Morning Oregonian., December 08, 1908, Page 8, Image 8

TITE 3I0KXIXG OREGONIAN, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1908.
8'
FOKTLAND, OREGON.
Emrd lit Portland. Oregon. Poto(Tlc a
Fecund-4-'la Matter.
Subscription Katra InTariably in Advance.
(Hy.Mall.)
Isl'y. gunrtny lnrliid-1. ono year.
Jl!v. Sunday Included, six month!"
J-nliy. Sunday Included, three month!.. I :-
Iallv. Funday Included, one month.... -i
Ixilly. without Sunday, one year B Oil
Tmtlv. without S-jm;av. six months.... 3..o
l'atly, without Sunday, three minthi.
I'aily. without Sunday, one month....
Weekly, one year.......
Funday. one y-ar
Sunday and Weekly, one year ........
Wy Carrier.)
Dally. Sunday tnrluded. one year
Xatly. Sunday Included, one month...
1.75
.60
1.50
2 50
3. SO
O0
.75
Host ' to Kcmlt Send postofflce money
order, express order or personal check on
your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency
re at the sender s run. t,lve py.cmce an
dress In full. Including county 2nd stale.
PmtmK Rates 10 to 14 pages. 1 cent; 18
to 'i pna-es. 2 cents: 30 to 44 paces, 3 cents;
44 to 6 pages. 4 cents. Foreign postage
double rates.
Eastern Busineoe Office The S. C. Beck
wlrh Special Anency New York, rooms 4rt
60 Trlhune bonding. Chicago, .rooms &1O-012
Tribune building.
PORTLAND, Tl'EKDAY, DEC. 8,
1908.
THE SHORT SESSION. ,
The second, or short,, session of the
Fixtleth Congress, which began at
noon on Monday, Is not likely to aston
ish the country either by the variety
or the excellence of its' legislation. Ail
legislative bodies fall victims to the
vice of procrastination, often in an
acute form. They are exceedingly
jrone to put every'-hingr oft as long as
they possibly can, and, ir tt is practi
cable to close the matter by doing
nothing, nothing Is what they will do.
The great achievements of the past
two or three Congresses have been
largely attributable to the insistent
urgency of President Roosevelt, whose
restless" desire or progressive action
has given the legislators no chance to
settle down into their natural lethargy.
The resentment oX those whom he has
prodded and berated and exhorted is
probably an Important reason, among
many others, why this session of Con
gress will be especially barren of any
thing worth while. Many representa
tives of the people will earn their sal
aries by "getting even" with the man
whom above all others the people trust
and love.
Beyond question there are men in
both the Senate and the House who
will vote against whatever the Presi
dent may recommend simply because
he recommends it The retort of the
editor of the New York Sun to Mr.
Roosevelt's letter to William Dudley
Foulkes concerning certain false re
ports about the Panama Canal is
characteristic of the spirit of some of
the President's enemies. The name
of the editor of the Sun Is Laffam.
His reply to the President Is a cold,
malignant, poisonous sneer, and no
doubt there are many men in Con
gress who, either on their own account
or bn account of their employers,
would express themselves In the same
way If they had the literary skill. As
they have not, they will take their
ppite out in trying to vote down Mr.
Roosevelt's recommendations. -This
they will do with the greater bold
ness because Mr. Roosevelt will re
main In office only a few months
longer and for the present his power
to grant favors or avenge injuries is
but slight. Of course If these men,
suppose he could either benefit or in
jure them, they would still crawl
at his'feet. Such is the nature of the
type.
There will be some notable changes
in the personnel of both chambers,
but neither the Senate nor the House
aeems to have gained many members
of really firstrate parts. Mr. 'Allison,
of Iowa, was a man of unblemished
Integrity and fair ability "whose death
was a serious loss to the less progress
ive side of the Senate. His successor,
Mr. Cummins, while he is more in
touch with the spirit of the times. Is
by no means a man of superlative
abilities. It would be interesting to
eee some great constructive statesman
appear in Congress. What would he
do with the mass of Intrenched inter
ests, timid prejudices, mercenary cun
ning and mediocre patriotism which
would surround and do Its beat to
overwhelm him? Not much, one sus
pects. And yet Mr. Roosevelt, acting
from the outside, has driven Congress
to do many things for the public good
and against private interests. Per
haps a truly groat Senator or Repre
sentative could effect even more. At
any rate it would be a diverting spec
tacle to see him try. A philosopher
might find amusement In speculating
why our first-rate men no longer go
to Congress as they did in former dec
ades. Very likely the rewards of ef
fort in other fields are more attract
ive than anything the public service
has to offer. It has been hinted also
that such men find it easier and more
profitable To manipulate Congress
from the outside than to convince it
by debate on th floor.
