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PORTT.AXT), THCBSHAT. OCT. . !-
AXPIHATIONS. RATIONAL AXTJ OTHfcB.
In Portland alone Innumerable
propositions and undertakings are
awaiting the result of the election.
It In a fact known of all men. Every
real estate man, every architect every
Investor, "will tell you so. These pro
posals and undertakings are not watt
tnic. however, through fear that Taft
may be elected. They are waiting
through apprehension of the election
of Bryan. It is the same In every city.
It is because business people are
afrsld of Bryan. They do not regard
him as an Attlla, or an Intentional
wrecker, but as a man whose defects
of Judgment and of temperament
whose vagaries and fantasies may
keep the country in fear and uncer
tainty, during his Presidential term.
His career has created this apprehen
sion, and supports It.
It Is asked, then, whether the peo
ple are to Ve prevented by these fears
from electing to the Presidency the
man they want? The answer here,
as In all matters of human Judgment
Is that consequences are to be con
sidered: and that they who do not
consider consequences are probably on
the road to a fall.
When It Is said that "It Is Impossible
to Imagine any proposition having the
support of seven or eight millions of
voters in the United States that would
cause even a ripple on the great wave
of business In this conservative Na
tion," the past Is conveniently for
gotten. Question is whether the "con
servative" force will retain control, or
the radical force overcome It.
Nor Is there any parallel between
the little panic of last year, which was
produced by a few speculators who
overshot their mark, and the condi
tions that might ensue. If the radical
change demanded by Bryanism In the
financial. Industrial, legislative and
Judicial policy of the country, were
effected. Again, It Is fallacious to as
sert that the railroads and agencies
of legitimate business made the flurry
.of a year ago. Harrlman and Hill did
not close the banks or tie up the cars.
Legitimate business Interests were the
victims. Should Bryan be elected
they will not desire the destruction of
their business and property. But If
the apprehension should be general
and stagnation should ensue, they
would suffer with the rest.
No adverse conditions threaten us.
If we only continue sane. But every
appeal of Bryan to the country alarms
business and property, and the regular
order. The man In high place who
stands for Bryan's Ideas, beginning
with his crown of thorns and cross of
gold, disquiets and disconcerts all
reasonable calculation and experience.
It is altogether erroneous to assert
that if a panic is to ensue it can occur
only through the efforts of interests
that predict it. Precisely the reverse.
They who fear such consequences do
not want them, but simply are taking
such precautions as they can against
them.
.Men may ray. "We have our aspi
rations; they are sacred to us. and we
have a right to do as we please." Cer
tainly. But there never has been a
time when warning against "aspira
tions." If not rational and Judicious,
was not In order; never will be. Be
tween "ideals" there is mighty differ
ence; and morn, of them are wrong
than right. When a principle of uni
versal liberty is involved, as in I860,
any sacrifice is necessary. Then, fhe
people may disregard "conservative"
warnings. But now, no such principle
is involved: It Is simply a matter of
rational proceeding on economic lines.
Mr. Bryan never stood for such action,
nor ever can. He is an agitator merely
playing to every gust of opinion and
to every vague- '"aspiration." The
aspiration may be regarded as "sa
cred," but It is a great matter whether
it is rational, or otherwise.
BIBLE STfWY.
At Columbus. O.. the first Interna
tional student Bible conference is in
session. The members are connected
with the Young Men's Christian Asso
ciation, and their principal aim is to
promote an Interest In the study of the
Bible among college students. It is to
be hoped that they will labor fruitfully
because there Is no better book In the
world than the Bible for people to
study, whether they are In college or
out of it.
With the desire to aid modestly In
the great work of the international
conference, one might possibly con
tribute a suggestion or two. Perhaps
the strongest reason there Is why
Bible study as It Id usually conducted
does not prove Interesting lies In the
fact that it does not seek to discover
the truth. It seeks to confirm this or
that preconceived theory, to corrobo
rate some creed, to substantiate some
theological system, but for the pure,
cold, disinterested truth It does not
seek. On the contrary. It shuns the
truth and not sejdom pronounces It
sinful.
Were those who undertake to teach
the Bible to lay aside once for all their
pre-judgments and conditions prece
dent, and seek for nothing but the
genuine facts, they would not need to
hold International conferences to stim
ulate Interest In their work. The Bi
ble is extremely Interesting when It Is
viewed as a book and not as a- fetich.
The English translation to a great lit
erary monument of which nobody
ought to be Ignorant. One reason why
so much slovenly English is written
today and so many doughy thoughts
are uttered Is the common neglect of
the Bible: but so long as It Is made a
fetich It cannot be taught In schools,
and until It is read In schools
it will be neglected. Hence It
might be well for the International
conference to consider ways and
means to eradicate superstitious Idol
worship of the Bible and elevate It to
Its proper position of a mighty monu
ment of human genius and record of
human life: As a work of man. It is
something wonderful: for It Is the
trancsript of the life of a people that
never will be repeated, any more than
the era of the Greek or English drama
will be. Call It a work of the Deity,
and It must be admitted that it lacks
many qualities that might be expected
from such a source.
