TITE MORXIXG OREGONIAN, T1TTJRSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1908.
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PORTLAND, THURSDAY. AIG. . l0.
THE SOCIALIST'S DREAM.
"It is the system that is wrong," the
Socialist orator and Publicist tells us.
"We are not fighting individuals; we
make war lor our deliverance from
the system." What Is meant by "the
system"?
"Unequal division of property,
private ownership of Jand and ma
chinery, direction of industry by In
dividual or corporate ownership, de
nial to workmen of the results pro
duced by their labor, and wage Slav
try." It has a formidable appearance,
stated thus; but what is offered as a
remedy? "Appropriation by the states
of all the land and all the means of
production, and distribution, and
award by the state to each and every
person of the full fruits of his labor."
Then," said an orator on the street,
last night, "the women on Snob Hill
will no longer go shopping In their
carriages, while our wives and daugh
ters have to work In Mother Hub
bard's." But It Is not the sole pur
pose of socialism to compel the
women to change pluces. This is
merely an Illustration.
The state Is to be the manager, the
director, the employer and the pay
master. John Spargo, a recognized
uuthority, thus presents the pro
gramme: "Socialism means that all
those things upon which the people in
common depend shall by the people
In common be owned and adminis
ttred. It means that the tools of em
ployment shall belong to their ere
ctors and users; that all production
shall be for the direct use of the pro
ducers: that the making of goods for
prollt shall come to an end: that we
shall all be workers together; and
that opportunities shall be open and
eijual to all men."
Is it a practical or practicable pro
gramme? Would all opportunities
then be open and equal to all men?
Not unless all differences of ability,
of capacity and of talent were abol
ished; for the world has long been
accustomed to the belief, gained from
experience, that some men can do
things that others can't. When the
making of goods for profit shall come
to an end, of course the growing of
crops for profit will some to an end
also; for the state will be the owner
as well as the tiller of the land.
In this fine programme who Is to
do the rough work and the dirty
work? We shall probably put our
Jewelers to the plough and our bank
ers sweeping the streets and to cart
ing oft the garbage. You may depend
the philosophers of the system, lyho
preach in the public places, or exploit
the system through the socialist
prints, will never do any of these use
ful and necessary things. Not all the
power of the new Ideal state could
compel them. If they would work,
now, they would make more than
ever they could get under their Ideal
system.
The existing system, with which
they declare themselves at war. Is the
fruit of universal human experience.
In all countries and all times. It Is a
necessary consequence of man's po
sition on the earth. It has grown up
under his effort, through ages, to
adjust himself to his situation and en
vironment. Some changes have been
made In details, due to advancing
science and to Improvement of meth
ods;' but the conditions are substan
tially the 6ame as under first civiliza
tions. The main difference between
present conditions and those of ear
lier civilizations has arisen from
abandonment of slavery or slave
labor. Kvon this has been only a
rtcent change. Yet the socialist state
would mean a retvrn merely to slav
ery, and to the most rigorous system
o' slavery the world has ever seen,
for it would be an attempt to en
fcrce universal compulsory labor, un
der direction of the state, leaving no
hope to the Individual of escape from
it, or of betterment of his condition In
it. It goes so violently against good
sense and common judgment that it Is
really an idle thing to talk about.
"But the existing system is wrong,
and socialism Is a protest against the
system." The root of this wrong
system is In the fundamental con
dition In which man was placed on
the earth. "In the sweat of thy face
shalt thou eat bread." If this Is a
curse every attempt to escape it be
comes more truly a curse. It Is no
answer to say that some, even many,
eat bread who have not earned It;
for somebody has earned it. somebody
lias accumulated It through industry,
trade or business, and passed It on
to his descendants; and the state can
only exist by careful protection of
r'ghts of property, with regulations
over its descent to the natural suc
cessors. This is universal in human
society; it conforms to experience, to
nature and to reason. Personal In
itiative on the one hand, and protec
tion of the rights of property on the
other both of which the socialist
scheme would destroy are the basis
of all civilized states and of all the
progress of mankind; and the purpose
to destroy them is as chimerical as
any dream that ever played in a mad
man's brain. Perhaps It Is a fault to
give it any serious treatment or con
sideration. The farmer whose land Is produc
ing a steadily decreasing yield per
acre has nothing to be proud of, how
ever great the quantity may be. De
teriorating productiveness must sooner
or later reach the point where expense
exceeds the revenue. There is always
a promising future for the farm so
managed that fertility Increase rather
than diminishes from year to year.
