I TITE MORNING OREGOXIAX, . THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1909. 8 rORTLA"D. UU.KOOS. Entered s.c Portland, Oregon. Postotllo as Second-Class Matter. bubscripUoa Hairs IOTarUbly la Adrmaca, (By MU Dally, Fun d ay Included, on yar......S 0t Ialiy. Sunday Included, six mopthi. ... 4.26 Lally, Sunday Included, three months. ..S-25 Dally, Sunday Included, one month. . . .76 Dally, without Sunday, on year.,... 00 Dally, without Sunday, six montha 1.2 IfJtilW lhniif Kunilnv itlPM monthl. . X. 7 Daily, without Sunday, on monta .60 w eeiiy, one year Fanday, one year. ............ w bunday and 'Weekly, one year. ... -t0 (By Carrier.) Paffr. Fnndar Included, one year. Daily. Sunday Included, oua month.... .76 low lo Remit Send postnftlce money order, express order or peraonai check on your Jocal bank. Stamps, cola or currency are at th sender's run. uive posiomce u dress In full. Including county and state. Fontace Kates 10 to 14 paxes. 1 cent: If to 28 paces. 2 cents; 20 to 44 pases. J cents; 44 to u paea, 4 cents. Foteisn poatas double rates. Kaatern Business Offlre The 8. C. Beck' with Snclal ArnrvXe?r York, rooms 4S- to Tribune builuins. Chicago, rooms &10-6U Trlbuo building. PORTLAND, THURSDAY, FEB. 4. 1909. PORTENTS OF POLITICAL CHANGE. Human nature, especially educated human nature. Is conservative. It Is not opposed to Innovation or change, but Is opposed to extreme Innovation or radical change. A new alignment of political parties in this country of ours has begun. There has been long preparation for it. The prep a ration began with cessation of inter ference by the general Government with the internal conditions of our great Southern states, some SO years ago. Our Southern states are the conservative portions of the Union, They have adhered to the Democratio party, only through accidental condl tlons that have forced them to do so. The bond Is at last completely sev ered; for the Democratic party of the great Northern states now Is con trolled in large degree by the social istic theorists, with, whom the sent! ment of the great Southern states has nothing at all in common. The "nigger question" Is a great question, which is demonstrated by the fact that In one way or another It has controlled our National poll tics more than 60 years. It was the source of the Civil War; it has been the main division of parties since; yet now, since the Southern states are finding out that they no longer are to be Interfered with In this most important of all matters that concern them, their natural conservatism on other matters asserts Itself and takes a new course. But the Northern Democratic party now. In its main elements and purposes. Is a party of socialistic agitation, with which the conservatism of the great Southern states has nothing whatever In com mon. The Southern states feel and know that their vote for Bryan was a solecism and absurdity. If the negro question, so-called, as It affects our Southern states, shall be left to them, as it ought to be and must be, the conservative and rational spirit of the South .will ally itself "certainly with the conservative and rational spirit of the North. It Is a process that every observant person sees in operation now. The Civil War is at a sufficient distance to afford room for the change. From the agi tation of "isms" the South is the one section of our country most com pletely or notably free. In the new alignment of parties It is coming into position to take the lead. Will it be on tho Republican or on the Demo cratic side? It may make little dif ference. Yet there is this difference: The Democratic party of the North is socialistic and radical; its consrrv atlve element Is comparatively small; while the South has little or no sym pathy with the various agitators and socialistic elements of Northern pop ulation, which, however, are mainly associated with the Democratic pary. It portends a change in the com position of political parties, and In the objects of party action. The conserv ative element of the South, which in cludes the whole body of Its people worth a. thought, will ber disposed to unite with the conservative element of the North. The result may be a President elected as a Democrat nominally a Democrat; and he may bo a Southern man. Probably be ought to be. "So soon," says the Baltimore Sun, a Democratic paper that sup ported. Taft against Bryan, "so soon as it is understood In the Democratic National conventions that the South ern Democracy Intends to demand and exercise Its proper power In the party, and that the only way to make sure of the electoral vote of the South is to recognize Its political rights, there will be a chance for a Democratio Prostden t." Yet It may be that the South, dis regarding party names, will find the Republican party of the North more In accord with Its thought and pur ppe. The consequence will depend largely on the course of the Repub lican party of the North. Should it allow Itself to be dominated by time servers, vote-catchers, socialistic agi tators, men of no principles, the South will not act with It. The South is unwilling to change the fundamental character of our Government. But the larger portion of the Democratic party of the North, together with some portion of the Republican party, is in favor of changing it. The "new system" in Oregon is a sign of the disposition and intent, with which the South doesn't sympathize at all. One of the advantages of a great country over a small one Is that the influence of a large section may overcome local political and social aberrations, just as the South now is the main obstacle to the agitation and progression of the