lo THE MORNIXG OREGOXIAX, SATURDAY. MAY 8, 1909. PORTLAND, OREGON. Entered at Portland. Oregon. Fostofflc as Second-Class Matter. ' Subscription Rate -Invariably ' In Advance. (By Mail.) pally. Sunday Included, one year (8.00 Iily. Sunday Included, six months 4.23 lJ y. Sunday Included, three months.. S-23 Daily. Sunday included, one month .75 Dally, without Sunday, one year .. 6 00 Daily, without Sunday, alx months 8.25 Daily, without Sunday, three months... ITS Dally, without Sunday, one month..... .60 weekly, one year...................... 1.50 c-unany. one year......... ounuay ana weekly, one year.... 3.50 (By Carrier.) Dally. Sunday included, one year 00 Dally. Sunday Included, one month... .75 How to Kemlt Send poutofn.ce money eroer, express order or personal check oa your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at the sender's risk. Give postofflce ad dress In lull. Including; county and state. lZ'" lte 1" to H pain. 1 cent: IB 12 '? "iS- 2 cents; SO to 44 pages. 8 cents; 1 6 pases. 4 cents. Foreign postage double rates ,?''l',rn . Bo"l" Office The a C. Beck In 5. ,S-pec'"1 Asency New York, rooms 48 eo Tribune building. Chicago, rooms 510-612 irlbune building. PORTLAND, SATURDAY. MAY 8. TUB OXK STRAMJHT WAY. There is Just one way, no second, to cut out the abuses of protection and yet obtain revenues for the Government. All wrangling over "schedules" is futile, while this one true and only way is neglected. There can be no fiscal or tariff reform bo long- as the false re formers talk merely about reduction of tariff rates, yet provide no way for obtainment of revenues. Babblers like Cummins, of Iowa, may "continue to expend their vapid eloquence, but they do not touch the heart of the subject, nor come anywhere near it. The right and true and only way to get rid of the abuses of protection and to cut off the monopolies It fosters is to abolish all taxes on imported com modities similar to those that -.ve pro duce in quantities in our own country and of universal use, and lay duties on articles of general consumption such as we do not produce In sufficient quantities or not at all; together with as heavy taxes as are practicable on all imports that fall under the denomina tion of luxuries and then make up such further revenues as may be re quired, by taxation of Incomes and in heritances. A graduated income tax alone, added to the tariff and excise revenues obtainable under this plan would probably suffice for supply of the General Government's needs, leav ing the inheritance tax and the direct property tax to the states. But to carry out this plan In a proper and effectual way, it would be necessary to eliminate every thought or feature of protection. It would, however, be per fectly fair; and only so can perfect fairness and justice be obtained. A full and steady tax on commod ities that we must continue to import in great quantities for general con sumption would yield a large revenue; and such tax would be the contribution of the masses to support of the Gov ernment. The contribution of the wealthy or well-to-do classes would come in some degree from their con tribution as part of the' consumers, but more epecially from high duties on luxuries imported for their use duties made as high as possible without de feating the object; and then a gradu ated income tax. The states would obtain their revenues from their gen eral property tax. with addition of the tax on inheritances both taxes ad justed by each state according to its conditions and needs. This would be the simple, direct and fair way to all of dealing with our tax and revenue questions, in their re lation both to the General Govern ment and to the government of the states. There never will be fairness and justice so long as we allow "pro tection" to be a factor In It. For the very nature and essence of protection is inequality and privilege use. that Is to say. of the power of the Govern ment to favor and support certain par ticular interests at the expense of oth ers or of all the rest. It is utterly useless to juggle with the subject, by trying to "reduce schedules," yet retaining protection, more or less, and providing no way to make up the deficits of revenue. Taxes on sugar, coffee, tea and all articles of general con sumption which we import from other countries; on luxuries of all descrip tions in dress, food avd drink and on articles of all kinds used mostly by the rich; all possible taxes on liquor and tobacco, whether imported or pro duced at home, and an income tax graduated or adjusted to fair con ditions, would supply all the revenues the Government would require: and such settlement would put an end to the continuous brawl in Congress and throughout the country over the pro tection of one set of interests at the expense of others or at the expense of consumers. Anything short of it will leave the subject open to perpetual contention and strife; for protection is not an equal policy, never can be. Its most direct consequence is creation of monopolies and enrichment of a few at the expense of the many. JAPAN AS A NATION". A writer in the Review of Reviews for May says "it seems incredible that a nation which in 187S had a debt of $33,886,931. should find itself In 1908 (thirty years later), with one of $1. 120.000.000. Yet such is the plight of Japan." The writer is Adachi Kin nosuke, a Japanese financier. Most of the Increase came, of course, through the Chinese and . Russian . wars. An essay on the sources of revenue fol lows, in which It is stated that the wealth of Japan is estimated at about $10,000,000,000. The national debt, therefore, amounts to one-eighth or one-ninth of that sum. Sixty per cent of the people are agriculturists, but in all Japan there are no more than 26. 