c TIIE MOBSIXG OREGOXIAy, MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 1903.
W teaman
Entered at Portland. Oregon. Postofflcs
6econd-Clasa Matter.
Subscription Kalrs Inrartably In Advance
(Br Mall-
Dally. Sunday Included, ons year. IJ-J
Daily. Sunday Included, six months....
Daily. Sunday Included, three months. -
Dally. 6unday Included, one month....
Dally without Sunday, one year
Dally, without Sunday, six months..... .-
Dally, without Sunday, thrie months.. i
Dally, without Sunday, one month "
Weekly, one year J-JjJ
Sunday, one year f "
Sunday anil Weekly, one year -u
By Carrier )
Dally. Sunday Included, one year......
Dally. Sunday Included, one month....
How to Remit Send postofflci money
order, express order or personal check on
your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency
are at the sender's risk- Give postofttce ad
dress In full. Includlag county and stats.
PoMage KsU 10 to 1 pages. 1 cent; 1J
to 2 pages. 2 centa: 80 to 44 psges. a
centi; 48 to 60 pages. 4 cent. Foreign post
age double ratea
Eattrra Boinea Oftlce The a C- Beck
wit;! Special Agency New York. room. 48
10 Tribune bunding. Chicago, rooma elo-bl-J
Tribune building.
PORTLAND. MONDAY, AUG. 11. 1908.
A CHEERFUL. ESSAY.
The Economic Functions ot Vice."
by John McElroy, Washington. D. C,
U? an interesting essay. The postulate
Is that the economic function of vice
In the human family is analogous to
that of nature In the Anlmal-and plant
family In general, whereby excessive
reproduction is held down, and room
left for those able to survive. "Below
the human stratum superabundant
generation Is neutralized by the sim
ple device of having every organism
prey on some other one. In her ten
years of fruitful life the female cod
lays 50,000,000 eggs. If nothing
thwarted the amiable efforts of her
self and offspring to multiply and re
plenish they would shortly pack the
ocean as full as a box of sardines."
And so -of the chlnook salmon. But
the creatures that live on the fertil
ity of the cod or salmon are so nu
merous that not one egg In thousands
comes to a mature fish. Likewise, "in
the whole animal kingdom it Is a
reck-to-neck race between production
and extermination." It is so, very
largely too, in the vegetable world.
Go to any thicket, bush or wood, and
note how the different varieties are
struggling with each other for soil,
light and air, and how many of the
members are perishing In the competi
tion in Oregon the Douglas fir or
white cedar, or in "moist lands by the
river's brink the cottonwood or alder,
triumphing over all.
But man Is, to an extent, an excep
tion to this form of struggle. He
makes constant effort to exempt him
self from nature's law of survival of
the fittest, and with some success; "for
while man preys upon myriads of ere
ated things, there is no created thing
that preys on him, if we except the
latest scientific explanation of the
rause of everything from pneumonia
to laziness, the modest but effective
bacillus." Xow according to our au
thor the economic function of vice. In
the human race, is analogous to that
of prey and plunder In the remain
der of the organic world. "Without
vice the race would multiply so fast
that in a few years there would be no
sustenance, nor even standing room.
We may take it. if we choose, as a
new theory of the origin of evil or
rather what we call evil; for if vice
have a true economic function, we
cannot properly call it, or Its conse
quences, evils at all.
A phase of the argument is that
vice is not so much a cause as an
effect precisely as disease Is a symp
tom; that vice does not make a na
ture weak or defective, but a weak
and defective nature expresses Itself
in vice, and that expression brings
about in one way or another the sov
ereign remedy of extermination. In
other words, vice is a counterpoise to
the advantage of Intelligence which
man has over all other creatures, serv
ing to keep down overwhelming ex
cess of numbers.
This is merely a statement of the
argument, which they who are curious
on the subject may consider. Stated
differently, the writer's meaning is
that destruction by vice makes room
for virtue In the world. The argu
ment would perhaps be conclusive, if
there were no other way to advance
virtue; which, however, this philoso
pher seems to think can be done only
by restriction of population.
He would tell us. however, that he
is not arguing for a theory, but is stat
ing a condition, and an Inescapable
one; namely, that there would soon
be too many people In the world. If
their vices did not keep down their
numbers. Room Is made and society
is improved, by the self-destructive-ness
of vice. The man denies that he
is a pessimist; professes to be an op
timist. The essay bristles throughout with
pungent sayings, as this: "People who
have done much In the way of reform
ing' drunkards have been astonished
to find how little manhood remained
after elimination of whisky from the
equation." Or this: "The struggle
for existence is a murderous scramble
to get rid of a vast surplusage, and
the 'survival of the fittest is the suc
cess of the minority in demonstrating
that the majority are superfluous."
And this: "Yet none of nature's
methods of extermination are pleasant
to those connected with the victim,
though some of them are to the vic
tim himself. Of course each one of
us feels entirely competent to pick out
in his own community the persons
who could best be spared, but public
opinion at present is hostile to any
practical plan of making the neces
sary thinning out."
