THE MORNING - OREGOXIAX, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 13U8.
8
M)t (DiTjyunian
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PORTLAND. THURSDAY". DEC. 17. 190.
. THK ANGRY PRESIDENT.
There is little of the stoic about the
President. S.ldom does he meet de
traction with a proud and haughty
. smile which bid defiance to its pol-
soned darts.: On the contrary, he rifts
I up hia-volce and assails high heaven
with shrieks of righteous rage. Some
i times one could wish that the shrieks
were a little less piercing, but the
wrath" Is a delight and consolation to
; every honest soul in the land. One of
' the trait which make us all love Mr.
! Roosevelt is his burning indignation
,at wrong, an indignation which he
. does not think it necessary to suppress
; even when the wrong is done to him-
self or his relations. Most of us deem
I It more becoming to stray away into
' some solitude and pin,? in silence
! when the mouth of calumny
'. spits its poison at us. The President
is of a different mind. He spits back
J ana it shall go hard but he gives bet-
tor than he . ets. The Scripture pre-
cept not to revile those who. say all
manner of evil about him he- has ap-
parently never read, although he is a
; member of the Dutch Reformed
Church in good standing. Still it is
no. longer much the fashion for church
members to read the Bible diligently,
i especially the New Testament.
Mr. Roosevelt's. Jetter to William
' Dudley Koulke. of Indiana, when the
1 New York World and the Indianapolis
' ;News first came out with their miser
'. 'able little piece of malice about the
Panama Canal, was indeed an awe-
some discourse. It fairly bristled with
' "false." "falsehood" and. endearing
epithets of that Ilk which former
". Presidents have been extremely chary
of using. - But then most Presidents
. have not had the same provocation to
, . use them. We must remember, too.
that It is not alone in the free use of
'. highly descriptive language that Mr.
Roosevelt differs from his dignified
'. and often Ineffectual predecessors. He
has undertaken and carried out tri
. umphantly the gigantic task of awak
; ening the public conscience and up-
lifting our National standard of mor-i
; aiiiy. Jn performing his task, which
history will count' among the greatest
.ever accomplished by a statesman, he
has been constantly assailed by miser
. able Innuendoes, by spiteful men
: dacity. by. villainous msiropresenta-
tion. ft Is quite possible that this sys
tematic course of malignant falsehood
has finally told on Ill's nervcf a little
; and that he is more irritable than Mr.
. Pulitzer, of the New York World, for
i example, who has been sailing calm
Summer seas in his yacht while Mr.
! Roosevelt has been breasting ;the
' waves of ilander. . , , ,
i No rational mind entertains the
' slightest doubt that Mr. Roosevelt has
i put his whole heart and soul Into .the
task of making the Panama Canal a
great National achievement. He has
gloried in the speed of the work, in
the marvelous organization of the
workmen. In -the genius of the engi
neers. In the mighty changes for the
better which it w ill effect in commerce
when it Is done. He has hoped that
this work would be his enduring mon
ument, an eternal title to fame. Now
when the World and the News come
with their malignant imputations of
petty dishonesty, the President cannot
contain his wrath. Let those who
serenely prate about the "dignity"
which he has sacrificed In berating
those scandal-mongering papers as
they deserve ask themselves If there
was not cause for 1t. It may be con
ceded that the President has of late
somewhat fallen into the habit of call
ing men liars., but it must also be con
ceded that a good many have fallen
into the habit of lying. The New
York Sun. for example, has been even
more conscienceless In its aspersions
upon Mr. Roosevelt than It was in
calumniating Mr. Cleveland. An
Eastern paper printed a week or two
ago in parallel columns some remarks
of the Sun about Cleveland and sim
ilar ones about Mr. Roosevelt. Both
sets were incredibly mean and false
beyond all ordinary power of men
dacity, but the Roosevelt slander was
much the worse. Let any one who
bewails Mr. Roosevelt's lack of dignity
Imagine himself subject to seven un
broken years of this sort of thing
when he Is trying all the time to do
his duty and work for the highest
good of the- country and then ask
himself if he. too. would not be likely
. to forget his dignity now and then and
call a spade a spade.
The World now tries to minimize Its
offense against decency In printing the
. vile Panama innuendoes. The . pur
port, of-them was that the President's
brother-in-law and Mr. Taft's brother
; had. in some way helped swindle the
, Government when Jhe French rights
in the canal were bought out. Xo-
body believed the incredible tale, and
1 if Mr. Roosevelt had not noticed it. it
would have expired In obscurity. But
he unfortunately took it up and made
a National matter of it. Now the
World feebly peeps that it printed
the stuff merely to get somebody to
deny It. adding that it does not believe
Mr. Robinson, the President's brother
; in-law, and Charles P. Taft were
guilty. This is even meaner than the
1 original publication of the silly gos
1 sip. Why print the wretched tale If
the World itself did not beileve it? It
; Is unfortunate that there are kites and
' cormorants in the newspaper world
! which batten on carrion and when
they can find none they manufacture
it out of aill-f melling Ingredients.
; There is not the slightest doubt that
the World knew its story was untrue
" when it was published, but neither Is
there any doubt that it wished the
', public to believe the stuff. Now when
the mischief is done- it retracts. Mr.
