THE 3IORNING OREGOXIAN, SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 5, 1908.
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POKTLA.VD. MTTRDAT. SEPT. ft. UM.
WHERE BRYAJi'S CHACK UE8.
The chance for Bryan's election lies
In Republican dissension. In other
states, as In Oregon, the dissension
arises from a greedy ambition. In
little men, for the honors of the party
and the emoluments of office. This
is strongly promoted by the primary
law; and the scramble It produces for
nominations and the enmities It en
genders among men hitherto political
friends, cut off all possibility of ac
' commodatlon and union for the ensu
ing elections.
Men of the same party denounce
and even defame each other, to get
' nominations; they antagonise each
. other In all possible ways; they split
their party Into fragments and kindle
the animosity of each against all and
of all against each; many candidates.
who never would appear In a repre
sentative convention, knowing they
would have no chance whatever upon
any deliberation on their real merits.
come forth for every leading office;
one of the number gets a bare plural
ity, perhaps not one-fourth of the
party's vote then the friends of the
others, together with perhaps even
greater numbers who have refused to
participate in the scramble, decline to
support him. for one reason or an
other from their own pique or dls
gust, from their sense of his unfitness
or other judgment of the man. The
sense "or choice of the party has not
at all been expressed through the
nomination, and the addition of a
general party quarrel. Inflamed by the
participation of men of the opposite
party in the primary, accentuates the
farce and completes the party dis
organization.
All this Is going on at this time In
so many of the Republican states-
though not aggravated elsewhere by
the bedevtlment of "Statement No. 1
as in Oregon that the chances of
Bryan for election, the chances of
electlcn of Democratic Legislatures,
with less of Republican Senators, and
cf slectlon of a Democratic House of
Representatives, are greatly Improved.
The Republican party !n Illinois, in
Michigan, in Iowa and other states,
is all b1.. completely ufs't by these
strifes er.jrendered by th primary
law. Candidates nominate themselves
and tK "ruction" begins. The ma
jority pt-rty Is split Into irreconcilable
ar.; repellant fraj-ments. So many
have pa-.-Uclpated in the strife, and
the content has been so fierce, that
reconciliation is Impossible. The Ore
gonian simply states a fact, which
experience in moat Northern states
amply establishes.
Of course, It Is different In the
Southern states, where there Is but
. one party. Primary contests In those
' states breed no dissensions, because
I party loyalty is absolute. Besides,
1 there Is no opposition party from
i "which to draw votes to support of a
dissenting faction (even If there were
1 such) of the one dominant party.
- Under the representative or conven
tion system it was possible, by use
of deliberative Judgment, to hold fac
: tional contests usually within bounds.
Often there were disagreements in
conventions, and "soreness" would
follow, but It was confined to a few.
The whole membership of a party had
not participated In the row and been
inflamed by It to the spirit of extreme
retaliation.
The primary law, anyway. Is an at
tempt to put mediocrity or inferiority
above ability, to put the bottom rail
of the fence on top. It may appear
to succeed for a time, but ability or
talent again will surely come Into
their own. Never yet has the effort to
make a slik purse out of a sow's ear
however laudable In Intent met with
success. Ablest men now are all shut
out; but ablest men will resume con
trol of party and of public affairs.
Ability and talent, unchecked, run
Into abuses, and doubtless must from
time to time have check; but Inferior
ity, and even mediocrity, that may for
the moment put down ability and
talent, will have, anywhere, but a
brief or little day.
Bryan's sole chance of success lies
In Republican dissension, fomented by
the primary laws. Whatever chance
he has In Oregon comes through this
source. A Republican faction in Ore
gon pledged Itself to an absurd catch
phrase, as an expedient for getting
nominations: then lost the Senator
ship It was contending for, landed It
self In the arms of the Democratic
party, and has made the state doubt
ful for the Presidential election.
Illinois and Michigan will now elect
Democratic Governors; and both
those states, with perhaps Wisconsin,
where this fight also is fierce, are
likely to be carried over to Bryan.
But that might not be worst
thing. The little men who are trying
to control the Republican party, for
their own advantage and profit and
glory, will disappear with defeat.
Thus rational and sane principles,
urged by rational and sane and strong
men. will reappear. A third of the
Republicans of Oregon, pledged to
Chamberlain, are turned Democrats,
are Democrats In fact. No Chamber
lain Republican can be of service to
Taft. If Oregon shall vote for Taft
It will be only because many Repub
licans who have been misled, or have
acted Inconsiderately, will recant in
time; and further, because there Is a
large body of Republicans, the core or
kernel of the party, who will stay with
and fight for It. even amid discourage
ments and adversity. There Is a kind
of political dllettanteelsm that pro
fesses rejection of party and talks -Independence;
there is an ambitious
f sub-mediocrity which claims that one J
' man la as fit for Governor or Senator
as another, and that the man who
shows a superior ability, talent or
activity, is a "boss" and therefore
ought to be turned down, and the
nincompoop nominated because he Is
"nearer the people." But party Is not
to be gotten rid of. because it is the
only Instrument through which re
sults can be had In politics, nor ablest
men, because on the one hand they
can't be kept down, and on the other
because the country has need of them.
