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Bck wlth Special Agency New York, roome 48 60 Tribune building. Chicago, rooms C1U-61J Tribune building. J-OstTXAMD. THURSDAY. SEPT. 8. 18a. IVhT LOOK IT IN THE JKACE. Mr.' Henry Watterson, directing from the luxurious rooms of the Man hattan Club at New York, his brilliant and excellent newspaper at Louisville, urges the election of Bryan as a means of bringing the country back to Jeffer sonlan simplicity and to the frugal life of the early times. Far and away have we parted, he truly says, from the modes and manners and humble desires of the early days of the Re public, which made simplicity virtue! Artificial conditions of life predomi nate. Young men are reared to re gard enthusiasm as effeminate. Young women are almost as educated in a knowledge of evil as young men. The sex line becomes less and less visible. Moral confusion makes political ob liquity. Caste distinctions press upon the commonalty more and more, and harder and harder. The foolish poor either hate or emulate the foolish rich." And much more. There Is truth here; and it doesn't lie at the bottom of a well. For It is an old truth, long ago known in other lands; but not less valuable on that account. But we . cannot learn that Cato's even more lofty declamation against the increase of wealth and cor ruption of manners, witnessed In his day, arrested the tendency or mended the times; or that Sallust's striking protest against the evils of luxury and the decay of morals and the growing greed of gain, written on a golden table, within his own splendid gardens on the Qulrlnalis, Just as Mr. Watter son now writes amid the supellectlle splendors of the Manhattan Club (hie undique gaza), had effect of staying In the least, the course or progress of change. Nor was Jeffersonlan simplicity so remarkable. The country lived a sim ple life, but Jefrerson didn't. It was a luxurious life he lived, continually above his means, though he was In of fice with big salaries (for those times) during all his active life. He kept a good table and a cellar plentifully stocked with wines, and had slaves to wait on him. But he was a dema gogue, and he pretended simplicity. People were not as well informed those days as they are now. Hence the proverb, "Jeffersonlan simplicity." As we read In the "Merchant of Ven ice." "The world is still deceived with ornament." Greatest, or chiefest, 'of the deceivers of the American people was Thomas Jefferson. His political theory surrendered at Appomattox. But his practice of aristocratic and luxurious living was rooted too deeply In principles of human nature and of human society to yield to the shock of arms. Luxurious and prodigal living bankrupted him, and to save his pos terity Congress made an appropriation for purchase of his library, which, however, had no value for anything he gave it, but had value as a rare collec tion of the material or early history of Virginia and the colonies. The catch phrase, "Jeffersonlan simplicity," has no relation or proportion to the real simplicity of early life among the col ; onlsts, our ancestors, in America. Jef ferson was simply a politician and a demagogue, of the type of Clodius and of Wilkes living in the highest lux ury of the times, yet "the friend of the people." and proclaiming the prin ciples of simplicity and severity. The contrast was Washington, who lived In less state and amid less luxury than Jefferson, yet made no pretenses, to get the favor of the one-gallus democ racy. With Increase of Industry and growth of commerce and wealth there Is 'natural and necessary departure from primitive or pioneer conditions. To expect our people to go back now to old ways and habits and customs old simplicity is futile. Such anach ronisms are Impossible. Ip all coun tries progress of industry and com merce and growth of wealth cause changes in the constitution and struc ture of society. Should Mr. Bryan reach the White House there will be more display than there has been dur ing the time of Mr. Roosevelt, and a social tyranny equal to that under President Jackson. For Roosevelt Is truer to every standard of democratic simplicity than Bryan could ever be. The party that makes democracy Its special profession rises at every oppor tunlty to patriclanlsm. or to preterf- sion of It. But Its demagogues will all pretend to admiration of "sim riliclty." and will flatter the poor and needy voter. In a new country like ours there Is unusual opportunity to make money and grow rich, and all will embrace it who can. The Impulse carries society along and makes changes In its con stltutlon and character. One can ex pect nothing else. Nor is it a new thing In America. Opportunity here long ago developed this disposition Po sure an observer as- Talleyrand there never was a surer observed it here in his time. In 1794 Talleyrand fled to America to escape the fury of the Jacobins of France, men not more the levellers of estates than ef talents. Some of his observations on what he saw in America or what he thought he saw have only recently been pub lished. We read: "One day in a small town in Maine, after having ' Questioned his host, 'a man of eminent respectability,' about the quality ana price of lands In the neighborhood, he (Talleyrand) mentioned Philadelphia. The American had never been there. When you do go,' said Talleyrand you will, of course, be delighted to see General Washington?' 