Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, April 06, 1909, Page 8, Image 8

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    PORTLAND, ORW.OX.
Entered at Portland. Oregon. Postofflce as
6cucd-v.:a Matter.
cuuMrrlpllu. HatM Invariably la Adm.
(By Mall.) t
ra!ly. Sunday Included, one year SS.00 i
li.y. Sunday Include, six months 4 25 1
li y. Sunday Included, threo months.. 2.2.1 '
J'1! ' Sunday included, one month Tj
litkiiy, without Sunday, one year 6 oo
IjaUy. withJTjt Sunday, six months J 23 :
f.t'-it' WUPUU Sunday, three months. ,. 175 I
wthout Sunday, one month 60
Weekly, one year 1.50 i
- " J . ne year 2.50
Sunday and weekly, one year 3.50
(By Carrier.)
raly. Sunday Included, one year '. . 9 00
IMUy. aunday Included, one month... -IS
erJll."' - "em' Send poutorflce money
your irMf'Z" i?"" or check o
iSi bank- Stamps, coin or currency
Sri.? li 5 'fnder's risk, (live postofnee ad-
... ,Wi,. uituuiug. county and state.
to " ' Kates 10 to n panes. 1 cent: Is
J?.i?. cents. Foreign postage
rOBTUM), TTKSDAY,
APRXL, 6, 1800.
TUK IKJ E USt FOR TOVB MIGHBOU
Really, what's the use of complain
ing that tariff, or duties on Imports,
increase the cost of living? That
certainly l3 true, to an extent, more
or leas. In most lines we could get
-Kef PtrJ 8r0d3 lf a" dutles were
mould be foreign combinations to
raise prices against us. Moreover, lf
we produce goods as cheap as foreign
countries produce them, we shall find
it necessary for our people to accept
the conditions on which the people of
other countries live and work. Not at
once; but the tendency will be that
way and of the ultimate there can be
no doubt or question.
th?re1!;t "tcry now '8 raised against
the schedule of the new tariff bill that
includes gloves, hosiery and haber
dashery in general. The cost of these
Hoods to the American consumer, it is
Jtsserted. -will be increased. Doubtless
it will. But that always is the object
of protective tariff. Foreign goods are
kept out. that goods of home manufac
ture may command higher pYlces. This
or ln Policy of protection.
AN hat is Inconsistent is this, namely
hat they who want protection for
their own special industries or Inter
ests exclaim at once, lf their fellow
citiaens desire the same for the Inter
ests or Industries peculiar to them
selves. It is a system at variance with the
reneral law of Industry and exchange,
for this law always tends towards
equalization of values and prices. We
ere trying to arrest Its operation In
our own case by protective tariffs It
Is here that the pinch or pressure la
felt. Each and every part or section
or group of the whole community
would clear Itself and push the burden
orr upon some other part. We don't
want to work or do busjness m com
tltion .with the Old World; and yet
we can't clear ourselves of the com
petition without producing Inequality
among ourselves.
There is a clear line- of distinction
between a tariff for protection and a
tariff for revenue. A tariff for revenue
would be equal for all; but a tariff for
protection is. In the nature of things
unequal. It is Intended to be unequal'
It is intended In the first place to give
those who can seize and use It" an ad
vantage over the foreigner; in the
next place, and in the ultimate it
fc- gives those -who can seize and use it
an advantage over their customers and
all consumers In our own market.
If. therefore, any class of our clt-
T linens, or anv of th ,,,,..,..
, . w,.j Kuupa
- or our people, are protectionists, and
wish to uphold protection, they have
no right whatever to complain that
application of the principle or method
Increases the cost of goods In any line.
Why all the uproar against Increased
duties on haberdashery, on the part
of those who have their own vessels
out . under the sky. to catch the re
freshing dews from the protectionist
heaven? Why should every pro
tectionist wish to put his neighbor
tip against free trade? It Is explain
er able, of course, on the principle that
pure selfishness Is the main root of the
; protective policy pure selfishness and
nothing else.
P ATT EX AND LETTCR.
Whatever may be the final outcome
of the remarkable deal in May wheat
now being conducted by Mr. Patten
of Chicago, aided and abetted by a
few million farmers and speculators
nothing of the kind has ever ap
proached it in rowers of resistance
against the repeated onslaughts of the
bear contingent in the market. The
high mark of the season was touched
again yesterday, and the close was
only a fraction under the record for
the May option. The Patten deal has
already overshadowed everything of
its kind that has been attempted since
Joseph Letter forced May wheat up to
1.S5 per bushel In the Spring of
1S9S. Mr. Letter's failure .was com
plete and crushing, and a similar fate
is freely predicted for Mr. Patten. In
support of this prediction statistics
have been freely quoted to prove the
Impossibility of the present "corner"
being engineered to a successful con
clusion. Mr. Letter's deal, however, was
eleven years ago, and for that reason
comparisons that fail to take into con
sideration all of the intervening
changes in production, consumptive,
etc., are not very valuable. Accord
ing to the Government figures, the
crop of 1S97. on which Mr. Lel-
ooosung prices, fwas
pan. ooo.ooo bushels, with stocks in
first and second hands on July
1. 1S97, amounting to m (inn.
1)00 bushels. The Government figures
on noma consumption requirements
front that crop were 330,000.000 bush
els, and for seed 57.000,000 bushels
a total of 3S7.000.000 bushels. De
ducting this from the 599,000,000
bush Is available, Mr. Leiter had to
take care (exports Included) of f
000.000 hushels. The Government fig
ures on the 190S crop, on which Mr.