000 square miles to till. Most of the country is rugged and unproductive mountain land. The tax system is very severe, but it Is Imperative. "The greatest asset of our Empire." the writer declares, "is sentimental." That probably will pull Japan through. For "the people of Japan are performing the financial miracle of giving up to the government about 30 per cent of their income every day, without saying a word about it." This is a financial miracle indeed. In other words. Japan's greatest asset is the patriotism of her people. In a way. it is a surer asset than money. But at the present Japan can under take no more warlike enterprises. Nor probably does she wish to. Japan Is looking to Asian continental progress as a source of her own growth and progress. For this she has waged her wars, and has come oft victorious; and her people believe the position their country has gained is worth all it has cost them and more. "The state," says this writer, "to the imagination of the people of Japan, is greater than all the gods." In early Rome all were for the state, but the gods were an asset of the Roman state, which the Japanese seem will ing to do without. It is perhaps too early to speculate on the result. A FIT MAX FOR MAYOR. Without slightest disparagement of other candidates. The Oregonian thinks Joseph Simon should be nominated for Mayor today, on the ground of his fit ness, experience and knowledge of our municipal affairs, and his well-known and proven ability in general business, as well as in that of municipal gov ernment. If elected. Mr. Simon will be an ef ficient Mayor. Nobody can doubt it. If elected, he will attend to the city's business in its details. Nobody can doubt it. Much will be expected of him, and he cannot but know it. There will be responsibility, then, at the head of the municipal government. If Mr. Simon is Mayor; and In any case that may arise anybody or everybody will know who is to be called on. ENFORCEMENT OF A LESSON. For discredit of "Statement One" nothing more complete than the fiasco of the Davis libel suit could happen. The fellow took "Statement One" to get into the Legislature. It didn't oc cur to him at the time that he ever would or could be bound by it, or forced by it to vote for a Democratic Senator. He simply wanted to get into the Legislature. There he might find distinction and advantage. Not a few persons work and act and direct their politics in this or simllaj ways. They have no forecast. They foresee nothing. Now, hereafter, let it be understood by candidates for the Legislature whether Republicans or Democrats that if they are unwilling to be forced to vote for the candidate of the op posite party for the Senate, they must refuse "Statement One." No man is obliged to take it. It is a silly fad, engrafted on the primary law, to en trap simpletons who overestimate themselves. Especially it hurts and defeats the majority party in a state. It produces upstarts for the Legislature, like Davis, and the rest of those who last year got in on the "Statement One" ticket greatly to the delight of members of the minority party, all of whom, with a knowing wink, voted for them. Not a few Republicans, in the elec tion of last year, refused to vote for any candidate for the Legislature who had subscribed to "Statement One." It will be universal henceforth, for men who foresee consequences are not likely to make fools of themselves. Thus the foolish libel suit of Repre sentative Davis tends to enforce an im portant lesson. Throughout Oregon hereafter, men who subscribe to "Statement One" will be given the taboo by Republican voters. Foolish, therefore, as the Davis libel suit was, it has an effect. It tends to concentrate attention on a peculiar folly. Many a shallow man, besides Davis, who wanted to go to the Legis lature, didn't care what promises he made to get there, since he had no idea he would be called, on to fulfill them. There will be caution hereafter, both on the part of candidates and on the part of electors. SCHOOLS AXD THE SHOW BUSINESS. In the opinion of The Oregonian, a grave mistake and one that may easily prove of lasting Injury to some, at least, of those who are under its shadow or its whip is being commit ted In connection with the work of the public schools. Our schools are main tained at great expense to the taxpay ers for a specific purpose. This pur pose is plainly comprehended in a carefully prepared and sufficiently exacting course of study. Teachers are given this curriculum and directed to work it out in their "classes, cover ing the whole with due regard to thor oughness in a given period of time. The exactions of this course are con siderable, and lay sufficient tribute upon the time and strength of the teachers, and upon the time, strength and capacity of the pupils. This is right and proper. It is what teachers are employed and children are sent to school for. All of this being true and If not true, then the school authorities, in cluding the teachers, are not doing what they are trusted to do and paid to do it is manifestly a grave mis take to put the schools in the exposi tion business and thus make addi tional drain upon the already fully engaged energies of both teachers and pupils. For the past two weeks at least the teachers and a very large number of pupils have been driven beyond all reason to compile "show papers," which it Is mistakenly sup posed will add to the fame of the pub lic schools of Portland by being placed upon exhibition at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Fair. As high as two hundred and fifty pages of this so-called educa tional exhibit have been prepared un der the supervision of a single teacher she being in the meantime required to keep the pupils up in their grade work, and the latter Delng urged to prepare faultless papers for the