed citizens of that city will
enjoy their breakfasts a great deal
better henceforth than they ever have
before. We shall not be surprised a
particle if the professors at the State
University very soon discover a
marked uplift in the intelligence of
their students on accountof this new
advantage.
Joking aside, nothing has ever hap
pened that will contribute more to
make life Interesting and valuable in
the Willamette Valley and beyond
than this not very exciting change in
the time table of the Southern Pacific
Railroad. Nowadays intelligence of
what is going on In the world forms an
Important part of our existence. De
prived of information about our own
country, about foreign lands, about the
ships that sail the seas, we are un
comfortable. We feel like blind men
wandering guldeless in a world full of
dangers seen and unseen. In past
ages the sympathies of each person
were limited to his own family, or at
most his own village. Now we are all
concerned with the fortunes of the
whole world. The vicissitudes of the
perennial Russian revolution interest
us almost as much as the news about
the Methodist minister's latest baby
next door. The floods in the Hoang
Ho, in China, make us tremble for the
fate of the poor heathen beyond the
Pacific not less violently than we
worry over the condition of a neigh
bor's sick wife. And all this enlarge
ment of sympathy Is an enlargement
of life. People of today actually live
more than did those of fifty years ago.
Life is a little longer even measured
by years. Measured by what is felt
and known, it is a century longer. .
Tennyson thought fifty years of Eu
rope were better than a cycle of
Cathay. By cycle he may have meant
a thousand year3 perhaps; at any rate
It was a very long time. Half a cen
tury ago the whole world was living in
Cathay, to all intents and purposes.
Communication was so tedious that
nobody cared much what anybody else
was about. Nobody knew what was
going on just beyond the mountains.
Up to this change In the time table of
the railroad one might almost say that
Ashland, beautiful city though it be,
was still in Cathay, since It got no
dally paper within twenty-four hours
of publication. What a change for
that delectable town with its crystal
line water from the mountains and its
unapproachable peaches when peach
time comes, what a change for it to
learn what is going on in the world on
the day it happens. But except an
unlucky town here and thre, every
body nowadays Is living figuratively In
Europe and nobody either lives or
i wishes to live in Cathay. A life made
long by fullness of intelligence and ex-
narUn.. I. what AVArvKnHv BtrivAb fnf
perlence is what everybody strives for
and nearly everybody attains.
The rapid communication of knowl
edge through the daily papers has
transformed the whole Nation into one
vast town meeting. In the old days
our New England fathers used to meet
together in the town hall and listen to
the reports of their village officers, ar
gue out public questions and decide
everything by vote. Then came a time
when there were too many citizens to
meet in the same hall. Dwelling far
apart, they became strangers to one
another. None knew the interest of
the rest. Distance and numbers
estranged them. The town meeting 1 tened by an increase in freight rates
had to be given up and representative or in wages. It is, In , fact, highly
government took Its place. Now the probable that nothing but a radical re
telephone, the telegraph, Ihe postofflce, i duction all along the line in both rates
and above all the dally paper, are i and wages will again set in motion the
bringing back the old wholesome con
ditions, and every citizen understands
what every other citizen is feeling and
thinking. The daily paper brings the
American people together, not once a
year merely, but every day, in a vast
mass meeting where public questions
are. discussed, all sides are heard and
each may choose the argument that
suits him best and make up his mind
accordingly. It is infantile to say that
the people of, Oregon, of the United
States, are not interested in public
questions. They are interested In
nothing else half so much. When they
believe that they can really accomplish
something by taking part in politics,
they are all on fire with zeal for in
formation and discussion. Even the
children in the public schools get ex
cited over the constitution and the ref
erendum. It is a mighty work of in
formation and Inspiration which is
given to the daily papers to do. They
are the leaven that leaveneth the
whole state and Nation. Every ad
vance that brings them to the people
more abundantly and more speedily, is
a step forward in civilization and a
step upward in Intelligent democracy.
TO AID OCR SHIPPING.
