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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 1908)
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C- Beck wlth Special Afencr New Tork. rooms 4 10 Tribune building. Chicago, room 61U-612 Tribune building. rOBTL..VU, TVESDAr, AUG. IS. lSOB. TILE NEURO AM) TUB MGOEB. Gentlemen from Africa that Is, some of them ore endeavoring; to make .themselves figures and factors In the political contest of this year. That's Just the right thing. Very un wisely, some forty years ago, the Re publican party endowed the negro with the suffrage; or, as our Demo cratic brethren say, with a sneer, "en franchised the nigger." It has been the main object and purpose of the Democratic party ever since to "sup press the nigger vote," especially in states where It would count. Hence the solid South. Hence the Demo cratic party enters every contest for the Presidency with fully one-third of the entire electoral vote counted for its candidates, in advance. Under stand, we are not blaming the solid South. The white people in those states deem suppression of the polit ical activity of the negro necessary for the preservation of civilization. But while Mr. Bryan and his man agers are thus basing all their hopes on "suppression of niggers" in the South; they are angling with all their skill for the negroes in the North. Observe the distinction between nig gers and negroes. At Washington City a week ago there was a convention of "the Na tional American Independence Politi cal League." It was a negro conven tion and was "dead set" against Taft. It declared for Bryan. It does not appear that there were any "niggers" from the South in the convention. The members consisted of negroes from the North. They were furious against Taft because Roosevelt had issued the Brownsville order, and Taft Is Roose velt's candidate. The Democratic party of the coun try, under the leadership of Bryan, which has its heel on the niggers of the South and crushes them as a po litical entity, -Is now making its suit and paying its court to the negroes of the North, the colored gentlemen who have not had sufficient consider ation at the hands of the Republican party. No person who knows the his tory of the country, the political strife that has been carried on through more than a half-century, over the status of the negro race including the Civil War; no cynic in search of bitter and mordant speech, could find any thing more to his hand or liking or purpose, than the spectacle of the Democratic party, now cap in hand before the few negro votors of North ern States, begging them to elect Bryan, while at the same time the nig gers of the South are deprived of suffrage and held down to a condition of subservience and inequality, as an only expedient for preservation of civ ilization. , But the speakers of the league of sounding name, whose convention was held at Washington City, were direct and forthright in their declarations on the situation. "In twelve states of this Union," one of the great orators exclaimed, "we are disfranchised, Jim-crowed,' and deprived of our rights as American citizens. Let us vote for Bryan! If the 900.000 negro voters in the North and East will go to the polls and vote for William J. Bryan for President, thus assuring his election, they will administer a death blow to Southern disfranchisement and 'Jim-crowlsm,' and will give the Republican party a lesson!" The logic of all this Is overwhelming. The Democratic National Convention could well afford to hire it at a high price. But another speaker got into the religious side of the subject. He said: "Taft U not a Christian; he denies the divinity of Jesus Christ and 'denies the Holy Trinity, and Is not fit to adminis ter the laws of the United States, which are founded on tie Bible; and his election to the Presidency would be a reproach to the country and a menace to the rights of all Christian citizens!" It is said there are some white peo ple who sympathize with this view. Possibly; though we shouldn't think it likely. Taft is said to be, nominally, a Unitarian. Probably he doesn't "work at it" much more than Bryan works at Presbyterlanlsm. Now Chris tianity, used as a term or expression. Includes innumerable shades of spec ulation and belief. Neither Taft nor Bryan is more or other than a nomi nal Christian. Jefferson, the great JefTerson, founder of the Democratic party, wasn't a Christian at all, nor in any. sense. He was simply a "free thinker," and not even a reverent one. Nor was Lincoln a Christian; though his mind was of much more reverent cast than that of Jefferson. Our Con stitution of the United States forbids any Inquiry into religious belief as a test for office. It Is In the first amend ment, and JefTerson, the great apostle of "infidelity," had it inserted. But we suppose those persons, white or black, who are disturbed about Taft's unbelief in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, or his rejection of the .divinity of Jesus Christ, will feel assured that if Taft shall be beaten and Bryan elected, there will be no further ques tion about this Holy v Trinity, and the old controversy as to the divine na ture and the relations of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that has racked the Church from the days of Arius and Athanasius, will be settled by this election, and will trouble the Christian world no more! The contention of the Bryan Afri cans then Is, that election of Bryan will secure negro suffrage in the South and cut out Jim Crow cars; and more over, will settle the ancient contro versies of the Christian church and I enable us at last to distinguish be tween