THE MORXTXG OREGOXIAX, MONDAY, JUXE 1, 1908.
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PORTLAND, MONDAY, JCNE 1. 1908.
"CONFUSION NOW HATH MADE HIS
MASTERPIECE."
To factional differences, begun years
ago, and continued with increasing
violence to the present time, the Re
publican party of Oregon owes the
plight it is in today. The ran
cor of these differences has disposed
first one faction and then another to
listen to the plea of, Democrats, them
selves fiercest of partisans, that there
really was nothing any longer to dis-
. : .1.1. .in .1 1. e.nm 'lni.fll.1T-.
LHlgUtU UIIC ia.i ti in-, iv . ,
therefore Republicans might as well
vote for Democratic candidates. This,
according with the wish of Republic
ans to "get even," and affording a
plauslDle way oi aoing it, nus oroaen
cown party lines among Republicans,
destroyed all sense .of loyalty or obli
gation to party, and caused men to
forget that the only way to accomplish
-sure and actual results in politics is
through party organization. No other
way, Indeed, has ever been discovered
or ever will be. Mr. Chamberlain
puts up the "no-party" plea, but if
elected to the Senate he will be as
thorough a Democratic partisan in
that body as the. Senators from Missis
sippi, his native state. This from the
necessity of things; for the Senate is
divided strenuously upon all measures
of Importance on party lines, and Mr.
Chamberlain's Democratic colleagues
will line him up with them from the
first and hold him to the last. Indeed
he must take his stand on that side,
for otherwise he can effect nothing.
No Senator, professing independence
of party, ever did anything in the Sen
ate nor ever can. Moreover, Mr.
Chamberlain is not a man to disregard
the claims of party, except at those
times when he is seeking election. His
origin, his nature, his education, the
disposition of his mind, make him a
party man a Democratic partisan
and he can be nothing else. If Re
publicans say all this makes no differ
ence, it is very well. But it is ridic
ulous to pretend not to know better.
However, Republican hatreds are
not yet sated. Not quite all feel that
they have "got even" yet. They don't
say this, but one pretense is good as
another. To outward appearance the
wrangle is over Statement No. 1, and
other trifling or foolish matters. In
reality it is factional strife, engendered
by selfish ambitions and by personal
antagonisms. The primary law mere
ly affords the means through which
these differences may be made effec
tive. Jt will hardly do for a man to
declare ODenly that he is "out for re
venge": but he can find material, in
plenty, for factional fury in the new
crazes, and freely uses it. Politicians
f the opposite party may be expect
ed, of course, to use the opportunity
o the utmost: and they will use it till
onditlons change and the thing re
urns to plague them. But never let
ourself be persuaded for a moment
hat if the time shall come when the
tonnbllcans have a maloritv of the
opular vote and the Democrats a ma-
'fl ll UL cut; Uvgin miui c, iiic iiuii
:tatement will stand against the party
il.sn. it win ue uorue uunu as a iieru
e i nr .. i ... -Y. ,.,tnA e ,
I uuildiucs gurs iiuuuu tx nut- itjui.c
Though the Republicans of Oregon,
r great numbers of them, have decid
1 to abandon party, have been doing
for years past and electing their
irty's leading opponents, as a method
" retaliation-and of personal and fac-
onai revenge, ana are sun in tne
isiness; ana tnougn ueniocraia ui
regon are vigorously preaching a
iftrlne nf "no nartv" which thpv
in'l believe nartv will llftrdlv bp
andoned yet for a while, in other
'es, where there is less factional
iicor. and more sense and more hon
y in men's political professions and
tions.
We believe it may be said with cer-
tainty that in no other state is faction
ku aeri'B ttuu so uiireasuiiiiis 111
I pnn Tr baa snriino- from one main
source though there have been con
tributory causes. The methods initi
ated and pursued by the late Senator
Mitchell started it. Continuation of
these methods by him during his whole
career naturally begot like methods
among his opponents for use against
him and his faction. Fierce conten
tions, supported by corruptions of
all sorts, ensued. "The public service
was prostituted to the personal and
factional service of the contestants,
all branches of It; and the develop
ments in the trials conducted by Heney
touched only the outward parts of the
vast putrescent mass. Under the vig
orous and searching administration of
President Roosevelt this business
everywhere was rapidly cleaned up;
but the strife of factions in Oregon
and the fight over spoils had been so
bitter that many had lost all proper
sense of obligation to actual principle
and use of party to support It.
Whether anything like agreement or
co-operation can be had in Oregon in
the Presidential election among men
who profess to be Republicans, is a
problem whose solution must be left to
time. Logically the man who will
vote for a Democrat for Senator may
be expected to vote for a Democrat for
President. But amid the welter of ir
rational politics you can't tell.