Some men will reappear In the Sen
ate at the short session, probably for
the last time, whose presence must
seem strange, both to themselves and
their colleagues. Senator Foraker, for
example, will present to 'the country
the terrible spectacle of a man drag
ging about with him the shattered
ruins of a great reputation and still
seeking the solace of such revenge as
he can snatch now and then upon the
President and Mr. ,Taft, whom he
blames for his "downfall. It is said
that M. Foraker will devote the short
session to the cause of the dismissed
negro soldiers. Could anythlpg be
more futile? Why does he not go to
work in earnest and seek to retrieve
his reputation by accomplishing some
thing for the public? Perhaps after
ail he has not sinned beyond orgive
ness and the voters of Ohio might
in the years to come find a use for
him if he would only prove that he
deserves their confidence. His pos
sible successor, Mr. Burton, is one of
the ablest men In the House. How
long would a House of Representa
tives of the type of Patrick Henry and
Henjamln Franklin sit down under the
undisputed sway of Mr. Cannon? '
As things are we may possibly get
a law establishing postal savings
banks from the short session. At any
rate the measure is likely to bo de
bated, and tt Is of such a character
that debate can only make Its ultimate
adoption more certain. Besides this
the Congressional prophets expect lit
tle or nothing. Still they may all be
mistaken. Mr. Roosevelt is to be
reckoned with and he 1 evermore an
Incalculable factor. What he may ask
of Congress and by his powerful urg
ency compel it to do for the country
remains to be seen.
It is not possible to conceive that I
the proposition to give state aid tp
sectarian schools will ever meet the
Indorsement of the American people
or that religious training will be added
to the course of study In secular
schools. Religious beliefs are too
widely divergent and are subject to
changes too radical to admit of this.
Dr. Dyott. ofi the First Congregational
Church In thisxity. is an advocate of
both of these propositions and sup
ported them In a sermon last Sunday
by an argument that was scnumruuu
rather -than logical. It may be added
that he overthrew the very basis of
his whole contention by declaring
that the religion that he would have
taught In the public schools "should
not have a sectarian bias." This, 1n
view of the sectarian spirit that armed
with zeal still runs riot throughout
the land under the name of religion. Is
manifestly Impossible and Is without
standing even as a supposition.
POPULARITY OF MILTON.
Dr. C. E. Cline does not differ from
The Oregonian about Milton half so
much as he seems to think he does.
His letter, printed. today, in which he
apparently controverts certain views
of The Oregonian, hardly differ from
what the paper has said. Naturally
In a short article it was impossible to
discuss all sides of a great work of
genius like "Paradise Lost," and pos
sibly The Oregonian's remarks may
have sacrificed clearness to brevity.
Still there does not seem to be much
obscurity In saying that Milton Is more
read than other epic poets, nor can
ihora he rrv doubt of the fact. None
of them has many readers compara
tively.
Tn bijv that "Paradise Lost" Is or
ever was "popular" would be absurd.
but the sale of the book nas not iauen
oft, though people may now keep It on
shelves instead of center tables. The
reading of Milton in schools increases
every year and one may perhaps sus
Tn..t tvtnt thurA srA Inst as manv am
bitious young men who memorize the
magnificent eloquence or "Faraciise
Lost" as there ever were. Dr. CUne
deceives himself about this. The laud
ator temporls act! is often thus de
ceived. What ho ttnva nrimit Satan mav naps.
The EvlWOne Is the true hero of the
poem and a splendid creation he is,
but some day when The Oregonian is
in an argumentative mood it may try
to convince Dr. Cline of his frightful
misunderstanding of the Miltonic
Deity.
CHRISTMAS CRUELTY.
"There is no greater grief," says
Dante, "than in the time of sorrow to
remember vanished joy." But the
poet was wrong. There is a greater
grief. It is to see a season of joy for
the many turned into a season of tor
ment for the few, and this is what
happens at Christmas time. For most
of us the holiday is full of merriment
and generous kindliness, but for the
men and women who serve as the
humble ministers of Christmas happi
ness in shops and stores it is a time
of unrelenting and sometimes deadly
overwork. The reason for this is to
be found in the thoughtlessness of
shoppers. Except thoughtlessness
pure and simple there is Jio reason
in ' the world why Christmas should
be tt time of misery to salespeople.
The overstrain on the men ana
women who sell goods in stores -can
be avoided almost entirely If shoppers
will observe a few simple rules. The
first rule, and obviously the most im
portant one, is to buy Christmas goods
early in December. It is the unpar
donable delay of those who might Just
as well be forehanded in the matte'r
which crowds all the business of
weeks into the last half a dozen days
Just before Christmas and cruelly
overtaxes the helpers in the stores.
The ' rush of shopping immediately
preceding the holidays inflicts actual
torture on salespeople, and yet good
men and women take part in it. They
would not do so if they would only
consider what it means.
The second rule is to avoid shopping
in the evening completely, and to buy
as few things as possible in the after
noon. It is the afternoon and night
crowds which tell most severely on the
clerks. No person has a moral right
to delay his purchases when he can
make them before noon. This may
seem trifling, but it Is really important.
PeoDle who can shon in the morning
should do so by all means and leave
the afternoon clear for those who
must buy then or not at all. The tor
ture of employes by the Inconsiderate
Christmas trade-has grown to be a Na
tional reproach. It Is the clear duty
of all kindly people to help mitigate it.
NKW RECORD FOR LUMBER. .
As a lumber-producing state, Ore
gon is put in tenth place by the De
partment of Commerce and Labor
which has Just issued elaborate statis
tics covering the output for 1907. The
value of the product credited to this
state last year Is placed at something
more than $23,000,000 compared with
about J75.000.000 for the State of
Washington, which leads all other
states in the quantity and value of the
output. Considering that Oregon now
has a much greater available supply
of standing timber than Washington
and that It is steadily Increasing in
value, we can view with complacency,
the temporary occupancy by Wash
ington of the post of honor as the
greatest lumber-producing state in the
Union. The slow development of
Oregon's lumber Industry has per
haps retarded the growth of the state,
but the timber still standing here has
increased in value to such an extent
that we will eventually be compen
sated for the loss we have suffered
by the failure to exploit our timber
resources.