' Roosevelt's anger may- be undignified.
'. but it is highly natural.
Somebody ought to flash the danger
signal on Tom Longboat before he
gets down on the Great White Way.
His defeat of Dorando Pietri was ac
complished in slower time than that
registered when Pietri defeated Hayes,
but the Indian nosed out. stilt on his
feet, while the Italian collapsed. Tiie
contest seems to have offered further
proof that the Hayes who was de
feated by Pietri in New York was a
far different man from the Hayes
who came home in triumph from
London. It also shows that there is
still in evidence some of the old In
dian "blood that made the runners
of the various tribes famous in the
early history of the country.
AN ABSt KI LAW.
It would be edifying to know why
the law should permit a man to shoot
fifty ducks in a day and then punish
him if he sells them. He may give
them away, he may throw; them away,
he mav feed them to the pigs, but he
must not sell them. The law seems
to be vindictively determined that the
plain citizen who" has neither time
nor money to manage a duck lake
shall never know the taste of duck.
So game Is surreptitiously sold in the
markets as if it ministered to some
base passion. A man must order it
in the restaurants under a false name.
It Is made a crime for citizens to en
joy game when the city fairly over
flows with it.
This is madness. The ostensible "P"J
pose of the law is to protect the wira
huf it comnletelv fails to do
so. The hunters shoot as many as
the law permits, to put it miiaij,
.v.fv,,- ran sell them or not.
The practical effect of the law is to
deprive people or a periecuy muuctui.
lnnhlA food SUDDlV
while It does not protect a solitary
Kt-H evcrn si n n -h t it. The Oregonian
knows of a "hunter" who shot 540
ducks in one day with no intention of
selling them. He killed them for the
sake of killing. Our game laws are
as absurd an they are ineffectual.
IK MARVEL. 8FN-TIMENTAI. PHILOS
OPHER. - Delightrul old Ik Marvel, known in
private life as Donald G. Mitchell, is
dead. Nearly sixty years have passed
since he touched the hearts of home
loving people of the world with his
masterpiece. "Reveries of- a Bachelor,"
and It has been forty-five years since
"Dream Life," its close second in pop
ularity, appeared. But through all the
changing years and amidst the ava
lanche of books of all kinds that
have since appeared, these purely
sentimental sketches have retained
their popularity. Forgetting the cares
and vexations of life in a saunter with
Ik Marvel nto "Dream Life," the
sons and grandsons of the men who
first enjoyed these exquisite sketches
find in them the same charm that ap
pealed to their ancestors more than
a generation ago. In a desire to pro
duce new sensations and new thrills,
modern writers have wandered off
after strange gods: but there will be
few if any of the "best sellers" of the
present day that will be . found as
prominently on the booksellers' '
shelves sixty years' hence as the works
of Ik Marvel are found today.
There Is no secret regarding the
wonderful success which those sketch
es have attained nor of the hold they
have on the American people. Run
ning through all of these "dreams" is
a vein - of soothing, ennobling senti
ment which acts on the tired brain
of the world-weary man as a cooling
lotion on the brow of a fever-stricken
patient. Sickness artd sorrow, and
death were all encountered in Ik Mar
vel's excursions in the land of dreams,
but, with the delicate touch of a
master, he robbed them of all their
terrors, intensifying the bright spots
of life by using the "clouds" as the
dark background which could be
speedily thrust aside and forgotten in
contemplation of the brightness which
he found everywhere In life.
"Cares cannot come into the dream,
land where I live." said Ik Marvel,
as In one of his reveries he watched
the lights and shadows at his fire
place. ' "They sink with the dying
street noise, and vanish with the em
bers of my fire. Even ambition, with
its hot and shifting flame, is all gone
out. The heart in the dimness of the
fading fireglow is all itself. The mem
ory of what good things have come
over it In the troubled youth-life
bear It up, and hope and faith bear it
on. There is no extravagant pulse
glow; there is no mad fever of the
brain; but only the soul, -forgetting
for once all. save its destinies and
its capacities for good. And it mounts
higher and higher on these wings of
thought; and hope burns stronger
and stronger out of the ashes of de
caying life, until the sharp edge of
the grave seems but a foot-scraper
at the wicket of Elysium."
Tk Marvt'l has passed the "wicket
of Elysium" and has Joined the chil
dren of his dreams: but so long as the
mind of man gives response to pure
and tender expressions of sentiment,
he will not be forgotten, and his de
lightful works will afford pleasure to
thousands of readers now unborn.-
WHY' MURDERERS INCREASE.
In pronouncing the death sentence
on Walter Johnson, the Hillsboro
murderer. Judge MoBrlde took oc
casion to say that, of the seven or
eight murderers on whom he had
been obliged to pronounce the death
sentence, all had been "ruined by
drink. Idleness and trying to get a
living without- honest work." The
statement reveals a deplorable condi
tion, the existence of which, however,
has been no secret to most people
who have made a study" of the prob
lem. Yet it is questionable whether
these needless murders would not
have been fewer In number if so
ciety had insisted on exaction of the
extreme penalty for murder. Through
out the state, andr in fact, throughout
the United States, can be found free
men today who through "drink. Idle
ness and trying to get a living with
out honest work" have committed
murder, and after a few years In the
penitentiary, or In some cases after a
mistrial or Jury disagreement, have
been turned loose.