The next President will be a Repub
lican or a Democrat. He will owe his
election to the members of his party,
and from his party he will choose his
advisers and the administrators of the
affairs of the country. The admin
istration throughout will be Repub
lican or Democratic; and the Presi
dent's ability to get measures through
Congress will depend on his party's
securing a majority In the House and
the Senate. Should vacancies In the
Supreme Court occur during his ad
ministration he will fill them with
Judges who will almost certainly take
that view of constitutional and legal
questions which accords with his
party's traditions. More than this: a
great part of his power, for good or
ill. will come to him, not as President,
but aa his party's leader and master;
and yet, conversely, he will be leader
and master of his party mainly be
cause he will be President. These
facts are 'fundamental. Tet Repub
licans, through their little ambitions,
are "mixing It up," as If such facts
didn't exist. They have mixed It In
Oregon more than anywtiere else, thus
far; not with the result of abolishing
party, but of putting the Democratic
party on Its feet, with fair prospect
of complete re-establlshment. It con
cerns The Oregonlan no more than It
concerns others; but The Oregonlan
wishes it to be known that It under
stands. PROHIBITION AND POLITIC 8.
Professor A. S. Watklns, nominee
for Vice-President, is right in saying
that prohibition Is a National issue;
but he Is wrong In saying that it Is a
political Issue. It Is National because
everybody is interested In it. but non
political because there Is no room for
disagreement upon its fundamental
proposition. That the abuse of liquor
ought to be abolished nobody whose
opinion la worth anything denies.
This, we take It, is the rational germ
In the Prohibitionist platform. What
goes beyond It Is mere froth and foam.
The temperate use of liquor cannot be
abolished either by law or by any
other means. By law It ought not to
be abolished, because the loss from
the growth of meddlesome tyranny
would exceed the gain from Increased
sobriety.
If we could entirely stop the use of
liquor through the methods of persua
sion something might be gained per
haps, and perhaps not. While the
medical profession Is now agreed' that
alcohol is not a food, there Is a dif
ference of opinion about Its being al
ways injurious. Besides that, we can-
not Ignore the scientific opinion that
the elimination of moral weaklings
through drunkenness tends to fortify
the human race. Dr. Woods Hutch
inson once elaborated this idea before
a Portland audience and It Is met with
often In current discussion.
The prohibitionists are not likely to
help along the fight against the low
saloon by making it an. issue in poli
tics. Taken by Itself, the cause of
local option has made astonishing
progress. Fart of this progress has
come from the fact that parties did
not divide upon the question. By
forcing the subject into party politics
the prohibitionists run the risk of
dividing the forces which have hith
erto been arrayed on- the side of
decency and inflicting serious injury
upon their own cause.
APPROACHING END OF A BO' CO GAME.
The French bark Europe was sold
at London a few weeks ago for some
thing less than (30.000, or about one
fourth of her original cost nearly ten
years ago. There is nothing unusual
in the transaction at this time, for
shipping property all over the world
Is very much depreciated in value, and
the mere fact that a vessel still com
paratively new, should sell for only
about one-fourth of her original cost,
would not ordinarily attract special
attention. But the case of the Europe
offers such an excellent example of the
workings of the stupendous bunco
game which was worked on the
French people under the guise of a
ship subsidy, that It la worthy of
more than passing notice. The Eu
rope, since her completion about ten
years ago, has been almost continu
ously on the route between Portland
and Europe, making the trip to Port
land by way of Australia.
This route was covered, not because
It offered the best opportunities for
business, but because it enabled the
ship to sail more miles between porta
and earn more subsidy than on any
other route, the earnings of the
vessel from this source alone fre
quently exceeding $30,000 per year,
and the ship returning a good
profit to the owners without car
rying a ton of freight on the voyage.
The Europe was built for the subsidy
and was steadily and consistently op
erated for no other purpose. Just as
scores of other French ships were built
and operated. She occasionally
brought general cargo from a British
or German exporter to a Portland
Importer, touching at Cherbourg,
France, and Hobart, Australia, to com
ply with the law governing the sub
sidy, and returning, offered a low
freight rate by which the Oregon
wheatgrower could send his product
to the British miller.
France, of course, had no participa
tion In the business except the pay
ment of the subsidy bills, and while
American subsidy seekers pointed with
well-simulated envy to the rise of the
French flag on the high seas, the
French taxpayer howled In wrath over
the colossal bunco game that had
been worked on the unsuspecting na
tion under the guise of patriotism. But
the end is approaching, and the
French subsidized marine wilt vanish
from sight as rapidly as It appeared.
The Europe, still a good ship, and ca
pable of sailing as many miles per
year as can be covered by any other
vessel of her class, is nearlng the end
of her ten-year subsidized term. The
subsidy will not be renewed after next
year and the vessel must be operated
solely on. the merits which are brought
out In a supply and demand market.