ex hibit, and. in view of the near ap proach of final examinations in the term's work, to give special attention to their studies. The constant super vision that the first of these injunc tions requires has worn many of the more conscientious teachers and the more ambitious pupils to the verge of nervous and bodily exhaustion. And for what? To compete for a prize that, in the very nature of things, will go to the Seattle schools, and to pre pare an endless bulk of papers that nobody, relatively speaking, will take the trouble to scan. But this work is practically over. The fagged teachers are still on deck, anxious to make up for the time lost in the grade work; and the equally weary pupils, whose minds have been distracted from the course of study by the "show business" in which they have been engaged for a fortnight, had Just begun drearily to think of mak ing up for lost time with some hope of passing creditable examinations a lit tle more than a month hence, when comes the announcement that, yield ing to the urgent solicitations of push clubs, "boosters" and various commit tees, the School Board has consented to permit the school children to pa rade in the Rose Show early in June, and that drill for this parade will be gin at once. The children, it is said, are eager for this drill, but what of their studies? It . is urged further that they will be drilled outside of school hours, and that teachers will not be required to assist in the work. ; But what does this signify? Does not every teacher, every mother, every observant person who has had anything to do with the care and training of children, know that in this case "drill" will come first in the minds of the children? That it will be difficult to make them think of anything else? That the excitement incident to costuming and drilling, and the fatigue that all this will impose will render it next to Impossible for teachers to drag and push and pull the children over the course of study yet uncompleted with any intelligent com prehension of the subject matter? Finally, are our public schools maintained for show, or for useful educational purposes? If for the for mer, the course of study should be shortened, so that it may. be covered before the show season begins; if for the latter, the show business should be cut out. THE RKCORD. Neither the uncertainty of the tariff, the prospect for high water, the boom in wheat nor the turmoil of local poli tics has any effect in checking the splendid headway that Portland is now making. For the first five busi ness days of the month all records in bank clearings for a corresponding period were broken, with totals of $7,396,169, while real estate transfers for the five days reached a total of $984,587, and building permits were $227,587. On Thursday the real es tate transfers numbered eighty-one, with a total valuation of $493,566 in cluded In the number being twenty permits at nominal valuations of from $1 to $10 each. With these, figures for a starter for the first five days of the month, and with a large number of large building and real estate deals that have al ready been effected but not yet re corded, the Spring -of 1909 bids fair to break all existing records. THE UNWRITTEN LAW AGAIN. The expert who has invented "im pulsive insanity" for the defense of Captain Peter C. Hains cannot lay claim to much originality. Of course, it is ingenious to think of such a thing, but it would be a great deal more in genious if previous experts, in their efforts to retrieve cold-blooded mur derers from the meshes of the law, had not gone almost as far. Our national progress In the development of insanity as a defense for crime is something to be proud of or to mourn over, accord ing to the point of view we take. As a monument -to our genius for quibbling and our lack of legal morality, it is, perhaps, rather deplorable, but as a logical structure without regard to the harm it may do, it is greatly to be ad mired, just as one may admire the In genuity of Machiavelli while his de pravity is condemned. Impulsive in sanity means that kind of insanity which a bad child experiences when it is treated to the rod by its father and murmurs that when it is big enough It will return the treatment in kind. The girl who killed herself the other day because she could not go to a party was impulsively insane, and so is the street loafer when he swears that if Jim doesn't shut his mouth he will punch his head. Impulsive insanity includes all those little gusts of passion which everybody feels a ttimes. To make it an excuse for murder evidently extends the limits of our National liberty very widely. Whereas, we have not hitherto been permitted to shoot or poison our neigh bors unless we had a brain storm or were melancholy, or Jealous, or "real mad," we may now do It safely when ever we feel the appropriate impulse. Nothing that has recently been done in court to make crime safe will prove more efficacious than this new species of insanity, if the jury accepts it, as it probably will. The Indications from past experience give little ground for believing that the appetite of jurymen for new varieties of insanity can ever be satiated. Every new kind of murder will continue to produce a new kind of insanity in the future, as in the past. If this did not happen, some murderer might eventually be hanged, which would be a calamity of the first magni tude. Since the principal business of a certain branch of the legal fraternity has come to be the prevention of hang ings, it would be a serious reproach to the profession If any such judicial ac cident should occur. It is difficult to speak without mock ery of the way murder is treated by many of our tribunals, but the matter is producing social 'effects which can not be passed over lightly. The