Patten Is working, were 635.000.000
bushels, and the same authority places
the carry-over July 1, 190S. at 9 -000.000
bushels, exactly the same as
during the Leiter season.
From this total of 704.000.000 bush
els the Government estimates seed re
quirements at 72.000.000 bushels and
home consumption demands 45.000.
000 bushels, a total of 527.000 000
bushels. Deduct this from the 1908
crop and carry over, and it is apparent
that Mr. Patten has (exports Included)
tut 177,000.000 bushels to work on or
15,000,000 bushels less than Mr. Leiter
tad to get rid oU. On April 4, is 98.
the American visible Increased 162,000
Dusnels to SO, 223,000 bushels. Yes
terday, with a decrease of 270.000
bushels, the visible figures were 36.
142.000 bushels. From these figures
it is easy to understand the danger of
placing: too much confidence in the
failure of Mr. Patten, simply because
Mr. Leiter failed. These tangible
changes In conditions are sufficiently
imposing to make predictions as to the
Outcome somewhat valueless, and an
even more important feature Is the
personality of the two men. Patten
being a seasoned campaigner who has
made the matter a life study, while
Leiter was a plunging speculator, with
no knowledge of the business.
DOWN WITH THE "BOSSES:"
The Idea of the direct primary, Aas
demonstrated by its results, is to sup
press every man who occupies a place
of influence in parties especially in
the majority party. Leadership is
bossism, and bossism will not be toler
ated. The object of the direct pri
mary, then, is to get rid of all men of
energy and talents; and it succeeds.
The man who takes a leading part in
causing nominations to be made Is a
boss, and he and they -who act with
him constitute a machine. Cast out
and trample down every man who has
superior powers of persuasion and
combination.
This Is the existing condition. It is
not a theory. It is a fact. Yet the
following question is addressed to this
newspaper, to-writ: "Why doesn't The
Oregonian Indicate or try to direct a
course for the Republican party In
Oregon?" Because The Oregonian
has had enough of that. The Republi
cans of Oregon are no more to be
guided, directed or advised than a
herd of wild asses in the desert. There
Is comfort In letting them alone. The
Republican party is split into fac
tions and fragments, one and all ac
tuated less by any Idea of promoting
the public welfare than of defeating
and punishing each other. They must
nave It out."
Meantime, we have the superb lead
ership of Bourne and TJ'Ren, assisted
by that of Chamberlain, to All us with
pride and admiration. It la the kind
of leadership the dominant party ob
tains when It is resolved to have no
leaders.
THE NATIONAL IRRIGATION CONGRESS.
If people were Interested in events
In proportion to their importance, the
meeting of the National Irrigation
Congress at Spokane, next August
would plunge the -whole country Into
wild excitement. One imagines, how
ever, that our National equanimity
will not be greatly perturbed by it
Although the subject to be discussed
relates vitally to human happiness,
although the -way we finally answer
the questions which the eminent
speakers at the congress will raise may
decide whether 600 years from now
the United States shall be a flourish
ing empire or a desert solitude, never
theless, It will not be easy to arouse
more than a perfunctory public in
terest. The great names of the orators
the pomp of civic festivity, the display
of governmental science -will all be
needed to hold the languid ear of the
Indifferent, farmer. whom nothing
short of an earthquake will compel to
think and study. Irrigation would
rain gold Into his tubs if he would
set them out, but he won't until he is
harried and hounded into i.
But the farmer Is no worse than
other men. Ffw of no i, ...
- awio Liian
a feeble and spasmodic Interest In the
things that rnni-om . . . .1 .
Consider how speedily an audience
",'"anra -wnenever a speaker touches
on education, a snhwt t,-c.
Is even weightier than . Irrigation. It
on,y DV hts and starts that we can
be induced to think of the salvation of
our immortal souls. Some sDoradtc.
Billy Sunday can turn our attention
to these precious entitles once In a
W'hile. bUt how loner Hrtoa ir ....... j -
Salome dancing a frivolous hornpipe
makes us forget time and eternity. If
man were a truly rational being the
minute he learned that irrigation
would double the produce of his farm,
even in such a favored region as the
viuameite valley, he would rush to
build dams and . dig ditches, but he
doesn't. He waits until somebody has
pushed and prodded him. Think how
long It has talcon enma r. 1. ,
...... nits rural
brethren to begin spraying their ap-
'" trees, xney Knew that a few doses
of lead arsenate would save their fruit
irom ruin and line their pockets with
dollars, but not a drop did they spray
until a paternal government stepped
In and gave them no choice. As a race
we are Just as lazy and shortsighted
as we dare be. find moct r u
far prefer to swing a heavy sledge-
..i.i.n.pr ten nours rattler than think
for ten minutes.
Such congresses as the one which
meets at Spokane next August are
more valuable for reiterating old
truths than for revealing new ones.
Iteration is all that saves the world
from a relapse into barbaric squalor.
Hearing the truth about irrigation or
anything else once only, does us not
the slightest good. We must hear it
a thousand times and in every possi
ble key. The Massachusetts savings
bank Insurance scheme was based on
the supposition that when life Insur
ance was made cheap and easy, every
person who needed it would step up
and buy it. No madder dream was
ever dreamed. The project has been
open many months, but only two banks
are offering insurance, and there is
nobody to buy. To persuade us to in
sure our lives and save our wives and
children from destitution we need a
brazon-tongued agent to ring an
alarum in our ears. Mankind is like
the starving pauper who Was on his
way to the graveyard to be buried
alive for his indolence. The merciful
Judge offered to suspend sentence if
anybody would feed the condemned
a Kindly rarmer offered a meal of
corn. "Is it shelled?" inquired the
pauper, with languid Interest i.
was not. "Drive on then," said the
pauper. We need such gatherings as
me .National Irrigation Congress
to
sneii our corn for us.
