Morning Oregonian., November 26, 1908, Page 8, Image 8

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JPORTLANO. TUIBSDAT, OV. IS. 1908.
THE OKNOMINATIONAL COLI-EGE.
"One of the questions now upper
most In the minds of religious and
educational leaders." says the Louis
ville Courier-Journal, "Is the future
of the church college. During the
last two decades the large increase
in attendance In Institutions of higher
learning has been in the state and inde
pendent schools. In many states the In
stitutions of higher learning that have
state support have made such Inroads
upon student patronage that the ma
jority of denominational colleges re
struggling for an existence. In a num
ber of states aome denominations are
discovering that they have more rep
resentatives in the state schools than
fhe conihlned attendance in their own
schools, and in a number of instances
certain denominations have aban
doned their own schools and are
erecting Bible colleges and seminaries
adjacent to the campus of the state
universities. In many states the fu
ture of the church college is very un
certain. State Legislatures are pour
ing great sums of money into the
treafuries of their own institutions;
sonic of the best American scholars
are to be found on their faculties:
their equipment equals that of many
of the older and wealthier universi
ties of the East. Stale schools, as a
rule, offer free tuition, so that with
a vmall endowment, a poorly-paid
faculty and a meager equipment the
church schools are distanced."
All this is true. Indeed, and the con
sequences have long been foreseen.
In Oregon the tendency is much the
same as In other states say in Wis
consin. Michigan. Minnesota, Kansas
and Nebraska. The local and de
nominational colleges must adjust
themselves to this condition; they
must work hard, receive the earnest
support and help of their o-wn com
munities, and maintain themselves
upon th.-ir special merits, line could
name a half dozen small colleges in
towns of Oregon, which have their
basis in religious and church effort,
et are practically Independent of
church control and are doing excel
lent work, both for general educa
tion and for the material welfare of
their communities, but do not get the
aid and support from their own locali
ties to which they are entitled. But
what would these towns be hereafter
without the schools that have made
them what they are and given them
the distinction they possess? Every
one of these schools ought tr have
more support at home, and support
of a material and effective kind. The
small college, the country college, is
the soul of the community In which
it exists, the center of Its Intellectual
and social life, and of Its material
prosperity too.
There Is another tendency men
tioned by the Louisville paper which
Is worth notice, namely, the effort on
the part of a certain class. of these
schools to break away from ecclesi
astical control. In Kentucky It is
noted that two synods, representing
the two branches of the Presbyterian
Church, have authorized the board of
trustees of Central University to re
vise their charter so that hereafter
the board will be self-perpetuating
and the church bodies will have no
official connection with the university.
The desire on the part of these schools
to get on a more liberal basis is due to
the influence of the liberal spirit that
is pervading the educational life of
today, and In some rases to a desire
to place these church schools In a
position to profit by the pension fea
ture for retired professors, as offered
by "The Carnegie Fund."
But It should be observed that many
of the so-called church colleges are
only nominally such; yet it is. not wise
to remove them wholly from such in
fluence as the churches under which
they were founded may still bring to
their aid. The denominational influ
ence Is seldom or never obtrusive; and
In most of the colleges students may
be educated without being aware of
any particular denominational influ
ence about them. Yet others, who
seek such Influence, with its fellow
ship and support, may find it. The
original Idea of the church school has,
however. In most of them, been large
ly lost.
The special thought Just now is
that no one of these communities
where the small college Is the main
feature of Its life, does enough for
Its school. The endowment of each
should be increased by steady ad
ditions at home, through systematic
effort on a continuous plan. Many
small sums will constitute a large one.
which then will Invite larger additions
from abroad: but the community that
does not show an interest of this kind
In Its own college Is likely to be dis
appointed In Its hope or expectation
of receiving effective help from those
not resident within it.
A mOBIJU OF PHILANTHROPY.
Dr. Pearsons, of Chicago, who, for
years has been giving very large sums
of money to struggling colleges, ac
cumulated his wealth from rise of
values of real estate In this city. He
:s now distributing the "unearned
increment." and says he Intends to
keep only enough to give his body a
decent burial. He may survive yet
lor years, but says he is his own ex
ecutor, and that he has everything
arranged. He is fortunate, or unfor
tunate, in this, that he has no direct
descendants. Tet he has made pro
vision for those nearest of kin. The
remainder he intends for benefaction
of mankind.
It is the wisest way. What is a
conscientious man. to whom great
wealth cony! through growth of
v:ues. to do with his property? . It
is a study how he is to use it for
best purposes and for most permanent
results. Dr. Pearsons ts using his
wealth and disposing of It in ways
J which seem to him best calculated to
I help those w ho are disposed to help
I tHmelves- It is the true method Of
beneficence. The person who Is poor
may be helped, but should not be
coddled into pauperism. The college
may be helped, but its local com
munity should help it- too.
It is mighty hard for a man to
whom wealth has come through the
movements of his day and time to
arrange for the disposition of his
wealth so that It may continue to ex
ist, operate for efficient and worthy
ends, and be a possession forever.
