Morning Oregonian., January 21, 1909, Page 8, Image 8

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PORTLAND. TIIl'KSDAV, JAN. 11. 1909.
A REMARKABLE SCENE.
It cannot bo supposed that any
person who has read the regretful
remarks made by so many of the
members of the Legislature, when
they rose on Tuesday to "explain" the
voles they felt constrained .to cast
.for Senator, imagined they were glad
they "tok the statement." or that
they will rush In to take It again,
or wish to force It on others In future
elections.
A complete vindication or the whole
course of The Oregonian on this sub
ject was furnished by the explanatory
and pathetic remarks of the mem
bers. It was "up to them" to deter
mine what they would do whether
they would retract, resign or "ex
plain" and go on through the un
happy programme. For such a situ
ation The Oregonlan had no advice to
give, for each member had to cope
with it on his own responsibility, and
It was for them to Judge and to act;
It was for the members themselves
to decide; and. though they felt the
painfulness of the position, they did
not see how they could extricate
themselves from It. But The Orego
nlan last Spring did offer admoni
tion against "taking the pledge:" It
did foretell what there was reason
to believe would come of It; and had
the warnings it gave been heeded the
cene of Tuesday last, so painful to
many members, and In Its results so
at variance with the political senti
ment of the state, never could have
orcurred.
Much has been said by The Ore
fmian about the singular situation
during months past the one great
object being so to impress the les
son of this mistake that the like
might not occur again. Whatever
might have been wanting to make the
lesson complete la supplied by the
remarks of members who voted for
Mr. Chamberlain against their own
will, and, moreover, against their own
knowledge that they were voting
against the largely dominant political
sentiment of the state.
The primary law will remain for
the present as it Is, though it has
many Imperfections. For these can
not now be cured. Hut "the state
ment" which produced the result of
Tuesday is no proper part of the
primary law, but is an Incongruity,
at variance with the Intent as set
forth In the preamble of the act. is
an excrescence upon It. and by Its
own express terms candidates are at
liberty to ignore It. In short, it Is not
law at all, doesn't even purport to be,
but is merely a suggestion of an obli
gation which the candidate for the
Legislature may take, or not. as he
pleases. It may reasonab! be sup
posed that Republicans hereafter, un
willing to be participants In other
scenes like that one of Tuesday, will
exercise their prerogative and pass
It by.
PINCHOT BETHXEN TWO 1IRES.
The Idaho .Stock Ranchers Pro
tective Association, at a three-day
session at Pocatello, Idaho, adopted
resolutions heartily Indorsing and ap
proving the forestry policies of Gif
ford Pinchot. The National Wool
growers' Association, which held a
convention at Pocatello a few days
earlier, adopted resolutions denounc
ing the policies of Mr. Pinchot. To
the unprejudiced outsider who is
familiar with the long-standing feud
between the sheepmen and the stock
men. It may be somewhat difficult to
determine which is right and which 13
wrong In the matter under discussion.
Unfortunately, the "past perform
ances" of both sheepmen and stock
men have been so peculiar that It
would be a difficult matter to deter
mine whether or not the merits or
demerits of Mr. Plnchot's policy had
been seriously considered by cither.
The mere fact that the woolmen
had denounced Mr. Pinchot was suf
ficient to warrant the stockmen In
heartily Indorsing him, not necessarily
on account of the point at Issue, but
because for so many years It has been
the custom for each of these impor
tant Industrial factions to run counter
to the policies of the- other. The war
between the sheepmen and the cattle
men Is of long standing, and, while It
smoulders at times, it has never been
entirely extinguisher!. The average
stockman (the cattleman does not
consider the sheep-owner as a stock
man) has such a strong aversion to
the sheepman, that It would be a vio
lation of all traditions for him to
regard the latter as anything short of
an undesirable citizen, and the feeling
which the sheepman bears toward the
stockman Is equally uncomplimentary.
If this never-ending warfare could
be confined to the adoption of resolu
tions directed against the opposing
factions, or against any party who
happened to be favorable to them. It
would not be a serious matter. Un
fortunately It annually takes a more
serious turn, and murder hi not Infre
quent In the many disputes which
arise over the grazing grounds which
belong to neither the sheepmen nor
the cattlemen, but are. the property
of the Government. So long as this
vacant grazing land remains the bone
of contention, there will be war be
tween the two factions as to which
should occupy it, and It is expecting
too much of Mr. Pinchot or any other
mortal man, to attempt enforcement
of regulations which will be satisfac
tory to both.
Perhaps, after all. this fellow
Abruzzl Is more of a man than he has
been given credit for being. A story
comes from Paris that it Is his Inten
tion to renounce oil of his titles and
become a plain Italian citizen In order
to marry Miss Klklna. If the Duke
makes this sacrifice of titles, and Miss
Klklns makes good by marrying him,
the whole world outsido of the royalty
worshippers will be pleased at the
outcome. It will prove that even a
titled foreigner can experience the
sensation of real lovfr, and It will also
prove that some American girls can
love a foreigner who does not dangle
before her eyes the cheap bauble of a
title. The outcome. If it Is as now
predicted, will be a fearful blow to the
haughty Italians who were so vigorous
In their protests against an alliance
between Italian nobility and American
aristocrarcy.
