TIIE MORNING OREGONIAN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1909.
8
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PORTLAND. FRIDAY. ACGCST 13. 1809.
THI LIMIT OS LIQUOR LEGISLATION.
The present limit of legislation, for
restriction of sale and consumption of
alcoholic liquors, has been reached In
New Jersey. The act Is more drastlo
than absolute prohibition; which never
hitherto have means been found to
enforce. The law of New Jersey has
a merit, however. It doesn't throw
the whole blame on the seller, but
holds to responsibility also the buyer
and consumer.
The law of New Jersey, enacted at
the session of the Legislature that
ended recently, bears a high-sounding
title, namely "an Act for the Pre
vention of Drunkenness." What could
be more "catchy"? The title Is a
charming one. Now, let us see how
"drunkenness Is to be "prevented."
The law provides for appointment
of a "Board of Protectors" in each
municipal subdivision of the state,
whose business It is to be to Investi
gate the habits and conduct of the
citizens within the Jurisdiction, keep
a record of the same and refuse to
allow the sale of Intoxicants to any
person who. In the opinion of the
Board, Is a drunkard or might become
a drunkard. This, evidently. Is an ad
vance on the office of the "censor
morum," of Roman antiquity.
The New York Tritiune, which has
subsided from the vigor of the days
of old into a very mild kind of news
paper still, however, representing ex
cellent Ideas, says: "It is obvious that
while this law In theory and . Intent
may be most excellent, in practice it
Is easily susceptible of gross abuse and,
Indeed, is substantially incapably of
application " without offense. If the
members of the board of protectors
were endowed with Infallible discre
tions well as unimpeachable Impartial
ity, and If they were able to command
the entire public confidence In all their
acts, they might apply the law to the
great benefit of all the community.
But being merely human they are con
fronted with an Impossible job. Even
habitual drunkards resent being pub
licly advertised as such and being ex
cluded from the privilege or the right
of purchasing their favorite beverages
at'public houses, which, by the terms
of their license are bound to sell to all
orderly applicants. But thus to deal
with a man who Is not a drunkard
at all, but Is merely, in the opinion
of two or three of his neighbors, likely
to become a drunkard, is certain to
.arouse a storm. There are those who
believe that any man who uses In
toxicating liquors Is likely to become
a drunkard, and If a board of pro
tectors was composed of such men
It might forbid the sale of .liquor to
any one In the community." Certainly.
But If a community desires enforce
ment of prohibition, here is the oppor
tunity. Let a board, consisting of the
"best" men and the "best" women of
each and every community, sit In
Judgment on the habits and character
of every citizen. Tnls will be "so
rice!"
Some, however, of the more per
verse of our people may not like it. But
their feelings or prejudices ought not
to be permitted to stand In the way of
reform. In our Southern states, more
than in others, prohibition during re
cent years has been making great
progress in the laws, however,
rather than in fact. Still, there
la a restive feeling. under the
restriction: and while it Is thought a
great thing to "keep llcker from the
nigger." the proposal to Introduce the
New Jersey system In the South awak
ens apprehensions. The Montgomery
(Ala.) Advertiser says: "To put it In
the power of two or three men to say
that any citizen of a community is
likely to become a drunkard, and thus
to empower those two or three men
to thus place a stigma upon any cit
izen is going a little beyond any freak
legislation that has yet been enacted."
Again: "The wave of intolerance, fa
naticism and law mania sweeps on,
and the aggregation of zealots, fanat
ics or paid advocates have their way.
It Is a strange condition of affairs,
but it seems impossible that it can
last. Some day reason will resume
its sway and people will wonder what
evil spirit had possession of them.
May a Just and kindly Providence
speed the time!"
More militant-Is the Norfolk Vir
ginian. That earnest journal protests
with new vigor against further Intro
duction of "Puritan intolerance" In the
South. These extreme methods of
prohibition, it reminds its fellow coun
trymen, are among the "Isms" of New
England origin. 'The Southerners of
today are taking up with the wornout
fads and heresies of New England as
greedily as the belles of a far Western
mining town snatch at the fashions
which played out in New York four
years sooner. We are running mad
over experiments which have not even
the recommendation of being new,,
which have been tried by our neigh
bors and found altogether wanting in
either pleasantness or profit to soul
or body. Whafs.the matter? Are we
so abjectly vanquished that we must
accept the political standards which
ourformerconquerors are abandoning?
And cover our social deformities with
their cast-off clothing?" This follows:
The New England of today has reacted
from social fanaticism as It did earlier from
religious Intolerance, and of all the isms
It cherished and propagated a half century
alncs only that of commercialism retains
Its hold on the popular mind. Negrophillim
Is no longer epidemic: a sporadic case
her and there but serves as a reminder of
worse days Free-lovlsm had its little day.
as did communism, and died of lis own
corruption-- Prohibition likewise won vic
tories on paper and planted Its flag oyer
legislative strongholds and imprinted its
watchwords on statute books; but that. too.