socialistic and revolutionary Ideas that find Northern states now their main Held of propagation. Change of parties from old condi tions, and of men from old political associations, cannot much longer be deferred. The change Is. In the air. Roosevelt has helped to break up the old conditions. Taft may help the reconstruction. But party lines here after will not be as they have been heretofore. The agreeing sentiment of the North and of the South will draw together against the spirit of radical innovation and violent change, which discover their energy almost wholly in the ' Northern states, under the tutelage and encouragement of Democratic party. the A bill has been introduced In the Colorado Legislature making it a mis demeanor to give, accept or solicit provision, which exempts the dusky J artist wun me n niss Drown, nas me . appearance of stralrjng at a gnat and swallowing a camel. The guest at the hotel or the grillroom can escape and go to some other hotel or res- taurant If he objects to being held up for tips, but If he travels very often he Is almost certain frequently to And himself at the mercy of a porter whom he might have over looked on some previous journey. An other unpleasant part of the porter tipping custom is the knowledge that every cent paid the porter aids in increasing the profits of the soulless corporation that operates the cars on which the public pays the salaries in addition to the regular tariff. "PLEDGE SYSTEM" AN'D ITS FRUITS. From the way in which the great majority of the members of the Leg- nlnrni-a ti n in qiitinnrf fr t nA islature "line up" in support of the "more salary" bills It 'becomes evi dent that "Statement One" was by no means the only subject on which pledges were made before the elec tion. Men anxious to go to the Leg islature apparently have promised and pledged all increases of salaries that have been asked by officials or can didates. These pledges, clearly, were exacted as conditions of support and election, and the fruits are now ap pearing in the general rush of the "more" bills, some of which now for the first time appear, while others are bills arrested two years ago by the Governor's veto, and now are being passed over it. Men who want to go to the Leg, Islature often will promise anything or pledge anything for support. They allow themselves to be Intimidated by portions or factions of the electorate, and since the "Statement" ha3 come into vogue an4 the pledge It author izes Is common, the practice has be come a precedent for all other pledges and promises to do in the Legisla ture whatever personal or selfish in terests may require of the member. It Is an abominable system, at vari ance not only with representative gov ernment, but with the rights of the people and with honesty and decency and economy In the public service. Yet It is argued that the "pledge sys tem" is right; that it secures and en forces the will of the people. But no pledge ever Is exacted by the body of the people, or In the interest of the body of the people. For that really is not necessary. On political questions members of the Legislature in general will act with their party, and are expected to do so; In other matters there Is always some private interest against which all ought to be on their guard. A fraction of the people is not the people; a faction of a party is not a party. The "Statement" pledge was a mere factional expedient and effort, which In Its results has completely defeated the will of the people, not merely in the election of Chamberlain, but in the election of Bourne as well. Pledges of candidates for the Leg islature to salary grabbers have pro duced a most immoral combination for extortion in the shape of "more" for officials in all parts of the state, and for the creation of a great list of unnecessary and hitherto unknown offices. Perhaps the time is coming when the state of Oregon will signify that It has had quite enough of this sys tem, and will put an end to it, from Statement One" down the whole line. For 11 cannot long be pleasing to the people to find that their political rights have been bartered away by pledges which elect men to the high est political offices who do not rep resent their principles at all, and that the revenues of the state, paid by a drastic system of taxation, are "pledged" In vast sums, for increase of salaries and creation of an addi tional horde of officials. The pledge system is Indeed bearing its fullest fruit. And to clinch the pledges as to sal aries and offices the "emergencjr clause, which in these cases Is merely an assumption as false as Impudent, is freely used, so a3 to cut oft the ref erendum and avert the sure rejection that would be the fate of the Jobs lf the popular vote were brought to bear upon them. Might it not also be suggested that each of these acts, in order to provide sure protection for the various Jobs, should declare that the initiative never should be used for their repeal? PORT OF PORTLAND ECONOMY. The attitude of Mr. John Driscoll, of the Port of Portland Commission, regarding an unauthorized advance of J 30 per month In the salary of an assistant engineer on the dredge, is to be commended. The Port of Port land is one of our comparatively new public institutions. .There fs no other branch of public service for which our people pay taxes less grudgingly han for this most necessary institu tion. Yet it Is questionable whether he loj-alty of the people to the Port of Portland can be retained if there is unnecessary waste of money for alarles. If it develops that it was actually necessary to advance the sal ary of this assistant engineer $30 per month, and