As to the vote on Senator today. The
Oregonian finds the uncertainty too
great to permit any forecast. It has
known from the first that there was no
need of exhortation, expostulation or
argument; for factional rancor, pursu
ing its own objects, is beyond the
reach of every kind of appeal. Whether
there are sufficient numbers who, on
principle, still adhere to the Republi
can party to give the candidate for the
Senate a plurality of the popular vote
today, can only be determined as the
ballots are counted. Calculation, or
even conjecture, is useless, when one
is dealing with those qualities of hu
man nature which at times tumble at
once and all together into confusion,
disable experience and defy rational
analysis. What is to be said of men
who are voting for a Republican Leg
islature, expecting it to elect a Demo
cratic Senator; or voting for a Demo
cratic Senator and at the same time
for Republican members of the Legis
lature, expecting them to elect him!
Was the poet, then, so far wrong who
exclaimed, "All is inverted; wisdom is
a fool"? Undoubtedly the time will
come when Oregon will quit these an
tics, these spectacular follies, and re
turn to rational methods in politics
and legislation.
A PEEP AT A POSSIBILITY.
Suppose Chamberlain should receive
a plurality of the popular vote today.
There certainly will be a Republican
majority In the Legislature.
Suppose also that -Taft should be
elected President in November. Now
here is a Republican Legislature in
Oregon, to meet in January.
The new administration will want
the support of Oregon in the Senate.
Friends and supporters of the new ad
ministration will expatiate on the ab
surdity of the election of an opposition
Senator by the Republican Legislature
of Oregon.
Republican members of the Legisla
ture, divers of -them, and even many,
will wish to assist the new administra
tion, and to stand well with It. Sun
dry of them will not be averse to serv
ice under the new administration, or
at least to favors for their friends. But
there will be a chilly atmosphere at
Washington for Republicans who have
sent a Democratic Senator from Ore
gon to oppose the administration.
Of course these considerations will
influence nobody's vote now. Our
brave electors and their candidates are
far and away above all this sort of
thing at the present time. But just
cast a horoscope of the situation next
January at Salem under the very prob
able conditions supposed, as above.
Our poor words are merely words of
forecast; they are neither prophetical
nor prophylactical; for nothing that
might be said now could add to the
gravity of such a situation, or express
all its meaning.
PORTLAND'S RAPID GROWTH."
Like an Immense snowball rolling
downhill and gathering bulk as It
gains speed, Portland seems to be
booming along on prosperity's turn
pike. The evidence is plain on every
hand; but in no quarter is It shown to
better advantage than in the exten
sion of both urban and suburban
streetcar lines. The Oregqn Electric,
by far the most enterprising and in
dependent transportation company
that has ever engaged in business In
this state, is making a specialty of
suburban development, and the Port
land Railway, Light & Power Com
pany is increasing the efficiency of its
service by a large number of exten
sions leading into newly settled por
tions of the city. For extensions,
equipment and Improvement of physi
cal condition, the two roads have at
their disposal for 1908 work a total
of $1,500,000. With both labor and
material much lower than last year,
it will be possible, with, this amount
of money, to effect some very radical
changes in the transportation facili
ties of Portland and suburbs.
The necessity for these expenditures
by the owners of the city lines is ap
parent on every hand, for the city is
spreading out over new territory more
rapidly than ever before, and the fa
cilities of the lines are already taxed
nearly to the limit. This is especially
the case on the East Side of the river,
where the growth in the residence dis
tricts has been more rapid than on the
West Side. Building permits for dwell
ings continue to lead all classes of
structures, and are still holding up to
an average of more than ten per day.
The building that Is now under way
Is of a good style and character. If
we were to estimate that the dwell
ings be placed on a single lot each, it
would require nearly 600 blocks or
land to accommodate the dwellings to
be erected this year.
As the city last year grew away from
the car lines at an astonishing rate,
necessity for additional facilities for
the people who will dwell in the
houses built on this additional 500
blocks becomes all the more apparent.
The vacant blocks which were passed
by the carlines a year ago are now
covered with dwellings, and there has
been an attendant increase in streetcar
revenues. Next year at this time 500
blocks of land more will be covered,
and again more cars and more tracks
will be needed. . Meanwhile the popu
lation that does not patronize street
cars is Increasing at a lively rate, and
is filling the close-in hotels and apart-
ment-houses and in large numbers
crowding back Into those which are
almost beyond walking distance from
the business district.
VOTE FOR THIS BIL1-
Practically unanimous sentiment fa
voring the bill enlarging the powers of
the Port of Portland was In evidence
when the referendum petitions were
circulated a few weeks ago. This lack
of any semblance to opposition at that
time is, of course, a pretty good guar
antee that the bill will carry by an
overwhelming majority today. At the
same time, it should be remembered
that very ' important measures are
likely to be overlooked or misunder
stood when surrounded by a maze of
freak legislation on which it is ex
tremely difficult to vote intelligently.
The corner-stone of Portland's com
mercial greatness is her admirable
natural location, where ocean carriers
can meet the traffic brought down
from the interior over a water-level
grade.