Is now a dead letter along with a aocdly
bunch of other sumptuary lawa and even In
' Jklalne, the com and gray of Neal" Dow,
the Interdict against the. traffic In alcohol
Is aa openly and universally disregarded as
though It had no existence.
' Perhaps there isn't much in this,
but "Interesting reading." But It's In
teresting reading, sure enough. We
believe, however, that perfect sobriety
never can be enforced by simple meth
odseven by the Xew" Jersey plan.
The way to do It is to command and
decree the destruction of all the fruits
and products of the earth from which
alcoholic liquors may be brewed -or
distilled. Alcohol is a product of fer
mentation or distillation of vegetable
products. The sure way will be to pro
hibit the cultivation or growth of every
thing from which alcohol may be de
veloped. Prohibition, therefore. In its
ultimate, must include wheat, oats,
majze, barley, rice, grapes,, apples,
peaches and potatoes: and then, unfor
tunately, there is wood alcohol which
the prohibitionists would, however,
say was best of all because it will kill
quickest, ""his is a troublesome busi
ness. PREJUDGING HIS CASE?
Of course It is absurd for the at
torney of Insurance . Commissioner
Schively to assume or declare that
certain State Senators are disqualified
from acting as Judges In his trial be
cause they had previously voted to
abolish his office. Schively has no
vested right to his office, nor has any
other officeholder. If a Legislature
sees fit to abolish any office, it must
be assumed that it Is acting for the
public benefit, and there can be and
should be no appeal. If the right of
an Individual to office shall be held to
be superior to the right of the public,
either to maintain or do away with
such an office, whichever it pleases to
do, we shall indeed be at the mercy of
the office-holding class, and there
would be no end to exploitation of the
public by the job-hunters and Job
holders. Schively has with extraordinary ten
acity resisted every effort either to
dismiss or to Impeach him. He did
not want to be disgraced by summary
removal or rather by having his Job
taken away from him because he
claimed he was "entitled to a trial."
But now, when it is proposed to try
him, he pleads for time "and denies the
right of his Judges to proceed, because
many of them have "prejudged" his
case. .How Is It possible to avoid
prejudging the case of any criminal
who fights Inch by inch, by every tech
nical art and device known to re
sourceful and adroit lawyers, the or
derly procedure of the law 7 is me
Schively defense following the meth
nri. an Accused Derson conscious of
his own virtue and innocence, or of one
who fears nothing so much as com
plete investigation and Impartial trial ?
. GOVERNMENT IRRIGATION POLICY.
In these times when paternalistic
theory is rampantly for extension of
governmental functions" over the
proper realms of private and personal
endeavor. It is refreshing to see offi
cers like Secretary Ballinger holding
steadfastly to the old landmarks and
resisting the new-fangled doctrines.
irrintinn work belongs properly to
the category of private effort; the Gov
ernment, however, ror gooa reoiu
seven years ago began an extensive
Irrigation plan. The purpose was and
is yet not to absorb as many Irrigation
projects as possible, but to prove by
actual tests the success of irrigation
on an extensive scale, sov as tlx inspire
private capital with courage In this
worthy endeavor. The public projects
were to be undertaken with ultimate
financial success always In view; no
project was to be begun unless it ap
peared to the Secretary of the Interior
practical and advisable from a mone
tary viewpoint and the .expenditures
from the land fund were to be re
turned to that fund by payments of the
settlers who entered the irrigated land.
Every project had that ultimate end In
view, so that each might be an example
to private capital as a successful finan
cial investment and point the way.
This purpose of the Government is
plain in the reclamation act of 1902
and has been plain in all the projects
that have been taken up. Yet a lot
of persons have imagined that 'the
Government has launched Itself on a
scheme of wholesale irrigation; of sup
planting private enterprise and of tak
ing up every possible project, without
regard to- its practicability as a finan
cial investment.
This Is far from the truth. The
Government could not have launched
itself oh' the reclamation policy if that
had been the object. Criticism of Sec
retary Ballinger from persons whose
pet schemes have not been taken up
will avail little. There is not public
money enough for every field that In
vites the Government; besides It Is not
the Government's policy, that there
should .be. Additional funds could be
advantageously expended.- however,
where small private projects later may
obstruct those of larger possibilities.
This is a matter that will have to be
looked after when there shall be larger
means to dispose of It.
Mr. Ballinger clearly set forth the
attitude of the Government In his
speech In Spokane last Wednesday, be
fore the National Irrigation Congress.
He remarked that the reclamation
service has been quite successful In
drawing private capital into Irrigation
enterprises by the example of its suc
cess. Said he:
While tn Government has invested over
15O.00O.00O In Irrigation Nworks, many times
that amount has been Invested since the
passage of the reclamation act by private
enterprise, and It is saf to say thai a
large portion of these private Investments
have resulted from Government example
and encouragement, and let me say here
that It has not been and Is not the policy
of the National Government !n the admlsls
tratlon of this act to hinder or Interfere
with the Investment of private capital In
the construction of Irrigation works, but
rather to lend It encouragement.
