Morning Oregonian., December 26, 1908, Page 6, Image 6

TIIE MORNING OREGOXIAN, SATURDAY, DECEMBER
26,
1908.
W . 1 .
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PORTLAND. SATURDAY, PET. M, 1-
BRYAN AND (iOMFERS.
It will be observed, in fact it has
been observed, by all readers of the
current news, that the Honorable
William Jennings Bryan is extremely
diplomatic and non-committal on the
court decision against the officials of
the American Federation of Labor at
Washington. Through experience,
and through accumulation of modest,
vet sufficient riches, Mr. Bryan is
tending towards the ripeness of con
servatism. He doesn't rage and roar
and madden round the land against
the decision, as he would have done
erstwhile. In his message to Gom
pers he simply says: "Sorry to read
the decision. You did right to test
the law. Glad you are taking ap
peal." Call you that backing your
friends? A plague upon such back
ing! But the election is just now
past. Hence Bryan' meager, minc
ing and meticulous expression.
Hence, also, the whole Bryan press
of the l-nited States is mute. 'Tis
long till next voting time, and thun
der let loose. now would cease to
reverberate a mighty while before
the next opportunity to render it
available. Besides, it is likely that
the Democratic party will now see
saw to its conservative side. Some
candidate of the Parker stamp will
be the heavy figure on its teeter
board next time.
Time was when the spokesmen of
the party would have risen en masse
to denounce this decision, and Bryan
would have been hailed afresh as the
peerless leader. But it begins to oc
cur to these politicians that the coun
try regards it as a man's lawful and
proper right to have protection for
his business and . property against
conspiracies to destroy them. Injunc
tion as a remedy for such wrongs will
not be set aside, but to a reasonable
extent will be enforced. The country
has pronounced an emphatic decision
on this subject; and Bryan and his
party have been so chastened by the
affliction of defeat, they raise but a
feeble outcry, and such sound as they
begin dies on their gasping lips.
But Injunction Is not to be abused.
It will settle to the reasonable prin
ciples appropriately denned in Taft's
court opinions and other deliver
ances. Even Bryan was forced to
admit, during the recent campaign,
that there was no intention to abol
ish the injunction as a remedy or
restraint against violence and wrong.
He dodged, moreover, the claim or
assumption that, in the interest of
the working classes "no right to
carry on business of any particular
kind, or at any particular place, or
at all, shall be held, considered or
treated as property, or as constituting
a property right." Herein lies the
issue between Gompers and his asso
ciates, on the one hand, and the Buck
Range and Stove Company on the
other, which forms the subject of
the decision at Washington. During
the campaign Bryan hesitated to af
firm the Gompers doctrine. Had he
boldly affirmed it, there is every
probability that the majorities
against him would have been far
greater than they were. The right
to do business is to be protected by
law. Gompers is in difficulty because
he has denied it.
WATERWAYS AND fOMMEW E.
News dispatches in yesterday's
Oregonian contained extended refer
ence to two very 4mportant water
way projects in the Pacific North
west. One of these was the deepen
ing of the Chehalis River so that
ocean-going lumber carriers could
got in and out of Montesano. The
other referred to an expected appro
priation by the Idaho Legislature of
JliO.OGO to be used for the improve
ment of the Upper Snake River above
Lewiston. Waterway projects of this
nature possess an Intrinsic merit
which entitle them to every consid
eration possible. The ocean carrier Is
the most economical means of trans
portation known, and every addi
tional, mile that it can be taken inland
by waterway. Improvement means a
saving to the producers of the coun
try. The Grays Harbor project calls
for the removal of 72,000 cubic
yards of dirt, and at an estimated
maximum cost of 150,000, it Is be
lieved that a depth of seven feet at
low water and 15 feet at high
water could be secured.
This depth, by working the tides,
is ample for the average coasting
schooners engaged in thfe lumber
trade, and would afford facilities for
the economical marketing of a large
amount of timber and timber prod
ucts which are naturally tributary to
Montesano.
Kqually meritorious, but for a dif
ferent reason, is the Idaho project.
The Upper Snake country above
Lewiston. is practically Inaccessible
except by pack horse, and by reason
of this Inaccessibility ' a region 'of
great possibilities in mining, agricul
ture and fruit 'growing, is lying dor
mant and undeveloped. Eventually a
railroad will penetrate that field, but
the date of its appearance is uncer
tain, and, as it has been demonstrat
ed that river improvements are per
fectly feasible, the improvement proj
ect is entitled to hearty support. In
such isolated regions as the Upper
Snake, the matter of service always
takes precedence over the matter of
rates, for the reason that the Indus
trial efforts of man in that locality
will bring no returns until a steam
boat or rail line affords some means
of transportation.
The State of Washington has re
peatedly demonstrated that but little
difficulty Is encountered in reducing
freight rates after the railroads are
built. This obviates the Immediate
necessity of spending for improve
ments on routes already well sup
olied with transportation money that
ia kuiIki! ivhere there is at present
neither rail nor water transportation.
