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PORTLAND, FRIDAY. AlGl'ST 18. 1908.
ETHICS FOR LAWYERS.
If the lawyers would honestly set
themselves to obey the excellent rules
of conduct prescribed In their new
code of ethics, the world would be
come a Garden of Eden with its most
venomous serpents all banished. We
have noted that the committee which
compiled the code admits that per
haps It has left out duties Just as im
portant as those Included, and one In
voluntarily wonders whether the omit
ted ones are any less binding than
the others: still the rules actually cod
ified are so numerous and excellent
that even a shadowy obedience to
them would look like impeccability
compared with the present state of
the legal soul. -Some of them, how
ever, look like counsels of perfection,
or even supererogatory precepts.
What danger is there, for example,
that the lawyers will not support the
courts against "unjust criticism and
clamor"? Their actual practice being
to support the courts against all criti
cism whatever, whether Just or unjust,
this part of the code seems to be su
perfluous. It is not long since an emi
nent New York attorney said in public
that "an honest Judge who decided a
cause to the best of his ability ought
never to be" criticised," and this is
probably the general spirit of the pro
fession. Of course this would relieve incapa
ble Judges from the deserved conse
quences of their Incapacity. Why they
should be thus relieved is not appar
ent. In the constantly reiterated wish
of the courts to escape public com
ment and criticism there is an Impli
cation which Is not encouraging. Why
should they more than other public
officials expect that their conduct will
not be brought to the bar of public
opinion, and there approved or con
demned? The election or appoint
ment of a lewyer to the bench does
not transform him Into a sacrosanct
being who is henceforth Infallible in
thought and immaculate in deed.
Judges make mistakes as well as
other human beings, and their fellow
men often have to suffer for their
blunders, and sometimes for theit
bias. ' The Kings of Egypt used to
have a skull at the dinner table to re
mind them that, great as they were,
they still had to die some time, like
the rest of the world. It is Just as
well for the Judges to see a skull be
fore them occasionally In the shape of
newspaper criticism, and a little more
plain speech from the bar than they
habitually hear would not hurt them.
The rule which cautions lawyers not
to try to switch the Judge to their side
of the cause by subtle flatteries and
Delilah wiles is a thoroughly good
one. A clause cautioning the Judge
not to lend himself to those wiles and
flatteries might have been added with
wholesome effect. The spectacle of a
Federal Judge flitting across the coun
try in a private car signing Injunctions
as he flies In the midst of a cloud of
corporation lawyers Is not . Inspiring.
Neither does it fortify the confidence
of the plain man in the courts for a
Judge who is trying a case against a
railroad company to go fishing In the
company's specially sumptuous pleas
ure car accompanied by Its general
counsel. There Is a Judge of the Su
perior Court In the State of Washing
ton who is interested In a boom and
lumber company. Suits against this
company have been brought in his
court and he has tried them without
an apparent tremor. It Is really a
pity that the eminent committee
which prescribed this admirable code
should have omitted to state a few
of the more elementary- duties of the
bench as well as the bar.
The ancient rule that lawyers
should not try to capture each other's
business by "efforts either direct or In
direct" is- an Instance of what we
meant a moment ago by "counsels of
perfection." The doctors have a sim
ilar canon, and It Is safe to say that
neither of them has been strictly kept,
or ever will be. Literally Interpreted,
this rule would banish competition
from the legal profession. .Any at
tempt by a lawyer to outshine his op
p'onent either In eloquence or subtlety
is an Indirect effort, to capture his
business.' and it often succeeds. Obe
dience to this canon of the code would
reduce all lawyers to a "dead level of
mediocrity," but there Is no occasion
to worry. It will not be obeyed ex
cept so far as outward decency goes.
From another point of view. It Is in
teresting to observe among the law
yers the same desire to shield them
selves from. brutal competition which
Is so apparent among the shrewdest
and strongest men everywhere. We
are taught by Mr. Bryan and other
great lights of philosophy that compe
tition contains a remedy for every ill.
and that the more of It we have the
happier and better we shall be; but
one notices that whenever our capital
ists or ministers or doctors or lawyers
see an opportunity to shut off compe
tition they never let It slip by.
The admonition that lawyers
"should beware of bold and confident
assurances to clients," especially when
a fee Is at stake, also resembles a rule
which the doctors are said to observe.
It reads like Irony, but very likely it
was not so Intended. Long-headed
lawyers will not need "this precept, and
the foolish will not "heed It. It Is
good business policy not to raise a cli
ent's hopes too high. Just as it is to
recommend compromise ' in place' of
litigation In most cases. Still it is a
very different thing for lawyers to dis
courage litigation by good advice and
for the courts to prevent it by closing
their doors to the poor suitor. The
one. practloe.prom.otea goxd neighbor-.
liness, the other is a direct incitement
to crime. But the most Immediately
interesting problem raised in the new
code Is "how far 8, lawyer ought to
go in supporting a client's cause." The
gist of the canon is that he may go as
far as the "law permits, hut the modi
fying clause Is added that he must
obey his own conscience In the matter.