Some of the vices that check or pre
vent multiplication of the human race,
and some of the most potent of them,
pass unobserved by most or are re
garded with favor. We recall a re
cent book by Professor Patten, an
eminent biologist of the University of
Pennsylvania, who asserts and main
tains that luxurious living has greater
effect in minimizing the birth-rate
than all the open or notorious vices.
The women of such families bear no
children. Overabundant sugar diet,
candy, sweetmeats, rich confectionery,
make women fat and barren. The
hope of the race. Professor Patten de
clares, is not in "sugar-fed women."
No doubt if Mr. McElroy"s eye had
fallen on Professor Patten's book it
would have given delight to the au
thor of this essay on the utility of vice
as an economic function for preven
tion of too rapid increase of the hu
man race.
While those not upon the ground
and not aware of the actual condi
tions cannot understand the provoca-,
Hun wlilili has'-lnspired the mob vio
lence at Springfield, 111., there will be
general condemnation of the course
the white people have pursued in
their attempt to punish offending
blacks. The people of one commu
nity will criticise the action of the
people of another community in a case
of this kind, even though they would
have proceeded in the same manner
under like circumstances. Springfield
has suffered In the estimation of the
rest of the country. It will be many
years before that city will again be
thought of by the people of the United
States as a quiet and law-abiding com
munity. We may find excuses for mob
violence, but we can never Justify it.
HERE IS TROUBLE, CTDEBD.
When Senator Bourne, Chairman
Cake and their campaign managers
get to work in Oregon if they ever
do to fight for Taft for President and
Chamberlain for Senator, they will
learn something about the difficulty of
fishing In troubled waters.
' The absurdity of the effort to carry
the state for Taft and Chamberlain
will appear, first thing; and it will be
apparent last thing.
If a man is & Republican, and knows
any reason why he should be a Re
publican, what reason then has he for
wishing Taft to be President and
Chamberlain to be Senator?
But if a man doesn't know what he
is, or what he wants but here we
stop. For we remember that one said
"Whosoever shall eay thou fool" shall
be in danger of hell fire."
nGHLY PROSPEROUS TIMES.
There is wonderful prosperity these
days. No man feels that he ought to
work. If you want man and wife to
go into the country even only a short
distance where they are to milk the
cows and look after the sheep, and
hoe the potatoes for their own table,
and gather the apples and collect the
eggs and eat them, and to look after
the cattle and hens and crops, you
will be disappointed. You will not
find anybody who will do these things.
Nobody is willing to work. Mr. Bryan
promises all things without labor.
One can get a sack of flour somehow,
and catch a few mudcats out of the
lake and wait for the millennium. A
great lot of people have got what
they never worked for. Why shouldn't
all of us? Bryan will bring it about,
all right. .'Rah for Bryan!
Advertise for man and wife to do
work on a ranch, near the city with
in daily and nightly reach of carlines.
You can get nobody who has any ef
ficiency. They say they can do
things, but they can't. Main reason
is they don't want to. They fear you
will make something out of their la
bor. They think they can do better.
Above all, they are unwilling that any
one should make profit even the
smallest out of them.
There Is enormous prosperity at the
present time, and every one should
make the most of it. The good rule
is. Don't work for anything that any
body can afford to pay. And If you
engage for employment, see that the
person who hires you makes no profit
out of your labor. Why should he?
It is your business to strip him of
what he's got. He got it out of some
body else. It Is universal thievery.
Vote for Bryan!
There Is enormous prosperity Just
now especially in -our Pacific North
west States. It will be greater, after
the election of Bryan. Portland and
our other cities will issue bonds.
There is wealth in bonds. Prosperous
days are ahead of us.
TAFT FITTER THAX BRYAN.
It is a significant fact that the New
York Independent, Collier's Weekly,
the Outlook and the Springfield Re
publican have all stated editorially
that they believe Mr. Taft would make
a better President than Mr. Bryan
would. Whatever may be true of
certain great New York dailies, it can
not be said of any of the periodicals
named that they are guided by parti
san prejudice, that they are subser
vient to "the interests" or that theii
opinions are for sale. Each of them
is Independent, the Springfield Re
publican arrogantly so. Each of them
has strong convictions and the cour
age to express them. The Outlook Is
a thorough-going admirer of Presi
dent Roosevelt, but it did not hesitate
to rebuke him for meddling with the
discipline of Harvard University, and
when Judge Grosscup's extraordinary
Standard Oil decision came out no
magazine dealt with his flimsy logic
more candidly than did the Outlook.
The Independent has not been an adr
mlrer of Mr. Roosevelt except with
many reservations, but it prefers Mr.
Taft to Mr. Bryan, and says so frank
ly. Collier's Weekly Is the freest kind
of free lance, plunging into every
fight there Is going, and taking always
the side which it happens to prefer.
It is sometimes misled, but never can
be accused of acting from Improper
motives.