If the appeals made for aid in water
way improvement were put forward
in the order of their merit, and not
for the purpose of furthering private
interests, Portland would not today
be obliged to spend $500,000 per year
for river improvement which benefits
the entire Northwest, and such merit
orious' projects as that for the Upper
Snake, for Grays Harbor, Tillamook
and a number of other similar un-.
dertakings would never be side
tracked or lost in the shuffle.
THE FLOWER AND PEED.
The San Francisco Bulletin now
puts up the complaint that the pri
mary law proposed in California re
quires the candidate for a party nom
ination to be a member of the party
from which he seeks the nomination.
"What reason," the Bulletin asks, "is
there for requiring that an aspirant
for a nomination should be a mem
ber of the party whose nomination
he seeks? Why should not a Repub
lican be at liberty to seek a Demo
cratic nomination or ' a Democrat a
Republican nomination?"
This Is the climax. Here is the
primary law, gone to seed. The con
sequence of every such law, if not
Its intent, is to confuse or destroy
distinctions of party: to Juggle with
political principles, to invite one
partv to make the nominations for
another, and thus to make conditions
that will defeat all political principles
that parties may represent.
Already we have reached that
stage in Oregon. But they who are
preparing a primary law for Cali
fornia propose to avoid this conse
quence by making it impossible for
anv candidate to receive a nomina
tion from more than one party, and
ov requiring the candidate to make
oath or affirmation that he is a mem
ber of the party whose nomination
he seeks. Yet it is not apparent how
these provisions can avert the con
sequence. Perjury, in such matters,
as we have discovered in Oregon, is
exceedingly easy.
How is it possible to cure the di
rect primary of its frauds, perjuries
and absurdities? Is there any other
way than return to the representa
tive and convention system?
TIIE PANAMA PROBLEM.
Engineers go with Taft to Panama,
to report on the alleged difficulties
and errors of the plans for the locks.
Reports reaching the War Depart
ment and the Isthmian Canal Com
mission on the Gatun dam have been
conflicting. Taft goes, and takes with
him a number of engineers of best
reputation, to determine, if possible,
what the actual conditions are.
Clearly it is not settled yet whether
there is to be a sea-level canal or a
canal with dams and locks. The
latter has been the thought and the
purpose: yet investigation may re
quire change of plan. The change,
however, would have to be author
ized by act of Congress.
S6 persistent are the predictions of
the failure of the canal on the dam
and lock basis, that Taft evldently
is concerned about the result. Hence
his trip to Panama. Should his ad
visers agree that the sea-level canal
would be the only safe one, he will
recommend to Congress change of
plan. This would not cause any
serious loss in work done thus far;
but a sea-level canal will cost much
more money and require much longer
time than the other.
It is entirely probable that change
of plan will be recommended to Con
gress. Taft regards success at Pan
ama as the leading problem of his
Administration, by which he is to
stand or fall. Hence his journey to
the Isthmus with a corps of advisers.
VALVE OF SCHOOL DEBATES.
The 1908-9 series of high school
debates has commenced, and from
now until next June there will be
keen interest in these Intellectual
contests between teams from the
high schools of the state. While ath
letic contests -have not ceased, these
battles, in which mind rather' than
muscle is brought into action, will
receive most attention among the in
stitutions composing the High School
Debating League. Considered from
the standpoint of benefits derived,
the debating contests are perhaps of
more value to the students than the
tests of muscular activity and endur
ance, for almost any boy will get
what physical exercise he needs with
out the football and basketball
games; but the debate affords an op
portunity for practical training which
can be secured in no other way.
It has been urged as an objection
to interscholastic athletic contests
that they are of no benefit to the boys
who are most in need of the physical
training which the games afford.
Weak, undeveloped boys are not
wanted in the contesting teams, and
are practically barred from even the
preliminary practice, for they have
no chance of becoming efficient rep
resentatives of their schools. Yet
they are the boys who should be
given most encouragement to take
physical exercise. Large, strong,
healthy boys, who really do not need
the training, are the ones who get It.
The same objection may to some ex
tent be applicable to debating con
tests. The backward, diffident stu
dents, who are afraid to attempt
public speaking and who cannot
think while standing before an audk
ence, are early eliminated from the
list of those who have a chance to
win places on the debating teams,
and many If not most of these lose
Interest in local debates. Those who
are least In need of the training re
ceive the most of it.
Every high school should have Its
debating society, with frequent meet
ings all through the school year,
whether the institution wins or loses
In the preliminary trials in the
league. Participation in the inter
high school debates gives valuable
training, but training almost as valu
able may be had in the local debating
societies. The local debate encour
ages impromptu speaking, while the
addresses for the inter-school de
bates are practically committed to
memory. Though the importance of
careful preparation of an address is
not to be minimized, yet it should be
remembered that the average citizen
who has occasion to speak in public
at all must in a large majority of
Instances speak extemporaneously.