REMEDY FOR OUR WOES.
From Mr. AY. R. Wheeler, of Ore
gon City, The Oregonlan has a letter
today which seems to call for a word
of comment.
Mr. Wheeler has "a .hand seamed
and scarred with labor." yet through
almost a lifetime he has "accumulated
practically nothing."
It may be feared he has not worked
so intelligently as man might; yet
he says there are many like him;
which is undoubtedly true.
It Is true also that many more,
by Intelligent Industry, by economy
and sobriety, have accumulated some
thing, and even a competence; though
only a small proportion anywhere
have much wealth. Fortune of op
portunity Is something, but It doesn't
come to every one, nor has the secret
of It ever been discovered. 'Mr.
Wheeler, however, seems to look for
It in the results of the primary law
of Oregon. Now, Just for a guess,
we will venture to say that he Is likely
to find even fewer resources herein
than he has discovered In the labori
ous life which he so sadly describes.
For The Oregonlan risks .the guess
that the primary law. Initiative and
referendum, with supersedure of rep
resentative government, will not re
lieve us of the necessity of labor, nor
relieve anybody, except the political
shyster, who makes his living, gain
any profit out of his professed ability
to teach working people to find re
sources for themselves where no re
sources ever will be found.
In this world there are not large
fortunes for all; never have been,
never will be. Some few very great
fortunes have been made by an
"iniquitous system," as those of Car
negie and Rockefeller; and some for
tunes of lesser degree by similar
methods. But the vast number of
small fortunes and moderate proper
ties, which in the aggregate make up
most of the wealth of the country,
have been accumulated by slow Indus
try and painstaking labor. Nor has
the Government been wholly unkind.
Most of the Dubllc domain has been
given away to Its poorer citizens
evert though there have Deen man
inn mnnv milroad and other land
grants. A ' large part of the forest
lands of Oregon were given a. way
to poor men, who sold them to the
syndicates that now hold them, and
there are jet many unbroken sec
tions and half sections in Oregon that
were given away to the pioneers and
now are held by their descendants.
The Oregonlan doesn't "distrust the
people." Nobody can. Tet every one
who has given thought to the prob
lems of politics and government
knows that constitutional limitations
are necessary to check "the mob ma
jority of today." This knowledge Is
an inheritance of all human experi
ence. Even in Oregon our "innovators"
dare not attempt to set aside the
Constitution altogether, although they
have made It possible to do so; which
gives many citizens continual concern.
The Oregonlan never has known
any way to make money, or to accu
mulate property, but by working for
It. It cannot Join in expectation of
profit and wealth through our new
and blessed system: for this system
Is as empty and fallacious as that of
free coinage of silver, to which many,
and doubtless this correspondent also,
looked a dozen to twenty years ago.
It Is easy to be absurd; easy, there
fore, to look for resources where none
are to be found. Yet our resources
are In ourselves, nowhere else; not In
primary law. Initiative or direct leg
islation, which can help no man to
solution of the general problem In
volved in the original curse, nor the
state at all, yet may cause our state
to be regarded as a bad field for in
vestment of capital and Indirectly may
deprive "the hand seamed and scarred
with labor" of the wage It ought to
receive.
So soon as Mr. Wheeler shall get
fulfillment of his expectations from
the primary law, and relief under In
itiative and referendum, and softness
of hands under these blessed Influ
ences that result from deliverance
from necessity of toil. The Oregonlan
will be glad to hear it. Then Mr.
Wheeler will be in Senator Chamber
lain's class.
THK NEW AFFTuJS BOXES.
The protest of "Better Fruit"
against the Porter bill in Congress 13
well advised. The purpose of the bill
Is to change the size and shape of apple
boxes. It ordains that each box shall
contain 2564 cubic Inches, while the
Hood River growers use one which
contains 2173.5 cubic Inches. The
difference Is quite appreciable.
Changing the contents of the box
would necessitate a new rule for pack
ing apples. It might even turn out
that the fruit which nts so admirably
Into the present box could not be
packed acceptably In the new one.
Apples can not be grown to fit a pre
ordained box: the box must be shaped
to fit the apple. This evident fact
seems to have escaped the attention
of Mr. Porter, who introduced the bill.
The box now in use in this part of
th country contains a little more
than a Winchester bushel, which Is
the standard for the United States. It
has also been found to suit the re
quirements of our growers exactly.
Why then should it be changed? Cer
tainly the accepted practice in a great
Industry ought not to be disturbed
unless there is excellent reason for it.
If the customary box worked injury
to the purchaser. It should be altered,
but no complaint of that nature has
been heard. The only ground of the
proposed interference seems to be the
whim of a meddlesome Congressman
who might easily- put himself into a
more useful employment. "Better
Fruit."the organ of the Hood River
apple-growers, flatly declares that the
new law will not be obeyed If It
passes. "Our pack is the best In the
world." It says, "and we do not Intend
to spoil it by putting it up In some
other sized boxes. We will not do it."