If he had a conscience and obeyed it,
he would often stop far short of what
the law permits. There is no reason
whr a man's feeing a lawyer should
entitle him to do dishonorable deeds.
Why is it any more worthy to play
rascally tricks for a client's money
than to do the same thing for oneself?
The lawyer who is employed to prose
cute the suit of a knave is in a dif
ficult situation. The easiest way for
him to escape from It would be to de
cline the employment: but If he pre
fers the fee and wishes at the same
time to save his self-respect, he must
invent some Ingenious casuistry.
TIEE LOST HEIR.
In the course of his speech at Sa
lem, 111., on Wednesday, Mr. Bryan
expressed the pious hope that the
Roosevelt Republicans would vote for
him Instead of Mr. Taft. He assumed,
in fact, the Impressive pose of the
"lost heir" to the Roosevelt policies.
Mr. Taft, he declared, was not the le
gitimate heir. Why he Is not was
scarcely made clear. So far as one
can discern, he Is certainly the heir by
adoption if not by descent. His pre
decessor has left not much doubt
about the reality and fervor of his
adoption, and It is difficult to under
stand why Mr. Bryan should question
It. But he does. He Invents the pa
thetic fiction that the Republican
party is "dead without an heir," and
claims all the Roosevelt policies, by
some sort of escheat, one may sup
pose. Mr. Bryan may possibly argue
that sinoe he invented them they
ought to return to the original owner
when there Is no other lawful claim
ant. There are several objections to this
arrangement. The most important
one is that the Republican party in
the Nation Is not dead yet by a long
shot, and Is therefore not in immedi
ate need of an heir. Secondly, If an
heir were needed, there is a large and
substantial one at hand In the person
of Mr. Taft. And thirdly, it is very
doubtful whether the Roosevelt poli
cies would be in safe keeping If Mr.
Bryan should be intrusted with them.
He says In his Salem speech that the
Democrats would be a good deal more
likely to keep their platform promises
than the Republicans would, but this
is mere eloquence which does not
mean anything. . The people have
learned by hard experience not, to put
much confidence In the platform
promises of any party. They are more
Interested in the character of the men
to whom power is intrusted. The
most diligently debated question be
fore the public today is, "Which of
the two men, Bryan or Taft, is more
likely to give the country a wise,
statesmanlike, progressive and impar
tial administration?" What either
party has promised or failed to prom
ise in Its platform Interests nobody ex
cept the politlicans very deeply. An
swering the above question, the sound
er opinion of the country decides In
favor, of Mr. Taft.
PRINTING BRYAN'S SAYINGS AND
DOINGS.
A supporter of Mr. Bryan has writ
ten to The Oregonian, asking why it
did not print Mr. Bryan's Des Moines
speech in full, "as other newspapers
did." Few other newspapers did. The
Oregonian did not publish the speech
in full because it was convinced that
it would not be read. " That is the
only reason. There was and Is no
special novelty about Bryan's tariff
views. The speech entire is In no Chi
cago paper and in no New York pa
per, or other great metropolitan news
paper, with one exception. The av
erage space given to the Bryan speech
everywhere was about one column. It
has to be a powerfully Interesting
speech to be worth more space In any
newspaper.
Mr. Bryan is a prolific speechmaker,
and he demands and gets much atten
tion from the American press. In
deed, it is a high tribute to the gen
eral fairness of newspapers as a whole
that, without regard to partisan bias
or prejudice or Interest, they give up
so much space to him and his dally
utterances and doings. The Associat
ed Press has a staff representative at
Lincoln, who makes dally reports that
are duly transmitted to all Associated
Press newspapers and are printed by
them; and It has had another repre
sentative constantly at Hot Springs,
Va. It will be observed by all news
paper readers that the two leading
candidates for President are on exact
ly the same 'basis so far as the Associ
ated Press Is concerned; and It will
likewise have been observed that The
Oregonian has printed Just as much
Bryan news matter as Taft news mat
ter, and indeed more. So it will con
tinue to do until the campaign Is over.
t ONsTITfTIOJf NOW IN THE WAY.
If the people of this state should
deem it advisable to undertake con
struction of a railroad from Coos Bay
to' a connection with the Hariiman
lines, or front Coos Bay to the eastern
border of the state, an. amendment to
the .constitution would undoubtedly be
necessary. Certainly an amendment
would be necessary If the state should
merely aid In constructon of the road
by guaranteeing the bonds of the rail
road, for the present constitution ex
pressly1 forbids the state to loan its
credit or to create any debts or liabil
ities which shall exceed $50,000. This
Inhibition is contained in section 7 of
article 11 of the constitution. The
section preceding forbids the state to
be interested In the stock of any com
pany, association or corporation.