The special effort of the debating so
ciety should be to teach boys to think
quickly, to throw their thoughts into
logical order, and to express them
selves in good English, when called
upon unexpectedly to discuss any
given subject. By frequent practice
is this best attained.
One element of weakness in the
inter-school debate is that the pro
fessors are likely to do too much of
the thinking. Desire for victory too
often leads the instructors to carry
too much of the burden. Supervision,
criticism and general suggestions are
proper, of course, but the real worn
of preparing ior a debate should be
done by the students themselves. In
the local debate between members of
a high school debating society, prac
tically all the work of gathering facts
and forming arguments must be done
by the students themselves and here
in lies the superior' value of the local
contest. In the series of debates
during this school year compara
tively few contests will be had be
tween teams from rival schools. Only
a few students will 'participate in
these. But each high school should
have its local debate every week,
with a large number of students tak
' ing part. In this manner can the
greatest good be accomplished.
THE HATEFUL HAYTIANS.
Although General Simon has
hardly been in the Haytian Presiden
tial chair long enough to get it warm,
doubts are already expressed about
his ability to hold it against all
comers for any protracted period.
The reason for these misgivings is
that, while General Simon quite
clearly demonstrated his ability as a
first-class revolutionist, there seems
to be a cloud on his title as Presi
dent. By all the rules of precedent,
such as ' have usually prevailed in
that peppery land, the ability to con
duct a succesful revolution has al
ways been regarded as the chief
qualification for successor of the
ruler who is "revoluted" out of of
fice. But the case of General Simon
Is somewhat different from that of
the regulation Haytian revolutionist.
His revolt was not put In motion
with any primary intention of land
ing himself in the President's chair,
but Instead it was launched for the
purpose of revenge against President
Nord Alexis, by whom Sfmon was re
moved from a minor office.
Long before the Simon revolt had
attained great proportions. General
Firmin, who had serious designs on
the President's job, b,id been worry
ing Nord Alexis with frequent revo
lutions, all of which, however, ended
with the revolutionists in the tall
grass and Nord Alexis still in charge
of the big stick. Now that Nord
Alexis has been deposed. General
Firmin and all the rest of tfte revolu
tionists will come thronging back to
Hayti. ' Gratitude over the accom
plishment of General Simon will for
a time hold these active gentlemen
in restraint as loyal subjects of Presi
dent Simon. But history repeats it
self, and fighting and plundering
seem to be about the only escape
valves through which the superfluous
energy of the Hayrtans can be
worked off, and in a few days, or a
few weeks, there will be more revo
lutions in process of incubation
General Firmin had the Presiden
tial bee in his bonnet long before.
Simon was seriously considered as
President, and, unless Simon drives
him out of the country along with
other ambitious revolutionists. It is
only a question of time when he will
make another attempt to seize the
chief position on the island. The only
objection -which the rest of the world
has to these periodical revolutions
lies In the fact that there are quite
a number of American, English, Ger
man, French and other Caucasians
who have invested money and are
attempting to do business on the
Islands. Their presence, whenever
these revolutions are on, which is
most of the time, necessitates war
ships to guard the interests of these
aliens.
Property and even life will be im
periled so long as the country re
mains in. its present chaotic condi
tion For that reason the indifference
as to whether one negro, or band of
negroes, conquers another negro or
another band of negroes. Is tempered
somewhat by anxiety lest in the skir
mish, the rights of some alien in
vestors are trampled on. Hayti needs
settling by some other people than
the Haytians who hate each other.
riLLABLE AND NONTIIXABLE LANDS.
Every year the state of Oregon pub
lishes to the world a statement of as
sessment valuations which in some
particulars is an unfair representation
of conditions, and the unfairness Is
to the disadvantage of the state. Ref
erence is here had to the classification
of land as tillable and non-tillable.
The statement of the assessed valua
tion of the acreage of the state for
J 907, for example, conveys the Infor
mation that there are In private own
ership in the state of Oregon some
thing over .3,218,000 acres of "till
able" land and nearly 18,000,000 acres
of "non-tillable" land. To the casual
reader this conveys the idea that
nearly one-sixth of the land in this
state is non-tillable, whereas the
statement should be that this propor
tion of the land is untitled. It is the
general custom of assessors to list
tilled land as "tillable," and unfilled
land as non-tillable. For example, if
a man owned 100 acres of wooded
land, and cleared half of it and put
it under cultivation, he would be as
sessed for 50 acres of tillable and a
like extent of non-tillable land.
It is perhaps true that the timbered
land Is non-tillable in its timbered
condition, but the classification used
is not exactly correct. The word
tillable is generally taken as synony
mous with arable, or worth cultivat
ing. The average Eastern man who
reads the statement that Oregon has
in private ownership 18,000,000 acres
of "non-tillable" land at once gets the
impression that this area of land can
not be brought under cultivation.
Such an impression is grossly erro
neous, and is injurious to the state.
The report of assessment valuations
shows that Linn County has in private
ownership 186,000 acres of tillable
and 791,000 acres of non-tillable land.