Civilization originated In countrie
where, men were forced to irrigate th
land or perish. In Rahvinni
i Eprpt were laid the foundations ..
every science and' all th arts. The
I reason is p;aln enough. Irrigatio
uiiim uLau to ininK ana plan on tr
I -i e hand and to co-operate with h
' neighbors on the nth.ir Tha v i.i .
thinking about one subject leads h
to exercise his brain on othN -.
Presently he discovers ih c-t-cq .1.
that ideas are upon the whole benefi
cial to him rather than baneful. Co
operation is the only way out of most
rural difficulties, and it is easier in Irri
gated regions than elsewhere for di
vers reasons. One Is that irrigation
depends from, the beginning on co-
MORXIXG
operation. But also the farms are
necessarily small, people live near to
gether, contiguity develops confidence,
the plane of public intelligence rises,
the communal consciousness sets to
work and presently the whole neigh
borhood studies, buys, eells and thrives
as one man. Nowhere in the world is
agriculture so intelligent as in irri
gated regions. Nowhere is it so pro
ductive and nowhere else have the
problems of poverty, isolation and
failure been so effectually attacked.
CO.VDION-POINT CONTENTION.
The old Astoria contention for the
same freight rate on wheat that is
granted Portland and Puget Sound
ports comes up in a somewhat new form
in the suit filed with the Interstate
Commerce Commission by the Farm
ers' Co-Operati ve Association. The com
plaint makes the rather extraordinary
statement that the ocean rates from
Astoria are less than from Portland
and Puget Sound ports. This state
ment is so much at variance with the
facts that the Inability of the com
plainants to prove it may have a. tend
ency to weaken any other points of
merit which their case might present.
The ocean rates on all grain vessels
are exactly the same from Portland,
Astoria and Puget Sound ports. The
reason ia that no railroad that was
ever built, or ever will be built, can
haul wheat over the 100-mile stretch
between Portland and Astoria at as
low a rate as it can be carried in the
hold of an ocean-going vessel.
This fact prohibits the railroad from
hauling the wheat beyond Portland, a
point that can be reached -by any ves
sel that can enter the Columbia River,
and the ships here, as at every other
port on earth, go to the farthest point
inland at which cargo can be reached.
It is not a question in which sentiment
or rivalry between ports can enter. It
is simply an economic Problem. th so
lution of which must always be on a
o3i-per-ton-per-mile basis. The cost
o the ocean carrier of mnvim, v, i
grain over the 100 miles of river be
tween Portland and Astoria runs as low
as 4 and 5 cents per ton on a
exceeds 6 cents per ton. These figures
01 course, cannot be met by railroads.
auu me Dusiness win continue to be
handled at Portland as
ships can reach Portland docks, which
win De as long as they can enter the
Columbia River. If it were possible to
charter shins to lonrt m a t
lower rates than for Portland loading;
vr 11 11 -were possible to land grain in
Astocia at as In w fret err. Ant 1... 1 1
-. - . -o 1 an
as by ocean carrier, Portland exporters
wouia years ago have begun shipping
from Astoria. The complaint cites
that "the distance I -rr.v, iz. r
Spokane, Lewiston, Walla Walla and
ituiurea points to Astoria than to Pu
get Sound." This statement also is.
erroneous; but, even were it true, it
orter no excuse for granting
the same rate to Astoria that Is given
Portland ai.d Purpt Round Thn rof.n
to the Puget Sound ports must always
oe at tne mercy of the Portland rate,
and accordingly will always be the
same. No one Questions th fa.t ,
he route down the fninmWa t?,-,,-
has economic advantages over the
route across the Cascade Mmmtaha
The roads which go over the moun
tains, nowever, cannot be abandoned,
for they serve other interests ihm
grain trade.
They will be forced hv
stances to meet any rate that" is made
by other routes in tiriowaro- i
Palfte Coast. The Puget Sound grain
rate must accordingly always be the
same as the Portland rate, which, of
course, Brings us round to the real
intention of the suit for terminal rates
at Astoria. More than one-half of all
the grain produce 1 In tho Tifi-
Northwest originates within 2 50 miles
or Portland. More than 75 per cent
of It originates within 300 miles r
this city. Demand for the same rate
to Astoria that is msid to Pnptioj
accordingly means that the railroads
must increase thelr mileage service 40
percent on half of the tonnage, and 30
per cent on an additional one-fourth
of it, without receiving one cent for the
moreasea service, it Is. not reasonable
to expect the courts to order any such
change. If the grain rate to Portland
is excessively high, it should be re
duced; but we should not make the
grai. -1 tne country stand the expense
of an additional 100-mile rail haul
when it can cover that distance in
ship's hold at much lower rates than
the railroads could ever make.
TIIE DEATH OF A CHARTER.
The truth of the Scri
in a multitude of counsellors there is
wisdom depends a good deal on the
counsellors. If there is no wisdom In
any individual of the hunch ti-
little difficult to discern how the bunch
itself can contain very much of that
desirable article. Hen
one experiences in getting up a great
ueai or regret over the apparent col
lapse of the attempt by the People's
Forum to unload a third charter on
the market. .There Is not the faintest
reason to believe that this illumined
but somewhat vagarious body would
have improved upon the charter sub
mitted to the Council by the commis
sion of fifteen. Fjlr-h nr
Forum is intensely convinced of his
to rerorm tne world, but thus
far none of tho-m Vi -1 a i.i ,
convince anybody else of his divine
legation except himself.