After next year she can no longer
plow the seas In ballast, "with the
French taxpayers footing the bills, but
must take her place In the ranks of
vessels built and operated on business
principles. The same fate Is approach
ing a number of other vessels which
for years have been dislodging large
sums from the French treasury. It
has been an expensive lesson for
France, and It Is one. from which the
United States can profit without pay
ing the bills. The next commission
appointed to Investigate the. subsidy
matter should make a careful study
of the French efforts In this direction.
Practice Is always preferable to the
ory, and the ship subsidy in practice Is
about the rawest bunco game that
was ever "worked on a civilized people.
ABSENTEE OWNERSHIP.
The wedding of Marshall Field's
widow is an interesting and significant
event. It took place In London the
other day, the groom being an Eng
lishman and the great Duke of West
minster a witness. This alliance
probably severs the last tie which
connected the Field family with
America, except, of course, the finan
cial one. It has- long been apparent
that the boys were to be brought up
as Englishmen, with aristocratic
tastes and preconceptions befitting
their vast inheritance. Their fortune
Is now In trust and will remain so for
many years. At present It amounts
to some 1150,000.000, but when it is
released from entail by the natural
law of Increase It will have doubled
at least. The chances are that the
entail will then be renewed and made
perpetual. Thus the Field estate will
be placed upon the same footing as
other great English fortunes, the only
difference being that Its revenues will
be drawn from America and will lie
as a perpetual burden upon American
Industry.
The most serious hindrance to the
prosperity of Ireland for many years
has been absentee landlordism. The
Industries of the Island are owned by
persons who live and spend their In
comes elsewhere. Thus they contin
ually drain the resources of the people
and poverty becomes ever more grind
ing. If all that Is produced in a coun
try is consumed there In one form or
another wealth will necessarily in
crease, no matter whether profits are
fairly divided or not. But if the larger
fraction of what Is produced Is stead
ily shipped abroad with no return.
then wealth must be diminished from
year to year. It is precisely parallel
to the case of a farmer who crops his
land Summer after Summer and re
turns nothing to the soli. When the
arrangements for making the Field
fortune a perpetuity were first pub
lished the Chicago Inter-Ocean re
marked that It made no difference
where the income from it was spent
since the capital would always provide
work for Americans. The fallacy of
this is evident. Were the Income to
be spent in the United States it would
keep a great many more workmen
employed than the capital alone does,
while such a vast sum being thrown
annually Into new investments would
stimulate all Industry and tend to urge
wages upward.
We are not in Immediate danger of
suffering perceptibly from the evil of
absentee landlordism, very likely.
Large as the Field fortune is and
heavy as its drain must be upon cer
tain localities, still it Is a small mat
ter, taken In comparison with the re
sources of the Nation. The ominous
circumstance is that the Fields are
not an Isolated Instance, but they are
simply moving with a great tide. They
are following a fashion which seems
likely to spread throughout a large
part of our wealthy circles. There Is
a steady drain of American ownership
toward Europe and every year this
drain grows more considerable. Noth
ing need be said about the money
spent by travelers. It amounts to
hundreds of millions of dollars and
the returns from it are not by any
means proportionate to the losses.
Still there are returns. But the for
tunes carried across the Atlantic by
American heiresses who marry Euro
pean nobles are a total loss to the
country. So far as America is con
cerned, the capital Is utterly wasted;
as much so as if it were consumed by
fire. We gain nothing whatever from
the transfer unless the elimination of
a certain number of foolish women be
counted a gain. To this drain must
be added the continuous transfer of
their ownership to other countries by-
American millionaires like .Carnegie,
Croker and Astor. In all these cases
It must be remarked that It Is not the
capital which Is transported abroad,
but the ownership of It, which Is a
great deal worse. If the capital itself
were taken away we need only pay
interest to replace it; but since the
capital Is left here while the owner
ship goes we are compelled to pay
both Interest and profits upon it.
PVT CHILDREN TO SCHOOL.
It is the practice In Oregon to post
pone the opening of the public schools
until the hop harvest is over, thus
serving the convenience of the large
number of families that work in the
hop fields. Since this policy is pur
sued, all parents should plan to have
their children ready for school when
the opening day arrives. Every child
who has not completed the eighth
grade should be In school this Fall,
unless too young. Those who have
completed the eighth grade should be
in school If there is a high school
within reach, unless they are learning
a trade or are engaged In other useful
occupations. Oregon has a good com
pulsory education law, which Is
largely self-executory. But no parent
should need the Influence of a com
pulsory education law. Every child
should have a common school educa
tion.. While It Is wiser to teach some
children trades rather than keep them
In school after they have completed
the eighth grade, any child Is better
off in high school than on the streets.
Oregon's public school system Is
recognized as one of the best in the
United States. Oregon is one of the
lowest states in the list when Illiteracy
is considered. While a good record
of this kind Is one to be proud of, the
real effort should be not merely to
teach every person to read and write,
which is the test of literacy and il
literacy, but also to read understand
ing and write well. The more ex
tensive the education the larger the
general fund of Information which
enables a person to understand and
enjoy what he reads. In proportion
to population, few states are better
supplied with excellent preparatory
schools and colleges than Is Oregon.