This desirable condition can be at
tained by an Intelligent system of ro
tation of crops, and by use of such
fertilizers as can be secured by .every
farmer. It behooves not nly the In
dividual farmer, but the agricultural
community as well, to see that the
best modern methods of agriculture
are pursued. When the Individual
farms of a community have become
poor and unproductive the whole dis
trict assumes an appearance of retro
gression and lack of thrift. Local
agitation and education are necessary
In order to induce the less progressive
to adopt the agricultural policies
which bring Increasing, instead of de
creasing wealth. No one wants to lo
cate In a farming district that has
failure staring out from every strag
gling fence, broken gate, tumbling
barn and barren field. All homeseek-
ers are attracted by the prosperous
appearance of productive fields and
well-kept premises. The progressive
farming community has a double ad
vantage it reaps the larger harvests
of well-managed fields and receives
the aid of those Investors who seek
only thrifty localities in which to pur
chase property. Of the farmer who
adopts modern methods it may be
truly said, "to him who hath shall be
Eiven." and of the careless or unpro
gresslve, "from him who hath not
shall be taken away even that which
he hath."
RKTRAYINO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
There comes from Tacoma a bit of
interesting testimony a personal con
fession from an itinerant newspaper
writer printed on this page toaay,
that he, a Democrat, registered as a
Republican, for the Oregon primaries.
This particular perjurer glories in his
dishonest deed. "Everything's fair in
lnvo war and nolitics." he cries.
Hardly; but the Democrat who wants
results, doesn't hesitate to pursue any
kind of game, fair or unfair, in Ore
gon, to get them. Therefore, hun
dreds and even thousands of Demo
crats last Spring registered as Re
publicans in order to control the Re
publican primaries, and name the
weakest men that such' candidates
might be beaten in the regular elec
tion. So Cake was defeated by Cham
berlain. But it is now denied by some that
Democrats ' voted as Republicans,
though it was notorious; it was
spoken of constantly; the newspapers
were full of it; George H. Thomas,
chairman of the Democratic county
committee of Multnomah, said he was
aghast at the perjury of Democrats,
well-known, lifelong Democrats, who
registered falsely as Republicans. Did
Mr. Thomas know what he was talk
ing about? He did, of course, as
everybody else knew who took the
trouble to Inquire. In one county,
Marion, a single citizen reported that
rorntrnized on the Republican rolls
forty tried and true Democrats. Why
were these faithful partisans thus
traitorously sneaking into the enemy's
camp and enlisting under his flag,
if not to betray him? They did be
tray him. as the result proved. But
how are we going to stop it until men
become honest, which, in such a mat
ter. Is hopeless to expect; or until
the primary law Is amended?
A FEW LESSONS FROM JACKSON REID.
The observant reader will draw one
ominous conclusion at least from the
account of the murder of De Mars
by the boy Jackson Reld. He cannot
fall to perceive that the lessons in
immunity for crime which the courts
have" been teaching so long and so as
siduously have penetrated deep and
wide throughout society. In answer
to the first question he was asked
after the crime, the boy was ready
with his specious plea, and it was one
which has played a conspicuous part
In dozens of farcical murder trials.
"I did it in self-defense," he said.
"De Mars was after my dog and
threatened that he woutd get me after
he had done with the dog." Is not
this the very language of the crimi
nal pettifogger? Jackson must have
been a more diligent student of -the
court reports than of his school books,
and the lessons he has learned are
portentous. How many other boys
have been pursuing the same course
ot instruction? How many lawyers
and Judges stop In the midst of those
scholastic technicalities which dis
courage Justice and foster crime to
think of the teaching they are offer
ing to school boys?
Is it not strange that a boy eleven
years old should have at his tongue's
end a technical plea In justification
of murder? Is it not stranger still
that his first thought, when De Mars
offended him. should have been to
shoot? Is it not strangest of all that
the deadly revolver should have been
lying within reach of the children,
that Jackson's little sister knew ex
actly where to find it, and that she
obeyed without hesitation when the
boy ordered her to go and get it?
All this tells us terrible tales of the
instruction which the administration
of the criminal law has imparted to
the rising generation, but it tells tales
also of the discipline and nurture of
the Reld children. How many times
must not Jackson have heard his
step-father threaten to shoot some
body before the idea of, murder be
came so familiar to him? What sort
of daily conversation must have taken
place in the family to make the little
children so knowing about "trespass"?
Two men peaceably passing their gate
were hailed as trespassers by these ex
traordinary children and the dog was
set upon them. What sort of civi
lization is this to be flourishing on the
outskirts of Portland? Is the Reid
family a group of Ishmaelltes with
its hand against every man?
What sort of parents are they who
permit their children to keep a dog
so savage that he tore the clothes of
a passerby to rags the other day?
What excuse is there for permit
ting such a beast to exist in the city?
What use had the Reld family for him
except, to help In their contentions
about "trespass"? It is only people
of a certain character who like to
possess these savage dogs. Against
burglars and so forth they are of no
use, since it is the easiest thing in
the world to poison them, but in
neighborhood quarrels they are ines
timable. ' This one has been the oc
casion for a murder. Revolvers,
snarling dogs, family conversations
about crime and defensive court pleas,
and a mother who is so concerned
about her soul that she overlooks the
conduct of her children, how beauti
fully all these things harmonize with
one another. When Jackson shot De
Mars, his mother was attending a
meeting of the devotees of "The
yVorld'a Advanced Thought." If sh
had been home switching him for his
precocious quarrelsomeness. It would
have been better. Much good her
advanced thought has done the boy.
