Morning Oregonian., August 06, 1909, Page 8, Image 8

rf HE 3IORXIXG OREGONIAX, FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 1909.
8
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PORTLAND. FRIDAY. AUGUST 6, 10.
THE TARIFF BILL. '
It cannot be pretended that the
tariff bill. In the form In which it has
come forth from the conference, is a
fulfilment of the demand for reduction
of the tariff. The demand, however,
was not universal. Some wanted more
protection; some Insisted on less. Some
thought only of tariff for revenue. The
result Is a compromise, by which,
however, the extreme protectionists,
though partly defeated, still retain too
much.
Such reductions as have been ef
fected are chiefly due - to President
Taft. From the point of view of those
who Insisted on reduction, he seemed
during the progress of the session and
debate too slow. But it is not his na
ture to be dictatorial, or even ag
gressive. He waited, while the House
and Senate wrangled. Finally, when
the conference between them was or
dered, he did speak. Then his voice
was against the scheme of the Senate.
Even the scheme of the House did not
meet his approval, because it did not
provide reduction enough. But the
, schedule" framed by the House -was
some approximation to his view, and
he saw the Influence of the House
must be used against that of the
power of the Senate, If there was to
be any change. In the direction of re
duction. , The effect of the bill on parties and
politics cannot be predicted. The
country Is devoted to the protective
principle, so-called, but wishes to limit
the excesses demanded In its name.
Particular districts. In one part of the
country or another, will be affected,
according to the Interests of their elec
torate. It can't ;be foreseen what will
happen. Probably the next House of
Representatives will be Democratic
that is. nominally Democratic, yet not
less favorable to the protection of
particular Interests or combination!
than the present one.
The corporation tax Is not a just
tax. and it will not help the Republi
can party. It is only a partial and
lop-sided Income tax an income tax
that must be paid by part of the peo
ple, while others are exempt. It will
make a degree of Ul-feellng against
the Administration and the Republi
can party in quarters from which large
support heretofore has been derived.
The true principle Is tariff for reve
nue, not for protection though pro
tectlon may be an Incidental thing of
accidental consequence. But realiza
tion of tariff for revenue, as a prin
ciple. Is yet a long way off. If one
party or the other stood for It destlnct
ly. it would presently win. But the
Democratic party has become a pro
tectionist party also.
OVERDUE RAILROADS.
It Is hard to find anybody who
doubts that there will be enough busi
ness for all the participants," says
the New York Financial Chronicle in
discussing the rapidly increasing rail
road mileage In the Pacific Northwest.
The Chronicle presents some inter
esting figures which show with strik-'
lng clearness the manner in which this
territory has been neglected by the
railroads. Nevada, Montana and
Utah have not very much In common
with Oregon. Washington, Idaho and
California, but in grouping them the
Chronicle finds that the total amount
of railway mileage built between 1900
and 1905 by these seven states was
2388 miles, which is at the rate of
one mile of new railroad for each 317
square miles of territory,. As a fur
ther Illustration of the result of this
lack of transportation facilities, it is
stated that the population of the
group of states is but .4 persons per
square mile of territory, compared
with nearly 400 to the square mile in
the State of Massachusetts.
While the Chronicle admits that
""These productive states, relatively
empty of people, have for many years
been facing the dilemma that they
could not get Inhabitants until more
railways were built and they could
get no more railroads until the coun
try was more densely inhabited," it
makes an erroneous deduction as to
the reason for this Central Oregon
deadlock, which is specifically men
tioned. Discussing this district the
Chronicle says:
Everybody has realixed that the time
for development of this Interior country wns
coming before long: but many years elapsed
before the demand for the raw materials
reached a point sufficient to Insure a de
velopment of this replon which would guar
antee further railroad building; there. At
the present time this development hangs In
the balance, and a very slight Increase in
lumber and ore value "would be sufficient to
bring about a large development of interior
and Southern Oregon and the, adjacent coun
try. "Lumber and ore values" have had
little or nothing to do with retarding
the growth of Central Oregon, or in
keeping a railroad out of that coun
try. Grain, livestock, dairying and
fruit will be the great staples in that
neglected region as soon as there is
railroad transportation and there is
nothing in the price of any of these
commodities, nor has there been for
several' years anything to indicate that
the country was over-supplied with
them. Conservative men who are fa
miliar with the greatest railroadless
region in the United States, estimate
the po.sslble wheat yield of Central
Oregon at nearly 20.000,000 bushels.
As there Is. and has been for two
years, a world-wide shortage In this
most Important cereal, there Is no
reason for railroad men to assume
that there would be no market for
that which might be produced In Cen
tral Oregon.
Much the same condition obtains
In th" lumber traffic. The greater
part of the timber In the new field
Is pine, the supplies of which are so
near exhaustion In the Middle "West
that the price, is almost beyond the
reach of ordinary consumers. The
Central Oregon pine could be manu
factured Into lumber, and sold in the
East at rates far below hose paid
for the remnants of the Michigan and
Wisconsin "pineries," and still leave
a handsome profit to the manufactur
ers. The Chronicle errs in stating
that the time for the development of
Central Oregon Is "coming before
long." The time Is here and now.