The Springfield Republican Is so In
dependent, as we have said, that It Is
fairly arrogant. To Illustrate this
trait of the paper one may remember
that when almost every "respectable"
newspaper In the country was ridi
culing, and many of them reviling,
Mr. Bryan for his free-silver fantasies
and later for his views upon Gov
ernment ownership, the Republican
criticised him without rancor and
took incomparable pains to point out
wherein it thought he was right as
well as to publish his errors. It has
always been almost more than fair to
Mr. Bryan, and even in the editorial
article where the Republican states Its
preference for Mr. Taft it takes pains
to say that it. has always respected the
Nebraska leader "for his stainless
character, his brilliant leadership and
the resoluteness of his nature." But
for all that it thinks Mr. Taft would
make a better President.
The Republican's reasons for wish
ing to see Mr. Taft elected are inter
esting. It begins by saying that "the
problem for every citizen in the com
ing National election will be to weigh
every man and every Issue for himself
and in the end go where to his mind
the largest popular advantage Is to be
found." It proclaims unwavering loy
alty to essential democracy and be
lieves that "a majority of the people
of the United States are irrevocably
committed to that safeguarding of the
people's rights which has taken shape
In the popular mind under the broad
designation of the Roosevelt policies."
The question then becomes very sim
ple. Which of the two candidates Is
the more likely to carry out the
Roosevelt policies efficiently? Natur
ally It will be the one who has "pa
tient, constructive ability for the wide
seeing and capable handling of large
things" and is at the same time "in
full sympathy with the popular
cause." How do the two candidates
meet this test?
The Republican finds Mr. Bryan to
be a "strong and attractive preach
er," and yet his years of preaching
"have unfitted him for such govern
mental work as the Nation needs."
He Is an "orator and doctrinaire in
stead of a well-poised administrator."
On the other hand, the Republican
thinks that Mr. Taft Is fitted by na
ture and training to be a better ad
ministrator than Mr. Bryan, or Mr.
Roosevelt either. It believes that his
faith in the "new Republicanism" and
in democratic government is perfectly
sincere, that "he stands unswervingly
on the main lines of the President's
fight for the people," and that he will
carry on the task of transforming the
Republican party from the bulwark of
special privilege to a party of equal
opportunity. The progressive forces
of the country, it says, are turning to
the support of Judge Taft and the
reason for it Is their "conviction that
he will keep the faith" of the great
Roosevelt policies, going not only as
far as the President but surpassing
him. The Republican "accepts Judge
Taft as the best exponent of the
National purpose to enlarge within the
republic the dominance of genuine de
mocracy,"
STRENGTHENING OUR TRADE POSITION
The American-Hawaiian Steamship
Company has at last announced the
establishment of a regular steamship
service between Salinas Cruz, the Pa
cific port at which Atlantic freight is
trans-shipped, and Portland, thus giv
ing this city an admirable freight serv
ice from New York. The steamers
will reach Portland every three weeks,
and will be enabled to deliver freight
in this city twenty-five days after it Is
shipped from New York. It is diffi
cult to overestimate the value of a
service of this kind, for it places this
city absolutely Independent of the rail
road on fully 95 per cent of the com
modities named in the Western freight
classification tariffs of the railroads,
and it makes it an impossibility for
the roads to grant to any interior
point better rates than are given Port
land.. The establishment of the new serv
ice almost simultaneously with the
opening of the new North Bank Rail
road makes it doubly valuable, as the
new road will open up territory from
which lack of transportation facilities
has In the past prevented Portland
Jobbers doing business. The Nebras
kan and Nevadan are the vessels
which have been selected for the in
auguration of the Portland service,
and they will undoubtedly prove large
enough to handle the business at the
start. Later, however, as the new
trade field into which Portland has
been admitted by the completion of
the North Bank road is developed, it
will be necessary to provide larger
steamers. Our present twenty-six-foot
channel to the sea is ample for the
class of vessels that are now coming
here, but it will be insufficient for
those on which we must depend in
the near future.
The American-Hawaiian Steamship
Company Is only one of four big lines
which have been endeavoring to do
business with Portland. The Kosmos
line, the Blue Funnel line and the
French "round-the-world" line have
all been looking over the field, and if
the river improvements are continued
it is only a matter of time until they
will come here. Meanwhile there
must be no rainbow-chasing or Indul
gence of wild vagaries which will tend
to prevent a centralization of energies
on the one vital part of oar entire
transportation system the open river
to the sea. Our facilities for reaching
the Inland Empire will be within a
month superior to those enjoyed by
any other port in the Pacific North
west, and it is of the utmost import
ance that we make immediate provis
ion for passing this traffic to and from
the high seas on the largest class of
carriers.
BILLIONS IN GRAIN.
Six hundred millions is not an In
conceivably vast sum in a country like
ours, where the average dally remun
eration of the farmers is about $24,
000,000. It Is a large sum, however,
when it appears, as it does this year,
as an increase in value of the grain
crop alone, over that of the preced
ing year. It means that wheat, corn,
oats, barley and rye crops of the
United States will this year increase
the average purchasing power of
every man, woman and child in the
United States about $7 over that of
last year. This is Just the increase.