'Oh. of course. replied the other, 'but more than any one else I should like to see Bingham, who. they ay. is so rich Washing ton, the champion of freedom, Bing ham, the man of money. In themselves they already Incarnate America," So you see it isn't altogether a new thing, even in America. The course of things, deplore It how we will. Is In fact In ac cord with the fundamental principles of human nature and belongs to and Is part of the necessary mrovement of human society. Bryan may- be elected. But his elec tion will not arrest the movement, nor even give It a new direction. The forces of human society take and pur sue their own course, in accord with the laws of the time and the situation and the movement. The people of the United States do not want the "sim plicity" of primitive and pioneer life, and will not have It. They want all the luxuries that can be got and more than can be got, and when they haven't the money they want bonds Issued and the efforts of posterity mortgaged to pay for them. "The times" are always changing more rapidly now perhaps than ever before because of active communication In these days throughout the world, and the stimulative action and reaction of mind on mind and race on race, throughout the world. But the prin ciples of human nature are constant, and all wish the greatest attainable variety of life. This manes money getting necessary, and with new op portunity it produces changes of cus toms and alters the constitution of so ciety. But the movement never can be turned backward. COERCION IMPOSSIBLE. It Is often asserted that it is the pur pose and policy and practice of em ployers to "threaten men to the point of desperation to vote against Bryan." It Is asserted that this has been done heretofore and that It Is to be repeated now. Than such assertion what folly could be ranker? No employer has any means of coercion unless In the Southern States, (where the voting all goes one way. In every Northern State the ballot Is absolutely free. Worklngmen cannot be obliged to vote as employers dictate. The ballot Is guarded by complete secrecy; and It is entirely open to worklngmen, as It ever has been, to vote as they please. They needn't regard either the wishes or interests of employers. Usually they do not. Sensible employ ers, men of fair minds, never attempt "coercion." For two reasons. They would not think it fair and Just. And they know it could have no efTect, ex cept possibly an effect directly oppo site to what they might Intend. The only chance under our system to get votes Is through persuasion, addressed to Intelligence. This method has beaten Bryan twice. Some think It will again. VXREST IN WES-TERN ASIA. Are we near to one of those recur rent epochs when Asia is wont to pre cipitate her forces upon the Western world? Signs are not wanting that some movement of this kind may be brewing In the bosom of that mys terious continent. The success of Japan in her war with Russia has been published far and wide, from China to the farthest capes of Ara bia. India has heard the news, and it has contributed with other causes to excite discontent against the British dominion in that vast and populous territory. It is a matter of common knowledge that not for many years has England had such weighty cause to worry over the stability qf her In dian Empire as she has today. There are many indications also that Chin is undergoing transformation of a na ture which is not w-ell understood In the West. Some say that the Celes tial Empire is simply taking on the outward appearance of Europe with no fundamental change of spirit Others hint that the transformation is deeper and that under the stimulus of Japanese hegemony some great union of Asiatic peoples Is in process of formation which will threaten Western civilization with weapons borrowed from our own armories. To some students it has never ap peared doubtful since the date of the Japanese victories that they would lead sooner or later to one of those ethnic movements which have period Ically flowed overland from Asia to Europe. It has been so long since the last of these occurred that we have almost ceased to believe them possl ble. People forget a great deal in 600 years. But ever since history has been recorded the Impulse of Asia to overwhelm and subdue Europe has been often remitted but never perma nently abandoned. Under Xerxes. At tllla, Tamerlane, Jenghls Khan and the Turks, the effort was to effect a military- conquest; but three times at least Asia has attempted to overrun Europe through the propaganda of a religion and once tbje effort was suc cessful. Christianity, the religion In which most of us have been nurtured. Is a purely Oriental product, with the exception of some barren formulas culled by Paul from the Greeks. Ju daism has never been a conquering faith, but it Is altgether Asiatic In origin and spirit, and with Christian ity it Includes virtually the entire population of Europe and America. Centuries after the religion of Jesus had completed the conquest of Europe Islamlsm appeared and made a vig orous fight to wrest the scepter from it. The battle was doubtful for many years, but Christianity finally won and the faith of Mohammed was driven back into Asia everywhere except from Turkey. 'There it held its own and is dominant today. The third invading religion was Manlchelsm, -which in the Middle Ages- threatened the utter overthrow of the Catholic Church and was only stamped out by the most rigorous persecution; but with this we are not now concerned. The pertinent question is whether Islamlsm and Christianity are not about to enter upon another struggle for supremacy. In the Mohammedan countries of Western Asia there are violent perturbations. Persia is racked with civil war and with fierce strug gles between rival sects, some of Mo hammedan faith, others independent. Modern Ideas of government seem to have permeated that ancient land and to have set the population in ferment. Many of these ideas have undoubtedly crossed the continent of Asia from Japan. Others have entered directly from Europe. It is still more signifi cant to observe what Is going on in Turkey. Superficial observers may at tribute the recent revolution in that country to Jealousies among Its diverse races mingled with Austrian. Russian and German Intrigues. All these things have undoubtedly played their TITE MOIWiTXG OREGONIAN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3. 