These Institutions, together with the
large number of high schools, place
within reach of almost every energetic
young man or woman an education as
thorough as necessary. - In these
schools young people may be well
fitted for business or professional
careers. Toung people can find here
at home almost anything they desire
in the way of educational opportunity.
Let the most be made of the oppor
tunities that offer.
BRYAN ON PUBLIC EXTRAVAGANCE.
If Collier's Weekly has correctly an
alyzed public sentiment, Mr. Bryan
made a mistake in abandoning anti
imperialism as a paramount issue.
Perhaps he may yet have reason to be
thanktul that he straddled by declar
ing his strengthened adherence to the
principles he advocated in the two
campaigns In which he went down to
defeat. While It would be an awk
ward thing to do, at this stage of the
Democratic campaign, Mr. Bryan
might yet decide to make anti-lmperl
ailsm an Issue and declaim against the
cost of armament made necessary by
our policy of expansion. If the Dem
ocratic party can change its policies
at the end of every campaign, why not
In the middle? Collier's remarks that
"if the Democrats had as a candidate
a Gladstone, criticising the National
extravagance, the Republicans would
inevitably be defeated." Then Repre
sentative Tawney is quoted as saying
that nearly 65 per cent of the revenues
of the Government, exclusive of postal
receipts, goes to the account of war.
The Saturday Evening Post, In a
most thrilling piece of fiction, entitled
"Number 9009," makes a very pow
erful arraignment of the present sys
tern of handling convicts In many
state penitentiaries. The story pre
sents many features which bear a
striking resemblance to much that ac
tually took place In the historic Tracy-
Merrill tragedy In this state. Through
out the story the writer seeks to con
vey the Impression that convicts are
goaded to desperation by the con
stant abuse and . "nagging" of the
guards, who encourage breaks for the
purpose of heading them off and thus
gaining favor with the men "higher
up." There are, of course, plenty of
irredeemably bad men in our penal
Institutions, but there are also a good
many who are not altogether bad
when the first mistake carries them
into the penitentiary. The latter. It
is feared, are not infrequently driven
into total depravity by the Inhuman
ity of those who are paid to guard
them. Stories like "Number 9009," or
even Bunko Kelly's "Thirteen Tears
In the Penitentiary," cannot easily be
constructed without some facts on
which to build, and it Is regretta
ble that bad men are made worse in
stead of better at so many of our
prisons.
"Shall the people rule?" Inquires
Mr. Bryan, to which the Democratic
party replies, "Part of them shall.
The fifteenth amendment to the
United States Constitution declares:
"The right of citizens of the United
States to vote shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or by
any state, on account of race, color or
previous condition of servitude." That
is the section which legally defines the
people who shall rule and guarantees
them the right and power. But the
South, solidly Democratic, says that a
certain proportion of the people shall
not rule nor help rule. "Shall the
people rule?" Is an appropriate ques
tion, but it should be particularly ad
dressed to the Democratic party.
Prosperous conditions are rapidly
returning in the East and South, and
increasing in the Pacific Northwest.
This region of the United States
scarcely felt the shock of the panic
last Fall, except to the extent that
money was tied up because Oregon
banks could not withdraw their de
posits from Eastern banks. But since
the money was released Investments
have gone ahead as before, and public
and private improvements have been
pushed with vigor. If Wall street will
be sane we shall have no fear of
financial difficulties in this part of the
country, and, since bankers have
learned a lesson, Oregon money will
probably never again be tied up In
New York.
Mayor Rpdgers, of Salem, has or
dered all peanut, lemonade and other
"stands'" off the streets of his city,
and in doing so says that streets are
for the use of the traveling public, and
that the city has no right to lease
portions of them. He Is certainly
right. There is plenty of room on
private property for all the refresh
ment stands any city needs. "Move
on" is the first rule of conduct on the
public thoroughfares. No man has a
right to monopolize a portion of a
public street to the exclusion of others
either in Salem or elsewhere.
The World's Work criticises the fine
Imposed upon Standard Oil by Judge
Landis because It Is "confiscatory." A
$29,000,000 fine was Imposed upon a
corporation having a capital stock of
$1,000,000, and no one knows how
much resources besides. But this fine
was not more confiscatory than a $29
fine Imposed upon a petty larcenlst
who has only $1 of capital.
The Canadian Pacific seems to be
sore afflicted this season. Forest fires
spread devastation through a wide
gtrlp of !ts territory, and before this
damage could be repaired an ocean-
to-ocean strike brought on more ex
pense. Now come floods and land
slides which have destroyed miles of
track and temporarily demoralized the
service.
Why shouldn't millionaires astonish
people by getting married suddenly
and unexpectedly? Aren't they human
and are they not subject to the same
weakness and power as other people?
Besides, we don't usually have a very
good opinion of people who go around
telling everybody of their love affairs.