that his place could not be filled at any lower salary, the tax payers will, of course, accept the sit uation with as good a grace as pos sible. But Mr. Driscoll is one of the oldest members of the Port of Portland, and should be in a position to know whether or not the service Is Jeopardized unless an assistant engi neer Is given a 30 per cent advance In salary. There is further food for thought in the report of the meeting, which says that Mr. Driscoll "complained be cause the payroll Is so high, and said he thought it is time for close scru tiny of the lists, to the end that it may be pruned somewhat." With Captain Groves, a practical riverman. uperintendent of the dredging opera tions and at the same time master of the itrprfpft And n,f a pnlarv nf 11 Kn per month, and Mr. Lockwood, con sulting engineer, at a salary of $50 per month, excellent results were se cured. The additional work entailed In taking over the tugboat service ne cessitates employment of another man who In his department would rank equal with Captain Groves in his; but It does not warrant the employment of too many superintendents and super intendents of superintendents at, high salaries. The salary of Mr. Lockwood has been advanced to $400 per month, and, although it will be six months before the Port of Portland will take over the towing business, another su perintendent, presumably to work un der Mr. Lockwood, has been appointed at a salary of $200 per month. By beginning at the head of the list, Mr. Driscoll can find ample opportu nity for "pruning somewhat," and the saving can be effected without in any manner aneciing ine service. Anmaer opportunity for practice of economy lies In the purchase or construction of bar tugs. The substitution of steam for sail vessels in the grain carrying J trade has practically driven the sail ing vessel out of business, more than one-half of the grain shipped from Portland in the last fiscal year having gone out in steamers. Another live years will undoubtedly witness com plete retirement from this trade of the sailing vessel. The only work which the Port of Portland tugs will, then have to handle will be the small coasting schooners and barkentines, and the placing of pilots on the steam ers. For this service small econom ically operated tugs will be as efficient as large ones, and no money should be wasted in building big, unwieldy, ex pensive craft which are no longer lf Mr Drlscoll win continue I his fight for economy in Port of Port land expenditures, he will win the ap proval of all taxpayers. COCNTY OR PRECINCT OPTION. When tho proposition for the local option law came before the people The Oregonlan made objection to the feature that makes the county the unit, showing that this was not true local option, but that the object of it was to enable the county precincts, where no liquor is ever sold, because nobody wants It, to prevent the sale in the leading town of a county, whose people do not wish to prohibit the sale In their own town. It turned out precisely that way. The country precincts of Lane prohibit the sale in Eugene; the country dis tricts of Douglas prohibit the sale in Roseburg; and so on. But that be came the established rule, and after it was established The Oregonlan had no more to say. There is effort now to change the system and to make the precinct or the city ward the unit. It will fall. The Oregonlan has no inclination to engage in a windmill war. . In Indiana, as in Oregon, the coun ty unit was adopted. The whole liquor forces of the state Joined the Democratic party last Fall against it, and the Democrats carried the state under a pledge or promise to repeal the act. The anti-liquor Democrats, thinking the measure secure, voted their party ticket, holding that their first allegiance was due to their party. But now the liquor Interests insist on the agreement, they crave the bond, and the Democratic party caucus of tho House has agreed to repeal the feature that makes the county the unit, and to substitute for it the pre cinct plan. Whether the law will be changed or not cannot yet bo told. It was this tangle of politics with the liquor ques tion that gave the state of Indiana over to the Democratic party in the election of last November. THE HISTORICAL, SOCIETY. . The State of Oregon probably can't afford a building for its Historical So ciety. There are too many grafters, seeking larger salaries and multiplica tion of offices. ' It is not strange that you don't find them working in this particular line. They haven't Intelligence or culture enough to cause them to take Interest In historical affairs. They don't know that Oregon has a history, and that its history is correlated with that of the rest of the country; and they don't care. Their motive is vulgar greed. They want office, and don't want or ex pect to do any work. Without abil ity or qualification to do anything, on their own account, and too lazy and worthless to work In the fields or woodc, they want to live oft the state. But you will observe .that, among all their schemes, service in promotion of the needs of the Historical Society has no place. That service requires in dustry, intelligence and learning. But the Historical Society must have a building, or it must quit. It has ac cumulated a vast store of excellent material, but it has no home, no means of assorting and preserving its acqui sitions. The state might easily help It and preserve its work for future ages If the greedy cormorants who are at the capital of the state clamoring for increase of salaries and trying to get more offices created were turned reso lutely down. REGULATING THE TRUSTS. Commissioner