Very likely the state could, in pur
suance of an act passed either by the
Legislature or by the people, construct
and operate a railroad from Coos Bay
to a transcontinental connection. The
state now owns a railroad from The
Dalles to Celilo. The only constitu
tional limitations upon the power of
the state to build a railroad are con
tained in the section prohibiting the
state from incurring a debt in excess
of J50.000, and in' section 23 of article
4 of the constitution, forbidding the
enactment of special or local laws for
laying, opening and working highways.
While that section, was originally de
signed to apply to wagon roads, a rail
road Is In all essential particulars a
highway, and this section might forbid
enactment of a special law for that
purpose. Our supreme voun neia,
t.nnvor. tn f Vi miaration which arose
over an Appropriation for Tno Dalles j
and Sandy road across the Cascade
Mountains, that where a road con
nects two distant parts of the state
and serves the needs of the whole
state, the act appropriating money for
it is not a local law. One of the mem
bers of the court dissented from this
holding, so the question may not be
entirely settled.
However that may be. It is quite
certain that a Legislature will not un
dertake to authorize commencement of
such a large public enterprise as con
struction of a railroad across the Coast
Range. If the project shall .ever be
undertaken, it will be under the initi
ative and referendum, and under that
power the constitution may be amend
ed as easily as an act. can .be submit
ted and approved. There might' be
some doubt -as to the validity of an
act there could be none as to a con
stitutional amendment. The Legisla
ture has gower to submtt a proposed
constitutional amendment or such an
amendment may .be. proposed by Initi
ative petition.
POCIAL DISEASE.
It is a pretty point of etiquette
which ' has arisen between Mayor
Lane' and his faithful and beloved
Council. Each sits on its, or his, dig
nity, like ' patience on- a monument
bowing and smiling, but all the time
resolutely determined to do nothing.
"You can have the ten policemen and
welcome H you . will bend your
haughty soul, to ask for them," says
the Council. "Nay, I will never de
mean myself to. ask," returns his high
ness. "If I get the ten policemen
thej' must be given freely of your own
motion." , And thus the matter stands
while Babylon flaunts its ribbons in
the North End and the scarlet woman
flourishes like the green bay tree. Per
haps it is Just as well that the Mayor
and Council have come to a blind wall
In their strenuous desire to eradicate
the social, evil, all at once and nothing
first. This is what happened to the
deacon's hay, but it seldom happens
to deepsated diseases of society.
They are not often cured suddenly or
by increasing the .police force.
If the Mayor and Council really
wish to lessen the profits of those who
trade In the sin of the scarlet woman,
why not station a policeman at her
door and arrest every man who tries
to enter? Perhaps this would require
new legislation, but what Is a Council
for if not to enact laws? One may
venture to prophesy, that this one little
trick would strike at the. social evil
many Jlmes more effectually than the
dispersion which Is so pretentiously
threatened and so little intended. The
Mayor knows very well how foolish it
would be to drive the women away
from the resorts where they are segre
gated and lodge them here, there and
everywhere about the city. Even if
they were expelled altogether, they
would have to go to some other town
and there ply their dreadful trade.
In the end no good would be accom
plished. It Is neither decent nor right
to try to solve our own problems by
casting them upon our neighbors.
They have troubles of their own.
It Is unjust to attempt to visit all
tle consequences of social sin upon
the women. At best they suffer from
It inconceivably more than the men
who are their fellow sinners and often
their tempters. Instead of talking so
much about driving away the women,
why not try to drive away the men
who patronize them? It would be
quite as easy and upon the whole
more beneficial.- The scarlet man is
more of a menace to society than the
woman whom he ruins. She has her
revenge by corrupting his blood and
he carries the corruption into his own
household. It is the man, not the
woman, who disseminates the diseases
of Babylon. Let. her alone and she
is harmless. The proposal which is
sometimes made to Inspect houses of
vice and put them under medical pro
tection will never be adopted in the
L'nited States for long at a time. It
is too revolting to the conscience, or
what passes for the conscience, of our
people. While we permit the evil to
exist, common sense would seem to
dictate that it should be made as
harmless as possible, but common
sense does not have much Influence
upon our public conduct. The notion
of Inviting young men to indulge In
vice by making it safe revolts every
body in this country; but the more
revolting practice of condoning the
vice under the worst possible condi
tions does not shock us at all. Such
Is the force of habit. .
RAISING THE APPLE FREIGHT RATE.
Since the railroads have raised the
freight rate on apples, Oregon produc
ers will take renewed interest in that
comprehensive article of Railroad
Commissioner West's, showing the im
mense profits the Harriman lines
have been making in recent years.
They will be very likely to argue. In
that stupid way producers have of ar
guing, that, when a railroad is mak
ing exorbitant profit already, there is
no Justification for increase in any of
Its rates. That is poor logic from the
standpoint of a. railroad attorney or a
railroad stock manipulator. It Is true,
but somehow or other it appeals to
the average citizen in such a way that
the producers are likely to find many
sympathizers. Consumers are likely
to take up the argument, too. They
are directly affected by the freight"
rate, for they either have to pay part
of it or have their supply of fruit dlr
mlnished.