We glory in the spunk of our pomo
logical contemporary, but it occurs to
us that there is no need of quite so
much energy. It is scarcely conceiv
able that a law to fix the size and
shape of apple boxes would be consti
tutional. If Mr. Jones desires to sell
his fruit In his wife's dishpan surely
he has the right. There are still some
matters which each man may regulate
for himself.
TAFT GOES TO PANAMA.
In going to Panama Mr. Taffs ob
ject Is to get near the source of
closest possible Information as to the
status of the canal. He is not an
engineer, but he can- Judge better
when he sees with his own eyes. Thus
he will be the better able to under
stand the reports of the engineers.
It will rest largely with President
Taft "whether the plan of the canal
shall be changed from that of a canal
with lift locks, which thus far has
been the Intent, to a sea level canal,
which will cost more and require
longer time, but will undoubtedly be
a safer work.
The President cannot himself or
der the change from the lift looks
to the sea level canal. Congress only
can direct It. But it may be assumed
that If President Taft shall make the
recommendation, giving with it sound
reasons. Congress will order the
change.
A canal of lift locks would be ren
dered useless. If not completely de
stroyed, by an earthquake shock, even
slight. For at any opening in the
high and massive walls water, under
the enormous pressure at the Gatun
dam, would pour through, and such
is the volume of water . held In the
artificial lake that the wreck soon
would be complete. Upon a canal at
sea level the damage could not ,be
very great. Debris might be thrown
Into the canal, but it could soon be
cleared out.
A special message on the Panama
canal may be expected from President
Taft soon after the new Congress
shall be assembled. It will relate to
the most Important matter that his
Administration has to deal with; and.
Indeed, on the successful treatment
of this great subject, more than on
any other, the fortune of his Presi
dency will depend. 1 1
ANTI-JAPANESE BILLS.
There is a fair prospect' that the
President's Intervention may mitigate
the ferocity of the proposed legislation
against the Japanese in California and
perhaps prevent it. Mr. Roosevelt
points out that the treaty which he
has negotiated with Japan will accom
plish all that is desirable If its opera
tion is not thwarted by hostile action.
The Mikado's government took the in
itiative In the matter, from the most
friendly motives, and offered to limit
Japanese emigration to the United
States, fixing the number who might
reside here at any time as equal to
the number of Americans resident In
Japan. Nothing could be more equit
able. Under the operation of the
treaty the tide of Japanese migration
has already turned and In the six
months ending last October the de
partures outnumbered the arrivals by
107. The Inevitable result of this
process, if it is not checked, will be to
drain the country of Its superfluous
Asiatics and perhaps carry some away
who might better stay from the point
of view of our industrial welfare. But
It Is Idle to raise that point, since race
prejudice cares as little for industrial
welfare as It does for justice.
The bills before the California Leg
islature seek to hamper the Japanese
in two ways, besides excluding as
many of them as possible. They are
not to be permitted to own land nor
can they serve as directors of cor
porations. To reach these ends the
disabilities are extended to all for
eigners, whether from a sense
of decency or because ' of some
legal technicality is not known. If
the bills should become law neither
a European subject, not naturalized
here, nor an Asiatic could enjoy either
of these privileges in California. En
lightened policy makes no objections
to the ownership of land or any other
property by aliens. What it desires
Is resident ownership, so that the
profits of Invested capital shall be
spent In the community which pro
duces them. If they are spent else
where, there is an incessant drain
upon the wealth of the community
which finally results In dire poverty,
such as we see in Ireland and the
southern provinces of Italy. Provided
he dwells with his investments and
lays out his Income among those
whose labor has created it, an alien is
not a whit less desirable than any
other capitalist, and it is the extreme
of folly to legislate against him as
such. California would soon regret
the passage of any such law as the
one proposed.
On the other hand there is a great
deal to be said In favor of preventing
absentee .landlordism if it can be
done, no matter whether the absentee
is an alien or a citizen. An American
landowner who habitually spends his
rents In Paris Is an economic disaster.
If the law can in any way stay his
destructive hand, it should not fail to
do it. So far nobody has shown how
the law can Interfere, however, and
there Is much doubt whether It can do
anything. AgainBt the really Injurious
habits of men legislation seems to be
comparatively Ineffective. What It
accomplishes on the one hand It loses
on the other, and very often the most
promising remedies work out In con
sequences entirely unlike what was
expected of them. England has sought
to cure the evils of absentee landlord
Ism in Ireland by making it easy for
the peasants to purchase small hold
ings. Perhaps, If anything' is ever
done In this country. It will be through
the t: xlng power. This and the police
power seem to be our sole expedients
when we wish to solve a social prob
lem. They are our only way of escape
around the obstacles of the Constitu
tion. However, the California legisla
tors did not attack the question of f
absentee landlordism, which is impor
tant, but confined their bill to exclud
ing alien ownership, which Is non- I
sense.
' .Nor Is there much to praise in Cali
fornia's effort to forbid alien director
ships in corporations. If foreign cor
porations do business In California
simple Justice seems to require that
the people who own them should
choose whom they please for directors.
