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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 1909)
FOBTLASD. OREGON. Entered at Portland, Oreson. Potofflc Fecond-Clau Matter. buiMrriptloa Jtatra InTariabljr l AdTSoea. (Dy Mail.) tltt lUl-r. w k NUUk ruutisj! - . I'aiiy. wlthuut Sunday, three montna. . Iaiiy. without Sunday. one monto W eokly. on year i . Fuml.iy, one year - a Sunday and Weekly. n year " lly Carrier.) Pally. Pnnrtay ln.luW-d. one year...... laliy, Sunday Included, oue montn Hr lo Remil-Send P0,!of'lc?h.mlton rder. express order or Pr,""'ch nc? our local bank Stamps, coin r are at tho sender's rl.k. Give po.toftlca ad dress In lull. Including couuty and stale. Po.taie Kte 10 to 14 pases. 1 ' to pijes. -1 cents; so to 4 panes. J cents. it to t panes. 4 centa. Fore.ga postal double rates. Ka.tern Bnslne Odke-Th. S. C. Beck Wltn Special Aeencj-N ""P ??, SO Tribune building. Chicago. rooms .lu-ulj TrlbuiM building. rOKTU. tllMDAV, JAN. H. I808- MB. BRYAN'S Dlr-COVKKIES. . Mr. -Bryan has at last summed up the causes of his defeat, or his con ceptions of them. In a speech on St. Jackson's cay at Omaha, he said that the Influences most potent In the cam paign, that went so unexpectedly against him (unexpectedly to hint self) were "a larger campaign fund, tn army of Government employes drawing ' salaries from the treasury, three-fourth of the newspapers, or tnore. against u-. and the coercive power of concentrated wealth." First, the larger campaign fund. The statements of the committees of the two partes show that the Repub lican campaign fund was much larger than the democratic. Hut Is it right that there should be any campaign fund? What for? Can't the sincere and honest and Intelligent and Pat riotic voter walk up and deposit Jiis fcallnt without the Imitation or -pur or help of a campaign fund? Why should any party want a campaign fund? Especially, why should Mr. Ttryan. representative of the party of the people, the pure and guileless democracy, want any campaign fund Bt all? But his partv did have a campaign fund, and a large one. The Repub lican campaign fund was. however, more than twice as large. let it would cem that the party which t omes Into court complaining that its opponent had the larger campaign fund, ought to be in position to boast that itself had none: that Its hands were entirely clean: and that, as It was poor In spirit, so it was poor In purse, and for both reasons entitled, therefore, to enrollment In the hply beatitudes. An article by Mr. Hannis Taylor, a high official of President Cleveland's Administration, celebrated as an au thor of an excellent and most illumi nating History of the English Consti tution, an original and elaborate work which has won high famo in both hemispheres. an article by Mr. Hannis Taylor In the North Ameri can Review for January, sets forth the error of the Southern States, in their adherence, under the changed conditions of the time, to the Demo cratic party. The argument Is that the political course of the South Is er roneous, because it has no relation to present conditions. It is impossible here to go at length into Mr. Taylor's statement; the purpose of the present reference to his article 1b to repeat what he says about the relative strength. In population, resources. In dustry and wealth of the states which cast their votes for Mr. Bryan, and those which cast their votes for Mr. Taft. We quote: The total population, according to the census of I'.too. ot the states which east their electoral votes f..r Mr. Kryan Is 24. 0t.1$: their total wealth. $13.1rt.'.645..V. The total population of the states which rnt their electoral votes for Mr. Taft Is H'.Mr.ni7: their total wetlth J71.Mft.34T. fuc Intrenched behind such a victory, with such an accrecate of population and wealth supporting him. Is It at all likely that statesman as able, as experienced, as pat riotic, as human a Mr. Taft can bo dls iodtted In the next el-ht years? It would seetn. then, that one might expect a larger campaign fund on one Fide than on the other unless the campaign fund is to be tabooed en tirely, and it docs n.rt appear that Mr. Bryan Insists on this. He onJy complains that the campaign fund of the opposite party was larger than that of his own. Next, as to "the army of Govern ment employes." This, indeed. Is a numerous army. All disinterested citizens could wish it smaller. The majority of it. we doubt not, opposed Mr. Bryan. Yet there were some, and not a few. on his side. They are nown in every locality. They were for Mr. Bryan because they wished to be and hail a right to be on his side. But there was division among Government employes, as among other citizens, and probably In about the same pro portion. All know that employes of the Government are never wholly on one side or the other. Besides, what could the employes of the Govern ment In the great states had they all been supporters of Mr. Bryan have done towar.ls changing the re sult? What could they have done In TCew York, or in Illinois, or even In the Pacific states? Nothing thai would have made the least difference In the ultimate decision. As to the newspapers. Mr. Bryan says three-fourths of them were against him. It is true. The propor tion was even greater. The proposi tions of Mr. Bryan did not commend thems.