homoiouslan and homoouslatu This Is a treat and progressive age. and the negro of the North and the nigger of the South, is a greater m: than anvhodv ever thought him. their next effort we trust our colored pundits will treat the doctrine of flli oque, on which the Western and East-, ern churches divided over 1000 years ago a doctrine directly reiatea to these high things, on which the Greek Church stands t& this day at variance nrtty, Boman and Protestant Christian ity. Let's settle all .these things now, by election of Bryan. ABCSE OF THE PRIMARY LAW. Complaint continues In Illinois about the interference of Democratic voters in the Republican primary. It Is found practically impossible in any state to prevent the Intrusion or mem bers of a minority party in the affairs of the majority party so many are the incentives to it. The Chicago Tribune, taking for a text the abuses In Illinois, says: How far primary legislation can go In protecting ona party from the malicious and Injurious Interference or anotner is a ques tion which demand serious consideration. That the protection should be effective Is manifest, however much yoters may resent a precaution which requires In a measure a violation of the spirit of the election law guaranteeing the secrecy of the ballot. The resentment should be tempered by tha thought that primary legislation Is a recog nition of tha Integrity of party organisation and that one of its chief purposes la to pre serve for the members of any party the right of a free choice. The Aberdeen (Wash.) World, in an article on attempted participation of Democrats In that state, says: Tha opinion of the Attorney-General that a vote for a candidate at tha forthcoming primary la a vote for him as a candidate of that party whose name is at the head of the ballot, la sound law and good logic There' may be divergent Ideas of the Inter pretation of tha primary law as respects newspaper advertising, but there can be but one opinion on tha law as a party law;'w have no Statement No. 1, for Democratic Jugglery. From the same paper we quote these further remarks, which show how in the State of Washington the abuse is partially checked: Of course, there Is no way by which tha brethren of the opposition may ba prevented altogether from entering the Republican pri maries, so long as tha gentlemen are willing to perjure themselves; but every vote so casta counte as a Republican vota and goes to tha nomination of a Republican candi date. Still. It Is very probable that many a Democrat wilr throw away his chance of heaven by quenching tha still, small, admonitory voice within and call for a Republican ballot. LAWYER' ETHICS. Doctors and lawyers have fallen Into the habit of parading their profes sional ethics with a certain pomp as If the possession of an exclusive rule of conduct gave them moral pre-emi- bence over the rest of mankind; but it may be seriously doubted whether these imposing codes affect their be havior very much. They act about the same as they would with no other rules than those which ordinary peo ple are supposed to obey. The one word "honor," fully apprehended, con tains a complete code of ethics which is ample for all professional exigencies as well as those of common life. If a yd"ung lawyer, at the outset of his ca reer, should resolve to do nothing dis honorable and should adhere strictly to his resolution, his behavior In court and out of it would be above reproach. The same is true of doctors. Not long ago a so-called new code of ethics was adopted for lawyers. It was for mulated by a pretentiously respectable committee, and it reiterates with awe some solemnity a number of precepts which no decent man would think of disobeying, whether they were cate gorically codified . or not. Most of these precepts are set down in a sort of creed which the committee asks each State Legislature to make Its lawyers swear to. Let us examine one or two articles of this lawyers' creed. The person who subscribes to It first swears that he will support the Constitution of the United States and of the state where he practices. What man of honor does not support the constitutions? There are many who would like to see them amended In various ways, but until the amendments are adopted no body, unless he is a criminal, thinks of trying to overthrow the funda mental law. . It is one of the conven tions which make life possible in a free country that everybody shttll obey the law until it 1b altered, though any man is at liberty to try legitimately to get it altered. There is no more pro priety in making lawyers promise to support the constitution than there would be in causing them to agree not to commit arson. Neither promise binds an honorable man by any new obligation, while a person who would violate the Constitution would not hesitate to violate an oath to support 1. But the way lawyers keep their oath of loyalty to the Constitution is Interesting. It illustrates the Intrinsic value of all such solemn Incantations. They act very much as theologians do in similar predicaments. When a theologian dislikes the plain meaning of. a text of Scripture, he proceeds to interpret it; that is, he makes it mean something else. Thus the pious ex positor never disobeys the Scriptures, because he can always make them conform to his conduct. In the same way the lawyer deals with the Consti tution which he reveres so profoundly He never violates it, and the reason why he does not is that he makes it mean whatever he wishes. This may be ethical, but it is not honorable. The man who takes the oath swears in the next clause that he "will maintain the respect due to courts and Judicial offi cers." What