Since all corporations are or ought
to be subject to the laws of the state.
It Is not clear why foreign ones are
not as desirable as the native kind,
nor Is It apparent why a foreign di
rector is more objectionable than one
born to the soil. If alien directors
could play tricks any more , injurious
to the public welfare than some of
California's native sons have devised
they must be veritable geniuses of
political and firrancial Juggling. But,
of course, the sole purpose of the pro
posed legislation is to make things so
unpleasant for the hated Japanese
that they will leave the country. It Is
a case of cutting off one's own noselto
spite a neighbor's face. Neither Call-
fornia nor any other part of the Union
has anything to gain by stirring up
hostility with Japan, whilo there is
much to lose by It. The future de
velopment of civilization on the Pa
cific Coast depends largely upon
amicable relations with Asia. Of
course friendship does not require
that they shall live here in large num
bers, but It does require that we shall
treat them fairly and cease to insult
them. We have made heavy sacrifices
to win the trade of China and Japan,
and heavier ones will probably ,te
made hereafter, but they will all be in
vain unless we can bring ourselves to
offer the Asiatics good manners as
well as good merchandise. AVe are
not required to love them, but we
must learn to be moderately polite to
them.
The old Kalama railroad ferry had
but a brief period of rest after Its
retirement from regular service, and
has for several days been engaged in
ferrying trains across the river, while
landslides and washouts had made it
impossible for them to reach the new
bridge at Vancouver. The experience
of the Northern Pacific, so soon after
abandonment of the ferry, may cause
reconsideration of any plans for send
ing the craft away from the river. So
long as the river runs down to the
sea, there will come occasional floods
in which the old ferry will be a valu
able craft to have on hand.
John D. Rockefeller has added an
other $1,000,000 to the endowment
fund of the Chicago University, mak
ing a total of $25, 000. 000, which he
has placed to the credit of that oily
Institution. A Chicago dispatch con
veying the news says that the institu
tion is no for the first time in its
history self-supporting. It would be
but natural to suppose that an Insti
tution with $25,000,000 given it by one
Individual ought to be self-supporting,
if it ever expects to be.
The issue of the Tacoma Ledger of
January 13 contained eighty pages
and was called "Commercial Club Edi
tion." Outside of the news of the
day, the subject-matter told of Ta
coma and its immediate neighborhood
of Western Washington, each article
written by a member of the Commer
cial Club. It was a first-class number
and served to show that the slogan
"Watch Tacoma Grow" can be
changed to "Watch Tacoma Expand."
"No," says a Democratic organ, "the
Republican party of Oregon is not
dead, but The Oregonlan is doing its
best to kill it." The Oregonian will
do its best to kill it, unless it shall
reject Its follies and get on rational
ground. Just now, as in the days of
the . silver craze. The Oregonian will
force, or help to force, the Republican
party to abandon errors, or will do its
utmost to kill it. AA'hat's the use of a
party, unless it's sane?
The State of AA'ashington now wants
a joint committee to confer with Ore
gon upon the subject of boundary
line, and other matters concerning
which there have been differences. It
may be well to confer upon the sub
ject of fishery legislation, but the
boundary line issue has been settled
by the United States Supreme Court,
and settled right. Oregon has noth
ing to discuss in that regard.
In some states it is the practice df
professional lobbyists to secure the in
troduction of bills attacking various
business interests for no other pur
pose than that of compelling the at
tacked interests to "dig up" a lobby
fund. Of course, this was never at
tempted in Oregon. But It might be
well for members of the Legislature
to be careful not to get caught on a
scheme of that Hind.
Over in Washington there is talk
of inducing Oregon to enter into a
treaty regarding boundary and fishery
questions lest the Government step in
and establish Federal control of fish
eries. But this may not be such
an alarming prospect as the AVashing
ton statesmen assume. There might
be worse things than Federal con
trol of fisheries. Extermination of the
fish, for example. .
John AV. Gates denies the story that
he had been bitten by a bulldog and
was in danger of rabies. Nothing has
been heard from the bulldog on the
matter, but this may be another case
like that related In the old rhyme
which tells of a dog-bitten man of the
Gates type, and ended with the state
ment that "The dog it was that died."
We find, as the Democratic-Bryan
journals come in from various parts
of the state, that all of them were
so anxious for the life and future of
the Republican party that they felt
and proclaimed that the party's only
salvation lay In the election of a
Democratic Senator ;by a Republican
Legislature.
Very heavy wind last night, not
equalled probably since January 10,
1880. Doubtless also heavy at sea, all
along the northern coast. Bad night
for the mariner; for, as in "Othello":
If It hath rufllaned so upon the sea.
What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on
them
Could hold trw mortise?
Of all the plaintive sighs and wails
ever heard in Oregon, that palinode
sung at Salem by 31 members of the
Ttrlslature on Tuesday was the most
sorrowful. It beats everything ever
heard since the "All All" in tne
chorus of Greek tragedy.
Representative Brooke wants to
send to prison everybody who here
after signs Statement No. 1. Too
harsh. He might give them the op
tion of going to the Insane asylum.