This is particularly true in reference to
Irrigation under the Carey act In the va
rious states. 1 am not a believer in the
Government entering Into competition with
legitimate private enterprise. Its functions
under the reclamation act are not of this
character, and I am sure that when private
enterprise has done what It can. there will
still be thousands upon thousands of acres of
public lands reclalmable only by Government
aid. - The -Western States should, therefore,
be very Jealous of the perpetuity of the re
clamation fund and of Its constant increase.
The charge that the present adminis
tration of the Interior Department is
relinquishing water power sites, for the
benefit of corporations and speculators
voiced by ex-Governor Pardee of
California Mr. Ballinger did not deem
worthy of reply in the convention and
when that noisy personage began his
harangue.Mr. Ballinger left the hall.
Where is the Government letting go of
water power sites, for the benefit of
greedy srrabbers? Pardee is a discredit
ed noise-maker, once elected Governor
In his state, by the accident of a small
plurality and next time repudiated.
Ever since, his claim to notoriety has
been the fact that he once happened to
be Governor of California. Pardee's
talk Is the kind that has been credited
to Pinchot and been a source of al
leged unpleasantness between him and
Ballinger. If Pinchot h to continue a
great man he will have to cut out the
company of Pardee.
In our own state the Government
has not surrendered to grabbers of
water power. But a short time ago,
there was loud popular protest against
the Interior Department's alleged re
fusal to let go of water power sites so
that a railroad might run up the Des
chutes. The matter seems to have
been adjusted satisfactorily, so far as
that difficulty went, and the Govern
ment's interests have been amply pro
tected. A coterie of land "reformers" has
been endeavoring to run the Govern
ment's policy, with occasional success.
Futile land-fraud prosecutions, whole
sale withdrawals of land . from entry
and stoppage-of land office business
have been incidents of fhelr success.
Secretary Ballinger seems to be filling
a long-felt want in reforming the re
formers. Further, he is holding the
Government to its duty in irrigation
work, against an influence that Is
striving to supplant private Irrigation
with a socialistic programme.
IT 19 A NATURAL APPREHENSION.
The Napoleonic scare In England Is
one hundred years old, and more. It
Is survival of this scare, chiefly, that
awakens apprehension about the
growth of the German navy. But there
are other incidents. It la to her Insular
position that England owes her preser
vation; for could continental armies
have reached her there would be no
British Empire; there would have
been no development of English Insti
tutions or spread of the English lan
guage throughout the world; no
United States of America.
But besides the Napoleonic fright
there were many preceding events of
similar kind; hence sequences of his
tory, all tending to bind the British
judgment to the idea that the only
defense of the British Empire is a
navy strong enough to command the
sea against all comers. The Romans,
so far as we know, were the first In
vaders of Britain. Then, after four
or five centuries the Angles and Jutes
and Saxons. Later the Danes, and
later still the French Normans. Then
for five centuries there was no alarm
ing attempt till that of the Spanish
Armada of 15 88. This was the catas
trophe to Spain that broke her power,
much the same as tle Russian cam
paign of 1812 broke the power of Na
poleon. But during the whole career
of Napoleon England was in mortal
terror, for her very existence. There
was reason.
This dread, supported by that of
the former experience, of 2000 years,
makes England, head and heart of the
British Empire, whose offshoots and
colonies and insular and continental
possessions are scattered throughout
the world, nervous, extremely nervous,
at the mere suggestion that any power
night become strong enough to attack
her successfully at sea. Victory over
her navy and entrance of a foreign
army Into London would destroy the
British Empire and change the whole
course of human history. Hence the
British government Is renewing and In
creasing its efforts, in construction of
vessels of war.
THE LABOR DIFFERENTIAL.
This year, for the first time in the
history of the port, practically every
bushel of wheat In Portland territory
is available for shipment from Tacoma
at no greater charge for transportation
than from Portland. The recent traf
fic agreement by which the Harriman
lines gain access to Puget Sound en
ables Portland exporters, if they so
desire, to demand delivery of grain at
Tacoma in preference to Portland. The
Portland exporters are unwilling to
handle this business from Tacoma if
it is possible to handle it at Portland.
This city through the Port of Port
land Commission has expended about
$2,000,000 in deepening the river so
that ships can enter and depart with
no greater delays than are experienced
cn Puget Sound. The Port of Portland
In response to the demands of the
shipowners, has taken up the work -of
supplying pilots free of charge.
In every detail of the business, with
a single exception, Portland has equal
ized charges to conform with those in
effect at Tacoma, rfur principal com
petitor on Puget Sound. That one
handicap against which we have been
struggling for years, is an arbitrary
and unwarranted differential of from
15 per cent to 25 per. cent more for
dock labor than Is paid at Tacoma.
Not only has labor demanded from 5
cents to 10 cents more per hour from
Portland, but, even at the extra cost
in Portland, employers have long been
unable to secure the same efficiency
that Is shown by the lower-priced la
bor on Puget Sound. To be specific,
the books of two of the largest ship
pers at both Portland and Tacoma, for
the year ending June 30, 1909, showed
that the cost per ton for the year in
handling grain at Tacoma was within
a fraction of 10 cents less than for the
same work at Portland. This means
a saving of about $300 per ship for the
exporters, if they do their business on
Puget Sound.