decent citizen would think of doing otherwise? By the way, it is a curious question why the courts have become so sensitive lately about the respect which Is their due. A man whose social position Is un questioned never troubles himself much to exact formal tributes of re spect It la only those who walk on the edge of disrepute who become un easy over the way people salute them. The one sure way for the courts to obtain and keep the respect of good citizens is for them to make the ad ministration of Justice speedy, Impar tial and sensible. As things are it may be impartial, but It is neither speedy nor sensible. In fact, the de lays and complexities are such that even in civil causes Justice is often virtually denied to the poor, while all candid observers admit that the ad ministration of the criminal law in the United States has broken down. The plain truth of the matter is that rich, criminals can. no longer be brought to punishment and the worse the crime the more certain the immu nity of the offender. This being the case it is no wonder that the courts feel somewhat sensK tive about exacting the outward sym bols of respect since they must feel a manifest lack of those inner qualities which command respect. Instead of requiring lawyers to swear that they will render these outward symbols with all scrupulosity, it would seem to be a great deal better to urge them to unite in an effort to reform the aa ministration of Justice so thoroughly that it shall be above criticism. To render tribute where tribute is not due is In itself a species of insincerity, The new oode of ethics implicitly ad mits that the expense and delay of trials is such that Justice is frequently denied to the poor since it permits lawyers to accept contingent fees. In other words, the lawyer may agree with his client to receive no pay un less he wins the case. - Of course, such contracts are liable to great abuse, but it is a much more serious abuse that they should be the only means by which many Individuals can have their day in court. Doubtless a number of important subjects will come up for consideration before the American Bar Association meeting In Seattle, but none can be of more seri ous moment than the problem of sure, cheap and speedy Justice. The ad ministration of the law is something more than a game of scholastic wit played between opposing counsel. It deeply concerns the public welfare and the general tendency throughout the country to speak of the courts and the legal profession with cynical dls- reprect indicates that some more fun damental reformation is needed than the practice of good manners by the lawyers when they address the Judge. HOW TO STOP BANK FATHTRES. The need for insured or guaranteed bank deposits will be largely removed when gambling in the stock and prod uce exchanges has been eliminated, and when bankers have been strictly forbidden under penalty of imprison ment to loan money to themselves di rectly or indirectly. It is true that every purchase for future delivery is In a measure a speculation, but there In a vast difference between a pur chase for actual use and a purchase for pure speculation. One is a legiti mate transaction; the other, in most Instances, is a species of gambling. It is the gambling feature that results in heavy losses and disturbs financial conditions. The relation between the banker and his depositor is in reality a trust relation. The banker handles other people's money, chiefly, and not his own. He handles It honestly, and loans it only on good security or to responsible borrowers, except in the few Instances in which he has a per sonal interest. Then excessive loans are made, unsafe Investments follow and the assets of the bank become im paired. Most banking laws forbid a loan to an officer of the bank ex cept upon authority of a vote of the entire board of directors. But this limitation is purely formal and of no practical effect. Under no conditions should a banker be permitted to bor row the funds entrusted to him by his depositors. Loans to speculative concerns la which the officers of a bank have an interest account for a large proportion of the failures. With such practices absolutely. stopped. there would be little danger of bank assets becoming Impaired to such an extent as to endanger deposits. ORIENTAL TRADE DISCRIMINATION. The New York papers continue to express great satisfaction over the In terstate Commerce Commission's rul ing which practically prevents the transcontinental railroads engaging in the Oriental trade. This attitude Is, of course, not surprising when it is considered that all of the traffic that has been diverted from the route across the continent and across the Pacific must pas3 through New Tork or some of the Eastern ports. It is somewhat surprising, however, to find on the Pacific Coast any defense for the Commission's ruling. In Sunday's Oregonian Mr. J. Y. Patterson at tempted to Justify this rank discrimi nation which has been made against the Pacific ports. Mr. Patterson's mis understanding of the subject is so glaring and his deductions are so strangely at variance with the actually existent conditions that It is perhaps timely again to explain the subject. In order to compete with tramp steamers sailing out of New York by way of the Suez Canal ports, it was necessary for the railroads to quote through rates from Eastern points to Oriental points, In most cases lower than the regular rail rate from the same Eastern points to the Pacific Coast. To give the steamship any portion of this rate it was, of course, necessary to cut the rail rate far be low the regular tariff to the Coast. The Interstate Commerce Commission insists