THE BOOSEVEI.T-K.SOX I.F.TTf R.
It is asserted by the New York Sun.
and Insinuated by the New York
World, that Roosevelt didn't write the
letter about Gompers, but got some ex
pert In composition to write It. Intima
tion Is even made that it was all con
certed between Senator Knox and
President Roosevelt that Knox was to
make the speech and the letter was
to follow both the compositions of
Knox. Of such "conspiracy," how
ever, there is no sign of proof. But it
Is unimportant. The only question is
as worth of the matter presented in
the speech and in the letter.
Theodore Roosevelt Is not a very
great writer, but his compositions have
the merit of force, and many of them
exhibit much literary skill. Before
he became President he wrote and
published a dozen books, several of
which were famous before their au
thor became otherwise known. In the
Knox letter there was a deal of
mighty good stuff: and Roosevelt may
have conferred with other persons
even with Knox about the whole
matter. In advance. Suppose some
other person did make a contribution
to It which, however, can be only a
supposition. Nobody has been able
to meet the letter. It was given out
that Bryan would prepare an answer.
But the country has not yet been
favored with It. Best proof that It
Is unanswerable; for Bryan is no bad
verbal fencer, or dialectician.
"Theodore Roosevelt." says the
Brooklyn Eagle, "forfeited none of
his rights as a citizen when he was
sworn in as President. He has taken
a great deal of interest In the cause
of organised labor. Whenever and
wherever that cause has been pro
moted along legitimate lines, he has
encouraged It. But he has said he
will do wrong for no man. And he
solemnly warns organized labor to call
a halt. He denounces as wicked the
proposition to secure the passage of
a law preventing the courts from In
terfering with riotous violence having
for its object the destruction of busi
ness.". What Is the precise matter under
debate? Mr. Gompers would have the
National Legislature pass an act open
ing to assault? certain personal and
property rights guaranteed by the law
of the land. "Whatever may or may
not have been said to the contrary.
Injunctions Issue, if at all, for pur
poses of protection. This so that none
shall be deprived of life or property
without due process of law. Mr.
Gompers would have the safeguard
withdrawn." He induced Mr. Bryan
to put Into his platform acceptance
and approval of this Intention. It is
to be made Illegal to obstruct pur
poses which have for their object the
destruction of business, and more than
likely to Issue In violence. Yet is It to
be the law that efforts to prevent a
man or corporation, that a labor union
may proscribe, from doing business,
shall not be restrained? Are men of
a labor union to be exempt from laws
that all others must obey?
This is the plain and simple situa
tion, as to Injunction. The Oregonian
therefore agrees with the Brooklyn
Eagle and other Independent papers
of the country that the Roosevelt let
ter was written none too soon. It was
more than a protest against oppres
sion. It was an effort, moreover, to
secure from one who may be elected
President a statement of what the
country may expect in the event of
such election. Added to that. It is an
appeal directed to the Intelligence and
to the patriotism of the laboring men,
the 'workfngmen of America. "I do
not believe," says the President, "that
they will permit Mr. Gompers to de
liver them like chattels to Mr. Bryan
In exchange for a sham."
APPALLING FIRE LOSSES.
The National Fire Protection Asso
ciation, which was organized In 1896
for the purpose of creating public
sentiment and securing legislation in
tended to prevent at least a portion of
the enormous annual loss by Are, has
Issued a very Interesting statement on
the subject, which demands increasing
attention each year. The association
places the property loss by tire In the
United States during the past thirty
three years at 4.500,000.000, an an
nual loss of (136,000.000. This an
nual loss has been increasing con
stantly, for In the first eleven years of
the period mentioned the loss aver
aged but 1 82.000,000 per year. For
the following eleven years the average
increased to 1130.000,000. and for the
past eleven years to $195,000,000,
while for the past five years the loss
has reached the enormous average of
$252,000,000 per year.
The association circular quite truth
fully says: "One billion, two hundred
and sixty million dollars in the prod
ucts of human toll swept out of exist
ence in the brief space of five years
Is such stupendous waste as almost to
atrophy" the Imagination. This sura
equals almost our customs revenues;
it would more than pay the dividends
of all the railroads; It exceeds the rev
enue of the National postotflce; it is
greater than the production of gold
and silver. The extent to which care
lessness both In fire protection and In
laxity of building regulations is
blamable Is shown by the figures,
which credit this country with an av
erage of forty fires for each 10.000
population, while In European cities
the average Is eight fires to eevry 10.
000 inhabitants. The average per
capita loss by fire In the European
countries is 33 cents, while in the
United States it is $2.47."
This enormous waste of property
that can never be replaced has been
In progress for so many 3-ears that It
has almost ceased to attract attention
until it was brought before the public
a few weeks ago by the heavy losses
occasioned by the forest fires in the
Lake regions of the Northwest. The
loss of life and property was so
large In these recent conflagra
tions and the destruction of tim
ber revealed in so much more
striking manner than usual the grow
ing scarcity of the supply of raw ma
terial for lumber that the people have
become very much aroused over the
matter and will undoubtedly endeavor
to secure the passage of laws which
may lessen the losses. So much of
the timber of the country Is now fall
ing Into the hands of big syndicates
who are very watchful of their inter
ests that elaborate fire patrol systems
In the woods may prevent such great
losses from ever again being noted.