-Ives to the newspapers of the country. Most of the newspapers, therefore. opposed him. Yet the newspapers are among the most inde pendent of all the branches of busi ness. They know, however, that they must not be champions of errors and absurdities. Finally, Mr. Bryan's diagnosis In forms us that concentrated wealth" was against him. But men who rep resent wealth in great masses mostly stood aloof. They were not at all active In the contest. A Just prudence restrained them. But the general wealth and property and Industry of the country undoubtedly were active gainst Mr. Bryan. It was the motive f self-preservation. Much more ac tive against him than the concen trated wealth of the country was its diffused wealth. And property has a right to exert Itself against spoliation. A government organized for a cru sade against property Is a monstrous thing. This was what was feared hence the activity of the greater part of the property of the country against Mr. Bryan. We shall not say that Mr. Bryan has not presented a very fair state ment of the main causes of his de feat. What Is surprising Is that, from TV. 1 1 C.inaw fnclLl.t,!- OHA Tear. Dally. Sunday Included. ix months.... Ially. Sunday Included. thre monlna. . . i-z J l.ally, Sunday Included. on month.... !..!. without Sunday, oi year. . . . i . I . . - , V TY1 1 1 t rl .... l.iJ the 'course he was pursuing, he should not have anticipated it, and now. moreover, that he thinks the Judg ment of the people was unwise and even perverse. GREAT IS 1ITMBCG: Rather cheap; but sufficiently funny, is the beginning of Governor Chamberlain's message. He con sumes long space in repeating what he said two years ago, that the candi date for the Senate, who then had re ceived most votes In the general elec tion, ought to be elected by the Leg islature without delay; and, with a chuckle, he tells us that this rule ought to prevail now. The motive of the statement of two "years ago is and was as apparent as that of its present repetition. That is, it is part Of "the game." It was certain, two years ago, that since the Republicans had a great majority In the Legislature, a Repub lican would be elected. But had there been a Democratic majority In the Legislature at that time, Mr. Chamberlain's remarks wonld have been of very different character. It was deemed more than probable then thnt there would be a Republi can majority in the Legislature now. Looking forward to this, and playing ,. iwn election to the Sen ate, Mr. Chamberlain then commended the method, of which he expecteu tu be the beneficiary later, and now he repeats the little piece he spoke two years ago. as an epiVrguo to the final act. Great Is hum bug! vko kt rox. Governor Hughes, of New York, In ,t orc-nmont for direct primary in his state, said in his recent message: La pTactlce the delesates to nominal... conventions are generally mere pieces on the political chessboard, and most of them mlKht as well he Inanimate so far as their effective participation In the choice ot can didates Is concerned. Tarty candidates are In effect generally appointed, and by those who have not been Invested wltH any such appointing poster. tki. -. vrv vlo-orous and keen attack upon the representative or conventron svsrem. imi v. llrect primary, as tested In Oregon, give us In its place? Candidates, whom no convention ui Hioirnr would deem fit for any po sition, nominate themselves. There .t.1,,,.1.2 nf -ri.fn for everv DO-. 13 4 muiuium v. --" - - sition. As a result of the primary one of them gets ine nuiiiinuuun a small plurality, for each office. Most of the electors consider the man nom !,.,., ,i unfit fnr the noaition and re fuse to vote for him. The primary has produced a outer ngni, in n mui the whole membership of a party has participated, and animosities have r.r.-nrtorfl all round. The' consequence Is success of the candi date or candidates or tne opposite ...... o n t ffiencv of Dartv ac tion, as a means of furthering dis tinct purposes In politics, is complete ly nullified or destroyed. Men of real ability, men who re- ,. .w.u-.ia ii rn verv hesitant about nominating themselves and seeking office. Ifff, oi cnaracier. will do It- rne resun is mai mc dictates, especially those of the. ma jority party, who hope to win by num bers, will be an Inferior sort of men, or regarded as such- The state never will get Its best talent through this system. And the means of accomplish ing results through party and through party action, will be destroyed. These are some of the consequences as proven in Oregon. We are as sured, however, that the system "has come to stay." Yet. even" If so, it re mains possible to tell the truth about it. Political wire-pulling hasn't been eliminated, and If the old system was bad, we have merely substituted a worse one. To The Oregonian, after years of observation, experience and reflection. It seems better that con ventions should appoint candidates than that candidates should appoint themselves. J.ir.sN AGAIN OBJECTING. Until oil and water will unite and blend Into one compound or mixture, there will never be the same close social and business relations between the people of the United States and the people of Japan that now exist between the white races of the earth. In the war with Russia, Japan re ceived such cordial and enthusiastic moral support from some of these white races that the men of Nippon were misled as to its meaning. They did not analyze the situation closely enough to determine that it was hatred of Russian policy .nd methods more than love for Japan that in spired this feeling on the part of tho Americans and other white races whose sympathies were all with Ja pan in the fight against Russian ag gression. The result of that war caused a material swelling of the Japanese