natural result which we must always expect when organized government fails of its duty is coming upon us in the domain of the law. Despairing of justice from the criminal courts, individuals have taken the business into their own hands, and all over the country we continually see evidence that the masses have turned to the "unwritten law" for that protection which the written code no longer affords them. It is more difficult every day to se cure the conviction of an individual who rights his own wrongs 'by violence without resort to the regular tribunals. Thus in Florida on the same day re cently two murderers were released by the grand jury on the strength of the unwritten law. One of them was a girl, Jessie Brown, who shot a faith less lover. The other was a man named Humphreys, who, finding Thomas Mc Manus alone with the former's wife, killed them both. The jury, composed ot their neighbors, of course, as most juries in ' such cases are, could see nothing wrong in what they had done. It is not to be supposed that the jurymen in this somewhat remarkable affair were less patriotic, less awake to public duty and the obligation of their oath than ordinary men are. Un doubtedly they acted under the conviction'- that both Jessie Brown and Humphreys were entitled to Justice and had taken the only practicable way to obtain It. Theoretically, of course, justice is to be obtained in such emergencies through the crim inal courts, but In actual life it is com monly observed that the facts are oth erwise. Complainants against criminals obtain technicalities, syllogisms, squabbles about evidence and delays in any quantity which may be men tioned, but of clean, unequivocal jus tice little is to be discovered1: The perfectly natural consequence is resort to the unwritten law, which is only another name for the dissolution of society into its primitive elements and each individual's quest for right by personal violence. The first step toward civilization was the relinquish ment by the individual of his freedom to return evil for .evil and the delega tion to society of the duty of portion ing out punishment to wrongdoers. As long as this duty is performed rea sonably well, civilization can progress, because men live in peace; but when society abrogates the duty of righting wrongs, then individuals will by neces sity try to do it themselves, and the processes of the courts are supple mented by lynch law. It is useless to seek to evade the truth that the rea son for our numerous American mobs is the inadequacy of the criminal law as it Is administered. The same rea son explains the almost universal re sort to the unwritten law both in the East and the West, and the reluctance of juries to convict those who apply It to right their wrongs. The old-age pensions of Great Brit ain, which are blamed for so much of the increase in the size of the British budget, are in the "aggregate almost in significant in comparison with the Federal pension roll in this country. This appropriation for the ensuing year amounts to $161,000,000, and, al though nearly forty-five years have elapsed since the Civil War. there were added to the pension roll in 190S the names of 10,935 veterans who fought in that war and had not previ ously got on the pension roll. Not only is there a steady increase in the number of pensioners as the years roll by, but there Is also an increase in the average sum paid these pensioners. There will never be any objection to the pensioning of needy men who have a claim on the Government for services rendered during the war, but there is a growing belief that a good many of the millions paid out for pen sions go to individuals whose names have no proper place on the rolls. The O. R. & N. will establish a local service with gasoline cars between Walla Walla and Milton, and also on the Dayton branch of the road. In no other part of Washington has fruit growing, truck farming and dairying made such progress as in the territory that will be served by this new type of carriers, and the inauguration of the service is a tribute to the enterprise of the people in the rich garden territory of Washington. Twenty years ago, when the localities mentioned pro duced practically" nothing but wheat, the population of the entire country tributary to Walla Walla was insuffi cient to supply passenger traffic for a single car a day. Since the orchards and gardens began producing heavily, both freight and passenger traffic has grown to enormous proportions, and is still increasing. The Seattle Times, ever to the fore front as an exemplar of conservatism in statement, has adopted a plan for keeping a waiting world primed with up-to-the-minute statistics on the growth of Seattle's population, which must commend itself to all admirers of exact truth. A red-ink banner on the Times newest office envelope bears the legend "Seattle's population 260, 000." By the time one gets Inside and unfolds the letter, another red-Ink banner on the letter-head veraciously proclaims "Seattle's population 285, 000." There was no second sheet to the particular letter that came to Portland. A thirty days' march by officers of the Army Is now in progress through Virginia, from the Potomac to Appo mattox, to study the problems of war fare throughout the territory contested between the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia. About one hundred officers of the general staff are taking part in the survey. Minute topographical charts will be made from new observations. Chairman Mack, of the Democratic National Committee, has issued a new magazine. Among the contributors to the first number is Senator Chamber lain, of Oregon. Press dispatches an nouncing the event do not give the topic on which the Oregon Senator wrote, but it was probably on "The Advantages of the Nonpartisan Brand of Democracy." 