TITE MORNING OREGONIAN. SATURDAY, AUGUST 23. 1909
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PORTLAND. 8ATTRDAY. AfGL'ST Z8. 199,
THE SCHEME OF PROTECTIVE TARIFF.
Oregon la a protectionist state.
There can be no question about It. The
people of Oregon believe that the
most Important of their own products
need protection. They believe the
policy advantageous to themselves.
Hence they are for Aldrich and Can
non, rather than for the "Insurgents
of the Senate and House, or for other
low tariff or free trade advocates. In
order to get high protection for their
own products they are willing to sup
port a high protective policy for the
country. The Oregonlan believes the
system is based on economic error,
and that its general consequences are
', not conducive to the general good. But
on this subjectr the people of .Oregon
: are not In accord with The Oregonlan
; It would be more modest perhaps to
say that The Oregonlan is not In
agreement with them. They stand for
protection. 'The Oregonlan does not
In each of the main parties there
' are advocates of low tariff, or tariff
for revenue only. But they are minori
ties. An overwhelming number of the
Republicans of Oregon are protection
ists. Likewise a majority of the Dem
ocrats. Senator Chamberlain, know
ing this, voted for high restrictive
duties on all principal commodities
that could compete "with the products
of Oregon. On these schedules he
voted with Aldrich and Cannon, not
with the "insurgent Republicans, let.
In principle, or In theory, he is a
v free trader, or an advocate of tariff
for revenue only. He did not support
Beverldge, Cummins and other Repub
lican Senators In their demand for
lower duties, or for extension of the
free list certainly did not, in cases
where Oregon had commodities, for
which protection was demanded but
stood for high duties and helped to
sustain the Aldrich and Cannon pro
gramme, because he knows Oregon Is
a protectionist state, and that it espe
cially wants and -unquestionably
means to have and to hold protection
for itj own leading products if Its
votes In Senate and House can secure
that favor. On the test votes, as to
commodities that' would compete with
those of Oregon and of various other
states that had Democratic' Senators
or "Representatives, Aldrich and Can
non were sustained by Democratic
members of either house; among
whom was Chamberlain of Oregon.
Each wanted protection for the spe
cial Interests of his own state yet
undoubtedly for political quite as
much as "for economic Teasons. Of
course, however, when Aldrich, repre
sentative of tP.3 thorough-going pro
tectionists. Insisted on protective
schedules :"r his own and other East
ern states, these shifty but maladroit
brethren voted against him; and since
there are many more Items In the
schedules of finished goods than In the
list of raw products, they now set up
In defense the plea that they voted
against Aldricn more ofteh than they
voted with him. Moreover, knowing
that high protection was now assured
for the commodities In which their
own states were specially Interested,
they thought to preserve a'party or
political record, and to maintain
ground for buncombe attack on pro
tection and on Aldrich and Cannon in
future political contests, by voting
against the bill (on its final passage)
which they had helped to load up with
details for high protection of every
thing for which their own states
' wanted the favor. One sole and lone
Democratic Senator (McEnery of
Louisiana), having succeeded in main
taining protection for the products of
Us own state, was consistent enough
to vote for the bill which gave other
states what they wanted also.
Now " Oregon, obtaining the pro
tection It wanted, was and is -willing"
to allow the products of other
states protection, too. The protective
system Is based on a give-and-take
combination. On no other foundation
could it stand. The Oregonian's ob
jection to it Is based on the proven
Inequality of its results. A few get
the chief benefits, at the expense of the.
many. But the representatives of a
state that "wants its share," ought to
be fair enough to concede to other
states their "share," too. Otherwise,
these representatives should' declare
ttgainst the whole system.
The country must continue to raise
large part of its revenues by duties on
Imports. Hence the rates ought to be
-idjusted to the principle of revenue
production, rather than to the purpose
of protection. A moderate tax should
be laid on all articles of general con
sumption. Imported Into the United
States as tea, coffee, sugar and com
modities of common use; and as
high duties on luxuries, including
goods of all descriptions used by the
wealthier sort of people as can be im
posed -without checking Importation
and- stopping the revenue. Then the
Internal revenue, or excises, with in
come tax, would do the rest; and the
treasury would be amply supplied,
year after year. In suoh system of
tariff tax, or custom-house duties,
there would be a degree of protection
which, added to the freight charges
on foreign goods ought to give pro
tection enough. But it cannot be ex
pected that the country will come to
such system as this for a long time yet.
There are too many specious argu
ments for protection, and too many
opportunities for the political adven
turer to play a game for his own ad
vantage. In so large a country as ours
each state, section or locality has Its
special "interests" demanding protec
tion; and combination among' them is
Inevitable, under the system. Oregon
unquestionably stands committed to
be policy; and that is the reason why
.even Senator Chamberlain voted for
protection of such commodities as Ore
gon produces standing with Aldrich
to this extent, but refusing Aldrich's
appeal for protection for the Industries
of the Eastern states. .
6CHTTEXT.
The State Senate of Washington has
"vindicated" Insurance Commissioner
Schively through its failure to find him
guilty of graft, blackmail and other
misdeeds In office; but who will vindi
cate the State Senate? True, the Sen
ate's vote was nearly two to one
against Schively; but a stubborn and
callous minority made it Impossible to
remove the erring official from office.