The applegrowers of Oregon must
not permit this raise of ' rates to be
put into force without a fight. Nor
must the Oregon Railroad Commis
sion permit It without a fight. While
it is true that the rate is one that af
fects interstate shlpmens and the Ore
gon Commlssien has, therefore, no
Jurisdiction as a tribunal, the Commis
sion Is not barred from giving the
Oregon shipper what aid it can in pre
senting the grievance before the Inter
state Commerce Commission. If the
rate must be raised, we should dis
cover a good reason why.
The statement that the advance In
rates affects shipments to a part of
the country where shipments are
small is not a conclusive argument in
defense of the raise. Perhaps it is
the excessive rate that makes the
shipments small, and, if the rate were
lowered instead of raised, the ship
ments would be larger. If they are
small and the raise will make no ma
terial difference, then why make the
raise at all? Is it not as material for
the shipper as for the railroads?
Neither is it a good defense to say that
the fruit can stand the new rate. We
have passed the. day when the princi
ple prevailed that rates should be
fixed at "all the traffic will bear." We
jira .now; governed by tha-rula that, a
transportation company is entitled to
a reasonable profit upon its invest
ment. Mind you, a reasonable profit
upon Its investment, not upon its wat
ered stock and its bonds. If a trans
portation company is now receiving
that profit and more, rates should be
reduced, and not increased. If there
are Inequalities, let them be adjusted,
but let the adjustment be down in
stead -of up. Again, it may not be
true that the fruit will stand the rate.
Prices received for fruit last year are
knot prevailing this year, and a rate
that was not oppressive a year ago
may be prohibitive now. Last year
there was a short crop of apples. This
year there is an immense crop of all
kinds of fruit and producers want an
extended rather than a curtailed mar
ket. (
But whatever other arguments may
be offered, the all-important fact is
presented that the railroads are al
ready making a profit larger than they
are entitled to, and, so long as they
are making such a profit, no increase
In any rates can be Justified.
A town's commercial enterprises are
its best advertisers. Any kind of a
factory or packing plant that ships
goods is one of the. best agencies for
spreading the" name of the city In
which it Is located. . Boards of Trade
and Commercial Clubs should make
every possible use of this means of
getting publicity.. If you have a
woolen mill, see what can be done to
a'flvertlse your city on every blanket
or bolt of cloth that goes ovlt. If you
have a cannery,, see that every can
bears "an attractive ' label with the
name of the town conspicuously dis
played. Every box of fruit, fresh or
cured, should be an advertising me
dium. Every factory should bear
across Its front in large letters the
name of the establishment and words
to Indicate the business in which, it is
engaged, so that every person passing
by on the train or by team wiH linow
that the city possesses such an enter
prise. It is a .loss of opportunity to
neglect such matters, for it costs prac
tically nothing to advertise a town in
this way. A manufacturing or pack
ing concern that won't help its home
town In such a manner should not be
given the support of the community in
which it operates.
The old adage that it is more blessed
to give than to receive is not fully
understood by the Atlanta young man
who is suing his former sweetheart
for return of Jewelry he gave her
while they were sweethearts. What
did he give them for? If it was not
for the pleasure in giving, he must
have had some ulterior and. unworthy
object. Surely he did not think by
giving presents of Jewelry to win and
retain her affections. Love cannot be
so bought, and the man who has such
an idea of it is unworthy to receive It.
As a token of affection, a present may
engender affection in the recipient,
but It can buy neither affection nor
respect. The fact that the young man
wants his presents returned indicates
that he gave them with some mercen
ary motive, and not from high im
pulses. If he had been truly in love
he would have enjoyed the giving
enough to compensate him for the few
honest dollars he spent for the pres
ents. As It is, he thinks it more
blessed to recover the presents than
to let them remain in the possession
Of the woman to . whom they were
given.
Where will the next big circus that
comes to Portland find room enough
to spread Its canvas? Probably not
on the west side of the 'Willamette.
The last occupied practically all the
available vacant ground in the north
western district. One residence on
either side of two double blocks will
serve to eliminate Goldsmith's addi
tion as a future circus site. Then the
East Side. Before we are aware of it,
old Portland will have advanced to
the foothills and then must begin to
cover the sides. It is doubtful whether
there is room enough now on the west
side of the river for a thousand new
homes if each is to occupy one lot. t
Candidate Chafin Is certainly right
when he says that a prohibitionist
need not be a total abstainer. As a
matter of fact, the man who should
most earnestly desire prohibition is he
who cannot control his appetite for
liquor. The man who can control
himself, or who has no desire for
liquor, has no personal reason for vot
ing for prohibition. To be a heavy
drinker and a prohibitionist Is not In
consistent, but to be a moderate
drinker and a prohibitionist Is.