Heirs most likely will dissipate It, and
the process of dissipation will be a
curse to them. How then to dispose
of great property, so that it may con
tinue to be a working force for the
good of humanity. Is the question for
men and women of wealth, who are
practical people of the world, yet still
are philanthropists.
JlT A ri-AI ANSWER.
A letter to The Oregonian contains
the inquiry: "Why do you say that
-hmherlain is not the choice of the
people of Oregon for Senator? Do
you forget the plurality for him last
June?"
It is. an easy answer. Every one
knows that thousands voted for
Chamberlain who did not and do not
want him for Senator. Nor had they
any expectation that he would be
elected Senator.
These thousands, opposed to Cham
berlain and to his party in all politics
though their ballots were marked
for him didn't cast their votes with
intention of making him Senator.
They voted for Chamberlain in order
to defeat Cake, whom they deemed a
man not equal to the position Intend
ing and exporting that the Legisla
ture, which has the constitutional
power to elect, and whose duty it Is
to elect, would "choose" some Repub
lican for the position. They intended
by the vote to beat both Cake and
Chamberlain.
That these are facts every one
knows. There is leither "sense of
honor" nor "morality" In affectation
or pretense of denying them.
Likewise Republican candidates for
the Legislature never for a moment,
when they were "taking the pledge,"
Imagined it would, or even might
require them to vote for a Democratic
Senator. They took it n. a means of
trotting the nominations over com
petitors in their own party; and
Democrats, who had registered as Re
publicans and had named no candi
dates of their own party, voted for
the "Statement" Republicans, both for
the nomination and the election.
By this bunco game of politics any
body may consider himself bound
who will. But the method deceives
none, nor the spurious morality that
offers the result as an expression of
"the will of the people." No result
so contrary to the will of the people
of this state ever was reached. The
road Is open, however, to many more
like It. Cnder the present system, ex
pect continuation of false registration,
nomination of the candidates of ono
party by the other, and a continuous
round and repetition of the bunco
game. .
Talk to no one in such a situation
about honor, honesty and faith! It
is a trick game. Only this and noth
ing more except that the proceeding,
from beginning to end. is an attempt,
an avowed attempt, to "beat" the
Constitution of the United States.
THE TURKF.Y BIRD.
His name Jjelles him. He is not a
Turk. He is an American. Not the
first in the world to be mlsnomered
is he.
The turkey bird was widely dis
persed throughout North America,
but was first observed in 'Mexico. For
In Mexico the Europeans first estab
lished themselves in America.
The name of this fowl preserves a
curious illustration of the mixture of
truth and error which had led to the
discovery of America. It was sun-
j posed that America was the opposite
side of Asia. hen the fowl was In
troduced into Europe about 15 30
people named it on the theory that
It was an Asiatic fowl. "What strange
bird Is this?" was asked in the mar
kets of London. "It is from Turkey,"
was the answer. So it Is called the
turkey to this day. So It always will
be called, by the English-speaking
world.
Another Instance occurs of the
way or manner in which words have
come Into the English language. We
have the words milliner and millin
ery. Fancy goods made in Milan
were offered for sale In London. The
person who offered them for sale was
a milliner; the goods were millinery.
Three centuries ago In London, as the
plays of Ben Jonson show, the milliner
was a man shop-keeper. In our time
the man Is no longer a milliner.
These are interesting incidents, the
like of which might be multiplied by
hundreds in the study of any great
language; of our own perhaps more
than any other, because of the wide
dispersion of the English tongue.
Jt IM.E ROOT AND THE LAWYERS.
That the case of Judge Milo A.
Root, of the Washington Supreme
Court, has suffered for lack of wise
counsel seems clear. He Is on trial
not before the State Bar 'Association
but before the whole country. He Is
accused of an offense foe which a man
is never forgiven, either by his con
temporaries or by posterity. For
the unjust judge, no excuse avails,
and the charge against Judge Root
is that he has been unjust. Wiser
counsel would, for one thing, have
forbidden him to resign his office
while the investigation of his cause
goes on. To be. sure, he assigns a
plausible reason, but in the circum
stances it is not a sufficient one.
Cynical observers will sneer at
Judge Root's 111 health and interpret
his resignation as a confession of
guilt. At all risks he should have
avoided giving his enemies fhls ad
vantage, which they will be quick to
seize. If he has been pursued by a
malignant fate, as he writes the Gov
ernor, he ought to have faced it like a
man and defied it.' Peace of mind is
dearly bought ty sitting down under
the shadow of guilt. Death itself to
an Innocent man is to be chosen
rather than submission to a wrongful
accusation. Judge Root's untimely
resignation Is a deplorable mistake.
Again, wiser counsel would urge
the Bar Association to conduct their
investigation with full publicity. They
are not dealing with a "family" or
professional affair, and If they think
so. they make a great mistake. The
public is more concerned with the
character of judges than the lawyers
are. If Judge Root Is Innocent the
people have a right to know It with
all the reasons why. -They have the
same right if he is guilty. The ap
parent secrecy which surrounds the
Investigation necessarily deprives it of
all weight. The lawyers may be sat
isfied with it, but nobody else will be.