Not until this season has it been pos
sible to ship grain from O. R. & N.
points through Tacoma. This year the
exporters are in a position to disregard
the demands of Portland labor, for
they can order their ships to Tacoma
and load all of the wheat at that port
with greatly increased profit to them
selves. Being strictly business men
and only human, they may be expected
to load the grain- at that point Vinless
this labor differential against Portland
is removed. It is stated that one more
effort will be made to keep the busi
ness here by offering the Tacoma wage
scale. If this is refused, there will be
very little wheat shipping done from
Portland this season.
This is a very serious matter. It is
one which concerns not only the hand
ful of men who have been maintaining
this labor, differential against the port,
and who, of course, can follow the
grain to-Puget Sound and handle it
-there at the wage scale declined here,
but it also concerns every taxpayer in
the city. We have removed all dif
ferentials laid against the port by
nature, and cannot well afford to per
mit our prestige to be destroyed by one
placed against It by a few waterfront
laborers. There has been too much
temporizing on this matter in the past,
and the issue must be met fairly and
fearlessly at this time. The exporters
who are making an effort to remove
this handicap, which may prove so
costly to Portland, should have the
united support of every good citizen
and taxpayer who has assisted In re
moving other differentials from the
port.
If old Nimrod keeps In communica
tion with his disciples on earth, he
ought to be proud of a crowd of them
who were rusticating at Duncan
Springs,- Cal. A forest fire swept over
the hills and drove out large numbers
of wild animals. The terror-stricken
animals Immediately became targets
for the hunters, and, according to the
news dispatch, "for several hours the
hills rang with the crash of musketry
as though a pitched battle were in
progress, and when the fusillade was
over at dusk fourteen fine bucks and
a brown bear were numbered among
the slain." This kind of sportsman
ship must be fully as exciting and in
teresting as shooting harmless mon
keysj There is still a large streak of
the primitive man in evidence when
helpless animals are shot down simply
to satisfy a lust to kill.
Mr. James J. Jeffries, on arrival at
Plymouth yesterday, was very much
surprised to learn that his alleged rep
resentative had signed articles for a
fight between Jeffries and Jackson.
The white bruiser says that no 'one has
authority to make any arrangements
in his absence from the country. This
news will not be at all surprising.
It is much less than a year since Mr.
Jeffries began talking about regain
ing the lost championship, and it
would be contrary to all precedent for
a prize-fighter to waive his rights to
talk for two or three years before he
actually made a match. Still Jeffries'
aversion to meeting Johnson promptly,
If he intends to meet him at all, will
confirm the lurking suspicion that he
may be afraid of "Mistah Johnslng."
Several newspapers In various parts
of the country are distressed about the
Lincoln cent. They fear that 'the prac
tice of stamping the images of our
celebrated men on coins may Issue In
"imperialism." But, as the Washing
ton Star says, "if the Lincoln cent is
a precedent, the American coinage may
acquire a historical value which here
tofore has been lacking." That Is,
the features of our eminent men may
thus be preserved for future years,
when most other memorials shall have
been lost. As for "Imperialism," coin
age is no cause of it, but only an In
cident of It. With us, the state, not
the head of the state, Is the sovereign.
Since It is apparent that a retaining
wall will have to be built on the south
side of Lone Fir Cemetery for the
protection of graves along the em
bankment, caused by the grading of
East Stark street. It would be well for
the responsibility - In the case to be
fixed and the work begun without de
lay. The first Fall rains will make
sad havoc with this embankment and
later rains will result in washing out
many graves along the street line un
less this wall is built in season. Health
as well as sentiment is a factor in this
matter. The building of the wall
should not be delayed.
Thaw doesn't yet obtain discharge
enm ia awinm for the insane. Just
as well. Probably he is no more insane
than he has been all his lire, nut nis
life has been most disreputable, and It
was a lucky thing for him that there
was the excuse of insanity to protect
him from conviction of murder. Even
this plea of insanity would not have
prevailed but for the proof of the un
speakably vile character of the man
whom he killed.
For the" fourth time, last Saturday,
the Georgia Senate voted down the in
come tax amendment to the Federal
Constitution. The vote was nearly two
to one Senator Burwell, voicing the
opposition, said that if he could save
to Georgia and to other states the
right of levying an Income tax instead
of surrendering it to the National Gov
ernment he would be willing to "retire
into political oblivion."
If those persons who are shrieking
so loudly against "nominations by as
sembly" would allow themselves a
little respite from shrieking, they
would be able to learn right soon that
such nominations or suggestions can
be but initiatory and tentative acts,
subject to acceptance or rejection by
the party voters, in the legal primaries.
It Is not proposed to "set aside" the
primary at all.
The contract has been let for double
tracking the Northern Pacific between
Kalama and Tacoma. Up to a late
hour last night,' no attempt had been
made by either Porter Brothers, Two
hy Brothers or anyone else to inter
fere with the work. In this respect,
the proposed task Is not at all similar
to any other big piece of railroad work
now under construction in the Pacific
Northwest.