One -of the most interesting fea
tures of the Government report Is the
statement showing a marked increase
in the output for 1907 over that of
1906. This increase was scored in the
face of an unsettled business situation,
car shortage and disagreements with
the railroads over rates and with many
mills closed down or running on half
time. Not only was the output last
year greater than "ever before but the
values also show a substantial increase
over those of the preceding .season.
That the famous Douglas fir of the
West has not yet gained supremacy
over the yellow pine is shown by the
figures which credit the former with
an output of 13,215.185,000 feet, near
ly three time's as much as the 4.748.
872.000 feetT of Douglas fir, while
white pine with an output of 4.1 92.-J
u,uut ieei is not. very tar oeruna tne
Western specialty. '
There is much significance in the
fact that despite the many unfavor
able features in the trade situation last
year, there was a material Increase in
the consumption of lumber. This was
especially noticeable on account of the
increased' use of other building mate
rials and the growing agitation for a
more economical use of our forest
products. There was a heavy decrease
in the white pine output and the sup
ply is nearing the point of exhaust
ion, but so long as the deficiency In
this grade can be made up by sup
plies from some other variety, there
will hardly be a halt called In our
present wasteful use of timber. There
has been some economy practiced in
manufacture where timber supplies
are lessoning, and reforestation plans
are helping a little. Both of these
agencies, however, are insufficient to
offset the growing drain and we will
probably continue to establish new
records for timber consumption each
year until the inevitable end is
reached, and the exhaustion' of sup
plies compels an economy that as yet
we are not forced to practice.
As that time approaches, Oregon,
with the greatest available supply or
standing timber, will enjoy a prosper
ity greater than has ever been experi
enced by any other timber region. We
will not only be called on to supply
vast quantities of timber to states that
in the past have been timber pro
ducers, but we will secure for jt much
higher prices than were possible when
timber was plentiful everywhere.
FO RAKER'S LAST STAND.
Senator Foraker, who had almost
sunk from view, proposes to have one
more fling at the President before
Congress adjourns. "Perhaps it ia just
as well to let him unburden himself
before retiring to private life. It will
make him feel better and will hurt
no one else.
It is a familiar saying that an attor
ney who is defeated in a law suit has
20 days in which to "cuss" the court.
and probably it is well to give ade
feated politician a reasonable time in
which to express his views of those
who have accomplished his defeat.
There are perhaps a number of mem
bers of the House and Senate who
would like to pronounce maledictions
Upon Roosevelt before the President
drops his official character, and it
would be, a good plan to set aside a
particular day for that purpose, when
all could be heard. By unanimous
consent "cussing the President" should
be made a special order for the last
day but one before adjournment. The
last day should be given up to rejoic
ing that some of the undesirables have
been dropped from the roll-call.
WHO COMPLAINS?
Inches.
Rain that should Have fallen since
September 1 13.5
Rain that has fallen 8.5
Deficiency . 5.0
Oue dear old friend the Rain is with
us again, to ward off snow, blizzards,
chills and fever. He is a bit tardy,
but we are all good-natured and hos
pitable. He was preceded by Jack
Frost, whom yesterday he was doing
his best to drive away, so as to heal
up the sore throats of Jack's brief
visit.
Our rain friend Is getting into prac
tice for Christmas. The folks in
Snowland brag of their blizzard Christ
mas, but they are mistaken if they
think it helps Santa. Here in Oregon
Santa prefers the ice-free Chinook. It
helps him do his Christmas shopping
early. The drowsy droppings on the
roof on Christmas eve are like the pat
terings of his reindeer. And since his
reindeer, like the dairy cows, have a
tooth for midwinter grass, that's an
other reason Santa prefers this land,
where breezes of the warm South
blow. Every rain Chinook is laden
with so much horsepower of sun en
ergy. This force drives the wheels at
Oregon City and Cazadero and comes
through the wires as sunshine. Up at
Bull Run the raindrops flow into a
pipe""down to Portland, bringing the
health that first rose out of the South
ern ocean as mist.
It goes without saying, therefore,
that the rain is welcome. He came
late, and allowed many a farmer's
spring to run low. But he evidently
saw the struggle to start the many new
buildings in Portland and kindly held
Winter back In their favor.
Of the forty-five average inches of
rain that should fall before next Sep
tember, one-third is usually here at
this season. Only one-fifth has ar-N
rived. The weather growler evidently
has lost his calling. It is time for
him to reform, if there are any of
him left. .
THE ACME OF KNAVERY.
Of ail the mean, petty-larceny swin
dles which cunning knaves devise, that
which depends for victims on poor old
women, cripples and unemployed
seamstresses certainly approaches, if It
does not fully reach, the limit. The
gold-brick man, the green-goods man,
the bunco-steerer, the thlmble-riggp r
and all the rest of that unsavory band
of parasites who live by swindling,
through the very nature of their call
ings and their methods must select
their victims from men who not only
have money, but are supposed to have
some sense. For this reason the suc
cess of this class of parasites utterly
fails to cause the indigation that is
felt when the victim Is not, mentally
and financially, somewhere near even
terms with the swindler. Each is try
ing to get something jf or nothing, and
to the public it is generally a matter
of mild Indifference as to which gets
the worst of the deal.