So far as the commercial Interests of
Portland are concerned, there is no
more important matter, coming before
the people in the June election than
the proposed amendment to the Port
of Portland charter. This bill, which
will be voted on In June, provides for
an enlargement of the powers of the
Port of Portland o that it may estab
lish and maintain a towage service
upon the Columbia River and at its
entrance. The necessity for improve
ment must appeal to all who have
kept in touch with the work at the
mouth of the river. It seems to be
impossible to secure good service un
less the people most vitally interested
In our seagoing commerce shall as
sume direct charge of the work. The
towage system has for a number of
years been in charge of the O. R. & N.
Co., which has conducted it as an ad
junct to Its railroad business.-
So long as the work on the bar con
sisted almost exclusively of towing
grain ships, this service was In a meas
ure the duty of the railroad company,
but-within the past few years there
has been a remarkable Increase in the
umber business, and now the number
of lumber carriers towing over the bar
is greater than the number of wheat
carriers. Another new factor in the
situation is the coming of the North
Bank road, which will bring wheat
into Portland for export. The O. R.
& -N. Co. will, of course, derive no
benefit from the lumber, none of
which passes over its line; neither will
it reap advantage from the grain
which comes over the competing line.
For these reasons the company is de
sirous of discontinuing the service on
the bar as soon as it Is assured that
the work will fall into satisfactory
hands. The Port of Portland, by deep
ening the channel, building a drydock
and In other ways Improving the ship
ping facilities of the port, has succeed
ed in eliminating the old differential
levied against the port by foreign ship
owners, and the success already at
tained by that organization is a guar
antee that it could establish and main
tain a satisfactory towage service on
the bar.
The City of Portland is approaching
a crisis in its commercial history. The
coming of the North Bank Railroad,
the construction in this city of Im
mense packing plants and other Indus
trial enterprises, together with a
steadily deepening channel at the river
entrance, necessitate removal of every
possible handicap which has been laid
on shipping in the way of poor tug
service, excessive pilotage rates or un
necessary delays in loading and dis
charging. Competition with rival
ports wlH be much keener In the fu
ture than it has been in the past, and
we must be prepared tq meet it. It is
the duty of every taxpayer, and every
citizen who is not a taxpayer, to vote
In favor of granting the Port of Port
land power to take over the towage
business and render shipping the best
possible service.
MUST POSTPONE ADVANCES.
The Industrial situation seems to be
in a somewhat chaotic sfate, a condi
tion which will contribute to the un
certainty that is always felt during a
Presidential election year. The Na
tional - Association of Manufacturers
has organized for a campaign against
Samuel Gompers and his followers.
Mr. Gompers is, of course, fighting
back at the manufacturers and inci
dentally taking a whack at any other
head that is raised In protest against
the rapacity of organized labor. The
farmers' trust, in the tobacco regions
of the South, is still burning barns and
"night riding" in protest against the
men who sell tobacco at any price they
see nt. Meanwhile tne ranroatiB are
considering an advance in rates in
some localities, and protesting against
a reduction in others, and. their em
ployes have banded together to fight
any legislation affecting the revenues
of the road. There are unemployed
men in every large city in the land,
and strikes are prevalent in many
states.
Mr. Gompers protests against reduc
tion In wages on the ground that it
would retard recovery from the panic,
his argument being that lower wages
would, reduce the purchasing power of
the men, causing a further slackening
in the demand for products used by
them. While presented from widely
divergent standpoints, there is practi
cally no difference in the argument set
forth by Mr. Gompers and that of the
railroad companies. At the recent
conference held by the railroad men
for. considering an advance in rates,
one of tbe trunk line managers 1b
quoted as saying that it was "the be
lief of railroad men that an increase in
rates which would enable railrotids
to purchase more freely and to go
ahead with development work would
result In profits to the business inter-;
ests of the country many times in ex
cess of the increase in the cost of
transportation which would result
from a moderate advance in rates.'"