The murderous- instincts that are
nurtured and developed in the mind
of man by idleness, drink and dishon
esty would seldom gain ascendency
over that other Instinct of self-preservation,
if the would-be murderer
knew full well that the penalty for
his contemplated crime was death.
But the court records have taught
him that the chances of escaping the
extreme penalty are all in his favor.
There seems to be a squeamishness
about taking "a life for a life." even
though the life which the law de
mands can never atone for the one
which was taken by the murderer.
This objection or shrinking from a
duty which in effect is nothing more
nor less than an act of self-defense on
the part of society. Is in most cases
due to the sentiment of pity for the
relatives of the murderer. In the
first outburst of rage over the com
mission of one of these numerous
murders, this sentimenr of pity goes
out to the mother, the "widow and
the children who have been robbed
of their protector by the bullet of the
victim of "idleness, drink, and dis
honesty." Time can never heal the wound left
In the hearts of the sorrowing rela
tives, but as "the law's delay" moves
the date of trial well on into the fu
ture, there is a tendency on the part
i of the public. Influenced by the plead-
, Ing of counsel for the accused, to for
ger me sorrowing reiHLiv-s l imc
murdered man and instead become in
terested in those of the murderer. The
mental agony suffered by the mur
derer's relatives .when the death pen
alty is inflicted is perhaps more se
vere than that which overwhelms the
family of the victim, but the contem
plation : of this anguish, and woe
should not swerve the public from its
duty. It has been repeatedly demon,
straterl that the death penalty Is the
only penalty that will serve to stay
the hand of some of our murderers
and infliction of this penalty is a duty
which society owes to itself.
In this connection it is Interesting
to note that the French Chamber of
Deputies, by a vote of 330 to 221, hars
just decided to continue the death
penalty.- Scientific' study of crime in
all- of its branches has made the
French experts famous for this work,
and ' their experience and research
have demonstrated beyond the shadow
of a doubt that infliction of the ex
treme penalty is by far the greatest
factor in the prevention of crime.
Early training which will cause an
abhorrence of drink, idleness, and
dishonesty will' of course remove the
cause for most of these murders, but
speedy infliction of a punishment that
fits the crime, when one occurs, will
have a powerful deterrent effect on
others who place too low a value on
human life.
STATE FAIR FINANCES.
The . financial -report of the State
Fair Board makes a very gratifying
showing for the exposition held at Sa
lem last September. The total re
ceipts, aside from the annual appro
priation, were over $50,000. qr more
than 25 per cent greater than for the
fair held in the preceding year. The
total funds available for the fair were
over J55.000. which is enough to pay
the cost of a good industrial exposi
tion. The disbursements amounted to
almost $52,000, leaving the Fair Board
a net balance of about 33000, with
34600 of collectible accounts still due.
This is a satisfactory showing from a
financial standpoint, and, taken with
the fact already known, that the fair
was a most excellent one from every
standpoint, justifies the commendation
the fair management has generally re
ceived. The fair was very liberally
patronized by the people of Salem and
surrounding country, else it could not
have been the'success It was.
The report of the Board shows that
it received an appropriation of $10,
000 from the state for payment of pre
miums on exhibits, and that permiums
to the amount of $15,000 were paid.
The Board indicates its opinion that
the Legislature should increase the
appropriation accordingly. With this
conclusion it will be difficult to agree.
The exhibitors paid entrance fees to
the amount of $3000, making. $13, 000
which should in any event be credited
to the premium fund. The gate re
ceipts and concessions amounted to
more than $29,000, a very considerable
proportion of which could properly be
credited to the exhibits of livestock
and agricultural products, on account
of which the premiums were paid.
The cost of conducting the fair,
furnishing entertainment, etc., was
$17,700, or $12,000 less than the re
ceipts from admissions and licenses.
The racing receipts were $11,475 and
the race premiums paid $19,109. show
ing that the Board paid out to the
race department over $8000" more
than it received from that department
alone. The receipts for exhibits, in
cluding the state appropriation, were
$13,000. and the premiums paid a lit
tle over $15,000, showing that the
Board paid out to the exhibit depart
ment $2000 more than it received
from that department alone. Since
the receipts from admissions and con
cessions exceeded the running ex
penses by $12,000, this excess should
be applied in part to the payment of
race premiums and In part to the pay
ment of exhibit premiums, each of the
departments having drawn the crowds
that furnished tlie money.
The State Fair Board may reason
ably be expected to pay out for pre
miums more than It receives from ex
hibit entries and the appropriation,
for these exhibits help earn the gate
receipts. In this Instance It would be
necessary to apply only $2000 of the
gate receipts to the payment of exhibit
premiums. A larger appropriation
may be proper, but not upon the the
ory that premiums paid should be lim
ited to the appropriation when the re
ceipts are largely In excess of oper
ating expenses.
The Board has asked that numerous
permanent Improvements be made
with a view of adding to the conven
ience and comfort of visitors and for
the purpose of Improving sanitary
conditions. Doubtless these improve
ments are needed, and within reason
able limitations the necessary appro
priations will be made. The success
ful manner In which the fair was con
ducted furnishes a good basis upon
which to ask for increased facilities
for handilng the crowds.