But when one of these parasites falls
so low In the ranks of his kind that he
no longer hunts with the pack, but in
stead sneaks off and sets skillfully
baited traps for poor women and crip
ples, he loses all claims to that insig
nificant consideration that might be
shown the swindler who matches his
wits against those, who are supposed
to be his equal In point of intel
ligence. The natural habitat of these
petty larceny swindlers has always
been in the big cities of the East. The
spirit of the old West, which was al
ways the spirit of fair play and a
square deal, even If It was a faro deal,
would not brook such schemes as are
used by. Eastern swindlers, and for
that reason we have been singularly
free from their presence. Perhaps it
was the Western reputation for fair
play and honesty which made Port
land such an admirable location for
the sure-thing man who was arrested
here last week for filching dollars frcm
poor apron-makers all over the United
States.
It would naturally be difficult for
any one to believe that the chivalrous.
West would harbor such knaves of the
caliber that would select poor old
women and cripples for their victims.
The loss of the dollars which were
sent in by these hundreds of poor vic
tims, while to them a serious matter,
does not reach the total of the injury
caused by this swindler. Their dis
covery that the world contains such
depraved specimens of human nature
as these dollar-robbers causes a loss
of confidence and develops a cynicism
that Is to be deplored. For the good
name of the West In general and Port
land In particular, it is to be hoped
that this particular branch of swin
dling will receive a lasting setback.
The Chicago wheat market yester
day suffered a decline of 2 cents per
bushel, the reason given being a much
more favorable Government crop re
port than was expected. On the sur
face this seems like a plausible rea
son for the decline, but if there was
any great amount of truth In the nu
merous stories that have floated out of
the Chicago wheat pit in regard to the
colossal holdings of Mr. Patton and
his coterie of speculators, it is not ex
actly clear why a report on wheat that
will not be harvested until next Sum
mer should so strongly affect prices
for May delivery. There Is a possibil
ity that the Government report has
been used as a hammer to drive down
prices and get in an increased number
of "shorts" who at the proper time
will be "trimmed" in the usual ap
proved wheat-pit fashion. If this lat
ter surmise is correct, there should be
a recovery in prices today unless it is
deemed advisable to increase the num
ber of shorts before again tightening
the reins.
Where, oh, where", are those blscuij
eatlng Orientals who a few years ago
seemed so numerous that Mr. James
J. Hill was certain that, if they would
eat but two biscuits apiece, they
would absorb all of the available
wheat surplus of the great and grow.
lng West? Their taste for American
biscuits has apparently palled to such
an extent that there is hardly any de
mand for American flour in the Far
East. Puget Sound has been hard hit
by this remarkable change in the Orl
ental flour situation, for the shipments
from all Puget Sound ports combined
for the first five months of the cur
rent season have been but 435,484
barrels, compared with 871,381 bar
rels for the same period last season.,
The decrease is not so pronounced in
the Portland shipments, but for the
same period this port is about 45,000
barrels short of last year's Oriental
flour business. For the same five
months last year the Orient took from
Portland and Puget Sound 1,500,000
bushels of wheat, while this year the
total shipments for the same period
have been but 66,000 bushels.
Portland lumbermen have been no
tified by the United States Quarter
master at Seattle that bids will be
opened, in that city for furnishing
2,000,000 feet of lumber, to be deliv
ered at Seattle or Tacoma, for Manila.
In failing to specify delivery at Port
land, the greatest lumber port in the
world, and a port which has shipped
more large lumber cargoes than have
been floated at any other port any
where, the Seattle Quartermaster is
merely following a time-honored pre
cedent, for only on rare occasions do.
the manufacturers of this city have
opportunity to bid on lumber for the
Government for Portland delivery. Our
manufacturers frequently obtain these
contracts, but it would seem that
there should be some method for
checking this discrimination, which is
continually handicapping the port.
There Is no good reason why even a
United States Quartermaster should
not exercise' a little plain business
sense in his dealings with the public.
The .declaration that killing in self
defence is not justified unless the at
tack is of such a character as to en
danger life and limb, does not mean
that the victim of an attack must
stand inactive and wait until the acts
of violence put him In imminent dan
ger of death. There is no law that
requires a man to stand acquiescent
while an adversary is preparing an
attack. Every man is permitted to
meet force with force and to use suf
ficient force to repel an attack. A
man who is threatened with an at
tack has a right to prepare for it.
He need not wait for practical demon
stration of the extent of danger to
his life and limb, for if he does an
effort in self-defense would come too
late. The circumstances of the at
tack measure the extent of the de
fense, and no one expects an attacked
person to act with the coolness and
deliberation of ordinary business. Let
the aggressor beware.
It is not alone in the matter of dis
tance that the farmers of the Argen
tine and of the United States territory
tributary to the Atlantic seaboard have
a tremendous advantage over the Pa
cific Coast producers, but an even
more important factor lies in cheap
coal. The Cunard Company has just
made a contract for a year's supply of
coal at $2,58 per ton, and smaller lines
and even tramp steamers have no diffi
culty in securing supplies at less than
$3 for a good article of coal. This
compares with (6 to $8 per ton at
North Pacific ports and $12 per ton at
Coronel, the principal coaling port on
homeward-bound steamers from the
Pacific Coast. . In order to reach the
markets of the Old World vessels with
Pacific Coast cargoes must steam four
times as many miles as those from
the Atlantic ports, and pay from two
to four times as much per ton for coal.