Briefly stated, both Mr. Gompers
and the railroad companies take the
ground that the best way to recover
from business depression is to increase
the cost of doing business. The fal
lacy of such a contention is easily
shown by taking the case of almost
any industry producing employment
for labor or for the railroads. There
is stagnation in the lumber business at
this time, and no one is so silly as to
believe that recovery would be has-
clogged wheels of business in this and
other industries. When a heavily
loaded wagon or truck becomes stalled
in a chuckhole, it can never be started
by increasing the load. On the con
trary, the load must first be lightened
to a point where the vehiole can be
again set in motion, and, once started
again on a good road, the load can be
Steadily increased even to a point
greater than that carried before prog
ress was arrested by the chuckhole.
When business encounters a piece of
bad thoroughfare, like that which it
met last Fall, the only remedy Is to
lighten the load to a point where the
vehicle can again get in motion. It
will be ample time to talk about in
creased rates and higher wages, or
even a maintenance of present rate's
and present wages, after we get safely
over the stretch of bad road on which
we are now"-traveling. ,
I
Under the primary law as it exists
in Oregon men are nominated by
themselves. They are not the choice
of the people. They get some votes
for the nomination after they offer
themselves, it is true, but it is not be
cause they are the choice of the people
or party, but because they are out as
candidates, and the voters have to take
whom they can get. It is the same
In the general election. Men who
make themselves candidates pretend
that they are selected by their party.
But they are not the choice of their
party; they are Hobson's choice, even
more than under the convention
system.
A few days ago Senator Burkett, of
Nebraska, offered a resolution pro
viding for recognition of a particular
day as Mothers' Day, and recommend
ing it for general observance. Senator
Fulton made these remarks:
If we are going to take up thl line of
legislative action I think wa should not atop
by drawing the distinction. I think we
should have a "fathers' day." Tlren I have
a great respect for my "grandfather." and
I think we should have a "grandfather
day." Then perhaps we ought to bring in
our coualns and our aunts or uncles. 1 can
see-no reason why we should make these
invidious 'distinctions. At least. Mr. Presi
dent, 1 think the matter should be taken
under consideration and a committee should
determine it. Everybody would agree that
we should have, a "mother-in-law day."
Republicans of Oregon have accept
ed the Democratic plea that there
shall be no party. But suppose the
conditions were reversed and the
Democrats were very strong. Ail their
orators and organs would be most
strenuous for party, of course. After
the primary law and "the new system"
shall have completely broken up the
Republican prty in Oregon the time
Is not distant then the Democratic
brethren, will be contending most
fiercely for maintenance of party, and
telling us that "regularity" is the only
thing.
New York actors are said to be fac
ing a very hard season during the
coming Summer, and thousands of
them will be out of employment With
big crops promised In the Middle Wast,
this news should have the effect of
keeping a few thousand of these actors
out in the tall grass, where they would
be more useful than behind the foot
lights. If some of the thousands who
are now in New York out of a Job are
of the same stripe as a number who
appear in Portland every year, a sea
son on the farm will be beneficial alike
to the actors and the public.
Of course members of Congress
are cowardly. Congressman Littlefleld
had no need to ask the question. They
are afraid to have any opinion or to
combat any error or folly, lest they
might lose votes for re-election. Rep
resentatives of various moral and so.
cial reforms so-called station them
selves at Washlnirfton, and frighten the
members into acceptance of every kind
of "ism." One of the greatest of the
dangers of the country is the coward
ice of members of Congress.
Mr. Harriman and his family are
coming back to Pelican lodge, on
Klamath Lake, to spend the Summer,
The railroad king can ride over his
own railroads into almost every state
in the Union, and the fact that he pre
fers a remote corner of Oregon to any
thing else the United States has to of
fer In the way of a pleasuraj-esort is
an excellent tribute to Oregon as well
as to the good judgment of Mr. Harri
man.
With an enormous apple crop on
hand this Fall, Oregon producers will
have reason to be thankful for the
good reputation that has been built up
for Oregon fruit by the faithful pack
ers. Putting up first-class goods pays,
and the beneficial results are seen to
best advantage In a year when the
crop is large.