that this rail portion of the rate be published and that no change be made in it without thirty days' notice. There are two Impregnable reasons why the railroad company cannot do business under such a rule. One is that the Suez carriers can change rates every fifteen minutes if It be comes necessary for them to do so in order to get the business. The other is that the publication of the rate would make it the established rate to the Pacific Coast, a rate admittedly too low, and 95 per cent of non-Ori ental transcontinental business would take the lower rate. That this would be unfair is easily understood when the special condi tions under which this Oriental trade is handled are considered. The orig inal through rate3 were put into ef fect for the purpose ot bringing cot ton, steel and other Eastern and Southern products across the conti nent on cars which otherwise would have been hauled west empty to meet the demands of the Pacific Coast lum bermen and fruit shippers. In the Pacific Northwest both the Hill and the Harriman systems were bringing down to tidewater large quantities of flour for Oriental shipment. The Ore gon and Washington sellers and the Oriental buyers of this flour required a more frequent service than was pos sible if the steamship companies de pended exclusively on Pacific Coast products for cargo. Here again the low-freighted East ern commodities proved beneficial in making up part cargoes of flour and enabling a frequent service that other wise would be impossible. We thus find that the practice was highly bene ficial to the Atlantic manufacturer who desired rapid service to the Far East and beneficial to the - Oriental buyer, the Pacific Coast lumbermen. fruitgrowers and farmers In need of cars, and so the Pacific Coast ship pers la need of frequent service. If any one other than the New York shipping interests and the owners of tramp steamers suffered by the sys tem, their grievance has not appeared in anything yet written or printed on the subject. ' As "filling" to be used on empty cars hauled westward and half-filled steamers bound across the Pacific, this Oriental business, which at Its high est stage reached about 5 per cent of the total transcontinental traffic, was of some value to the railroads, but it was not valuable enough to warrant a sacrifice In rates on the remaining 95 per cent, especially when none of the business interests on the Pacific Coast were demanding the sacrifice. If New York can win out In this fight against the Pacific ports, without help from here, we will probably experi ence a general demoralization of our local transportation facilities with the Orient, but there should be no assist ance or encouragement from Pacific Coast sources. The Washington State Supreme Court at Olympla has dismissed the receivership of the Seattle Blue Book, and In the opinion handed down says: "Unless some charitably In cllned persons come to Its relief. It will die In the hands of the receiver for want of means." The possibilities for such a fate overtaking so Impor tant a publication as the Seattle Blue Book are distressing in the extreme. A few years ago Angeline, Leschi and a few of their relatives constituted the first families of Seattle, but since.thelr departure for the happy hunting grounds a new race-of aristocracy has appeared, and undoubtedly the Blue Book would tell us all about it. A world of consuming curiosity will be satisfied if some one will bail the Blue Book out of trouble and enable It to present to the world the names of the new aristocracy whose blood received its proper tint either from tldelands or Alaska placers. "Harriman Comes Home," an nounces the Klamath Republican in the headline which appears over the story of his arrival at Pelican Lodge. And far away to the eastward, among the skyscrapers and brick and steel canyons off Lower Broadway are bears with knots in their tails and bulls with crimps In their crumpled horns, who, with such reminders of the . railroad wizard, will fervently hope that Harriman will "stay home," especially if that "home" Is 3000 miles away In the wilds of Oregon. The continuous woods "where rolls the Oregon" have sheltered many famous people since the state emerged from the wilderness, but at no previous time in our history has the commonwealth been honored with the presence of an Individual of such world-wide celeb rity or such tremendous power as that of "Citizen" Harriman, who is now at "home" In Klamath County. The Willamette Valley was never famous for "freak" wheat, such as makes Its periodical appearance in other parts of the country, but It is this year quite plainly demonstrating that it can produce in very remuner ative quantities the old reliable grades that made Oregon famous. Within the past three days wheat yields of forty bushels per acre have been re ported from Washington, Clackamas and Yamhill Counties, and It Is quite probable that similar flattering yields have been harvested elsewhere In the Valley. Washington County Is also reporting yields of 107 bushels of oats per acre. The Valley, as has frequent ly been mentioned, will never again become prominent as a grain produc ing section, but the acreage which Is still sown to grain is this year turning off as well as In the best seasons of the past. A London professor has recently discovered that the irritable disposi tion of Pharaoh was due to the gout. Further researches along this line are said to have disclosed the presence of rheumatism among , the pyramid builders. Hip disease was also among the maladies which made business for the doctors in the days of old Rameses. These discoveries have all been made by examining the exterior