head, and since that time the victor has been swaggering up and down his brief shore line, declaring himself as good as anyone else on earth, and much better than some of the peo ple with whom he has come in con tact. All of which might be ad mitted, and still It would be a matter of question with the Americans as to whether or not they desire to admit Japanese to their own country on equal terms with their own citizens. The California Legislature Is now con sidering bills which have been intro duced for the purpose of restricting the activities of the Japanese in Cali fornia, and a protest from Toklo Is heard. Japanese newspapers are as sailing the Japanese government "for falling into the arms of a Nation which at the first opportunity not only shows its unfriendly spirit, but even denies equal opportunity to the Japanese." A strict Interpretation of any or all of the friendly notes that have passed between the United States and Japan, would hardly disclose anything that resembled "falling into the arms" of the American people. As a matter of fact, the dispatch of the Atlantic fleet to the Pacific was in the nature of a preventive against the Japanese falling Into our arms with their "arms" unllmbered and ready for ac tion. Press comment from Japan, however, can hardly be regarded as an accurate reflection of the sentiment which is felt by the Japanese states men who have thus far steered the Nation safely through some narrow passages where shipwreck was not easily avoided. The most Intelligent of the Japanese statesmen have ex pressed a willingness to restrict the tmmigralton of the class of Japanese that have been causing the trouble In this country, and It is hardly probable that they will change their views, even for the purpose of silencing the snarling of the yellow Japanesj press. One sinister feature of the situation at Toklo Is revealed in the statement that "Newspapers published In Eng lish, representing. British and German Interests, are making much of the THE MORNING OREGOXIAX, WEDNESDAY, California Legislature's action, and are pointing out that America, while recently endeavoring to create an Im pression of friendliness toward Japan, in reality was unfriendly." This is a most reprehensible method of mak ing capital at the expense of a rival trade power, and Is also a hazardous proceeding, for the same racial obsta cle which prevents complete amalga mation of Japan and the United States 'also affects other white na tions. On this point The Ashla Asahi News, a Japanese paper printed at Seattle, has the following: The queMlon of separation between. Orien tal ard Occidentals I believe will so on widening. It propnecr can 1 vine the fu- I ture. upon rarts. nere " ! v'nee any IntelllKent person th,,t the war Is unavo.uame ui... - - United States of America. Wore likely a senoral world-wide war between Orient and OccldentT unless something extraordinary chunges the situation. This Japanese paper sees in Brit ish treatment of. the Hindus in Canada an offense as grievous as California s treatment of the Japanese, and indi cates that the ultimate conflict will be between the white and yellow races. This being true, it might be well for the Germans and British to restrain their comment until a more appropri ate occasion. Japanese are no more desirable in Germany and England than in the United States, and if either of those countries could offer the yellow men the same opportuni ties that thev have grasped in this countrv, they would today be facing the same problem that confronts the United States. MR. TILLMAN'S DEFENSE. A brief statement of the facts in the Tillman case will enable the reader to weigh more accurately the validity of the defense which the turbulent Sen ator from South Carolina made for himself in his speech on Monday. It appears that Mr. Tillman became In terested In Southern Oregon timber land some time in October, 1907, and ordered his agent, W. E. Lee. who lived in Moscow, Idaho, to go to Marshtield and reserve nine quarter sections-for him through Reeder & Watkins. a real estate Arm of that town. Mr. Tillman's words were: -"I want nine quarter sections reserved. AV1U forward signed applications and money at once." A little later the news or Mr. Tillman's purposed In vestment reached Bryan A. Dorr, an indiscreet real estate man of Portland, who sought to utilize It in his busi ness. His line was to Induce persons to invest in Southern Oregon timber land and file their applications through Reeder & Watkins. Natur ally, Senator Tillman's example would be a bright and shining lure, so Mr. Dorr made the most of It In his circu lars. The land which so deeply Interested Mr. Tillman and in which Dorr was dealing through Reeder & W'atkins, had been-granted by Congress to a corporation on condition that It should be sold at not more than J2.50 per acre; but, as usual In such cases, the corporation had taken the timber with a thankful grip and disregarded the condition altogether. Mr.' Tillman could file an application for nine quarter sections of the "finest red cedar In the world," but he could get no forwarder with the transaction. Thus matters stood from October, 1907, until the end of January, 1908, a little more than three months, when the Senator from South Carolina seems to have become weary of de lay. He says In his defense that he had lost faith In the deal, but that must be a slip of the tongue, for on February 15 he wrote Reeder & Wat kins that he still wanted eight quar ter sections. His faith had dimin ished by one quarter section only, If