Smith, of the Bureau of Corporations, has submitted to his superior. Secretary Straus, a report which glows with encouragement. If his facts are correct, the encourage ment is well grounded. ' Commissioner Smith discerns a change for the better both in "business leaders" and in the public. The leaders no longer take the same delight they once did In ways that are dark and tricks which were verj- far from vain, since they brought in rich returns. But nowadays the returns are not so rich. It has been discovered that public confidence is a valuable asset to a corporation which has shares for sale and confidence is stimulated rather by the publication of full reports and open business methods than by devious wiles which haunt the shades. So Commissioner Smith finds the captains of industry astonishingly ready to open their books to his inspection and tell him all about what they are doing and the whys and wherefores thereof. He, seems to think that the solution of many difficult problems ivhlch now be set the relations between the people and the trusts will be found in this publicity which he would make sure and safe by legal enactment. On the other hand, Mr. Smith finds a hopeful change in the public mind also. The people seem to have lost that Insane admiration for mere riches which they once exhibited. They are now deeply interested to know how each millionaire got his money. Methods weigh more with them than results. They demand clean and fair commercial usages. Compe tition is desired, but it must not be tricky. Every man must have a fair chance to prove his worth; The high ways of commerce must be open to everybody on the same terms. There must be no trade alliances which are hostile to the individual who wishes to embark his means in business. Thus the public ardently demands honest trade and' the captains of industry seem prepared to practice it. Even the Standard Oil Company, that chief of sinners, ha3 experienced a change of heart under the trituration of laws which it has not been able to evade. Expelled from Texas and harried In Missouri, it comes forward with a meek proposal to do business hence forth in a sort of partnership with the latter commonwealth. The only objection to the Standard Oil proposal isthat 1t is to be under the administrative control of the courts if it is adopted. The courts are the worst administrators in the world. That Is not what they are established for and their entire disposition, train ing and temperament unfit them for it. The proper business of courts is to try lawsuits, and when they seek to enter other fields of activity they certainly weaken their position in the country and are only too apt to demonstrate innate incompetence. Mr. Smith is entirely right in wishing that control of trade combinations shall be in trusted to the executive and not to the JudiclaJ department of the Govern ment. The supervision, he says, must be administrative. "No other method has the necessary flexibility. We must have a system of supervision which provides a working basis for confi dence and co-operation, and which does not rely merely on criminal pro cedure and opposition." This Is the soundest kind of sense. The laws which regulate trade combinations, like other laws, should be enforced by the executive department of the Gov ernment. .The part of the courts comes in when the laws have been vio lated and punishment Is necessary. It is a serious departure from the true function of the courts when It is sought to make them executive agen cies. .The enactments which Commis sioner Smith desires look toward more liberty rather than to further restric tion. He believes that it is absurd to seek on the one hand to destroy trade combinations and on the other to reg ulate them. If they are to be regu lated they must be legalized. As to ex tirpating them, he points with convinc ing energy to the lessons pf experi ence. In epjte of laws which forbade their existence, the trusts have multi plied rapidly in the last two or three decades, and It is difficult to conceive of legislation which could hinder them from multiplying still more. Such laws simply strike futile blows at wind mills. Combinations are the result of common sense applied to trade. The more sense men have and use the more they will combine. In forbid ding them to use their intelligence the law does not cut a very pretty figure. It would look better lf it applied its energies to regulating the combina tions, making them fair' and keeping them from harming outsiders, if that is possible. Mr. Smith thinks it is possible, end certainly there is nothing in the nature of a trust which makes it necessarily baneful to anybody. The evils which have come from the trusts are abuses of a beneficent economic invention. Presently We shall find out how to get rid of them and at the I same time retain the advantages of the great discovery. The news that Oregon, which like Uncle Sam "is rich enough to give us all a farm," would build a railroad across the state, would undoubtedly be Joyfully received hy Mr. Harriman An Oregon road, such as could be built by our own people within the state, would naturally be dependent entirely on ' Mr. Harriman or some other transcontinental railroad mag nate for connections that would make it of value. The only argument that we have ever placed before Mr. Harri man for building a road into Central Oregon was that it would build up the country, and thus Increase the business for his transcontinental lines. All of the great timber resources of the central and southeastern part of the state will seek a market in the East, and eventually the grain will follow. If we will spend our