portion of the mummies. It would be interesting, but not surprising, if an internal examination would reveal a sponge, a saw and a carving-knife, or some other surgical instrument that had been carelessly left Inside by the Egyptian. Esculaplus who attended the patient. Or perhaps the modern American surgery, which admits of such accidents, has progressed back wards since Pharaoh had the gout. There was a graceful blending of harmony and sentiment in the compo sitions of the late Ira D. Sankey, and to all of his most favorably-known hymns there was a delightful lilt and melody. The charm of these produc tions rested largely In the ease with which they were rendered. Profes sional vocalists and expert musicians could probably find plenty of techni cal flaws In the work of the famous singing evangelist, but neither the singer nor his songs will soon be for gotten, and long after the ragtime and the sentimental drivel which at inter vals rages on the American stage has ceased to be remembered, tender, crooning mothers will soothe their babies to sleep by humming the old, sacred rhymes which Moody and San key sang round the world. Of course It would not be well for the two Presidential candidates to en gage In a Joint debate, but it would be interesting to see the two most active supporters of the candidates, Parker and Roosevelt, engage In a joint can vass of the country. Governor Pennoyer refused to stir out of his Salem office to meet the President of the United State. But that was before trust magnates came to Oregon. If the Kaiser's army can sail into Great Britain through the air, what will the King's Dreadnaught be good for? There are prison places for harm less Insane and feeble-minded, but evidently none, for murderous Insane. If Mr. Harriman should go to any other part of Oregon he would see the need of rail lines there, too. Yesterday came Just to remind us all that we are not to get out of Sum mer so ' easily after all. The Illinois militia Could have learned a lot from the Oregon boys at ' American. Lake. .. "THE SUN'S" REASONS. Why the Great Newspaper of Mary rand Supports Taft. Baltimore Bun (Ind. Dem.) On July 10 Mr. W. J. Bryan was nomi nated for President by the Democratic National convention at Denver. Yes terday he received formal notification at Lincoln, Neb., of the action of that convention. In his speech accepting the nomination, 'which we publish In full on another page, Mr. Bryan said: Our platform declares that the over shadowing Issue which manifests Itself on all the questions now under discussion Is. "Shall the p'sople rule?" Shall the people control their own government and use that Government for the protection of their rights and the promotion of their welfare! or shall the representatives of predatory wealth prey upon a defenseless puDiir, while the offenders secure Immunity from subservient officials whom they raise to power by unscrupulous methods? The master hand in the construction of the Democratic platform was Mr. Bryan's. He was consulted, about every item. It is understood that he formu lated the most important declarations. "It Is probable that in quoting from the platform Mr. Bryan Is literally quoting himself. If, as the Democratic nominee asserts, the paramount Issue in this cam paign is "the rule of the people," the use of their government "for the protec tion of their rights and the promotion of their welfare," the proposition sub mitted to the voter is not only a very practical one, but a very simple one. It is the Judgment of the Sun that the material welfare of the people of the United States -Industrial and financial would be promoted to a greater degree by the election of Mr. Taft than by the election of Mr. Bryan; that their rights would be safeguarded as carefully by Mr. Taft as by Mr. Bryan. And the grounds upon which we base these con clusions are as follows: The people of this country are Just be ginning to recover from a period of In dustrial, financial and commercial de pression, due, primarily and measure ably, to the methods, rather than the ob ject In view, of the Roosevelt administra tion in dealing with trust and corpora tion problems. The Sun has never failed to recognise the existence of corporate abuses, to condemn lawlessness on the part of combinations of capital and in dustry. It has supported earnestly and energetically all proper measures for the correction of these abuses and for the protection of the people's rights and In terests. At the came time It has not hesitated to condemn Mr. Roosevelt's "methods, his application of correctives which, while falling to curb the lawless ness of "predatory wealth" and to im pose adequate punishment, tended to disturb business conditions generally. The "Big Stick" has been tried for four years, and it has in part resulted In disaster to labor and to capital. Mr, Bryan has his "Big Club," and we frank ly say that the "Big Club" In Mr. Bryan's hands would argue no better for the public weal than the "Big Stick" has done. The Sun is convinced that the "arm of the law," personified by a President of balanced Judgment, with a thorough knowledge of the law a man of steady purpose. Just and resolute would prove a .better defender of the rights of the people, would do more to promote their material welfare, than the "Big Stick" has done in the hands of Mr. Roosevelt or than the "Big Club" could do In the hands of Mr. Bryan. It is our deliberate Judg ment that for the next four years the material Interests of the people of this country would be safer with Mr. Taft at the head of the National Government than with Mr. Bryan. We further be lieve that while lawbreakers would be brought to account