The men who secured positions at
the head of the ways and means com
mittees in the State Legislature think
they got plums, but perhaps they will
find they have lemons.
Senator Hopkins, choice of the Illi
nois primaries for United States Sena
tor, cannot get the Legislature to elect
him. They do things differently .in
linols. '
We have, Indeed, a strenuous Pres
ident, who can ride nearly a hundred
miles In seventeen hours, and whom
it costs $1600 a year to shave.
Everybody missed Senator Till
man's daily explanation yesterday.
But somehow we feel able to get
along.
Oregon is a Republican state. The
majority is very great. But It will
have no representative In. the Senate.
CHARGE XOT TO BE PRESSED
"Wakefield's Alleged Violation of
Eight-Hour Law Dropped.
Contractor Robert Wakefield will not be
tried for violating the eight-hour law.
Judge Gantenbeln, in the Circuit Court
yesterday afternoon, sustained the demur
rer of Ralph W. Wilbur. Wakefield's at
torney, to the indictment. The court held
that Nate Petit, who worked for Wake
field nine hours In one day, repairing the
Madison-street bridge, was not In the em
ploy of the county. The state law under
which Wakefield was indicted forbids
county employes from working more than
eight hours a day. I
Attorney AVilbur raised the question of
constitutionality, contending that the law
interferes with the making of contracts.
He said that Commissioner Lightner
agreed that the county would pay 10 per
cent above the actual cost of the repairs,
which were made during last year's flood.
Upon this point the court did not pass,
the demurrer being sustained on the other
ground.
Mr. Wilbur said also that the labor was
necessary to the preservation of property,
one of the exemptions provided for in the
law, but he did not raise this point in his
demurrer.
DEFENDANT IX TUKEE SUITS
Separate Actions Against G. AV.
Waterbury in State Circuit Court.
Three suits against G. V.-. Waterbury
have been brought in the Circuit Court.
One was decided by Judge Cleland yes
terday. It was brought by J. T. Wilson,
a local auctioneer, to recover $102.10 for
furniture which AVaterbury bid in at an
auction, but which, Wilson said, he re
fused to pay for. Waterbury alleged on
the other hand that AVilson rented Washington-street
property of him. and owed
$75. He said he tendered W ilson a cheek
for the balance, which was refused. Judge
Cleland fixed the amount of the rent at
$60. after hearing the evidence.
The People's Market Association has
filed suit for an accounting between itself
and the American Bank, & Trust Com
pany. Waterbury is made a party de
fendant, as he was formerly president of
the company, and was afterward vice
president and manager. It is alleged that
he owned half the stock. Tne People s
Market Association alleges tnat Water
bury received for the bank $31,000 of the
association's money as its financial
agent, and has refused to account for it.
G. H. Dammcler alleges that Water
bury owes him $2f0 for a show case in the
Raleigh building, -ammeier says he built
the showcase after leasing the building.
The lease was relinquished- and later
transferred to W. H. Maxwell, but the
showcase. Dammeier says, remained un
paid for.
Dammeier also demands $27.10, an as
signed claim, from R. W. Alspaugli. the
elevator boy; $10.40 alleged to be due the
Portland Gas Company and $17.08 said to
be owing to the Paeilic Electrical En
gineering Company.
HUSRAXD PICTURED AS BRUTE
Mrs. James Peterson Sajs She AVas
Victim of Cruelty.
Judge Morrow is trying the contested
divorce suit of, Kate Peterson against
James Peterson, the charges being de
sertion, preceded by drunkenness and
cruelty. Testimony given yesterday was
to the efTeet tha Mrs. Peterson kept
her home "as neat as wax," but Peter
son failed to meet her Ideal of a husband.
He was habitually drunk, she said, failed
to support her and beat her. She tied to
her room and locked herself in when he
a'ttacked her. in March. 1905. The result
ing nervous shock compelled her to go to
the Mercy Hospital for treatment, she
asserted.
Three years ago Mrs Peterson was com
pelled to go all day without food or a
fire, she said, wlifla she was sick in bed.
It was in September, 1906. that her hus
band left her, she says, and took up his
abode with another woman on the Sec
tion Line Road, seven miles from Port
land. The latter charge was not sub
stantiated by the testimony of witnesses,
and was abandoned after the case had
gone to trial.
Mrs. Peterson demands a clear title to
46 acres of land In Clackamas County,
and to Alblna property. She married
Peterson at Shoshone, Idaho, November
17, 18S5. The husband says he was com
pelled to leave home because his wife
nagged at him.
DECLARES WOMAN' IMPOSTOR
"Mrs. Smith" AVrltes Judge AA'ehster
Regarding Claim of Mrs. Egan.
A sequel to the recent suit of Mrs.
Christina Egan in the County Court, in
which she laid claim to the estate of
Charles Petterson, saying she Is his
widow, has come to the notice of Judge
Webster. A woman signing herself
Mrs. Smith has sent him a letter, which
reads as follows:
County Judse: T see In the Portland paper
that Mr?. Ecan claims an estate of one
Charles Pntterson. of Portland. I think
she is mistaken, and I feel It my duty to
Inform you.