Marion County reports 187,000 acres
of tillable and 351,000 acres of
non-tillable land. The figures do
not include land still owned by
the Government, and included in
forest reserves. It is scarcely to
be believed that so. large a pro
portion of the land In private
ownership in these counties Is non
tillable in the sense that It cannot be
tilled.
Moreover what are tillable and
non-tillable lands is a matter not yet
determined. A few years ago men
thought that a large part of the Co
lumbia -River counties in Eastern Ore
gon was "non-tillable," and yet this
land has been brought under -cultivation,
and is producing profitable
crops. There's many a small wooded
valley between the Coast and Cascade
ranges now classed as non-tillable
which will some day produce its crops
of fruit or other products. A true
classification would be "tilled" and
"untilled," or "cultivated" and "uncul
tivated." The announcement that
there are in Washington County 195,
000. acres of .cultivated and 351,000
acres of uncultivated lands would
arouse the Interest of the Easterner
who wants to find a home In the
vt-o.f To tell him that the 351,000
acres are non-tillable leaves him with
the impression that there is no pros
pect for home-building on all that
vast area of land.
This is not a criticism of assessors.
The terms used in making the classi
fications are prescribed by law, and
not by the assessors. They have noth
ing to do but follow the law. Quite
likely some of them include in the
term "tillable" all land that can be
brought under cultivation, but the
common practice seems to be other
wise. But however that may be, a
much more inviting presentation of
conditions would be made if the terms
tilled and untilled were substituted
for tillable and non-tillable. There is
a great deal in names, and when we
have an opportunity to use more
attractive ones we should do so.
' With such striking examples of the
advantages of keeping brchards clean
and free from insect pests as are in
evidence in half a dozen prominent
fruit districts in this state,, it would
seem unnecessary to make special ef
fort to induce owners of old orchards
to clean up their trees. Unfortu
nately, there still remains in the state
an element which refuses to adopt
the new and profitable methods
which are making fortunes for the
progressive orchardists. It is against
the orchards owned by this class of
non-progressives that the Marion
County fruit-growers are planning a
campaign which Is expected to result
in clean orchards throughout the
county. The early settlers in this
state left us so many other things to
remind us of their former presence
here that it Is unnecessary to spare
the ax on some of the ancient apple
trees that are too far gone to be re
claimed by modern treatment. As a
means of self-protection, the proprie
tors of new orchards are forced to in
sist on the cleaning up of these scale
tenanted trees, and the work of rec
lamation should be thorough.
A seventy-mile southeast gale yes
terday made a very unpleasant Christ
mas for the crews of half a dozen
vessels which were due at Portland,
and there was a vacant chair in Port
land at many a Christmas dinner
table which, had old Boreas refrained
from his wild frolic, would have been
occupied by some son of the sea. The
"men who go down to the sea in
ships" are a hardy breed, and their
almost constant struggle with the
forces of Old Neptune has a ten
dency to drive sentiment out of their
system Yet it is not improbable that
even the task of "keeping her head
to the sea" in a seventy-mile gale
yesterday was insufficient continu
ously to divert their thoughts from
some warm fireside where bright
lights, sweet music and good cheer
softened the tone of the gale that
came tearing in from the sea. No
disasters have as yet been reported,
but the incoming fleet today will,
without doubt, bring numerous tales
of "the worst Christmas I ever spent
at sea."
While the decision of the Oregon
Supreme Court last Tuesday is one
that very favorably affects laboring
men, they should not misunderstand
its scope. The decision iwas that
where the owner of dangerous ma
chinery fails to protect it properly
and an employe is injured, the em
ployer cannot set up the defense that
the employe assumed the risk. This
does not mean that the employer as
sumes all risks. If he has done the
best he could to protect machinery
and then an employe suffers an in
jury, the doctrine of assumed risk
would apparently apply. Nor does
this decision relieve the employe
from responsibility for his own neg
ligence. It imposes upon employer
and employe alike the duty of exer
cising due precautions and this is en
tirely reasonable on both sides.
John C. Fisher, the theatrical man
who first produced the famous "I-'lo-rodora,"
has filed a petition in bank
ruptcy, with liabilities of $120,898 and
assets only nominal. This unpleasant
financial situation was reached in
spite of the fact that the "Florodora"
profits amounted to J400.000. Now
if all the grateful members of the
"original Florodora sextet would
contribute a dollar each, that petition
in bankruptcy could be withdrawn
and Mr. Fisher be raised from pov
erty to affluence.
Jupiter Pluvius seems to have han
dled the sprinkling pot rather care
lessly in the Argentine this season. A
few months ago the world's wheat
markets were excited and higher be
cause there was no rain in the Argen
tine. This week prices have been
marked up because there is too much
rain In the Argentine. In explanation,
it is stated that the crop is now being
harvested, and is susceptible to great
damage if the wet weather should
continue.
There is a man named Edwards
over in Washington, who thinks he
ought to be Lieutenant-Governor,
since Hay, who was elected, is a little
mixed up as to his proper place of
residence. Edwards is going to test
Hay's election. It is obvious that the
people of ashington knew what
they were doing when they turned
down Edwards by many thousands.