FRAUD IN OREGON AND INDIANA.
Direct primaries in Indianapolis yes
terday were full of fraud and perjury.
Bribery was charged openly, and Re
publican primaries were invaded by
Democrats and Democratic primaries
by Republicans. This Invasion of rival
primaries by voters who would rule
nominations of an opposing party
marks the weakness and the failure of
the direct primary system. Direct pri
maries in Oregon have developed the
same fraud, perjury and disruption of
party.
Oregon's registration books bulge
with Democratic perjurers, who regis
tered as Republicans, in order to par
ticipate in Republican nominations.
There have been practically no con
tests for Democratic nominations, in
this state, except for a few local of
fices, therefore. Republicans have not
desired to register as Democrats, while
Democrats, by thousands, have taken
a hand In Republican nominations and
been a large factor In the nomination
of candidates unsatisfactory to the ma
jority of Republicans. In the Republi
can primaries of 1908, Democrats
voted for Cake for United States Sen
ator and probably gave him his 2000
majority over Fulton, for the Repub
lican nomination. Then they turned
about, and supported their own candi
date, Chamberlain, in the general elec
tion; voted for "Statement One" Re
publican candidates for the Legisla
ture, who were pledged by the state
ment to Chamberlain; carried, with
the aid of a big Republican faction
that didn't want Cake, the general
election for Chamberlain, and forced
"Statement One" Republicans In the
Legislature to redeem their "'pledge"
and elect the "people's choice." It
was a Jumble of politics such as never
before seen all made possible by the
fraud and confusion of direct primar
ies and consequent disruption of party.
Many thousands of Democrats in
Oregon, who registered as Republi
cans, .In order o vote in Republican
primaries on United States Senator,
candidates for the Legislature and as
pirants .for minor offices early last
year, showed their true colors in the
vote for President in November fol
lowing. The total Republican vote for
President fell short of the Republican
registration in this state 23.866. while
the Democratic vote exceeded the
Democratic registration 6781. In
Portland the Republican vote for
President fell short of the registration
11,411 while the Democratic vote ex
ceeded the Democratic registration
2797. The Taft majority was so large
that this Democratic fraud had no
effect on the result of Oregon's electoral
vote; but it will be seen from the
shifting of the Democratic figures
that, had the Taft-Bryan contest in
this state been close, or been involved
In local factional strife, like the elec
tion of United States Senator or Gov
ernor, Democrats might easily have
given the Btate to Bryan, through op
portunities afforded by direct pri
maries. Such political trickery con
stitutes perjury under the Oregon laws
and probably also under the laws of
Indiana. But laws cannot prevent the
practice. Indiana will have to get
along as best it can with the evil. The
onlv correcting influence is that of the
assembly, or convention, as was the
case in the last election In Portland.
Republicans and Democrats cannot
manipulate nominations of a rival
party in an open convention as they
can In a secret primary.
O VERES TIM ATED ORIENTAL TRADE.
roiAOT'anViir Advices renort & very
.tiiBtHf"
enthusiastic meeting In San Francisco
woHneaHav. in which United States
Consul Wilder, of Shanghai, William
Martin, holding a similar post at nan
i Tnnnir .KwaL. orominent in
business and diplomatic circles In the
Far East, gave a glowing account oi
the possibilities for trade with the
tr.aaf Ynunar Kwal assured the
Callfornlans that "China wants Amer
ican commerce and the United States
can get it by going after it. Cata
logues and drummers do not do much
good. Resident agents, are needed,
-..one tn a n ii f a ctn red nroducts
wheat, flour, cotton goods, railroad
machinery." Toung K.wai is un
ri,,Ktoiv riirht in his statement that
catalogues and drummers are not the
best trade stimulants, ana ne raigni
ilso have Included in tne list, - "
i very few exceptions, American Con
mis. But, all boosting statements to
he contrary notwithstanding, the Orl-ti-ario
l in manv respects much
less attractive to Americans than we
have been led to believe that it was.
rr a c-onntrv that has nothing bet
ter in the way of a market, the Orient
111 do very well, and in oun times,
kn nthoi- countries are not buying
very freely from us, the Oriental trade
worth cultivating, but It nas always
been overestimated. James J. Hill
K,,nt tTcr of the lamest freighters in
the world because somebody told him
that the Orientals were shifting from
rice to a flour diet, ana mat ne
ould shortly be called on to trans-
por
rt across the Pacltlc neany an 01
the
enrnliia wheat that could be
.no-ori fmm this country. But It was
Impossible to secure enough flour or
any other cargo to keep the big ships
in more than ballast trim for the
greater part of their voyages.