I live In Tacoma nnd know Mrs. KKnn.
Her former husband's name v.;a O.'car
Anderson. 'He deserted her, and while I am
here In Portland visiting friends 1 learn
that Oscar Anderson Is here In rortland
now. lie was recently married to a widow
hy the name of Mrs. Wood, and they are
living at OttS Borthwlck street. Lower Al
blna. My name is Mrs. Smith, and I live
in Tacoma. Yours respectfully.
MRS. SMITH.
Dispute n to Who "Salted" Mine.
With a claim for $2000 damages because
they allege that their Clackamas County
gold mine was "salted" to Induce them
to purchase mining machinery, F. M.
Swift and F. J. Richardson are suing
the Hydraulic Gravity Separator Com
pany, Augustus Walker, D. J. Forbes and
F. A. Sweeney, in Judgo Bronaugh's de
partment of the Circuit Court The com
pany ha3 brought a counter claim to se
cure payment for the separator, which it
asserts was delivered on 30 days' trial.
The company asserts thatnhe machinery
was to be returned If not paid for. If
anybody "salted" the mine. It Is asserted,
It was the plaintiffs.
Murdered Man Left $29 44 Estate.
The estate of Harry T. Butterworth,
the St. John jeweier, who was murdered
last year, has been appraised at $2044.39.
J. P. Jaeger, E. J. Jaeger and W. H.
Turik filed their report with Judge Web
ster yesterday. It shows that there Is
cash on hand in the Peninsula Bank to
the amount of $r89.89; a stock of Jewelry
In the store to the amount of $1SOO, and
equity in a piano to the amount of $260.
Judge Webster Issued an order yesterday
allowing Mrs. Butterworth $50 a month
for the support of herself and her two-weeks-old
babe.
Canning -Company Prospers.
ASTORIA, Or., Jan. 20. (Special.)
Sam Nass arrived yesterday on the
steamer Breakwater from Prosper, Or.,
where he attended the stockholders'
meeting of the Prosper Canning Com
pany, The company was shown to be In
a prosperous financial condition as the
result of the operations of the past.
The following board of directors was
elected: R. AV. Bullard, Sam Nass and
C. L. Herman.
Later this board met and elected the
following officers: R. W. Bullard,
president; E. H. Fish, secretary; Sam
Nass, general manager.
LESSONS OF SCIENCE AND EXPERIENCE
Disease Is Propagated by
(From "Government, or Human Evolu
tion" by Edmond Kelly, late lecturer on
Municipal Government In Columbia Inl
verslty.) The most impressive action of na
tural selection is that which operates
by the destruction of weak by strong
animals in search of food; and tho
most obvious fact in connection with
this so-called predatory system is that
civilized man seems to have protected
himself from it altogether. From this
fact the conclusion is generally drawn
that natural selection, in so far as it
consists In the destruction of the
weaker individuals of mankind by
other animals, does not operate on
man at all. Modern science, however,
brings ample testimony to the fact
that this conclusion would be alto
gether wrong; for although civilized
man does indeed, thanks to his own
efforts, enjoy practically absolute im
mnnlty from the attacks of large
beasts of prey, he still falls a victim
to those smaller organisms which, be
cause they are too minute to be ob
served by the naked eye, have until
quite lately escaped observation al
together. Under the name of diease,
the bacilli of consumption, syphilis,
leprosy, diphtheria, measles, scarlet fe
ver, whooping-cough, erysipelas, ty
phoid, typhus, smallpox, tetanus, and
perhaps cancer, have been feasting on
humanity and including man among
the victims of Nature's slaughter
house. He has flattered himself that
he has triumphed over the monarchs
of the jungle, and yet he was all the
time the victim of creatures too mi
nute for human sight
Now that medical science has dis
tinguished these microscopic enemies,
it is daily making progress in tho art
of destroying them, and it is possible
that man will soon enjoy as complete
Immunity from them as from larger
foes. Then all destruction of tho pre
datory kind will have come to an end,
and man will die only of old age. vice,
and degeneration; the determining el
ement or selecting agent being, not
the environment of Nature, but the
artificial environment which lie will
by that time have made for himself.
Many of the bacilli which are (if
not artificially resisted) fatal to in
dividuals of our race are friendly to
the race itself; that is to say, the ba
cilli of consumption and leprosy, at
tacking as they do only weak types,
by destroying them before they can
breed, tend to prevent the perpetua
tion of these types and thus to im
prove the race or, perhaps more cor
rectly, to prevent its degeneration.
And while the bacilli of consumption
nnd leprosy are the most notable of
those which attack the weaker rather
than the strong, it is almost certain
that most of the other bacilli tend to
do the same work, thus constituting
a host of selecting influences which,
however, fatal to the individual, tend
to promote the advancement of the
race. The progress of medical science
In its war upon these bacilli Is at
tended, however, by a curious com
pensation, for during the period be
tween 1SH8 and 1860 the deaths per
CATKXOT LIVE AS JESDS WOULD.