1908. nart. hut the real source of the trouble is the penetration of modern ideas Into the Turkish mind and the dawn ing InsUnct which it shares with all Asia that the time has come for the Orient to reassert itself. Before many decades this instinct, stimulated by the military pressure of Japan upon Western Asia, will probably precipi tate another great flood of armed mi gration from the region of the Cas pian and Bosphorus into Russia and Austria. The attempt may be made, as it has been made before, to exter minate the Christian Inhabitants of these regions and colonize them with Mohammedans. The outcome of the struggle, should It ever occur, may depend a great deal upon the relative vitality of the Chris tian faith as compared with Moham medanism. At the time of their for mer contest both were young and full of energy. In the future struggle both will be old and It may possibly be dis covered that Christianity is decrepit while its rival faith is replete with the power of renewed youth. Religions are subject to periodic revivals of fanatical power. Vambery describes the furious superstition of the Mo hammedans of Central Asia. With all the continent In disturbance, with new ideas bubbling In Turkey and Persia, this fanaticism may begin any day to propagate itself and spread line wna- fire. We should then have, to face the spectacle of a Moslem Invasion from Amia nffleored and eulded by men edu cated in modern science. When it was nv,r th nravers at the altar of bt. Peter's might possibly be addressed to Allah Instead of Jehovah. THE MOB'S TJSDAI. MISTAKE. "Vnn will have to excuse us. madam," said the leader of the over zealous vigilantes. "The Joke Is on us, tnr wo have hansred vour husband. and he was not the man we were look ing for." It is neither satisfactory nor surprising to learn in yesterday's news dispatches that a similar "Joke" is on the bloodthirsty cowards who started the reign of terror In Spring field, 111., about a fortnight ago. In nrhih mnnv lives. and an Immense amount of property was needlessly sacrificed before law ana oraer were re-established. No statistics are avail able to show the number of lives ana the amount of property that has been destroyed through similar "jokes since the standard of civilization was advanced beyond that which prevailed during the cave-dwelling era. It is a fact, however, that is Drougni m our attention with alarming fre quency, that certain specimens of the white race develop an inexplicable hnrhaHn lust for blood tnat is con- tinnallv makine Its presence felt through just such wild orgies as have recently disgraced bpringneia. ine RnHne-fipld tras-edv was started by the arrest of a colored man for an alleged assault on a white woman, xne c-i-iKirH rtpnied his sruilt and there were some men in Springfield with good red blood In their veins who aemanaea iK,i ha ho s-lvon the benefit of the doubt and an opportunity to prove his Innocence. One or tnese neroes, air, i nn inrhn nnid dearly for the cour- i nt hia convictions bv having his restaurant totally destroyed, placed his automobile at the disposal or tne Sheriff, and carried the accused man beyond the reach of the mob. rofoated In their Durpose. the in human cowards, to ouote from the Governor's report, "sacked the stores owned by colored persons and burned a number of houses occupied by col ored people. Negroes on the street were assaulted and one was killed, an a tatAi wa hnneed to a lamD-DOSt The negro was killed while trying to protect his home from Incendiaries, Ptn Another an old and Inoffensive cobbler was killed as he ran into the street to escape the smoke of his burn ing ahnri. which had been fired by the mob." But the man whose blood was most sought by the mob escaped, and now that reason has resumed its sway, the feminine victim of the as sault declares that the supposed cul prit Is not the guilty man. cit rnursn the mob will be dlscom fiten m the discovery that It made a mistake. Its members will probably admit that the "Joke" is on them, but the discovery will bring no solace to those that mourn the loss of loved ones. Through no fault of its own, the blood of the negro Richardson is not on the hands of the mob which .micrht his life. Most of this mob will probably escape conviction of the oT-imo nt which its members are guilty, but If there should ever flash across their sin-seared brains a sober thought of what they accompusnea riurinir their temporary lapse Into bar barism and crime, some of the pun lshment due them will be metea out before they answer to a higher power, ADDISON ON FEMALE GARB. If Joseph Addison, who was the great critic of fashions of his time, had lived two centuries later than he did, he would have found in the peek a-boo waist and the directoire gown abundant opportunity for the display of that gentle irony and Irresistible humor which made his essays so pop ular In his own day and age. The question of modesty and Immodesty In dress Is not a new one, though the manner of discussing the subject has changed somewhat since the time when Addison held up to ridicule the styles that were either innocently senseless, or. In his opinion, craftily naughty. In our day, attacks upon the creations of fashion-makers are conducted by the pithy paragraphers, who neither argue nor assert facts, but hurl harmless shafts of blunt rldi cule. Addison handled the crea- tors of fashion In those dignified essays which were humorous without being frivolous, though