The New York horsemen who re
fused to race while Governor Hughes
was on the track gave a very con
spicuous demonstration of their stu
pidity. They could not see that they
were offering the best of evidence that
the Governor's course against the
racetrack gamblers was fully Justified.
A class of men who will thus offer in
sult to the chief executive of the state
will resort to other low measures con
trary to public morals.
Judge Baker, replying to criticisms
of the United States Court of Appeals
In the Standard Oil case, says: "What
one man may say in regard to a deci
sion, of a court counts for no more
than his opinion." Just so. But sup
pose there are several million men
like minded. It may be remembered
that the Dred Scot decision went a
long ways toward crystallizing anti
slavery sentiment.
Circuit Judge H. L. Benson, of the
district composed of Klamath, Lake
and Josephine Counties, has resigned.
Now it will be in order to draw infer
ences from that act in connection with
the section of the constitution which
forbids a Judge to accept any other
than a Judicial office during the term
for which he was elected. Let the
politicians get busy.
Mayor Rodgers, of Salem, wants the
owners of a millrace to fence it or
cover it so that so many children will
not be drowned therein. He evidently
thinks that human life is of more im
portance than corporation revenues.
Strange delusion!
When the son of a brewer meets
death while under the influence of
liquor, the argument that liquor is a
food receives a severe shock.
Now watch the Governor show his
nonpartlsanship in the appointment of
a Judge to succeed Judge Benson.
A frult inspector la known by the
.enamies. h makes, -
MR. BRYAN AND FREE WOOL.
Facta and Ftgtirea of Iatereat to Sbeep
men and the Baying Public.
American Sheep Breeder.
Bryan's free wool sophistry Is
knocked into a cocked-hat by facts and
figures as far as the "dear public" is
concerned. Mr. Bryan doesn't believe
In building up a great National in
dustry like the wool industry, at the
expense of the general public. Really,
how much does the dear public have
to pay to maintain the wool industry
of the United States? Let us get down
to facts and figures. There are some
thing like 1,000,000 men engaged in
growing wool, with about $500,000,ODO
of capital invested, with an annual
wool production of say from $50,000,
000 to $60,000,000. This figure Is based
on an average of 18 cents per pound
for the wool grown. In addition to
that, say 15,000,000 muttons are pro
duced at a selling price of around
$65,000,000 to $75,000,000. A fair valua
tion of the annual production of wool
and mutton would be $125,000,000.
What the annual loss to this industry
would be under a free wool regime is
well known. Instead of the average of
say 18 cents per pound (which is an
extremely low figure for wool under
ordinary times) and the average of
about half that price for wool (on a
free trade basis) would mean a loss
to-the wool-grower of at leasf $2 3,000,
000 per year. Wool growing In the
West, under Cleveland's administration,
ruined thousands of flockmasters.
Montana wools sold as low as 7 and 8
cents per pound under Cleveland. Two
years ago these wools brought any
where from 18 to 25 cents per pound,
and even higher figures for exceptional
clips. v
e
Now let us find out the cost of cloth
ing, and the so-called saving to the
consumer. For a Spring suit of all
wool clothes -three and one-half yards
of cloth are required. One yard of
cloth weighs ten ounces. This would
require & trifle over two pounds of
wool. A Fall suit requires three and
one-half yards at 14 ounces to the
yard, or 49 ounces. The cost of cloth
ing represents 85 per cent in labor and
lo per cent in material. The ordinary
suit of clothing has 60 per cent of wool
and the balance is shoddy and cotton.
Suppose the tariff on wool were re
moved, that wool that had been aver
aging 18 cents per pound fell 50 per
cent: the saving on a Spring suit of
clothing would be a trifle under 20
cents, providing the manufacturer and
the retailer cut down "the price of the
garment to the extent of the reduced
value of the wool caused by a removal
of the tariff. On a Fall suit of cloth
ing, based on the same figures and
conditions, the cost would be reduced
to the extent of say 27 cents or there
abouts. This means all-wool clothing,
and does not take into consideration
any shoddy or cotton, which every
body knows is used extensively in. low
priced garments. As a matter of fact
all woolen clothing, or clothing made
out of a mixture of wool, cotton and
shoddy, never has, and never wijl, be
sold to the consumer for one penny
less under free wool conditions.
see
Every schoolboy knows that the cost
of his clothing under Cleveland's free
wool reign was not one cent reduced
by the removal of the tariff. Any re
duction in the cost of wool used in the
manufnrtiirA of an ordinary suit of
clothing would be so infinitesimal that
any manufacturer, Johber, wnoiesaier
or retailer would laugh at the idea of
the public saving anything by the re
moval of the tariff on wool. It is the
veriest nonsense to consider this propo
sition, for one moment. We have, for
niir own satisfaction, reduced the pos
sible cost of all the woolen clothing
used in the United States tor one year,
1 J ' . 1. ..lllnv ..alii, nf th o- n n rl
IpruviUMig wj ovi,iiiq ....... - - r
Were reduced to the extent of the re
duction in the price ot wool, ana 11
reaches such a ridiculously low ngure
that it is not worth mentioning. Every
nno iinnwi that our manufacturers
have to import about twice the amount
of wool we grow in this country, unaer
ordinary business conditions the tariff
on wool has kept the price up to a fair
measure of profit for the grower.