A reader of The Oregonian sends
in a long letter about - the Senatorial
election in Ohio, and the impropriety
of the candidacy of Charles P. Taft,
brother of the President. The Ore
gonian Is not going out of its way
to meddle with election of Senators
in other states. Things are absurd
enough at home.
Prize-fight between girls near Bos
ton merely shows how refined and
delicate are the sensibilities of the
Hub. No vulgar affair between male
brutes would be tolerated for an In
stant. "If the Senate raises the tariff In
the bill passed by the House, Taft
will veto it." That's the talk. But
the house hasn't passed any revision
bill yet.
There were, it seems, six unbought
Ponncllmen in Pittsburg. There ap
pears to have been money enough to
go around, too.
Pootm rhnqA fln excellent wav tn
escape a lot of trouble and get out of
his job at tne same time.
Such a Christmas. Too much rain
for the new wagon and no snow for
the new sled.
One week from today every seat in
the swear-off water wagon will be
taken.
There is yet time to make up with
New Year's presents. Buy early.
f wwv tf:f:r ARB DECREASING
Nonenforeement of Present Laws Is
Largely to Blame.
ROSEBURG, Or., Dec. 24. (To the Ed
itor.) I have read the communication
of William R. Mealy that has been going
the rounds of the papers of the state in
regard to the proposed scalp bounty and
the cause of the rapid disappearance of
the deer.
Since I have been making careful in
vestigations as to the cause of the rapid
decrease of the deer for the last few
years and my conclusions agree only in
part with the writer of the above- article.
I thought that a few words from me on
this subject might "be of interset to some
of your readers.
I am of the opinion that the cause of
the present scarcity of deer is the lack
of enforcement of the existing game laws
and also the need of better ones.
While no one who is familiar with the
circumstances doubts that the predatory
animals destroy a great many deer, I
do not believe that the destruction
wrought by them equals that of the deer
skinner in the isolated places, who kills
them on their Winter range, and of other
persons who violate the game laws. I
have In mind one party who told mo
that not very many years since he killed
1500 deer during one Winter, and that
during several Winters he had killed
more than 10X each Winter.
I do not believe that the wolves and
cougars are any more plentiful than
formerly, but of course, the growing
scarcity of game causes them to fre
quent the settlements much more than
In the .past, hence the general opinion
that they are increasing very rapidly: but
as the game becomes scarcer, their work
Is more noticeable than in former years.
While I believe that a bounty of J25 on
wolves would be a good thing. I do not
think that such a high bounty should
be paid for cougars, as. they are much
more easily killed than wolves; and I do
not think that anyone will take the
matter seriously of paying a bounty on
bears. They are not carnivorous ani
mals at all, although one sometimes kills
an occasional sheep where they are un
protected, and everyone who hunts knows
that bear are disappearing almost as
fast as the deer. I believe that there
ought to be a law protecting bear at
certain times. Instead of offering a
bounty for their destruction.
But in my opinion, the high bounty has
Its drawbacks, as well as its advantages,
in co far as protecting the deer is con
cerned. The result of a high bounty
will be to cause a groat many trappers
to go into the mountains, and from my
observations, the trapper generally uses
deer for bait. Often an entire deer is
used to bait one trap, so it Is plain to
see that a line of 40 or 50 traps will re
quire a great many deer for bait during
a Winter's trapping, and as the trap
ping la generally carried on in an isolat
ed part of the country and the trapper
Is interested only In making his work
pay, he usually kills and skins all of
the deer that he can find during this
time.
I am of the opinion that unless some
means can be devised to prevent trappers
from killing deer out of season the in
crease in bounty will only result in the
more rapid extermination of the game.
Deer-skinners and other violators of
the game laws are usually very loud In
their opinions that the predatory ani
mals are the sole cause of the rapid
decrease of deer, so that I believe the
public has been misled as to the true
cause of the trouble.
I am of the opinion that the only
rhance for the preservation of the deer
lies in a shorter open season, a reduction
In the. number that a person is allowed
to kill each year, prohibiting the use ol
dogs in deer hunting at all times and
a much better enforcement of the laws,
in connection With a sufficient bounty
on wolves and cougars to secure a reduc
tion, of their numbers: but I do not be
lieve that a high bounty alone will ever
accomplish the desired rsuu- ODEN-
NOW BRING OX VOIR ENEMY
Charles Gardner (3S7 rounds Net) Is
Ready In His Fort for AH Comers.
Newport Mail.
Charles H. Gardner has Just completed
the most remarkable log cabin ever built
in the Siletz country. The new cabin Is
on Mr. Gardner's claim in township 8-11
and is constructed with a view of being
tree and brushproof. It is built wholly of
hemlock, even the roof being o hemlock
Mr. Gardner went out to his claim last
Fall, after selling out hie large .business
in Tolecjp. He first lived in the usual
shake cabin. This did not appeal to him
as ideal, and he planned a more extensive
habitation, with two objects in view; a
wall that would hold him up when he
leaned against it (he weighs 387 pounds)
and a roof that would keep falling limbs
and trees out of the bed.