Much comfort it will be to her now
that he has committed murder. There
are a great many other people who,
like Mrs. Reld,' spend their time
speculating about advanced thought,
their souls, God and the future world,
when there is plenty in this world of
a very material and practical char
acter to occupy all their energy if
they would attend to it. The most
advanced thought we know anything
about is the very ancient precept that
when a person has undertaken obli
gations he ought to fulfill them. This
especially applies to mothers or boys
We assure all these -women that if
they will attend to their children,
they need not worry about their souls.
The Lord will look after them better
than any advanced thought disciples
possibly can.
THE TlUN OF THE TIDE.
There are very few American Indus
tries that now fall to reflect some Im
provement n the commercial situa
tion. On account of the magnitude of
its business, the quarterly statement of
the steel trust is an exceptionally val
uable business barometer. This state
ment, which appeared a few days ago
showed June earnings of J7, 482, 797,
the highest figure reached this year,
although quite naturally the compari
son with the $15,000,000 profits of
June, 1907, is unfavorable. Not only
were the June earnings the largest for
any month this year, but the earnings
for the second quarter of 1908 were
more than J2, 000,000 In excess of
those of the first quarter. This re
covery is, of course, far from phenom
enal, when the magnitude of the bust
ness is considered, but It shows quite
effectually that the turn of the tide
has been reached, and there are bet
ter times ahead.
These earnings represent past condi
tions, and It is in the outlook for the
future that the most encouraging
signs appear. Accompanying the re
port Is a statement that the average
daily bookings for the first twenty-four
days in July are in excess of 26,000
tons per day, an amount equivalent to
75 per cent of the capacity of the
mills. This new business was distrib
uted over a wide range, covering prac
tlcaily all grades of finished steel, with
the exception of rails, for which there
has been but little improvement In de
mand. While the American public
can readily understand that there is
cause for rejoicing over increased
earnings, even for the iniquitous steel
trust, it is not at all clear that the re
turn of former prosperous conditions
would not be hastened if the trust
would make still further concessions
in the price of steel.
Reduction In prices would encour
age the demand so that. Instead of
working the mills at 75 per cent of the
capacity, as now seems an occasion for
congratulation, they could be worked
up to their full capacity. The prl
mary reason for failure of the rail
roads to buy rails at this time is their
Inability to induce capital to buy rail
road securities until It has been defi
nitely settled that the good are no
longer to be forced to suffer with the
bad in the drastic railroad regulation
that has been so much in evidence
during the past year. There is an
other reason, however, and that is the
belief that the price of steel rails is
susceptible of still further reduction in
prices, without impoverishing the
philanthropists who dominate the pol
icy of the greatest trust on earth.
WHERE THE BLAMELESS SUFFER.
Several thousand employes of the
Canadian Pacific railroad have struck
for higher wages and fears are en
tertained that the great system will
be completely tied up. As a rule, the
parties most seriously affected by a
strike are the employers and the em
ployes. Ths strike is usually precip
itated because one side or the other
is unwilling to continue on an exist
ing basis of labor and remuneration.
But no sooner Is the strike declared
than its effect is felt throughout a
wide field which theoretically has no
direct Interest in the controversy.
This is especially true of the railroad
strike, for the reason that practically
all lines of Industry are dependent to
a certain extent on the railroads. The
public does not directly share in the
wages that the Canadian Pacific
boilermakers earn, neither does it par
ticipate in the dividends earned by the
road; but' every time there is a strike
brought about over the unsatisfactory
dimensions of the wages or the divi
dends, the public suffers and suffers
much.
In this respect, the present strike of
the Canadian Pacific employes prom
ises to be a very serious matter. There
is an Immense crop of grain ready for
harvest and, unless men can be
brought into the country by rail, much
of It will be lost. The hard-working
immigrant - who, after two or three
years of work and self-denial. In the
new Northwest, Is this year about to
harvest his first crop, will with diffi
culty understand why he should lose
his crop simply through a falling out
between the railroad company and its
employes over a matter of wages.
Herein lies the injustice of the
strike, and it is this feature which
causes the great public that foots the
bill3 and suffers the discomforts, to
lose patience with both the employ
ers and the labor unions which de
clare strikes. The system which pre
cipitates such conflicts Is all wrong,
for it forces 1,000,000 innocent people
to suffer loss and discomfort, while
a few hundred Immediately Interested
are settling their differences.
COLORED SHIRTS.
Beware of the colored shirt. Shun
the bandana handkerchief. An article
in The Literary Digest proclaims that
they are traitors to health. Not be
cause of the dye stuff in them, al
though that has its demerits upon oc
casion, but because they are specious
devices to conceal dirt. The man who
wears a white cuff must keep it spot
less. He must change his garment
the moment the first speck appears.