by Mr. Taft with as little fear or favor as Mr. Bryan could display, the methods employed by Mr. Taft would fiot curtail the worR ingman's opportunities for employment by disturbing the business of law-abiding men and corporations, as has been witnessed in the last few years. Mr. Taft's experience in important adminis trative posts, his Judicial temperament, his patience and thoroughness in inves tigation. Justify the belief that as Presi dent be would execute the law faith fully and well, but not spectacularly. And while this type of man ought to ba in the White House all the time, he seems to be especially needed now, when the country is emerging from an industrial and financial depression which brought distress and suffering Into many homes. The greater part of the wealth of this Nation Is not "predatory." It Is Invested In lawful enterprises, and upon the suc cess of these enterprises depends the prosperity of the Nation. The Sun be lieves that "predatory wealth." so far as that phrase means capital engaged in combinations that oppress the public, should be curtailed by proper regula tions and punished whenever It Is law less. The thoughtful voter should vote his honest convictions, with intelligent regard for his own welfare In the eco nomic as well as the political sense. Fine phrases do not multiply the avenues of employment. Epigrams butter no bread and start no factories. Repartee and ready debate do not raise the scale of wages. The products of the farm are not marketed by eloquence or fine diction. We do not question Mr. Bryan's sincerity or his devotion to the Interests of the people. But we believe that the material welfare of the Nation would be safer in the hands of a President of Mr. Taft's temperament and calm Judg ment, and for this reason we favor nis election to the Presidency. These are the conclusions which we have reached after mature consideration and with the sole desire to promote the good of the Nation and the welfare of the people. We are aware . that they are not In accord with the views of many of our readers. We have entire respect for their sincerity. We recognize then right to follow their own convictions and Judgment. Every man is entitled to free dom of political action. Americans gen erally have the welfare of the Nation at heart, and though they differ as to the means and methods by which the National welfare can be assured, they differ honestly. We believe the election of Mr. Taft would tend to hasten tne restoration of prosperous business condi tions. We believe that his administra tion will be prudent. ' Therefore we sup port him from a sense of public duty. Not a Man's Job. Kansas City Star. Mr. Hearst probably has arranged to have one of his office boys "notify" John Temple Graves. When Mary Breaks a Flats. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Whenever Mary breaks a plate. A groan uprises with the crash. And Ma's hands fly upon her ears To deaden the unnerving smash. The while she turns as white as ash, And quite precluding all debate. Exclaims, "There goes my Delft cake dish!" Whenever Mary breaks a plate. But Ma'a conviction Is not quite The certainty of Sister Sue, Who drops her hands upon her lap And gasps ror breath a time or two. With eyes uprolled as If to woo Perhapa a kinder turn from fate. While aha exclaims, "My cut-glass bowl!" Whenever Mary breaks a plate. And Orandma's guess la neither that Of Ma nor Sue at all. But Intuition tells her what Has gone at last beyond recall. As Humpty Dumpty from the wall Descended at an ancient date. And she exclaims, "My piece of Sevres!" Whenever Mary breaks a plate. And each bewailing something prised. They move lamenting through the door. And when they find It was a plate. Worth T cents that hit the floor. Pa's smile makes- everybody sore. And none of them participate Itt conversation for a while, . iT.lHiBffvnr-lajric .hroaka a,, place. . Tne Consequences Are Becoming l's-dci-stood ThrouKhout the Country. New York Globe. "The Democrats are Jubilant." says a Chicago dispatch concerning the result of Saturday's state-wide primary in Il linois "over the split In the Republican party, and, with their forces united and working in perfect harmony, see an op portunity to carry Illinois into ths Democratio column." In other words, the first political ef fect of a state-wide primary in Illinois is the same as it has been in other states where it has been tried. The ma jority party is thought to ba weakened and the minority strengthened as a consequence of a struggle a l'outrance in every precinct and township of the state. In June Iowa held a state-wide primary after an angry three months' Senatorial campaign, and there have been reports that the Iowa' Republican factions had become so heated that there was a possibility of this most re liable of Republican states going Dem ocratic Kansas has had a state-wide primary, during which the friends of Senator Long denounce Joseph L. Brls tow as a cheap demagogue, and the friends of Brlstow denounce Senator Long as a tool of the corporations, and Bryan now asserts that he has a chance of carrying the state. Oregon held a state-wide primary last Spring, and as a result thereof le to be represented at Washington by a Democratic Senator, although the state is overwhelmingly Republican. Even Pennsylvania Re publicanism. Is a trifle groggy as the result of a state-wide primary experi ment. It Is not strange that old hands In politics shake their heads and de clare that the direct nomination system Is the moat practical device yet dis covered to spilt a majority wide open far surpassing In this -respect anything ever done by the most boss-ruled con