The chflrlpr nrvinara i,- v,
- . .-v. . iii: 1 1 1 1 1
mission of fifteen was hammered out
with much patient effort and delibera
tion by a number of able men who
have done their hest TV, t
tion of the Forum evangelists simply
strengtnenea tne hands of those wh
are opposed to all imnrnvm nf t
divided the forces of progress and has
no uouoi neipea to postpone the day
when Portland will obtain a workable
cnarter. still the day Is onlv nost.
poned. It is sure to come, and that
before long. . The city is too big and
contains too many important Interests
10 oe governea dj- tne slovenly meth
ods of a cour.tr' village much longer
Definite authority to accomplish re
sults accompanied hv rlefi
sibl'.ity- for what is ..one is indispensa
ble to the economic ma na o-Arvmr.
city's business, and Portland will find
some a to secure it Derore manv
more years h- ve passed. The Forum
intermcddlers, after . ing as much
mischief as they well could, have
gracefully withdrawn from the field.
Portland and the Columbia River
lost a good friend on the rivers and
harbors committee when Representa
tive Jones became Senator Jones, and
both Oregon and Washington are nat
urally interested 1- having his place
tilled by a man who understands the
needs of the waterways of the North
west. Representative Humphrey, of
Seattle, is said to be & candidate for
the place vacated by Senator Jones,
OREGOXIAX, TUESDAY,
tun'itvUhf7Iiiad Pl 0PP?r-1II.
- ...... ... .lift, miiistui w till
the requirements of his constituents
along Washington waterways, and
should make a good representative.
Prior to the appearance of Mr. Jones
on the scene the greatest difficulty ex
perienced by Washingtonians inter
ested in the Columbia River was in
convincing the Representatives that it
was necessary to open the. Columbia
at its mouth before improving it else
where. Those who have long been accus
tomed, to regard Madame Modjeska
as entitled to the veneration due to the
aged will be surprised to learn that
the great Polish-American actress was
but 65 years old. Not young, truly,
yet scarcely old as age is reckoned
among civilized and enlightened peo
ple of the present day. Tet it is a
far cry- from seventeen, the age at
which tieien Aiodjeska began her ca- j
reer upon the stage, to 19 06, the year !
that she retired, or 1909. the year of 1
ner aeatn. Her splendid physical
powers and active mentality bore her
proudly through a most exacting stage
experience for nearly half a century
and she was throughout all of these
years and their varied and trying ex
periences a model "of loyal, virtuous
womanhood. Living, she was honored;
dying, she was beloved; dead, she will
be mourned.
It is announced that Mr. F. Augus
tus Heinze, who furnished much di
version and more money for the Wall
street sharks. Just prior to the panic
of 1907, is coming back to the Coeur
d'Alene mining district, from which a
considerable portion of his wealth was
secured. This will be good news for
the residents of the Coeur d'Alenes,
and also to Wall street. The worthy
Manhattan Island followers in the
footsteps of Captain Kidd will he e-larl
to have Heinze accumulate! annthw
roll" and bring it back to Wall street,
vhere it in n -l H ani 1 , i . v.
business of separating the Westerner
rrom nis money nas become a fine art.
Still, there is a possibility that the
famous nlunerer mav Vmva laamaii a
few lessons which he can turn to ad
vantage when he again ventures near
the tape-and-tlcker maelstrom.
A large partv of buvers loft TJcr..
dleton and other points yesterday to
ook at wneat lands near Calgary, as
1 result of Canadian nroselvtino- rt
course they will be suited, for there
will be found all the room to turn
about in that is lacking in the Inland
Empire, now that immigration from
the East requires division of hitherto
large wneat farms. Tet these emi
grants may, ere they die, be in the
United States of America Thv
part of the leaven that will bring about
annexation.-
The work of curtlnc nn iQ.r,a
farms of Oregon proceeds apace. These
Easterners arriving dailv
in Intensive farming and a twenty
acre tract looks good to them. They
twiuw xne possiDiuues In the cow,, the
hog and the hen. not to mention u-hQt
is in fruit. They do not want all the
eartn to move around in, and for the
matter of that they have not the
money to buv too mncn tv,v v,
Just enough for what they want, and
t-nai is wnat tne state wants.
The handy man about tho h OltSA
would better hold his talent in abey
ance, incessant ringing of a telephone
bell Friday night led a Chicago man
to stop It. He essayed to cut the wire
with pliers and received the current
rrom a trolley wire that had crossed
his line. It killed him. There is
warning in this to everv man to lot
the doctor prescribe the physic.
A majority of the Reniihliran vMam
of Illinois declared thev didn't Tea
Hopkins re-elected to the United
States Senate. But he got a plurality
though a small one and now he In
sists that he is "the choice of the
party." That's the fault and failure
and weakness of th titH nm rtr 1-. - t
do not recognize party obligation, on
mis system.
Physioldgies to the
way to a man's heart continues along
tho alimentary canal. So
man found It. Fond of a certain
brand of pie. he asked the deliverv hnv
to take him to the woman who made
them, and found the sweetheart of tho
days of his youth. Subsequent data
are matter 01 record.
A westbound train that rsath
Pendleton Saturday night had two
coachloads of Russian Jews en route
to Spokane. An Eastern Orppnn nn
per says they presented "a strange
spectacle, witn tneir trappings and
costumes." May be so, but just keep
your eye on the next generation and
see some hustling American citizens.
The presence in Italy of Mr. Roose
velt, private American citizen, created
a great deal of excitement. You don't
have to be a President or a King to
keep in the spot light; just one who
has done things and Is likely to do
more.