at all. Toward the end of Januar.y, 190S, the valiant Southern fire-eater re solved to hasten proceedings a little. He therefore introduced a resolution in the Senate authorizing the Attorney-General to begin proceedings to compel the greedy corporation to sell Its timber lands at $2.50 per acre, as the grant required. This he says he did of 'his own initiative and solely for the public good. The fact that it would be for his own good also was purely Incidental and without Influ ence upon him. A little later his agent, Lee, showed him a letter from Reeder & Watkins urging him to use his influence as a Senator to expedite the release of the 'land from the clutch of the corporation. He replied, February 15, 1908, that he would cause the Government to Institute suit for the recovery of the land if he could; that he still' wanted eight quarter sections reserved, and that in the meantime he would press the "in vestigation an'd other work here" which would facilitate the purchase. This letter to Reeder & Watkins, which was on the Senator's private business, went under his frank and the public paid the postage on It. Between February 15 and 19 Mr. Tillman got sight of Dorr's circular, which was evidently an unexpected development In the train of events. This circular exploited him as a pur chaser of Oregon timber, and since it was flying far and wide over the country, something must be done to save his reputation. A suspicious public would be only too prone to con nect It directly with his resolution of January 31, which had been aimed at the corporation holding the land. Therefore on February 19 the chival ric Southerner arose with fire In his heart and from his place in the Senate denounced Dorr as a falsifier. He went farther. He said: "I have not bought any land anywhere In the West nor undertaken to buy any. I have made some inquiries, as one naturally would in roaming through the West." This extraordinary statement was made four days after he had written to ask Reeder & Watkins to reserve eight quarter sections for him. In a franked envelope. This Is the 'case against Mr. Tillman. Mr. Roosevelt reported It to the Senate to show how useful the Secret Service agents might be on occasion, for It was through them that the facts came to light, or through the postofflce inspectors, which amounts to the same thing. The gist of it is that Mr. Tillman first em ployed his official position to feather his own nest and then denied it In the Senate. Mr. Tillman's defense Is exceedingly flimsy. All he has to say to the charge of lying Is that he did not really lie. but, was "disingenuous." The difference Is too slight to be of any consequence, but a comparison of his statement to the Senate on Feb ruary 19 with his letter of-Tebruary 15 to Reeder & Watkins will prove to any intelligent person that the short and ugly word Is the one to use. To the other charge that he abused his official power Mr. Tillman replies that the President knew the facts long be fore he announced them. What If he did? Perhaps his reticence was meant kindl- to the Senator; but Postmaster-General Meyer says the Pres ident knew none of the facts before December 20. In any case It makes no difference. If Mr. Roosevelt had withheld the truth for ten years, Mr. Tillman would still be guilty of using his power as a Senator to get cheap timber land. His denunciations of the President are evidently made to obscure the Issue and draw public at tention away from the facts,-but the purpose will fail. .The case is too clear to be misunderstood. A man with a high sense of honor could not have done what Mr. Tillman did. He had not even the excuse which has been made for previous wrong-doers that the custom was a common one. It Is no longer common, thank heaven, though once it may have been. Mr. Tillman Is a belated offender; his taint is Imprinted out of its time, but for that very reason It Is all the more regrettable and doubly Indelible. Henceforth his pose in the Senate as the one-ineffably pure man among a host of sinners will look a trifle ludi crous. We must seek some other Ab-diel. A Port Towns'end dispatch dated January 11 reports the American schooner Spokane, then towing up the Straits, as "the first sailing vessel to have passed in from the ocean to Pu get Sound since December 2 8." The dispatch further says that "since the arrival of the schooner Falk, on De cember 28, high easterly winds have prevailed, and concern has been felt for a number of the sailing vessel fleet that is due." Such delays to sailing vessels bound to Puget Sound are not unusual, but the Columbia River fleet fares much better, all of the sailing vessels due here having arrived while the fleet was unable to reach Puget Sound. The William -Bowden, which' arrived from San Francisco January 3, was less than four days In making the trip from the Bay City to Astoria, and" the French "bark Asniers, arriving Janu ary 4, also made a fast trip.. It has been many years since there has been a period of fourteen days In which sailing vessels 'were unable to get into the Columbia River. . A committee of prominent New Vorkers has organized for the purpose f of securing a fund of 500,OOO to be used as an endowment for the Lincoln Memorial University at Cumberland Gap, Tenn. An appeal Is made to the Nation to aid In this most worthy un dertaking. The university, which Is non-sectarian and non-sectional, was founded largely through the efforts of General Howard, and has now 600 acres of land and buildings valued at $150,000. It has already proved of