There have been times when wool in
this country has fallen down to a free
wnni ha sin hut these conditions had
nothing to do with the tariff. They
were based entirely on. the general in
dustrial' and financial conditions of the
country, caused by a panic, such as the
past year. On top of this came the
campaign year, and the result was
wool reduced to a free-wool basis, but
unrior ordinary conditions, when the
country is prosperous, this has never
happened, and never will, no, genue
men, we want no Bryan and free wooL
One Weather Observer Awakens.
Hot Springs (Va.) Letter to New York
Sun.
Professor Willis Moore, of the United
States Weather Bureau, when he was
here told of an experience he had In
Colorado not long ego. He was on his
way from Denver to Colorado Springs
to attend a convention of weather
sharps, and there was a mlxup between
him and a young man over a lower
berth. Both claimed the right to It,
and the squabble became so warm that
Professor Moore almost punched the
young man. The professor, however,
got the berth, and the next morning
he felt a little repentant. So he
stepped over to the table where the
young fellow was sitting at breakfast
and started to smooth it all out.
"Going to Colorado Springs?" asked
the professor. ,
No reply.
"What business you In?" persisted
the professor.
- "Weather Bureau business Colorado
station what the blank business is it
of yoursT" finally came the reply.
"O, not much of any," said the pro
fessor, "except that I'm in charge at
Washington, D. C."
Blow From Baseball Affects Speech.
Phlladelphnla Record.
While playing baseball in Philadel
phia. Fred Laurvlile, 12 years old, was
struck in the mouth by a ball, the
blow causing him to bite off the end
of his tongue. The piece was stitched
on at a hospital, but surgeons say there
will be an impediment in the boy's
speech.
Dentlat Removes Gold Teeth for Debt.
, Omaha (Neb.) Dispatch.
In the County Jail at Lincoln, Neb.,
Dr. Earl Truell, a dentist, forcibly took
three gold teeth from the mouth of
Edward J. Reed, a prisoner, who had
given a bogus check to the dentist.
Vacation 'Pastor's Poat-Cnrd Sermons.
Pittsburg (Pa.) Dispatch.
When on his vacation, Rev. S. R.
Downie, of Bath, Pa., sends each mem-v.-
ftf hfc .nTia-refi-a.tion & short sermon
every jveeJt printed oa a- post-sard. ,
GUARD NATIONAL BANK DEPOSITS
Guarantee Them, Just the Same Na
tional Banknotes Are Protected.
PORTLAND. Aug. 27. (To the Editor.)
The Oregonian of last Monday contains
a report of an interview with Postmaster
Qeneral Meyer, in which he strongly
condemns the proposal to guarantee de
posits In National banks, snd character
izes it as "one step further toward so
cialism." Mr. Meyer's knowledge of and experi
ence In banking may be profound, and he
also mar be of those "who are so rich
that their opinions do not need the sup
port of argument," but I will call as wit
neses against him two lifelong and very
able Republicans, Charles N. Fowler and
Lyman J. Gage.
In my opinion, Mr. Fowler is the ablest
and best-informed man in either branch
of Congress on the subject of finance;
and the Republican majority in the House
has kept him at the head of the banking
and currency committee for some years.
Mr. Gage has been a banker for 50 years,
and President McKinley seleoted him to
preside over the Treasury Dpartment in
his Cabinet.
The fact that Mr. Fowler incorporated
In his own bill (known as the Fowler bill)
the feature guaranteeing deposits in Na
tional banks, is evidence enough of his
belief in it as a safe and wise measure;
and Mr. Gage's opinion was stated in an
address, or rather, an argument, before
the committee on banking and currency
of the House of Representatives, February
19 last, from which I quote as follows:
"The Chairman: "There is one more ques
tion I would like to ask, Mr. Gage. Do
you think that this guaranteeing of de
posits would lead to unsound banking?" "
"Mr. Gage: "No, sir. 1 think the fact
that under your bill there would be a
penalty for neglect of Inspection, and that
there would be the machinery for Inspec
tion, would lead to sound banking. The
only restraint upon the bank officer really
is the fear of loss, not to his depositors,
but to his stockholders. That fear and re
straint would be as operative under your
bill as it Is now, and the influence of the
inspections and the restrictions that would
be formulated by these associates who have
to bear part of the risk that man takes if
he goes wrong Is a pretty good asurance
that he will go right and if he goes right
he will go In conformity with the princi
ples of good banking Instead of going
loose like a wild horse on a prairie.' "
As this is a question of much impor
tance to every person, whether a depositor
or not (for bank failures which involve
loss to depositors cause many indirect
losses to those who are not depositors)
especially appeal to the doubtful voter.