money In building a road into Central Oregon, so that the products can be got out to the state line where Mr. Harriman can get hold of them, he will be Ore gon's friend for life. Incidentally, when the business of operating a state rail road became too burdensome we should probably be glad to sell it to Mr. Harriman for less than the cost of construction. "The -Milwaukee has no terminal grounds in Portland and Is not intend ing to purchase any terminal grounds there," says Mr. Ingersoll, of Tacoma, who Is vice-president of the Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget Sound Railroad. The strong anti-Portland disposition which the Milwaukee road has dis played 6lnce it began building to the Pacific Coast will enable Portland business men to say, "The Milwaukee has no business in Portland, and Port land Is not intending to give the line any business until it becomes some thing more than the Chicago, Milwau kee & Puget Sound Railroad." Neither Stephenson in Wisconsin nor Hopkins in Illinois ever will be re-elected. Neither of them Is fit to be Senator. The primary system, by which they foisted themselves on the people, is completely discredited In both states. And It Is discredited in Missouri, where the fruit is Stone. Nor will New York have it; nor Massachusetts; nor any of the substantial-and self-respeoting states of the Union. Ohio and Indiana re fuse it. So does Kentucky. Oregon's example is pointed at by all of them as worst of all. Professor Budlvan Pogechevsky is not the first master of all the philoso phies and nine languages who Is not able to m.ikb an honest living. Eu gene's experience with him ought to warn the professors to beware lest they turn out similar specimens. The truly wise find lessons even in the most humiliating experiences. It Is hardly to be believed that Cal ifornia without horse-racing will be the dreary . desert the advocates of racetrack gambling say It will be. The California population has plenty of Winter diversion; for example, keeping out of the way of the floods. Proposed new charter seema not to be making a hit with a number of Portland's improvement associations. What the improvement associations want is a charter they are satisfied with. Charter Commission please take notice. If the people are unable to elect leg islators whom they can trust, they should elect no legislators at all. This Is the all-sufficient answer to the clamor for "the statement." A gay Lothario was fined $10- for kissing a Chicago landlady. Served him right. A man with such nerve Is dangerous to be at large. There is an old maxim about pitch which Dr. C. T. Wilson probably wishes he had remembered in time. Queer that wheat goes up to $1' and more a bushel when nobody has much wheat to sell. As some outsiders view It, an Influx of Japanese would do a lot to Improve Nevada. What to do about Statement No. 1: Don't take it. THE MISERABLE! PLEDGE SYSTEM. Reasons why the Bill Directed Aninst It Ousht Not to Pass. PORTLAND, Feb. 3. (To the Edi tor.) The proposal in the Legislature to pass a law making It a misdemeanor for a candidate for public position to make a pledge which has for its foun dation the direct violation of his oath to support the Constitution of the United States or of the state suggests a situation in Oregon which deserves serious consideration. The very fact that such a bill Is introduced indicates that . candidates have been doing this very thing, proof of which is directly supplied by the vehement opposition to the proposi tion which' comes from certain quar ters. Indeed, the amazing feature of it Is that there should be any opposition at all to a law which simply provides that hereafter no candidate shall take a pledge which may in its observance vitiate his oath to support the Consti tution of the United States-in other words, shall not become so inordinate ly anxious to secure an office that he will agree to violate a subsequent oath, which he knows he must take. In order to succeed In defeating his opponent who has refused to surren der a duty the right to perform which under any circumstances comes from the Constitution of the United States and not from the constitution of the state or from the people. That Mr. Chamberlain's election to the Senate was accomplished in direct violation of the Federal Constitution must be universally admitted by those who are intelligent and candid. The right of the people of a state to choose United States Senators is expressly de nied by that instrument. Everybody knows it. This conceded fact is the basis of the prolonged effort to so amend the Constitution that the people may choose Senators, and until that effort succeeds the people havo no rlsrht whatever to meddle In the se lection of Senators to the extent that a. Legislature nubliclv confesses it is helplessly "choosing" a Senator of the United States whom it does not want. The man who does not know that such Droeeedlne- is plainly In violation of the Federal Constitution, especially If he Is a member of the Legislature, should at once be subjected to the op eration of the recall as an intellectual lncompeten c. In the. Federal convention of 1787 the greatest contest fought out In that body of great statesmen was over the manner of choosing Unlced States Sen ators, and almost every method Imag inable was suggested. Indeed, the first proposition considered was the choosing of even the House of Repre sentatives by the state Legislature and to provide for the selection of Senators by the House of Representatives from among names presented by the Legis latures. It was further proposed and extensively, as well as seriously, dis cussed, to provide