Otherwise . it becomes an unsightly
reproach which publishes to every
body his niggardliness or slovenliness.
But a colored garment may be worn
on and on indefinitely. Its brilliant
red'or hydrangea blue can conceal any
number of spots. The dirt may ac
cumulate upon It until it peels off like
the layers of an onion and still the
garment will look well.
It follows that' a man who wears a
pink shirt confesses to all the world
that he is unable or unwilling to pay
laundry bills. Since cleanliness is
next to godliness, ha admits that his
religious convictions are precarious.
Worst of all, he endangers his health
by accommodating colonies of ml
crobes. Thus much from The Liter
ary Digest. It must not be forgotten,
however, that white shirts are not al
together Innocuous.- Who has not
suffered from pimples and sore places
on his neck where the stiff white
collar, rubs? The intractable fabric
first breaks the skin and then with
its starch poisons the wound. More
over, collars and bosoms which re
semble pieces of plank prevent th
skin from doing its duty by the body
They keep the perspiration in and
fend oft the life-giving breezes. One
concludes, therefore, that if a colored
shirt indicates a jparsimdhious dlspo
fcitlon, a Btarched garment suggests
that the wearer values his vain pride
above his health. Why not dress for
comfort first and show a long way
afterward? The white shirt which is
free from starch would appear to
meet all objections. It is indeed a
perfect garment. . All it lacks is
beauty. But "Why should our gar
ments, made to hide our parents'
shame, provoke our pride? Let me
b- dressed gay as I will, bugs, worms
and bees exceed me still." So sings
Dr. "Watts, and to our mind he sings
wisely.
The "Watson family" Tom, of
of Georgia, and Citizen D. M., of Port
land are not in strict accord regard
lng the possibilities of Bryan's suc
cess. Their views, in fact, are as far
apart as their respective homes. Tom
of Georgia, has difficulty in finding a
sufficient number of printable terms
in which to express his opinion of the
Platte statesman, and predicts defeat
so overwhelming that Democracy will
no longer be Bryanized, Citizen D.
M. returns to Portland with advice
to "bet all your money on Bryan to
win, and all you can borrow." It is
difficult to determine which of these
Watsons Is right, but. In all fairness.
it must be remembered that Tom is
speaking from personal knowledge
gained while serving as a running
mate, and his words are entitled to
consideration. Perhaps it would be
safer to split the advice given by Cit
izen D. M. and simply bet our money,
reserving the "borrowing" power un
til after election, when it might be
useful in case the. "sure thing" goes
astray.
The stage settings, the gun work and
the principals in that Idaho tragedy,
reported in yesterday's news columns,
were lurid and realistic enough for
anything ever related of the frontier
tales of a generation ago. When Dan
Carr, the rancher, met the rustlers, ac
cording to the Lewiston special, "a
fusillade of shots greeted the rancher,
but Carr killed Moore at the first shot
wounded Rice with a bullet through
the neck, and sent a ball through the
right arm of Reed." This was not
only in accordance with the dime
novel tale, but it was also strictly in
keeping with the way those things are
done In the yellow "mellow-drammer.
for Carr was an honest, hard-working
rancher, and the bad men who stopped
his bullets were cattle rustlers and
very undesirable citizens. The West
still retains some of its picturesque but
deadly features.
Another three-cent advance was
scored in the Chicago wheat market
yesterday, on the strength of bad crop
news in the Dakotas and other points
where rust is appearing. Foreign
news is also of a "bullish" nature,
and, until harvesting in this country
Is pretty well over in the Spring wheat
districts, there will be enough uncer
tainty in the situation to prevent very
much short selling. Locally, buyers
have been making some heavy pur
chases at prices far above the market
value, all of which is very pleasant
for the farmer, but far from profit
able for the buyers. The Inability of
the call board to be of any advantage
in Portland, Is shown by the pur
chase by Portland buyers of more than
1,000,000 bushels of wheat In the past
ten days, while not a single bushel has
been bought or sold on the board.
The decision to exclude cocaine
from the mails shows that the Post
office Department abounds in good in
tentions. Its wisdom is not so evi
dent. Efforts to make the postoffice
a general censor of morals and man
ners never have succeeded very well
in other countries and are not likely
to fare much better here. The fool
and his drug will come together in
spite of all impediments. Meantime,
the postoffice seems to be acquiring
a habit of meddlesomeness which ia
as bad as cocaine.
. Most of the exempt property in Ore
gon belongs to individuals or socle
ties which are abundantly able to pay
taxes upon it. Moreover, it enjoys the
protection of the law precisely the
same as other property. In all fair
ness, either the farmer and .small
householder should enjoy a reason
able exemption or the property now
exempt should be taxed. The law
should have no favorites.
The perfect airship must carry "a
liE-VitnlnE- rod- So much we learn
from Count Zeppelin's mishap. Around
the airship of the balloon type dangers
multiply faster . than Ingenuity can
resolve them. The simple truth seems
to be that the practicable vehicle for
tr-ovcroino- thA air must evolve from
Professor Langley's aeroplane and not
from the balloon.