- But there are other ports with
which Portland ts in competition for
that traffic, and at the present time
Portland is under a slight handicap in
the way of an expensive and poorly
managed tug and pilotage service at
the mouth of the river. This objec
tionable feature Is a condition which
does not exist at the competitive
ports on Puget Sound, with which we
are obliged to compete. It was for
the purpose of removing the handicap
that the Port of Portland measure, to
go before the people today, was pre
pared. If the additional power asked
for the Port of Portland is granted,
full control of the towage and pilotage
work at the entrance of the river will
rest In the hands of those most vitally
Interested in a good service the tax
payers of the City of Portland.
PERNICIOUS PARLIAMENTARY TACTICS
There are many objectionable feat
ures to the currency bill that was
passed Saturday afternoon by a trick
that put a quietus on the filibustering
methods of the bill's opponents. It
may even have been a case where the
end justified the means, but that does
not alter the fact that the silly Senate
rule which permits a bill to be talked
to death should be replaced with some
thing less pernicious. It should not
be forgotten, in commending the ob
ject for which Senator La Follette
delivered his elghteen-hour mono
logue, that the same tactics can be
used for the defeat of really meritori
ous measures. The evils of this child
ish plan for defeating a bill have in
the past proven most costly for the
Government. The defeat of the river
and harbor bill by Senator Carter, of
Montana, who talked against time sev
eral years ago, held up among other
projects of great merit completion of
the Columbia River jetty.
The Government - had invested a
large sum of money in the plant, and
the work had reached a stage of com
pletion where heavy loss was certain,
should any delay ensue. With no
funds with which to proceed, the
work was abandoned in its uncom
pleted state, and when it was re
sumed, more than a year afterwards,
the cost of repairing damages was
enormous. Meanwhile, the deepening
of the bar had been held up and the
interests of thousands of producers in
the Columbia basin imperilled. When
one man, with a long-range mouth,
can block indefinitely legislation in
which 80,000,000 people are Interested,
it is full time for reform in Senatorial
rules.
ENFORCEMENT OF PLAIN LAW.
The effectiveness of any criminal
statute must depend largely upon "the
certainty of punishment as a conse
quence of violation. In order to com
mand respect and obedience, laws
must be construed in accordance with
their intent and purpose, and there
must be a fearless and impartial en
forcement. All these requirements
seem to have been met recently in en
forcement of the statute under which
J. Thorburn Ross was tried and con
victed, and it is a safe prediction that
we shall not soon see another such
Juggling with public school funds. The
language of the statute is plain. It
applies to "any person" and the crime
is committed when the person having
possession of public money refuses to
pay it over when lawfully demanded
so to do. Whether the accused per
son came by the money rightfully or
wrongfully, or what the reason for re
taining it may be is not material under
the statute. If it be not paid when
lawfully demanded, the crime is com
plete. Possibly, when Ross manipulated
legislation in such a way as to enable
him to get possession of the state
school funds without paying interest,
he had no intention of defrauding the
state. Perhaps the most he intended
was to use the funds in his various
schemes, make a large profit if possi
ble, and let State Treasurer Steel's
bondsmen stand the loss, if any should
be suffered, or let the state stand the
loss if Steel's bond should not happen
to be large enough to cover the deficit.
It is charitable to Mr. Ross to assume
that he merely intended to plunge a
little with state funds and that he
hoped the state would get its money
back. The opportunity to run his bank
on state funds made the world look
bright to the manager of the Title
Guarantee & Trust Company, and it is
quite probable that he entertained op
timistic views as to the repayment of
the money.
But these are matters not referred
to In the statute. What his ideas were
as to the means of repayment affer
he had used the funds to pay his bank
depositors is not made a condition pre
cedent to guilt and conviction. Hav
ing possession of the money, and re
fusing to repay it, is the offense de
fined, and It was that for which he
was convicted. i The law was plain, it
was plainly construed, and its purpose
was observed. This direct, prompt
and fearless enforcement of the law,
without favor on account . of wealth
and Influence, is certain to make other
men stop and think before they lay
plans to seize state funds, or, having
gotten possession, put it out of their
power to repay when lawfully de
manded. It is reassuring to see
courts construe a law to mean what it
says and prosecuting officers enforce it
accordingly.
A fourth edition of Ezra Meeker's
charming little book, entitled "The Ox
Team, or the Oregon Trail 1852
1906," has appeared. It is descrip
tive, historical and autobiographical;
containing some account of the orig
inal journey across the plains in 1852,
together with Mr. Meeker's return trip
with his ox wagon over the old trail
fifty-five years later. The remlnis-
cences and descriptions with which it
abounds possess interest for many yet
living who migrated to the Oregon
country in the olden time, and will
satisfy the curiosity of many who ha'e
come in the modern way of travel.
There is much graphic description also
of the modes and incidents of life in
early Oregon, and especially at Puget
Sound. Mr. Meeker has done a pio
neer's work, during a long life, and
has done it well. His book, "The
Tragedy of Leschi," is a permanent
contribution to the early history of
the Puget Sound country.