In the cities, however, where lax
building ordinances and careless ten
ants greatly Increase the risk of con
flagrations, there will be no Immediate
Improvement until the people are
made to realize that the annual de
struction of $252,000,000 per year Is
an economic waste that can hardly
fail to make its presence felt In many
lines of industry, some of them far re
moved from that directly affected by
the fire. The loss Is almost a National
disgrace.
BED TAPE'S RESPONSIBILITY.
The Oregonian Is in receipt of a
communication from an officer in the
revenue cutter service, protesting
against some unfavorable comment
made by this paper In connection with
the loss of the American ship Star of
Bengal. The news dispatch from Se
attle regarding the testimony in- the
examination of the tug master who
was blamed for the wreck criticised
Captain Stanford, of "the revenue cut
ter Burnside," and It was on this testi
mony that The Oregonian's criticism
was based. It is now denied that the
Burnside was in the revenue service at
the time of the wreck, but. according
to the protesting revenue cutter offi
cer, the Burnside "is a United States
cable ship, manned and officered by
civil employes, and is In no way, con
nected with the revenue cutter service
of the United States."
Our correspondent is quite Indig
nant, possibly with some cause, that
a branch of the Government service
with which he is connected should be
blamed for the apparent shortcomings
of some other branclf, but in his In
dignation misses the main weak point
at which The Oregonian's criticism
was directed. That point Is the ever
lasting superfluity of red tape In
nearly all movements In the Govern
ment business. It is not the fault of
the revenue cutter officers that their
craft have so often remained in port
long after private owners have been
obliged to send tugs out to look for
lang-overdue ships. It is simply the
fault of the system. It would have
afforded no comfort whatever to the
poor unfortunates clinging to the rig
ging of the Star of Bengal, and fight
ing" against the Inevitable, to have
konwn that the Burnside was not
connected with the revenue service,
and must accordingly await orders
from Washington before she could go
to the rescue.
The difference between the Govern
ment methods with its own ships and
with those of private owners, is that
the men In charge 1 of Government
craft are, as a rule, powerless to move
without orders from Washington, and
would be subject to a reprimand in
case they did make such a move. The
vessels of private owners, on the other
hand, are expected to, and generally
do, give Instant relief to a vessel In
distress, such assistance not infre
quently being given at great sacrifice.
The Oregonian regrets that It was mis
led by the news reports of the Star of
Bengal case, and Is glad that the reve
nue cutter service was In this particu
lar case blameless. It has no apology
to make, however, for the general crit
icism from time to time on the super
abundance of red tape whicTh, In the
case of the Burnside, prevented that
craft from proceeding Jmmedlately to
the scene pf the wreck, where she
might have been of some assistance in
saving many lives.
FREE SPEECH ON ELECTION DAY.
Does the so-called corrupt practices
law in Oregon violate the constitu
tional guarantee of free speech and
free press? On election day the law
forbids any person "to ask, solicit, or
in any manner try to induce or per
suade any voter to vote for or refrain
from voting for any candidate," and
says the penalty shall be a fine of not
less than $5 nor more than $100 for
the first offense. "And for the second
and each subsequent offense, occurring
on the same or different election days,
he shall be punished as aforesaid or
by Imprisonment in the county jail
for not less than five nor more than
thirty days or by both such fine and
imprisonment."
A writer to The Oregonian, whose
remarks are printed In another col
umn, insists that this ban on election
day politics is forbidden by section 8
of the bill of rights of the state Con
stitution, which reads:
No law shall be passed restraining th
free expression of opinion, or restricting the
right to speak, write or print freely on any
subject whatever, but every person shall be
responsible for the abuse of this right.
The corrupt practices law Is a freak
that, no deliberative body would have
enacted. The Legislature of 1907 re
jected It, because of Its absurd pro
visions. Then its sponsors, chief of
them U'Ren, presented it to the elec
tors under the Initiative last June, and
it "went through" with a whoop, be
cause the voters read in the title that
It was a bill to "prevent and punish
corrupt and Illegal practices In nom
inations and elections; to secure and
protect the purity of the ballot:" En
actment of the bill shows that the
voters read only the title. As a matter
of fact, not one elector in a hundred
knew what the bill contained. Only
Just now they are finding out.
Political campaigning on election
day is older than the Republic, and
this paper ventures the prediction that
no jury will deem it a corrupt practice
In this state, if It is conducted with
decorum. The free speech habit of
the American people is more potent
even than a bill of rights. It gives
to a man the right to strive for the
well-being of the Government, In an
orderly manner, at any time or place.
Strange would the Jury be that would
punish a man for urging the cause of
Taft, Bryan, Debs, Watson, Chafin or
Hisgen on election day.