Mark Twain likens a new steel pier
to H. H. Rogers' foot "long and
bony." Anything Mark says must be
taken for humor. It is a good deal
like knowing the clown in the circus.
The furor in Italy over Mr. Roose
velt did much to dispel a popular no
tion that all an Italian ever does is to
rave over the latest opera or object of
art; and Mr. Roosevelt is neither.
Next Friday is Arbor day in Oregon,
on which occasion every man who has
a bit of vacant ground should plant a
tree, that posterity may sit in its shade
and call him blessed.
The wife of the druggist who beat
her up a few nights ago, ia suing for a
divorce. A woman can endure mis
treatment until it reaches publicity.
Then, things are different.
The rotary snowplow is in use 1n
parts of Colorado, while out here the
click of the lawnmower'ls heard in
the land.
There will be a quiet municipal cam
paign, since the corrupt-practices law
has knocked out the Leg-Pullers'
Union.
Oregon towns generally are clean
ing up while nature Is putting on her
Spring lingerie.
Now is the time to talk on canneries
in towns that have none.
These are just April showers that
bring May flowers.
APRIL 6, 1909.
TRUST IS AIDED BT "JOKER"
Clanse In Psrme Bill, Weapon Acslsst
Independents, Who Support It.
Washington Cor. Chicago Tribune.
One of the most perplexing questions
in connection with the passage of a
new tariff law is just how to treat the
Standard Oil Company and its pcoducts.
For a long time the people thought
petroleum was on the Trie list. It was
there nominally and still remains on
that favored catalogue In the present
law.
- There was a "Joker" in the Dlngley
law, however, which few people under
stood, and this same joker reappears In
the Payne bill, only now it is sus
tained by some of the people who are
rivals of the Standard Oil. Petroleum
Is on the free list, provided it comes
from some country which does not im
pose a duty on American oil.
It so happened that until recently
the only serious competition the Stand
ard Oil Company had to rear was the
product of the great 'oil fields of Rus
sia. That country has a protective
system, and so the effect of the "joker"
in the present law was to put a tariff
on crude netmieim, " -1 an 1 . - j
. .. . . . .. u . 1 wl us yruu
ucts. The result was that, although
Russia could send its oil to England
or to Canada, or to the Orient and
compete more or less successfully with
the great Amprifnn m , H
- esiiua 1
of the oil could come into this country
... , uuiy unaer tne little
Joker1 attached to the free list was
practically prohibitory.
Sentiment in this country is such on
the whole that this "joker" could not
possibly be re-enacted into a law lf It
were not that some of the independent
refiners thlnlt It might be necessary to
protect them from competition from
Mexico, where oil Is beginning to be
produced in considerable quantities It
is probable that, after s while, Mexi
can oil might be a competitor for the
products of the fields on our South
western section near the Mexican
border, but so far as the rest of the
country is concerned the competition
of Mexican oil need never be feared
because o the long railroad haul in
volved. On the other hand, those people who
have been taught to believe that the
Standard On Company Is the sum and
substance of all that is wicked in the
way of corporation villainy want to
have oil put on the free list. The treas
ury experts say that lf this Is done
Russian oil can be laid down in New
Tork. Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
Charleston, Savannah. Mobile, New Or
leans, and the intervening coast cities
at prices which will compel the Stand
ard Oil Company to meet this competi
tion. It is possible that this Russian oil
may find its way by water into the
great lakes country, but the most that
Is expected is to curb the power of
the great trust by establishing a new
scale of prices in the tide water
country.
As a matter of course, the Standard
Oil people will fight this proposition,
and for once nr loaet t v. . . . - nn4 . 1. .
dependent refiners will work together,
Limuugu tut cnances are that Russian
oil never would Invade the field of the
independents whnRa onT-cr(A,
fines! largely to the far Interior and to
It is a significant fact that the ways
and means committee had voted to
leave out the Standard Oil "Joker " but
were persuaded to put It back through
the ' efforts of 1r Vi-ooisn .
York Representative.
CAIRO TO CAPE TOWN BY RAIL
JWr,d'" lngs Railroad Will Be
Completed In Abont Three rears.
New York Sun.
Cecil Rhodes. South Africa's emptre
bullder. died at Cape Town seven years
ago this month, his prestige shattered
and his dreams of empire unfulfilled. Yet
within less than two years after his
death and his entombment in the lonely
Motoppo hills, near Buluwayo. in Mata
bele land. Dr. Jameson. Cecil Rhodes'
closest friend, by the whirligig of time,
became premier of Cape Colony and set
himself to work to accomplish the great
est scheme of the master mind of South
Africa the Cape to Cairo railroad. The
work of construction
so rapidly that the delay occasioned by
me Duer War was partly recovered. The
main line from Cape Town to Buluwayo,
1300 miles long, has been in operation
since 1897, and played no Inconsiderable
part in the war which determined British
ascendancy in South Africa
As to the line north from Buluwayo. Its
course has been altered considerably from
the original Rhodes plan, owing to the
better knowledge of the country and Its
resources from later surveys. Most of the
variations are due, however, to the pro
jecting and building of feeders to the
main line. Thus a branch runs from Bulu
wayo northeast to Salisbury, the capital
of Rhodesia, and thence to Belra. on the
Portuguese coast. The main line also has
been deflected further northwest from
Buluwayo, thereby tapping the rich
Wankl coal fields and tracts discovered
by Livingstone. The valuable copper
mines 200 miles northwest of Victoria
Falls have alse been brought within the
scheme, and a mail route to this region
was opened four years ago. Its growing
network of feeders is a natural develop
ment of the plan, and upon their survey
and construction and consequent develop
ment of the country the success of the
main line, will largely depend. The great
Victoria Falls bridge, linked with the sys
tem in April, 1905, marked another great
advance In the work.