loung Kwal assures us that the
Orient wants wheat, flour, etc. More
than nine-tenths of all the flour used
in the Far East is shipped from Port
land and Puget Sound. The trade for
this flour has been built up by resi
dent agents, and it has been worked
to the limit. That "limit" has been
determined exclusively by the price,,
and not by the persuasive powers of
the resident agent or the Mongolian
appetite for flour. Three years ago,
with poor markets at home and In
Europe, flour manufacturers in the
Pacific Northwest dumped large quan
tities of flour In the Orient, and the
fiscal year ending June 30. 1907,
showed exports trom i-omana ana
Puget Sound amounting to 4,101,197
barrels. A year later the total was
but 2.535 S88 barrels. All this time
flour was very cheap, but, when the
season of 1908-09 opened, wheat was
high and the home demand took it up
at prices much higher than the Orien
tals would pay. As a result the total
shipments for the year ending June
30. 1909, were only 1.451.706 barrels,
and with the new season already well
under way the bookings for early
shipment are smaller than they were
last year. ....
We some day work un trade
with China on a scale outlined by
Toung Kwal and the enthusiastic
American Consuls who were dined
with him In California, but it will not
reach its maximum until the teeming
millions of which we hear so much
have a buying capacity much nearer
Inkeeplng with that of our own mil
lions than is now the case. The over
shadowing reason why the Americans
take less interest in Oriental trade or
any foreign trade than is shown by
some other countries is because we
have an enormous- market right here
at home, and yet are not obliged to
go beyond the sea and rustle up cus
tomers among a people whose workers
do not earn as much in a month as the
American workman's family spends In
a week. Meanwhile China nor any
other country need want for American
wheat, flour, cotton or any other
product. If they have the price of the
article, and they will also find our
resident agent on the ground, willing
to show samples.
THE MORAL WAVE AGAIN.
District Attorney Cameron mani
fests profound concern for the moral
welfare of Portland's North End. That
Is highly commendable. . As Police
Judge it will be recalled that Mr. Cam
eron sternly set the face of Justice
against and laid the hand of the law
on all violators of the moral code
from that part of the city. All parts,
indeed. The high rectitude displayed
by the Police Judge In dealing with
loose women and looser men will un
doubtedly be the dominant note In
the administration of the District At
torney's office. On no other theory
can the activity of the District Attor
ney in interfering with the plans of
Mayor Simon for the control of the
disorderly elements of the North End
be understood. And as to Constable
Lou Wagner, who is so severely
shocked by what he has discovered
among these lawless denizens of the
red-light district, no one can be sur
prised at his open stand for decency
and order. Constable Wagner has al
ways been a beacon-light of rigid and
upright conduct in office and, of
course, the District Attorney's office
was Justified in leaning on the strong
right arm of the beacon-light so to
speak to carry out its orders.
There are persons who have favored
a designated district for the habita
tions of these women, and these per
sons would make a great deal of
money out of rentals, and otherwise,
if they could "stand in" with the au
thorities and could get the authorities
to "stand in" with them. If they could
commit the Mayor to such a policy It
would be a great thing for them and
for their Infamous schemes. But they
cannot. If they could persuade the
District Attorney to embark on some
plan to force the Mayor into such an
arrangement, they would likewise
profit much. Happy indeed is Port
land, that it has a District Attorney
and a Constable who will not fall into
such a trap.
COWARDICE ON PARADE.
It is seldom, indeed, that a story so
harrowing as that which came from
the caves of Josephine County Tues
day, shocks and appals the commu
nity more seldom, to the credit of
humanity be it said, that human cow
ardice so strenuously strives with the
major incident in the tragedy for first
place In the scene. It was an act of
Imprudence, in the first place barren
of any possible result, either in pleas
ure or discovery for a party made up
as was this one, of two men with a
like number each of women and chil
dren, to attempt the exploration of a
cave, of the extent and possible ten
ants of which they knew nothing. The
very fact that the man who lost his
life carried into the darkness of the
cave a revolver, shows that the
thought of possible danger and need
of defense was entertained. The ac
cidental discharge of the weapon with
fatal results to the man who carried
It in darkness, relieved only by the
weird light of torches, was a not sur
prising Incident. The concussion of
the shot followed by the dull thud of
the falling body, the cry of "mur
der," the groans of the wounded man,
.hrlaba nf Vila terrified Wife and
the reverberation of all these uncanny
sounds through tne rocK-waneo. cave,
f.irrvtohori a o-rewsnme scene, truly. But
though terror reigned and death super
vened, the climax or tne trageay was
only reached when the only man in
ka Ttawv ATrunt the one fatally
wounded, fled precipitately from' the
place, followed by all except the wife
of the unfortunate victim, taking the
torches and falling to return to tne
rescue or give the alarm.