Water shipments of wheat (flour In
cluded) from Portland and Puget
Sound for the eleven months ending
yesterday reached the enormous total
of 43.881,912 bushels. This is nearly
8,000,000 bushels more than has ever
before been shipped out of the Oregon
and Washington ports In a single sea
son, and, as all of it moved at prices
above the average of recent years, it
is easy to understand the phenomenal
prosperity that is so noticeable in the
wheat districts of the Inland Empire.
The crop of the three states Oregon,
Washington and Idaho last year was
58,000.000 bushels, and the carry-over
from the previous crop approximately
4,000,000 bushels. There is accord
ingly available for use, after making
an allowance of 12,000,000 bushels for
feed, seed and home consumption,
from 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 bushels as
a starter for next season's business.
As a wheat country, the Pacific
Northwest is rapidly Increasing in im
portance. The balloon had several centuries
the start of the aeroplane as a means
of navigating the air, but the latter
seems to have not only caught up with
the former, but to have actually over
taken It. The French aeroplanist who
sailed around a course ten times at a
speed of 37 miles an hour and retained
such perfect control of his machine
that he was at no time more than ten
feet above the earth has certainly
made a long stride in the contest
against the forces of the air. Unless
the Wright brothers, who were the
first to make a practical demonstra
tion of the advantages of the aero
plane over the balloon, make haste
with their repairs on the machine with
which they flew a few weeks ago, they
will find themselves robbed of a con
siderable portion of the glory that
would seem properly to be theirs, by
right of original discovery.
After all the discussion of the initi
ative and referendum propositions it is
doubtful whether one voter in ten has
distinct ideas about most of them.
Legislation after this manner is neces
sarily a leap In the dark. The best
hope is that most electors will not vote
at all on these propositions. But e'en
that will be dangerous, for every meas
ure will have Its few special devotees
who will surely vote for it. So the
advice from grange sources, that if
you don't fully understand the propo
sition, vote no, for safety, may be best
of all. In most of the cases submit
ted, if you do understand, you will vote
no, without advice.
"Somebody, somewhere," says Puck,
"soon must be talked of as the Demo
cratic candidate for Vice-President."
We nominate our George. If he gets
the popular vote in Oregon for the
Senate today. It will give him a mighty
boost; and then he would escape the
difficulties next January at Salem.
Some might say that the ticket, formed
of the combination of Nebraska and
Oregon, wouldn't be acceptable to the
few small states east of the Mississippi.
But the name of Bryan would stand
for the whole country, and that of
Chamberlain for the rest of it. Besides
the South is entitled to recognition,
and Chamberlain is a Mississippi man.
Taft will get the Republican nomi
nation for President and probably
Fairbanks will be presented with the
nomination for the Vice-Presidency
again. This will be the good old com
bination of a streak of fat and a streak
of lean. The other day at Washing
ton a man in the Senate gallery asked
a friend who the Republicans would
name for Vice-President next time.
"Yon Cassius," was the answer. Good
wit, and probably correct.
It Is given out that there will be an
effort of all the labor unions of the
country and their sympathizers to beat
Uncle Joe Cannon for re-election. , If
all the four millions who are said to
be joining In this effort could vote in
Uncle Joe's district, they would make
it pretty hot for the old man. But his
district contains farmers and villagers
mostly; and there are few labor unions
and not a single large town in it.
Alex Sweek, the Democratic chair
man, predicts that Chamberlain will
win by exactly 5350 votes. We fancy
that Our George would be content if
his majority were to be cut to 5000,
or In a pinch he would be willing to
throw away the 5000 and take the 350.
We violate no confidence, also. In re
marking that Mr. Cake will" be con
tent with a few less than 8950, his
brother Chairman Cake's estimate.
In Oregon 121,715 persons have reg
istered as voters. If the state had the
recall, 121,478 of these would vote for
recall of Senator Bourne; against 237
voting nay. The nays would include
Mr. T-HRen and all the advocates of the
recall in the state. So contradictory
are our politics.
Woman suffrage, too, is to be voted
up or down today. Possibly you want
the women to vote; or possibly you
don't. In any event, mark your ballot
on that important question.
The Democratic party Is out today
In various non-partisan disguises, to
induce Republicans to vote for its can
didates. Oh, well! We shall always
have fakers in politics, too.
A correspondent at Baker writes
that, in his opinion, the effort of the
Democrats.to pose Mr. Chamberlain as
a non-partisan is a weak device of
the enemy.
Now that the great day is at last
here, let us start right. It's not a rose-
"fiesta," a rose show, or a rose car
nival, but a Rose Festival.
Little Bob held out for 18 hours.
What is needed for a real Senate
hold-up Is less Big Talk and more Big
Stick.
Look out for roorbacks today. Pos
sibly you don't know what a roorback
is, but look out for it just the same.
THE WHIRLIGIG- OF TIME.
Remarkable Letter Written by Roose
velt at Twenty-six.
From Collier's Weekly.