1 Who, among the candidates, is best fitted to be Mayor of Portland? To whom, among them, would you en trust your own business, especially if it were a large. Intricate and complicate business? Have this In mind when you attend the primary- election today. Arid don't fail to attend it. Remem ber, moreover, that "this is no job for a boy." If you ask for a Democratic ballot at the polls today, they will hand you a piece of paper handsomely ruled, but with the names of no candidates thereon. There's the state to which the once great Democratic party has come. No candidates, no principles, no organization, hardly a name just a blank. The man who has taxes to pay 20 mills this year will naturally give some consideration to the question as to who shall be the next Mayor. Whom will he select among Simon, Bailey, Rushlight and McDonell? Why not unite in one grand scheme to cover the entire river with one great bridge of sufficient length and about five miles wide? Then, and not till then, will we have enough bridges to suit everybody. . How can Ferdinand Reed pay his debts if he shall be beaten for the Council? His creditors should unite in his support, thus assuring a major ity in the primary for that rising statesman. His creditors really ought not to worry Ferdinand Reed until after he shall be elected to the Council. Just think what so thrifty a fellow as Reed can do on a salary of $25 per month. The proud father of thirty-five chil dren a Spaniard, by the way In San Francisco, Is grieving because he can not buy a baby buggy. He is only 70 and the old buggy is worn out. In the language of the National game, it would be well for Republi cans to keep their eye on the ball to day. The "reformers" demand a "better" Portland. Now wouldn't that jar you? Better than the Lane administration? There is little need to worry about rain. The deficiency will be made up Fourth of July afternoon. Rushlight and redlight have it. There you BRILLIANT WORK IN BASEBALL Remarkable Half Issisg in Which the Cabs Won New Honor. Magazine Article by H. S. Fullerton. Generalship by the manager is not all. A good team needs the fewest orders, and what perhaps was the most brilliant half inning ever played in a ball game. ' from the standpoint of headwork and perfect execution, was one in which the managers had small part. That inning was the last half of the fourth Inning of the game between Detroit and Chicago on October 13 the game that practically decided the world's championship series. Chicago had made two runs in the third inning, and, with Brown pitching, ap peared to be winning easily until O'Leary and Crawford opened Detroit's half of the fourth inning with line singles to left, putting runners on first and second bases with none out. and Cobb, the best batter in the American League, at bat. O'Leary is fast, Cobb is extremely fast, and Cobb Is a natural and almost perfect bunter. Everyone knew that Cobb intended to bunt the ball, and that failure to either retire him or one of the other runners probably meant victory for Detroit. Jen nings, Detroit's manager, sent Cobb to bat with instructions to bunt toward third base. They knew that Brown in tended to make the play to third base to force O'Leary. and the coachers were signaled to make O'Leary take as much lead toward third base as possible and to start running as the ball was pitched. Browjn, a past master in field general ship, as well as execution, walked over to Steinfeldt at tnird base and said: "An chor yourself to that bag. the ball Is coming there." Kling signaled for a fast ball close to the batter at his waist. It was his plan to have Cobb miss the ball on his first attempt to bunt and then, by a quick throw to Tinker on second, to catch O'Leary on the 'base. Brown shook his head and signaled Kling his inten tion to pitch a curve ball low and at the outside corner of the plate. Cobb was hoping that Brown would pitch precisely that kind of a ball, and Brown knew that Cobb was hoping for it, and it was Brown's plan to force Cobb to do exactly what he was most anxious to do to make a perfect bunt and toward third base. Brown pitched perfectly, and Cobb bunted perfectly, 30 feet toward third base and aoout five feet Inside the foul line. As Brown pitched he went forward at top speed, "following the ball through," and he was in front pt the ball when it bounded along. Still running he scooped the sphere, and, whirling, made a terrific throw straignt to Steinfeldt and O'Leary was forced out by 13 feet on a seemingly impossible play, executed chiefly because -Crown knew exactly what Cobb would do. Chance's magnificent machine was not through. Knowing that the failure of that play would "rattle" the Tigers they Instantly seized the psychological situa tion. Kling gave a quick signal for a fast lnshoot across Rossman's shoulders, and Brown, without waiting for Detroit to rally and plan a play, drove the ball fast and high. Bossman struck at the ball and missed it. Like a flash Kling hurled the sphere toward second base. Tinker met it at top speed, touched Craw ford three feet from the base and stand ing still, and Detroit was beaten and in a panic. An instant later as Rossman struck out, Kling threw to second, and Evers, leaping, stuck up one hand, dragged dowu the ball, and while des cending touched Cobb as he slid. The big crowd, frenzied over the brilliant series of plays, and only half understand ing them, cheered for five minutes. HOW TO HANDLE FLY NUISANCE. Timely Hints to Dwellers of Cities and the Country. Keep the flies away from the ill, espe cially those ill with contagious diseases. Kill every fly that strays Into the sick room. His body is covered with disease germs. Do not allow decaying material of any sort to accumulate on or