for the selection of the President by Congress, also by the governors of the several states. Roger Sherman, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was opposed to the election of the House of Representatives by the peo ple and said the people should "Imme diately have as little to do as may be with the Government. They are con stantly liable to be misled." Mr. Gerry said, "the evils of exper ience flow from an excess of democ racy. The people do not lack virtue, but are constantly the dupes of pre tended patriots. In Massachusetts it has been fully confirmed by experi ences that they are dally misled into the most baneful measures and opin ions by the false reports circulated by designing men and which no one on the spot can refute. Experience has ahoTrn that even the atate Legis latures drawn Immediately from the people do not nlnayi possess their confidence." Mr. Madison, however, insisted that the House of Representatives should be chosen by the people, saying that "if the first branch of the general Legislatures should be elected by the state Legislatures, the second branch elected by the first and the executive by the second together with the first and other appointments made for subordi nate purposes by the executive, the people would be lost sight of altogeth er." He added that he was "an ad vocate for the policy of refining the popular appointments by successive filtrations, but thought It migh be pushed too far." And It required a prolonged effort to secure the .provision in our Federal Constitution which would permit of even the lower House of Congress to be chosen by the people. That the Senate should be so chosen was not for a single moment in the minds of that great body of thinking patriots. Their final decision on that point is set forth in the plainest of English the Senators shall be chosen by the state Legislators entirely independent of the people, purposely independent after a most exhaustive discussion of the question. It is a distinct and fun damental feature of our form of. gov ernment that the state Legislator when he Is balloting for a Senator in Congress Is not at the time a repre sentative of his state In the capacity of a maker of its laws but is acting tn his hltrher sphere as a representa tive of the United States Government U discharging a duty conferred exciu sively upon him by the Federal Con stltutlon. Tndeed. the only instance wnen i state Legislator is mentioned In the Plural Constitution is wnere ne is required to "choose a Senator or tne United States, and his oath to support that Instrument applies airectiy to me performance of the oniy auty it con fers upon him to see that the people do not 'themselves "choose" Senators, and in. the carrying out of his oath to discharge this obligation he cannot constitutionally stand in his place when his name is called and explain that he is about to "choose" a man to whom he Is personally opposed and to "choose" whom will require him to stultify hlmsolf as to his convictions relating to great public policies all because somebody foreign to the Con stitution of the United States has al ready "chosen" somebody else! Such procedure is not only a farce but Is plainly revolutionary. The Sen ate may seat Mr. Chamberlain but if it does do so It will directly recognize and indorse a movement which changes our form of government and which cannot from any viewpoint be lawful ly upheld. The present situation In Oregon will result In postponing the adoption of an amendment to the Federal Consti tution providing for the direct elec tion of Senators indefinitely; and until such time as It Is brought about In the manner prescribed in our supreme organic law, we had better proceed In the only lawful way. And In the meantime there Is no reason why every member of the Leg islature should not unhesitatingly vote for the Bean bill, which prohibits a candidate from agreeing. In the in tensity of his yearning for a publio position to do a thing in the course of his incumbency which will be In direct violation of his oath of office. It is indeed a pretty pass when a member of the Legislature refuses to support such a law as this. Its de feat would be1 a straight declaration that the right to violate oaths of of fice is a reserved one and not to be interfered with. PIONEER REPUBLICAN. . Hiding: for Show. Providence Journal. "Are women more beautiful today than ever?" asks a Wisconsin paper. Of course they are. But they have an unfortunate iabit at present of hiding their beauty under a bushel or something that looks very much like a bushel. RAILROAD SUED Br EXGXVEER Forty Defendants Named in Action Brought by J. H. Abbott. J. H. Abbott, of the Portland Engi neering Company, has filed suit in the Circuit Court against the Clatskanle & Nehalem ,Valley Electric Railroad Com pany and 39 other defendants, to re cover $1147.50, which he says is due him for engineering services. He says he was employed by the company last July to locate a railroad line from Clatskanle to Mist, In Columbia County, at $160 a mile. ; He charges the board of directors with attempting to evade payment for the stock, for which they subscribed, by asserting that they had performed services for the company. Abbott says these services are only vis ionary. The directors, as named, are: A. B. Kurtz, C. L. Conyers, C. H. Stock well. Jr.; D. R. Nelson J. L. Wooden, W. A. Hall and Henry Kratz. It is stated that the 39. defendants have not paid for their stock. Abbott asks to recover from them. They are: E. 3. Booth, Edward Hughes, W. K. Tichenor, J. W. McDonald, G. D. Suth erland, John Pringle, Henry Kratz, M. A. Convers. George