Real light on Mr. Roosevelt is shed by
a private letter which has come into our
hands, and which has more personality
than many of the President's longer docu
ments: State of New York. Assembly Chamber,
Albany. Anil! 3D. 1k4 near Mr. North: I
wish to write you a few words just to thank
you for your kindness toward me. and to
assure you that my head will not be turned
by what I well know was a mainly acci
dental success. Although not a very old
man, I have yet lived a great deal In my
life, and I have known sorrow too litter,
and Joy too keen, to allow me to become
either cast down or elated for more than a
very brief period over any success or de
feat. I have verv little exneotalion of beins
able to keep on in politics; my success so far
has only been won by absolute indifference
as to my future career for I doubt If nny
one can realise the bitter and venomous
hatred with which I am regarded by t'.xe
very politicians who, at Utlca, supported
me. under dictation from masters who
were Influenced by political considerations
that were National ane: not local In their
scope.
1 realize very thoroughly the absolutely
ephemeral nature of the hold I have upon
the people, and the very real and positive
hostility I have excited among the poll
ticiansx I will not stay In public life un
less 1 can do so on my own terms, and my
ideal, whether lived up to or not. Is rather
a high one.
For very many reasons 1 will not mind
going back Into private life for a few years.
My work this Winter has been very ha
rassing, and I feel both tired and restless;
for the next few months 1 shal probably
be in Dakota, and I think I shall spend the
next two or three -years In making shooting
trips, either in the Far West or In th9
great Northern woods and there will bo
plenty of work to do writing. If you are
ever in or near New York, let me know:
and I hope to have the pleasure of seeing
you in my home, either on Long Island or
In New York; you will always be sure of a
welcome. Very truly yours,
(Signed) THEODORF ROOSEVELT.
When Mr. Roosevelt wrote this letter
he was six months short of 26 years old.
Since he predicted the early termination
of his political career. 24 years have
passed, and the last 19 of them he' has
spent constantly in public office. A few
weeks after the date of this letter he
went to the Republican National Con
vention aa a delegate, and seemed to fur
ther Insure his political oblivion by bit
terly opposing Blaine. Thereafter, this is
the list of his political activities:
1SSH Republican candidate for Mayor of
New York.
18S0-1SHS National Civil Service Commis
sioner. 1S03-189T President New York Police
Board.
189T-1898 Assistant Secretory of tho
Navy.
ISnn-lPOO Governor of New York.
10O0-KKU Vice-President of the United
States.
1901 to date President of the United
States.
When he wrote this letter, Mr. Roose
velt was Just finishing his second year as
an unpopular reformer in the New York
Legislature. He addressed It to Simon
N. D. North, editor and statistician. Mr.
North was then managing editor of the
Ltica Morning Herald, and had com
mended Mr. Roosevelt's course in the
Legislature. Twenty-four years later
found Mr. North in President Roosevelt's
administration as Director of the Cen
sus. Will those politicians, petty and
great, who cringe, and fuss, and scheme,
hand He awake nights, and curry favor
with this interest and that, to keep a
desperate and slippery tail-hold on popu
lar favor, see the point? (
WHAT BAD WEATHER COSTS.
And Yet Good Weather Make the
Repair.
Scientific American.
Of course everyone is interested in' the
weather, but few think how much effect
it has on trade. In this connection the
Dresdner Anzeiger sums up, apparently
from English sources, some figures con
cerning the cost of bad weather to those
engaged In the different branches of trade.
When it rains, nearly all tradesmen com
plain of bad business, except the cigar
dealers: the latter, however, rub their
hands with delight. The desire to make
a bad day more endurable by a good ci
gar increases the takings of "the cigar
dealer by 15 per cent. The public-house
keepers In the city have no cause for
complaint, everyone knows. Whoever has
anything to do in the street supplies him
self with umbrella and raincoat, and these
cost money. In nearly all other shops the
proprietors wait unavaillngly for custom
ers. Ladles especially have no great de
sire to shop in the rain. That means a
considerable loss of trade; it has been
estimated that the shops in the West End
of London lose by a single rainy day
$500,000.
Some kinds of merchandise are espe
cially sensitive to the Influence of the
weather. Mutton and pork, for Instance,
are spoiled by very strong electric dis
charges: so that many a butcher will lose
$50 to $75 by a thunderstorm.
A real London fog is much more ex
pensive, by reason of its impenetrable
darkness. For gas alone. London ex
pends per day. when there is a fog, $7500
more than usual. The apothecaries are
pleased by such weather, for the reason
that it causes a number of diseases, so
that their Income Is doubled. The un
derground railways also have their in
come increased by rain and fog. Nat
urally, it is much more pleasant to be
protected from wind and wet than to sit
on top of an omnibus and get soaked
through.
So Nature causes considerable expendi
ture for man. She herself is a spend
thrift, as in a storm she wastes giant
forces. The storm that destroyed Gal
veston could have furnished the power
given by all the steam engines of the
world for years. A single thunderstorm
would suffice to drive all the dynamos In
existence, and the average value of a
flash of lightning has been calculated as
about $1250.
Gander With Maternal Ambitions.
Plttsfteld Dispatch to New Tork World.
The scrappy gander on the Onota farm
of H. C. Valentine, of New York, which
made the acquaintance of John D. Rocke
feller last summer has taken possession
of a setting of goose eggs and is per
forming the maternal duties of the In
cubating period to the obvious jealousy
of the goose which the gander displaced.