This habit of the American people
belongs to the republican form of
government. The District Attorney
who would prosecute an orderly voter
for "electioneering" .would be fool
hardy. Constitutions declare "the
people shall have the right to bear
arms for the defense of themselves
and the state," but statutes take from
them the right of bearing concealed
weapefhs. Constitutions guarantee
freedom of worship and of religious
opinion, but statutes prohibit certain
activities on the worship day of par
ticular sects, and compel other sects
to conform. Constitutions prohibit
laws that favor special Interests, but
special interests are entrenched in
statutes throughout the Nation. Thus
free speech in the Oregon Constitution
may or may not guarantee the right
of "electioneering" on voting -day.
However, the rule of American poll
tics and the habit of American citizen
ship certainly guarantee that right.
The corrupt practices act is a fool
ish law. It should be repealed or
amended to conform with common
sense. Some of Its provisions limit
campaign expenses of candidates
while others allow candidates to spend
as much money as they can get. One
section forbids any person to dine an
other, for the purpose of Influencing
his vote. Another prohibits the wear
ing of political badges at the polls.
Still another forbids distribution of
campaign literature at the polls.
The initiative method of law-making
has been subjected to wholesale
abuse In Oregon. It has made the
Constitution as unstable as the stat
utes. It Injects Into the organic and
the statute law provisions that could
not pass a deliberative body, wherein
modification and amendrtent and bal
ance of opinion would rule. Last June
the people enacted a constitutional
change, declaring "no person shall be
charged in any Circuit Court with the
commission of any crime or misde
meanor, defined or made punishable
by any of the laws of this state ex
cept upon Indictment found by a
grand Jury." This means that no per
son shall be prosecuted, unless by
grand Jury Indictment. In this state
are numerous offenders murderers,
bankers, and others whose convic
tions, based on informations filed by
District Attorneys, are illegal, unless
the courts shall stretch their Interpre
tation of the law.
The main points of these remarks
are that the corrupt practices law
desjgnates as corrupt certain acts of
the people on election day, which
Juries ought not to deem as such, and
will not, and that the law teems with
Inconsistencies and absurdities that
Justify its repeal by the Legislature.
If the departments of the Multno
mah County Circuit Court had been
busy last Summer, there would not
now be so much congestion of busi
ness. The law should be amended so
as to continue Judicial functions in
July and August. After the new
Judges shall have become thoroughly
used to the harness, four departments
of the Circuit Court ought to be able
to handle the Judilcal business prompt
ly If there shall be no halt in the Sum
mer months. Besides, the business
could easily be expedited by all the de
partments. In a great many cases there
is unhappy waste of time, by conten
tion over trivial, irrelevant- and unim
portant matters. In Coriolanus we
have it: "You wear out a good whole
some forenoon In hearing a cause be
tween an orange-wife and fosset-seller
and then adjourn the controversy of
three hence to a second day of audi
ence." We don't so much need more
Judges, perhaps, as less litigation.
It may be that Bryan will be ele-ted.
Yet The Oregonian never before has
seen such consensus of opinion among
the great newspapers of the country,
as now that Taft will be elected. Do
all of them mistake? And the men
who lay wagers, too? It is possible,
certainly. Every one feels, however,
that Bryan is not so strong as when
that Bupreme folly, free coinage of
silver, was his one lofty note. That
was the most seductive appeal, for
economic and political error, ever pre
sented to the American people. It so
alarmed the country that it is carry
ing myriads of votes against Bryan
now.
Candidate Kern, who is Mr. Bryan's
running mate, is authority for the
statement that 14 men have absolute
domination over all the railroads in
the country. Inasmuch as the Demo
cratic candidate travels around the
country on passes issued by some of
these 14 men, he may be speaking
authoritatively. His relations with
the railroads and with Tom Taggart,
however, hardly leave him in an un
assailable position, -when railroad af
filiations are under discussion.
The football season Is not yet fairly
under way, but the death roll for
1908-09 Is already in evidence.
Thomas Evans, right guard of the
Utah Agricultural College eleven, died
at Logan, Utah, Tuesday, as the re
sult of Injuries received in a game last
Saturday. Football Is not quite so de
structive of human life as war, but It
has prizefighting and other mild
amusements badly distanced as an
agency for reducing the census of
hardy young men.
You may put It down for certainty
that not a Republican In Oregon will
vote for Bryan. Because only the man
who Is a Democrat will vote for Bryan;
and if he was not formerly a Demo
crat, he makes himself such by that
act. But The Oregonian gets no
response to its offer to print lists of
the hundreds and thousands of Re
publicans in Oregon who, It is alleged,
are to vote for Bryan.
The Morse case in New York sup
plies a reason similar to that furnish
ed by the Scriber case at La Grande,
but on vastly greater scale, why In
surance of bank deposits on the Bryan
plan is impossible. Sound banking
never will insure unsound banking, or
honest banking dishonest banking.
Why don't some of those Bryan
statesmen who are so terribly incensed
about "Pat" McArthur's estimate of
the vote of Oregon next Tuesday,
make an estimate to suit themselves
and publish it. Or does the "corrupt
practice act" forbid these things?
Look out for roorbacks. A joint
letter from the Chinese and Japanese
Ambassadors to the United States,
strongly urging their countrymen to
support Taft or Bryan as the case
may be for President Is about due.
Possibly the Seattle exposition was
stingy with Henry Reed because it
forgot that Henry secured the $100,
000 appropriation from the Oregon
Legislature.