Ex-Mayor Lane Is reported from
Grants Pass as wearing "a straw hat,
ordinary harvesting Jumper and a pair
of jean pants that gave him the ap
pearance of a genuine farmer." Dr.
Wlthycombe, the other farmer candi
date for Governor, should make, due
note of this uniform when he takes the
stump next year In quest of the farm
er vote.
The writer of one of the "six best
sellers" Is lost in the purser of the
Tillamook liner Argo, who tells of run
ning into a school of smelt a mile long
by half a mile wide, packed so solid
that gulls and other fowl stood on
the fish and gorged until they fell over
from sheer inability to devour more.
The Flathead lottery began its draw
ing yesterday. It was largely attended
by "flat-heads" from all over the
United States, who were unaware that
they could get more for their money
by actual purchase of lands in Oregon,
Washington and Idaho than they could
win at the lottery.
Perhaps if the parents of Biddle, the
boy burglar, and his child wife, had
spanked them, instead of giving their
consent to marriage last February, the
youth would not be obliged now to
break rock for a year at Kelly Butte.
The Utah Agricultural College is
"flirting" with Professor C. I. Lewis,
the horticulturalist of the Corvallis
College. Oregon would better keep
Professor " Lewis. Hebelongs to the
work herej
A Lane County man has sixteen
children living and cannot readily re
call their middle names. If he pos
sessed that ability he could qualify for
the chair of mnemonics at the county
seat. "
Chief No Shirt, of the Umatillas, is
going to Washington on official busi
ness, and like the true buck that-he is,
will leave Mrs. Sans Brassiere on the
reservation.
Let no one imagine that those Na
tional Undertakers, who are to meet
here next month, are not a Jovial lot
of fellows.
THE WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE.
Direct Prlmarlen aa They Are Viewed
In the Various States.
Kansas City Journal.
When the primary law became opera
tive it did away with party effective
ness by delegating to candidates almost
the entire control of the party organi
zation and declarations. Men who could
afford to make a canvass of the state
were nominated on the Republican
ticket and after that they formulated
their own platform, which contained
anything and everything that might
appeal to voters. As most of the planks
expressed merely Individual preferences
or bids for Democratic or Populisttc
support, the rank and file of the or
ganization had to swallow all sorts of
anti-Republican declarations.
A Delusion.
Boston Herald.
Eastern States, including Massachu
setts, can have the benefit of the Kan
sas experiment. Before they indulge In
the folly of direct primaries, the vot
ers can go. to their party caucuses and
elect representative .delegates to the
conventions.. The vital flaw In the con
vention system is not in the conven
tions, but in the caucuses, and the utter
neglect of duty there by the great ma
jority, of voters. Wherever party or
ganization is essential or desirable in
political action the representative con
vention Is the most simple and accurate
means of exerting popular power.
Governor Hushes' Model.
' Albany Evening Journal.
The Kansas City Journal says that
the thinking element of both the Re
publican and Democratic parties con
cede that the primary in Kansas Is
working unsatisfactorily. "About the
only ones who are still enthusiastic for
the primary fetich," it says, "are the
politicians who hold office under an ad
ministration early committed to the
system." The law was forced upon the
state by a seml-Popullstio Legislature
without due consideration or specific
authority from the people.
One - of the complaints against the
direct primary law In Kansas Is its sap
ping of party effectiveness. After those
who could afford it made the canvass
and secured places on the party ticket
they formulated their own platform, as
they were permitted to do under the
law. They put In everything that might
attract voters, and it Is said that most
of the planks were appeals to Populis
tlo support. Through the direct pri
mary law the Republicans were com
pelled to swallow all sorts of anti
Republican declarations if they desired
to BUpport their party candidates.
It will be remembered that Governor
Hughes looked to the Kansas law for
some of the Ideas embodied In the Hin-man-Grcen
bill which the Legislature
of this state defeated last Winter and
upon which the Governor is preparing
to- "appeal to the people." That plat
form feature appeals to the direct pri
mary advocates lh this state. It was
rrom a beneficiary of the Kansas law
that Governor Hughes secured one of
his strongest indorsements last Winter.
Improper Control of Elections Is In
creased. North American Review.
The system of direct or primary nom
ination of candidates for office involves
substantially the same principle as the
"Initiative" and Is open to the same
objections. . . . This system has
been adopted in many of the states, and
in practice has led to some results quite
different from what its advocates claim
for It. It has become apparent that
only seekers after office become can
didates for nominations the office no
longer seeks the man. The system de
stroys all party organization. Political
policies and principles are entirely lost
sight of In the confusion of individual
Ideas. It affords no opportunity for
consideration of the fitness of candi
dates. Each candidate, whether quali
fied or not, determines that question
for himself. ...
. If there are more than two candi
dates, as is usually the case, the almost
inevitable result Is that the candidate
selected is he choice of but a minority.
and as the candidates multiply and the
range of selection increases a corre
spondingly reduced minority may foist
upon the party a candidate who may be
altogether objectionable to a large ma
jority.