A bumper grain and hay crop in
both Eastern and Western Oregon Is
now practically assured. Oregon farm
ers and Oregon bankers will have
more money this Fall than they will
know what to do with. - But they
won t send it to New York to be used
by the Wall-street speculators.
Democratic politicians assert that
"The Oregonian is more venomously
partisan than ever." Republican poll
tlclans declare that "The Oregonian Is
traitorously helping the Democrats.
We can't please everybody; yet it is
pretty clear that The Oregonian is say
ing something.
The "policy" of Mayor Tom John
son, of Cleveland, has raised a street
car riot in his city, which he is now
tr.ying to suppress. The distinguished
Mayor didn't know that it is easier to
let rioters loose . than to bring them
under control.
It looks as though Chamberlain and
Cake might become a mere side show
to the main circus. The saloon and
anti-saloon forces are getting up
pretty big fight of their own.
ATTACKS . GRAND JI RV SYSTEM
Judge Burnett Say That It Only Ea.
eoaraarva Law's Delays.
SALEM, May 18. (To the Editor) A co
terie of theorists have placed before the
peopleva. proposed constitutional amend
ment, numbered on the ballot 334-335, de
signed to prevent District Attorneys from
prosecuting criminals by information and
to compel a resort In all cases in Circuit
Courts to the cumbersome and often inef
ficient Grand Jury system.
The champions of the proposed amend
ment argue that the first the accused may
know of his prosecution by the Disf-ict
Attorney may be his arrest; that he may
never be Vied, and yet his record Is
blackened; that the information system is
return to the Star Chamber decrtes of
Charles I, etc. All the fulminations of
these gentlemen against prosecutions un
der informations tiled by District Attor
neys are equally applicable to indictments
by Grand Juries. The Grand Jury !s by
law an oath-bound aecret body. It may
Indict whom it pleases. Unless a defend
ant has been held to answer by some
magistrate, the first he lawfully kr.ows
of his indictment ia when the Sheriff ar
rests him upon a secretly issued bench
warrant.
On the other hand, we sometimes hear
from the press that District Attorneys
publicly announce their intention lo rtle
information against certain alleged of-'
fenders, and there Is no law against thus
giving notice to the accused of his dan
ger. The Grand Jury system increases the
'law's delays," which contribute so much
to disgust people generally with court
procedure. It is Impossible to empanel
a Grand Jury before the court convenes.
No Indictment -can be filed until that
body, composed of men unused to consid
ering legal questions, and wholly unskilled
in the examination of witnesses, have
taken some days to thresh out all the
petty details of the evidence and decide
whether to Indict or not. Meanwhile -the
business of thfe court is often delayed.
Many times the other Jurors are com
pelled to wait for days at much Incon
venience to themselves and their private
business, while the Grand Jury prepares
business for them. In practice, the aver
age Grand Jury defers almost entirely
to the Judgment of the District Attorney
In all prosecutions. He examines the
witnesses,, before them. He prepares
their Indictments. Upon him depends the
correctness of the accusing document and
the success of the prosecution. He may
never bring It to trial, or he" may prose
cute it differently. In short, the re
sponsibility practically rests almost en
tirely upon him, and there is no good rea
son why he should ,not be -clothed with
the power to transact the business of his
office more efficiently thsn can possibly
be done under an exclusive Grand Jury
procedure.
Under the information system, the
District Attorney can prepare criminal
cases for arraignment before court con
venes, and often may have them ready
for trial at the opening of court. Un
der the grand Jury system, there is an
Inevitable delay that often leads to
postponement of trials to a future
term of court a practice always court
ed by those who would evade Justice.
The information law has worked well
ever since its adoption in 1899. It has
never been abused as these worthy
gentlemen affect to fear it wlll.be, nor
can it bs so abused, in the light of
healthy public sentiment. The courts
are open at his demand for a speedy
trial of any man whom the District At
torney accuses of crime, and the inno
cent defendant may have an early vin
dication. On the other hand, the
grand Jury system increases the delays
that so delight rogues and their special
pleading counsel.