A Chicago woman, devotee' of the
"higher thought." says she has fallen
heir to a $20,000,000 estate In Scot
land. That is, she thinks she has.
The higher thought works wpriders.
There is no need, of course, for
Governor Chamberlain to be nervous
about the Legislature. That's a mere
formality. Hasn't he been "elected
Senator by the people?
Count Zeppelin solved the problem
of aerial navigation, and then his ship
blew up. Those balloons are all right
if they don't explode or something else
doesn't happen.
Mr. Harriman objects to all refer
ences to Oregon as "my (meaning
"his") territory. Can he mean that
It belongs to Mr. Hill?
That Guild's Lake murder came
about as usual, through the circum
stance of having a loaded pistol handy
about the house.
We shall all be glad to welcome
those pay-as-you-enter cars. But we
hope we won't have to pay when we
can't enter.,
NEW SCHEME3 FOB COOLING FRUITS
Then Our Cherries May Be Served Freah
to New Yorlc.
Sew York Times.
Salem, Oregon, has Just held a cherry
fair, at which were exhibited the cher
ries of the Willamette Valley, cherries
one and three-eighths Inches In diame
ter, ripe, luscious, endeared to the Ore
gonians by a Juiciness that has pre
vented their successful shipment East.
Of cherries of the Pacific Slope we taste
only the drier varieties. The Royal
Anne, which is the standard French
white cherry, has attained to a melting
perfection in the Willamette Valley,
while the American Bing, Lambert and
Hosklns cherries are even more highly
prized by the connoisseurs of Yamhill
County. The Portland Oregonian, how
ever, predicts that the choice Pacific
cherries, loganberries and other tender
fruits, may soon delight the palates of
Manhattan gourmets.
The fruit will be cooled before it is
put into refrigeration for shipment.
Cooling stations are to be built at
points from Oregon to Lower Califor
nia, into which loaded cars will be run,
after which, the temperature being
promptly reduced to the right point, the
cars will be packed with ice and start
ed Eastward. By the old way the tem
perature of perishable fruits plucked
In the hot sunshine and 'immediately
dispatched had not fallen sufficiently
before the Journey across the continent
was half over. The preliminary cool
ing plan will allow picking fruits at a
riper stage, and will reduce the wast
age during transportation 3000 miles to
their best market.
JOHN SMITH AND PARCELS POST
ShowlaK How This Nation Ia In the
Grip of the Express Trust.
New York World.
John Smith, of New York, can now
send parcels-post packages to any
point in Bolivia or Peru for 12 cents a
pound, a watchful government having
made, a new treaty. The distance being
approximately 4000 miles and the
routes slow, circuitous and difficult
the rate is a bargain, but as Smith
probably knows not a soul in Peru or
Bolivia It is of little use to htm.
Mrs. Smith is in Asbury Park, N. J.,
for the Summer. The distance Is an
easy thiry-flve miles, wholly within the
United States and much travelled, but
Smith cannot mail her a five-pound
package of Summer novels at any price
whatever. He must employ a private
monoply and pay the rate fixed by It
for this very profitable interstate ser
vice. It does no good for Smith person
ally to get warm under the collar at
this absurd condition of things. But
If Brown, Jones, Robinson and all the
rest of them work together they may
vet impress on Congress a sense of
'shame that the United States lags
far behind the world in mall facilities.
When We FIht In the Air.
Philadelphia Press.
It was only two years ajter Trafalgar
was fought that Fulton sailed up the
Hudson In his steamboat. In a very
short time men-of-war that were pro
pelled by galls were put out of commis
sion by the steamers.
About midway between Fulton's day
and our own two lronclade met in bat
t,'e In Hampton Roads, and the deatH
knell of all wooden warships was
sounded at that hour. One little iron
sheathed monitor could sink all of Nel
son's fleet.
Since the first Monitor and the Merri
mac had their memorable fight there
has been such a rapid advance in the
way of size, armor and guns that one
Dreadnought today could whip a dozen
first-class battleships of a decaU ago.
But the only thing revolutionary in the
last quarter of a century has been
mainly in the way of bigness of chip
and caliber of gun.
Has the time now arrived when an
other new Invention is to annihilate
existing navies. Count Zeppelin's
flight in his wonderful airship may
well cause the profound attention of
Europe and elsewhere which it has
created. Who can tell In how short a
time the first battle is to be fought in
air? And who cannot picture the
uselessness of floating hulks of Bteel
when that day arrives!
Japan in South America.
New York Tribune.
The Japanese overtures to Chile for
closer diplomatic and commercial rela
tions are a noteworthy sign of the
times, indicating the untiring enter
prise with which Japan is reaching ouf
into all parts ot tne gioDe in ner
campaign for mecantlle pre-eminence.