National bank notes are, and always have
been, guaranteed. There is no difference
at all in principle between the obligation
of a National bank to the holder of Its
notes, and Its obligation to its depositors.
Therefore, if it is a good thing (as has
been amply proved) to guarantee one form
of a like obligation, why should it prove
disastrous lo guarantee the other form of
an equal obligation?
The Government demands a guarantee
for its deposits in National banks. Why
should not the individual depositor be as
fully protected as the Government is?
In equity, the individual depositor has a
stronger claim to protection than the
Government has, for his loss must be
made up by his own efforts, while the
Government recoups itself by a further
tax on the people. ,
With a guarantee of deposits there
would never be a run on a bank. Being
secure against runs, banks oouid make
loans with more safety. And with greater
security in the making of loans, banks
would fail less often and even when they
did fail the alsturbance to business would
be small and temporary, instead of cumu
lative and long-continued, as now.
W. W. CATLIN.
IS SURE METHODISTS WANT TAFT
Opinion That Religion Haa No Place in
Selection of a V. S. PrealUent.
MILTON, Or., Aug. 26. (To the Ed
itor.) There are not many Methodists
who oppose Mr. Taft's being named
for the Presidency, because he is a
member of the Unitarian Church. His
breadth of view evinced in a recent ad
dress he made upon Christian missions
was so notable that the entire address
was-published In the Christian Advo
cate, of New York City. That address
would satisfy any trlnltarian.
The followers of John Wesley do not
forget these words of their leader: "I
care not what are the opinions of a
man is his heart right?" It was a
Methodist, Father Taylor, the noted
preacher of Boston, to seamen, who. In
speaking of . Emerson, at the last
hardly up to Unitarianism, but at first
a Unitarian, said: "If Emerson goes to
hell, he will change its temperature."
Bishop Thoburn, a Methodist, speaks
with enthusiasm of Taft's rule at the
Philippines as being helpful to evan
gelical Christianity. Senator Dolliver,
another Methodist, will not oppose Taft
because he happens to remember that
Taft is a Unitarian, nor will Vice-President
Fairbanks, another Methodiet, nor
Senator Beverldge, another, and so it
goes. Leslie M. Shaw, a strong Meth
odist, speaks for Taft, and oven For
aker, a Methodist, insists upon his right
to support Taft
Methodists are sound on the divinity
of Jesus Christ, but Methodist bells, as
wen as Catholic, tolled at Boston when
the great Unitarian leader, Channing,
was dead. The Methodists have no ec
clesiastical claim upon the White
House, and only one Methodist Presi
dent William McKinley has been
elected. . Grant and Hayes were not
members of any church, but of course,
through their wives, were in sympathy
with Methodism.
But Is it necessary to be a member
of any church to be a Christian? Be
cause Lincoln was not a church mem
ber is that the reason The Oregonian
said he was not a Christian? Or was
it because Lincoln did not reach the
high standard The Oregonian holds up
for a Christian to reach? If Lincoln
was not a Christian, God have mercy
upon the rest of us! It would be bet
ter, in the opinion of the writer, if
many people had never become mem
bers of the Church. They would be
broader and finer specimens of people.
It is too late to persecute, politically,
religion or no religion. President Mc
Kinley appointed a Catholic to the Su
preme bench, and President Roosevelt
has a Jew and a Catholic In his Cabi
net. Let the Catholics be patient. We
may yet elect Comrade Archbishop Ire
land as our' President. Instead of the
African hunt, let Mr. Roosevelt, after
his friend, Mr. Taft, is seated upon the
lid, chase down bigots and cheap people
who reason with only two ideas instead
of three, to reach their conclusions.
Nobody i more orthodox than Satan.
B. J. HANDLEY.
Jim Hannaford's Head.
Astoria Herald.
When Jim Hannaford wasakld he went
to school at Washougal. A phrenologist
called at Jim's house the other evening
and asked Jim If he ever had his head
examined.
"Yes," said Jim; "once, snd the teacher
wouldn't let anyone set close to me after
wards." Takes Swim and la Stricken. Blind.
Baltimore News.
William Kennedy, while very warm,
plunged Into the water at Upland, Pa.,
the result being that he was stricken
blind, the optic nerve having become
paralyzed.
Swimmer Attacked by Flan Hawks.
Camden (N. J.) Dispatch.
William Prell, swimming at Asbury
Park, N. J., found himself In a school
of blue fish. Two fish hawks, seeking
to get at the fish, attacked Prell, who
was rescued by -life guards. '
NOT WARRANTS BUT FIREBRANDS
Intra Raniters to Check Foreat Fire
by Rcarularly Biirnlnar Aeoumulatlona.
PORTLAND, Aug. 27. (To the Edi
tor.) I read with Interest in today's
Oregonian W. H. Dolman's method of
preventing forest flres.