' The effect of this most unwise secrecy
wiil be to make outsiders believe that
Judge Root is guilty and that his pro
fessional brethren are trying t6 shield
him. His unfortunate resignation
taken together with the lawyers' re
grettable lack of common sense will
work powerfully against him in the
public Judgment. The mischief of the
resignation is now done and very
likely there ts no war to retrieve it
completely. Still, a frank public In
vestigation would do much, and
Judge Root should have the benefit of
It. Everything . that has been done
thus far might well have been
planned by his enemies. It is time
for his friends to take a hand.
PORT OF PO RTI, AN D DECISION.
The commercial prestige of Port
land is dependent on the deepening of
the channel from Portland to the sea
and on maintenance of an efficient tug
and pilot service. With the enlarged
powers which the Port of Portland
will have under the decision of the
Supreme Court, announced Tuesday,
the local organization will be In po
sition to handle the towage and pljot
age service for the best interest of
the port. The fact that every dollar
spent by Portland in Improvement of
this channel and in betterment of the
service for deepwater ships brings
returns which are shared In by every
producer in the Columbia Basin does
not for the present at least seem to
lessen the responsibility of Portland
In shouldering the entire burden.
Some day, when our people have a
better understanding of the matter
and concentrate all their efforts on
improving that portion ' of the Co
lumbia River which is in greatest need
of Improvement, we may force the
Government to recognize the merit of
the work now belngf done by the
Port of- Portland.
The necesity of keeping the river
open to the preent depth is a burden
which long ago should have been
shifted from Portland to the general
Government, where it proper! be
longs. The matter of pilotage. ;ind tug
service Is, however, a branch of our
maritime service which for the pres
ent at least must be handled by the
Port of Portland, as representatives
of the taxpayers. The problem of a
deep channel to the sea and of a first-
class tug and pilot service, at rates In
keeping with those which prevail in
other ports, means more for Portland
at this time than it has ever meant.
The commerce of the great Northwest
will no longer vacillate and move from
one port to another. It is settling
down Into a permanent grr.ove, from
which it will not soon be dislodged.
That groove will drain the traffic of
the great Inland Empire either to
Portland or to Puget Sound.
With two great railroads, which In
point of physical construction are un
surpassed in the United States, bring
ing the traffic of the Inland Empire
down to Portland ver a water-level
haul, this city has a great advantage
over all other North Pacific ports as
the natural point for trans-shipment
for the overseas markets. This pres
tige can be permanently retained and
Increased if we keep steadily at work
on the river channel. It will wane,
however, and the traffic will be driven
elsewhere, if we fail vo keep the chan
nel to the sea In proper shape for
handling the largest class of vessels.
Portland taxpayers are carrying all
of this burden, and they are carrying
It uncomplainingly: but every grain
grower and every producer of a ton of
traffic of any kind In the Inland Em
pire are sharing In the advantages
which follow this work of the Port of
Portland. Until a perfect channel
and a first-class tug and pilot servico
are secured on the river below Port
land, no advantages will follow ex
penditure of money on the upper
reaches of the river.
THANKSGIVING DAY.
That species of thankfulness which
consists mainly In a general feeling
of well-being is good In its way. De
pending upon a sound stomach and
an active liver It Is not a very exalted
feeling perhaps, but neither 1b It base.
Far be it from The Oregonian to de
cry good health and that benign satis
faction with the Almighty which wells
from it like clear water bubbling
from a living fountain. Dr. G. Stanly
Hall has sapiently noticed that peo
ple of pessimistic views usually have
something out of order with their
nerves. Certainly a diligent liver is
a prime essential to that hale and
regenerate state of the body which
makes it possible to be at peace with
Providence and dwell with seemly
Jubilation upon the thought of his
abundant blessings.
The heretical doctrine that good
health Is the foundation of true re
ligion we shall warily shun. It seems
safer, as well as more accurate, to say
that good health is the first of bless
ings and the highest aim of earthly
striving. Without it a man may pos
sibly be a worthy citizen and a woman
a loving wife. Still the citizenship of
a man whose strength is impaired and
his opinions distorted by disease will
naturally lack clarity. He will speak
sourly of things in general. He will
be apt to predict dismal results from
every undertaking. A woman, too,
who peaks and pines instead of
blooming will spank her children
when she ought to kiss them and
drive her husband to drink with in
cessant nagging. By thoughts like
these we may convince ourselves of
the importance of good health. Some
may rashly retort that nobody needs
convincing, but that is an error. Acts
speak louder than words and by our
acts most of us roundly proclaim that
in our estimation health is of no con
sequence at all. Consider, for ex
ample, how many .millions of people
will make themselves ill by eating
too much on this Thanksgiving day.
If health weighed with them one
atom would they do such a deed?