Well may fear be accounted the
mAst Vi n rr i H l is n f thn humsn emotions.
ftnd fright one of the most utterly
senseless tricks that tony piays upon
human intelligence. An animai in
stinct, pure and simple, it finds pond
erous, unmeaning, unreasoning ex
pression in the stampede of a hera;
r.ttftii bvnresslnn in the aimless flight
and terrorized screams of a frightened
child; and most tgnoDie expression in
the abandonment, as In the Instance
under consideration, of a companion
wounded unto death, at, tne oenesi oi
a mocking echo of the fleeing man s
own voice crying "murder."
Of course, the man guilty ot aim-
oning to his fate his comrade is
thorouKhly, even desperately asnameu
of his cowardly action. This state of
mind may be presumed to De now
more unenviable than at the time
n.v. V- iii the cave Dursued by the
furies of fear, since then it was one of
utter unreason, while now it is one of
shame and self-reproach the cring
ing after-thought of an ignoble act.
Humanity will regard him in his hid
ing with a degree of pity, even though
It. censure him boldly. The victim of
the Ill-considered expedition being be
yond reach or need of compassion, this
may be given in full measure to the
ost unfortunate memDer oi tne party
-the young wife who endured all but
roi nerhaDs more than mortal
agony In her abandonment In this
with her fatally
wounded husband, by the poltroon who
did not even find voice alter ne nau
made Kood his retreat to make known
her terrible plight.
Henceforth the wonderful caves of
Josephine County will contain a cham
jnHiKiieii to horror, glorified by
womanly heroism, its place of exit
shadowed by cowardice, it may De
hoped at least that its story will deter
men who are unnttea tor me in.
from again attempting to explore it,
accompanied by women and children,
not less adequate to the attempt than
themselves.
A California man has just been
cured of rheumatism by submitting
himself to the stings of bees. The
experiment opens up great possibili
ties in a hitherto unexplored field of
scientific research. If the sting of the
ordinary honey bee will cure rheuma
tism, why will not the sting of the
mosquito alleviate the sufferings of the
gout victim. Or, can we not reason
ably expect a few touches from the
tail of the bumble bee to cure hay
fever. Following out a color scheme
in this new order of health restorers,
the sting of the yellow-Jacket, might
reasonably be expected to cure yellow
fever. Just what place in this new
order of things would be found for
the hornet, the bedbug, and a few
other "stingers" or "biters," is as yet
indistinct. We all know, however,
that the bite of the Hessian fly or the
chinch bug in a wheat field has won
derful curative powers on a sick wheat
market.
Put away your little hammer. Let
the rust consume it. Having the pri
mary law, which invites every man to
run for office, and with prohibition,
that will keep every man in the
straight and narrow way, we shall all
get on gloriously singing psalms
and anthems." What need to worry?
Virtue w ill bring its own reward, and
the whole community will get an up
lift. 'But let our farmers quit grow
ing things that may be converted to
vile uses, like hops, corn, barley and
apples. Even peaches. There's
"licker" In all these products. Shun
the appearance of evil, and, through
the direct primary, make every man a
candidate for office. If only we think
so, we can have angelic conditions,
right now. The direct primary and
prohibition will do the business. In
the last as In the first analysis every
body must be for reform.
Minnesota and North Dakota are
making -urgent appeals for 10,000 men
who - are needed to harvest the big
grain crops. There is- also a heavy
demand for harvest hands In a num
ber' of other big grain states where
harvest is on, and a loss will be suf
fered unless sufficient help can be
secured. In the Pacific Northwest,
there is the usual scarcity of harvest
hands, and there is also an unprece
dented demand for men on the new
railroad work In Oregon, Washington
and Idaho. It is noticeable, however,
that the ranks of the patriots who
save the- country by lounging in the
park through the day and orating on
the street corners at night are not
visibly thinned by this demand for
labor. Through good times and bad
times alike these loafing prophets of
evil are willing to do anything except
work for a livelihood.
Enterprising persons in the British
American maritime provinces are
seeking authority to develop the great
tidal power of the Bay of Fundy. The
numerous inlets and rivers of New
Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with
their extreme rise' and fall of tide fur
nish numerous opportunities for dams
and the development of water powers.
Without obstructing navigation, the
tidal flow can be. converted into a
power- sufficient to supply practically
all the commercial and industrial
needs of the adjacent communities.
The coast or Maine presents similar
opportunities and has already attract
ed the attention of progressive and
prospective manufacturers. This is
but another proof of the contention
that, as one source of power fails or
Is worked out, human ingenuity will
develop from Nature's supply another
to supplant It.
The idea of establishing a public
park in the Hawthorne grounds. East
Portland, has long time had the en
couragement and support of The Ore
gonian. It is a "close in" locality,
exactly suited to the central part of
the city, on the East Side. The sug
gestion of the central East Side clubs
that four blocks lying together, in the
tract, should now be bought by the
city, ought as it seems to The Orego
nian, to receive consideration. It is
said they can be bought for the aver
age value of other property in the
vicinity. The fine spring could be made
a feature, with all the beauty of a
fountain. It could be walled in and
converted Into a pool, overflowing into
an underground tube to the river. We
should be glad to see the Park Board
make inquiry as to the feasibility of
the purchase.