In estimable value to the white boys and girls of the mountain systems in the settlements In hte Appalachian range, and with a wider field made possible by the endowment asked it would be a particularly appropriate monument to the martyred President. In yie language of President Roosevelt to General Howard, "there could be no finer memorial to Lincoln than this university, placed Just where you have built it." The appeal for funds Is most worthy and the cause entitles it to generous response. Wheat is soaring in the Portland and Puget Sound markets, and a new rec ord for recent years has been made with $1.05 per bushel paid by millers. In Chicago there has been a decline almost as great as the advance on the Pacific Coast. The Chicago wheat, however, was mostly paper wheat, while that sold at Portland at $1.05 per bushel was real wheat. "Will a man leave the snow of Leb anon which cometh from the rock of the field?" asks Jeremiah, In the fourteenth verse' of the eighteenth chapter. Well, he might In Lebanon, since Senator Milt Miller is busy at the Statehouse; but here In Portland he will be up against a city ordinance and the minions in blue If he leaves It on his sidewalk. Speaker McArthur,. of the Oregon House of Representatives, and Speak er Meigs, of the Washington House of Representatives, should not feel very awkward and "new" In their impor tant positions, for each has served terms in the third house and each has held Important clerkships In past legislative sessions in their respective states. A state convention of blood poultry Is due in a day or two, and if some man could understand their talk as Professor Garner does that of the monkey, there would be little doubt of the world learning how to feed for eggs when they are worth half a dol lar a dozen'. This is first-class apple weather. The finest apple, like the finest man, needs an occasional temperature that will stiffen the marrow in the trunk. That is one reason why the Oregon apple leads in quality the fruit grown in the balmy state south of us. Joking aside, the lot of the plumber is not to be envied. In time of trouble his work is In all manner of out-of-the-way places the ordinary man would spurn to enter. It is no wonder the charges are high. A Seattle dispatch Includes the "en. tire Northwest" In the late earthquake there. Well, hardly. Yet no doubt one ought to be thankful to Seattle for being willing to divide "honors" on anything. The electric company will get Just as much money for furnishing no light to the city as It Has been able to get lately for keeping on the lights. So there are compensations. Having eaten that dinner of 'pos sum and sweet potatoes, Mr. Taft may now be classed as a Southern sympathizer. The way to a man's heart is through his stomach. The coyote and Jackrabbit keep each other warm In Eastern Oregon these days. The fittest will survive, which Is a mighty hard problem to solve. The discovery of a large deposit of pure gypsum near Bend Is another reason for a railroad through Central Oregon. A touch of this weather once In ten years serves as a reminder of Oregon's normally equable climate. The value of hard-surface streets will receive additional illustration when this snow melts. Oregon's most pressing need Just now is lack of interest In news from the Weather Bureau. Senator Kay wants no logrolling this session. This from Salem, too. Old Mrs. Codling Moth Is not say ing much about this weather. JANUARY 13, 1903. EUGENE 'WANTS DIVISION Objects to Formation of Sew Connty With Seat at Cottage Grove. EUGENE. Or., Jan. 12.-MSpecial.) Representatives from the pottage Grove Commercial Club met -with the local club last nignt to oi8tu . nr tha formation of a new counts. Their principal argument was , . .. nn1 mnrA that It WOUld ua eaaio : to niiminlster the affairs of the proposed county from Cottage Grove than it is now from either Eu gene or Roseburg. In this connection they say that in the last election it cost Douglas $18 per vote in the Bo hemia district. The area of the proposed county Is estimated at 1950 square miles, and contains a population of 8000, G500 be ing in Lane and louw in uousns. ; cmuQ doipiratloii asked to have the Lane County legislators instructed ; - , ei-mntltn rt t ll ( Tl ft W I lo sancoun uiu iuinitt.t - county; but the Eugene club went on record as opposed to the division. SENATOR OLIVER WON'T PAY Declares If He Had His Way No Trouble Would Have Occurred. LA GRANDE, o", Jan. 12. (Special.) State Senator Turner Oliver has re fused to pay an assessmen levied on him by the Government as a share holder in the defunct Farmers and Traders National Bank. Oliver holds 40 shares, and the assessment was 100 per cent, making a total of $4000 which he must pay. On December 19 the first payment was due. and it is affirmed that Oliver refused flatly to pay the assessment, setting forth In a long letter to Receiver Niedner that at t'mes before the bank failed he attempted to have the directorate reorganized, as he thought the management at that time was ruining the bank. He affirms that he was frustrated in his attempt and. had he succeeded, the bank would not have failed. WANT OCEAN LINE TO RUN Lincoln County Boosters Seek Direct Freight Trafric With. Bay City. NEWPORT, Or., Jan. 12. The New port and Lincoln County Commercial Club held its annual election last even ing, and chose the following officers: President, S. GIrvine; first vice-president, E. Stoker; second vice-president, W. S. Martin; secretary, C. H. Brad shaw; treasurer, L. C. Smith: board of