The Intent, or at least the result, of
the guaranty of bank 'deposits would
be to give reckless banking the In
dorsement and support of good bank
ing, at the expense of those depositors
and customers who are careful to use
sound banks and avoid unsound ones.
Candidate Chafln savs a man can be
a drunkard and yet be a Prohibition
ist. ' Many drunkards are Prohibi
tionists. Unable to deny themselves
linuor. they want the law to keep. It
away. But most liquor users are not
drunkards.
Prohibitionist Chafln did not notice
Portland's Bull Run. That s the way
with some other folks.
It was impossible, after all, to start
the Taft campaign without Chairman
Cake.
BRTAN GUARANTEE: BANKING IDEA
Writer Saya It la More fanatical Thaa
Famous Free-Silver Craae.
PORTLAND. Sept. 4. (To the Edi
tor.) Mr. Bryan, in discussing his
guarantee banking scheme, which Is
more fanatical than his free silver
craze, says that he has been informed
by Governor Haskell, of Oklahoma,
that the management of several Na
tional banks in that state have already
surrendered their charters to operate
under state supervision under the new
guarantee banking system of Okla
homa, and that 16 others are arranging
to do so.
Suppose the management of all the
National banks in the country snouia
give up their charters so that these
banks become state banks under some
flimsy guarantee system, what are we
to do for a circulating medium? Every
National bank that goee out of busi
ness takes the amount of Its capital
ization out of circulation, and even if
a third of them should become state
banks, there would be such a shrinkage
of our currency that a money panic
would necessarily result.
I have not read the constitution of
Oklahoma, but don't think there Is a
state In the Union that can legally
under its constitution, guarantee
for Individuals or companies; and
neither can the Federal Government
do so without a constitutional amend
ment. If such amendment were made,
these amendments would have to ap
ply to all classes of enterprises alike
to be Just and fair, and It is difficult
to predict where the Government and
state guarantee business would ena
It has always been against the policy
of the Nation and states to loan their
credit, and It should remain so if they
are to continue solvent.
To assert that a constitutional law
can be enacted to bind the Federal
Government or the states to guarantee
for Individuals or companies, under
Dreeent conditions, only shows the lg
norance of Mr. Bryan upon the subject.
It would also require a radical
change of the Federal and state con
stltutlons before a law could be enact
ed binding Individuals or companies in
anv class of business, against their
will, to become sureties for each other.
Hence, I predict that Mr. Bryan will
see his free sliver lunacy a realty be
fore hi wildcat banking schemes are
In operation. D. R. NELSON.
THE BANK GUARANTY.
Explanations That Resolve Several Op
posing Yflevra.
PORTLAND. Or., Sept. 4. (To the
Editor.) A correspondent In The orego
nlan favors the Democratic platform sys
tem for guaranteeing depositors. Inas
much as he shows that the average an
nnal loss is onlv .037 of 1 per cent, there
does not seem any crying necessity for
deposit insurance in National Banks.
Such a good record comes from Govern
ment supervision of good National DanK
lng. But there Is but little political Is
sue about National bank deposits.
The main Issue Is on the Bryan proj
ect to make a National bank deposit
system available to all outside banks
that may want sound banks to go se
curity for them. Bryan s platform de
mauds that the deposit guaranty fea
ture of National banks shall be available
to all "state banking Institutions wish
lng to use It." That Is a different and
a very serious matter. It's a project to
have sound banks compelled to be sut
Jected to repeated assessments to pay
off any - depositor in any other kind of
banks "wishing" to use the guaranty.
Of course, they all "wish to use it.
Speculative, weak and shaky lnstitu
tlons always "wish" good lndorsers. Who
but Mr. Bryan and his confiding friends
would then be willing to take future
chances in depressions in business and
In banking. Such a project Is imprac
ticable. Again It Is said "bank notes are guar
anteed." and "that there is no substan
tial difference between the obligation to
note-holders and to depositors and that
there Is no sound reason why the for
mer should be guaranteed while the lat
ter are not." 'Well, one reason Is that
deposits are local and Individual mat
ters, while National bank notes are pub
lic In function and serve as money for
all people and circulate around the globe
and must be maintained In public confi
dence everywhere. But not a single Na
tional bank note has ever been guaran
teed In the sense Mr. Bryan claims for
deposits, namely, by requiring assess
ments on all good banks for the benefit
of the bad banks. Each keeps up its
own. No National bank is now or ever
has been assessed to pay any bad note
of any other bank. Each National bank
simply Is made to look after and guar
antee the redemption of its own Indi
vidual notes only. Each National bank
must deposit Government bonds as se
curity for ltst own notes and not for the
security of somebody else's. On volun
tary liquidation each bank must put up
lawful money sufficient to redeem Its
own notes, but never for the bad notes
of any other ban:. Sound banks gener
ally have enougji to do minding their
own business Instead of backing up out
side -weak banking Institutions. Each
National bank Is required to redeem its
own notes on presentation. If the bank
does not redeem. Uncle Sam steps in and
forfeits the bank's bonds and sells them
to pay the bank's own notes, but not
the- notes of any other Institution "wish
ing to use the system." Good banks are
never assessed to pay a note of a poor
bank at any time, but Mr. Bryan now
wants to assess all sound banks to re
pay depositors In every "institution" any
where "wishing to use" his project. The
proposed system to compel all sound
banks to be continuously subject to as
sessments to pay all depositors of any
kind and sort of state "Institutions wish
ing to use It," In short for them to be
taxed to pay other people's debts Is sim
ply to tinker the National banking sys
tem into destruction. No bank can be
sound that Is liable to pay the debts of
other banks over which It can exercise
no control.