Health being the fundamental
blessing, without which all others
are but tinkling cymbals. If we can
discern any decided progress within
the last year or two toward making
it more common and secure what
firmer ground for thankfulness could
we desire? Would not such progress
prove better than anything else could
that the Almighty directs human
events to the highest good of his sin
ful creatures? We are aware that
certain so-called ministers belittle
health of the body. Puffed up with
spiritual pride they contemn the
fleshly tabernacle which the Lord has
spent so many thousand' years con
structing. "What is this vile body?"
they shriek from their pulpits. "Dust
and ashes," they reply to their own
question. They think they can find
vastly better uses for prayer than to
heal the sick by it. and yet the Savior
whom they worship never refused to
give sight to the blind nor did he
permit the lame to limp from his
presence. To Jesus, the human body
was something far nobler than dust
and ashes.
It was hl3 aspiration, at least upon
the human side, to make of the world
a place where sickness and suffering
should be unknown. To John in the
Apocalypse he showed the blessed
city descending earthward. It was
to be a terrestrial city, located In this
world and not in some other. In it
there should be no more curse and
from the eyes of the Inhabitants God
should wipe away all tears. In our
despairing weakness, in our desperate
failure of faith, we formerly gave up
the hope of seeing the New Jerusalem
on earth, where John said it was to
be and transported it to some far-off
world beyond the Milky Way.
Nothing could do worse violence to
the teaching of Jesus. Of all op
timists he was the foremost and the
glories he foresaw gilded the fields
and cities of this world we live in.
Marvelous prophet, wonder of the
ages for invincible faith, he looked
across the ages and saw men victori
ous over their petty hatreds walking
in splendid health upon an earth
purified of poverty, strife and pain.
In so far as we share his mighty
vision we worship him most truly.
Every year we are sharing it more
completely. Sound health and sound
reason were his watchwords and
more and more they are becoming
ours. The new theology brings
heaven down to earth. God Is face to
face with us everywhere, it teaches;
the laws of nature are his will in
action. Prayer is no longer a mere
aimless aspiration for some indefinite
blessing. It asks for health and it Is
answered. Man dips Into the Ocean
of the divine and draws up bodily
well-being. Good men everywhere
preach the gospel of a better earth.
The literary genius of the twentieth
century attacks the ancient problems
of society with resolute - intent to
solve them. Faith, holding fast to
the beneficence of the Almighty, af
firms that they can be solved; Reason
analyzes, ponders and reconstructs.
Thought and feeling strive toward a
common goal, namely, a race of men
emancipated from disease and pov
erty and a social structure thoroughly
rational from foundation to summit.
No year since time began has seen
such progress toward this goal as the
iast one. All the social forces seem
to be converging and uniting. Per
haps the race is on the brink of some
great evolutionary upward movement.
Perhaps we live in a time which
future poets will sing as a glorious
epoch ' when patient faith found
fruition, and things long hoped for
burst Into beautiful reality. Wrho
knows but this Thanksgiving day is
the first day of the year One In the
Kingdom of Heaven? It surely will
be if we all resolve that It shall be.
The secret method by which some
of the original Americans hardened
copper in the Lake Superior regions
has never been discovered, a fact
which proves that in some respects
the men of the present day have not
reached the standard of skill estab
lished thousands of years ago. But
the modern Americans have so many
advantages over their predecessors- in
other respects that comparisons are
impossible. Dan Cardoner. a Coeur
d'Alene mineowner, has bought some
old Spanish lead mines from which
the Romans afe supposed to have se
cured their supplies of that metal, and
will work them under improved meth
ods. The Western miner will not only
make some decided Improvements
over the methods of the subjects of
Julius Caesar, but he will also have
an economic advantage, for lead was
not in such general use in the old days
of Rome as it is at the present time.
Had it been as useful as now, a dum
dum bullet Instead of a dagger would
have caused "the rent the envious
Casca made."
The British Board of Agriculture is
quite particular about the quality of
the "roast beef of old England,"
which comes from this side of the
Atlantic, and has accordingly ordered
the slaughter without delay of four
cargoes of cattle from New York and
Pennsylvania. Cable advices state
that the animals on the four vessels
were found to be free from disease,
but as the board has issued an order
prohibiting the Importation of cattle
from those states whore the foot and
mouth disease was prevalent, no
chances were taken. At this distance,
it seems as though there was a need
less waste of good beef, if the animals
were unaffected by disease. Four
cargoes of beef would feed a great
many starving Londoners. It could
even have been used to advantage,
had the ships headed west, and
brought their cargoes back to the
United States.
Swiftwater Bill, the spectacular
"piker" from the Far North, who has
broken all records for the amount of
newspaper notoriety received in pro
portion to the money he ac
tually squandered, has just mar
ried wife No. 4 at Spokane. He is
thus tied with Nat Goodwin on the
number of matrimonial ventures, but
as there Is an unending supply of
fools of the female sex, it is yet full
early to make any accurate predic
tions as to which will have the largest
number of ex-wlves to his credit or
discredit before the fool-killer per
forms a long overdue duty.
The Brazillian government has de
cided to finance the coffee loan, and
both houses of Congress have ap
proved the recommendation of the
President of Brazil, by passing a bill
authorizing the national guarantee of
the now 175,000,000 loan which will
be expended in taking up all of the
loans made by the province of Sao
Paulo, since the coffee corner was
started. Government ownership of
coffee will prove a fine thing for the
planters, but it will in the end prove
very expensive for the taxpayers.