One trouble with disbarment pro
ceedings Is that they are too slow get
ting started and then they drag too"
long thereafter. That is a character
istic of all court proceedings, but It
would, seem that attorneys would feel
a personal interest in hurrying along
a case which involved the reputation
of their own profession. Disbarment
proceedings do nof occupy the time of
a court. As soon as a complaint has
been filed the court appoints a com
missioner to take the testimony and
when this testimony has been taken
and submitted to the court a decision
can be rendered. There have been a
number of instances in which law
yers have mercilessly robbed thejr
clients and yet they are still practicing
without protest. Such a case as that
is an appropriate one for administra
tion of speedy Justice.
In his farewell to the readers of
the Pendleton Tribune Editor Geer
says that he closes 26 months of con
tinuous service in that position. .This
must seem a strange statement to
those readers of the paper who re
member an editorial announcement
last Spring that Mr. Geer woold retire'
prom the editorship during his cam
paign for the nomination for Con
gress. Pretty soon the interscholastic ath
letic contests will be completed and
then the Intellectual contests in the
form of debates and oratorical efforts
will begin. Not all the enthusiasm
shall be spent on athletics.
Portland could make a great many
public improvements with the amount
of money it pays' out every year as
interest on its debt. But perhaps the
debt system Is the best. Let pay-day
take care of itself.
There's many a dairyman who will
assert that though the price of butter
Is up, the price of mill feed has in
creased more In proportion.
The east wind is what we have been
growling about. All an Oregonian
wants is rain. Then all is happiness.
Biggy may be dead, but there are a
lot of people who do not believe it.
ANOTHER ESTIMATE OP MILTON.
Dr. C. E. Cline) Discusses the "Populari
ty" of This Literary Giant.
PORTLAND, Dee. 6. (To the Editor.)
The Oregonian fails somewhat in its ac
customed discrimination in the editorial
leader of this date on "Milton's Tercen
tenary." Milton has ceased to be a popular au
thor, and has become a classic only.
When the Editor of The Oregonian was
a boy, "Paradise Lost" adorned the cen
ter table of every intelligent Christian
family. Today the schoolboy knows
Milton only from snatches in a textbook
of literature. His is a decaying popular
ity now. Only scholars read Milton at
the present, for critical study.
With a former generation, when it was
almost worship to open a Greek tragedy
or Latin oration, Milton was reverenced,
but not now. Milton belongs to yester
day, and, like Henry VIII, was buried
with admiration for strength and serv
ices, but with no tears. We have not
far to go for the reasons.
Milton's God is a monarch seated al
ways upon a throne of iron, high and
unapproachable. His decrees go forth,
drastic, unchangeable, like the Czar of
Russia hurling to Siberian gloom ins
wayward subjects, "a pure empyrean sit
ting high-throned above all heights."
"Father," the name of unspeakable
meaning to the human heart, bringing
hope and comfort to the weak, the weary
and the sinful. Is not known to Milton's
angels,- who shout and flap their wings
in the high-domed halls where only
thunderbolts of God's wrath are hurled.
The very light about Milton's God is
colder than the top of Mount Hood; and
this is the cornerstone of the author's
greatest work.
. Milton's Christ is an official; his life
perfunctory. The Redeemer, who was the
friend and brother of fishermen, who
went into the houses of humblo, sinful
men to win their personal love, who wept
with people in trouble, and forgives on
Calvary in more tender tones than a
mother's voice, is not the dignified offi
cial of "Paradise Lost" nor "Paradise
Regained."
Milton's angels couldn't sing "Jesus,
Lover of My Soul," because they knew
nothing of the Christ of our hearts in
this better day.
How does it happen that the sagacious
Oregonian fails to see or passes over in
silence the fact that the hero of "Para
dise Lost" is easily Satan? This scorn
fill and wayward outcast is made to
solve the problem of evil finding a ful
crum outside God's government on which
evil may rest Its lever. Milton's Satan is
the biggest, boldest character ever
evolved from the human brain:
He above the rest
In shape and gesture proudly eminent.
Stood like a tower.
Goethe's Mephistopheles is not a
patching; but men of sense now-a-days
silently say "the mystery of mysteries
is evil," and do not go to Satan for a
solution.
When a boy reading "Paradise Lost,"
the hell, the Satan and the angels of
Milton so haunted me that I thought it
dangerous to be out after dark; and
when we come to analyze the situation
the things over which science and re
ligion have wrangled are more of Mjj
ton than Moses.
It must be admitted, however, that
Milton was up to date on divorce.
Taking Milton's great Oratorio in Its en
tire scope, the fatal defect is the ethical
character assigned the will of God; and
also to the will of Satan. In the first In
stance, God is to be forever adored be
cause he alone is able to enforce his
own will. He above all other beings is
supremely happy because1 he alone is
able to have his own way. The Orego
nian, it is thought, is hardly willing to
accept this ethical view of God. As to
Satan, here Is one of his soliloquies: ;
What though the Held be lost?
All Is not lost; the unconquerable will,
And study of revenge. Immortal hates
And courage never to submit or yield.
And what Is else not to be. overcome.--
No desire for dark things, na refusal
of holiness, simply a combat with the
Almighty over who shall rule.
Time is a great sifter. Such views
were well enough 300 years ae-o fnr n
haughty Englishman who could bring his
wiie to ms reet, but not to his heart,
and who chided his own daughter in his
dying words.