And now the astronomers are quar
reling over whether the .rnoon escaped
the earth or was captured out of space
by our planet. Through all ages chil
dren have cried for the moon, but
that hasn't thrown any light on the
subject, either.
Another "Joy ride" that extended
Into the email hours of the night has
proved disastrous a woman the vic
tim. "The best anecdote for pizon,"
sententlously observed the immortal
Mrs. Partington, "Is not to take the
abominable stuff." Just so.
Seattle Is greatly puzzled over Mrs.
Woodcock, and cannot understand It
that she has "no graft." Let Seattle
get well acquainted with Mrs. Wood
cock, and it will know more about
doing things for glory only.
An echlnate is a thing with prickles
on it. The word is a favorite of Sena
tor Bourne's. There are lots of echl
nates in Oregon politics and more
a-coming.
The public has heard nothing In the
present Thaw trial about the "angel
child." After all there is worse and
better even in a recital in which all
is vile.
Of a lot of "consumers" who roar
loudly about the pork-barrel tariff,
it might be asked. What do they con
sume? There's no tariff on breath.
A railroad passenger In the Siski
yous, declared the train too slow and
got off to make better time afoot.
Yes, he was crazy.
By proving Stanford White very
bad. Thaw's attorneys hope to prove
Thaw better. There rnay be some
thing in that.
It does not appear that Heney got
ae much money out of Uncle Sam as
the grafters did out of San Francisco.
This is the season of huckleberries
the kind which grow on bushes and
from which the name started.
coottia with its exposition, doesn't
get all the advertising; the Sutton
family halls from Portland.
This is the fine weather, not too
hot, some of us longed for when we
put off work last Winter.
The tariff has been revised all
right. Both upward and downward,
to suit all tastes.
Thii Summer is exasperating; It
isn't necessary to go away. pi ol
weather.
"I P TO" THE FARMER. '
How the Farmer Mar Promote Prohibi
tion Through the Land.
Columbia Chronicle (Dayton, Wash.)
An antl-booze league was organized
In Dayton Saturday for the" purpose of
taking .a vote on local option In the
county as soon as the legal formula
has been compiled with. The county
is as dry as a desert now so far as sa
loons or road-houses go, and" an elec
tion will not make It any dryer. It
will simply get the expression of the
people on the subject. This will cost
the county $1200. Since there are .no
saloons in the country the sentiment
seems to be already expressed, so
what good will an election do, only
to put $1200 of the county's money in
circulation. Another point is this:
Supposing an election Is held and the
county votes dry? Any citizen can
ship in all the liquor he chose for
his own use, so the sentiment, what
ever it may be, will not prohibit any
thing. An election at this time or in
the near future, would not create
enough dispute to get out a vote. There
is nothing to fight over. No Joints
to be closed and If there were, liquor
could still be shipped In to the con
sumer. If the farmers of this country wish
to hit the booze a good jolt, the hard
est blow they could hit would be to
cease raising barley, rye, corn, apples,
hops, etc Make these articles so scarce
that there would only be sufficient for
food. Plant your fields to grass and
raise cattle, sheep, hogs and goats.
Then ell your products to the beef
trust and then immediately all turn
to vegetarians. This method will not
only kill the booze manufacturles, but
will soon do up the beef trust and in a
year or so you will all have a fine lot
of cattle on hand to look at.
It will only be a few years until the
consumption of barley for feed will be
considerably curtailed. Automobiles
will be cheap and people who now own
horses will own- automobiles. Those
who now own automobiles will own air
ships. As soon as men begin to fly
cheaply and safely they will cease to
booze to any extent. A flight through
the air at 40 miles an hour will be suf
ficient intoxication for any one. So
there you are. The whole problem is
solved by the airship, so don't worry
any more about- your fool neighbor that
wants to drink himself to death in the
meantime.
Save the $1200 It will cost to hold
an election and apply it to putting the
roads In better condition for the auto
mobile, and the building of stations for
the coming airships.
ASSEMBLY SUGGESTIONS.
Remarks on the Apparent Feasibility
of the New Oregon Plan.
(Aberdeen (Wash.) World.
The condition that confronts Indian
apolis In its first trial of the direct
primary method of nomination is the
same sort bf thing that has confronted
nearly every state, city and community
when the change from the convention
to the direct method Is first instituted.
We have not suffered so badly in this
state because we have had the experi
ence of Oregon as a guide. We have
understood that the men best fitted for
public office would be backward in
injecting themselves into the cam
paign. For, uontrary to general opin
ion, not all men are self-seeking. In
Oregon the difficulty that Indianapolis
now finds has been overcome to a cer
tain extent by the' adoption of the
assembly plan wherein "suggestions"
for nominations are made. That has
done away with the feeling of re
luctance that has been displayed under
the direct system unadulterated. It
will probably come into more general
use. It certainly will If no better lot
than Indianapolis now has to choose
from shall be furnished for high office.