It is when we get down to the total
value of the crop that the figures be
gin to grow bewildering in their im
mensity. The August report of the
Agricultural Department, giving con
ditions and acreage on the grains
mentioned, has been reduced to quan
titative figures by the statistician of
the New York Produce Exchange, and
indicates a yield of 4,508,892,000 bush
els. Corn, of course, leads with a
total of 2,716.000,000 bushels, oats
811,347,000, wheat 675.651,000, barley
173.452,000 and rye 32,442,000 bush
els. Estimating the value of this im
mense crop at Saturday's prices, we
have a total of $2,937,807,500, with
the strength of the market situation
indicating that this sum may be ma
terially Increased by higher prices
later in the season. The wheat yield,
according to the Government figures,
is about 40,000,000 bushels greater
than that of last year. Corn shows an
increase of 124,000,000 bushels, oats
157,000.000 bushels, barley 20,000,000
bushels, and rye about 1,000,000 bush
els. These five most prominent grains
last year showed an out-turn of 4,166,
013,000 bushels, which, based on values-ruling
August 15, 1907, was worth
$2,353,236,870, the Increased value for
1903 thus being $584,570,630.
This Increase 6f nearly $600,000,000
in the value of the crop is only a por
tion of the Increased benefits that the
country as a whole will reap from the
excellent harvest. The additional 343,
000.000 bushels of grain will all find
Its way to market in some shape, and
to move it will require the services of
cars and locomotives by thousands
and tens of thousands, and as these
are again brought into service there
will be increased employment for rail
road employes, freight-handlers, ware
housemen, and practically all kinds of
labor that exacts a certain amount of
toll from the grain crop at the vary
ing stages through which it passes on
the way from the farm to the ship.
This grain crop is only one of the
many great resources which make the
perpetuation or prolongation of any
thing like hard times an impossibility
in this country. Anarchists and other
brands of Jawsmiths may rant and
rave over the inequalities of the sys
tem which gives wealth to those who
work for It, and withholds it from the
drones who will not work, but effort
of this kind cannot retard prosperity
so long as Nature and honest labor
collaborating can turn out $3,000,
000,000 grain crops.
The success of the Board of Trade
in discovering between 6,000,000 and
9,000,000 bushels more wheat in the
Pacific Northwest than could be lo
cated by the railroads, the exporters
or any of the grain men who have
had from ten years' to forty years' ex
perience in crop estimating, is grati-
fying to a certain extent. And yet if
the foreign shipowner had even a hazy
suspicion that there was a 50,000,000
bushel crop in this territory, there
would be an immediate advance of
about 5 cents per bushel In ocean
freights. "Padding" may be all right
when confined to the bank clearings
of ambitious Puget Sound cities, but
when applied to the wheat crop it Is
more liable to be harmful than benefl'
clal. The crop of Oregon, Washing
ton and Idaho, in its actual propor
tions. Is not so small 'that it should
become necessary to "pad" it out, and
the foreign buyer who withholds his
orders in the belief that there is a
60,000,000-bushel crop here will, like
the shipowner who advances rates on
the strength of such a report, be
doomed to disappointment.
The Japanese have as yet failed to
make much of a reputation as an in
ventive people, but as imitators they
can challenge the world. The cap
ture of two of their poaching sealers
by an American revenue cutter re
vealed an attempt at deception which
recalled the experience of the famous
Dan McLean. The Japanese poachers
had painted one of their vessels white,
and rigged her with papier mache
yards in imitation of an American
revenue cutter. This was a clever at
tempt at deception, but It was not new
with the Japanese, for it was first
worked, and with great success, by
Dan McLean, the "Sea Wolf." Mc-J
Lean conceived the plan and used it N
for the purpose of frightening poach
ers away from a big pile of skins
which they had taken in a raid on
the Islands. The coup was so bril
liantly executed that it was afterwards
embalmed in poetry by Rudyard Kip
ling. There is nothing new under the
sun, or even under the Aurora Bore
alls. It wa3 a rare discovery of "unde
veloped resources" of the Pacific
Northwest that was made by the Vic
toria men who a few years ago estab
lished a whaling station at Kyuquot,
on the west coast of Vancouver
Island. Every year since the estab
lishment of the station the enterprise
has paid enormous dividends, and this
year the catch is breaking all previous
records. Last week the steam whaler
connected with the station captured
twenty-six whales, and since the sea
son began 234 whales have been cap
tured. These whales, of course, lack
the financial value of the old sperm
whales of the early days of the indus
try, but their capture is so easy and
the amount of oil and fertilizer they
yield Is so great that the profits are
enormous. Thus far there is appar
ently no diminution in the available
supply of raw material.
We had this by telegraph, as a
statement made by President Eliot of
Harvard, the other day. It Will bear
repetition, viz: "Socialism has not a
chance in this country, where wealth
is so diffuses If a man has $100 all
his own he loses all ideas of sharing
it with anybody else. Human society
Is based on self-interest, shaded and
concealed, perhaps. To have social
istic society, where every one thought
first of the rest of the world, you
would have to change, not society, but
humanity." Truth The Oregonlan
has been preaching many a year.