Woman Monographer Gives I'p Test In
Despair.
Cleveland Dispatch to the New York
AVorld.
"You can't live as Jesus would and
be an employe of a large Cleveland
business house," says Miss Selma Mc
Govern, aged 21, who attempted Mon
day morning to begin living two weeks
as she thinks Christ would. Two days
of the experiment convinced her of its
impossibility in Cleveland business life.
"It can't be done by an employe,"
she said. "The employer himself might
carry the morality of Jesus into his
business if he chose. The case is not
hopeless. But the employer at least,
my employer doesn't, and It Is sui
cidal for the employe to attempt It.
"Christ's morality and business tact
clash. An employe insisting upon ri
gid honesty would be discharged in
stantly. I don't mean to say my firm is
dishonest. Along broad lines, It Isn't,
but the department managers resort
to many evasions of the truth in order
to escape unpleasant consequences.
"For Instance, a retail store is writ
ing or wiring in for an explanation of
why a certain order has not been sent.
Tho reply is that it is the fault of the
manufacturer. 'We nave puncueu iu--ni
up several times already. We will do
so again at once, and no doubt the or
der will soon be shipped.' So the let
ter runs.
"Perhaps the manufacturer has been
punched up. That may all be true
but after writing the letter the de
partment head may or may iiol iimo
good his word. Most always he doesn t.
"No doubt it Is necessary in busi
ness to tell that kind of lies. But
Jesus wouldn't. . And when I type the
letter I must tell the lie, too. Jesus
wouldn't be implicated In the lie. Ho
would refuse to write It. If I did that.
I would lose my position."
' W. I. Price, the leader of the move
ment bv which more than 11.000 of
Cleveland's young business men and
women are trying to live as Jesus
would were he on earth, is having his
hands full opening letters and an
swering inquiries. Most of these are
from people who want to know how to
start. They have poured In from scores
of cities and towns, and ma y are yet
unanswered.
'These letters In some instances
come from pastors, who seem to want
to know the proper way to begin,
said Mr. Price. "Some of the missives
have come from Canada and others
from the Middle West, but the bulk are
from Michigan towns."
Although Mr. Price has more letters
than he can answer, he has accepted
invitations to aid In spreading the
movement over Ohio. Ho will speak
Tuesday In Warren, that state, and
later on in Tiffin. Many other towns
have been clamoring for him and ask
ing him to personally Inaugurate a
movement.
Recognizes Claim for JR64 Mule.
Washington. D. C Dispatch.
A claim for $150 for a mule appro
priated by a Union Army officer, 44
years ago, from J. R. AVyrlck. of Bald
win, Iowa, has finally passed the House.
The officer took the mule from Wy
rlek's farm in 1S64, forgot to pay for
it or give the owner a voucher.
Growth of the South.
Houston (Tex.) Chronicle.
In 1SS0 Southern cotton mill capital was
$21,000,000, in 190S it was $266,600,000; in 1SS0
the Southern farm products amounted to
$660,000,000, in 190S they are estimated at
$2,225,000,000. Heed and help the growth
of the South.
End of Timber, Petroleum and Cool.
Baltimore News.
Professor George F. Sway, of the Na
tional Commission for the Conservation
of Natural Resources, says the timber
and petroleum Bupply will be exhausted
In 40 years and coal in less than 160.
Three' Brothers Marry Three Sisters.
Indianapolis, Ind., Dispatch.
When Pery F. Fields and Miss Amy
Nash were married at AA'ashington,
Ind., the other day the third brother of
the Fields family took for his bride
the third sister of the Nash family.
Protection of AVeakcr Types-
million in England arising from micro
organisms averaged 7707.9 whereas
between 18S6 and 1890 they averaged
only 4739.2. On the other hand, the
deatlis from constitutional diseases in
creased during the same periods from
6056.3 to 7029.4. The story told by
these figures seem to be that, while
medical science may lengthen the inn
of types which would otherwlso fall
a prey to microbes at an early age.
individuals of this type remain doomed
to perish by the Very constitutional
weakness that exposes them to mi
crobe diseases. A comparison of death
rate in the young and death rate in the
old during the same period confirms
this theory, and the inference is clear
that modern science has done but lu
le for consumptives except, by some
what lengthening their lives, to per
mit them to breed and to perpetuate
their type. AVhen we take into con
sideration that consumptives are gen
erallv of attractive appearance (until
the disease has made sensible pro
gressl. and that they are remarkably
fertile, it will be appreciated how
small a service science. In Its concern
for the Individual, has in this respect
rendered the race.