This faiftjre of the most competent
to seek office where the consent of no
boss is necessary, is really astonishing.
In the old convention days the best
men were not nominated because they
would not truckle to some ward heel
er or pay obeisance and tribute at the
throne of some domineering political
overlord. It had been hoped that the
direct method might alter that. It has
to an extent, but that It has been
changed for the better remains an open
question.
The direct system is still new. Doubt
less It has many imperfections. What
can be done under it Is not, perhaps,
as clearly understood as it will be in
time. Possibly with better acquain
tance, the men who ought to ask for
office will not hesitate to ask. In the
meantime, assembly suggestions pro
vide a way of relief. They furnish all
the benefits of organization without at
the same usurping dictatorship. Nom
inations are not closed. No candidate
can be shut out. The contest Is free
and fair. So It Is not likely that we
shall go back to the convention sys
tem for a long 'time. But It is likely
that steps will continue to be taken in
this state to prevent any such situation
as tnat in which Indianapolis now finds
itself.
Meter Gas Rates.
PORTLAND, Aug. 4. (To the Ed
itor.) After the bitter fight you made
against a municipal light plant, there
are thousands of people wondering why
you are silent about the Portland Gas
Company raising the minimum meter
rate at one jump a hundred por cent,
thereby levying a tax of at least $300,-
000 per annum on the citizens of this
city without the legitimate expenditure
of a single dollar.
It is needless to state that this sort
of highway robbery is the principal
cause for the rapidly growing desire
for municipal ownership of all public
utilities. There are thousands like my
self who would like to hear from you
editorially on this matter.
S. R AXWORTHY.
The Oregonlan made great efforts,
some years ago, to obtain legislative
regulation of gas rates in Portland; but
its efforts were not seconded nor sup
ported by the people of Portland, or by
their representatives in the Legisla
ture. Ever since it has supposed it had
a right to be satisfied, if they were.
Municipal light service, whether of
gas, or electricity, or both, would only
make the cost greater than now. In
these things the waste of public ad
ministration always exceeds the cost of
private service, whatever that cost
may be.
1 Perhaps and Perhaps.
Charleston (S. C) News and Courier.)
We see It in the papers, as Mr.
Dooley would say, that the Democrats
in Congress expect to capture the next
Congress, which shows that the Demo
crats in Congress do not know very
much about the Democrats outside of
Congress. Certainly, they should not
expect to capture anything on the
record they have made at the special
session.
National History and Politics.
Atlanta Constitution.
"D alligator," said Brother Williams,
"kin go six .months without eatln' a
bite o' anything, but he's too dead
stupid ter tell de secret ter de po' folks
er de settlement w'en de big trusts puts
bread an' bacon out o' de po' man's
reach." :
Classifying Bernard Shaw.
Kansas City Star.
George Bernard Shaw, the English au
thor and playwright, who regards himself
as the smartest man in tne worm, wim
nnn oia a close second, is to visit the
J United States soon.
VETERAN OF TWO WARS DIES
Henry Vogeli Buried With Grand
Army Honors at The Dalles. '
THE DALLES. Or., Aug. 6. (Special.)
The funeral of Henry Vogell, who died
at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Dan
Baker, 1220 Jackson street, this city, Tues
day night, was held from the Methodist
Church, of which denomination the de
ceased had -been a member for 50 years,
this afternoon. Rev. Melville T. Wire con
ducting the obsequies. Interment was in
the G. A. R. cemetery.
Henry Vogeli was born in Ruedi. Swit
zerland, March 22, 1827. and fought In the
war of 1S47 in that country. He came to
America when 23 years old, and went to
California from Nebraska In 1S76. going
shortly after to Ashland, Or., where he
resided up to eight years ago, when he
moved to The Dalles, to make his home
with his daughter.
" He enlisted In 4he United States Army
at Boonville. Mo., June 3H. 1SS1, and en
tered into service as a sergeant in Com
pany B. Boonevllle Battalion, Homo
Guards of Missouri, Volunteers, and was
honorably discharged at St. Louis, De
cember 29, 1S64. He was a member of
General Arthur Post," G. A. R., of Med
ford. Or.
Deceased is survived by four daughters
and one son. as follows, his wife having
died 20 years ago: Mrs. Dan Baker. The
Dalles; Mrs. Bert Williams. Toppenlsh,
Wash.; Mrs. W. Cushman. Trail. Jack
son County, Or.; Mrs. Wylie Weaver,
Shasta, Cal., and W. Vogeli, Medford, Or.
SEATTLE DEMOCRATS POUTING
Feel Slighted Because Governor.
Johnson Is Late to Reception..
SEATTLE, Wash., Aug. 5. (Special.)
There are two-score of prominent
local Democrats who are Inclined to be
peeved at what they deemed was a
slight on the part of Governor John A.