directors H. J-. Minthorn; Otto Wellandcr, Thomas Leese. The club has embarked on a good roads cam paign from which much benefit to the highways of the county Is expected. A committee was appointed to investi gate the possibilities of getting ocean communication established between Yaquina Bay and San Francisco. ARREST SWINDLER IN EAST Man WIio pilked Man in Inland Empire Is Now In Toils. PASCO, Wash., Jan. 12. (Special.) Ac cording to information received here to day from the State Bankers' Association, W. H. Meyers, who endeavored to operate a swindle game through the Farmers' Trust & Loan Association of New York, has been apprehended. Meyers, accordr lng to dispatches, has operated his game throughout the Inland Empire, his ap proximate winnings being estimated at $10,000. A message received here today by the First National Bank from the Farmers' Loan & Trust Company brands Meyers a fraud. ROSEBURG OPENS NEW CLUB Commercial Club Dedicates New Quarters With Ceremony. ROSEBURG, Or., Jan. 12. (Special.) The Roseburg Commercial Club is deftl cating Its new quarters tonight with ap propriate ceremonies. The club is com posed of 170 members, and with the ad vantages of Its new quarters, which are among the finest of the state, they will be better able than ever to carry on their work. Among the outsUle boosters present at the meeting tonight are Tom Richardson and J. W. Bailey, of Port land. MT. BAKER BLAMED FOR GAS Bcllingham Decides Smoking Peak Caused Sound Earthquake. BELLINGHAM, Wash., Jan. 12. The belief is prevalent here that yesterday's earthquake was caused by some vol canic disturbance near Mt. ' Baker. Re ports that the mountain was smoking yesterday were corroborated today. No further Bhocks have been reported and the damage in the San Juan Islands was not as severe as thought yesterday. Find Cattle in Snow. OREGON CITY, Or., Jan. 12. (Special.) Humane Officer Darwin Bradley round ed up two horses and 20 head of cattle on the west side of the river, returning to Oregon City today from a three days' trip, bringing the horses and lodging them In a stable, where their feed will be charged to their Inhuman owners. Brad ley will return and get the cattle and place them under shelter and make an attempt to find their owners. Start Fire-Control Work- FORT STEVEN'S, Or, Jan. 12. (Spe cial.) The arrival of a launch about 40 by 8 feet marks the commencement of the quarter-million-dollar fire-control system of Forts Stevens, Columbia and Canby. The launch will be utilized to convey men. working material and all other supplies to points hitherto lnac cessible because of the greater draught of Government boats now In use at the mouth of the river. Autos for Stage Route. VALE, O;-.. Jan. 12. (Special.) The 20-hour journey, much dreaded by commercial travelers and others, be tween Vale and Burns, the seat of Har ney County, is to be shortened consid erably. H. N. Ford, of Seattle, is about to open an automobile line between the two places, and expects to cover the 140-mile trip In less than six hours. . Tlmmons Case Nears End. SALEM. Or., Jan. 12. (Special.) It Is expected the fate of Cy Timmons, charged with the murder cf his wife, Estella Tlmmons, will be In the nands of the Jury by noon tomorrow. All the evi dence was in with adjournment of court this afternoon and tomorrow morning will be devoted to arguments. Hearing for Express -Company. SALEM, Or., Jan. 12. (Special.) The State Railroad Commission has named January 29, at 11 o'clock In the morning, as tm? time for hearing evidence in the case of B. F. Jones against the Pacific Express Company. Jones alleges the company has charged 'exorbitant rates in this state. Seattle's Relief Fund $10,200. SEATTLE, Jan. 12. Seattle's relief fund for the earthquake sufferers reached a total of $10,200 today. HEAVY COURT DOCKET ON Washington Supreme Court lias Varied Assortment of Cases. OLTMPIA. Wash., Jan. 12. (Special.) The January term of the Supreme Court began today. One of the most Important cases arKued was the appeal from the Judgment of the local Superior Court I against the Northern Pacific, sustaining the validity of the law passed by the last Legislature, limiting the employment of railway trainmen to 16 consecutive hours. A novel case argued was the action . brought by Natt Glenn, aged 19 years, to recover possession of his 14-year-old bride j from her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Grover Hollopeter, of Olynipia. j Another eas; heard was the appeal of the Spokane Valley Land & Water Com- j pany from the judgment of $24,000 secured , by Arthur D. Jones for the value or prop erty taken by the irrigation enterprise. Improve Water Service. OREGON CITY, Or., Jan. 12. (Special.) The Water Commission has arranged for the purchase and Installation of two new Gould pumps, with a capacity of 1,000,000 gallons each. Two 27-ineh McCormick wa ter wheels will also be procured. Be fore next June the pumping station will be moved from the wooden house where it has been located for many years to a new reinforced concrete building that will be fireproof. Will Boost for County. VANCOUVER. Wash., Jan. 12. (Spe cial.) A boosters' mass-meetinsj of the citizens and business men of Vancouver will be held in Hager's theater Thurs day afternoon. Tom Richardson and several business men from Portland will be present and make speeches. All prominent men in the county have been invited. It is to be a get-together gathering to arouse further interest in Vancouver and Clark County devel opments. Jury Gives Quick