She is Inviting Chile, one of the most
prosperous and progressive of Sourh
American states, to be represented at
the Toklo Exposition, and proposes to
establish a legation at the Chilean cap
ital. Naturally Japanese merchants and
students will settle in Chile, and be
fore long a Japanese steamship line
will connect Yokohama with Valparaiso
and Japanese Industries will compete
with those of Europe and America in
the Chilean market.
London Times praises Our Athletes.
Boston Post
The London Times, among English
n a-n' orto nara nnmmpntlnff without Pfln-
cor on the Olympic games makes frank
admission that in speea ana nirengui
the British are far behind the Amer
icans. "Thev were as amateurs." says
the Times, "as compared with pro
fessionals, ine lesson wiiicu mo
English writer draws from these facts
to that thn mothnrift of tralnlnsr there
are antiquated, good enough at home,
but insufficient when competing
against the world. There Is some-
v. , tn tula Tlia AmArlrana are
called "businesslike athletes." But it is
simply that here the means are Detter
adapted to the end, and the spirit of
sport is not deteriorated.
Pointed Paragraphs.
Chicago News.
The sliver question Is it 'solid or
only plated?
Opportunities and shrewd politicians
wear rubber shoes.
The man who plants a ladder never
knows what may come up.
It takes the strongest kind o: love to
survive the onion test.
Too much of the love Cupid hands
out is of the cold-storage brand.
The child with a mind of its own
seldom cares to mind its parents.
A progressive man is apt to get nis
back up when asked to come down.
Where Presidents Are Made.
Chicapn Tnter Ocean.
Chicago Is the center and metropolis
of
the region where Presidents are
ade. The East contributes campaign.
fur
nds and votes sometimes, and al- ,
ays in Pennsylvania to the making
f Republican Presidents. The moun
ilns and the Pacific Coast contribute
.h,,.i.. Rut the Middle
West the Mississippi Valley does the
hard and sober thinking that moves
the Nation to action and manes i-resi-
dents.
Swarms of Bugs Darken a Town.
Baltimore News.
Recently at La Crosse, Wis., people
were compelled to stay indoors on ac
count of swarms of bugs, which were
so thick that at times the town was in
semi-darkness.
Pet Carp Bats Out of Owner's Hand.
Trenton N. J.) Dispatch.
Otto Evers, a farmer living near New
ton. N. J., says he has a pet carp that
sits in his lap and eats out of his hand.
MR. ALBERT MAKES EXPLANATION
Thinks The Oregonla
Misunderstood
Him, and Says Just What He Meant.
SALEM, Or., Aug. 4. (To the Editor.)
The temper of your comment on my
communication of yesterday In your
paper of today indicates an Inexplicable
misconception on your part of the
tenor and motive of my article. What
I wrote was in no sense a criticism of
your editorial, but only contrasted the
results of the Presidential and Guber
natorial elections in the past, referring
to the "Kilkenny" conditions In the Re
publican party In the East and at home,
which led to the election of Governor
Chamberlain to the Senate, concluding
that the dissensions still exist, Intensi
fied by the pending strife between
Chairman Cake and Committeeman
Williams for the possession of the cam
paign sack, would logically lead to the
defeat of the Taft ticket here in No
vember. I could not have misunderstood you?
views in the premises, so plainly indi
cated In the conclusion of your edi
torial referred to, as well as by your
statement in an adjoining column of
the same issue: 'Possibly Oregon may
be carried for Taft. It is a possibility
only," your conclusion being based en
the very conditions in the Republican
party upon which I based my belief In
the probable defeat of Taft, in my com
munication. As to your charge, "Mr. Albert makes
a misstatement when he says The Ore
gonian claims this Is a cock-sure Re
publican state," I can only say that I
made no such accusation against The
Oregonian, but It would stand again
nearly all other Republican newspapers
in the United States and the jingoes at
home.
When I said, "How can you consist
ently place Oregon In 1908 in the col
umn of cock-sure Republican states," I
used the pronoun "you" in the general
sense In which you frequently use It.
The Standard Dictionary says: "'You'
is often used indefinitely like 'one' or
'they,' for persons not specified, etc." It
was in this sense I used the word In
the (to you) objectionable sentence. I
again disavow any Intention of accus
ing The Oregonian of a belief that Taft
will carry this state In November. If
you still fear my language may be mis
understood by your readers, to your
detriment, I hereby publicly express re
gret for my poor diction, Imputing the
result to my faulty rhetoric and not to
any bluntness of acumen on your part.
I am not a politician and hav; no
knowledge of illegal registration here,
nor have I noticed any prosecutions for
perjury In Multnomah County for such
cause. I take Issue with you upon the
statement: "It is not true that an un
trammeled vote deliberately chose
Chamberlain for United States Sjna
tor." admitting the truth of your state
ment that "Republicans refused to be
bound by the result," and so bolted
their own party nomination. I assume
that deliberately voting for Chamber
lain some six weeks afterward evi
denced the fact that they were un
trammeled. J. II. ALBERT.