LOCATING NEW STATE INSTITUTION'S.
For a number of years there has
been agitation in favor of establish
ment of a branch asylum for the in
sane In Eastern Oregon, and at one
time an appropriation was made for
such an institution In that part of the
state. The act was finally declared
unconstitutional because. It provided
for establishment of a state Institution
away from the capital. A number of
state Institutions were, however,
placed away from the capital in viola
tion of the constitution, and In re
sponse to 'persistent demand this was
made legal by a constitutional amend
ment adopted by the people last June.
There is now revival of the demand
for a branch asylum in Eastern Ore
gon, and it seems likely that the de
sired act will be passed by the coming
session of the Legislature. As in the
case of all bills for location of state
Institutions, there Is danger that this
legislation will be made the basis for
deals and trades of various kinds.
This paper has always opposed the
plan of locating institutions away from
the capital, for the reason that such a
system invites trading with utter disre
gard to public interest. It was for the
purpose of preventing Just such trad
ing that the section was Inserted in
the original constitution prohibiting
location of state Institutions away from
the capital.. But the majority of the
people have-declared that they wanted
this limitation removed, and there is
now no constitutional inhibition upon
.this 'subject, except that the location
of an institution away from the capi
tal must be ratified by popular vote at
the election following.
There is already evidence that local
interests, rather than general welfare,
will be given a large consideration in
the location' of a branch asylum. The
delegation from one county has al
ready begun laying plans to "get" the
branch asylum. The new institution
Is already looked upon as legitimate
plunder. The question la not where
the institution should be located for
the benefit of the state, but what
means can be adopted to get it as an
asset of some particular' tocality. It
has even been a.-serted that Eastern
Oregon will be willing to give up its
normal school, if necessary, in order to
get the branch asylum, which would
carry much larger appropriations
than a normal school.
This Is an altogether wrong view of
the policy which should govern the lo
cation of an Institution. If it is best
that a branch asylum be located in
Eastern Oregon, the institution should
be established there, even though that
part of the state had a thousand other
public institutions. If such an institu
tion is not needed there, it should not
be established, whatever concessions
Eastern Oregon isv.-illlng to make. A
normal school should stand upon its
own merits, and its maintenance or
abandonment should have no relation
whatever to the location of a branch,
insane asylum.
There is something essentially vi
cious In the attitude of any legislator
who looks upon public Institutions or
appropriations as proper subject for
distribution as patronage. It is this
attitude that makes trading easy, for
it enables members from one county
to exact a consideration in the way of
return favors for support of an appro
priation In which another member
thinks he has a local Interest. It is to
be hoped that the time has passed
when the Marlon County delegation
feels bound to look out for the institu
tions at the capital, when the Lane
County delegation feels a personal in
terest In the University of Oregon and
the Benton County delegation a partic
ular interest In the Agricultural Col
lege. These are state institutions. No
one man should have more interest in
them than another.
As already stated, an act establish
ing a branch asylum in Eastern Ore
gon cannot take effect until ratified by
the people at the next general elec
tion, which will be In November, 1910.
If such an institution Is to be estab
lished great care should be taken in
selecting a site. This state has already
had costly experience with sites for
state institutions located to suit the
selfish Interests of favored persons who
had land to sell rather than the Inter
ests and welfare of the state and its
wards. The state should not estab
lish a branch asylum without secur
ing at the beginning all the land it is
likely to need for many years to come.
Having the power of eminent domain,
it should not submit to being "held
up" by landowners: neither should it
accept a poor location in order to save
a few dollars In the original invest
ment. The state can afford to be lib
eral;, but it should not be extravagant
nor should it submit to extortion.
The details of the location of a
branch asylum are some distance in
the future, however. For the present
the point that needs emphasizing is
that the passage of an act establishing
a branch asylum . should not depend
upon the attitude of any member of
the Legislature on any other subject.
It is at least to be hoped that the
branch asylum will not get mixed up
with-the Statement No. 1 controversy.
Extreme difficulty Is encountered in
making some people believe that laws
are not made to be broken. Up in
the Willamette Valley a number of
proprietors of "blind pigs" are pay
ing from $100 to $300 apiece for the
privilege of learning that local option
carried in their precincts. From New
Orleans it is reported that the Jockey
Club of that city will endeavor to
conduct race meetings in defiance of
the Locke anti-racing bill. As the
Southern metropolis won the plaudits
of the Nation when it eliminated race
track gambling, it Is hardly probable
that it will now take a step back
ward by permitting renewal of it. The
evil wrought by the New Orleans
races was not confined to New Or
leans or the state of Louisiana, but
throughout the land there were pool
rooms and street . pool sellers, who
gathered in the money from victims
who were "playing the ponies" in New
Orleans. The United States is grad
ually getting on to a higher plane of
civilization, and a retrograde move
ment at this time would be deplored.
Respectable heiresses' in America
and decent nobility In Europe should
combine in an effort to bring to an
end the disgraceful Gould-Sagan-Castellane
proceedings which have al
ready cast such a dark shadow over
the classes of society to which these
despicable persons belong. In what
are commonly called lower grades of
society, though in reality much higher,
it vvould not be thought Inappropri
ate to decorate the participants In
such a scandal with tar and feathers.