vention. It is unreasonable to expect that a party bitterly divided In August or September will become united again by November. The candidate who has yet ringing In his ears the charges and counter-charges of the primary cam paign is likely. If he Is whipped at the primary, to vent his animosity on the successful candidates on election day. Thus, although the direct nomination Is In effect a method for democratizing parties and of preventing farcical pri maries, the remedy may Introduce such confusion Into our politics as to be worse than the disease. RIVAL. CANADIAN PORT LOOMS VP Montreal Passes Baltimore and Phila delphia In Export of Grain. v ' Baltimore American. A few weeks ago the Chamber of Commerce of New York City suddenly woke up to the fact that Montreal, and not Baltimore or Philadelphia, Is di verting the export grain trade from the former line of movement to At lantic ports. When onoe attention had been di rected to the extent of . grain exports by way of Montreal, the underlying reasons for such deflection soon be comes apparent. A very large portion of the wheatgrowing area of this country lies in the region of those great internal seas that extend for more than a thousand miles along the northern border of the United States. Wheat from the Lake region is find ing a cheaper outlet to Northern Eu rope by water route to the port on the St. Lawrence, where transfers are made to ocean ships. It has been discovered that from Buffalo eastward, Montreal is getting a 2-cent differential over New York and nearly as much as that over Baltimore. Such an immense advantage in rates has already worked to the diverting of Lake grain to the Canadian port, 'ine statistics of wheat exports from the United States and Canada for the two months beginning with June and end ing with July indicate the extent of the diversion. During those two months there went out from the Canadian port for various European points 7,901,262 bushels of wheat, while the combined shipments from the five leading Atlantic ports of the United States amounted to 7,685.381 bushels. That Is surely capturing the export wheat traffic with a vengeance. The discouraging phase of the situa tion consists In the fact that grain can be carried by the all-water haul at a figure which would be ruinous to the railroads delivering to United States ports if they dropped to It The figures indicate that Baltimore has sustained a less proportionate loss In the export wheat trade than New York. The reason for this, undoubtedly. Is to be found In the fact that Baltimore taps a wheat zone that lies far enough south of the Lake region to render the water route seaward less easily avail able. Kansas and Missouri each grows an annual big wheat surplus, and Bal timore Is in better geographical posi tion, relative to the more southerly wheat area, than any more northerly Atlantic port. With fairly adjusted rates Baltimore should be able to hold her own In the export grain traffic more tenaciously than New York or Boston. General Booth Suffers From Cataracts. London (England) Dispatch. An officer of the Salvation Army confirms the report that has been cur rent for some time that General Booth is suffering from cataracts on both eyes. . "The General has not yet taken to wearing glasses," said the officer, "and can see better without them; but he cannot read anything but large type, and ho has to hold that close to his eyes." Rooster Kills Pugnacious Rat. Philadelphia Record. A fierce fight took place at, Darby, Pa., between a Minorca rooster and a big sewer rat which attempted to carry off chickens. The battle lasted some minutes, the rat displaying great cour age In attack, until the rooster drove one of his spurs through the rodent's head. Geese Arrested for Ruining Cabbages. ,' Baltimore News. Eleven geese were arrested at Potts town, Pa., the charge being that they had "ruined 300 head of cabbage in Chester Kepner's truck patch." The geese were imprisoned in a yard and their owner mut pay $1.50 fine.. Aged SS Yeara Welshed 30 Pounds. Cincinnati (Ohio) Dispatch. Miss Sadie Roland, who died recently near Xenia, O., aged 85 years, was only 83 Inches In height and weighed but SO pounds. She was very skillful with the needle, although her hands were no larger than those of a child. Sleeps and Dies in His Coffin. Houston (Texas) Dispatch. Innoluthe, a full-blooded Choctaw Indian, who died the other day near Denlson, Texas, aged 98 years, slept in his coffin on every birthday and died In the coffin. Searchlight for Park Lovers. Cleveland (Ohio) Dispatch. A big searchlight in Eden Park, Cin cinnati, wil be turned upon all lovers from a high point who sit on tha pjencjiejs. below. - - OFFERS It Must Be Sought and Many Mako Opportunity. PORTLAND, Aug. 17. (To the Editor. I have been a close readers of the editorial psge of The Oregonian for years, and I may say to some purpose. But until now have not tried to break Into print. I desire to say a few words in regard ta an article In last Sunday's Issue on the sub ject, "The First Thousand Dollars." Don't you think opportunity plays an Important part In the success of a considerable num 1 ber of men who have achieved H? To Illustrate. I send you a .cartoon of which I am the author. Now, barring the advantage of practice, I think my work will compare favorably either with Mr. Daven port's or Mr. Murphys. They have' the op portunity. I have not. So I must continue to gather in nickels for the street railway com pany. W. J. P. - Undoubtedly opportunity plays an important part in the success of many, and opportunity comes to some thrcugh parents or Influence of friends. Yet many, perhaps most, must find their own