The house is finished, and the specifica
tions are as follows: Walls eight feet
high, built of 14 to 18-lnch hemlock logs;
floor 16 by 18 feet, constructed of 2-incn
hemlock planks matched and fitted; roof,
half-pitch, of 8-foot hemlock shakes, first
class in every respect; ceiled over with
small hemlock logs, closely fitted; fire
place built of hemlock logs lined with
sheet iron.
This fortress, for it ic no less, is war
ranted by Gardner to support the falling
of any reasonable-sized tree and to sup
port the owner's weight on the. roof if
necessary. It took five men to handle the
construction of It. There was no ma
chinery or animals used in hauling or
preparing the materials, and it took all
five men to get some of the big hemlock
logs Into place with a block and tackle.
Are These Qualifications f
The Spectato- (Portlad).
The Spectator renews its protest
against the system that would permit
John C. Young to become Postmaster
of Portland. Mr. Young's only qualifi
cations for the place are that he was a
Populist when Jonathan Bourne was
a Populist, that he became a Republi
can when Republicanism promised
greater rewards than did Populism, and
that with equal facility he betrayed
Populists and Republicans when to be
a traitor promised some immediate
profit, that he bitterly, maliciously and
mendaciously assailed President-elect
Taft. and that he was Jonathan
Bourne's private secretary. Remark
able and splendid qualifications for the
position of Postmaster of Portland, aia
they not? And has John C. Young any
other title or claim to the position?
Oar "Business Mayor."
The Spectator (Portland).
Because Mayor Lane thought he was
bigger than the charter, the taxpayers
have had presented to them a bill for
over $3800, wages which detectives, dis
charged without warrant, have been
awarded, but did not earn. The ffity
Attorney says, now, as he said before,
that the money would have to be paid.
And there Is a bill for about J6000 more
that will have to be paid on the same
account. That is just so much of the
taxpayers' money thrown away by
Mayor Lane in an effort to prove that
he knew more than all the rest of the
city, and to show his utter contempt
for a charter that did not agree with
him.
u Ye Who Have Tears to Shed," Etc.
Grants Pass Observer.
Contemplate Jonathan Bourne as
senior Senator from Oregon, and weep.
A man without common ability, and
devoid of any recommendation save in
herited wealth. A man who is known
to Congress as a Senator by accident,
and who never will be elected Senator
again. What can Mr. Bourne, with his
one ambition of controlling the Federal
patronage, do for Oregon in this time
of need?
GOVERNOR JOHNSON LAYS WIRES
Preparing Very Early for the Demo,
crntlc Nomination in 1912.
Washington Dispatch to. the Boston
Herald.
The Governor was careful during his
entire visit not to be chummy with the
notable Bryanites, but at the same time
he was careful to be friendly. National
Chairman Norman I-l Mack was in town
for a day or two along with the Gov
ernor. They had little intercourse, but
that is explained by the fact that they
nev-er have been acquainted. On the oth
er hand, it was noted that the Governor,
either by accident or design, met with a
number of New York and Southern Dem
ocrats. It is said that his meeting the
other day with State Senator McOarren.
the Democratic leader of Brooklyn, was
in no sense premeditated, and simply
happened. But several or uie i-.
Democrats in Congress made much of the
Governor and spent considerable time in
his company.
He also received no little attention from
some of the more conservative Southern
Democrats in the Senate and House, who
seemed pi wised at an opportunity to be
come better acquainted with him. Just
before the Governor started for New
York this afternoon he visited the Sen
ate, chatted a moment with the Minne
sota Senators, and quickly strayed over
to the Democratic side, where he said
good-bye to Senator Johnston, of Ala
bama, and others there who are influen
tial in Southern politics.
His most intimate friends in the West
say that Governor Johnson wants the
nomination four years from now, and is
quletlv furthering his plans to get It.
At the same time he wants the support
of both wings of the party. He does
not wish to discuss politics now. He
feels he cannot do so without touching
upon the recent campaign, and might
offend Mr. Bryan's followers if he came
out with suggestions for reorganization
of the party and openly sought to put
himself at the head. He Is more con
corned Just now in talking things over
with various Democratic leaders and
with extending his own acquaintance.
Meanwhile, he purposes to make the
best possthle record during his third
term as Governor of Minnesota. He ar
gues that in the long run such a course
Is likelv to help him more than any pub
11c. statements about his political views.
The Governor undoubtedly made a very
favorable impression during his stay or
several duvs in Washington. The Demo
orals whom he met were made to feel
that he was not thrusting himself upon
them, hut that he courted closer and
more frUmdly relations. They accepted
that attitude as very sensible in the
Governor, and will watch his career for
the next two or three years from the
standpoint of his being a big Presiden
tial possibility.