One feature of the proposed substi
tution of the telephone for the tele
graph in train dispatching commends
tself; a bell or a gong is a more ef
fective agency for waking a somno
lent night operator than the clicking
of a key.
Just so soon as It shall become in
famous to own property in this country
we know several reformers and the
names of them who will be "the
leaders of the people." They are very
much in evidence, even now.
"Is it true." asks an inquirer by
letter from Illinois, "that one acre of
land In your state will support a
man?" We may say yes; but as much
depends on the man's industry and
skill as on the land: maybe more.
Shouldn't we be thankful . that we
live In a land where blizzards never
rage either in November or later in
the season?
Among other blessings for the year.
let Oregon give thanks for the most
bountiful harvest in the history of
the state.
- ; " y .,......,.-. GT1TR
LET SIEMBERS HOLD CAUCUS
Statement So. 1 Should Not Divide Re
publics Learlalatora.
PORTLAND. Nov. 24. (To the Edi
tor.) No difficulty should arise in or
ganizing the House and Senate of the
Oregon Legislature next January.
Surely the 7i Republicans In those
bodies will be willing to get together
as Republicans? That part of them
known as Statement Republicans sure
ly are Republicans first and assistant
Democrats only so far as they are
compelled by Statement No. 1. They
have shown, by their recent votes this
month, that they support the princi
ples and policy of the party of pro
gress and liberal ideas. There was
no division upon the question of indorse
ment of the National party. Now, why
divide upon a matter that is, at least
doubtful .n its legal and moral force,
a principle condemned by the best legal
talent of the state?
The claims ot Statement No. 1 at
best, rest only upon a meager founda
tion. Outside ot Multnomah County
the Statement-memhers-elect are hope
lessly in the minority. An analysis of
the vote of Multnomah Cou.ity shows
a small majority for Statement No. 1.
so that, as a matter of fact, the vote
in the state at-large shows a majority
against that principle.
In view of these facts it can scarcely
be asserted that the people of the
state of Oregon favor that principle
or support the attempt to subvert the
Constitution of the United States, by
a vote of the people of the state of
Oregon. The law adopted in June last
requiring the Legislature to elect the
peoples choice as Senator, settles the
whole business.
Let me see; the intent of the law
making body must be considered in or
der to learn the meaning of the haw.
What did tl'.e people mean or intend by
voting that law? The law itself upon
Its face Is Invalid and of no force,
since it prescribes no penalty for its
violation, and it is left to us to dis
cover its meaning. This omission of
penaly must have been premeditated.
One cannot suppose that the people
did not know enough to be aware of
what they were doing, hence the omis
sion was doubtless intentional and lias
a meaning.
It could not have been the purpose
In giving that vote, to cast some re
flection upon the law-smith shop at
Oregon City, or to discredit that won
derful "People's Power League" that
is responsible for so many curious va
garies of legislation. The only ap
parent purpose in that piece of legis
lation was to nullify Statement No. 1,
and make it advisory only, the same
os Statement No. 2. So that in force
and effect, there is now by will of
the people, expressed at the polls last
June, no Statement No. 1 and the mem
bers of the legislature are advised
onlv to vote for Chamberlain with no
binding command upon them, and their
former pledges taken in April are
thereby released and rendered null and
void.
At all events. Statement men and
antls should unite tor the Interest and
welfare of the state. The election of
Mr. Chamberlain as Senator is not the
sole purpose and aim for which this
Legislature Is created. It is a small
matter to the state-at-large what in
dividual shall reap the temporary
honors of Speaker of the House or
President of the Senate. It is a matter
of importance that the wheels of legis
lation be not clogged, but that the best
efforts of the members of the House
nnd Senate be directed towards the
perfection of necessary legislation.
Let the members take the courage of
their convictions and get together.
J. W. CAMPBELL.
TWO LEGISLATURES IX OREGOX
Real Representative Bodr Con Repeal
Ilolv Statement No. 1, Snya Writer.
ST. JOHN, Or., Nov. 24. (To the Edi
tor ) The Supreme Court of Oregon in
the case of J. C. Hall, respondent, vs.
George W. Dunn. County Judge of Jack
son County, Or., et al., filed October 27,
said:
"The Legislative Assembly,- when not
Interdicted by amendments to the organic
law of the state, is a lawmaking body of
co-ordinate authority with the people,
when the latter exercise the initiative
power which they have reserved."
Now, if that is true, as it seems to be,
why cannot the Legislature of Oregon,
when it meets at its next session, repeal
the law passed by the people last June,
which commands the members of the
Legislature to vote for Mr. Chamberlain
for United States Senator, he having re
ceived the highest number, of votes cast
at the June election? They could do this
Immediately after organization. Of
course, the Governor would veto it, but
it could probably be passed over his
veto.
If that were done the question of the
constitutionality of the Initiative act last
June would be eliminated and the whole
matter would hang on Statement No. 1.
The Legislature conld then proceed to
elect a United States Senator in the
usual way.