The old saying that a prophet is not
without honor save in his own country
is likely to prove true of certain apple
sections of this state, if the practice
of unloading poor fruit on the local
market shall be continued. To win
praises in New York Is all very well,
but some regard should be had for
the home consumer.
News dispatches say that citizens' of
Medford are circulating petitions ask
ing the Legislature to amend the city
charter by making the city "dry."
Under the constitution of this state
as it now stands, the Legislature has
no power to amend any city charter.
Charters can be amended only by the
cities themselves.
Of course the lawyers in the next
Legislature will see to it that bjljs
shall be passed for the purpose of
preventing delay in litigation incident
to technicalities and making unneces
sary reversals on appeal where the
verdicts are not shown to be unjust.
Pendleton has raised over $1600
with which to found a public library.
Next to the public school a public li
brary Is the most important of local
public institutions. Pendleton, liko
every other town, will be proud of its
library.
If Congress does not like the Presi
dent's message it might appoint Fora
ker a committee of one to get up a
message to its liking, and have it sub
mitted in the Congressional Record
for that of the President.
Some of yesterday's prices: Butter,
Portland, 36 to 37 cents; Elgin. 111.,
30 cents:, hogs. Portland, best, $6 to
$6.25; Chicago, $5.20 to $5.80; grass
green In Oregon, snow on the ground
in Illinois.
BANKING PUrtR OF 17,642.705,S74.
Increase In the I'nKed Stares la 242
Per Cent Since 1800.
From the Report of Comptroller of
Currency.
Controller of the Currency Murray
in his annual report says the bank
ing power of the United States In 1908.
as represented by capital, and other
profits, deposits, and circulation of Na
tional and other reporting banks, to
gether with estimated amount of
funds, of this character in the non-reporting
banks. Is $17,642,705,274. an
amount exceeding the world's banking
power in 1800. From the latest and
most relable data obtainable the bank
ing power of foreign countries Is esti
mated at $28.107.J0.000. The world's
banking power in 1890. according to
Mulhall. was $15,985,000,000. the United
States being credited with $o,150,
000,000 of this amount.
Since that year the banking power
of the United States has increased to
the extent of $12,492,700,000, or over
242 per cent; that of foreign countries
$17,272,600,000, or 139 per cent: and
the combined banking power $29,765.
sno.000. or 186 per cent. The aggre
gate banking power of the world is
estimated at $45,750,300,000.
The following statement relating to
the banking power of tho world in 1890
and 1908 shows also the amounts and
percentages of Increase. .
Tnrrease.-
Benkln p'wr Mill- Mill- Mill- Per
of the IV. 1on. Ions. Ions. c .em.
State" ....$5,100.0 $17,642.7 $12.4W 7 242.08
Banking p'wr
trSr'"?J0.8.0 28.107.6 17.272.6 159.41
'"rld'Jis.SSSJO $.70.S $29.76.-.3 18&21
Of the 33 National banks for which
receivers were appointed during the
year ended October 31. 1908. nine
banks with an aggregate capital of
$1,290,000. were restored to solvency
and authorized to resume business,
while receivers proceeded to liquidate
the assets of 24 banks found to be
irretrievably insolvent. The nominal
value of assets taken charge of by
receivers of these 24 banks was $31.
415 511. the labilities, so far as report
ed being $19,342,610. Dividends to
the amount of $7,994,666 have been
paid to creditors of the banks which
failed during the year, and the affairs
of one such bank having been finally
settled, the receivership was termi
nated. Noting the cause of failure of banks
put in charge of receivers during the
year, it appears that seven banks
were wrecked by the cashier, one by
defalcation of officers, and three chief
ly through fraudulent management,
among other causes. Of the remain
der, four failed from excessive loans
to others and depreciation of securi
ties, etc.; three by reason of injudic
ious' banking; two from excessive loans
to directors and others, two from de
preciation of securities, one from fail
ure of large debtors, and one from
general stringency in the money mar
ket. . Since the organization of the Na
tional banking system to the close of
the-present year. 499 National banks
have been placed in charge of receiv
ers. Of this 1 number, 21 have been
restored to solvency and permitted to
liquidate or resume business, and the
affairs of 401 have been finally set
tled and the receiverships terminated,
leaving 77 active receiverships.
WHY CASTRO "WENT TO EUROPE.
Early Guess That Events Seem te Have
Folly Verified.
NewnYork Tribune, December 10.
Mr. Castro has made the world his
debtor by giving it a genuine and by
no means unimportant surprise. The
secret of - his purpose in visiting Eu
rope was well kept. The story that
he was going abroad for the sake of
his health, to have a surgical opera
tion performed, was plausible and was
generally accepted as true. Indeed, It
seems to have been true, or largely
true. But it apparently was not the
whole nor the major part of the truth.
His prime object,, we are now assured,
was and is that of a peacemaker. He
expects to negotiate directly with Eu
ropean governments settlements of the
various controversies which have
vexed the relations between Venezuela
and other countries.
That extraordinary commission is
quite characteristic of the man.
Another would have sent a minister.