Every boy who is graduated from
the Agricultural College should be fa
miliar with the principles of scientific
roadbuilding. Though many of them
do not take the. engineering course
and will never engage in roadbuilding
as an occupation, a very large propor
tion of them some time will have oc
casion to use a practical knowledge of
the most approved methods of con
structing a permanent highway. The
subject is not a difficult one and could
be taught without any sacrifice of
other branches of the courses of study.
The Russian peasants are facing
another Winter of famine and cholera
rages in the country around the Cas
pian. On the other hand, India is
seething with revolt; but trifles of that
kind are not permitted to mar the
pleasures of monarchs. Emperors and
Kings greet each other with a couple
or holy kisses, one on either cheek,
and the royal festivities proceed as if
there were no such things as misery,
death and revolution.
When The Oregonian calls Mr.
Bryan "humbug," and his work "bun
combe," observe that it does so only
at the close of articles that show the
reasons why. After review of Mr.
Bryan's platforms, speeches and ban
alities, then these words "humbug"
and "buncombe" properly come in.
A primary law, it is found, splits a
party up into factions and fragments;
and no party, after a hot primary, in
which its members contest with each
other for control, will ever unite for
the following election.
About the only -enthusiastic man for
Bryan, who has yet appeared In the
West, is Judge Alton B. Parker. If
he can Induce the few men who voted
for Mm to vote for Bryan, there will
be a wonderful result. But he can't
Those Idaho Democrats are going
to fight it out on thi3 line if it takes
all Summer. They are In Just as
deadly earnest about it as If they had
something to fight about. But they
haven't; only Dubois.
If Harriman can be Induced to
spend next Summer at Tillamook or
Coos Bay, he may Join another Cham
ber of Commerce and build another
railroad.
Here we are again 1n Oregon with
two Republican parties and one Dem
ocratic. The girl who elopes to wed starts
life with chances heavily against her.
SO TIME
FOR A MERC AGITATOK
Reasons Why a Great New England
Newspaper Prefers Taft to Bryan.
Springfield (Mass.) Republican.
In its first phases the campaign of
this year is devoid of excitement as of
fear. The voters are thinking and de
liberating. Respect there is for both
the leading candidates for the Presi
dency, and the disposition is to view
them candidly, to the end that the man
may be elected who seems upon the
whole best fitted to serve the people,
and to guide and protect their interests
along lines which are established and
of which the country approves. Such
temper and attitude the Republican
shares. From its first issue it has been
dedicated to an essential democracy,
whose first and last thought is for the
advantages of the people in enlight
enment, in self-government and the ad
vancement of the common Interest. The
problem for every thoughtful citizen
In the coming National election will be
to weigh all things for himself every
man and every Issue and in the end to
strike a balance and go where, to his
mind, the largest popular advantage is
to be found.
It is a year when men are more than
ever before determining and setting
up the commanding issue or issues for
themselves and this is well for the
republic. The thing which is already
determined in our political situation
that which stands out and all accept
is that a majority of people of the
United States are irrevocably commit
ted to that safeguarding of the people's
rights which has taken shape In the
popular mind under the broad designa
tion of the Roosevelt policies. There
can be no retreat, as even the thor
oughly overtaken reactionaries are
forced to admit but there should be
well-considered advance. The need Is
for safe and wise and prudent progress
toward the realization of true demo
cratic government.
e e
Even if Mr. Roosevelt lighted his
torch from the flame which Mr. Bryan
had kindled, as is so often claimed, the
torch of the President started the re
form watch fires on every hill which
have stirred the people into a militant
advocacy which will not be denied that
which is demanded. To change the
figure, after the yeastlng comes the
breadmaking and for that painstak
ing and careful attention and experi
ence are needed. The business in hand
Is no longer spectacular It is of a
homely sort, but necessary to the Na
tional well-being, and the permanent
advantage of the people. The times call
not for the agitator, but the man with
patient, constructive ability, in full
sympathy with the popular cause for
a wide seeing and capable handling of
large things, and these often of a
very delicate nature. Great as has al
ways been our respect for Mr. Bryan
his stainless character, his ability for
brilliant leadership, his resolution of
nature the doubt as to bis capacity
beyond that of a helpful propagandist
has not been satisfied during the years
of his great prominence before the
American people.
e e
The one time when Colonel Bryan
appeared as a factor to control the ac
tion of his party and the country, leav
ing his command at the time of the war
with Spain to secure the ratification of
the treaty of peace, to which the Phil
ippine acquisition was appended, how
ever that action may be explained, left
an impression of political time-serving
not to be effaced. It was a mistake
for him, for his party, and for the
Nation. He demanded a share In the
decision for which there was no of
ficial warrant, and he must accept the
responsibility so .invited. Strong and
attractive as a preacher, his achieve
ments in that field have tended to un
fit him for such Governmental work as
1b the need of the National situation,
and developed the orator and the doc
trinaire at the expense of the practical,
well-posed administrator. To his close
personal following, the men who have
been near to him through thick and thin
since the days of the silver radicalism,
Mr. Bryan would be loyal, and that
would seem to compel a circle of ad
visers In ca3e of election, not calculated
fully to reassure.