It seems that we have two Legislative
bodies in Oregon of co-ordinate authority,
viz., the Legislature and the people, and
that either can undo the acts of the
other. Witness the Legislature of 1905
repealing the local option law In the
case cited above. It follows then that
if the next Legislature should repeal the
acts of the people of last June, attempt
ing to control the vote of the Legislators
on the corrupt practices act, or one or
both of the fish laws, all of which were
passed by the people lafit June, then the
people could re-enact the acts at the
next general election. The next Legis
lature could again repeal and so on, ad
nauseuin. S. C. COOK.
At What Age Should a Man Retire?
Chicago Inter Ocean.
President Eliot, in explaining his resig
nation of the presidency of Harvard Uni
versity, said: "When a man has reached
the age of 75 It Is time to look for rest
and retirement." .
That is especially true when his work
Is administrative in character. At that
age the grind of detail and management
is increasingly felt. He may feel him
self In the best of spirits and health,
but the work he Is doing is, as President
EJiot Just said, the work of "a young,
able and active man."
For purely Intellectual work no such
limit can be set. The mental eye often
remains undimmed when the physical has
grown weak. Tolstoi was far beyond
what is generally regarded as the crea
tive period when he wrote "Resurrec
tion." And yet there are those who hold
that he touched as high a point In that
book as In any of his earlier novels. Had
he continued to practice the literary art
instead of changing to the religious
philosopher, he would no doubt have
proved how little 80 years means to the
real genius.
A THANKSGIVING PRAYER.
For the world, with all Its brava. achieve
ments. For the golden, the moonbeams pale.
For the rosy dawn, the nig-htly shadows:
For the mountain high, the hill, tha v&le:
"Oh, Lord! wa rive thee thar.ks."
For the waters In their calm and tempest.
For the land, the frutt, the tree, the flower;
For the human hearts replete with fervor.
When thy heavenly kingdom is -their bower;
"Oh, Lord, w give thee thanks."
For the gifts of mind, for love and kind
ness. That of happiness la made the goal;
For the efrength of will, for noble lessons;
Ieding man to profit for ills soul:
"Oh, Lord, w give thee thanks."
Last, for friendship's ties that make life
worthy.
For rejoicing day and sorrowing night:
For the caroling bird, the murmuring
zephyr:
For all thy gifts that lead Truth and Right;
"Oh, Lord. w give thee thanks."
Mildred Cain In Washington Herald.
JtEHHILI.IKIXS! .WHAT A GBOUCH HOXOREU B .-r..v.r.
Tirade Asrainut Prevalent Outdoor and
Indoor Atbletid Sports.
PORTLAND, Nov. 24. (To the Edi
tor.) It is a little amazing to me that
the mighty Oregonian, with its great
sweep and resources, should not have
made the discovery that in Portland
there is to be an infantile interscholas
tic football team organized in the near
future. Furthermore. The Oregonian
has omitted to mention the fact that
the teachers of the several kinder
garten schools, composed of infantile
heroes in embryo, are seriously con
sidering the organization of a kinder
garten football league.
And why not? Is there anything ab
surd about an infantile football league
or a kindergarten league? In future
we shall have football Presidents,
football Governors, football Senators,
teachers of football at the head of all
our schools and colleges.
And by the way, I must not overlook
the Presbyterian Football League of
Portland. Hence we shall have in our
churches and Sunday schools, our Ep
worth Leagues, Christian Endeavor So
cieties and Ladies' Aid Societies, Home
Training Circles, instructors no. not
that, coaches. Is it not that they are
called?
This is what we are coming to' under
the present trend. Our Board of Edu
cation encourages football teams of
the children who attend the grammar
schools of this city, and we see thous
ands of prospective heroes on the fu
ture gridiron is that term right? on
every vacant lot of the city thumpii.g
the "sphere'' .and getting in shape to
make the team.
We have seen Dr. Paul Rader coach
ing a bunch of high-school boys to be
come heroes, or members of Congress,
probably bouncers in stadiums. We
see the other dignified ministers of the
Presbyterian churches of this city
shouting themselves hoarse and toss
ing their hats into the air as their
teams of children strugglo over a mud
dy field and make a touchdown. Pages
of our metropolitan dailies are filled
with the exploits of these children,
and pictures of the heroic teams are
featured. And so on and so on. Pres
ently the football craze will be over,
and then we shall have indoor basket
ball for hoys and girls, and then will
come baseball, in which all these chil-
rtlren. from the cradle up, will take
part. By the way. would it tie per
tinent to ask if any consideration is
given studies In our grammar schools
and high schools, or our colleges?
With all this footballing and baseball
ing and indoor basketballing, where
can the studies have consideration? A
few years ago scholarship in any
branch, either the grammar, high or
colleges, wns the climax of honor; now
it Is the ability to make a touchdown,
put the ball over the plate or pull
down a hot grounder that fetches the
greatest honors. Oratory, ability to
solve great mathematical problems, skill
in the framing of sentences and using
high-class English commanded the
highest honor, but alas! these small
things are relegated to the background
and another standard of honor has
been raised In all our schools, begin
ning at the cradle roll and ending at
our colleges.