Koberstein, F. J. Prahl, W. F. Hiatt, E. W. Conyers, V. L. Malcolm. Birkenfeld & Lewis, E. E. Hogberg, A. E. Harvey, E. C. Ains worth, J. H. Aldrich, F. E. Turner. Mrs. N. Merrill. C. A. Anderson. F. E. Malen borg. A. Sandlln, J. L. Wooden. F. L. Johnson, C. L. Conyers. Libel McCauley Company. M. E. Page. John W. Lane, E D. Tichenor, A. B. Kurtz, W. A. Hall. C. H. Stockwell, Jr.; D. R. Nelson, H. S. Glenn, James Miller, Casper Libel, Sim mons & Dregal, Joel Hill. Hannah L. Conyers. Attorney George S. Shepherd appears for the plaintiff. PIGGOTT WOULD BE GUARDIAN Declares Mrs. O'Connoll Cannot Manage Her Own Affairs. Following closely the recent Investiga tion of the grand Jury into the conduct of Charles Downer In connection with the property of Mrs. Julia O'Connell, C. H. Piggott has renewed his effort in the Countv Court to be appointed guardian for Mrs. O'Connell. He says that for two years he has been her attorney and that she is incompetent to manage her own affairs. The grand Jury investigation came, it Is said, whert Mrs. O'Connell turned to ex-District Attorney John Man ning in her penury and despair. Mrs. O'Connell obtained a divorce from her husband, Dennis O'Connell, in July, ,1908. Piggott states In his petition that the decree provided that he build a five room cottage on their East Side prop erty, pay a mortgage of $1000, deposit a part of his funds in escrow with the United States National Bank, and deed to his ex-wife $0000 worth of property, be sides paying her $15 a month alimony un til the escrow was consummated. Piggott says he learned last year that the husband had invested $2500 or J.TOC0 in California, and that Charle3 Downer obtained complete control of Mrs. O'Con nell's faculties, hypnotic or otherwise, last October. He says Downer not only obtained the woman's property, but built five houses on It ana put li unuer numer ous heavy mortgages and liens. Because Mrs. O'Connell is without funds, the County Court issued an order yesterday that the petition be filed with out charge. COMPETE FOR RACING DATES Rivalry Between Northwestern Cit ies Will Be Settled Tomorrow. One of the most Important meetings In the history of the North Pacific Fair Association will, be held tomorrow In the Hamilton building. The association con trols the harness-racing dates of the Pacific Northwest and there is always a scramble by tho members of the as sociation to get dates suitable to the lo cations of the cities they represent. This year the scramble will be on in greater earnest, for Portland, now that it has the magnificent racing plant of , the Country Club, may apply, for dates pre ceding Salem, and there will also be a demand from Seattle on account of the exposition. This exposition will bring into the Northwest livestock and other attrac tions that the members of the associa tion hope to have exhibited at the var ious state fairs throughout the North west. It will also bring a number of high-class harness horses. Snlem again this year win hang up two Jouw purses and Portland will again give Beveral $2500 purses. Seattle will also hang up handsome purses. W. A. Cecil looses Case. A verdict for the defendants in the suit of W. A. Cecil against Mason Ehr man & Co., and D. Becket, was returned by a itirv in the Circuit Court yesterday. at the direction of Judge Morrow. Cecil was suing for $2500 damages for malicious arrest. He was formerly In the employ of the company, and was sent to deliver five sacks of sugar. The company caused his arrest on the assertion that the sugar never reached its destination. He was baled before the Municipal Court. Yes terday's case was dismissed because he was unable to show that the criminal charge was dismissed for want of evi dence. Demands' Return of $050. Alleging misrepresentation on the part of M. Steuer, George Frakes has brought suit against him to recover $000. Frakes says that he purchased from Steuor a half interest in the Standard Shoe Repair Shop, at 308 East Burnslde street. He discovered afterward that Steuer had no right to sell an automatic sewing ma chine hecause it belonged to a St. Louis machine company. Besides demanding his money back, Frakes asks for $138 in wages, and $50 attorney's fees. Sues for $518 Millinery Bill. I. Lowengart, of Lowengart & Co., is suing Florence Evans to recover a bal-. anco of $618.91, alleged to be due on a millinery bill. The complaint was filed in the Circuit Court. LINCOLN SECTION OF THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN IN THE ISSUE FOR FEB. 7 THE MAGAZINE SECTION OF THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN WILL BE DEVOTED MAINLY TO ABRAHAM LINCOLN i It will contain a large variety of matter relating to his youth, his public services, his incomparable personality and his death. ; All the articles will be copiously illustrated by reproductions of rare photographs. This section will appeal no less to the rising than to the passing generation. It will well be worth preserving. As the large, edition of The Sunday. Oregonian is frequently exhausted before noon, orders should be placed with news dealers at once. . GRAND JURY VENIRE IS DRAWN Will Convene February 15 and Hear .Important Cases. The spring term of the Federal Court will start February 15 and yesterday morning tho names of 41 veniremen, from which the Grand Jury will be made up, were drawn before Judge Charles E. Wol verton. Practically all of the cases on the calendar will have been tried by the time that the Grand Jury has been sworn in. During the term of court which Is now drawing to a close, cases have been disposed of that had been dragging along for many years. One in particular, that of Reise