Johnson, of Minnesota. They will not
admit that they are angry or that they
will bolt the next Democratic National
ticket if Johnson heads It, or anything
like that, but they do, so far as strict
party loyalty will permit, mildly criti
cise the Gopher State Executive's ap
parent disregard for the arrangements
of his hosts.
The story of the local Democratic
discontent became known this morn
ing. Governor Johnson brought out
with him from St. Paul or Minneapolis,
John Dwan, a graduate of the Univer
sity of Michigan and a practicing at
torney in the vicinity of the Twin
Cities. Dwan Is Judge-Advocate-General
of the Minnesota National Guard.
He met his old friend and college chum,
John KelleherT a Seattle lawyer, and
Kelleher and Dwan framed up a nice
little Democratic reception for the
Minnesota Governor. The hour was set
at 5:30 P. M. Tuesday and the place In
the parlors of the New Washington
Hotel.
More than two-score of the flower of
the local Democracy were promptly on
hand. Governor Johnson was busy
elsewhere and came more than an hour
late, much to the embarrassment of his
Judge-Advocate-General.
OIL EXPLODES; MAX IS HURT
Harry Cayo Badly Mangled In Acci
dent at Camas.
VANCOUVER. Wash.. Aug. 5. (Spe
cial.) Evidently attempting to get the
pressure up In a hurry, Harry Cayo, 26
years old, threw a pail of oil under the
boiler at the Crown Columbia Pulp &
Paper Company's mill at Camas, at 4
o'clock this afternoon. The fire under
the boiler ignited the oil and caused an
explosion, hurling Cayo 30 feet through
the side of the building.
Workmen rushed to Cayo's assistance,
smothered the flames and took him to a
doctor. His face was so badly burned
that he was unable to be recognized.
Quicker than a flash Cayo must have
closed his eyes, so It Is thought his eye
sight will be saved. Cayo had been told
by another workman that oil had often
been thrown under the boilers. Cayo's
relatives reside in Portland.
WOMEN ASK PLACE OX BOARD
Want Representative on Park Com
mission in Spokane.
SPOKANE, Wash., Aug. 5. (Special.)
Appoint some woman a member or tne
city park commission. Name one who is
fully competent to carry on the work and
at the time devote considerable of her
time in devising means to beautify the
parks throughout the city.
With these points in view, members of
the Spokane Floral Association are fa
voring Mrs. John W. Gilson. president of
the association, as a member of the park
board. Mrs. Gilson has been connected
more than 12 years with the floral asso
ciation, an auxiliary to the Interstate
Fair.
"I believe a woman on the commission
would be a big help. If the place was
tendered me, I would devote much of my
time in an endeavor to make the parks
attractive and inviting," said she.
SCHOOL
FIGURES GROWING
North Yakima Makes Big Increase
During 1909.
OLYMPLV Wash., Aug. 6. (Special.)
H. B. Dewey, State Superintendent of
Public Instruction, has reports to show
that the school population is Increasing
rapidly; seven counties sending in reports
show an increase of 4800 children over a
year ago. six having an increase. Colum
bia shows a falling ofT, attributed to the
buying up of small farms by corporations.
Pierce shows a gain of 20S9, jumping
from 25,501 to 27,590; but Yakima gained
2039, its school population of 1909 being
9602. as against 7363 In 1908. This is an in
crease of almost one-third. Kittitas has
an increase of 355, Pacific of 298, Ferry of
26, and .Lincoln of 74, while Columbia
dropped back SI pupils. The latter also
has one less teacher now.
Perkins Will Stay in South.
HAT.TT"vr nr Aiisr. 5. (Soecial.) The
requisition of Governor Benson upon the
nf Arizona for Fred S. Per-
kins, wanted in Jackson County on a
serious charge, has Deen revoKea. xn a
leitor tn the Governor of Arizona Gov
ernor Benson states that recent develop
ments indicate tnat tne cnarges were not
made in good faith.
Pastor Takes New Charge.
CENTRALIA, Wash.; Aug. 5. (Spe
cial.) Rev. H. S. Black, pastor of the
Baptist Church of this city, tonight
made formal tender of his resignation
to take effect at the end of the month.
He has accepted a call from the Sec
ond Baptist Church of Portland.
Mr. Black has been with the Baptist
Church here over four years.
Veterans Go to Meeting.
vixpnt-vi?l) Ttrh Alter B. (Soe-
eial.) Five Civil War veterans Colonel
J. T. Gobs, Captain . r. nunon, a.
Swank, Ellas White and F. M. DeLong
left this evening for Salt Lake City,
where, they will attend the National
encampment of the G. A. R.
Assessment Values Increase.
ofDnrirv Wash. 'Aue 5. fSDeeial.)
The Increase for 1909 for assessments on
realty in cnenans v.uuhi-j es
corting toflgures completed tar the County
Assessor.
CLCB( WOMEN TRESPASSERS
Physical Director Sorely Distressed
by Their Actions.
SEATTLE. Wash.. Aug. 6. (Special.)