What virtue there may be In grand
Juries is not Impaired as our laws now
stand, because the courts may empanel
urana juries at any time. The Infor
mation law only empowers the public
prosecutor to discharge his duty with
more speed and efficiency and saves all
the rights that a defendant ever had
as against an Indictment returned by a
grand Jury. If the amendment had
provided for empaneling a grand Jury
before court convenes, so that Its In
dictments might be ready at the open
ing ot tne term, It would have been
more worthy of consideration; but in
Its present form It ought to bo rejected.
GEORGE H. BURNETT.
STEWART IS "WHOLLY UNFIT."
Prefsldent Want to fie-T Rid off Htm wad
Won't Abdicate Authority.
The text of the President's letter.
read in the Senate, relating to the case
of Colonel Stewart, Is as follows:
"To take the ground that there must
be a court of Inquiry because Colonel
Stewart has been -sent to Fort Grant,
would logically imply that another
court of inquiry should be held to know
why he should not be sent to St. Augus
tine, or Baltimore, or W astiinttton. or
anywhere else. In other words, it is
simple absurdity. The question of
punishment to Colonel Stewart Is whol
ly Incidental. If it was desired to dim.
ish, a court-martial would be ordered.
But I am not concerned with pun
ishing him, but with benefiting the
Army. My belief is that a court-mar
tial would award Colonel Stewart some
severe punishment, and It may be nec
essary to hold one on him: but I do not
believe he would be dismissed from the
service as the result of a court-martial,
and my whole aim is to get him out oT
a position of command, because he la
wholly unfit to exercise command, be
cause he tyrannizes over the enlisted
men and because he quarrels with civ
ilians needlessly.
"The appointment of a court of in
quiry is a matter purely within my
discretion and judgment as Commander-in-Chief.
I neither could nor would
surrender the right, to exercise such
Judgment. Sincerely yours,
"THEODORE ROOSEVELT."
New Erm la News Service.
Medford Southern Oregonian.
The arrival of a Portland dally paper
In Medford the same day It is printed,
which will happen when the new time
card goes Into effect on the Southern
Pacific next Sunday, will Inaugurate a
new era In the news service for Med
ford and neighboring towns. In the .fu
ture, the morning news will be read be
fore the evening news, and not after
ward, as is now the case. The new ar
rangement will be likely to effectually
close the field to a local morning paper
in Medford, should any ever be at
tempted. . Maine's Champion Foraretter.
Kennebec Journal.
The most forgetful man has been
found. He ves in a little town in the
upper part of York County. He fell
111 with symptoms indicating appendi
citis and submitted to an operation.
To their great surprise and embarrass
ment the surgeons found that the ap
pendix had already been removed. The
patient afforded the necessary explana
tion when -e recovered from the ether
by stating that he remembered then,
"come to think of it," that he had been
through a similar operation two yearsN
ago.
Omt of Date.
Chicago Tribune.
The time had come when devotees no
longer sought to cast themselves unt
der tne wheels of the car of Jugger
naut. "Why this lack of zeair asked the
scoffers.
"What's the usef" said the devotees.
"No matter how hard we try, our lum
bering old ice wagon can't compete
with the deadly automobiles."
From which we learn that even
among the ancients the scorching
chauffeur was a discourager of piety.
THE VICE-PRESIDE-NCY.
Some Sober TVords Why Should It Be
So Dhestetmed t
Louisville Courier-Joural.
The friends of Governor Charles E.
Hughes, of New York, have put them
selves to the pains of announcing that,
"under no circumstances," will he ac
cept the nomination of his party for
Vice-President, and the friends of Gov
ernor John A. Johnson, of Minnesota,
have done the same thing. It" makes
one think the less of each of them. In
point of fact. It recalls the churlish child
who says, "if I can't ride first, I won't
play."