Mr. Castro is his own minister. As
muchc as Francia or King Louis, he is
the state. As dictator under the name
of president he has long been execu
tive, legislature, judiciary and diplo
matic service all in one. Nothing
could be more natural, therefore, than
that he should himself set forth to
treat wirb his fellow monarchs. The
only surprising thing Is that he should
have intrusted supreme authority in
Venezuela to another man. But per
haps he knows his man.
It is sincerely to be hoped that his
extraordinary mission will prove suc
cessful. The world has not liked Mr.
Castro It has had little occasion to
like him or to trust him. It has had
much cause for animosity against him.
Neverthless, it is not unwilling to give
him "a square deal" a squarer deal
than he has ot times given to others.
He is unquestionably a man of abili
ty resource and uncommon force of
character. He may be able to Impress
the statesmen of Europe favorably, and
he may also be so impressed by them
that he will assume a more sweetly
reasonable attitude toward the world
In general. It is earnestly to be hoped
that such will be the case and that
his visit to Europe may mark the be
ginning of greatly improved relations
between Venezuela ' and other nations.
Boys Sentenced to Go to Cnnrch.
New York World.
For excessive jubilation over a vic
tory at football a company of boys at
Montclare, Pa., has been sentenced to
25 Sundays at church.
' This punishment Is unusual. In the
present state of church conduct It can
not be judged cruel. The boys might
have lived and suffered in such a per
iod as that of Rev. Thomas Boston,
who is on record as having preached
one . sermon arranged under 86 heads
and four others of hardly less gen
erous proportions. Such pulpit per
formances as these brought out the
necessity for the long poles with which
the old-time wardens gave slumber
ing members of flocks awakening taps
on nodding heads. The tradition of
them may have been one of the lead
ers to Kaiser Wilhelm's orders to his
court chaplains that their sermons
should be limited to ten minutes.
It is probable, especially in the cities
of the land, that a great many men
might find profit in being sentenced
to spend a few Sundays in church. Al
most certainly they would hear good
music, which is a powerful influence.
Bad Boys to Watch Bad Boys.
Atlantic City (N. J.) Dispatch to the
New York World.
In his endeavor to halt depredations
by small boys. Recorder Hayes Intro
duced a novel method when he re
leased Victor Packard. William Hager
man. Owen Jessup and Henry Wagner,
all under 12 years of age, and arrested
for malicious mischief, and appointed
them special juvenile policemen to
keep watch over other mischievous
lads.
Fire-Alarm Box as Poatoffloe.
. Indianapolis News.
A farmer and his wife who were try
ing to mail postcards in a fire-alarm
box in Chicago were arrested after an
alarm was turned in, but were dis
missed when they explained they
thought the box a receptacle for mail.
MORE POWER FOR HOOD RIVER
Tucker's Mill on Hood River to Be
Utilized by Capitalists.
HOOD RIVER. Or.. Dec. 16. (Spe
cial.) It has been announced that the
fine Tucker power site situated on Hood
River, five miles from this city, has
been acquired by capitalists, who will
develop its full capacity. The' power
site, with two and a half miles of water
rights above it, was bought by Dr. J. F.
Watt, of Hood River, and Ahio S. Watt,
his father, a retired capitalist. The. hold
ing company will -be known as the Watt
Development Company, and papers of
incorporation have been filed. The new
company has acquired all the rights of
the Tucker heirs and also of the Tucker
Power Company, .which was organized
to develop the big water power at this
point several years ago. but only put in
use a small portion of it.
The site at present is occupied by a
sawmill that has not been operated in
several years, with a power plant which
can be developed into 100 horsepower.
Work on the improvement and complete
development of thli will be commenced
almost immed lately: The full develop
ment of the plant is estimated at 8000
to 10,000 horsepower, and It was stated
by a member of the new company today
that.lt will be utilized as soon as the
demand requires it. It is also stated
that the full water power of the river
at this point can be obtained. It is the
intention, it is said, to bring the power
to this city to be used for manufactur
ing or other purposes and eventually
to supply power for the new electric
railroads which are being agitated and
two franchises for which are at present
being considered by the City Council.
P ORTLANDER GETS CONTRACT
II. S. Huson Will Build Union , Pa
cific Tunnel at Taeoma.
TACOMA. Wash.. Dfcc. 16. (Special.)
H. S. Huson, ot Portland, and Arvid Ryd
strom, of Taeoma. will build the Union
Pacific tunnel in Taeoma. The contract
was signed last night. The bid is said
to have been $800,000 and the work is to
be completed in a year.
Work is to begin as soon as the ma
chinery can be brought here. H. S.
Huson is now in Portland arranging for
a construction outfit. The tunnel will
be 8700 feet long. The earth from the
bore will be used in tills on the tide flats
and in the South End. Mr. Huson was
formerly division engineer on the North
ern Pacific.
v i
Outlaw Firmly Entrenched.
LYLB. Wash., Dec. 16. (Special.)
"Bob" Miles, who escaped from Klicki
tat County Jail about a month ' ago, re
mains a fugitive from justice and a ter
ror to the settlers Of Cedar Valley. He
is a deadshot. It is believed. the cattle
rustler is making his headquarters at an
old sheep cabin on what is known to
stockmen as "Devil's Half-acre." Tho
location of the desperado is a strategical
point five miles from Lucas postofnee,
and a half mile up to the first bench
from the Big Klickitat River. The in
gress and egress is over a zig-zag trail.