Milton was an intellectual and liter
ary giant, but his. sun is past the me
rldian. c. E. CLINE.
Young Men n the Front.
Washington Letter to Boston Adver
tiser. The dinner, to Chairman Hitchcock.!
u,uuff"fc wecmoi iiiuo who assisted
him in the campaign, and included In
the hosts from Massachussets were
John Hays Hammond and Senator
Crane. The co-workers called on the
President Saturday morning, and it
was noticed how youthful nearly all
were. The majority seemed under 30.
but very energetic. Apparently Hitch
cock wanted live men to assist him
rather than chairwarmers. Washing
ton is wondering to what extent this
entourage will influence Taft's judg
ment, outlook on things and modus
operandi. Those steeped in the ancient
way of doing things already look with
alarm at the Tuft gospel coming from
Hot Springs. They think the next
President is acting ill-advisediy in Im
posing himself as an obstacle to two
years more of Cannon, the old Cannon.
They are surprised to learn that back
of the big smile there is a growl.
Wasbtngton-ls.slowly waking up to the
fact that a new era Is about to dawn
in Washington the era of the young
man. It was prognosticated in the
Roosevelt administration, and Is to be
entirely realized, it would appear In the
Taft administration.
Failure Turned to Triumph.
Chicago Tribune.
There Is living in Japan now Vis
count Aokl, ex-ambassador to the
United States, but now living in retire
ment. He it was who conceived the
idea of the agreement between the
United States and Japan, Just signed,
and all he had for his pains was hu
miliation by his home government, the
abrupt termination of the negotiations,
and his practical recall In disgrace.
The story of his retirement from Wash
ington never has been told, but it was
brought about entirely by the fact
that, on his own initiative, he under
took the negotiation of an agreement
between the two nations, of which that
just signed is practically the duplicate.
Troubles of a Father.
Forest Grove Times.
'Daddy," of the Laughlin. te wondering
If troubles will never cease. One week a
girl Is married and goes to housekeeping,
the next Mrs. Laughlin Is called to Yam
hill by the sickness of her mother and
today, another girl goes to Portland all
dressed in blue, object, matrimony. He
says emphatically he is not running a
matrimonial bureau and he wishes all
young men so inclined would stay away.
at least give him time to get his wind,
as he is wondering who will be the
next one.
Aecounted For.
New York Sun.
Sunday School Teacher row, John
ny, what was the miracle of the loaves
and the fishes?
Johnny The fish became as big as
the men who caught them said they
were.
Not Discourteous to a Hero.
Washington Star.
With no intention of being discour
teous, Japan goes ahead as if it had
never heard of Mr. Hobson.
New Meaning to an Old Phrase.
Washington Star.
Kaiser Wilhelm has managed to In
vest the hackneyed phrase "eloquent
silence" with new meaning.
MASONS HAVE ANNIVERSARY
Lodge 50 Years in Washington Cele
brates at Olympla.
OLYMPIA. Wash.. Dec. 7. (Special.)
A two-days' celebration of the 50th an
niversary of the organization of the
Washington grand lodge of Masons be
gan here today at the historic temple of
Olympla Lodge No. 1. Masons wsre
present from all parts of the state and
from British Columbia.
Today's programme included an ad
dress of welcome on behalf of local Ma
sons, by Frank G. Blakeslee, master of
Olympia Lodge, response by Grand Mas
ter Royal A. Gove, of Tacoma. Address
of welcome on behalf of Olympla people
bv J. C. Lawrence of Garfield, with re
sponse, by E. H. Van Patten, of Dayton,
and a general reception of visitors.
Tomorrow there will be a long pro
gramme of addresses, closing with ban
quet in the evening.
NEW BOAT FOR VANCOUVER
Ferry Is Expected to Be Ready for
Operation February 1.
VANCOUVER, Wash., Dec. 7. (Spe
cial.) An expert electrician was sent by
the Portland Railway. Light & Power
Company to inspect the electric light
plant on the ferrry to see whether or not
it would do for the new ferryboat that
Is being built for the Vancouver run at
the St. John ship-building plant. The
plant is a 40-ampere one and will not be
large enough for the new ferry, which
will need twice as many lights. In addi
tion there will be a strong searchlight
at each end of the' new boat. ,
All the machinery save the boiler for
the ferry is now on the ground and ds
being installed as the construction work
progresses. The new ferry is to be ready
by February 1. '
THREE SAY GUILTY IN LANE
t
n fts to Violating Local Option
Law and Are Fined.
EUGENE Or., Dec. 7. (Special.) This
was a day of guilty pleading on the part
of a number of Eugene and Lane County
violators of the local-option law. John
Williams, who had been indicted for
selling beer, changed his plea from not
guilty to guilty. The District Attorney
recommended that Judge Harris impose
no jail sentence. The judge fined Wil
liams $500.
9hell Coffman pleaded guilty to the
same charge and was fined $150 and
triven 30 davs in jail.
Pony Witter pleaded guilty and his
sentence will be given at 9 o'clock Wed
nesday.
FIND- HARRIS SHORT $173
Vancouver-City Clerk Expected to
Make Amount Good.
VANCOUVER. Wash.. Dec. 7. (Spe
cial.) The Council committee appointed
to examine the books and accounts of
Citv Clerk Harris reported tonight
shortage of $173. The Council adopted the
report without argument, and instructed
City Attorney Boch to notify Harris he
or his bondsmen would be expected to
make the amount good.