How would it do to elect Bryan, so
you could Invest in property at panic
prices? But you would better have
fuel enough to carry you through the
freeze.
It Is unfortunate that the city char
ter cannot be amended soon enough
to reduce the number of self-seeking
patriots in the next city election.
"Nothing will happen," says Chamles
K. Henry, "If Bryan shall be elected."
That's what's worrying everybody who
has anything to worry about
The farmer who has not been plow
ing and sowing In the last two weeks
should have no valid complaint against
bad weather later.
No matter who wrote that Roosevelt
letter to Knox. We may never know.
But we know now who don't, or won't
or can't answer It.
For the benefit of President Roose
velt, we hope the farmers in Africa
will not care about their fences.
Mayor Lane promises to look into
that Sunday poker game. Wonder if
he needs any more "specials."
What, by the way, has become of
Judge Parker?
FOOLISH AND INVALID UW.
Doea Compt Practices Ac Not Violate
State Constitution f
PORTLAND. Or Oct. 24 (To the Ed
itor.) I noticed your review of the law
passed June last. In regard as to what
one must not wear-or say en election day.
Did it ever occur to you that the initiative
when voting on a law Is a legislative
body, and as such is held in check by the
Constitution of Oregon? Can it override
that constitution by any other means
than an amendment? Your article in The
Oregonian does not state that the act
passed by the Initiative was an amend
ment. How. then, do Sections 32 and 34
In the law compare with Article 1, 9cction
8 of the Oregon Constitution, which says:
"No law shall be passed restraining the
free expression of opinion, or restricting
the right to speak, write or print freely
on any subject whatever, but every per
son shall be responsible for the abuse of
this right."
How can the law passed last June
stand? Our State Constitution Is even
more forcible In protecting the freedom of
speech than the United States Constitu
tion, yet there it Is laid down that the
wearing of a button or other mode of ad
vertisement Is within the constitutional
Intent as to freedom of the press and the
right to so do cannot be impaired by any
eConeresslonal legislation.
Upon what ground can these two sec
tions stand? They are not a legitimate
exercise of the police power. What good
Is the State Constitution, if its provisions
are subordinate to the police regulations,
and under that guise at the mercy of
every legislature or popular movement by
the erratic Initiative?
As I understand it. the Constitution of
the state is a limitation on the power of
the Legislature and all other lawmaking
bodies of this state on which they cannot
encroach by other means than an amend
ment. Its very purpose and usefulness is
for just such laws as this one, namely
to prevent hasty legislation and give the
people a fair and open issue as to what
they are voting on. The idea of a law
prohibiting a man in- any way from in
ducing any person to vote a certain way.
The Oregonian is within the prohibition.
By that law, on election day, you must be
neutral and can only be safe by absolute
silence on political subjects concerning
the candidates who are to be voted for
on that day. You can publish no picture
or cartoon. A man cannot read your
paper when around the polls, without run
ning the chance that some one might see
your cartoon or read that paper, which.
If not non-partisan, would be within the
provisions of the section. In fact, if you
offer that paper for sale on election day
for or in the hope of helping Mr; Taft,
you are violating this law.
THOMAS D. REED.
HERE'S A DEMOCRATIC VIEW.
'it Wants Bryan Elected, and la Will-
Ins; to Take the Consequences.
PORTLAND, Or.. Oct 28. (To the Edi
tor.) Referring to the question of effect
on business, from the result of the elec
tion and the right to admonish employes
of the consequences of Bryan's election,
etc., allow me to suggest that if it is
possible to move voters by threats or any
suggestion of the possibilities of harm to
their business interests, etc., when every
man of ordinary Intelligence must know
that it makes no material difference who
is elected, and that the business of the
country will be unmolested to any visible
extent for the reason that there Is no
proposition advocated by Bryan which in
volves a revolution In any industry or busi
ness of the oountry then we had just as
well turn loose all the corrupting Influ
ences we have been fighting to have abol
ished, as a great crime against the citizens
and rights of citizenship.
It is Impossible to imagine any propo
sition having the support of 7,000,000 to
8,000,000 intelligent voters in the United
States, that would cause even a ripple on
the great wave of business in this coserva
tive Nation. But granting the fact that
the interests will bring on hard times
as they threaten Harrlman, and the rest
Suppose they tie up cars, and discourage
business, and succeed as in 1907, in pro
ducing a panic, does it argue Roosevelt
was wrong then, or Democracy now? The
same cry went up when the tea went
overboard. Washington was damned for
the same reason. Abe Lincoln received
the curses of the business Interests of
Boston, New York, Philadelphia and
every city and state North interested In
the sale or manufacture of products sold
to the Southern slaveholder. Cleveland in
"84 was up against the same proposition,
and yet it did not materialize; and again
in '92! Ah! Then they got him, the dope
was ready, the broth brewed and he took
his medicine like a patriot
Are there any conditions . threatening
us, as those lowering over us at that
time? None. Then why should we
crouch and" cowerlngly shrink back as
the waters leave our trembling feet, on
the bank of this Rubicon, If 6uch it be?