Verdict. PENDLETON. Or., Jan. 12. (Special.) Only a few minutes were required by the grand jury to bring in a verdict In favor of the defendant in a $10,000 damage suit, the trial of which has consumed the past two diiys in tl.3 Circuit Court. J. T. Wil son alleged he had been maliciously prosecuted and Imprisoned by his step-father-in-law, W. P. Card. Wilson had bfen charged by Card with improper re lations with his step-daughter. Electric Plant Contract Let. EUGENE. Or., Jan. 12. (Special.) The City Council today let the contract for the electrical apparatus for the new mu nicipal power plant to the Portland Ma chinery Company for $11,512. The terms of the contract call for machinery capa ble of generating 1200 horsepower. The contract for the turbine water wheels was awarded to the Pelton Water Wheel Company for $19,S00. Salem to Cable Fundi". SALEM. Or., Jan. 12 (Special.) The committee named by Mayor George F. Rodgers to secure funds for tho relief of earthquake sufferers In Southern Italy has decided to telegraph the sum raised directly to the National Red Cross or ganization instead of Colonel David M. Dunne, of Portland. The money will be sent tomorrow, when it is expected about $000 will have been secured. Accused of $10,000 Shortage. SEATTLE. Jan. 12. M. W. Arthur Froembling was arrested at Port Gamble this morning by Sheriff W. Tullock. of Lewiston, Mont., and Seattle detectives, charged with grand larceny. Ho is al leged to have left Lewiston a year ago after a shortage of $10,000 had been found In his accounts. He worked as a book keeper for the Power Mercantile Com pany. Ship Fish to China. ASTORIA. Or., Jan. 12. (Special.) The Chinese boss at Meglers' Brook field Cannery has shipped to Hong kong 32 barrels of salted shad and 25 cases of canned shad and shad roe. The shiDinent Is made as an experi ment, and if it meets with a ready sale, more will be sent to that market next season. Gets Damage From Evangelist. SEATTLE. Jan. 12. Mrs. Millie Fisher, formerly of Red Lod-e. MonL, was awarded a verdict of RXXiO against O. E. Kenyon. formerly real estate dealer, who recently retired from business and be came an evangelist. Mrs. Fisher sued for $15,900. Kenyon Is worth $1XK),000. AVar on Picture Shows. MARSHFIELD, Or., Jan. 12. (Special.) The City Council has decided to start a crusade against moving-picture shows. J M. Upton, the retiring City Recorder, made complaint to the Council as to the moral nature of the pictures. School Director Resigns. OREGON CITY. Or., Jan. 12. (Special.) Dr. W. E. Carll today tendered his res ignation as a member of the board of school directors of Oregon City. He Is the present chairman and has been a member of the board over eight years. 15 Mills in Coos. MARSHFIELD. Or., Jan. 12 (Special.) The Coos County Board of Commission ers has fixed the county tax levy for the present year at 15 mills. Tho assessed valuation of the property in the county Is $14,0!9,3M. New Treasurer Is Appointed. MARSH FIELD. Or.. Jan. 12. (Special.) T. M. Dlmmick, of Marshfleld, has been appointed County Treasurer of Coos County to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Treasurer John B. Dully. Chose Extra Teacher. OREGON CITY, Or., Jan. 12. (Special.) Miss Nieta Harding, who will graduate from the University of Oregon next Feb ruary, has been elected supernumerary teacher in the city schools. Schools Let Out. OREGON CITY, Or., Jan. 12. (Special.) The board of school directors have or dered a week's holiday on account of the severe weather conditions and schools will resume work next Monday. HOUSE WRANGLES ALL DAY Cannot Reach Agreement on Capital Expenses. WASHINGTON. Jan. 12. Working with only a small quota of members, tho House of Representatives devoted its entire time today to consideration of the District of Columbia appropria tion bill. Mann, of Illinois, furnished a little diversion for an otherwise dull day by defending the House rules, and this led him into several sharp brushes with Gardner, of Massachusetts, one of the so-called insurgents. Upholds Primary Law. CHICAGO, Jan. 12. The validity of the Illinois direct primary law was upheld in the Superior Court today by Judge Ball. NO BOVXTV O.V CROWS. William L. Flnley Clves Ills Views on Tliln Subject. JENNINGS LODGE, Or.. Jan. 12. (To the Editor.) In last Sunday's Ore gonian Is a news item concerning the game legislation proposed by the Ore gon Fish and Game Association. To ward'' the latter part of this, is the following stutement: "Aeeording to William Finley the depredations of the crow and the hawk are, if any thing, worse than the destruction wrought by the hunter and his dog. According to this naturalist, thousands of pheasant eggs, as well as young birds, are destroyed by crows alone, and for that reason the Legislature Is to be asked to place a' bounty on these latter birds." In reporting the different matters discussed before the Oregon Fish and Game Association, tho writer of this news Item referred to got my views a little tangled with those of some of the other members. These i.leas are not, entirely in nccordanre with my views. While I know crows and hawks do some damage to game, I do not believe on the whole that It amounts to a great deal. I am absolutely op posed to a bounty on crows. It will be a mistake If the present Legisla ture passes such a law. A crow Is of some economic importance, although popularly his reputation is ns black as his coat. Why should the state pay a bounty on crows and not on other birds and animals thnt are known to do damage? The crow undoubtedly