Settlers say they are positive Miles is
there for they recently saw fresh-shod
horse tracks that correspond to those
of the buckskin pony Miles rode out of
Goldendale the day of the jail delivery.
Many well-provisioned cabins are scat
tered through the timber, abandoned for
the Winter by settlers. When the man
who has defied the officers of two coun
ties gets hungry for fresh meat he can
enter these or drop down to Shafer's
Pocket on the river and kill a deer that
has come in for the Winter from the
Mount Adams country.
Aberdeen Would Annex Town.
ABERDEEN. Wash., Dec. 16. (Special.)
Petitions for the annexation of Cosmo
polls and Aberdeen are being circulated
and liberally signed. Cosmopolis is three
miles from Aberdeen on the Chehalis
River and has a population of about 1500.
Its one enterprise is the mill plant of
the Grays Harbor Commercial Company,
which will probably tight the plan of
annexation. The reasons advanced are
that Cosmopolis would gain In the value
of property by unity and would also get
a five-cent car fare instead of 15 cents as
at present. A tollbrldge crossing the
Chehalis River and owned by J. A. West
would be one of the considerations for
annexation. It is said, as the two cities
would undoubtedly join to purchase the
bridge and franchise. It would be neces
sary to call a special election in each
town for the submission of the question
to the voters.
Operetta Is Successful.
MILTON. Or., Dec. 16. (Special. )
Last evening at Davis opera house the
operetta, "The Merry Milkmaids," was
rendered by local talent to an audience
that filled the building. It was under
the direction of MIhs Ethel Martin, of
the musical department of Columbia
Junior College, and the performance is
said to have been a credit to her. So
many could not get admittance that it
was the request of those present that
the performance be repeated this even
ing. Mrs. Charlotte Baumiester Thomp
son, of Walla Walla, took the leading
.role, the rest of the cast being local
singers.
, Attempts to Burn Schoolhouse.
EUGENE, Or., Dec. 16. (Special.) Last
night at 9 o'clock, P. Pennington, who
lives on West Fourth street, with the
help of a neighbor, succeeded in ex
tinguishing a fire started on the steps of
the Gaary School, before much damage
was done. It is thought it was started
by some schoolboy who was seeking to
retaliate for punishment, but there is lit
tle clew to work on. Mr. Pennington sa.w
some one run away from the building
but Is unable to give a description.
Albany to Have New Block.
ALBANY, Or.. Dec. 16. (Special.) A
new business block for Albany is assured
by a real estate transfer consummated
today when William Bahi, who arrived here
recently from the East, purchased 44 feet
front on First street, adjoining Ellsworth
street. Tho corner is one of the most
prominent business locations in the city.
The property was sold by the heirs of
W. L. Vance and the consideration was
private.
Logging Road Tunnels Mountain.
ASTORTA. Or., Dec. 16. (Special.)
The Olson Logging Company is construct
ing a tunnel through a mountain on its
logging road at Deep River that will not
only fchorten the line considerably but
will also avoid heavy grades and make
the operation ot the road much more
safe. This Is believed to be the first tun
nel ever built on a logging road in the
Columbia River district.
Lumber Cargo Goes South.
ASTORIA. Or.. Dec. 16. (Special.) The
steam schooner Sibyl . Marston cleared
at the Custom-house today for San
Francisco with a cargo of 1.100.000 feet
of lumber, loaded at the Hammond Lum
ber Qnmpany's mill. The steamer Cas
cade also cleared today for San Fran
cisco. She carries 620,000 feet of lumber,
loaded at Rainier.
Pastor Takes New Charge.
GERVAIS. Or.. Dec. 16. (Special.)
Rev. T. T. Vincent, late of Corvallis,
has accepted the pastorate of the Pres
hytoian Church at this place and has
taken up his residence and work. His
district comprises Fairfield. Aurora and
Yeargenvllle, In addition to Gervals.
FORCES
WIN
Spring Coup and Defeat Proposed
Test of Strength.
SEATTLE. Wash., Dec. 16. (Special. )
Tnfl antt-llles rorces exevmeu a l
coup at the meeting of the King County
Rebublican Club this afternoon and by a
quick adjournment defeated the proposed
test of strength planned by the Piles sup
porters. The meeting had been called
for the purpose of listening to the an
nouncement of the executive comniitte-;
appointments by President L. 11. Gray.
The Piles faction, however, had intended
to introduce a resolution calling for an
indorsement of Senator Tiles, and the op
position was expected to come back with
an amendment making the indorsement
cover the whole Congressional delegation.
The . Piles -forces had been marshalled
in strength, and Piles men filled the room.
Mr. Gray announced the membership of
the executive committee. Tie hud hardly
taken his seat when W. P. Trimble moved
an adjournment. The motion was put
and carried and the Piles men were out
on the street before they realized what
had happened. The entire session lasted
not more than ten minutes or so. Trim
ble is being groomed to run in opposition
to Plies when the lattor's term expires,
and President Gray is his right-hand
man.