Again, there are bacilli, mention of
which must not be omitted In this
connection, which attack hea thy blood
and healthy Issue namely, the bacilli
of syphilis, myrroft says: It takes
the strong as well ns the weak, and ir
the weak more readily succumb, yet
the strong and vigorous are more apt
t0TI haeilhis of syphilis dlfers from
other huclUI in the fact that It is
not only an enemy of the Individual hut
an enemy of the race; for whereas the
other known bacilli al ack for the
most part the weak, this on a ta U
the strong also: moreover. It is u.
only one which so modifies the wholo
organism as to transmit a taint to
offspring. For the heredity of con
sumption Is a heredity of type; that of
svphills Is of disease. Pestroy entirely
the micro of consumption and depths
will not bo much diminished: for. a
has lust been shown. Individuals or
tills tvpe will perish of some other
pulmonary disease. But crush out
syphilis, and an end will be put to all
deaths (and not only to deaths, but to
all the Inherited misery) which springs
from this disease. The strong would
be saved to the race, and their pro
geny would tend to be sound and
beautiful. ,, .
And yet. notwithstanding the im
mediate advantage which would accrue
to the race ns well as the Individual
bv the crushing out of syphilis, this
is" the one disease precautions against
which man has resolutely refused to
take- and this not so much because
they are difficult, as because they are
deemed to be immoral. Here religion
steps in to plav her role In resisting
the efforts which intelligence would
otherwise make, in the one single in
stance in which Intelligence would in
benefitting the. Individual benefit also
the race. Religion has succeeded In
preventing such a benefit, sacrificing
therebv both Individual and race to
what, 'for the -lack of a better name,
must be called a supernatural purpose
or in defense of a supernatural prin
ciple. .
RETURN OF TUB BIRDS.
Judge George's Experiences With ITI
Free I.uneh Conntcr.
PORTLAND, Jan. 19. (To the Edi
tor.) In last Sundays Oregonlan,
William L. Finley believes that birds
return year after year to our free
lunch counters, under our windows
and out of reach of cats. Last Winter
we fed a flock of juncos, or snow birds,
and along with them was an odd tow
hee and also a single rusty song spar
row. This Winter it seems to be the
same old crowd, for the odd birds are
again with them. AVe have never been
altogether pleased with the actions of
the song sparrow, for It partakes of
our table, yet flies down tho hill to
our neighbors to sing.
In addition, during te cold spell we
had chickadees, kinglets, stray bush
tits, a flock of Alaskan robins or the
varied thrush, and a pugilistic common
robin red-hreast who "whipped" the
whole" Alaskan Importation. There was
also an occasional English sparrow,
that much-abused bird, whoso side I
take not judging him from his odorous
British reputation, but rather from his
exemplary conduct since he took out
his naturalization papers In this coun
try. The features of our bird luncheons
were the frequent presence of a once
shy pair of graceful and beautiful
red birds, Mr. and Mrs. Red Poll.
As. Mr. Finley Indicates. there is
some human nature In birds. They all
fuss and fight over even crumbs, or
any old thing thrown out to them.
AVe never tried Statement One, for fear
It might choke the birds.
M. C. GEORGE.
NEVER WITHIN THE ESTIMATES.
Public Enterprises Always Cost' More
Than the Engineers Figure.
Chicago Tribune.
Senator Hopkins' bill to ralso tho
limit of expenditure upon tho Panama,
Canal to $,",00,000,000 Is based upon tho
latest estimate of cost. The first limit
under the act of 1002 was $H5.0o i.
When the lock type was si t tied upon
provision for $100,000,000 was made.
Fpon the judgment of Colon. I Goo
thals, probably the most effective and
economical of the men who have been
in charge, this limit is now raised to
the sum named in the Hopkins bill.
Final cost may not teach this point.
It is likely to approximate It. Colonel
Goethals' testimony before the Senate
committee on Interoceanlc canals a
year ago is reported as follows:
Sonator Klltredire Are you prepared to
say that the canal will not cost more than
$250,000,000?
Colonel Oocthals No. I am not. I be
lieve It will cost all of hat.
Senator Klttredco Are you prepared to
Bay that it will not cost over $::oo,oon,noo?
Colonel Goethals No. As I slid before.
It i Impossible at this time to tay Just
what the cost will be.
Senator Klttredge Would you be willing
to say that the cost will not bo above
$500,000,000?
Colonel Goethals As I said before. It is
Impossible to say at this time. It might
even be $r.O(),0o0.000.
The Tribune recently recalled the
early estimates of the cost of the Chi
cago drainage canal and compared
them with its actual cost up to the
present time. The discrepancy was as
6 Is to 1 in the case of the smallest es
timate, and as 3 is to 1 in the case of
the maximum expert estimate.
The facts were brought forward to
illustrate the virtually invariable rule
that public improvements far exceed in
eventual cost the initial estimates.
Big Price to Pay.
Eugene Register.
After all is said and done, regret as
much as we may that Republican Oregon
should send a Democrat to the United
States Senate, tho election of Chamber
lain is not too big a price for oregon Re
publicanism to pay for its political folly.
It is the first lesson the party in this
state needs to cure it of its political lax
ity in political affairs. With Chamber
lain, a Democrat, and Bourne, a Popu
list, in the Senate, Oregon can make up
Its mind hereafter to play a very minor
part in National Uifairs at AA'ashington o
else get wise to the importance of qui
ting Its flirtation with political isms a-d
get down to straight-out party active.
In our opinion, election of Chambera'n
to the Senate will prove the most val
uable lesson to Oregon Republlcanim it
bas ever had.