When the system Is extended over a
large territory and Is used for the se
lection of candidates for the higher
offices it becomes practically impos
sible for the mass bf voters to make
any intelligent selection, while the op
portunities for improper control of elec
tions are far greater than under the
convention system.
The cost of conducting a campaign
for the higher offices, even if. the ex
penses are conflneM to legitimate pur
poses, has proved to be so great that
all but very wealthy men and those
with powerful machines axe practical
ly excluded.
These defects and weaknesses are
gradually becoming apparent as the
system is put in actual' operation, and
after a time It will Inevitably be con
demned as heartily as It Is now com
mended. Prohibition In the South.
Here is a paragraph from a correspon
dent of Harper's Weekly, who has Jour
neyed through many Southern states:
On the main line of the Southern railway
from Washington to New Orleans there is
not a town or city In which a man can buy
a glass, -of beer legitimately. But If the
train tarries for half an hour almost any
where he can refresh himself and take
something along to refresh himself again
before reaching his destination. From his
seat in the Pullman car he can see hundreds
of trucks at every way station filled with
kegs, cases, demijohns and Jugs; for the
shipment of liquor Into the desert la tlse big
Industry today. The same traveler, if his
name is John Smith, can find a package of
any slxe in almost every express office. As
most of It is shipped C. O. D.. he can pay.
sign and take It- Tbe conditions are far
from ideal, but -tne saioon naa oeen votea
out by the people or the Legislature without
regard to consequences. Meanwhile there Is
the usual amount of drinking on the part of
those who can afford It and who know how.
Seeing the opportunity which would be
offered, brewers began to work day and
n4sht to supply the demand for near-beer.
which Is supposed to contain less than 2
per cent df alcohol. But In the near-beer
saloon, almost w-iiiuul cvcpiiun, 1110 rc
article Is sold- Practically every dealer has
a United States license, and most of them
will mix a drink or whisky or serve It
straight.
The Dry Sea Bath.
H. M. S. in New Tork Tribune.
Why does she shrink.
This maid In pink.
And linger at the ocean's brink? .
Why did she prink
To the last kink.
While yet she fears the sea's pale Ink?
I'll tip a wink
To you. I think.
And tell you of bar doubtful blink.
I
She doesn't slink
Lest she should sink
She shrinks lor tear her uit will abrink.
IX-JUSTICE TO ALL HOMEOWNERS.
Another View of the Billboard Nuisance
With Direct Application.
PORTLAND. Aug. 12. (To the Editor-
It is so seldom the opportunity occurs for
such fraternal feelings that I must hasten
to express my delight that the ruling
powers of the city propose to consum
mate a reform that I have long had
deeply at heart, viz., the suppression of
the billboard nuisance.
My home is in a part of the city pecu
liarly oppressed by the outrage, namely,
Holladay avenue, near East First. Along
both these streets stretch enormous board
avails 18 or 20 feef high and blocks in
length. They are covered by flamlns
posters, displaying those tricks commonly
resorted to to catch the eye of the public
and which result in the aggregate to quite
an outre and ludicrous, if not a repulsive
and degenerate, effect. Enormous geese
are represented, spreading their pinions
in frantic haste to get to some enterpris
ing merchant's place to buy feather
beds. Nude females, sometimes quite
artistically done, are represented astrido
the earth drinking beer, which is recom
mended as being the "Home Beer of the
Best Families of Portland."
Other young females with angelic coun
tenances are reaching In beatific vision
for Smith & Jones' diamonds, which are
said to be more valuable for lnfluenco
than ten times their value In a bank
deposit.
However, this being still but a minor
and comparatively insignificant abuse. I
ignored it, until the street railway and
the paving companies began to use one
of these bill boards immediately in the
rear of my home, and where there is a
return of some 30 feet along Hassalo
street, as a privy for their construction
gangs.
It then occurred to me that these peo
ple, having appropriated the streets for
their private aggrandizement and charged
the costs of constructing the same .to
nearby residents, that to add to their
liberties In this way was beyond my pa
tience. A stream of unchristian-looklnq:
fellows passed in and out of this place all
day not 100 feet from my back door. I
appealed to the Health Office, with the
result that, after persistent complaint,
and about the time the street work was
done, the nuisance was abated by being
fenced. I also took Councilman Menefee
to the place, that he might see the extent
of the abuse. He brought the matter
before the Council. It was referred to
Attorney Kavanaugh with instructions to
draw such remedial ordinance as could
be enforced. Since then I have inter
mittently bombarded the attorney's office
with data and literature on the subject,
and I suppose Mr. Kavanaugh has at
last made his report, or has been called
on by the Council to do so.
I brought the subject before the United
East Side Push Clubs, and they ap
pointed a committee to take the matter
before the Council I am chairman of that
committee, and have thought best to con
sult with Mr. Kavanaugh, who has the
matter officially m hand.