LIFE IN TIIE OREGON COUNTRY
I)ls-ovrred.
Condon Times.
We made a trip to Portland this week
and found the town on the Willamette
flourishing as usual.
Well, There Is Judcf McGinn.
Albany Democrat.
The man who thinks he can make the
Winter without an overcoat Is having the
struggle of his life.
New Road Mnkes Them Happy.
Wallowa Chieftain.
With stock going out by the trainload
and the money coming hack in hunches,
who wouldn't live in Wallowa County?
Ye Editor Got His Share.
Jefferson Review.
J. A. Jones' big hog welshed "23 pounds
just after killing. That is some hog. And
he tastes fine. too. as the Review folks
will testify. Joe never forgets this fam
ily journal.
More Than One Way Out.
Dallas Itemizer.
The other day, while eating nn apple,
Fiank Probst got a piece down his wind
pipe.' It bothered him considerably, as he
was not able to expel it, and this morn
ing he felt it in his head, but on making
an effort expelled it through his nose.
But He Won't Burn Them.
La Graude Observer.
C. W. Jones was in Portland over Sat
urday and Sunday. He went down to ex
amine the Talbot duck ranch and inci
dentally bought 1000 frogs with which to
stock his webfoot ranch at Union. Mr.
Jones will have ducks and frogs "to
burn" next year.
One Heart Simply Not Knouarh.
lone Froclaimer.
One of our local butchers one" day this
week, -e.-hen dressing a steer he had killed,
discovered it had two well-developed
hearts. We have figured it out, though,
that this steer was so happy over so
much fine alfalfa feed and such warm,
sunshiny weather that he simply couldn't
help developing this second heart.
Great ThlnK to lie a Yamhill Hog.
McMinnville Telephone Register.
Amongst the number of pigs that Au
gust Ford bought for shipment to Seattle
Wednesday was one from the farm of F.
W. Wallace that weighed 490 pounds.
And this was only an ordinary sample of
the pork product of Yamhill County
formers, where the swine are often bet
ter fed than the people In some sections
of the country' are.
Another Train Hold-Up.
Mayger Corr. Clatskanie Chief.
Conductor Boles, on the Salt Lake &
Ogden Railroad, near Delena, Or., noticed
a person trying to flag his train one day
lust week; when the train came to a
standstill, he found, not a highwayman,
but his wife, who rode from Mayger three
miles to get him to come home and kill
a skunk which she had shut up In the
chicken-coop. Mark knocked oft and dis
patched the Intruder.
It Was Fair Play.
Harper's Weekly.
A Chicago youth received the following
note from an ex-fiancee:
"Dear Tom As you know, I shall
marry Mr. Blank during the present
month. I shall, therefore, be glad to have
you burn all the little notes 1 sent you.
assuring you of reciprocity with reference
to those you sent me."
To this missive the young man had the
pleasure of returning this reply:
"Dear Marie I shall at once comply
with your request. And, incidentally, as
your new fiance also holds a few little
notes of mine, I should count it a great
favor should you be able to induce him
to burn them with the rest."
Lew Kind of Law Proposed.
Beaver State Herald.
The fact is, we need laws to prevent
any man's owning more stock than he
can keep comfortably, with sufficient
penalty to prevent the infraction of those
laws. Such regulations would result not
only in humane treatment of our animals
hut also in more healthful food supplies.
The ordinary Idea used to be that cattle
and horses were not subject to disease
to the degree that human beings are.
Not so at all. They have all the pulmo
nary troubles, are subject to Indigestion,
blood poison and tuberculosis as we are.
Exposure or insufficient food supplies
produce or aggravate the disease.
A Practical Jest.
From Puck.
"What! No promenade deck on your
old tub?" Indignantly exclaimed one of
the latest captives a blustering Brit
isher. "Where do you expect a man to
stretch his legs?"
"Don't worry, your 'Igiincss," chuckled
Captain Kydd. "After luncheon I'll
show you the board-walk!"
LIFE'S SUNNY SIDE
"I compel my daughter to practice four
hours a dav." said Mr. Cumrox.
"But you will make her hate music so
that she will never want to go near a
piano!"
"That's what I am hoping." W ashing
ton Star.
Do "plants" for making pretty gifts grow
up to Christinas trees?
And are "the season's greetings" sent
by salt sons of the seas?
Are Yule-logs cut from snowdriftwood by
Yule-tide washed ashore?
And could yon stub a mistletoe against a
parlor-door'.'
If Eve had tried from holly-twigs a party
gown to weave.
Do you suppose that Adam would have
called her "Christmas Eve?"
Saint Nicholas in autosieigh defies police
and laws;
Do regulations as to speed contain a
Santa clause? Lippincott's.
a
"I suppose you have read Shakespeare's
works?" said the young man from tho
East.
"Yes, all of them." replied Miss Fitz. of
St. Louis, "that is, unless he has written
something within the past year." Chi
cago News.
a
Miss Mary Gawthorne. the suffragette,
completely turned the tables on an inter
rupter, who, in a clumsy attempt to ridi
cule, asked her, "Don't you wish you
were a man?" by replying. "No; do you?"