Tour correspondent also referred to the
Chicago clearance-house supervision, but
that, as Mr. Gage said, is purely optional.
There Is a difference between assuming
a certain known obligation for another
bank In some city or banking center and
being required by law to Indefinite com
pulsory assessments for future failures of
all banks ail over the country.
M. C. GEORGE.
e-kokomlah Valley Cherry Tree.
SEATTLE, Wash.. Sept. S. (To the
Editor.) A few days ago I measured a
little Black Republican cherry tree in the
Skokomish Valley, near Union City, at
the head of Hood's Canal. At a point
Just below the spread of the branches
and at the top of the solid trunk
it measures IS feet 5 Inches In circum
ference, or a trifle more than four feet
In diameter. It Is nearly 60 years old
and still growing. I submit this to Lane
and Yamhill Counties.
W. S. VARNUM.
Won Id Exempt Women's Property.
PORTLAND, Sept. 4. -(To the Ed
itor.) In regard to taxation without
representation. If the voters would ex
empt women's property from taxation,
or at least the home, I think that the
difficulty could be overcome. The
home should be exempt from taxation,
and there should not be any laws made
that would rob a woman of her home.
I do not believe that women are ready
for the suffrage Just yet, but I cannot
explain why just now.
VIOLA BURR.
Couldn't Fool the Old Man.
The prodigal son wrote the old man as
follows: "I got religion at campmeeting
the other day. Send me $10." But the old
man replied: "Religion is free. Tou got
the wrong kind." Cleveland Leader.
CHAMBERLAIN AT THE REGATTA
Rainier Woman Criticises the Gov-Vrnor-a
Behavior Thereat.
RAINIER. Or., Sept 3. (To the Edi
tor.) I want to say a few words that I
would like very much to see in print
although I hardly expect to. At any rate,
I will try to see If a newspaper will really
print a little truth.
I was down to the annual regatta at
Astoria last week, and had what I
thought at that time the "honor" to meet
Oregon's Governor. Later, when I was
on the train ready to leave, I was at
first very much concerned to see our
Governor being led to the train by two
prominent men. At first I thought he
was sick or Injured, but when I ex-'
pressed my views, people laughed at my
Innocence and 'told me he was In a very
bad state of intoxication. I was horri
fied and looked closer, and found out
tbat It was the truth. He shambled!
our Governor shambled! His hat was
pulled down over his face and he was In
a perfect stupor! And the two promi
nent men that led him one held each
arm so reverently as though It were
something holy.
Oh! How can they, how can they, elect
a man of such standing to govern us!
It only shows that, as the majority
elects not a man, surely being like that
to govern them, that they are well satis
fied and willing and no better themselves.
Elect a man like this and even want him
to represent Oregon In the United States
Senate! Picture "Our George" shambling
into the Senate after a "spree." I can't
stand to think of It, that he should rep
resent us.
I feel sure that If women held the right
to vote In Oregon, that they would feel
too much repugnance to cast a vote for
such a person. I spoke to a well-known
man about It. He said he liked Governor
Chamberlain. When I told him what I
had seen, he said: "Yes, he does those
things." Those things!
MARY JANE) SMITH.
DO THE PEOPLE RILE t
Here la an Article That Every Person
Can Understand.
New York Evening Sun.
The obvious Implication of Mr. Bryan's
trick question "Shall the People Rule?"
Is that they have not ruled and do not
rule now. Consequently, when the re
sult of the elections which have been
held since he came Into prominence are
pointed to aa making an effective
answer to his question, he does not
like It. He refuses to admit its effec
tiveness a.3 an answer, although the
votes recorded against him make a
pretty convincing showing. As a mat
ter of fact It Is .a far more effective
answer than appears on its face.
There Is one part of the country
where It la deemed of little use to pre
sent or discuss the live political ques
tions of the Nation. Everywhere else
the voters are canvassed thoroughly by
the managers and candidates of every
party. They ate smothered with cam
paign literature and deafened with
campaign arguments. They are ex
pected to have or form opinions. They
are treated as though they were amen
able to reason and open to persuasion
in matters affecting the. whole country.
They are expected to think, to reach a
conclusion and to vote accordingly. It
Is not so In the 11 states which make
up the solid South. The other 33 states
are regarded by every party as debat
able ground In National elections. No
party managers regard It as worth
while to canvass the Solid South. The
Democratic campaigners do not because
they know that there Is no need of It.
The other campaigners do not, because
they know that It would be of no use.