sometimes ex travazant. He found occasion to make war upon a fad of dress, or un dress, with much the same purpose that criticism has been directed against the ball gowns and peek-a-boo waists of our day. For example, he presents in one o his essays his opinions of the removal of the tucker, which article of dress he describes as "a slip of fine linen that used to run in a small kind of ruffle around the uppermost verge of the woman's stays." Addison s com Dlaint was that "our ladles have of late thrown aside this fig-leaf, and ex posed, In Its primitive nakedness, that gentle swelling of the breast which it was used to conceal." He graphically describes his own feelings and emo tions on a certain occasion when sit ting beside a "famous she visitant" of a friend, his eyes fell upon her exten slve neck, beholding "beauties which hari never before discovered." He was enraptured and the lady blushed, He then reviews the change of fash Ion from the time of Elizabeth, when ladles were clothed down to the very wrists and up to the chin. Gradually the clothing disappeared. "In propor tion as the age refined the dress sunk still lower, so that when we now say a woman has a handsome neck we reckon Into it many of the adjacent parts. The disuse of the tucker has still enlarged it Insomuch that the neck of a fine woman at present takes in almost half the body." Since necks had such a tendency to grow, he de sired to be Informed where the ex pansion might be expected to stop. Of course Addison, like an otners. protested that the view of an alabaster neck, extensive though it was, had no warming influence upon his cold heart. But he feared that every man is not sufficiently qualified with age and philosophy to be an Indifferent spec tator of such allurements. "The eyes of young men are curious and pene trating, their imaginations of a roving nature, and their passions under no discipline or restraint. I am In pain for a woman of rank when I see her thus exposing herself to the regards of every impudent, staring fellow. How can she expect that her quality can defend her when she gives such prov ocation?" He gives assurance that his fears are well founded, for he ob served that upon the removal of the tucker the whole tribe of oglers stared the fair sex in the neck. Instead of in the face. "To prevent these saucy, familiar glances, I would en treat my gentle readers to sew on their tuckers again, to retrieve the modesty of their characters, and not to imitate the nakedness, but the in nocence, of Eve." Modesty gives the maid greater beauty than even the bloom of youth, It bestows on the wife the dignity of a matron, and reinstates the widow In her virginity. The Tillamook line now under con struction will go first to Tillamook Bay, where it will provide convenient transportation -for the rich dairying region close around the bay and for the timber region which the line win traverse. Undoubtedly lines win soon be built up the coast to the Nehalem and down the coast to the Slletz. Eventually all that coast region will be given rail transportation, not be cause rail transportation is cheaper, but because It Is quicker and more convenient and people are willing 'to nav the higher rates a railroad must charge. Democrats are becoming active and lively In Oregon, but Republicans are doing nothing. "The people will rule. Democrats have the privilege of ae tlvlty, but Republicans want nobody to take the lead for them. Such per son would be "a boss." Any organi zation would be "a machine." Be sides, It would be an insult to the peo- pie to try to influence their votes, This, however, means Repurmcans only. Democrats have the privilege nf organization and activity, in the name of "non-partisanship. Should Taft be elected there Is much probability that Chamtenain will not be. Should Bryan be elected rn th Presidency It may not be thought worth the while of Republl cans to contend about the Senator. Every one knows that the vote of June was no indication 01 ine peupie a choice." The whole business . was merely a Juggle. It was demonstrat ed that no majority, or plurality, of the people wanted Cake.. We believe It equally certain that no majority or plurality wants Chamberlain. Is "the choice of the people" -oh tained through a general primary? Experience shows that it is seldom or never so. There will be many candi dates for each Important office, and a bitter primary fight. A small plural ity will nominate, which cannot be called the choice of the people, or even of the party In whose name the nomi nation Is made. It is far less the choice of people or of party than the representative convention. . There were two Circuit Judges in the district composed of Jackson, Jo sephine, Klamath and Lake Counties, One was a Democrat and the other a Republican. Judge Benson, the R publican, resigned, and in order to show his belief in a non-partisan Judi ciary, Governor Chamberlain appoint ed a Democrat to fill the vacancy. Now there are two Democrats filling the Judicial positions out there. Something of a showing, quite un expected, was made by the Indepen dence League or Hearst party, in Ver mont. " It drew about as many votes as the Socialists and Prohibitionists combined. Evidently it will play Dart In many of the contested states and the results of Its action probably will not be favorable to Bryan. The story of the husband whose at tention was so taken up with his dogs that he could not attend to his wife who had fallen on the street is some thing novel. ' We have been accus- tomed .to stories of women who are so devoted to their dogs that they have no time to spend looking after hus bands. The quality of Oregon hops this year will be perfect, though the quan tity produced will be much smaller than last year by reason