EUGENE
RESIDENT
PTES
Ed. C. Larimer, Resident Since
1872, Is Called Suddenly.
EUGENE, Or., Dec. 16. (Special.)
Edward C. Larimer, a well-known citizen
of Eugene and a resident of Oregon since
1S72, died very suddenly at his home hero
last night. He had been In ill health for
some time. He fell while walking on the
porch and died in a short time. Mr. Lari
mer was born in Pennsylvania, May 29.
1K26.
At the age of 27 he crossed the plains
to the California gold fields, where he re
mained for two years. After returning to
the. East he was married to Miss Caro
line Dtxon and came West again in 1872
and settled near TIalser. He Is survived
by a wife and six children: Mrs. Hester
Armitatre. Mrs. Ada McPherson and Isaao
Ijarimer. all of Springfield: Mrs. Lula.
Andrews and Mlsw May Larimer, of
Eucene, and Mrs. Laura Fraver, of Can
ada. INSANE WOMAN REFUSES FOOD
Cannot Be Taken Out for Examina
tion Because of Violence.
ALBANY, Or., Dec. 16. (Special.)
After refusing to eat for several days,
Mrs. Minnie Schultz. of Plainview, was
committed to the State Insane Asylum
today. She hns eaten practically
nothing for a week. This is her sec
ond commitment. Mrs. Schultz has
been so violent at times that relatives
feared to bring her here for examina
tion and County Judge Duncan and
County Clerk Miller went to Plain -view
yesterday afternoon and conduct
ed the examination at her home, as
sisted by Dr. Kelly, of Brownsville.
Mrs. Schultz was brought to Albany
this morning and was met by two at
tendants from the asylum, who con
veyed her to Salem.
DAUGHTER SAVES FATHER
Out of $10 Weekly Wage She Will
Pay Old Man's Delinquencies.
VANCOUVER. Wash., Dec. 16 (Spe-
t v V- Paint nf T-rw Anfi-eleH.
a daughter of W. A. Markley, who was
in jail here under charge of soliciting in
surance without a license, has paid
$iat-70. the amount Markley had received
for insurance policies that he wrote in
this county, and has gone home, taking
her father with her.
Mrs. Page was working in Los Angeles
at $10 a week when she heard her father
was in trouble. She borrowed the mono
needed to secure his release, from her
employer, and will endeavor to pay it
back from her meager earnings.
WHITE SALMON TO ADVERTISE
Publicity Campaign Starts to Attract
Settlers.
WHITE SALMON, Wah.. T'r. 16
Special.) White Salmon Valley fruitgrow
ers and business men held an Interesting
meeting today to consider the question ot
exploiting the country by judicious adver
tising. C. W. Mott. general immigration
agent of the Northern Pacific and Great
Northern, and R H. Jenkins, assistant
general freight and passenger agent, wen
present. .
Mr. Mott gave a practical talk on the
method of attracting the right class of
people to this fruit region. He said the
valley could be developed into one of the
richest fruit belts of the West. Dally in
quiries are coming from all parts or the
country regarding this valley.
Publicity Conference at Goldendale.
GOLDENDALE, Wash.. Dec. 16.
(Special.) Max Bass, general immigra
tion agent of the Great Northern Bail
road, and Mr. Noble, general advertis
ing agent of the Great Northern, nu t
with the members of the Klickitat De
velopment League last night for the purpose-
of talking over the publSeit of
Klickitat County during the coming
eBoth the Great Northern and Northern
Pacific are manifesting great interest in
the exploitation of tho county.
Mayor Must Sign Warrant.
VANCOUVER, Wash., Dec. IS. (Spe
cial.) The Superior Court lias ordered
Mayor E. M. Green to sign a city war
rant (which he has heretofore refused to
do), drawn in favor of John Hansen, for
$150 for moving the Gridley building. Tins
building for many years occupied a few
feet of Washington street, but tin: owner.
H H Gridley, said he had built accord
ing to the old survey and therefore was
not responsible for the mistake. The City
Council gave the contract to Rauscli for
moving the building back.
Dead Man Comes to Life.
EUGENE. Or.. Dec. 16.-(Special.)-Sherlft
Brown received a telephone mes
sage calling him to Junction City tort;y
to investigate what seems to b a cas
of attempted suicide. The telephone con
struction gang was at work on the .In.;
near Junction City when they found ..
man's body hanging from a bridge. Sup
posing the man to be dead they cut hi.n
down, but he soon regained consciousness
and ran away.
Filipino Turns Bnrsliir.
ABERDEEN. Wash., nee. lrt.-lSp--cial.)-James
Kololie. a Filipino, is un
der arrest on the charge of burglary. He
is alleged to have entered a fruit and
candv store last night and to have stok n
a revolver and other artieles. home time,
ago Kololie was arrested on the charge
of attempted burglary, hut was released
for failure of the proprietor of the place
to prosecute.
Hand Torn Off in Edger.
EUGENE. Or.. Dec. 16. (Kpeclal.) At
the Booth-Kelly Company's sawmill at
Sprlnsfleid today Ira . Bidwell had his
right hand torn off in the edger. He was
brought hurriedly to the hospital here
and is resting easily though the whole
forearm is badly mangled.
AXTI-PILES