Perhaps the most Important fact in re
gard to the recent progress of what,
when completed, will be the longest rail
way in the world, was the formation last
Summer of tne r- -... a tr, .71 .
-l - ... . oj nuivaLv,
which Intends as soon as possible to push
the main line on from Broken Hill, the
present terminus in Rhodesia, to a point
on the frontier of the Congo State near
Mayaba. In all there is a stretch of
about 2500 miles to be completed lying be
tween Khartoum, In the British Egyp
tian Soudan, - and Broken Hill. F. von
Ghed Gildemeester, chief engineer of the
new Cape to Cairo syndicate, estimates
that this loniZ link lvlntr trtf-nucrVi r-"a,-..i
Africa will be completed within three
years, and then a railway in the neigh
borhood of 6000 miles long, will traverse
the Dark Continent, and it will be pos
sible to go from Paris via Brindlsl by rail,
thence by boat to Alexandria, and then to
Cairo and Cape Town by rail in 11 days.
Not in Pathcr-ls-Law's Glory.
Washington, D. C, Dispatch .
Congressman Nicholas Longworth
of Ohio is happy these' days because
his name, whenever it appears in the
public prints. Is no longer accompanied
by the explanation that he is the
son-in-law of President Roosevelt. Al
though he made no audible murmurs
on the subject, Mr. Longworth was
Just as touchy about standing in the
reflected glory of a father-in-law as is
Augustus P. Gardner, who shudders
every time he sees the announcement
that he is the son-in-law of Senator
Lodge. Mr. Lonijworth. by .the way. Is
an accomplished entertainer. His equal
as a piano-player is not to be found
in Congress, and he has original
songs galore.
Boat Launched S7 Years Ago, B T-e.
Baltimore News.
Only IS years the Junior of the Cler
mont. Robert Fulton's first steamer,
the steamer James Morgan has just
been under Federal Inspection at Prov
idence, R. I. The Morgan is the oldest
steamer in the country, having been
launched at Poughkeepsie, N Y-, 87
years ago. She registers 69 tons gross
and halls from New Haven., Conn. She
Is used as an oyster boat.
WHAT ARE THEY BOtXD TO Dot
Mnst Candidate. JBefore Republican !
Assembly Snpport the Nomineef
PORTLAND. Or.. April 5 (To the
Editor.) I notice In Tho i
gonian a report of the meeting held
Saturday evening in the interests of
Dr. Wetherbee's candldacv for Mayor
Referring to the fact that the com
mittee supporting Dr. Wetherbee de
clined to pledge themselves to sup
Port the candidate who should be in-
ADril b7 assemy failed to meet
a trL l!e reason tha they feared
,V had been lai 'or them thev
would seem to be laboring Tnder a
aVsernehen5'?n of the Purpose of the
a re?oVuytIond 'i" dUtleS Rs set forth bV
tral r.!i,;( adoPted by the City Cen-thtthrmte!-
ThJs resolution stated
inr.L b37? f the """mbly was to
rJr,1 . the com,nfr "lty election. The
fnr 'i"11 r.elulre that the candidates
it shmdldShK"ld b8 RPUhllcans. and
,A be renumbered that this
committee is the REPUBLICAN Citv
Central Committee, which is the leai
awfu governing body of the Re-
t?n,party ,n the city of Portland.
; they are -tlng under the
primary law and in accordance with Its
provisions. t
iT,tlhieAtln8r held Saturday even
ing; the Wetherbee committee adopted
& resolution nrnvfrlln,
witn. err lain
members of their committee should
call upon the delegates to the as
sembly. a list of whom was there
furnished, and solicit their support for
Dr- Wetherbee In the assembly.
During the discussion which fol
.Vt th" lues'lon was brought up
r.- vi-Tr?at wou,d btt th attitude of
Dr. Wetherbee and his friends towards
the man receiving the indorsement of
the assembly for Mayor, in case Dr.
Wetherbee should not receive that in
dorsement. The Wetherbee committee
refused to consider a resolution pledg
ing them and their candidate, should
Dr. Wetherbee fall to win out in the
assembly, to support the candidate re
ceiving said indorse-ment. In a state
ment Issued later by Dr. Wetherbee
himself, he expresses absolute ctmft
dence in the character of the men
naH2ed aa delegates, and agrees to
abide by their decision.
The purpose of the City Central
Committee in calling this assembly,
as stated by them, was to harmonize
.t Rltpub,lean Party, and to treat
Ttlu , "tmost fairness and Impar
tiality alf candidates whose names
were presented for Indorsement, and
tneir friends and supporters. This be
ing the case, and all candidates hav
ing been received on equal terms and
having been treated impartially, it
would seem to be the honorable course
tot all parties concerned to support
the candidate indorsed by the assem-
3 to say tnat aU candidates,
and their friends who present their
names to the assembly and urge in-
ilw 1 lne 8ame, should do so
7,,tne understanding that those
candidates not Indorsed by the as
sembly will not allow the use of their
names at the primary, nor give their
SUnOOrt to nthora ... I,
' wi'woc iiainea are
Presnted at the primary independent
.c ncHimy cauea. ror the purpose
of indorsing candidates for the Repub
lican party. This would seem to be an
elementary principle and to be Just
on the face of it. .