Of all the great historic Americans
who made the White House the object
of their heart's desire, and never got
there, the case of JOaniel Webster seems
to us the most pathetic. Yet, except
for his self-conceit, it might have been
his. Twice he scornfully put it aside.
Twice he waved away with contempt the
angels of good fortune hoverhig over
him. He was urged to take the nomina
tion for Vice-President on the ticket
with Harrison In 1840. If his hlgh
mlndedness had not Interposed a refusal
he would have been President within
thirty days after the following 4th of
March on the death of Harrison, the 4th
of April, 1841. Again. In 1848, he was
offered the second place on the ticket
with Taylor. Angry and disappointed
that a rough old soldier, having no ex
perience in qivll life, had been preferred
to him for first place, he Indignantly de
clined It and again threw away the
Presidency, for Taylor died a little more
that a year after he entered the White
House. What a difference it might, nay.
it would, have made in the political his
tory of the country if Webster, Instead of
Tyler, had succeeded Harrison in 1841!
GEMS FROM JACK WILSON'S PAPER
Noted Story-Writer Will Trow Try to
Get Don to Hard Fact.
The Newport Mail Is born, with John
Fleming Wilson "attending." Newport is
in Lincoln county, on Yaquina Bay, a
delightful place to spend the summer,
and now that this versatile young writer
of sea stories has undertaken the chroni
cling of fact as well as fiction, that re
gion will become famous for. Its charms
during the other seasons of the year.
There are many things in this nrst issue
worth reprinting, and these are a few:
"Opinions should be based on facts.
Facts are stock In trade. Some facts
are scandalous. That brand we shall
not expose for sale."
"We pretend to have brains, and so
we have opinions.. We shall state them
when sufficiently excited.
"The publisher of The Mail is too busy
to change the universe this week, so,
(merely for the lack of leisure to fix
things as they should be) he accepts the
custom and hereby announces mat tne
Newport Mail Is an Independent Repub
lican paper. This is as -close aa he can
got to the truth."
The ReDUbllcan party -in Oregon is
like a 'mask ball at P. M. when un
masking Is at midnight. We aren't so
sure who is who and we are chary of
flirtation."
"The onion, not the lark, is really the
messenger of that delightful period when
young men lightly turn to thoughts of
love. You may investigate tne rnooo-
dendron buds, dig a little in the garden
and speculate over the woodpile and still
not be sure that spring nas come.
Her Hat Prophecy Ia Fulfilled.
Trenton (N. J.) Dispatch to New York
World.
When Justice Of the Peace Robert East-
hum, of Yardlv. Pa., died there was tun-
filled a prophecy made by his fourth wife
on the day of the funeral of his third
helnmate.
After the obsequies of Mrs. Eastburn
No. 3, the woman who later became wife
No. 4 went to console the bereaved hus
band. He showed her three bonnets
hanging In a closet and explained that
each was the headgear of a former wife
"A hat will hang there next," remarked
the woman, who a year later became
Mrs. Eastburn NO. 4.
The widow has Just placed Mr. East
burn's hats beside the bonnets of her
predecessors, and says she Intends to keep
the closet sacred to the memory of her
departed husband and his wives.
Gets a Tip of $3 and Falls Dead.
New York Times.
William Jenkins, a waiter in Mln
den's roadhouee. at Avenue M and
Ocean Parkway. Brooklyn, hurried from
the kitchen to the dining-room to serve
an elaborate dinner to a man and a
woman. He had been In attendance
for more than an hour when the man
finally called for his check. The dinner
check was a big one, but the diner
drew a bill of large denomination from
a roll and handed It to Jenkins, who
returned presently with Just 83 change.
"Keep It," said the diner, and Jenkins
fell to the floor dead.
Dr. Meeker was summoned from the
Reception Hospital at-Coney Island
and said that Jenkins had died of heart
disease.
Duxmtia Welsh Rabbit.
Baltimore News.