Surd By Miss La Follettr.
Chicago dispatch to Kansas City Star.
On behalf of Miss Fola LaFollette,
daughter of Senator LaFollette of
Wisconsin, a motion to set aside the
bankruptcy of the Will J. Block
Amusement Company was filed In the
United States District Court.
That she was engaged to play a role
In a production that was never staged
and as a result of which she failed
to receive a weekly salary of $50 is
alleged by the daughter of the Wis
consin senator. Miss LaFollette avers
she was employed for a period of thirty
weeks to star in the production.
The amusement company not only
failed to produce the play but forgot to
release Miss LaFollette from her con
tract, and the season passed before
the young actress was able to obtain
other employment
There are vague promises of good
things in other plays. Miss LaFollette
alleges, but none was forthcoming, and
the amusement company even went in
to bankruptcy without the young
woman's knowledge she declares. For
all of this. Miss LaFollette asks
damages.
The Orearon Idea.
Tacoma Tribune.
Under the direct primary law. The
Oregonian laments, Oregon Democrats
reKlstered as Republicans, helped to
nominate the weakest Republican can
didate for the Senate, and in the gen
eral election voted for the Democratic
candidate. The Oregonian Is correct.
The writer of this paragraph did that
very thing, believing that the public
welfare required it. The Oregonian says
that's stuffing the ballot-box. Stuff and
nonsense! Everything's fair in love.
war and politics. The scheme
Is practical and beautifully simple.
Wonder If It can't be utilized In Wash
ington? Keep quiet about It, ye Demo
crats. The Republicans have heard
from Oregon and they have their eye
on you.
Rescued Rabbit Strands an Auto.
Eastport, L. I., Despatch.
A rabbit whose life he instinctively
saved stranded Richard B. TUling
hast's automobile and gave him and
a Miss Tooker, his companion, a four
mile walk. The rabbit Jumped into the
path of the machine near Riverside,
and caused him to swerve into the
woods, thereby imperiling his life and
that of Miss Tooker. Disregarding all
risk. Mr. Tilllnghast swung the steer
ing wheel to the left, carrying the big
machine off the embankment and In
to the woods. Fortunately the resist
ing bushes stopped the car before It
upset, and the occupants escaped-without
injury.
They could not get the car on the
road again and had to walk four miles
to the nearest hotel-
New-Old Remedy to Prevent Iron Rust.
Shipping World.
It is announced from Blackburn, Lan
cashire, that an important discovery has
been made which will be of great value
to shipping in the preservation of Iron
and all other material name to rust ana
deterioration by weeping. The substance
Is a liquid paint, the principle or wnicn
is believed by experts to be an old Ro
man secret, which has been lost 4 to the
world for 700 years.
Publicity Withheld.
" Chicago Inter Ocean.
What we would like to know is. Why
doesn't the Independence League pub
lish he name of Its campaign sub
scriber, as a matter of justice to the
latter?
Rural Joys.
Chicatro, News.
The cattle stand beneath the treei
And flKht the files tha livelong day.
The meadow lark haa ceaaed to alng.
The bobolink haa gone away.
The cherries ere they could be canned
Were seized by birds aa contraband.
The warm nights force the growth of corn.
The streams abound with infant trout.
The cabbage worm is trying hard
To knock the crop of sauerkraut.
And where we planted flowers last Spring
We cannot find a single thing.
rr-. ,. tt -iri from far away
Has donned a brassy coat of tan
And squeals at little garter snakes.
Hoping to bring the only man.
The man himself is fighting mad
He has hay fever very bad.
The mower of the ripened hay
While eteering on the starboard tack
Ran on a neat of bumble bees
And weara a Doultlce on his back.
The haying'a almost done at last.
Geel How'a the Summer's flying past!
KENTUCKY'S BITTER TOBACCO WAR
Tfar Years of Barn-Burning, Cro-
Destroyln and Personal A'iolence.
Chicago Record-Herald.
For the last three years organized
and unorganized tobacco planters have
been at war In Kentucky, with the re
sult that there now exists in the state
"a condition of affairs that Is almost
without parallel In the history of the
world," nccording to H. A. Vivian, who
has investigated conditions In the
region of "night riders" and writes
about them In the New York Times.
"Disrespect and disregard of law and
order prevail; the wanton destruction
of property Is a dally occurrence and
passes unpunished, Indeed, almost un
noticed, save by those Immediately
concerned," writes Mr. Vivian. "The
taking of human life is alarmingly
frequent, and in some sections of the
state men and women dread the hours
of darkness.
"Kentucky's tobacco war Is an old
story. The deeds of the so-called
'night riders' have been chronicled
from time to time in news dispatches
and in magazine articles. The war Is
very nearly over. The night riders
have about accomplished the end they
sought. And yet conditions in the
state, despite the earnest protests of
her citizens to the contrary, are not
Improved, but unquestionably are actu
ally more serious than they were some
months ago. This Is true not so much
because of the outrages that are being
committed from time to time, but be
cause of the complacency with which
the existing state of things Is regard
ed by a community of educated, civil
ized people.