of reduced acreage. Perhaps, since the quality is so good, the Eastern brewer will re consider his resolve not to buy any hops grown In a "dry" county. France may be angry at Germany, but France will not make war on Ger many till changes in Europe may put her in better position. France now is for peace, perforce, and it Is per haps best for her that It Is. so. Who wouldn't live in Oregon at such a delightful time of the year as this? And there is no time of the year when Oregon is a less pleasant place in which to live than any other part of the country. At present market quotations the producer of hay and feed ought not to complain. And the price of wheat Is not bad, though it might be better. The family came home this year from the Summer resort, as usual. In advance of the hotel bills. Should Senator Bourne come back to Oregon, he may be expected to take , the stump for Taft. At Preaent, the Laws Both Forbid an Permit Liquor-Selling;. Inn canted, decanted and recanted" la the way the working of prohibition In that state Is summed up In Appleton's magastne for September by Trumbull White, who has observed the working of the Iowa antlllquor law for the past SO years. According; to his conclusions, the situation In regard to liquor scums " Tnr- miu-h Ilka that In reference to racetrack gambling in New York before Governor Hughes forced the anti-gambling act through the Legislature. That Is to say, tne setting ot imuur is den by the law of the state, but is per mitted by another law through the de vice of ImpoMnx a fine which amounts to no more than a license iee. This measure, which is known In Iowa as the mulct law, provides for the vir tual suspension of the prohibitory stat utes If the written consent of a majority of the legal voters in a city or 85 per cent of the voters of a county Is obtained. When this Is done licenses may be Issued by the local authorities, the state license, helne- MOO. while the cities may charge additionally whatever they choose Under this system aooui ono-iuunu w the counties of Iowa, including most of the counties along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivera in which tne majority of the cities of the state are located, have ioiw. iinunr Blllna-. It is. therefore. erroneous to speak of Iowa as a prohi bition state for a large proportion ol ma population live in communities where sa loons are allowed to run openly and le gally, although the prohibition laws passed 25 years ago never have been re pealed, and in some oi tno runu are still enforced. an nrnuitaeA movement Is now unoir wav to submit a constitutional amena- nnl nrnvldlne- for Drohibltlon to the VOt ers of ion. rnraioiuraiie declare that u tms is aona mo mont win h rarrled bv from 80,000 to cnnAA i -rrttv ctn the other hand, those who are opposed to promomon nublic sentiment against a prohibitory i i vrnwlnr avar since the pre l.w wa. naaaed. and that a vote of the state would cause It to return to the license system BANK CLERKS A8 DKAD SHOTS Beatoa lastltatloa Makes n tlee Compulsory for Employes. Vow York World. Tn Ronton hanklna- circles, as well as in the United States Navy, marksman ship is held at a premium. The Shaw mut National Bank, one of the largest in that city, takes the lead by estab lishing a nrlvate shooting gallery In Its basement. For nan an nirui target practice is compulsory for every r . - , employe. Messengers, casniers. toilers, bookkeepers, all alike are armed with automatic guns and the chief watch man drills them by squaas in pimui shooting. These extraordinary precau tions are due to the recent outbreak of crimes of violence in Eastern Massa chusetts. Onlot reanectable business men, oi course, will tSKB tnis as a. "' that, especially during the business hours, they must be extremely careiui of RDDearances. it migm do aisnuii certtng because of a quick entrance or a sudden gesture to be mowed aown by a broadside of bullets rrom oenina the counter. Even as a means or sen protection there are reasons of personal .nmfnrt as well as of current fashion against wearing a suit of bullet-proof armor when you want to casn a cnecn. It might help if nervous depositors ariontad the rule of sending ahead an office boy with a white flag; when It came their own turn to approach the cashier's window they might hold up their hands until the watchman had nvre them while an assistant went through their pockets for concealed weapons. Tha la aomethlna to be said in favor of the Boston banking reform, hut It miarht prove a drawback if the cashier and paying teller In striking their dally balances had to report that they had shot four or five brokers and dry goods merchants ana innocent oy standcrs by mistake. Om "Water" Lawyer's Fee S50.O0O. Portland (Me.) Dispatch to Boston TranscrlDt. The petition of certain resldente of Portland (Me.) for an injunction to prevent the trustees of the Portland water district from paying tne ex nensea of attorneys' fees and expert witnesses, incurred in the formation of the district and court proceedings inci dent to the taking over or the proper ties of the Portland Water Company and the Standish Water A Construction Company, is denied by Justice savage of the Maine Supreme Jourt, in a ae ere handed down recently. The ex nenees amounted to $127,000, and In eluded a fee of $50,000 for the leading attorney for the district. The petition ers asked that the "necessity, reason ableness, legality and Justice" of the bill be determined by a proper tribunal before payment, claiming that the bills rendered "by some. If not all, of said attorneys and experts are wnouy un reasonable and exorbitant. Is Thta Umfalr to Mr. Kooeerveltl Baltimore Star. In the batch of foreign papers which reached us this morning Is our esteemed onntemnorarv from new Africa, the