A Brooklyn woman has had her
husband arrested for remarking in his
sleep thaf he loved Cissy. The wife's
name happened to be Florence; hence
the legal proceedings. On his part.
defendant testified that he had con
sumed a Welsh rabbit the preceding
evening and oould not be held respon
sible for incoherent statements due
directly to the rabbit. A perfectly
sound position. We are surprised that
the Judge did not sustain It. A man
under the influence of Welsh rabbit is
apt to say anything. He is likely to
call, not only upon the name of Cissy,
but upon Belial- and Michael, upon the
archangels and the demons of the
nether world. We must say that we
are surprised at the judge.
Sample of College Arithmetic.
Indianapolis News.
Had Keble, writer of famous hymns,
depended on his arithmetic Oxford
would not have long known him.
When bursar he found, to his horror,
that certain accounts came out nearly
110.000 to the bad. In vain did the
learned and pious men 'of the college
go over the figures with him. Not
until an expert was summoned was It
discovered that Kebie. In casting up a
column, had added the date qf the
year to the college's debts.
"Wool 4 (nla Net."
Lake County Examiner.
Should Mr. Chamberlain be elected
United States Senator, and the tariff Is
being revised, as It is sure to be by the
next Congress, what do the woolgrow
ers of Lake County suppose will be the
attitude of the great "nonpartisan" to
ward their industry? To vote for
Chamberlain Is to vote for a return to
the conditions of 1894, with wool at 4
cents net.
My Dog.
St. John T..uca.
The curate think you tmv no soul;
I know that he has none. But you.
Dear friend, whose solemn eelf-control
In our four-square, familiar new
Was pattern to my youth whose bark
Called me in Summer dawn to rove -
Have you gone down Into tne dark
Where none i welcome, none may lore?
I will not think those good brown yea
Have spent their light of truth so soon:
But In some canine paradise
Tour -wrath. I know, rebuke the moon.
And quarter every plain and bill.
Becking It master. . As for tne
Thl prayer at least the gods fulfill:
That when I pas the flood and see
Old Charon by the Stygian coast
Take toll of all the shade who land,
Tour little, faithful, barking ghost
May leap to lick, my phantom hand. '
Initiative and Referendum
Measures
For th Information of voter thr'wlll
be pubushed on this pag from day to dy
brief summaries o the Initiative and ref
erendum measure to be submitted to the
people at the Juna election, together with
a short statement of the argument for and
against each.
THK RECALL.
The proposed constitutional amend
ment known aa the recall was pre
pared by the- People's Power League
and submitted under the Initiative in
Accordance with petitions circulated by
that organization. The measure pro
poses to add a section, to be numbered
18, to Article i of the State Constitu
tion. The amendment provides that
every public officer shall be subject to
recall by the voters of the district
electing him. By filing a petition
signed by 25 per cent of the voters of
the county, state or district, persons
desiring to recall an official may have
a special election held for the purpose
of determining whether such official
shall continue lfi office or another shall
be chosen In his place. Unless he re
signs, the officer may hold his position
until after the special election. A re
call petition cannot be filed until an
official has held office for six months.
or, In the case of a member of the
Legislature, until the Legislature ha
been in session five days. A second
recall petition cannot be filed against
an officer unless the petitioners pay
the expenses ot the first election. It
is made the duty of the Legislature to
provide laws to aid the operation of
this section, and also to provide for
the payment of the reasonable cam
paign expenses of an officer attacked
under the recall, such expenses to be
paid from the public treasury.
The argument in support of the
amendment le that It will enable the
people to get rid of an unfaithful offi
cer. It Is asserted that the recall is
in force in a number of cities, among
them Los Angeles, San Francisco. Scat
tie, Grand Rapids, Mich., and Lewis
ton, Idaho.