The Seattle Federation of Women's Clubs
has a blot on its escutcheon. Through its
agents last night It committed a grievous
act. Today the federation stands guilty
of quare clausum fregit, as the lawyers
say, and as Dr. D. C. Hall, physical di
rector at the University of Washington,
also says. From now on, as long as Dr.
Hall is in this city, the breach between
the Federation of Women's Clubs and the
University of Washington will remain
open.
The clubwomen last night broke Into
the college gymnasium to rehearse for
their fete to be given soon at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific
Exposition. The door was
not open, for the door of the gymnasium
Is generally kept closed at nteht. so the
Invaders broke and entered as trespassers.
But it gained them nothing. A few of
the young folks may have had a nice
time, but the directors, coaches and,lead
ere of the fete went away disappointed.
In vain they tried to turn on the lights,
but could not, so after a little gambol In
the darkness the young men and women
had to wend their way homeward.
Now Dr. Hall is angry, and says some
things about the women not altogether
to their liking. War Is declared.
ASSESSMENT FIGURES GROW
Valuation in Chehalis County Show
Marked Increase.
MONTESANO, Wash., Aug. 5. (Spe
cial.) County Assessor H. H. Carter has
finished his preparation of the tax rolls
for 1909, and the detail books are now
being examined by the Board of Equaliza
tion The rolls show the following
figures: Number of acres of land assessed
for 1909, 815,617. being an increase over
last vear of 8464 acres, which Is valued at
$8,014,973. while the timber lands alone
of the county are valued at $7,196,211. The
grand total of all land and improvements
for 1909 is placed at $11,915,084, an in
crease over 1908 of $72,114.
The personal property shows a slight
decrease this year for the reason that
the State Board of Tax Commissioners
making the assessments of telegraph,
telephones, electric railway, etc.. also
credits and notes not being assessed. Tne
total value of taxable personal property
for 1909 being $2,178,925, a decrease of
$53,674 over 1908.
HENEY JABS ONE AT TAWXEY
Prosecutor Says He Is Treading
Close on Congressman's Friends.
SEATTLE. Wash., Aug. 5. (Special.) 'I
have been treading too closely on the toes
of a number of Tawney's friends to please
the Minnesota Congressman. I am willing
to bet that if the records of the general
land office are examined it will be found
that Tawney was one of the fellows who
helped to get crooked claims expedited.
"Tawney thought that by discrediting
me he could pave the way to getting the
Oregon land fraud cases dismissed, there
by leaving his friends In possession of the
lands involved and also save his friend.
Binger Hermann, from beirug prosecuted
by me, whom they are afraid of."
The above statement was the curt an
swer that Francis J. Heney. the Son
Francisco graft prosecutor, made here
today to the attacks which have been
made against the prosecutor on the floor
of Congress by James A. Tawney, of
Minnesota.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS FAVORED
Railroad Engineers Prefer Them to
Acetylene.
OLYMPIA, Wash., Aug. 5. (Special.)
E. H. Stewart and George Barnhart, O.
R & N. engineers, and G. E. Foster, an
engineer on the Northern Pacific, testi
fied today before the Railroad Commis
sion as in favor of electric headlights
over acetylene. The electric headlight, in
the opinion of the engineers, is the only
light to be considered.
After the engineers had testified the
commission adjourned the hearing until
August 11, when Attorney L. C. Gilman,
of the Great Northern, will appear.
ECCLES STARTS OX RETURX
President of Copper River Road
Has Left Cordova.
CORDOVA. Alaska, Aug. B. S. W.
Eccles, president of the Copper River &
Northwestern Railroad, left for Seattle
today on the steamer Olympia. Mr.
Eccles has just completed an inspection
of the Alaska Central Railway at Seward,
which, it is reported, is to be taken over
by the Morgan-Guggenheim interests.
George W. Perkins, personal representa
tive of J. P. Morgan, who came to Alas
ka on the yacht Yucatan, is still at
Seward.
IN THE MAGAZINE
SECTION OF THE
SUNDAY
OREGONIAN
CHILDREN'S "TRAVELS"
AT THE SEATTLE FAIR
Systematic sightseeing of per
sons and things that specially in
terest youngsters, conducted by
two trained young women who
are delightfully successful at en
tertaining. PE0M0TING HORTICULTURE
BY ELECTRICITY
Unique scheme of capitalists in
Rogue River Valley to increase
the productivity of plants by use
of artificial light.
LAST TRIBAL DANCE
OF THE FLATHEADS
Opening of their reservation
forces the Indians hereafter to
live after the manner of white
men.
THE FIGHT AT
WHITE BIRD CANYON
Graphic story of the beginning
of the Nez Perces War, the. last
Indian hostilities in the Pacific
Northwest.
ANTHONY WAYNE, REVOLU
TIONARY BEAU BRUMMEL
Red-blood sketch of one of
America's greatest soldiers, to
whom "the Nation has never done
justice.
ORDER EARLY FROM YOUR
NEWSDEALER
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