Rhodesia Herald Weekly, and it con tains a remarkable item, which we re- nrint on this page. Dutch farmers went forth on a hunt Ine- trln and made a bag of 81 ele phants. Think of that, ye sportsmen of the Chesapeake who are going forth to give days to your marksmanship, only to bring back one little reedbird which you might send home with a two-cent stamp! Eighty-one elephants! Really, those rutch farmers are most unKina. bure ly, they have heard that another Dutch sportsman will soon be on his way to Africa Can they be so mean as to wish to exhaust the elephants before Roosevelt arrives? Xew Bridge Placed In SH Minutes Chester Dispatch to Philadelphia North American. ' A real object lesson in the evolution of railroad bridge replacement was given on the Philadelphia division of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, when the old bridge across Chester Creek, between this city and Upland, was puiled out and a new double-track steel bridge 150 feet long; was slid into position In just 3V4 minutes without a hitch, breaking the time record on this system, and thought to be the quickest work of the kind ever done anywhere. There was not the slightest interrup tion to traffic. The new bridge weighs about 300 tons, and was built complete alongside the old or.e by the Pittsburg Construc tion Company of steel furnished by the American Bridge Company. Justice tn Search of Husband. Atlantic City (N. J.) Dispatch. Justice Bray, of West Orange, N. J., is trying to find a husband for a woman client, who says he may be old in years but must be young in heart. Six Girls' Ante-Nnptlnl Dei Six girls of New York City have en tered into a compact never to marry a man who does not shave every morning and put on a clean shirt before break fast. Lightning Mlaaes Mr. Bryan's Mule. Baltimore News. Lightning struck a windmill on Wil liam Jennings Bryan's place in Ne braska, but missed a mule standing nearby. IMPROVEMENTS BY THE BLOCK Happy Idea Tried for Betterment of Homes la Birmingham, Ala. Chicago Record-Herald. Excellent service in the movement for the purification and beautlficatlon of our cities has been performed by the public improvement associations. whose scope and jurisdiction are nec essarily limited and whose memoers maintain relations- of a neighborly character. It has occurred to Mayor Ward, of Birmingham, Ala, to try an even smaller unit, the block, and as a result of his efforts many block im provement societies have been organ ised in the Southern city. These societies are expected to do a great deal, but their sphere ot opera- tions being small they are encouraged by Immediate and perceptible benefits. They attend to a hundred different things, enlisting the aid of the chil dren, and whenever the aid of the city is needed a telephone message suffices to yield It. Tree and flower planting, the removal or whitewashing of fences, the prevention of street littering, the cleaning of sidewalks, the muzzling of dogs, the proper use of vacant lots, the prompt reporting of nuisances are among the tasks undertaken by the block societies. The Mayor helps them by Issuing circulars containing not only general advice but practical hints as to the work to be done and the most efficient and Inexpensive methods of doing it. He is very enthusiastic and has faith in the civic spirit of his city. "It needs only to be stimulated," he says, "and backed up to get wonder ful results." In commenting on the Birmingham Idea the current Outlook says truly that "the South is affording many hap py civic suggestions, and this is one of the happiest." It is. plainly, a logical development of the public improvement club and means block "home rule," as to all things that require no wider co operation. It Is certain that the block clubs will be found ready to federate and make common cause with the adminis tration as regards larger enterprises of a municipal character. FLAWS IN DIRECT PRIMARY. System Works Disruption of Parties la States That ITse IC St. Paul Pioneer Press. The platform of the Minnesota Democ racy demands the extension of the pri mary election law so as to include the nomination "by the people" of state offi cers and United States Senators, as well as the municipal and county officers, members of the Legislature, judges and Congreumen. The assertion is made. In an article copied from the Duluth Herald In Wednesday's Pioneer Press, that in other states where the laws are so ex tended "generally their use has been at tended with such success that there Is no doubt they will be continued." The Pioneer Press has failed to note. In Its exchanges, any evidences of such "gen eral success unless the promotion ot factionalism In the parties, the planting of lasting animosities between leaders, the successful interference of Democrats in making Republican nominations and "vice versa," and the frequent triumph of minority candidates, may be regarded as such evidences. In Republican states the application of the primary to state and Congressional offices is operating to split the party, destroy the organization and promote Democratic success. In Demo cratic states it Is working to split the party heretofore Justly dominant by rea son of its large majority, and to give op position minorities frequent successes, to which they are not morally entniea. i ne ease with which, through a multiplicity of candidates offering themselves at the pri mary, minority candidates can be placed in nomination places tne direct primary in plain antagonism to the fundamental prin ciple of majority rule. In Oregon, Iowa. Kansas, retrasKa, West Virginia and Illinois this extension of the orincipl-J of "direct" nominations has so disintegrated the Republican or- ranlzatton and divided the party tnat the.