near your prem ises. All refuse which tends in any way to fermentation, such as bedding straw, pa per waste and vegetable matter, should be disposed of or covered with lime or kerosene oil. Screen all food. Keep all receptacles for garbage care fully covered and the cans covered or sprinkled with oil or lime. Keep all stable manure in vault or pit. screened or sprinkled with lime, oil or other cheap preparation. See that your sewage system is in good order; that it does not leak, is up to date and not exposed to flies. Pour kerosene into the drains. Cover food after a meal; burn or bury all table refuse. Screen all food exposed for sale. Screen all windows and doors, especially the kitchen and dining-room. Burn pyrethrum powder in the house to kill Ihe flies. Don't forget if you see flies, their breed ins place is in nearby filth. It may be behind the door, under the table or in the cuspidor. If there Is no dirt and filth there will be no flies. If there is a nuisance in the neighbor hood write or telephone at once to the health aeparcment. WASHINGTON'S ANTI-TIP LAW It Is Based On the Broad American principle of Fair F-Iay. Ohio State Journal. The State of Washington has abolished the tip in hotels, dining cars and other public places. The new law makes both the giving and receiving of a tip a mis demeanor and imposes a heavy fine. It is sometimes a pleasant thing to give a tip, where it amounts simply to an ap preciation, but when one feels it to be an exaction, which it has got to be, he is very apt to be mad about it. Analyzed, it Is simply contributing to the proprietor to help him pay wages. The tip always figures in the rate of wages, whether it is mentioned or not. It often happens that the customers pay an employe more money than the pro prietor does. And this tip never reduces the price of the meal or whatnot a sin gle penny. It serves rather to increase it. The higher the price the surer the tip. But the law is based on a broader con sideration than this, and that is fair play. When a man pays 75 cents or $1 for a meal he is entitled to aa full and agreeable service as any man, but he doesn't get it if the other man tips the servant. This is an invasion of the com mon rights of citizenship. The law should secure equal rights to every man with out a cent additional cost. There is a public function in a hotel and dining car, which the law should be see is per formed without discrimination for or against any man. That is the doctrine of a republic. A FEW SQUTBS. Many a girl thinks she has broken her heart when she has only sprained her im agination. Life. "How much time do you spend in your auto?" "About half as mucb as I spend under it." Judge. "No man should write poetry until he Is fully matured." "Right. And after that he'll be ashamed to." Cleveland Leader. Barber (rather slow) Beg pardon, sir, but your hair is turning a bit gray. Victim Shouldn't wonder. Look at the time I've been here. Chicago Daily News. ''It is said that those immense hanging gardens In Babylon were really a myth." "I can imagine how it started." "How?" "Some visitor from Baalec probably saw a woman with a new Spring hat." He Tou remember the moon'lght night, 25 years ago, when I proposed? She Yes, indeed. He We set there for more than an ' hour and you never opened your iips. She Tee. dear. He That was the hap piest hour of my life. Cleveland Leader. "Yes," said the suburbanite as he wield ed a hoe, "I am fond of poultry dinners." "Then it is a wonder you don't raise chick ens intead of flowers?" remarked the mu tual friend. "Oh. what's the use? My neighbors raise the chickens." Cleveland Xaily News. . WHY POETS DON'T POETIZES NotfalnnT In It, and So Pesasus la De serted. ELMIRA. Or., May 7. (To the Edi tor.) I saw an editorial in a recent is sue of The Oregonian lamenting the dearth of poets, and it asked if any has the fire devine in him, why doesn't it come out? I think I can tell a few of the rea sons. Poets nowadays are not appre ciated. Many poems, I might say thou sands, are written and put away and never read only by a few special friends. Why? For instance. I know a woman who writes beautiful song poems, and she answered an advertise ment calling for such poems, and was ' told to send samples of her work. She I did so. and her poems were accepted i with enthusiasm, the critics saying they j would set the poems to music at once, as they were Just the kind they were looking for. But the critics also re marked that they ceuld not advance any cash until they had seen more of her work, etc. She sent other poems, but was told that the first was not quite ready for publication yet. and she was put off from time to time and never received a dime in payment for her work. Other firms "worked the same game" and published these songs and made all the profit themselves, while the author received nothing. Then a flood of let ters from other firms came, saying that they were informed she was a writer of very popular verses and that they wished to engage her to write songs for them, at a good salary. But it was the same old story. Many others writers are being served likewise, and the pub lishers are reaping the profits. Natur ally, the poets become discouraged; and discouragement is not an aid to genius. Poets flourish in a happy atmosphere, not a saddened one. Some magazine editors tell them that they are flooded with so much "stuff" that it would hardly be worth while to send it in, and so on, until it is not any wonder that few poets care much for their genius. They have to lay it aside for work that will bring them a living, and are too busy and lacking in funds to at tempt having books published. GRACE WILSON. REGULATING OPENING OF DRAWS. Three Simple and Inexpensive Singf tions That Will Work Reform. PORTLAND, May 7. (To the Editor.) Residents of the East Side will very earnestly Indorse your editorial of this morning, "Worse Than a Nuisance." The present habits of steamboatmen menace the convenience of 100,000 people.