Political campaigners are not prone to
"chase rainbows," as the vernacular of
our politics characterizes a hunt for
votes where none can be had; and it la
generally recognized that the votes
which can be had in the Solid South In
a sufficient number to amount to any
thing can omy be had for candidates
branded as Democrats, no matter what
tbat name may signify in the way of
government which outrages every
Southern tradition of Democracy, no
matter what It may signify In the way
of policies which traverse every ma
terial Interest of the South.
The live politics of the South are
only the politics of the primary; to
determine which of two fellow-parti
sans shall fill a local office. For the
rest, for National politics there la a
considerable deal of Democratic stump
speaking and Democratic exhorting,
but that Is all. The politicians must
make a show of keeping the game up,
but It Is not a campaign, not a canvass
which they conduct. The voters may
have more valid reasons than the vot
ers in any state outside the South for
desiring the defeat of the National
Democracy, but they are not expected
to vote accordingly. They are expect
ed to vote for the candidate called
Democratic, and they do. Elsewhere In
other states than the solid South Dem
ocrats have, time and again, by their
opinion-guided votes, turned Demo
cratic states Into the Republican col
umn. The Southern Democrats have
taken whatever has been handed to
them as Democracy, whether Cleveland
Democracy, Bryan Democracy or Par
ker Democracy.
The reasons for this blind fidelity to
the Democratic name are not to the
point. The fact speaks for Itself and
says beyond question that the vote
which the Democracy gets from the
solid South Is absolutely no expression
of the popular will of the South with
respect to Issues which the people of
the other states seek to decide by their
votes. It is merely an asset of tremen
dous value to the man or men who can
achieve control of the National Dem
ocracy. The asset of the Southern vote
goes with that control. Mr. Bryan has
It now, as Judge Parker had It four
years ago; as Mr. Cleveland had It 16
years ago. It Is a tremendous handi
cap to be overcome by any other party
hlch seeks to rule by the peoples
ill. It Is Just as tremendous a handi
cap to be overcome by the people them
selves In seeking to make their rule,
the expression of their will on the
questions of the day, effective. How
the people have ruled and do rule be
comes impressively clear only when
this asset of the Southern vote, which
Bryan now has as surely as though It
had been cast and counted, as surely
as though there were no room for the
differences of opinion which are strug
gling in the other 35 states, la taken
Into consideration.
Relying so heavily as he does on the
disproportionate power which the
Southern voter has to make his preju
dice count as much in National af
fairs as the ballots of three voters In
the other states who can render a -rea
son for their suffrage, it Is becoming
Increasingly evident that Mr. Bryan's
popular rule poser Is the cheapest sort
of campaign chicane.
Harriman and the Paragraph.
An expert mlndreader could make a for
tune in Wall street Just now br telllna lust
what Mr. Harriman thlnka. Baltimore Sun.
Manr who sneer at Mr. Harrtman'a state
ment that he la busy for the general good
are unable to show a fraction of his ad
mittedly good worn aone by tnemseivei.
Buffalo Evening News.
Harriman cornea more nearly to illustrat
ing the fruition of the common boyish am
bition to own "all the chuchu cars" than
any other man at present in the railroad
line. Providence Journal.
uirrimiin'i inn straved from his oaoa'a
special train in Omaha and was found
away out in me rauroaa jarus imunj
kiai-v tennis That old adage about threa
generations from shirt sleeves to shirt
sleeves doean't look probable with this
billionaire. Milwaukee Journal.
u. iiirfiinin shook hands cordially with
I,,.' in.orih. hut he did not hand her a
neat package containing his regards with
Instructions to deliver it to her father.
Chicago News.
( TROLLEY" LIXE FOR ALBA XT
H. Hirschberg, It Is Reported, Has
Sold All Rights to A. Welch.
ALBANY, Or., Sept. 4. (Special.) A re
port Is In circulation today that H.
Hirschberg, of Independence, who owns
the old "blanket" street railway franchise
In Albany and operates a horse-car on
First street, has sold all of his Hants to
A. Welch, who holds a franchise for the
use of several streets, and that Welch
will begin work on the system the first of
next week.
The delay In the commencement of work
on the Welch line is said to have been
caused by the fact , that Hirschberg
threatened an injunction suit.
According to the report, Welch will
rush the construction on an electric line
the length of the present horse-car line,
extending through the business section
of First street, and out Lyon street to
the Southern Pacific depot. Work will
then be begun on the other streets.
A motor to furnish power for a street
railway system was received several
weeks ago at the local power plant of the
Willamette Valley Company, which Is also
a Welch concern.
The settlement of the First street fran
chise will clear the way for the paving
of that thoroughfare.
MUST RETURN TO PRISON
Paroled Convict Is Held at Astoria
Until Arrival of Guards.
ASTORIA. Or., Sept. 4. (Special.)
Henry Foster, .a paroled convict from
the Oregon Penitentiary, was arrested
here this evening for breaking the con
ditions of his parole by getting drunk,
and is being held pending the arrival
of a prison guard.