-e is small wonder that Minnesota Democrats applaud. They see In its rec ommended adoption by Minnesota the probability of like results to the Republi can organization In this state, and an effective "boost" for the Democratic minority. A minority party is much less liable to disintegration through the opera tion of the law than a majority party. The fact that a nomination by a dominant oartv ta practically equivalent to an elec tion srreatly increases the number of asnlranta for Its nominations, and lnten siflea both the eaarerness of pursuit and th bitterness of defeat. From the point of view of the welfare nf th Republican. Darty the proposed ex tension of direct nomination has certainly nothing to recommend it. From the b reader standpoint of the welfare of the mat. It hu lust as little, as win De ah own in a further discussion of the topic. "Cincinnati Enquirer," a Kitten's Name Kansas City . Star. v. T? Rlnlne nf "Zlnzinnatl." who Is here as a delegate to the Associated Advertising Clubs' Convention, was tne guest of a Kansas tJlty man at nn stock farm south of town. The adver tlslng man was shown thoroughbred horses, blue ribbon cows, aristocratic pigs and chickens worth a small for tune. Mr. Blaine showed Interest in every thing as he met it, but his attention was chiefly attracted by a kitten. He was so taken with the playful pet that the owner of the farm asked him if he m-onterf It. "Sure." said Mr. Blaine. "I'll take It home with me." "We'll send it for you," said his nost. "No, I'll take It right along." So along it went in the mo;or car to the Hotel Baltimore. He carried it into the hotel and personally looked after Its crating. In doing this he missed the banquet and the evenllig pro gramme at Elm Ridge, but thle did not appear to ruffle him. In the trip downtown the kitjen developed suth an Inquisitive natlure that Mr. Blaine said he was going to call it the Cincinnati Enquirer. Beauty Experts and Swimming. Atlantic City (N. J.) Dispatch. Beauty experts who recommend swimming as the finest possible exer cise for development of the feminine figure are responsible for a sudden rush made on bathing masters by the maids and matrons of the cottage and hotel colonies. The Summer girl of this year is not content with the ordinary "bath," wherein she wades out to her pretty knees and then lolls in the breakers, and the reason given is that advice which she has received to the effect that real swimming will give her both form and poise has aroused her to the advantage ef at least a daily swim. As a result of the Insistence of the. young women upon taking long swims, lifeguards have been worried and some are objecting to the necessity of keep ing their boats outside the breakers for protection of those who venture too far out and are unable to return to shore. Iyonenomesnt Tows In the Southwest. Galveston (Texas) Dispatchj. Tyler, Texas, is the lohesomest town in the Southwest. It is stuck away in a little corner by Itself, and there Is only one train a day In or out; In other words, it takes two days to go into Tyler and get out of It again. Many of its residents have never Been strangers other than drummers or theatrical troupes. Denver's Heavyweight Mayer. Kansas City Star. Robert W. Speer, who has again been elected Mayor ef Denver. Colo., wears a No. 1 hat and No. 11 shoes, and weighs 814 pounds In the Turkish bath. STORY OK THE TAFTS. Material for Poaalfrle Campaign Per sonalities. Under the caption, "Taft a Scion of a Mighty Family," our esteemed contem porary, the Philadelphia Record, pub lishes an Interesting sketch of the for bears of the Republican nominee for President. It Is natural for a man who aspires to the highest honors in the gift . of the American people to reel a certain pride in his descent from ancestors who were "energetic, industrious and fru gal," as the Tafts of past generations proved themselves, according to an ad dress delivered by the Secretary's fa ther in 1874, at a iamuy reunion a Uxbrldge, Mass. We learn from this authority that in past centuries, before Uncle Sam had established himself In the Western Hemisphere, the Tafts were domiciled in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In Ireland, it is Intimated, they were identified with the old Irish nobility. In England and In Wales the family name may have been spelled "Taffee," or "Taffe." But the father of Secretary Taft was an out-and-out American, who made no claim to anything more than honest plebeian blood. There was glory enough for him In the thought that the first Amer ican Tafts had been worthy and ueeful citizens, who served their country in the Indian wars and settled In Mendon, Mass., in 180. In the Revolutionary War and in the Civil War the Tafts were on the fight ing line. It thus appears that Secretary Taft Is descended from ancestors who have done the state some service in tne two and a quarter centuriea in which the Tafts have been living in this con tinent. We have no douDt tnat tne Tafts. or "Taffees" or -Tanes- piuyea a worthy part in their day and genera tion in England. Scotland, ireiana ana Wales. Still, the Secretary must be prepared for attacks by enemies, not only in the opposition camp, but by en vious men within his own fold. That eminent authority on Welsh biography. the late "Mother Goose," has written in her Immortal work of one of the celebrities of Wales: Taffy was a Welshman. Taffy was a thief. Tafty came to my house And stole a piece of beef, etr. .r. nnnvlnred that fair-minded and discriminating men of both parties will not be Influenced by attempts to connect Secretary Taffs ancestors In . . . i . v. . v. 