In human affairs we are confronted
as a rule. If not with a chjolce of evils,
at least with the necessity of weighing
situations not in their entirety to the
liking. It Is a poor philosopher who
battles with all who disagree with
him in a decision he may reach under
such circumstances. Mr. Taft is fitted
by nature and training to be a better
administrator of the questions which
press upon the country for prosecution
and solution than President Roosevelt
better, we believe, than Mr. Bryan.
The assurances regarding his welcome
for the abiding faith in the new Re
publicanism and the Democracy are ab
solute. Whether Judge Taft has ap
proved of all the restless methods of
his chief we do not know, and doubt
that he stands unswervingly by him
on the main lines of the President's
fight for the people, and the purpose
to transform the Republican party from
one of special privilege to one of equal
opportunity, seems to be established.
So much demonstrated, Mr. Taft's can
didacy makes a wide appeal, and not
only so, but It brings him under strong
bonds to the people.
e e a
The progressive forces In the re
public which now turn to the support
of Candidate Taft will do so under the
conviction that he will keep the faith,
not only to the measure of President
Roosevelt's advance along just lines,
but beyond. More heavily than ever.
in case of the election of Mr. Taft, will
the duty rest upon the Republican
party to do something for the relief
of pur tariff-burdened Industries, and
therefore for the relief of the country.
The freedom to do business Increases
its volume and benefits all, producers
and consumers alike. The stream moves
freely when barriers are removed. So
far as the Influence of Mr. Taft can
go, the platform declaration In favor
of tariff revision must be made to
mean the real thing. In our interna
tional relations Mr. Taft should be
Judicial and trustworthy a better and
safer President than Mr. Roosevelt. If
he advocates a longer period of tute
lage for the Filipinos than the Repub
lican, wedded to genuine Americanism,
stands for, his position there is so far
away from the early and crudely con
ceived views to his party, as to illus
trate in striking relief how the country
has been swinging to the position of the
once despised anti-imperialists. All are
agreed that we must let these people
go and time and circumstances must
inevitably help to hasten the day of
their freedom.
The Republican accepts Judge Taft
as the best exponent of the National
purpose to enlarge within the republic
the dominance of genuine democracy,
and believes that he will look to that
end with fixed resolution, and purpose
unchanged by the blandishments of the
reactionaries. The National conven
tions of the year all of them have
registered the determination of the
American people to make special priv
ilege subordinate to the public wel
fare. To that doctrine Judge Taft is
pledged, no less than Mr. Bryan or Mr.
Hisgen. Beyond these two, Judge Taft
seems fitted by experience and tem
perament to make the popular will ef
fective, so far as it lies within the
power of the Executive to do this.
Phrase Worth Remembering;.
St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
In Introducing Mr. Taft to an audi
ence or lawyers a Virginia judge re
marked that he "had touched nothing
he has not strengthened. The phrase
will be remembered because It t an
exact fit.
THE DIRECT PRIMARY.
Inquiry From Illinois .Whether the Re
sult Is the Will of the People.
It disappoints, everywhere. It nomi
nates men who are not known, men who
stand for nothing; men who push them
selves, but who have scarcely been heard
of, and have done nothing to merit the
suffrages of the people. The candidate of
a small faction succeeds by a vote that is
a petty plurality among the votes cast
for others. There has been no debate or
deliberation over his nomination. The
system nominates nobodies, and of course
they are beaten.
They are "up against it" in Illinois and
in California, as in Oregon, and every
where ele, so far as the system has been
tried. It is a consequence of repudiation
of the representative system, under which
the worth and merit of men might be sub
jected to debate. This system cuts debate
out entirely. A small minority of a party
nominates. The main body of the party
has refused its assent. What further?
Failure and defeat.
Read this, from the Chicago Inter
Ocean. The Oregonian will add no com
ment, further than to inquire whether
such results are to be taken as the will
of the people. Read:
It Is a literal and when we rightly think
of it an appalling truth that thousand!
upon thousands of Republicans voted in
Chicago last Saturday for candidates of
whom they knew absolutely nothing except
that they had seen their pictures -or their
names In some newspaper, published with
motives of which the voter could know
nothing and often upon the same basis as
other advertisements.
This Ignorance, this blindness, these piti
ful gropings In the dark, and this thrusting
of power upon the press an institution
whose field It Is to inform the people but
not to rule them Is the price we pay for
the abolition of representative government
within political parties.
Politics, like husiness, rests on the con
fidence of the Individual In men he knows
welt, through whom he comes into further
contact with men -whom he does not and
cannot know well. These channels of con
tact and communication the representative
system provides for political parties. The
direct primary closes and destroys them.
It forces the citizen to turn for guidance
from men he knows to men he knows not
at all.
And when a thoughtful man contemplates
the mental confusion, the groping in dark
ness, the running in circles, to which the
vast majority of the voters of Chicago
were reduced during the recent primary
campaign he is filled with forebodings.
What a spectacle to see tne great par
ties, which grew up to meet our necessities,
thus ruthlessly atomised, robbed of their
adhesive force, and made as the sands of
the seashore to be blown helplessly hither
and thither by every gust that Issues from
the offices of the daily press!