From his Rtntamenr If 1 -a
that this In Dr. Wetherbee's own posl-
-- ., 11 oicuny was not .the posi
tion of his friends at the meeting Sat
urdav nlrht Tt fa r , ,
- . ' -now-
vTier" they wiU see the Justice of
us.iiun mm understand that there
Was no trftn lntenrlA1 Kr 1. ...,
- - hid iiurouuim
asked at that time, but that the .pur-
.-, muirr to avoid a trap being
set for the assembly itself by aspiring
candidates who wnnii c .... 1. n. -
offices of the assembly to promote
tneir own candidacy, and failing of Its
Indorsement urnnl n-.-.r.A , i j.
date Indorsed by It and thus defeat
puipuBo ana errorts of the City Cen
tral Pnmmliui n ....-.
... me .tee
publican party and concentrate its
strength so as to secure success at the
Such a nnnru nrt 4-V.a . v.
candidates who were unsuccessful be-
uir. ihb asaemDiy, ana their friends,
would not only be disrespectful to the
City Central Committee .and to the
delegates to the assembly who had
considered their candidacy in all good
faith Vtllt It -n,r,1.4 V. n , , .
their party; and should the delegates
3o,u,y consider tne names or
candidates under any other conditions
than those heretofore outlined, they
also would be betrayers of their party.
Furthermore, an Indorsement of a can-
Hidnta Kir tVia DC- a n kl .3 . .
-- - - " ' i.i . .1 u nuvi any otn-
er conditions would be valueless to
me cmiumms, as it would settle noth
ing, but would rather be a detriment
to the winning candidate, as it would
make him the target for the shafts of
all the unsuccessful ones.
Any other course would be simply
child's play and would nullify the ob
ject of the City Central Committee in
calling the assembly, which was to
harmonize and concentrate, the vote
of the Republican party, and thereby
insure its success at the polls.
Any other course would simply post
pone the inevitable, namely, that but
one candidate can be placed upon the
ticket of the Republican party as its
candidate for Mayor. Any other course
than that above outlined would Insure
the final defeat of the candidate who
was successful at the primary, as has
been fully demonstrated on numerous
occasions in the past."
Therefore, Dr. Wetherbee and his
friends, and all other, candidates be
fore the assembly and their friends,
Bhould understand that any man who
is not broad enough to grasp the alms
and objects of the assembly, and show
their approval of the work of the as
sembly by supporting the candidate In
dorsed by the assembly. Is not big
enough nor broad enough to be the
candidate for any office within the
gift of the people of theicity of Port
land, w. W. COX.
A Few llvldrnorB of Spring
Camden, N. J., Dispatch.
Among the evidences of Spring
around Montclair, N. J., in addition to
the growth of grass and plowing by
the farmers, have been noted a report
that local dealers will reduce the
r. - i o r. 9 Anal o n rl ratoA . V. -. ; .
. , u..-- uio pute or ice,
a complaint about dust, the playing
r.- - , ,1 1 .... 1. lie , , .
l'l iuciiurionwiiu r, Oprillg &Ong On
live pianolas simultaneously and a de
mand for open cars on one of the trol
ley lines.
Spends Her Money In Steamer Trips.
Worcester, Mass., Dispatch.
Mrs. Lisa Felnman, wife of a New
Tork jeweler, was temporarily de
tained at the immigration station at
Boston, having just arrived from
Europe with her two children and her
younger sister. until her husband
comes from New York or telegraphs
her money. Mrs. Felnman spent her
last cent tipping the employes of
the stiip.
Doa- Is Called by Telephone.
Buffalo, N. Dispatch.
A dog owned by a woman at West
Rochester, N. H.. was left In a store
when his owner went home, some dis
tance away, and refused -to leave, when
the woman was called up on the tele
phone the animal was taken to the re
ceiver, and when he heard his mistress
say "Come home. Jack!" he bounded
out of the door and went home.
Xtwuboy to Vnlted States Senator.
Washington. D. C. Dispatch
Senator William Alden Smith of
Michigan used to sell newspapers on
the streets of Grand Rapids, and be
gan his career in public life by serv
ing as a page In the Michigan House
of Representatives.
Life's SunnySide
woms, in natura,1' supposed that a
,V,? vl'L',""8 resident Ta" as well
the r eh 1 Boardma" would have been
the rirht person to select a present tor -h
That 'n;aHThe,TafterS'" tlteVa
Phi.innln h tr'P Wlth Taft " the
Phi hpp nes. decided to give the President
Llected ,a.nd Cha'n' Miss Boardman was
selected to procure the present
ma" like ,h President,
and the chain was one of the heavy gold
rSiL V"S WhLh stretch from one vest
wearer another across the front of the
,wBe.re, presentation was made one of
the Tafters." Senator Scott of W est VIr
ginla. called at the Boardman house ai,,l
was shown t ti ...i. j ... .
-i.- .uuoi, remarked the Ve
irginlft Slpnnr,-,,- k .
. , urj eimreiv mis
calculated the length of that chain I
CHeSe X-rtl, rlrr.r 1 , . .
...... L miuw now uroail Tart
across the front. Just try it cn me.-
the senator prt-sented a fc.ir'.v round
form nrl I ,
: ' nm me wa.cu
chain would have stretched like a taut
riawKo r -.. . . 1. . M . . . ,
wuscs mini ni tne fresidcn:.
Lnnn t h 1 r,... -.,.... . .. , .
- , ....... , hiliu nve incites wre
.1 i2. the cnaIn n order to make It
fit the Presidential frontage without caus
ing any inconvenience. .St. Louis Star
"Hands up!"