- No sensible person will fail to take into account the importance of the river traffic. But no financial in Jury would result to shipping interests were some suitable regulations enacted as to hours and conditions of opening the draws and the like. The Burnside bridge is bad enough, but the Steel bridge is the limit. The bridge-keepers seem to dwell in perpetual fear that the master of some scow should be obliged to wait a minute, while the car, team and foot passengers who use the bridge in such great numbers are re garded as a barely necessary evil. The nomads of the stream, in charge, per haps, of a tub of mud, choose 6 o'clock as a suitable time to carry their cargo to its destination. -The other evening the Steel bridge was thrown open for an ordinary gaso line launch, which happened to have a mast. The mast could have been un stepped in a minute by either of the three occupants of the craft. But they lolled in the boat and Jeered at the large number of people kept waiting on the bridge. The East Side people need help in this matter, and if The Ore gonian will take the lead, surely an un derstanding fair and proper can be reached. The main points would seem to be: First Closing the bridge in the busy hours. Second Requiring the smaller river craft to have hinged smokestacks. Third The employment of active persons as bridge-tenders, instead of making the bridge offices political boneyards. E. SMITH. "Fifty-four Forty or Fight." This was a cry that concerned all Oregon once, but it was a politician's cry, because the Democratic party that controlled the country then (1844-45) was under direction ' of men who cared more for slave territory then than for free territory, and the cry of "Fifty-four Forty or Fight" was merely a political Juggle. However, the fol lowing letter, by Mrs. S. J. Loupy, of New York, published in the New York Times of April 28, 1909, contains mat ter of interest: Owing- to the popularity of Mr. Emerson Hough's semi-historical novel, "54-40 or Fight," which has been recently published, it will perhaps Interest many of his readers to learn that the originator of that cry was my grandfather. Governor Samuel Medary, of Ohio, editor and statesman. I quote the following from Llpplncott's Biographical Dictionary: "Probably no man enjoyed the confidence and warm personal esteem of the President (Jackson) to a greater extent than Mr. Medary. The political cry of '54-40 or Fight,' relating to the Oregon boundary line, is said to have been originated by him, and he became the warm personal friend of Stephen A. Douglas from his sup port of that measure." Mr. Emerson is to be praised for giving to the novel-reading public bits of our country's history woven in his romances. It is well to mak3 us fa miliar with the great men who have pre ceded us. . Polk County Hills for Nut Trees. DALLAS, Or., May 6. (To the Edi tor.) The purpose of this letter is to state a few facts concerning this por tion of Oregon as a fruit and nut re gion. It is a fact that the hills are the home of the nut. While the bottom lands will grow the tall hazel bush, it is on the hills the nuts yield in abun dance. The hill orchards never fail of a crop. When frosts will kill in the valley land, the hill orchards escape, for they are above tine frost line. Last Winter the cold killed many of the young wainut and other trees In many places in the valley, while the young orchards in the hills escaped. This portion of the valley is especially adapted to prunes. cherries, grapes, and in very many places peaches grow to perfection. The prune industry is growing all of the time, and ten acres in prunes five years old is well worth $500 an acre. The boom prices have not hit us yet, but the values are here. The fact that very many of the old settlers are plant ing new prune and filbert orchards is proof that the industry pays. We have the largest filbert orchard in the state. Come up and we will show you the walnuts, grapes, peaches, filberts, al monds, apples and berries. GLEN O. HOLMAN. The Editor and Hia Position. The States, New Orleans. A rscent press dispatch announced that Mr. Harvey W. Scott, editor of The Port land Oregonian. who was appointed by President Taft to be Ambassador to Mex ico, has declined the honor after due con sideration. It is well to remark that Mr. Scott's decision is meeting with the hearty approval of his professional brethren throughout the country, among whom there is a growing recognition of the fact that the acceptance of a political office by an editor is a serious mistake, unless he has determined to permanently aban don his calling. Woman's New Hat luestion. New York Morning Telegraph. A few years ago they used to ask: "Is my hat on straight?" Now they inquire: "Is my hat on crooked?" Life's SunnySide The young wife of a Kaslo, B. C, man. who is not especially sweet-tempered, one day approached her lord concerning the matter of $100 or so. "I'd !ike to lot you have it. my dear," began the husband, "but the fact is I haven't that amount in the bank this morning that is to say. I haven't that amount to spare, inasmuch as I must take up a note for $200 this afternoon." "Oh, very well. James." said the wife, with an ominous calmness, "if you think the man who holds the note can make things any hotter for you than I can why, do as you say, James." Kaslo Kootenain. An Englishman had been to the Boer war and lost an arm. a leg. an eye, an ear, and his nose. He was sitting on the pavement begging when an Irishman came ilong. After looking at the Eng lishman a few minutes, he firopped a nickel Into the beggar's