BETTER TIMES NEXT TEST YEARS
Expert Statistician at Washington
Makes Such Prediction.
Washington Special to New York Times.
Prosperity, better and saner than the
United States has ever known before, Is
foreseen for the next decade by Pro
fessor Henry C. Adams, for 20 years in
charge of statistics and accounts for the
Interstate Commerce Commission. Pro
fessor Adams is recognized as one of the
closest students of Industrial and finan
cial conditions in the service of the Gov
ernment. His intimate association with the
railroads and their operation has given
him a thorough Insight Into business con
ditions. The Commission's statistician has
reached the conclusion that business in
all lines will soon return to normal con
ditions, -to be succeeded quickly by ex
traordinary prosperity in every depart
ment of indUBtria.1 activity. Both capital
and labor, In his opinion, are on the dawn
of a new day.
Professor Adams declared that the
holder of stocks Is about "to come Into
his own." He regards the depression that
followed the panic of last October as
a blessing in disguise, in that it will In
sure economy by preventing the return of
reckless confidence that was engendered
by too much and too long continued good
times.
"We are now almost through the busi
ness depression," ho said today. "It was
preceded by a period of intense business
activity. Inevitably during such a period,
men lose more or less of their caution.
In such times everything seems prosper
ous and the future promising, and there
is less care taken to watch details of
management and expenditure. So when
the depression comes and revenues fall
away, the managers cast about for means
to reduce expenses. They have been find
ing out for the larger part of a year
where to make economies; where they
were permitting part of their money to
go into avoidable expense. They have
been taking in the slack, getting things
on the safe and secure basis. It has been
a severe experience, but from the stand
point of the shareholder, it has been
really a good thing.'
The depression will end. and business
will be good again; its volume. In the
next cycle, will be greater than ever. But
the lesson of this period of enforced
economies will not be soon unlearned.
The increasing revenues will be paralleled
off againBt columns showing reduced ex
penditures In many ways. There will be
greater care and economy, with the re
sult that the stockholder will have a
larger share of prosperity coming to
him."
Professor Adams is a firm believer In
the periodical recurrence of panics, which
he 'believes come with almost clockwork
regularity every 20 years, with smaller
financial depressions intervening. He
points to the panic of 1873 and 1S93 as
proof of his theory, and he has marked
a danger signal over against the year
1913. The flurry of last Fall he puts down
as merely one of the disturbances that
fill in between the real upheavals.
It is acknowledged by Professor Adams
that the closer connections established be
tween business and transportation con
cerns will render future panics less dis
astrous than in the past. The strong
will uphold the weak when crises ar
rive, he says. This will not be an in
dication of the arrival of the millennium,
but merely an exhibition of economic
wisdom, for it will tend to restore con
fidence. And when confidence walks
abroad, says Professor Adams, panics
take to cover.
Apple Dumpling and the Form Divine.
Nashville American.
Short and stout women avoid the um
brella hat, nine and ten feet in cir
cumference, which is now the fad In
London. Show this to your apple
dumpling.
The First Chapter.
(President Roosevelt will get dollsr a word.)
We saw (two plunks) a buck (that's four)
And then (six dollars, please)
I fired (that's eight) a shot (two more)
And brought him to his knees.
The hunting scene (that makes nineteen)
Is something really fine;
The Jungle's all a vivid green.
(I think that's twenty-nine.)
Tonfght we lis beneath the sky.
It's great (seven, eight): the moon la high.
SO what we do (that's twenty-two)
Let's do with all our might.
(Come, Kermit, count, whate'er you do!
Yes, twenty-eisht Is right!)
i
It Is great sport (my words are short.
But why should I waste Ink?)
I thought I heard a rhino snort
in cominr down to drink.
I'm on his track. (Kermit. go back:
And count these woras again.)
The night is still and raven black!
(Loeb, come and hold my pen.)
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bangl (They'll hate to
pay
For four bangs In a row
A dollar each, but that's the way
(Loeb, skin the rhino while I add
These words.) What heavenly breezsl
We're off to bed! (And Kermit, lad.
Mail this nrst cnapter, pieae!)
J. W. Foley, In the New York Times.
Watterson Thinks History of 1803 Wll
Be Repeated This Year.
New York World.
"I am looking for the same groun
swell this year for Bryan and Ker:
that we had in 1892 for Cleveland an
Stevenson. Those things go. In season:
and the Republican party Is due for ;
beating. It certainly deserves to Li
beaten; and I believe it will be."
This is the confident forecast of Col
onel Henry Watterson, the famou
Louisville editor, who, from opposir.f
Bryan in 1896, giving him lukewarn
support in 1900, has come in 1908 to n
his most enthusiastic supporter , an.
champion.
Seated before his work table in h!
room in the Manhattan Club, where Il
ls busy forming the advisory pres
committee, which Is to be one ot th
most Important adjuncts of the Dnmo
cratic National campaign. Editor Wat
terson yesterday gave to-the World til
views on the campaign to date.
"I believe that Bryan and Kern ar
going to be elected," he said. "The R.
publicans are facing two ways and th
will fall between two stools Anyway,
think it is their turn to be beaten,
think the people want a change. Jus
for the sake of a change.