"To one of unbiased mind who trav
els through Kentucky in these days
and talks with farmers, tobacco-growers,
land-owners, tobacco warehouse
men, Phopkcepers, laborers, a slnglo
fact is brought home with almost ap
palling directness. This fact is that
the majority of the people of the state
have reached a stage where they seri
ously believe and solemnly affirm,
though not in so many words, that two
wrong? do make a right. Not only are
the deeds of the night riders generally
condoned, but they are actually ap
plauded. The taking of life, while re
gretted, has come to be regarded as a
necessary Incident In the remarkable
fight that has been going on. The In
terference with personal liberty Is ap
proved. Might is right to the average
Kentucklan. and he does not believe
that in all cases law and order should
prevail so that government may be
maintained and communities progress."
Reviewing the history of the tobaei-s
war, Mr. Vivian says it began early la
1906. when a number of planters, con
vinced that the so-called tobacco true
through a practical monopoly of tn
Industry of manufacturing tobacco,
was paying what were termed starva
tion prices for the raw material, band
ed themselves together and pooled their
crops. Of the 190 crop something over
43 per cent was pooled and held in
warehouses. In 1907 between 70 and SO
per cent of the crop was thus con
trolled and in the present year. It is
estimated, the amount reached nearly
90 per cent at the time the "night rid
ing" began.
"Independent" tobacco-growers those
who stood out agninst the combination
and tried to raise tobacco for the mar
ket price, have had their fields prac
tically all ruined this year, according
to Mr. Vivian. The crop of the growers-in
the pool has not been marketi-d
In previous years and their land has
not been planted to tobacco this year,
with the result that the state will not
produce one-fifth of its normal crop.
Aside from the Immediate results of
the "night riders" in destroying fields,
burning barns and committing acts of
personal violence ranging from mur
ders to whippings, Kentucky has been
plunged into a state of "public feeling'
that Mr. Vivian considers deplorable,
and describes in , the following para
graphs: "Taking the law into their own
hands, (irmly convinced that they were
right and could not expect Justice from
the usual sources, the night riders, no
matter what part of the state they act
ed In, sowed a wind and now the whirl
wind appears upon the horizon.
"'When a large body of men form
an organization or several organiza
tions for the purpose of disobeying the
law, no matter how good their ulti
mate purpose may be, the effect Is to
show to the lawless element In any
community how easily the law may be
disobeyed.' This is from Adjutant
General Johnson, who is as closely ill
touch with the whole situation as any
one in Kentucky. 'There has been but
one conviction In connection with the
night riding; that of Dr. Champion
down In Calloway County. It has been
Impossible to get convictions. Juries
drawn from the body of the state have
refused to convict; county officers have
refused to do their duty; Judges and
court officials have declined to punish.'
"General Johnson might have added
that the people of the state have re
fused to censure; that among the body
of the citizens the deeds of the night
riders were not regarded as crimes, and
that; In some instances, where punish
ment threatened an offender, the pub
lic outcry of sympathy has been amaz
ing. "It will be recalled that In the latter
days of the Ku-Klux unpardonable
depredations were committed In Its
name. So it is with the night riders.
Thore was, and still Is, a considerable
lawless element In the organizations of
tobacco-growers, and necessarily in the
night riders. There are headstrong,
reckless young men of thoughtless dis
positions, as well as a few vicious
eharaoters. It Is Invariably so. A love
of mischief, too, has played Its part,
and the consequence is that all over
the state personal feuds have sprung
up, hatred has been engendered, the
strong, bitter desire for vengeance has
been aroused, and men have come to
plotting secretly to burn and destroy
and sometimes kill with no thought of
the tobacco war In their minds, but
ever remembering that the night rid
ers were successful in defying and
evading the law."
Soelal Influence of the White House.
Detroit Free Press.
"There are no lovers like wedded
lovers," wrote President Roosevelt In
a note to his friend, Miss Kohlsaat, of
Chicago, congratulating her on her ap
proaching marriage. The phrase Is
reminiscent of President Cleveland's
eulogy of wedded life as "one grand,
sweet song."
In these times of divorces and loose
views on marriage the attitude of occu
pants of the White House M, no doubt.
a steadying influence. It seems llk Iv
to continue, for Mrs. Taft's recent ut
terances on divorce are.an assurance
that her husband Is as sound on the,
sanctity of marriage as he is upon all
public questions, and Mr. Bryan's home
life is a model for his fellow-citizens.
Pulpit preachments on the divorce
evil, editorial comment, and formal ad-
Aience mav have some effect in restrain -
V ing the drift from old standard?, but
at the most they can be little more
than formal and con vent'ona!.
The happiness that conies with such
unions, and Its reflection in the lives
and casual remarks and writings of
those of conspicuous station, inevitably
carry more weight and lnfluencs for
good than a thousand dry speeches.