Because or Mr. Rockefeller's fondness
for the big gander the fowl had been
allowed wide latitude, but when Super
intendent Gorman found the gander keep
ing warm a setting of choice egss on
which he had placed a pedigreed goose,
he removed the gander and replaced the
goose. After repeating the operation sev
eral times, Gorman hid and awaited de
velopments. When the coast seemed
clear the gander approached and in a
brief conflict drove off the goose. Gor
man decided not to Interfere further with
the motherly ambitions of the gander,
which from its nest views lmperturbably
the angry demonstrations of the deposed
goose.
Rides 1600 Miles for One Cent.
Waterbury. Conn., Dispatch.
William Spalione has Just reached this
city, having completed the journey here
from New Orleans at the expense of
one cent.
Spalione started for Waterbury on the
front end of a "blind" baggage car,
scorning freight trains as too slow, and
completed his 1600-mile trip in this fash
ion. When he felt hungry he dropped
off long enough to forage a few square
meals.
"It was easy until I struck Albany,"
he said. "There I had to part with the
penny to cross a toll bridge."
Church Choir Boys See Theater Play.
New York World.
Rev. Dr. George Clarke Houghton, rec
tor of the Church of the Transfiguration
In New York, sent 30 of his choir boys to
see a play at a theatre.
VOTE DOWN SINGLE TAX TODAY
Writer Contends That It's a Present to Privi
leged Classes and Subsidy to Manufacturers
HAYSTACK, Or., May 30. (To the Ed
itor.) Surely the most vital measure up
for consideration at Monday's election is
the single-tax law or reform amendment,
and yet It seems that by many It is be
ing passed on with only casual comment.
No one who has given the subject any
Horses and
County
Crook
Orant
Harney .
Morrow .
Wallowa . ..
mules.
Jl,l7
iriS.-J4
ij.:i7r.
2K.-..17H
3."i7.4t;.-.
consideration can hold that our mode of
taxation is entirely just, but before we
decide to revolutionize entirely our pres
ent system, it Is wise that we consider
the tendency of our friends. . the reform
ers.
Let me consider the assessment sum
maries for the state during the year 1007:
1 terns -
Tillable land $
Value.
74.;iim.i;o4.oo
City lots 1
Non-illlable land 1
:ir..tc..:'.:i-j.ii'i
Hs.-.'nl.Mii.urt
1 J.fli l.oo
."fi ii'.i-J lt-j:'..ilil
32l:;ui.:Mi.4
-J. 7 1 :i.i7ii.nO
::.tis4.t7o.M
4.:!"i..".r:. o.
-in.itn-j.sMi.oo
.'i.ll-Ji:!l!I.IIO
:t.4iii.'.i.ii.io
J.4;:t.OM .no
3:i.li:l.-..-":!."i "0
7.R7.-,,tVTS.iM
i4::s.4!h.ik
K.:i7:t.4:l iw)
7, ! iMl.liSi.'i.lVI
3.-7.v.tK no
o:,-47.ou
Improvements on deeded and
unpatented
Improvements on city lots....
Railroad bed
Tel. -graph and telephone lines.
Street rallriad b.-d
Rolling stock
Steam machinery, etc
Merchandise, etc
Farming implements, etc
Money
N'ots and accounts . ........
Shares stock
Household furniture, etc
Horses and mules
Cattle
Sheep and goat&
Swine .'
Total $3RI.5.-.S.IH8.4S
The amendment reads to exempt all
dwelling-houses, barns, sheds, outhouses,
etc.; all machinery and buildings used ex
clusively for manufacturing purposes: all
fences, farm trees, vines, shrubs and all
other improvements on farms; all live
stock; all household furniture in use. and
all tools owned by workingmen and in
use. while the tax reformers hope ulti
mately to exempt everything excepting
$349,215,482 of realty, practically one-half
our present assessment. While all prop
erty is at present no doubt given in at an
under-valuatiim, it is only fair to assume
that this is a correct proportional esti
mate of the relation of realty values to
personal property.
Do the taxpayers of the state desire
such an exemption?
Do they realize that the people who will
be the greatest beneficiaries of such a
scheme are the very ones whom we are
at present endeavoring to frame laws to
curb, in their efforts to throttle the com
mon people? Let us remember that by
no means (as our friends urge) is the
greatest evil which confronts the Ameri
can people the tendency of a compara
tively few speculators to control large
bodies of land.
We are, in spite of the fact that the
Tax Reform Association urges upon us the
need of subsidizing our manufacturers by
a cheerful remission of their taxes, forced
to view some very plain yet painful
truths.
While many business men are philan
thropists, they all "forget It" in the mar
kets. The day has come when the people, and
not the manufacturing concerns, stand in
need of a subsidy.