"Democrats who for the last sever
elections have not been voting wit.
their party will this year vote fo
Bryan. The Democratic party, afte
being In power for nearly 60 years
made their exit from power the signa
for a great war. Now the Republican
have been in power for nearly 50 year.
and It is time for them to go."
"Do you believe the conservative!
Eastern Democrats will support Mr
Bryan?" was asked.
"I have talked with a great maxj
conservative Democrats here who hav
not voted for Mn. Bryan before. The 5
do not Ilka Mr. Bryan, and they say st
frankly, but they tell me now they sr
going to vote for him. They are privat'
gentlemen who do not give their viev:
to the newspapers, but what they s;i
represents the tendency of a very irt
portant element of voters.
"What is there to prevent these men
or any Democrat who knows why he 1
a Democrat, from voting for Bryan thl
year? The same old issues which til
vided the party In the days of Tildir
and Cleveland are the Issues of today
The Republican party stands fo' all i.
stood for In the days of Grant, Hayof
Garfield and Arthur.
"Democrats who know why they an
Democrats know there should be nt
halting on these plain propositions ar
rest of the breakneck speed towarc
centralization of power; some real (no
spurious) purpose toward tariff reform
some sure separation of the politics ol
the country from its partnership wit!
high financiers; some breaking o
groups and rings of wheels Inside c
wheels, always involved by a change c
parties, even when made only for th
sake of change."
Hisgen, Nature Fnkrr.
Syracuse Post-Standard.
Listen to Candidate Hisgen as h
draws from nature a parallel to his owi
position in this campaiRn:
"Among all birds, insects and anlmrl
It is noticeable that they all get out o
this earth enough sustenance for them
selves and do not try to deprive th
other birds, animals or insects of th;i
living."
This comes of living in the same stat
with Rev. Dr. William J. Long, wh
writes of the birds and beasts as if the
were human. Long tells fearful whop
pers about his furred and feathere
friends, but Hissen outdoes him, for h
won't concede that there is anythin
less noble than the Golden Rule In th
brain of the weasel, the skunk or th
henhawk. The fact Is that an uncon
scious war to the death goos on hptwr-ei
every two saplings in the forest dr
pendent upon the same opening in th
trees for the light of the sun.
Edison
Half Time.
Boston Herald.
Having been a prodigious toller all hi
lite, with heavy emphasis most of th
time, In the commercial and applied field
of science, Edison, it is said, will now
ease up the strain, spend part of his day:
in recreation, part in travel, and part li
residence out of reach of his labora
tory. When at home and near his ap-!
paratus he will henceforth delve mor,
into "pure" science. Blessed with richfs
renowned to the ends of the earth, rlei
in memories of conquest and of servicf
to mankind, he now may make his olo
age one of speculation as to origins ami
essences, and become a philosopher, saj;f
In his example as well as in his utter
ances. For there is wisdom, worthy of
imitation, in his course. The time hat
come for rest, for meditation, for a
gracious senescence."
Presented as "A nemedy." .
The Kelsonian.
If you have read the speech of "W. J.
Bryan, which was published this week
and are in need of a good antidote
look up the leading editorial of Thf
Oregonian of yesterday. Lack of space
prevents our publication of this mas
terful resume of the career of Air
Bryan, but to those who read we woulti
prescribe it as a remedy for all the 111
of the mind consequent to a dosa oif
Bryan's acceptance speech.
He Knew a Good Tailor.
Brooklyn Life.
Millionaire (to tailor) I'm told by my
son that you have permitted him to rui-i
a bill for two years. I have therefore
come to
Tailor O, sir, don't trouble. I'm in no
hurry.
Millionaire I see that, and that's why
I've come to tell you that for the future
I wish to get my clothes from you, too!
Double-TrlKurered Advertising.
Washington Star.
No expert accountant will ever be
able to figure out for Mr. Bryan
whether his editorial advertisements of
his campaign have been as valuable as
his campaign advertisements of his
editorials.
Bather Chases Cow for Hit Trousers.
Wilmington (Del.) Dispatch.
While Victor Allen was bathing at
Beaford, Del., a cow chewed up all his
underclothing, and it was necessary to
chase her a mile before she would re
lease the trousers.
Where John D. Laughs.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
John D. Rockefeller Is said to enjoy
a joke at his own expense, but he g ts
more enjoyment out of a $29,000,010
joko at the expense of Kennesaw
Mountain Landis.
One Quality That Is Mistrusted.
Baltimore American.
Mr. Bryan may say smarter thinps
than Mr. Taft, but smartness is a qual
ity which conservative voters mistrust.
They may enjoy it, but they will not
Indorse it.
Too Much to Expert from Gould.
Indianapolis News.
Mr. Harriman will have to get alorg
the best he can with that stomach
trouble. He needn't think George Gould
Is going to lend him any pepsin tab
lets. Lightning Settles a Lawsuit.
Philadelphia Record.
Lightning put an end to a lawsuit at
Shamokin, Pa., by destroying a barn,
the object of dispute between Daniel
Yost and the town council.