I do not see why there should be any
difficulty about regulating these bill
boards, restricting their use and collect
ing more license. When the city can
force upon residence property the pay
ment for the most expensive kind of
street pavement to the extent of $500 or
$600 per lot, and then add that much to
the tax assessment, and at the same
time remove from the street the bridge
that makes the street a highway, and
constituted the ostensible reason for the
expensive pavement, at the same time
granting free use of the street to rail
ways and vehicles: by the same tokens,
it appears they could take a hand in the
billboard business. In other words, if the
city can penalize innocent and unprofit
ing home owners for the benefit of pri
vate business, why can they not tax the
profiting private business for the main
tenance of the streets upon which these
people do business?
I think this question deserves better
study to better results than it has yet
obtained.
In regard to the opinion of Mr. Gibson
and others that the billboard hides un
sightly rubbish. I will say that for that
very reason and that it hides filth dan
gerous to health the billboard should be
three feet from the ground. It should not
be over nine feet high, should be 12 feet
from the sidewalk. On complaint of any
adjacent resident any reasonably ob
noxious advertisement should be remov
able by the order of the Council. The
license should be 10 to 12 cents per square
foot per annum, which is about one-half
the price Foster & Kleiser charge their
patrons.
This kind of advertising is too cheap.
That is the reason -there is so much of
It, and it is only reasonable that the
public that must put up with the deface
ment should receive half the proceeds.
Anyway, whether they paid the money
or removed the boards the public would
benefit J. B. ZIEGLER,
Chairman Committee on Billboard Nuis
ance, East Side Push Clubs.
GETTING TIRED OF BILLBOARDS.
Biggest Concern In Honolulu Will TJse
Them No More. -
SEASIDE, Or., Aug. 10. (To the Edi
tor.) It gives me great pleasure to note
the stand that The Oregonlan has taken
of late on this' billboard nuisance. Let
any advocate of billbcards ask any tour
ist who has ever visited Germany or
Switzerland how readily one notices the
absence of these unsightly fences. Dur
ing my year's stay in Europe it was such
a pleasure to get away from "Chew
Jack's Plug" or "Wear Jim's Sox." What
would our City Council say if such orna
ments were - placed opposite their resi
dences? I do not blame the Bill Posting
Company at all, for they are no doubt
a regular business concern, like any other
legitimate business. It is the owners of
the property on which these boards are
erected who are to blame.
Aattached is a clipping taken from a
late issue of the Commercial Advocate,
of Honolulu, in which Hackfeld & Co.,
one of the largest mercantile houses, ex
press their views. This firm Is the
largest advertiser in Hawaii.
. EDWARD DEKUM.
Billboard advertising in Honolulu seems
destined to take a slump In the near future
If the discontinuance by H. Hackfeld A Co.,
Ltd., the largest patron of that style of
advertising In the territory, Is to be aocept
ed as a straw indicating the direction of the
wind. George Rodiek. a director in the com
pany and manager of the merchandise de
partment of that large establishment, said
yesterday;
"We have been considering for some time
the idea of discontinuing advertising on. bill
boards and confining the publicity of the
firm to the newspapers. There are several
reasons for this departure, one of which is
our satisfaction with the results attained
through the newspapers. I realise, too, that
there Is a growing opposition to out-of-doors
publicity, such as billboards. In a locality
where Nature has done so much to make
everything beautiful. The dissatisfaction
has gone so far as to partake of the flavor
of a boycott of the goods advertised on dead
wails and In every nook and crannie of the
town. I cannot say that It has assumed
serious proportions and, as far as It con
cerns our business, we do not mean that It
shall. We believe, however, that if a style
of advertising Is objectionable to any por
tion of the residents. Its wishes should have
serious consideration.
"A species of civic pride has awakened
In many of the cities on the mainland and
It Is being felt here. I believe It has grown
with the inroads the bllboarda have been
making In the residence section. Mr. Ham
burg, for instance, takes a purely aesthetic
view of the matter. He opposes any form
of advertising which tends to hide a spot
that has been made beautiful by Nature or
at the hands of man. He has had a fear
for some time that he may come down to
breakfast any morning and find staring him
In the face a billboard inquiry as to whether
he had used Pats soap, or advice to try
Jones' Food- We will discontinue the use of
billboards as advertising mediums on August
1, and may use the money that has been
spent In that kind of ouMlclty In newspaper
advertising." '
CHRISTIANITY! SPIRIT AND- LETTER
Why Its Flrnt Appeal Waa Made to the
Jewish Nation Alone.
EUGENE. Or.. Aug. 11. (To the Ed
itor.) A communication in one of your
recent issues raises several questions
of a nature bearing on Christianity
and religion in general forgetting that
religion is a matter of faith or emo
tion as well as intellect. One of the
questions the writer raises Is. why did
God, through this son, make his appeal
to one nation only, the Jews,, and not
boldly to all nations to establish for
them his reality and goodness? The
fact of there being many nations, and
each of a different temperament, habit
and civilization, etc., renders such an
appeal of fruitless result, as the leader
would have had to appear in different
forms and attitudes to accommodate
them, and thus by an apparent diversity
and contradiction to their primitive and
ignorant minds would have defeated the
great purpose of planting the great re
ligion, Christianity.