Against the amendment it is asaerted
that Oregon already has a complete
remedy againet unfaithful officials un
der section 19 of Article IV of the Con
stitution, which provides that public of
ficers may be indicted for Incompe
tency, corruption, malfeasance or de
linquency In bfflce, and, upon convic
tion, may be dismissed from office. It
IB argued that an officer whose service
le so unsatisfactory as to Induce 25 per
cent of the people to sign a recall peti
tion would be so unsatisfactory that a
grand jury would Indict him under the
section referred to. The calling of a
special election would be an expensive
proceeding. Moreover, the special elec
tion would very likely not accomplish
the desired result, for there would be
several new candidates for the office,
thus dividing the vote against the un
satisfactory officer, and permitting him
to be re-elected by a plurality far short
of a majority. It is also shown that
men of evil purpose could attack offi
cers who are trying to do their duty
faithfully, thus using the recall as a
club by means of which to coerce an
officer in his public acts. Nothing
could be accomplished by the recall
amendment which could not as well be
attained under the section providing
for indictment of officers who are in
competent or corrupt.
Wanted to Meet "The" Lawson.
New York Sun.
Ernest Lawson, the distinguished
painter, was seated at a table In an
up-town restaurant the other evening, ,
when a man requested him to go to
another table where some young wo
men were seated. "They want to meet
a distinguished painter." With a
blush the painter went across. After
a few remarks to the chaperon. Mr.
Lawson was requested by a pretty
young woman to move over next to
her. He did bo.
"I've wanted to meet you for so
long, Mr. Lawson. You know your
name Is In the paper so much nowa
days. You are not the least like the
man I expected to meet."
"No? What sort of of a man did
you expect to see?"
"I plotured you as a large fat man.
with a red head. By the way, what Is
Yukon gold, anyhow r
A Spanish Cnahlon-Talk.
Paris Matin.
Queen Victoria of Spain recently held at
jia n Ai.rirtna onrf- PAwmnnv. This
is called "cushion talking." The ceremony
used to be held Dy tne wueen aione, uui
King Alfonso has taken lately to making
his appearance at the gathering. As the
women enter the presence chamber each
is presented with a highly ornamented
,cushlon. All then stand in a row, while,
in turn, every lady advances to the
throne on which Her Majesty Is sitting,
and, placing the cushion at the Queen's
feet, proceeds to sit upon It. The Queen
enters Into a brief conversation with each
debutante in Spanish, after which the
lady retires, carrying her cushion with
her. This is a trying ceremony for the
debutantes because, save the one who Is
in conversation with the Queen, all the
others have to remain standing.
Scotch Again Torn to Kilt.
Pathfinder.
Successful attempts are being made
in Scotland to revive the wearing of
the kilt, which until comparatively re-,
cent times, was only to be seen on
special occasions in out-of-the-way
parts of the country. An article in the
London Times on the growing use of
tho kilt, hrvs: "Twenty years ago the
kilt was practically unknown In the
city of Aberdeen. It was, indeed, held
up to universal ridicule by the towns
folk. That has quite changed, and on
my last visit to Aberdeen 1 discovered
that even the schoolboys have returned
to kilts. It has become a recognized
article Of evening dress, and, what is
more strange still, many of the young
men of the better-to-do classes are
learning to play the pipes."
Polk County's First School.
DALLAS, Ore.. May 16. (To the Ed
itor) To correct all mistakes and stop
all discussion. 1 can state positively that
the first school taught In Polk county
was in the Fall of 1845. by John E.
Kyle. In a little log cabin built by Col.
Nathaniel Ford, near Dixie.
T. V. B. EMBBEE.
The Fishing rhilosopher.
Atlanta constitution.
When fish, air bltin' fur from town
You'll find me any day. ...
Where blossom bright air drlppln down.
Where honeysuckle stay;
Tm the best hand at loafln roun'
Prom here to for away!
The patience that It take to flan
Ia great a Job', you know:
The Joy to hear the line go Swlah!
Beats most o' Joy below.
An then a brftwn perch In a dlah
Pleases the palate oI
I hold a fisherman 1 wise
No matter what they say;
Olts more o' earth, an air, an skies
Where wild winds shout "Hooray!"
He' fur from sorrow an' from sighs,
An' In. nobody way!.
"-y