Foster, who served during the Span
ish War in the Philippines as a member
of the Thirty-first United States Volun
teers from Kentucky, was sentenced to
10 years in the penitentiary from .Ma
rion County last January for a feloni
ous attack. In February he was pa
roled under charge of Rev. Mr. Gilbert,
of this city. Since then he has been
working in logging camps in this vicin
ity. Today Foster camo to town and
Immediately began drinking, and as
this was the fifth time lie had broken
the parole rules. Mr. Gilbert decided to
turn him over to the state authorities.
After being taken In charge by Mr.
Gilbert this evening he escaped, but
was captured by the police shortly
afterward.
Report of Mount Angel Fire.
MOUNT ANGEL. Or.. Sept. 3. (To
the Editor.) Referring to the Oregon
lan's news report about the lire which
occurred early last Monday morning,
the members of the fire brigade of
Mount Angel make this report of the
event:
The fire was discovered at 3:29 A. M.,
by Joseph Zoellner, who Is employed
In John W. Elrier's brickyard, burning
bricks during the night-time. It was
but a few minutes after the first alarm
was given that the fire department of
the town, aa well as a good many of
the citizens, went to the the scene. It
was Impossible to save R. L Dakin's
drugstore and the . various outbuild
ings adjoining, but the "boys" suc
ceeded In saving the Mount Ang-jl
Hotel, owned by Jacob Berchthold.
which Is located on the opposite side
of the street. By about 6 o'clock A.
M. the danger wae all over and by 8
o'clock A. M. all the boys of the fire
department were at their usual voca
tions. The Mount Angel water system stood
the test unusually well and if it ha J
not been for the heroic work of ail the
fire-fighters, the loss would certainly
have come up to $30,000.
THE MOUNT ANGEL FIRE BRIGADE.
School Will Occupy New Site.
CENTRALIA, Wash., Sept. 4 (Spe
cial.) Work on moving the portable
schoolhouse to Its location In the
northeastern part of town is progress
ing rapidly and will probably be com
pleted by September 8, the date school
Is scheduled to commence. Work on
all the sewer connections and the re
pairs to the buildings will probably be
completed on time. The High Sohool
football team will commence practice
the first of the week. It Is doubtful
If Captain Hubbard, of the team, will
return this year. If he does not. It
will materally weaken the team, as he
was a strong man behind the line.
Park for Baker City.
BAKER CITY, Or., Sept. 4. Deeds
were signed yesterday conveying to
the city five acres of ground for park
purposes. The land was purchased by
citizens here and donated to the city.
The land represents an Investment of
nearly $7000. The deed makes the city
agree to spend not less than $600 a
year In maintenance Mayor Johns an
nounces that work to Improve the tract
will begin at once. It is already a
natural forest, the only available tract
in the city for the purpose.
Boy Drowns in Willamette.
SALEM, Or., Sept. 4.-(Special.)-RalJtfi
Rogers, an 18-year-old boy, from Lenfs,
Or., was drowned today In the Willamette
River near the McCarthy hop ranch. The
boy. with James Hawkins and Alfred.
Forsyth, both of Portland, had gone
swimming and, getting beyond his depth,
was drowned before his companions
could help him. The lad was a son of
Mrs. Barnatt, who resides at Lents.
License Law Not Broken.
OREGON CITY, Or.. Sept. 4. (Spe
cial.) Upon motion of Deputy District
sunn the charges against N.
J. Hanson and others who were accused
of selling vehicles In ClacKamas tjouniy
,iKn a iirensp. were dismissed this
.rxmnnn There was not sufficient evi
dence against the men. It was shown
that Hanson had never sola any venicies.
Salaries of Deputies Increased.
OREGON CITY. Or., Sept. 4. The
. , . . 1 4Ani,la In tha
salaries oi uiu .wirt ...
Courthouse were today Increased from
$60 to $70 by the County Court. Clack
amas has paid the lowest salaries In
the state. The officials affected are:
Robert W. Baker, Deputy Sheriff; Lloyd
n . I .- At,.,, T3AI1
Williams, Jjepuiy aci u, ac. , .......
4 siirht Iienutv Clerk, and John K.
Morris, Deputy Assessor.
Sitting of Court Adjourned.
nupuiua wah . Sent. 4 (SDeclal.)
.1 (m that tha nrlmarv elec
tion will be held next Tuesday, Judge
Rice has adjournea court umu me nun
day following. There are half a dozen
,, .. tn ha tried and a number
of civil cases and It Is expected that some
of these will have- to go ov.
Separator Plant Proposed.
HTT.LSBORO. Or.. Sept. 4. (Special.)
Negotiations have bean opened toward
opening a big separating station here
fnr the benefit of dairymen. Portland to
be the market. Farmers will bring their
milk to the atation, have the cream sepa
rated, and take the skimmed milk home
for use on the ranches.
Barn Burns Near Hlllsboro.
HILLSBORO, Or.. Sept. 4. (Special.)
A large barn on one of the Oregon
Nurserv farms, five miles northeast of
this city, was destroyed by fire today.
The loss, with contents, was about J1000.
The origin of the blaze is not known.
4