vs. Kahm, was over 17 years old. The Grand Jury, while It will not con sider as many cases of Importance as have Federal Grand Juries In the past two years, will consider a number of im portant matters. There are a few land fraud cases to be investigated and a number of fencing cases that will come up. The most Important fence case is that against William Hanley, charged with having fenced many thousand acres of Government land in Eastern Oregon. The Grand Jury will also have tne J. W. Scriber forgery case, laid before It. Sc.riber was president of the Farmers & Traders' National Bank at La Grande. C. K. Von Neida, who conducted a fake apron scheme and who is alleged to have defrauded hundreds of women, will also be investigated. Von Neida is at liberty at present, having furnished a cash bond of $500. In addition to those cases, there are 21 others that United States Attorney McCourt will lay before the Grand Jury. The list Includes the following named persons and tne charges against them: J. W. Scrlbor. two counts, forgery; Charms A. Strausse, emliezslemont ; John Gllcrist, K. B. Hill, William Hunley. Ralph O. Smith, Elijah W. Oliver. Rtiy T. Oliver. Illegal irnrHiff of Government land: Charles A. Patterson, false affidavit in securing pat em; Edward and Harry Newton, counter feiting; Armond Ferrut et nl, harboring alien women (.two counts); 1'url Logsden (two counts), murder on Indian reserva tion; C. K. Von Neida. usln?r mulls to do fraud: Kenjl Sakama, liarborlnK alien wom an; John K. KiRby. robbing postofflc at Woodstook; Thomas Perkins, robbing subpostorfiee In Portland: J.- J. Vajr. alias W. B. Price. Impersonating ITlllted States officer; Frank JenninK. Impersonating United States offl'jer: William Harrklay. murder on Indian reservation; Frank Fuller. William Johnson. N. Thoms. violation of reservation regulations; C. A. Johns, alms Calvin Jordan, robbing postoffice at Mon mouth; Oeorge Cox, Oscar Wood, James White, introducing liquor on Indian es, r valions. The list from which the Grand Jury Is to be drawn Is as follows: Oliver Anderson. Clatskanie; John F. Allison. Amity. R. F. V. No 1; Granville M. Allen. Amity; E.- R. Apnlegute. Drain; H. Add-on. Loralne; Frank S. Aiken, Portland; William Ballls, Portland: Oliver J. Brown. Portland; J. II. llllger. Portland: Levi KerkHhtre, Greenleaf; Joseph M. Bar- , rett, Portland; A. J. Capron. Portland; V. M. Cheshire, Grants Pass; M. F. Dawson. Albanv, K. F. D. No. 1; Orio Eggleston, Portland: C. D. Edwards. St. John; A H. From, Lebanon; Jrlin Fraser, Richland; George W. Gordon. Portland: E. M. Grimes Seaside; Joseph Holnday. Deer Island; F. D. Height. Albany. II. F. I). No. 2: T. O. Henderson, MeMlnnville; James W. Holmes, Portland; Vt". G Hunter, island City; II C. Hayes. Sherwood; John Kirk, St. Paul; E. W. Kuvkendall. Wolf Creek; Samuel Knr atll. Hillsboro. No. 4: W. W. Lewis, DIMey: i,i-i Molars. Hillsdale: S. H. Moore, Cor- vallis; James McGowan, Beavertou; Samuel Phillips, Salem; V. T. Itlchas. Turner; t'harles Rice. Woodstock; George Ryella, Montavilla; Dennis Sullivan. Lafayette; I. M. Simpson, Stiver; Gardiner Whipple, (Janby. Sues Because of Unlawful Search. Mrs. S. B. Adams, proprietor of .the King Hill Kennels and a well-known business woman of Portland, has filed a complaint against H. J. Ottenhoimer, F. W. Tobin and Officer W. F. Teevin and asks for $7000 damages which she alleges was caused by an unlawful search of her premises on Deoember 9 last by the de fendants. Mrs. Adams was at that time falsely accused of harboring a stolen dog In her kennels but the search revealed the fact that no such dog had ever been received in her kennels. She also asks for special damages caused by the abusive treatment of her by the officer while making the unlawful search and for damages to her business resulting from the publication of the false accusa tion. Kind Will of James Handley. Although It was first thought that $600 left by James Handley would go to his relatives, a will has now been found, giving the entire amount to his friends and to Catholic Institutions. Handley died December 12, and T. J. Crmcannon nnnAfnta O H Ml I Tl I lt Vtt t (If. When tlld will was filed In the County Court yes terday morning, cimnes u iur-j n.ui, if n notlfinn tlmt he be anoolnted executor, he being named in the will. The bequests are as follows Father Domlnlck Faber, $.'5; Charles O'Riley, $20; Sisters of tha Precious Blood, $10; hendtitone of Handley's grave, $50; balance to Sisters of Mercy. Disagree In Damage Suit, The Jury In Judge Morrow's department of the Circuit Court, which has been try ing the suit of M. R. Holbrook against the Oregon Furniture Company, disagreed lato yesterday afternoon. Holbrook, a 15-year-old boy, demanded $7ijo0 damages from the furniture company on account of an accident in which he lost a portion of his left hand. Aid Asked for Malheur Project. Support of Western Oregon of the ir rigation project that Is intended to de velop Malheur County is asked in a let ter received at the Portland Commercial Club from D. R. Houston, secretary of the Commercial Club of Nyssa, Or. Mr. Houston points out the advantages that will accrue not only to his section of tho 6tato but to Oregon as a whole and particularly Portland by the completion of the Malheur government Irrigation project, which will cover about 2W.O0O acres of land tributary to the Malheur and Owyhee rivers. The Nyssa organiza tion asks for no definite help from the club but is anxious to havo the arid lands reclaimed through the Government Reclamation Service and writes with the view of Informing the local organization on tho needs of that section.