"Don't you think mothers should stay
at home with their children?" asked a
callow youth, eager to score off a well
known married suffragette who had just
spoken.
Miss Gawthorne reflected for a second.
"Well," she said, her voice Hiking an
earnest, intimate note, "t don't know
about that; hut I do think children should
stay at homo with their mothers." Lon
don Times.
She Women have cleaner minds than
men, anyhow.
He Naturally. Look how much oftener
they change them. Philadelphia Record.
Paul Krauss, Jr., came down town thn
other morning with his hand in a band
age. "I never knew there were so many sym
pathetic people in the town," ho said
the day afterward.
Within a distance of five blocks 2n peo
ple wanted to know how the young man
had been injured. To the lirst rive who
asked he replied:
"Cut it on a piece of glass."
Finally tills reply became monotonous
and Krauss changed t lie character of
his reply.
"I carelessly handled my knife," he
explained to about ten others, in a mo
ment of desperation ho tried to dash into
his father's store.
But ho was not to escape. A sympa
thetic woman hailed htm.
"Why. you look pale, Mr. Krauss." she
said, "and you have been hurt. How
did it happen?"
"I was run over by an automobile and
killed."
As Krauss fled the woman with a look
of amazement on her face remarked:
"Well, how singular." Indianapolis Star.
Caller Sir, I am collecting for tin
Poets' Hospital. Will .jou contribute
anything?
Editor With pleasure. Call tonight
with the ambulance and 1 will have somo
poets ready. Judge.
Solemn Man Do you hear the cloek
slowly ticking? Do you know what day
it is ever bringing nearer?
Cheerful Man Yes; payday. Melbourne
Table Talk.
An old farmer, who by hard work and
thrifty habits had got together a small
fortune, decided that the time had at
length arrived when lie was justilied
in ordering a family carriage.
He went to a carriage builder and de
scribed1 in detail the kind of vehicle he
wished to buy.
"Now, I suppose you want rubber
tires?" said the carriage builder.
"No. sir," replied the old farmer, In
tones of resentment. "My folks ain't that
kind. When they're riding they want
to know it." Philippines Gossip.
"The late Charles Kliot Norton," snid a
Bostonlan, "used humorously to deploro
the modern youth's preference of brawn
to brain.
"He used to tell of a football game ho
once witnessed. Princeton had a splendid
player in Poe you will remember llttlo
Poe? and Professor Norton, thinking of
"The Raven' and 'Annabel Lee,' said to
the lad at his side:
" 'He plays well, that Poe.'
" 'Doesn't he?' the youth cried.
" 'l.s he,' said Professor Norton, 'any
relation to the groat Poe?'
" 'Any relation?" said tho youth, frown
ing. 'Why, he is the great Poe.' "Bos
ton Herald.
Two women were sitting- In close
conversation in a hotel parlor. Oni
said to the other, "Are you married?"
The second answered, "No." Tho sec
ond then asked the first if she had
been more fortunate, and she said no,
she too was on the single list, and
added, "Strange two estimable women
as ourselves should have been over
looked in the great matrimonial mar
ket!" The second then pointed out.
another woman near them who had
been widowed four times, two of her
husbands having been cremated. "That
woman," she said, "is plain and unin
teresting, and yet she has them to
burn." Exchange.
No "Portland Sports" Wanted.
Woodhurn Independent.
A law is proposed by the Oregon Fish
and Game Association to establish a
closed season of two years for the pro
tection of Chinese phea.sants. There
should be a clause permitting the farmer
two Or three for trouble and expense of
keep. It would be their only opportunity
to get them, for the Portland sports,
after the birds had a two years' rest,
would make the slaughter great and com
plete. This year they killed and took
back the little bits of birds, and now
they ask for a closed season! With si',
many little ones gone. It is tinio tho
rapacity of the Portland sports was
checked to a considerable extent. Make
the closed season five years.
Tart's Popular Vote.
HOyUIAM, Wash., Dee. 21. (To th-i
Kditor.) In a recent Issue of The Ore
gonian press dispatches show President
elect Taft polled more than 12.000 mor.i
votes than President Roosevelt polled four
years previously. It it true that Tn f U
polled a greater number of votes tha?i
Roosevelt? J. L. J.
The total popular vote for Taft w.n
7,3T.t57 ; total popular vote for Roosevelt
In l!dH was 7,620, ;i;i7.
With 25,n Republican Majority.
Grants Pass Observer.
Just think of Oregon being repre
sented in the Republican United States
Senate by:
Jonathan Journe, Jr. Populist.
George K. Chamberlain, Democrat.
What a lovely combination from thl
Republican State of Oregon!
psychology In a Poker Game.
Cornell (N. Y.) Dispatch.
Professor Hugo Muensterbcrg. the
Harvard psychologist, told an audience
of Cornell students that applied psy
chology could determine who would
play a' good game of poker.
1