The passengers on th Pullman car tons
in the situation at a glance and did exact
ly what the train robber told them to.
At the points of his guns he relieved
tnem of their valuables. But at the sight
of" woman he paused with a start
,,no are y. woman?" he demanded. .
i. she quavered, "am Miss Fay de
Fluffle, the well-known actress. Here
are my Jewels take them all!"
.re ho'd-up held up his head proudly.
No, he replied; "I may be a robber,
wl.uv. am," ,pre8s aBent- KeP J our
wealth. Cleveland Plain Dealer
Railroad men are telling this incident at
having occurred on a Kansas train son-e
time bko. The rails spread and the en
track Wer"r, and baeaR-car left the
, . t t?e Jar as not hard enough
mn TUrbvthf sleepers In the rear Pull-man-
In e last Pullman the porter was
shining shoes, and, thinking that the
train was stopping at an unusual place
he went ahead to see about the difficulty
f,," ", tOM . that within a couple of
f"'1;9 engine could be put back and
the track repaired. So he got busy with
his shoes again.
Suddenly a head popped out of one oi
the berths and a man shouted: "Say por
ter, what are we stopping here for"
"Oh." answered the porter, "we had a
wreck
"A wreck? Wow! Oh-oh-oh-wow-wowl
My neck! My neck! My. chest! My bock!
Oh-oh-oh!" Kansas City Journal.
Mary had a little lamb.
Also some Brussels sprouts;
She likewise had a little bird,
. And lest you have some doubts,
We'll say that Mary. also had
A little bit of all
The highest-priced comestibles
The waiter could recall.
Mary had a little beau
Who had to pay for it.
And when the waiter brought the check
He nearly had a' fit. Judee
Four-year-old Barbara went to church
with her two sisters and came home cry
ing. "What is the matter, dear?" inquired
her mother.
w"He preached a whole s-sermon about
M-Mary and Martha." sobbed Barbara
and never said a w-word about me "
Llpplncott's.
' "Tr-PB.." heGltorArl XT- T . . ....
biscuits are pretty- good, but don't vo
think there ought to be Just a little
more
"You.r mother made them." interrupted
Mrs. J., quickly.
" them?" ended Mr. J. with a
flaeh of inspiration Cleveland Leader.
.
Hardly had the proud father entered the
sickroom to get hts first glimpse of the
new twins than both new-boms set up a
loud bawling.
"Now, now," cautioned the father, hold
ing up his hand and glancing from one
red face to the other, "one at a time; one
at a time!" Brooklyn (N. Y.) Life.
"Why are all those people flocking down
to Hiram Hardapple's barn?" asked the
old farmer on the hay wagon.
"Hi'S fill n niirtncttu I. .
villa constable chuckled.
mat so7 What kind of a curiosltv
Is it?"
"Why, Hi's old red-and-whlte Jersey
cow. The other night the old critter had
the colic and Hi went down with his lan
tern to give her a dose of cow medicine
Blamed lf he didn't make a mistake and
give her a pint of gasoline."
"Do tell! Didn't kill her. did it?"
"No; but, by heck, it had a funny
effect. Now, Instead of going 'Moo.
moo,' like any other sensible cnw. she
goes 'Honk, honk!' like one of them
thar blamed automobiles." Chicago
News.
In a certain restaurant the electric
lights were suddenly extinguished.
When they were turned on again after
a few moments, a young woman whis
pered proudly to her companion:
"Someone kissed me!"
"Yes, and somebody took my veal
cutlet!" replied the other woman bit
terly. Bohemian.
Wears in Court Costume of 110O.
Philadelphia Dispatch.
In a suit in the City Court In New
York about clothes, Richard Thorn
ton, an actor, was compelled to don a
costume of the period of 1800 in court
to determine whether it fitted properly.
The actor did not seem happy. Jus
tice Green smiled and a general laugh
came from the spectators.
Liquor Men Threaten Oyster Boycott.
New York Press.
Because they do not want the town
of Brookhav-en, L. I., to be "dry" for
two years, lipuor dealers there and
their friends are trying to put a boy
cott on Blue Point Oysters unless the
oystermen will promise to vote "wet."
Parsing of the Rough Riders.
J. W. Foley, In Hew York Times.
The boys are disgusted, the gang's on the
prod.
For things are alt going dead wrong;
Bill Buffler was consul to Passamequod,
But nAw thfy have choved him along.
He nt with Rough Riders and bled at- San
Juan
More gore than would fill up a pall.
His job came from Teddy, but now Bill is
gone
To make room for a feller from Yale.
And Cartusmilk Charley who came on the
- plains
Before the Apaches and such
Was Marshal at Redeye,, and mtny's the
brain's
Been aired at his quick trigger touch.
But cactusmllk Charley's no longer on pav,
His notice just came by this mall.
His Job cams from Teddy, but Teddy's
away.
And they've put In a feller from Yale
And I.eather-leg Luther, who nt KrlEzly
bears
And w rasstlert wildcats with his teeth
Thus rutin' himself without eplittin' nc
hairs
For any blamed office beneath
The blue pky of heaven. Ip out of his plars
As Guv'nnr of Wahoo the trail
Got too hot for him and they've turnei
Luther's face
To the wall for a feller from Tale.
They've got us stampeded since Teddy ii
front-
And bowles and pistols don't go.
Tve got my discharge from the bunch al
San Juan,
But It s come down to par. or e!ow.
And-Fly-the-Crcek Foiiis and Tooked.-neck
Jones.
And Swearloufl and Teath-on-the-Tratl
Have gone on the dumpheap to mingle theli '
whers In the devil is Yale?