If a panic is possible, it can only occur
by the effort of the interests to com
pass that end. If we are up against that
infamous proposition, that such power ex
ists, and may at will wield Its scepter
over us, it were better to meet the issue
now rather than pass it on to posterity.
Suppose you are an enemy whose ships
were deploying outside the harbor of the
Columbia, whose soldiers were landing
at Fort Stevens, and my son. In the
vigor of young manhood, full of patriotic
impulse and fervor, proposed to enlist, I
eay, "Nay, you idiot, you'd be killed, lost
o all your possibilities, to memory, to
all," would this be patriotism In me, his
father, occupying a relation of peculiarly
powerful Influence over him? Nay, nay.
Then every voter has made up his mind
that this or that proposition will tend
ultimately to build up prosperity, and our
fabric of human liberty, upon "a solid
basis, from the best lights offered him.
When you propose to stand up and say
to such a free, intelligent American citi
zen, do this, follow the Ideals you cher
ish, as the saving ship of your destiny,
and you, ybur dear wife and little chil
dren who climb your knees after the
hours of toil, will suffer from the pangs
of hunger and cold and bitter want and
necessity of every kind, you do not ap
peal to their reason, to convince them
their ideals are wrong. No, you aim your
deadly weapon at the most vital point,
where the least reeistanoe is encountered,
where your potent argument (?) Is most
sure to strike him. What better are you
than the red-shlrted Ku Klux Klan who
sent the deadly bullet through the heart
or head of the negro for the same rea
son you suggest, that their vote hurt
business? The whole proposition is
wrong first, last and all the time.
W. T. BURNEY.
First Honorary Member.
PORTLAND, Oct 21. (To the Ed
itor.) To correct an error as well as
to set down a bit of local history, let
me say that the late Captain Cleveland
Rockwell was the first honorary mem
ber of the Commercial Club. Some of
his best paintings which adorned the
walls of the club, were destroyed by
the fire in the Chamber of Commerce
building. Captain Rockwell held the
club in high esteem, and after his
death, Mrs. Rockwell presented the
club with one of his latest and best
works. . ' L.
Gold In Circulation.
PORTLAND, Oct. 28. (To the Edi
tor.) Will you please Inform a sub
scriber what the circulation of gold
money In the United States is at the
present time as compared with 1904,
1900 and 1896? R. P. COHERN.
In 1896, $454,905,064; 1900. $610,806,472;
1904, $645,817,676; 1908, $614,553,628.
Crown Prince Given Ovation.
ST. PETERSBURG. Oct 28. Crown
Prince George of Servla arrived here to
day from Belgrade and has been lodged
in "the Winter Palace. He was given an
ovation outside the railroad station.
INVITE PORTLAND TO FAIR
Albany Business Men Coming to
Urge Attendance.
ALBANY. Or.. Oct. 28. (Special.)
Business men of Albany will Invade
the City of Portland next Friday to
invite the people of the Oregon me
tropolis to visit the Linn County capi
tal on Wednesday, November 11, "Port
land Day," at the big Albany Apple
Fair. A systematic canvass of Port
land will be made by a big committee
of prominent local business and pro
fessional men.
Men representing each different bus
iness and profession make up the Al
bany committee and to each commit
teeman will be delegated the duty of
seeing every Portland business man of
the same business or profession in
which he Is engaged. A big excursion
will be run from Portland on that day
and Albany expects to entertain be
tween 400 and 500 business men of
Oregon's chief city.
. November 11 will be a big day in
Albany. Besides the big Apple Fair
and its coincident attractions, the day
will be marked by the formal opening
of the new union depot in this city.
Manager Dasent of the Albany Com
mercial Club, is making extensive prep
arations for this event The closing
feature of the day's exercises and fes
tivities will be a big banquet which
the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Commer
cial Club is planning to make a nota
ble event
The following committee was named
by the Commercial Club today to visit
Portland Friday and extend the Invi
tation to visit Albany on "Portland
Day": E.' W. Langdon. president of
the Commercial Club; B. I. Dasent
manager of the club; J. K. 'Weather
ford, F. J. Miller, Percy R. Kelly, E. H.
McCune, D. O. Woodworth, George
Taylor, R. A. B Veal, A. W. Bowersox,
F. M. French, C. G. Rawllngs, R. C.
Churchill. Owen Bean. William Eagles,
S. G. Simon, J. J. Collins, Y. G. Free
man, F. P. Nutting. W. A. Barrett, P.
D. Gilbert J. O. Lee, Albert Sternberg,
A. M. Hammer, Marvin Brandeberry,
William Fortmiller, D. W. Merrill. L.
H. Fish. H. A. Nelson, J. R. Flynn, P.
A. Young. Charles Welch, A. M. Holt
J. V. Pipe. Walter Jackson, H. N. Cock
erline and Peter Paulus. A com
mittee was selected by the general
committee of the Commercial Club on
arrangements for the depot "celebra
tion, consisting of H. H. Hewitt Dr.
M. H. Ellis, A. C. Schmitt and B. L
Dasent
BUSrVESS VIEW OF CAMPAIGN
W. P. Olds Supports Tart In Strong
Address.