The sawbuck is neglected. Father
and mother carry In the wood and hoe
the garden, for their darling heroes
are football and baseball experts and
cannot expect to do these ignominious
things. Susan is down at the gymna
sium playing indoor basketball, while
mother is at home doing up the fam
ily washing, scrubbing the floor or
ironing Susans new waist so she can
appear at the next game in style.
Well, perhaps, I am an old fogey to
Imagine that the heroic age of ath
letics is not the highest attainment of
the human race, but darn me. it looks
as if we were drifting in that direction.
MRS. MARY SMITH JONES.
Mother of four football heroes and fe
male basketball champion.
HOW BRYAN CAN SERVE NATION.
I,et lllm Keen His Party Continuously
tint of Power.
Chicago Inter Ocean.
Mr. Bryan says his party has accom
nhai creat enod. even out of power.
He therefore tells the Democrats to cheer
up. They can remain out oi power
still accomplish good.
It would be indeed ungenerous to deny
the good accomplished by Mr. Bryan and
his party while out of power. It is so
much greater than could have been ex
pected of the same party in power that
it tempts us to be specific.
By remaining out of power from 1S96 to
1900 Mr. Bryan and his party saved the
country from the debasement of the cur
rency, the lowering of our credit, and the
wholesale repudiation of Just debts which
would have followed the adoption of free
silver.
They rendered a no less patriotic serv
ice by staying out of power for the four
following years. To thiit, and that alone,
Is to be ascribed the fact that the country
was not stampeded with the silly cry of
anti-imperialism into saying to the world
that it was Incapable of handling the
problems left by the Spanish-American
War.
The good accomplished by its remain
ing out of power four years from 1908 will
be equally noticeable. When one consid
ers Mr. Bryan's utterances since 1904
about Government ownership of railways
and other subjects, it grows clear that
he did the country a substantial service
by not being elected.
There may be some Republicans too
hidebound to admit the good accomplished
by the party out of power. The Inter
Ocean is not that kind. When credit is
plainly due it counts it wrong to with
hold it.
That is the reason we agree so unre
servedly with Mr. Bryan's view of the
benefits conferred on this country by his
party out of power.
Canada's. Postal Savings System.
St. Paul Pioneer Press.
There are some conveniences about a
postal savings bank system, like that of
Canada, for instance, which must be
highly appreciated by certain classes of
depositors. A person may open an ac
count at one postoffice and continue It at
any number of other offices, depositing
wherever he may happen to be, and yet
have the whole amount at his command
at any one office, should be wish to with
draw It. This is made easy by the fact
that his account is kept at the Postmaster-General's
office in Ottaw-a.v A fam
ily moving from one place to another
does not have to draw its money from
the savings bank and carry it along, at
the risk of robbery. It finds the amount
at its disposal wherever It goes. A com
mercial traveler, depositing in 20 towns,
has the sum of all available at his home
office as soon as a letter can pass to and
from Ottawa.
Elections Too Coatly.
Boston Globe.
Once in four years, under our political
system, the American people certainly ex
pend a vast amount of money In order to
decide whether there shall be a change in
the Federal-Administration and in the of
fices of Governor and In State Legisla
tures. Whether there will ever be a sen
sible reduction in these expenditures re
mains to be seen, but there is a strong
belief on the part of the public that there
is now much unnecessary expense con
nected with all elections.
Crisis In Astoria.
From Astorian.
With a million-dollar seawall, and
a million-dollar Council, both crea
tions of Hon. A. "M. Smith, candidate
for the mayoralty, and supreme spokes
man for the Democratic party, of As
toria, there will be an exodus from this
city that wiil make the very state
stare, shortly after the 9th of December.
George H. Himra Receives Praise and
Plaudits mt Berkeley. Cal.
upot-vr cv Out Vov 22. (To the
Editor.) Ail Oregonlans who are in
terested In the History ot im-.i
i .nn,ininn of the debt of
gratitude they owe to George H. Hlmes.
The greater their interest nn".-
..H4.ct the a-reater their
euic 111 mc OUUJv, t-
appreciatlon of the work Mr. Himes is
doing in collecting materials illumina
tive of the early days oi
. Certainly a word telling how he is
appreciated away from home will be
of intetest and in place. The annual
meeting of the Pacific Coast branch of
the American Historical Association
was held here yesterday. Mr. Hiroes
came down from Portland to attend,
and was accorded such a hearty wel
come as could not have been extended
without a due appreciation of his serv
ices in the field of Pacific Coast his
tory. In the selection of officers for
the ensuing year he was given Immedi
ate recognition In the election to the
vice-presidency. At the banquet in the
evening, held at the Faculty Club of
the University of California, he was
given the seat Of honor, next to presi
dent of the association. James D.
Phelan, of San Francisco, and Professor
Henry Morse Stephens, well-known
historian and head of the history de
partment of the University of Cali
fornia. In an eloquent after-dinner
speech, Professor Stephens paid a
glowing tribute to Mr. Himes. which
was greeted with a storm of applause.