Harris is expected to pay backv the
deficit tomorrow. It is not likely lie
will be prosecuted.
CARTER'S WOUND IS FATAL
Coroner's Jury Finds Will Mack Re
sponsible for Death.
GRANTS PASS, Or., Dec. 7. (Special.)
Miles Carter, who was shot and fatally
wounded by Will Mack, last Frtday
nlght. died ia the hospital today from
effects of the wound. A Coroner's in
quest brought In a verdict that the
cause of this death was due to a shot
fired by Will Mack. The shooting was
done without provocation. A preliminary
trial win be held tomorrow.
Incorporate Irrigation Company.
nnv.nm! CITY. Or.. Dec 1. (Spe
clal.) The Union Irrigation Company
y,na flio1 articles of lncomoratlon. with
a capital stock of $5000. divided into
BOO shares at $10 eacn. xne incorpora
in,, in Charles Holman. Beulah Hoi
man and Franklin T. unmtn, ana tne
Aiot nf thft romoration is to furnish
water for irrigation purposes, house
hold and home consumption ana tor
watering livestock upon dry lands in
tiiia ctnto. The eomnanv also exDects
to supply electrical current for general
purposes, xne principal omca is in
Oregon City.
Death of Mr9. Mary DuBois.
VANCOUVER, Wash., Dec. 7. (Spe
cial.) Mrs. Mary Elizabeth DuBois. aged
72, died in this city yesterday. With her
at the time of her death were all of her
Immediate relatives four sons, two
daughters and her husband. The sons
are Rev. C. W. DuBois, until recently
of Glenwood Springs, Colo.; David A.,
James Edward and Joseph D., all of
Clark County. Her daughters are Mrs.
Amelia Brown, of Vancouver, and Mrs.
Julia Perry, who was called here from
her home In Enid, Oklahoma,
Mrs. Gibson Dies in Salem.
SALEM Or., Dec. 7. (Special.) Mrs.
Minnie Gibson, wife of Chief of Police
Gibson, died at her home In tills city last
night. Deceased was born near Salt
Lake City, 38 years ago, and had lived
a number of years near Oregon City.
Besides her husband and a 10-year-old
daughter,. Ruth, she leaves a mother.
Mrs. Mary Daniel, of Oregon City, and
three brothers, Oscar, Joseph and Charles,
all of Mulino, Clackamas County. Tho fu
neral was conducted this afternoon.
Funeral of Fred Koellemeier.
OREGON CITY. Or.. Dec. 7. Fred
Koellemeier, of Stafford, died at St.
Vincent's Hospital on Saturday morn
ing, after a brief illness. Mr. Koelle
meier was born In Germany, July 18.
1849, and has been a. resident of Staf
ford for many years, where he was en
gaged in farming. He leaves a wife
and several children. The funeral was
held at Stafford this afternoon, the in
terment being in the cemetery at that
place.
Big Deficiency at Albany.
ALBAINY. Or., Dec. 7. (Special.) The
imiiaiitillv enld weather which has swent
the Willamette Valley for the past f'w
1ov-i Iras hrnlrpn tnrlav. A light rail!
began falling at noon. The rainfall here
this Fall is the lightest in many years,
and as recorded this Fall, by F. M.
French. United States Weather Observer,
is: September, .40 inches; October, 3.68
inches; November, 4.07 inches; December,
none recorded.
Accused or Selling Liquor.
OREGON CITY. Or., Dec. 7. (Spe
cial.) Al Close, who has long been sus
pected of operating a "blind pig" at
Estacada, has been arrested on a
charge of selling liquor without a li
cense and will have a hearing Wednes
day in the Justice Court at Estacada,
More Klickitat Booster Meetings.
GOLDENDALE, Wash., Dec. 7. (Spe
cialsThe towns of Bickleton and Cliffs
will each hold big booster meetings dur
ing the coming month. It Is expected
that a large publicity fund will bs raised
at each of these towns.
T CARLTj IS RE-ELECTED MAYOR
Has No Opposition for Chief Execu
tive at Oregon City.
OREGON CITY, Or.., Dec. 7. (Spe
cial.) The annual municipal election
passed off quietly today, with only one
rontest, that of Councilman for tho
long term In the First1 Ward. Council
man William Andersen, who was a
candidate for a second term, was elect
ed over George Secrest by a majority
of 52. receiving 77 votes'1 to i)5 fnr Se
crest. Dr. W. E. Carll was re-elected
Mayor without opposition, as was
Treasurer M. D. I.atourette and Coun
cilman Jaroh Michels in the Third
Ward. In the Second Ward Dr. M. C.
Strickland was chosen Councilman, and
In the First Ward John J. Cooke waa
elected to the Council for the two-year
term.
Quiet Day at Grants Pass.
GRANTS Or., Dec. ".(Special.)
The city election passed off quietly today,
the vote being below the registration
figures. In the Second Ward J. 1..
Meyers, for Councilman, won out over
C. E. Harmon. Others elected are:
Councilman, First Ward, J. G. Riggs;
Third Ward. William Cheshire; Fourth
Ward, George Cronk. H. C Kinney de
feated Dr. ,J. C. Smith by a majority
of 15 votes 4 for May or.
Elect Erihler Recorder.
ALBANY, Or., Dec. 7. (Spcial.) Tho
following city officers of Sodaville worn
chosen in the annual clention had toilny:
Recorder, Charles Erihler; Treasurer. J.