W. P. Olds, a well-known Portland
business man, spoke last night before
the Republican Club and a large audi
ence in the hall on Mississippi avenue
and Shaver street He declared that
it would not be conducive to the busi
nets and Industrial Interests of the
country to make a change from the
Republican to the Democratic party at
this time. As far as Mr. Taft and Mr.
Bryan were concerned personally, Mr.
Olds said they were both honest and
honorable men, but in other respects
they were vastly different. Mr. Taft
he said, is a man of great experience
and had made good.
"If I were looking for a man for my
establishment," said Mr. Olds. "I would
select a man whom I could trust Mr.
Taft is a man who has been tried with
great responsibilities, and in them all
Re has proved his worth. On the other
hand, Mr. Bryan's public service is con
fined to two terms as Representative,
during which time he did nothing, ab
solutely nothing. Would you, from a
business standpoint, employ such a
man? On the other hand, Mr. Bryan
is possessed with a lot of vagaries of
various sorts."
Mr. Olds attacked Government guar
antee of bank deposits, showing that
it would ' be a tax on thrift and a
penalty on honesty. He said that a
bank was much the same as any other
business that is conducted on business
principles, and there is no demand that
other business . should be insured
against losses.
T. J. Cleeton followed with a short
talk on the political issues.
COLLIER LEAVES WITH COAL
Torpedo Flotilla to Join Pacific
Fleet at Magdalena.
SAN DIEGO, Cal., Oct. 28. The big
collier Justin left today for Magdalena
Bay with a cargo of coal for the Pacific
fleet. The wireless station on Point
Loma was in communication with the
Pacific fleet last night, when the vessels
were about 1000 miles southwest of San
Diego. They will reach Magdalena Bay
on Sunday and shortly thereafter will
be joined by the six ships of the torpedo
boat flotilla, which has been stationed
here for some time.
Great Catholic Celebration.
BOSTON, Oct. 28. With most of the
highest officials of the Roman Catho
lic Church prelacy in America present
and with the Impressive ceremonials of
a solemn pontifical mass, of which Most
Rev. Diomede Falsonio, papal delegate
to Washington, was the celebrant, the
five days' observance of the centennial
anniversary of the founding of the Dio
thedral of the Holy Cross today,
cese of Boston, was begun in the Ca-
Besides the church dignitaries there
were also presented Governor Guild.
Mayor George A. Hibbard and other
representatives of the state and city
governments, and the Judiciary. .
Not Sure of Jury.
LA GRANDE, Or., Oct 28. (Spe
cial.) The end of the arguments by
the attorneys In the Moore murder
case, where James Moore Is charged
with murder in the first degree for
killing a negro sheepherder near here
recently, will come early tomorrow
morning, when the case will go to the
jury. Public opinion freely expressed
Is that the defendant will not be found
guilty of first degree murder, though
there may be a manslaughter verdict
Accused or Stealing Clothes.
Henry Decker, 25 years of age, who
lives in Arleta, was arrested at his
home last night by Deputy Sheriff
Crouch charged with larceny. Decker
is accused by some of his neighbors of
stealing linen from their clothes line.
He was locked up in the County Jail
in default of bail and will be brought
before the Justice Court today.
Passes Forged Check.
NEWBERG. Or.. Oct. 28. (Special.)
Cony Williams, aged 17, son of Ed Will
iams, of Dundee, was brought before
Justice of the Peace T. Brouillette in
Newberg today, charged with having
passed a forged check for $40, and was
sent to the County Jail to await the
action of the grand jury at the March
term of court. He has served one term
In the Reform School.
General Shake-up Coming.
WASHINGTON, .Oct 28. The assign
ment of Brigadier-General Frederick A.
Smith to command the Department of
California, it is said at the War De
partment may be only temporary. A
general rearrangement of Army com
mands is contemplated.
J ATTACK DELIXQCENCY LAW
Aberdeen Soldiers Arrested and
Will Make Test Case.
ABERDEEN, Wash., Oct. 2S. (Special.)
An attack on the constitutionality of
the delinquency section of the state law
pertaining to the National Guard of
Washington is likely to result from the
arrest and Imprisonment of E. T. Lovos.
a private in. Company G. Aberdeen, and
the warrant- of arrest for Jack Saun
ders, a musician in the company, the
first for failing to attend the encamp
ment at American Lake last August and
the other for deserting.
Both men were adjudged guilty by the
delinquency court officer. Lieutenant
Austin, and fined $30. Lovos was ar
rested and is now in the City Jail. Saun
ders has not been found. Intimation has
been given that Aberdeen attorney axe
now preparing to bring action to have
the delinquency law declared unconsti
tutional. Officers of the local company
say that the state will undoubtedly put
up a staunch legal battle against such a
move.
BREAKS WHALING RECORD
Whaler St.. Lawrenee During Past
Summer Took 318.
VICTORIA, B. C, Oct. 28. The steam
whaler St. Lawrence followed the Orion
to port today and the work for the
present season off the West Coast of
Vancouver Island has been abandoned.