Professor Stephens bewailed' the fact,
as he docs often in private conversa
tion, of the lack of systematic work in
the collection and care of the historical
treasures of this state, and attributed
this remissness to the fact that "Cali
fornia has no Himes."
Mr. Hlmes replied in a fitting manner,
and in the course of his remarks dwelt
with effect upon the essential unity
of Pacific Coast history. He Is spend
ing two or three days at the univer
sity, examining the rich materials of
the famous Bancroft Library.
W. C. WOODWARD.
President Eliot an a Colleare Boy.
Richard Washburn Child in Collier's.
His Harvard classmates remember
President Eliot in college as an austere
boy, ever impressing their instincts as
being far away from them, ever im
pressing their mentalities as being very
near and loving and human. One of his
fellows, writing of those days, says
that riliot was shy and retiring A
poor choice of words. He was not shy
and retiring, unless the East Indian
who sits upon the bank of the Ganges
and thinks may be called shy and retir
ing. Oliver Wendell Holmes spoke of
this kind of man as a Brahmin. But
Eliot was not an Oriental then; he is
not now. Then he studied and exer
cised hard, now at 75. he loves to run
to a fire, like a boy, and, with Mrs.
Eliot, rides a bicycle every early morn
ing of the pleasant year. He Is not a
Brahmin. He cares too much for life.
And though he refused the offer of
membership to several clubs when he
was a student, and although he was
undoubtedly a "grind," he was not then
and is not now a man of great impor
tance to himself. In a faculty meeting
not long ago a professor spoke to him
a spontaneous word of praise a state
ment of how secure was his name In
the history of education. The presi
dent smiled. It was not until the meet
ing was breaking up that he said sud
denly: "Who was president of the
university a hundred years ago?" No
one knew. And Eliot smiled again
that gentle smile of his, that curious
little smile that one feels must mean
a mind within that can lift Itself out of
the plane of other minds about. So
many men try to imitate that kind of
smile. Little men have said that Eliot
Is snug, but larger men are not so sure.
A Question for the Senate.
Washington (D. C.) Post.
Can the Legislators of Oregon barter
their privilege and duty of choosing a
Senator for the opportunity to hold
office? Can they transfer to another
body, even if it be the people, the right
to choose a Senator? And if they do
attempt to make such a bargain, and
ratify it by their votes, is the Senate
bound to receive such a man as Sena
tor? The Senate, as the judge of the elec
tions of its members, may be asked to
look into the facts concerning the elec
tion of the Oregon claimant. The com
mittee on privileges and elections may
be confronted with the question wheth
er a man chosen by the people, as the
result of a bargain by which the Legis
lature tried to sell and convey Its con
stitutional privilege, is entitled to a
seat in the Senate The Senate may
decide that there Is a great difference
between "chosen" and "ratified." The
fact is that the Oregon Senator was
chosen last June. The Legislature is
not making a choice when It has only
one person to vote for, and is bound
to vote for him.
The people and Legislature of Oregon
have knocked out the Constitution, but
they have still to deal with the Senate.
Mr. Rockefeller's Fascinating; Story.
New York World.
Laying aside all prejudice against
Standard Oil methods, it may be satd
that the story told to fewer than 100
persons on the fifth floor of the new
Custom-House by John D. Rockefeller Is
as fascinating as a novel by Jules
Verne, with the added Interest that per
tains to facts as compared with fiction.
As the narrative progressed from the
days when Mr. Rockefeller and" his as
sociates began business in 1862 with
only $4000 and the earlier yearg when
competitors who were bought out by
Mr. Rockefeller refused to take stock .
but demanded cash, the Imaginative.
auditor could hear the doors of oppor
tunity and of millions closing against
some and opening to others. A won
derful story, told in clear-cut sentences
by the master mind of the greatest cor
poration in the world. It is apparent
that Mr. Rockefeller blundered whei
he undertook to write his memoirs. He
Is Incomparably more fascinating at a
witness than as an author.
' How la Thin for a Spelling; Teat r
New York Press.
The other night in an upper West Side
home there was a spelling bee at which
some forty-odd guests fell down. The
hostess offered the following sentence as
a test:
"It is an agreeable sight to perceive
the unparalleled embarrassment of an
harassed peddler attempting to gauge the
symmetry of a peeled onion which a sibyl
had stabbed with a poignard, regardless
of the Innuendoes of the lilies of a car
nellan hue."
-The president of a college made five er
rors In writing it, a learned clergyman
made seven, and an eminent teacher and
lecturer made six.
The Informer.
Chicago Tribune.
"Teacher," said Dicky Jones, sidling up
to the desk and speaking In a whisper,
"Tommy Tucker's trying to look cross
eyed, like you look."
It Is scarcely necessary to add that It
was Dicy Jones that got the subsequent
whipping.
Snd Loan of Slemory.
Pittsburg Gazette-Times.
Down in Washington the oldest in
habitant will be forgetting what a
Democratic President looks like.
A MyMery.
New York Evening Sun.
Why will women keep on marrying
Mr. Nat Goodwin'