'Toffv ' whom the Old country wim mo -----Mother Goose handed down to mt But the Secretary ought to be on his guard. There are indications that the , ikl. ..HOT- Will Presidential campaign mi- j. not lack In vigor and possibly In acer bity and reckless personalities. we believe that if the Mother Goose canard Is to be circulated In this campaign Secretary Taft should be in a position to "nail It" promptly SAYS OREGON WANTS TAFT. Writer Argues That Federal " Posh -Want to Hold Their Jobs. x-, iuitu s-il.I.S. Or.. Aug. 81. (To n. i. n - - , , v- , . atatS the are Editor.) rne uemn' i v . . making a great effort to rI. . fund, organize Democratic clubs for the pur and oraanl; pose of carrying y, .-.v Kern. Thl. effort and expenditure of mone. in my Judgment. re "ele" certainly be found to be a Republican .tats In November. . , . . ,.. The Federal machine In this state will vote for the Republican electors for precisely The same reason that It voted for Governor Chamberlain In the June election and against Mr. Cake; and It was exactly for "e same reason that the Presidential Post masters of this state In their recent con vention, passed their tenure of office reso lution. vl.: the desire to be left undisturbed In the enjoyment of the emoluments ot thelr offices for another four years. The Federal "push" for this state cannot be driven Iron, the Republican ticket. ... , Senator Fulton owes his defeat primarily to the fact that he and 8cnator Bourne, with selfish design, entered the field of Fed-ral patronage of this state, which be longed to Congressmen, and which still be longs to Congressmen in other states, and undertook to build up a machine among postmasters, for the purpose of perpetuating their terms In Congress. Thousands of Re publicans in this state, in the primaries, did not favor this scheme, but cast their votes for Mr. Cake. Then the Bourne-Fulton Republicans and Federal officeholders, rather than vote for a new Republican for Senator, who might disturb them In office, voted for Mr. Chamberlain, who would have nothing to do with the selection of Federal officers. They preferred to take no chances. They wanted a Democratic Senator who would have no Influence with the new probable Republican administration, in the selection of Federal officials. Now, these same officials will vote solidly for Mr. Taft for the same reason the Presi dential postmasters recently resolved, namely; to be left undisturbed In their of fices for four years more. The 50.000 loyal Republicans of this state, who are not Influenced by tenure of office, led by the magnificent fight The Oregonlan is making for Mr. Taft In exposing the vagaries of Mr. Bryan, and In showing him up to the same "Old Radical Bryan of 1896 and 100J." aided by the "Federal push," which cannot be driven from Mr. Taft, will make this state safely Republican, whether Jonathan Bourne and Chairman Cake allow any campaign to be made at all In Oregon for the Republican ticket. . Oregon will certainly be Republican, and the contributions of our Democratic farmers to carry this state for Mr. Bryan will prove to be of no value. HIRAM F. MURDOCH. NEED OF SOCIAL DECENCY. Oregonlan Editorial on the Subject Is Commended. PORTLAND, gept. 1. (To the Editor. Day after day as I have read The Ore gonlan's ringing writings on (he subject of social decency. I have felt that I wished to Km n nf thnsa to nubliclv thank The Ore gonlan for its fearless and manly opinion.. It Is high time society took a keener no tice of the fitting punishment of the mascu line, moral lepers, and thus strike a blow that ha. been overdue these many ages. People apeak of these "dens of vice" as corrupting our youth.. But it 1. seldom any voice Is raised In reference to their cor ruption, through the constant example of fathers and elder brothers, who go their glided and euilty way "unwhlpt of justice, except such as outraged Nature inflict., which brings misery to families yet unborn. For the well-being of all these wretched men themselves. It 1. better that the law should forcibly assist them to better paths, until common sense and true manliness have opportunity to guide them. And why. oh why, do not parent, everywhere talk confidingly and Interestingly to their chil dren, of either sex. on the great problems of life? if thl. were only dona the awful re sult, of all this Ignorance would not be so continually manifested In all our beautiful W Boy', should be taught that It 1. manly and .trong to be clean In their moral., and that It is the very opposite of manly to live the corrupt existence that must make the very angels weep at the perver.ion of all the rulings of the universe. I trust "hat The Oregonlan will continue the good fight. Thousands. I amsure, nf our moral people feel that The Oregonlan Sin as Tthe true note when It suggest, this ne plaS of controlling this horrible sun ted bv giving some adequate punishment and rytrSintnfo the wretched men without ,h- .carlet woman could not live. Institution, are multiplying all over the land to assist the fallen of both sexes back I" . .cent life. If they wish to come and ti-ul" begin life again. And that The Ore LVmian is helping the cause of decent life gon an "J k .. ,h- -onvictlon of a hv believer In decency. W. P. O. Side Lights on History. - The geese, by their loud cackling, had saved Rome. "That'll do." said the old gander. Irri tably. "You've done all that anybody has a right to expect from you. Stop your noise now and let me go to sleep!" For the geese of ancient Home, like unto many a biped of a later period, when once started to cackling, didn't know when to quit. Chicago Tribune. The Banker's Responsibility. New York Times. A banker who felt that the sums in trusted to him by depositors would be repaid out of a Government fund if he Bhould lose them would certainly be under temptations not likely to beset the banker who felt that the responsi bility of his trust rested upon himself alone.