opportunity. The Oregonian would not at all underrate the talent of the writer of this letter as a cartoonist or a sketch artist. Specimens of his work promise well. Whether he would succeed In this line would depend on his present age, his 'versatility, tact and various talent, power to apprehend and com bine the material offered In progress of events and character of men. The person who can do anything excel lently cannot long be In want of op portunity to show it. The Oregonian has at present time all the pen-and-ink or cartoon work it requires. Not so many men are wanted for work of this description 'as for gathering in nickels for street railroads; which is a disadvantage to our complaining friend, who, however, may yet find a way Into the pursuit for which he thinks he has special fitness, or Into some even more profitable one. And yet to gather In nickels on a street car Is not so bad a business. Cer-t talnly, a great many desli'a the posi tion and think It opportunity. DALLES MAN LAITBS PORTLAND. , Editor Snys This City la Prlda of All Oregon. The Dalles Optimist In looking round the city of Port land One is surprised to see so few "To Let" signs on the buildings, bus! ness houses and dwellings. We are somewhat familiar with ell the great cities In the country, and with all of the "good" cities, and wo verily believe that we never saw a town where there were as few places for rent as there are now in Portland.1 This state of affairs shows several things: In the first place it is a sure evidence that the city is growing rap idly, for there are thousands of build ings going up. In every quarter of the town structures are appearing as If by maglo, and they are in most cases oc cupied before the paint 13 dry. In the second place it shows that business is good, else there would be a lot of vacant stores. And it is sure that where there are so few places va cant the rents must bo good; and at the same time people would not pay the big rents unless the business justi fied It; so business Is surely good. Look at the matter from any stand point and you must see that Portland Is very prosperous, remarkably pros perous. Of course the financial flurry last Fall hurt some; but It hurt Port land less than most any other city in the country, and her recovery was quicker than in any of her sister cities. And then look at her financial rec ord 1 "Marvelous" Is the only word to express it, perfectly marvelous! Three bank failures, and two of them most awful bad ones, and both with large liabilities, and yet not one single cent lost by the depositors! Indeed the word "marvelous" does not half ex press the state of affairs. Every Oregonian should be proud of Portland, and proud of her growth. By the united, concerted efforts of all of us that city will, before many years, be the metropolis of the Pacific Coast. That fact Is as sure as that the sun shines. Her strategic position Is unas sailable, and supremacy will one day be hers Just as sure, and because, water flows down tillll Much trade has been kept from her by shrewd competitors, much has been diverted by others, an accident has much to do with keeping her back, like the discovery of gold In California, which built up a great city down there. But everything is now coming to the advantage of Portland, and the Port land capitalists and business men are at last shrewd enough to take advan tage of the situation, and consequently Portland Is coming Into her own. And It means much to every person in Oregon to have a big city In the state. It will help every farmer, every business man, every town and every city to build up a great city on the Willamette, and the stars have writ ten that we are to have such a city, a olty unsurpassed In the West the mis tress of the West and the queen of the Pacific. Jobs for Real American Cltlxens. Washington (D. C.) Star. The H. C. Frlck Coke Company of Pittsburg is the latest corporation to take the stand of America for Ameri cans as respects labor. It will employ only men who ere American citizens men either born here, or, upon coming here from abroad, promptly cast their full fortunes with the country. The action, it is stated, will affect 10.000 foreigners, who, after drawing good American wages, are now back at home with their money on a visit. Good for the Frlck Coke Company! It has taken the right step. The man who has a stake in the country is tha one entitled to the pick of the country's opportunities. The citizen always first. The wanderers here today and there tomorrow caring nothing for the country but as a place for getting a good Job -should move on. In the Distant Future. Chicago News. When people quit joking of mother-in-law, I am going to pay what I owe. When Pittsburg stops talking of people named Thaw, I am going to pay what I owe. When my friends xnalte their calls without asking for loans. When the river tugs whisper in soft under tones, w When dentists pull molars by long-distance phones, I am going to pay what I owe. When high license lessens the number of Jags, 1 am going to pay what I owe. When men's parties no longer ara roen- - tloned as "stags," I am going to pay what I owe. When the street urchin ceases to carry a gun. When gamesters and grafters are all on the . run. When the dome of the postoffice shines in the sun, I am going to pay what I owe. When straps In the streetcars ara things of the past, I am going to pay what I owe. When chauffeurs quit driving their autos so fast, t am going to pay what I owe. When the trusts have concluded they don't want the earth. When heiresses mate In tha land of their birth. When people get paid all they think they are worm, a-am Klor to pay what i owe;