If the people of this state vote Monday
to subsidize the manufacturer, they
should realize that they are simply adding
to his already great profits by what Is in
reality another high tariff for this state
alone. I contend that the natural com
binations of desirable raw materials is the
compelling force that moves and builds
factories, and that the people of Oregon
are not required to make any sacrifice of
subsidizing to augment the list of its fac
tories, but that these will come, and come
only through the natural course of the
country's development. But, granting that
this contention be wrong, do we dare
make such a wholesale slash in our as
sessment list to accomplish this end?
Another matter urged by tax reform
friends is that the small home is now
unjustly taxed. I concede that our pres
ent law has this defect. We have reached
that point in progress where the employ
ers should to a large degree bear the
burden of taxes for employes, but not. as
many advocate, so far as to free him
from what is justly his proportion.
I will admit also that the proposed law
will remove from the cottage the tax,
but it neglects to distinguish between the
$300 cottage and the $10,000 mansion, and
that it costs the officers of order propor-
Boston Man Holdai Four Jobs.
Boston Herald.
Is four hours' sleep a day enough for
a laboring man?
Ask this question of William Smith,
of Brookline, Mass., and he will answer
yes. For the past 15 years he has been
content wrth four hours' sleep out of
twenty-four, and today he is as healthy
and rugged as any man of his age and
he is nearly 40.
Mr. Smith gets his four hours' beauty
sleep, as ne terms It, at different inter
vals. He sleeps two hours after mid
night, and the other two hours he gets
in the afternoon. To make up for lost
sleep, if such is the case, he eats five
times a day, and he says that he cares
more for a good hearty meal than he
does for a dozen hours' sleep.
Mr. Smith has four occupations to take
up his twentv-four hours of daily rou
tine. From 6 P. M. to 6 A. M. he cleans
harnesses and averages over 75 sets of
harness each night. But be gets in two
hours' sleep during the night. At 6 A.
M. he eats a hearty breakfast and then
he goes to his work as hostler for a
physician.
After this work is finished he does
chores, having about twelve houses to
look after. He has a man to help him
in this work. When his day s chores are
completed he takes two hours' more
slumber, and then sits at his work bench
In his cellar and repairs bicycles. Ho
never complains of not getting enough
sleep. He never takes a vacation or a
day off. He works hard all the time, and
saves his money.
Onions Rend Chicago Office Building.
Chicago Record-Herald.
Onions have caused a revolt in one of
the leading office buildings in Gary, Ind.,
with a lawsuit as the result.
Attorney Gus Heart occupies one of
the finest suites in the building as bach
elor quarters. Mr. Heart is addicted
to onions. His insistence upon frying
them daily in his suite has caused the
revolt.
Tho lawsuit has been instituted through
other tenants and Is In the nature of
ejectment proceedings, the purpose be
ing to force Mr. Heart to move and
take his frying pan with him.
The frying pan. with fragments or
onion adhering to the bottom, will bo
one t)f the exhibits in the case.
Nature Krenksi on Yacht Teddy.
Baltimore News.
Since the name of the yacht of John
Ayrcs and George Cubbler. the Boone.
In Delaware, has been changed to Teddy,
the boat has been stopped by an eel, and
recently It was discovered that the tank
had been tilled with lemonade instead of
gasoline.
Tnrtle Meets, Charles First's Fate.
Philadelphia Record.
When one hand of Harry Shores, of
Bristol. Pa., was seized by a snapping
turtle it was necessary for him to nearly
behead the turtle with a knife in the
other hand before the turtle relaxed its
hold.
tionately more to care for the latter. Not
only this, hut the reformers seem to over
look the fact that positive injury will be
done many sections of the state, indeed,
mo:c than by our present system of tax
ation. As one illustration, our-state summary
shows:
Cattle.
Sheep and Total live-
Total as
sessment. Si! ;7t.S3
:t L-7 J..".4i
j.:;tii.Ti:i
7.SKS.5.V.
.-j4'j.::o."i
goats. mock.
$:t.ii.771
:u7.-.-7i
4'J 4l'.i
j:t:.. 4 1 ::
ii'K.snn
7?7."J42
,"ilKi.7,iil
li!rt.:?o
7n::.i::.-
1.1oii.::.".s
i.;rjs,Miii
1 i:;.i in
4111. lit.'.
Thus. while the total for the state In re
lation to the total assessment is nut at all
large, yet in many of our counties a very
large percentage of the property holdings
is livestock. So great a difference. In
fact, does this Item create, that, counting
the state tax to be 6 mills at present, al
though, as all know, there is no direct
state levy, only an apportionment of the
total to be raised, the new amendment
would not raise the state levy above 7
mills. Yet in the stockraislng districts,
because so large a proportion of the as
sessment is livestock and yet contains
other property not very dispropovtioual as
to totals to other rounties. the rate here
will, in many cases nearly, and in some
counties, he more than doubled. This
enables the stockmen, who mainly feed
theft- herds upon (government land, to
practically shoulder their just taxes upon
the shoulders of the farmers and other
landowners. For example, the largest in
dividual shei'powner in Cronk County
pays taxes upon only $3!S0 of realty and
has $20,515 on the exemption list. It is
held by tax reformers that because live
stork Is of a' fluctuating value, and be
cause this value is Independent of so
ciety. It should pay no taxes.