The two whalers took over 600 whales
during the Summer. The St. Lawrence
operated from Kyuquot and broke the
world's record. She took 318 whales, In
cluding 241 humpbacks, 66 sulphur bot
toms, 10 finbacks and 1 eperm whale.
The. crew's earnings range from $300 to
$400 for the season. '
FLOATING WHALING STATION.
Project Well Under Way for British
Columbia Coast Work.
VICTORIA. B. C, Oct. 28. A floating
whaling station with one or poBsibly
two steam whalers In conjunction Is to
be brought to the British Columbia coast
to engage In coast whaling outside the
three-mile limit, according to informa
tion received by the Norwegian whalers
on the steam whaler St. Lawrence. Cap
tain Larsen, who came to Victoria laet
Summer to endeavor to obtain two li
censes for coast stations, is interested
in the project for which capital has been
subscribed. Arrangements are well un
der way for the dispatch of the floating
whaling station to this coast.
Clearances at Astoria.
ASTORIA, Or., Oct. 28. (Special.) The
steamer Nome City cleared at the Custom-house
todey for San Francisco with
100.000 feet of lumber, loaded at Linnton;
100,0000 feet loaded at Rainier, and 2no,00
feet loaded at the Hammond Lumber
Company's plant. The steamer R. D. In
man cleared today for San Francisco.
She carried a cargo of 550,000 feet of lum
ber, loaded at the Clatsop mill; 200,000 feet
loaded at Rainier and 150,000 feet loaded
at Knappton.
The barkentine J. M. Griffith cleared
this afternoon for Guaymas, Mexico, with
a cargo of 19,250 railway ties, loaded at
Stella.
Wanderer Finds Estate.
NORTH YAKIMA, Wash., Oct. 28.
(Special.) George R. Harrison, heir to
considerable property at Richland Center,
Wis., ended a four-year's search for him
on the part of Wisconsin attorneys, who
wanted to settle' up the estate, by appear
ing in North Yakima yesterday from a
dry land homestead which he has been
holding down in the East Selah Valley for
the past 18 months.
A letter was printed In a local paper a
month ago asking his whereabouts, and it
was in response to this article that he
came ,to town Having always been a
wanderer, It was a matter of difficulty to '
trace him. The young man will leave at
once for Richland Center.
Fisherman Kills Himself.
CLATSKANIE, Or., Oct. 28. (Special.)
John Jackson, a Russian-Finn fisher
man living alone at the mouth of the
Clatskanie River, was found dead In his
house this morning by Mrs. Tolva, a
neighbor, who went there on an errand.
He was lying on an old mattress In the
room, with a rifle across his body, where
it had dropped after he had discharged
it with suicidal intent. The charge
blew the top of his head off.
Coroner Sherwood made an investiga
tion and found $35 in money among his
effects.
Dr. Brongher Lectures at Medford.
MEDFORD, Or., Oct. 28. (Special.)
The opening day of the joint County
Teachers' Institute of Jackson and Jo
sephine Counties was given up largely
to organization. Tonight Dr. J. Whit
comb Brougher, of Portland, lectured
to the largest audience ever assembled
in the church, even standing room was
"not available. This is the first oppor
tunity a Medford audience has had to
hear Dr. Brougher. About 250 teachers
are present tor the assembly.
1 End With Big Rally.
HOOD RIVER. Or.. Oct. 28. (Special.)
Hood River Republicans will wind up
the present political campaign with a big
mass meeting at Park Grange Hall, out
In the valley, Saturday night. The prin
cipal speaker will be H. M. McKinney, of
Baker City, who will talk on the leading
issues. Local speakers will also address
the meeting, which will be attended by
delegations from the Republican organi
zations throughout the' valley.
Swindlers Plead Guilty,
By pleading guilty to a charge of lar
ceny, J. B. Crane and A. W. Hegburn,
agents for the "American Watch Com
pany," escaped a charge of gambling
which the District Attorney was about to
file against them in the Justice Court
Crane and Hegburn operated a watch
game in which the victim was promised a
valuable watch, if the ball dropped on the
right number. They induced Joseph Bauni
gardner, a Tillamook farmer, to play the
game and he lost $28. The money was re
turned to Baumgardner by the police.
Cran and Hegburn will be sentenced this
morning by Municipal Judge Van Zante.
Want Bridge at Albina Avenue.
At a short session of the Multnomah Im
provement Club last night it was decided
to work for the erection of the bridge for
North Portland at Albina avenue. Dr. L.
M. Davis undertook to show why this loca
tion should be selected and why Broadway
as propqsed is not the best place. Coun
cilman W. T. Vaughn talked for a short
time, urging that the people agree on
some location. On motion It was decided
to attend the meeting of the North East
Side Improvement Association Friday
night and see if some agreement cannot
be reached.
Injured by Boiler Explosion.
Millard A. Becker, an engineer em
ployed at Scappoose. Or., in the logging
camp of the Chapman Lumber Com
pany, was seriously injured yesterday
by the explosion of a donkey engine
boiler. Becker was scalded by the
water which flew over his back and
hips. A small fragment of the boiler
struck him on the leg above the knee
and broke the bone. He was brought
last night to this city and placed In
the Good Samaritan Hospital.