The proposition would be all right
but for two reasons: The never-ending
task of cutting the dead timber, and
the impossible task of getting rid of
it after it was cut. P.eferring to the
present policy of the Government in
protecting our forests, there Is a
quaint old saying, somewhat blunt, but
mighty true Just the same, that, "A
wise man learns by the experience of
others, but a d n fool has to learn
by his own experience." Old pioneers
will remember that In the earlier years
of our history, when "Oregon was
young," that great flres were practical
ly unknown, but few destructive con
flagrations ever occurred and then only
in small compass.
The reason is obvious. Any person
who has the least knowledge of moun
taineering or woods-lore, knows the
amazing rapidity with which trash ac
cumulates In heavy timber. Falling
limbs, leaves, underbrush, grass and
fallen timber caused by storm or old
age, will In a very few years render
utterly impassable a comparatively
open forest, unless kept clear by fre
quent burnings. This the Indian fully :
understood. In order to keep his hunt-ing-gronds
clear and grass for his
horse, the ground was kept clear so
that wherever the Indian hunter or
berry picker went, a line of fire was
sure to follow him. The frequent
burnings kept the annual accumula
tions down, hence no serious tires.
Under the present rulings, with a
penitentiary term facing "the moun
tain incendiary," the forest is for a ;
time protected; thus in a few years an :
enormous amount of trash accumu
lates and when the fire does come, as '.
it surely will, it sweeps the land clear.
No law. human nor divine, can be
made that will prevent the forest flres.
It never has been done and never will. .
If not set by human agency it will be ;
by other means. I have of my own ;
experience known several large fires to ;
follow thunder storms. Rome hnlf-de- '
cayed tree is struck by lightning, set
on fire and after the storm clears up. :
burns to the ground and thus starts
the trouble.
Mr. Pinchot, arm your rangers with
firebrands instead of warrants. Tell
rangers to burn at all proper times
and places. Be master of the situa
tion instead of servant, and you will
have little trouble with destructive
forest flres.
H. C COE.
BRYAN AND CUMMINS IV REPARTEE
Commoner Says Republican Compli
ments Only Refer to Hlin Physically.
Des Moines (la.) Dispatch to the New
York World.
When William J. Bryan called upon (
Governor Cummins, the leader of the rad- t
ical wing of the Republican party In
Iowa, the conversation between them was
largely in the nature of repartee. Mr.
Bryan was taking an auto ride with .
Mayor A. J. Mathias and others when he
expressed a desire to see the Governor
Mr. Bryan and Governor Cummins
shook hands and looked at each other
curiously for a moment with the air of
sizing up. The Governor, still holding
Mr. Bryan's hand, said:
"I'm glad to see you looking so well'
capable of the larger work before you.'' ,
-Perhaps you mean fit, not capable?"
suggested Mr. Bryan.
"The first time I ever heard you speak."
said the Governor, "I thought you had
the finest voice I ever heard."
"That was the first time." said Mr.
Brvan, accenting the word "first."
"Yes," said the Governor, candidly.
"You impaired it in your campaipn in
1S9. The time I speak of was in 1Sf4."
"You are a good talker yourself." re
plied Mr. Bryan, and the Governor
smiled. "But." the Democratic cnndldate
continued, "there is one thing I don't
like about Republican compliments. They
are all confined to my physical attri-"
butes."
"A voice is all an orator needs," oh- .
served Governor Cummins. "But he must
be able to eat and sleep, and must have
plenty of It."
"Yes," said Mr. Bryan, "It Is better f--r
him to sleep than to have his audience do
It."
Mr. Bryan was holding in his hand a
little cane with a Bryan pennant on It,
after the fashion of those used by col
lege boys. The Governor took It, ex
amined It. and said: "I see you are
adopting college methods "
"Yes," admitted Mr. Bryan, "that Is be
cause the people are getting educated."
"What degree are you going to cor
ner?" "Doctor of laws," responded Mr. Bryan.
"At least we expect to doctor the laws ;
after they are graduated."
IN THE MAGAZINE
SECTION OF THE
SUNDAY
OREGONIAN
SOLVING THE SECRETS
OF AERIAL FLIGHT
Remarkable symposium by noted
aeronautical authorities on what
has been achieved and on the de
velopments likely to be made with
in the next ten years, finely illus
trated. DRAGGING A WOUNDED MAN
OVER MOUNT ST. HELENS
Thrilling account of an ascent
that wasn't scheduled, involving
hardship, danger and great endur
ance. , This feat will live in the
annals of Oregon mountain-climbing.
PASSING OF THE
OREGON STAGEDRIVER
Civilization has forced him, like
the Indian and the buffalo, into
story books for children. Still he
is in evidence on a few routes, but
his prestige is gone.
THE HOTEL CLERK ON
AERIAL NAVIGATION
Sundry comment on progress of
the science, presenting the matter
in its less serious aspect.
CHAMPIONS OF THE
PROHIBITION MOVEMENT
Running sketches of public men
and reformers who have led the
present widespread warfare
against rum.
ORDER EARLY FROM YOUR
NEWSDEALER