Let me ask: Where is a sheep worth
more. In the United States or in South
America? Today we pay a duty of 2
cents per pound on all beef and mutton
Imported: 15 per cent ad valorem on
hides; 11 cents and 12 cents, respective
ly, upon first and serond grades of wool,
is not this a sufflrlcnt subsidy? It
amounts to that, to pay our stockmen.
Kspecially so. in view of the fart that
our court records are replete with evi
dence showing how expensive is this line
of our industry to our officers of order.
It Is contended that the farmer and
small bolder pay taxes upon everything
they own. while the man of large capital
hides his wealth. This. I will grant, is
to a large extent true, but would the pro
posed amendment remedy this evil? I
think certainly not.
It strikes me that our tax reformers
are not unlike a machinist who, finding
that one of the bearings of his engine is
binding, proceeds to demolish the entire
structure, instead of simply repairing the
difficulty. The fundamental thought In
the minds of our friends seems to be that
the small home and the man least able
to bear the burden are in reality over
taxed. And this is certainly true.
Not many years ago we employed the
$300 exemption law. But it was declared
unconstitutional, for our constitution ex
pressly declares In article 9. section 1.
that the Legislature shall prescribe such
regulations as shall secure a just valua
tion of all property, both real and per
sonal, and specifics the exemptions which
shall be permitted.
Now it appears that something of the
old exemption law type Is the medicine
for this case. The diagnosis by our tax
reform friends seems fairly accurate, but
I very much disapprove of their remedy.
Our proposed amendment will exempt in
the neighborhood of $75,000,000, the ma
jor portion of which is certainly an un
just exemption, and altogether uncalled
for, relieving a vast number who in the
very nature of their calling ought to sup
port the law which protects them.
If every householder were given a con
stitutional exemption of over $400 a great
deal more good would be accomplished,
more relief given, and less injustice done,
ten times over than by the proposed
"wholesale slash" at our tax sheets, be
cause the exemption would then strike
where it Is aimed. There being approxi
mately 100.000 voters in the state, and
supposing, as there may be or may not
be, 100.000 homes we have an exemption
of $40,000,000. more or less. If it Is aimed
to throw the burden of taxation upon the
shoulder most able to carry it, and to
shield his weaker brother, this line of ex
emption work will fill the hill.
Iet us then, as we go to the polls Mon
day, bear in mind the good points of the
tax amendment, and vote it down. At an
other election we can proceed to amend
our constitution along the lines of the old
exemption law.
LAURENCE A. HUNT.
Hint of Contented Seatsi at Chlcaaro.
Leslie's Weekly.
"The Chicago convention will see morn
contests among delegates than any other
in the history of the i.epublican party.
All the Southern states will have con
testing delegations, and other states will
add many more to the list. The settle
ment of these factional fights may de
cide the nomination for President."
In a recent dispatch from Chicago pub
lished in the daily papers these words
are attributed to our good friend, Harry
S. New, chairman of the Republican Na
tional Committee. Long before Mr. New
discovered this peril to Republican su
premacy the masses of the Republican
party saw it. The number of contested
seats will be greater in IfflJ than they
were in the Republican convention of
1SS4 and 1W. In each of which gather
ings they were unusually large.
Governor Johnson's Misconception.
New York Sun.
Governor John A. Johnson, of Minne
sota, is quoted as saying:
"What the Democratic party wants is
a winner."
It is evident that Governor Johnson
has not followed closely the history of
his party In the past few years. If ho
bad, he would know that his political
associates do, not care a snap about win
ning. They are proud and happy to have
their organization an annex to a suc
cessful lecture bureau and newspaper
plant.
Festival Music Charms Bees.
Hopkinsviile (Ky.) uispateh to Cincinnati
Enquirer.
Attracted and soothed by the music
during the afternoon performance of tne
music, festival at the Union Tabernacle,
a big swarm of bees settled in one of
the small windows in the top of tho
building. Evidently the bees were as
much pleased with the music as were
the crowds of people which gathered, for
they remained quietly In (he position they
had taken until after the close Oi tho
festival and then vanished.
Live Pnrrnt on Woman's Hat.
Hartford (Conn.) Dispatch.
When Miss Mamie O'Connell of South
Norwalk, Conn., refused to take her par
rot out for an airins the bird perched
on her big Spring hat and Miss Mamie
said she didn't know polly was there
until her attention was called to the fact
by people on the street.
Buys Liquor for His Own Funeral.
Baltimore News.
Phincas G. Wright of Putnam. Conn.,
worth $150,000. has recently put in a
vault, in which he will be buried, a lot
of bottled liquor, for use by his friends
on the day of his funeral. A band will
be employed to play at the funeral "Hail
to the Chief."
Cats Run From Jits Jersey Torrn.
Philadelphia Dispatch.
Boys in Camden. N. J., having been of
fered 25 cents apiece for cats, felines are
rapidly disappearing in tho town.