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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.