destroys the eggs and young of other birds at times, but the real amount of damage ho does is often exaggerated. He will eat chicken and turkey eggs where the nests are found away from farmhouses, but where he has been shot at a few times, he seldom comes very near about the premises. To determine tho economic Btattts of the crow, the Department of Agri culture examined nearly a thousand stomachs of crows killed In every month of the year and throughout the country. Out of 909 crow-stomachs that were examined, only 41 contained eggs, feathers, bones, or other remains which could be .Identified as those of wild birds, and some of these were ry likelv the remains of dead birds mt had been found. It is doubtful if th more than one prow In twenty fiu becomes addicted to stealing eggs and younir birds. Even If he has a tendency to steal. It Is only occasionally that the chance is offered, for other birds are generally on the watch. No creatures are hunted and eaten more readily by crows than frogs and toads. Out of these 909 stomachs ex amined, 151 contained the remains of frogs and toads. These also showed that a great percentage of the crows food is insects. It is composed of grasshoppers, beetles, rut-worms, ants, and various kinds of flies. Mice form one of tne must imi'- a. ti. thA ernw S food. The ,... ht,lr of searching the ground for food enables him to find many mice ns he walks along and pokes his nose into bunches of leaves under grasses and weeds in tho meadows and pastures. Crows are most active In their search during the hprlng and Summer when tho hay Is cut. and when they are likely to find nests of mice that contain young. The crow-stomachs that have been taken In JU1 and examined, have contained more mice than In any other month. This is a fact that the agriculturist should credit to the crow's account. This proposition for a bounty on crows has arisen from the fact that some two or three hunters have at some time during their experience seen a crow in tho act of stealing et,s,s or young birds, or this fact has been reported to them by otl.ers.-or they have seen nests that have been robbed, and took it for granted that crows were the robbers. The mistake here is a common one In logic. It is reasoning from a par ticular instance to a general conclu sion. A man sees one crow steal, there fore he thinks all crows steal and that all crows should be exterminated. This 1b a well-known fallacy. If the present Legislature has plenty of the state's money to spend, it might as well put It to some advantage rather than to pass a bounty law of this kind. WILLIAM L. FINLEY. ARE 250 LIVES WORTH SAVINGf Public Moner Cheek Tuberculous May Do This for Oregon. PORTLAND, Jan. 12.-(To the Edltor.) Appeal for an appropriation from the Legislature to prevent a spread of tuberculosis and to save those who are In the first stages of the disease, com mends Itself. Dr. liorce's letter pub lished In The Oregonian Sunday, though short, is a complete exposition of the subject- It presents two questions that can be answered truthfully only one way. Is It worth while for the state to protect a whole family by Isolating and taking care of one member who has contracted consumption? Is a healthy man or woman worth $-00 to the state? On the answer to these two points hinges legislative action. It is not necessary to add argument or persuasion on the charitable and philanthropic side of the case. Lp to this tlmo private charity has been de pended on to stamp out the white plague in Oregon. Much good has been done. Far mora remains to be done. Onlv by state action can It be done effectively. Oregon lost 604 citizens last year through tuberculosis. Med -cal experts declare that at least half of them could have been saved and In one year restored to normal health. It Is worth while to expend a large sum to save 250 lives every year for Oregon. JOHN NEWMAN. Luck In the Figure Nine. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. People who believe In the mysterious properties of figures will be interested In the declaration of a New York busi ness man that this will be a prosperous year for the country because It con tains the figure nine, which has always Proved I good omen in the history of the country. He cites the bus ness revival of 1839. following the panic of 37 the discovery of gold In Callforn a in 1849. the opening of the Colorado In 1S19 the revival of business ISM. the'Vaof prosperity which set in In 1879, the boom period of 18F9-93 and lastly tho boom which set in 'in 1S99, following tho Spanish War "It looks as If history would repeat Itself In 1909." he concludes. This is the kind of news the country likes to hear, and the figure nine may be assured that it will be giver . due credit If the omen holds good. There fs at least as much justification for prophecy based on lucky numbers as therels for weather, predictions based on the wishbone of a goose. A WelKbty ftuestlon. Puck. "I took In two dollars just now." said the firsc promoter. Good enough!" declared the second promoter. "Shall we issue additional stock to correspond with our increased capital, or shall we have lunch?" w Verse for National Anthem. I love thy Inland sa, Thv cape and pUrnt trew. Thy rolling plain; Thv canyons vU'.e and deep. Thy ro-Ky mountains steep, ' Thy prairies' boundless sweep. Thy glonous main. Thy dome, thy silvery strand, Thy peltlen pte that stands Afror.t the West: Thy sweet and crystal air. Thy eunllsht everywhere. O land heyor.d eomparc I love ttwe best. December, luos. Henry Van Dyke.