cup and walked on. In a minute he was back and dropped a dime into the cup; after starting away again he returned and dropped a quar ter Into the cup and without hesitation dropped in a half dollar, which he fol lowed by a dollar. At this the Englishman said, "My friend, why do you give me so much monev V" "Well, Oi'll tell yez," said the Irish man. "Oi niver saw an Englishman trimmed up to suit me before, and Ci'm willin' to pay well for it." The House keeper. They had their usual quarrel as they sat by the hearth. On one side lay quiet ly a blinking dog and on the other a purring cat. The old woman pleaded with ner growling husband: "Yust look at dat gat und tog; dey never quarrels and tights like us." "Yah." said the old growler, "I know dot; but yust tie dem together once, and fien you see blazes." Exchange. "How did the Queen of Sheba travel when he went, to see Solomon?" asked a Sunday school teacher. No one ventured to answer. "Could she have gone by the railway?" "Yes'm," said a little -girl. "Indeed! Well, we would like to know how you found this out?" "In the second verse," responded the child, "it savs she came with a great train." Tit-Bits. This story is told of the late Robert McTurk, who for many years was the leading citizen of Williams Bridge, which was a New York suburb: At tho time of annexation Mr. McTurk was treasurer of the town and ex-officio treasurer of the sewer fund. The comp troller of Greater New York sent the police to Williams Bridge to get the funds, but Mr. McTurk was at Hot Springs Ark., at the time, and there was no record of the $176,000 he held in his custody. When he came back to the city, a few months later, he went to the comp troller's office one day m and handed to Comptroller Fitch a draft for $176,000. Comptroller Fitch was greatly surprised, because, he said, he had found no record of so much money being in the Williams Bridge treasury. "I can take the money," said he, "but I cannot discharge your bondsmen." Mr. McTurk replied that he had never been required to give a bond. "That's strange," replied the comp troller. "They make me put up bends aggregating nearly $1,000,000 here in the city." "Well." replied the grocer, "we elect only honest men in Westchester County, and we do not require any security from them." New York Sun. Sammy is a sturdy little chap of four, whose father is a firm believer in open air exercise. Recently he took the young ster for a short walk in the suburbs that is, short for the father, but a little stren uous for Sammy. When they came home his mother a'sked the boy if he were tired. "Not all over," said Sammy, with start ling originality. "My legs are tired, so I guess I'll put them to bed, but I'll stay up myself." Baltimore American. "I'm sure my daughter is going to make a great singer some day." "Is that so?" "Yes, she's always quarreling with her mother, who tells me It is abso lutely impossible to manage her." De troit Free Press. "What became of that young man who sought your hand in marriage at the seashore last Summer?" asked the dear girl who had been abroad. "Oh." replied the fair one who had remained at home. "I have him under my thumb now." Chicago News. Small Boy Mamma sent me to get a hairbrush for her. Druggist What kind does she want? Small Boy I don't know; but I want one with a soft back. Exchange. Uncle Caleb Have you named your dog yet, Clarence? Little Clarence Yes, sir; I called him after you. Uncle Caleb That isn't complimen tary. Little Clarence Oh, well, he hasn't got sense enough to care. Exchange. LATEST NOVELTY t THE 'TAFT II OS FT It Is Made of Silk, for the Adornment of Summer Dresses. Philadelphia Evening Telegraph. There is a novelty in the market for all feminine lovers of dress, which, aside from its beauty and charm of adornment, possesses an unusual interest in the fact that it has been commented upon, ad mired and, in fact, indorsed by no less a personage than the President's wife, Mrs. Taft. A prominent society woman of this city Invented the "Taft rose," for by this name it will be known, Mrs. Taft gra ciously giving the permission to have the rose named after her, in a personally written note to the inventor. The rose itself is made of taffeta, the petals being cut and shaped, wired, stitched and turned. Most of them show two or three shades of silk, blending in soft, beautiful tones. Their instigator, who is an artist, displays this fact in her selection of colors and blending, and each is an ob ject of beauty. The roses are about eight inches in diameter. The "Taft rose" makes its initial ap pearance today, and it is expected that it will then be one of the most popular hat adornments of the Summer. Of course there will be attempts to copy them, but the inventor has had them patented, her license covering every city in the United States and- every feature of their make up. Every rose shows the date of the patent on the back of the last petal. A Dividend Payer. Chicago News. 1 own no blocks of bonds or stocks. Of houses neither have I any. My purse is fat I mean by that I've dollars few, my bills are many. Some plutocrats might call me poor; Perhaps they'd jeer, perhaps ignore m; And yet I feel that I have more Than all their riches here before me. My fine estate is far from great In acreage, but rich and ample; Of crops I've more than half a score. Of others, too, at least a sample. I have a Jungle that is rife "With prowling monsters predators'; When I make war on them the strife Might well be stigmatized as gory. At 5 o'clock P. M. I lock My office door and hasten hither. With spade and hce to work I go And make the weeds and cutworms wither. This farm Is but a backyard bed. Yet here I grow a priceless measure Of peaceful thought, clear heart, clear head. Of hunger, health and harmless pleasure.