W. Mitchell; Marshal, N. Bridges; Coun
cilmen, H. D. Klum, David Ash, II. l'ar
rish, M. 'A. Baker and H. Seifert. la
accordance with the charter of the min
eral springs city the new Councllmen will
choose the Mayor from one of their num
ber. Dr. Prill Elected at Scio.
ALBAJCY. Or., Dec. 7. (Special.) Ur.
A. G. Prill was re-elected Mayor oY Seto
in the annual election of that city today
and other officers were chosen as tal
lows: Recorder, P. H. McDonald; Mar
shal, J. B. Cyrus; Treasurer, V. F. (iill;
Councilmen, Charles Wesely, R. M. Cain,
H. Shope. E. C. Peery, J. F. Leffler and
H. M. Myer.
TROLLEY LINE MAY BE BUYER
Realty Sales at Aberdeen Indicate
Stone Interests Seek Entrance.
ABERDEEN, Wash., Dec. ".(Special.)
Thirty-five lots on the west bank of tho
Wlshkah River, adjoining the property
recently sold by Mrs. Jean Stewart to
Andrew Peterson, have been sold by Al
Damitlo and George Huntley and it is
believed the purchase has been made for
the Stone and Webster interests, an
nouncement of whose intention to build
an lnterurban line from Tacoma to Grays
Harbor has already been made.
Surveys now show that the road may
come down through what is known as
"Cemetery Gulch" and cross the Wlsh
kah River at the Stewart and Damitio
property.
The route, which it is said the company
will take to reach Aberdeen and Ho
quiam, is much simpler than to try to
get through South Aberdeen or around
Dabney Bluff, because a bridge across
the Wlshkah River would be far less
expensive. The route will also open up
a farming community to traffic that lies
in the eastern portion of the county.
SOUTH BEND WILL LEND AID
Business Men to Join Aberdeen in
Petition for Old Rates.
ABERDEEN, Wash., Dec. 7. (Spe
cial.) The cities on Willapa Harbor vill
probably Join with the cities on Grays
Harbor in resolutions to the Northern
Pacific against the proposed new rat
schedule abolishing terminal tariffs at
these two points. A. E. Rupert wont to
South Bend today to discuss the pro
posed action and to outline the resolu
tions which will probably threaten a bov
cott unless the Northern Pacific will
grant the demands of the harbors.
This follows the meeting held Suturd.iy .
night at Huquiam, where the speciil
committee which conferred with t'no
Northern Pacific representatives In tno
schedule reported to the general meeting.
Light Vote in Albany.
ALBANY, Or., Dec. 7. (Special.) Al
bany elected three Councilmen today.
George Taylor was chosen without oppo
sition in the First Ward. J. N. Chambers
defeated H. G. Fisher in the Second Ward
by a vote of 112 to 77. In the Third Ward
R. D. Snell won out with a vote of li
against 46 for W. A. Eastburn and
for M. F. Hajes. The vote was lisht.
Tries Fourth Time to Die.
WALLACE, Idaho, Dec. 7. Despon
dent. Louisa Williams attempted to com
mit suicide this morning for the fourth
time. Some girls were drinking and
sent a messenger to Miss Williams to
join the crowd. The messenger found
her with an empty phial of laundanum
and half empty bottle of carbolic arid
beside her. Although her condition is
precarious, It Is believed she will recover.
Klickitat Goes After Settlers.
GOLDENDALE. Wash., Dec 7. (So
cial. ) The Klickitat Development Leaguo
has signed a contract with an advertis
ing company to advertise extensively in
the papers and periodicals of tho Middle
Wrest and East during the coining six
months. The aggregate subscription of
the papers in which the advertisement H
will appear the first month amounts to
nearly 2.000.000.
Pay Out SCO, 000 at Astoria.
ACTfirfTA Or. Dec. 7. ISnecial.)
T3 nlr nt tho TTnlted States District
Court at Portland, Fred W. Barker.
receiver of the local plant pi a. booui
t Co.. distributed over ?u.(iuo among
wHIlnra reIHinar in this virinltv.
Of the amount paid out, nearly $13,000
ent to fishermen ana trapmen at
Chinook.
Northwestern People in New York.
NEW YORK. Dec. 7. The following
are registered at New York hotels:
From Portland J. P. Unlay, at the
Brostelle: Mr. and Mrs. T. Stewart, at
the Bresiin.
From Milton, Or. P. B. Valll, at the,
Albemarle.
W'ilkins Mayor of Sweet Home.
ALBANY. Or.. Dec. 7 (Special.)
Sweet Home elected the following offi
cers In annual election today: Mayor,
C. Wilkins: Recorder. R. Moorehoad;
Marshal, Arthur Sportsman: Treasurer,
F. B. Weber; Councllmen, John Minnieee,
John Coulter, Dr. Luther. S. W. Bowser.
Dies at Age of B8.
OREGON CITY. Or., Dec. 7. (Spe
cial.) William Mack, an old resident
of Canby, died last night at his home,
aged S8 years to a day. He had been
bedridden for the past year. He is sur
vived by several grown children resid
ing at Canby.
Aberdeen School Burns.
ABERDEEN, Wash., Dec. 7 (Special.)
Fire tonight destroyed the South Aber
deen schoolhouse. The loss Is $5000. w1th
Insurance. The origin of the fire is un-'
known.