The appeal of the new religion had
to be made to an emotional people to
get its foundation and starting point.
The Jews are essentially a people of
faith, or intellect based on the in
tuitive perception. Hence the base of
Christianity is Hebrew, not Greek.
Egyptian or Hindu. The establishment
of any new religion, of course, had
to be slow, and this requires a basis
deeper than that based on any form of
philosophy or mysticism. Christianity,
unlike all the former religions, aims
to satisfy both the practical and
theoretical natures of man, aiming to
satisfy and build up the moral, mental
and physical departments of his nature.
As to the argument against tne au
thenticity of the scriptures, the mis
takes in understanding or Interpreting
them have come mainly from not regard
ing and viewing it as containing
both a spirit and letter, in somewhat
the same sense as lawyers argue, or
used to do so. to the spirit and letter
of our everyday laws, and even the
National Constitution.
John Marshall, the great Jurist, set
tled the question, afterwards settled in
toto by Grant at Appomattox, that the
Constitution had a spirit or preservative
power, as well as a letter or structural
power. This is. in fact, the real basis
of the two parties which have divided
the country since its formation: the
Republican representing, in the main,
the spirit or life of the Constitution,
the Democratic the structure, or form.
Similarly the New Testament represents
In the main the spirit, the Old Testa
ment the fbrm (law) or structure.
These principles, in fact, run all
through all organic Institutions and. as
the Bible forms the basis and starting
point for the Caucaslon civilization, this
is the only way in wJ'.lch it can be re
ceived and applied with satisfactory re
sults. CARL S. LAVALLE.
South Portland Park.
PORTLAND, Aug. 11. (To the Editor.)
In The Oregonlan of August 11. In
reply to "South Pontland," you ask,
"what suitable situation is offered?" In
The Oregonlan of July 10 a correspondent
says, "The Mayor viewed 20 acres of
ground owned by the O. It. & N. Co. on
the hills skirting the city on the West
Side."
"This 20 acres," the paper of another
date says, "was offered to the city for
$80,000. and:" it is added, "the price being
so high it Is very certain that its pur
chase will not be made during the pres
ent Mayor's term of office." Now. lt is
''South Portland's" contention that this
piece of ground is not equaled, let alone
excelled, by any other piece in the City
of Portland for park purposes. It was
the writer's privilege not long ago to go
with some friends from Illinois to the
summit of that piece of ground. One of
the party, after resting a moment to
catch his breath, turned his eyes from
Mount Hpod's snows' summit, toward the
Cascades, Vancouver and on down
toward the mouth of the Columbia and
exclaimed, "Glorious Oregon: What could
be grander than this?"
Let us look for a moment at the price
said to be the O. R. & N. Co.'s figure
$4000 per acre, roughly estimated, would
be $500 per lot; $500 per lot overlooking
the city and right at her doors! -
He knows little of the value of land
In and around Portland, who calls that
price excessive. Two lots were sold last
week but little over a "stone's throw"
from the edge of that ground for $3000
per lot. unimproved, lots too, that have
no comparison to this ground for beauty.
It does certainly seem to be a fact, that
there is nothing offered to the city any
where, for a park, that is so Ideal as
this 20 acres, lying, as It does. Just
north of the ger.erous .gift of the Terwll
llger Land Company. Another fact should
not be overlooked, !f Portland grows in
-the next three years as her friends hope
she will, our next Mayor could not buy
this 20 acres for anything like the pres
ent price. SOUTH PORTLAND.
The Path of Progress,
From Puck.
Herr Hendriq Hudson had Just re
turned, and wag going up the river to
which he had lent his name.
He was leaning over the rail with his
eye on the fitting landscape when the
reporter cornered him.
"What do you think of the scenery?"
asked the man with the pencil, motion
ing to the hills and valleys.
"I don't wish to criticise," returned
the voyager, "but I believe that In
many places the landscape could have
been arranged to better set off the
advertisements."
Then the reporter marveled that the
early explorer had so well kept up
with the times.
IN THE MAGAZINE
SECTION OF
THE SUNDAY
OREGONIAN
HOW TO LEARN THE
. ART OF SWIMMING
Notable timely article by Ar
thur Cavill, the world's champion
swimmer, now swimming instruc
tor of the Multnomah .Amateur
Athletic Club.
SEATTLE FAIR SEEN WITH
A WOMAN'S EYES
Unconventional letter from Ma
teel Howe, who finds interest in
several things that most "visitors
do not notice.
AMERICAN WORLD-FAMOUS
MEDICAL SCIENTISTS
' Some of our distinguished phy
sicians and surgeons who will be
welcome at the International Con
igress at Budapest.
KIT CARSON, GREATEST
OF FRONTIERSMEN
In his series of American heroes,
Richard Spillane tells of the cele
brated scout, pathfinder and In
dian fighter.
ORDER EARLY FROM YOUR
NEWSDEALER.
t