No voice was raised among the Sen
ators' declaring confidence In the In
nocence and virtue of Schively. None
had the effrontery to do such a thing.
All the minority offered In extenua
tion of Schively was that his wrongful
acts had been performed while he
was deputy Insurance commissioner;
therefore he could not be successfully
Impeached.
This is pitiful. It Is pettifogging
such as one might expect to find In a
police court, but hardly In a State
Senate. . The consequence Is that the
Senate holds In office an unworthy
and unfaithful public officer, whose
unfitness Is both conceded and proven.
Of c -urse Schively Is free now to
go on with his dealings with his vic
tims, the Insurance companies. They
have no recourse but to submit to his
demands and exactions. The State
Senate, the only power to restrain or
to punish him, is behind him. The
public, too, has no protection through
his office from the Impositions and
swindles of fake insurance concerns.
It Is all a shameful outcome to a
shameful record.
Had Schively been Indicted and the
case submitted to a plain, ordinary
Jury, that couldn't be fuddled with
technical defense and alleged learning,
there might have been a different re
sult, .and prqbabfy would have been.
"I took the money and spent It," was
an admission that a Jury wouldn't
have been likely .to acquit on.
A MISTAKE.
In the Helme case the ruling ma
jority of the Judges of the Washington
Supreme Court do not even pretend
that the state constitution warrants
their decision. They virtually admit
that It does not, but by a bold Invoca
tion of the "higher law" they assume,
th,e power to amend It on the ground
that the authors would have made it
different If they had known the future.
To do such a thing in the present
condition of Washington public af
fairs and to do it for the benefit of the
rbilroads after Judge Root's unfortu
nate adventures and all the talk there
has been requires a certain amount
of hardihood.
If the constitution of Washington
is defective there Is a way to amend
it. The power to do so Is not con
ferred" upon the supreme co.urt and
the fact that four judges vigorously
dissent from the decision shows how
perilously near to usurpation It runs.
They dissent not only on the ground
that It Is flatly unconstitutional, but
also because they declare it to be
against public policy. The framers
of the constitution sought to preserve
for the state perpetual control of all
Its harbor frontage for the "benefit
of navigation and commerce." The
majority of five Judges say this could
not have meant to exclude railroads.
There Is every reason to believe
that this Is what the' framers would
mean ten times over If they were do
ing their work now. Everybody knows
that the railroads are trying system
atically to control harbor frontage
along the whole coast in order to shut
out water competition. The Washing
ton court has gone out of Its way to
play Into their hands. The Judges
have done it innocently, of course,
altogether too Innocently It seems. If
there Is any way to retrieve their
mistake they ought to do It.
REMODELING THE STATE COCRTS.
The plan of the American Bar As
sociation for the reform of the state
courts is a subject of the highest im
portance. Their proposal that verdicts
in the Federal courts shall not be set
aside unless there has been a miscar
riage of Justice . Is also of exceeding
interest, but this does not really re
quire new legislation. No Judge is
compelled to set a verdict aside on
error. It Is a matter of choice with
him, and if all Judges would concur
in a resolution to abandon frivolous
reversals and orders for new trials
on trivial protests this great reform
would be accomplished without fur
ther parley. ; This action would re
quire some courage and a slight abate
ment of that worshipful regard for
bad precedent which now dominates
and paralyzes the courts, but then
Judges are great hands to magnify
their own courage. Nobody In the
world lauds that virtue more than
they do or claims Its possession more
ostentatiously. Here Is a good chance
to show that genuine fact underlies
their words.
As for the state courts, the plan
of the bar association is to Integrate
them Into a single well-ordered group.
There Is to be, in fact, but one court
in each state and the county and mu
nicipal courts will only be branches
of it. Immediately above them there
will be a Superior Court which, one
conceives, will have several branches
and sit at different places In the state.
At the head of the Judiciary there Is
to be a single Court of Appeals, ,or
Supreme Court. This, of course, is
patterned after the English scheme.
The superior courts for all England
sit In London and the Judges of these
courts also travel the various circuits
and preside over local lawsuits. The
Bar Association wishes each Judge to
belong .to the whole court. He will
not be limited to one county or one
city, but may sit anywhere. It is also
understood that artificial ranks among
the Judges are to be extirpated. A
municipal Judge may sit in the Court
of Appeals upon occasion and a Judge
who has decided a suit upon last ap
peal today may tomorrow transact
probate business at the county seat.
This project Is in concord with a
growing feeling that much of our
state, county and municipal business
Is more complicated and expensive
than It need be. Blind submlssJveness
to tradition has caused us to perpetu
ate forms for which there Is no use.
In fact, the forms become more com
plex and more wasteful ly thriftless
every year. This is especially true
of the courts from which lawyers
themselves admit that poor suitors are
as good as excluded by red tape, cir
cumlocution, delay and Immediate
costs. The Bar Association predicts
that the adoption of Its plan would
curtail expenses and eliminate delay.
Naturally there would be a great deal
less copying and verification of records.
since tne recora or every suit wo-uiij
belong to every county and city in the
state. Cozens of clerks and petty
1th
of
tho law would find their OCCUDStlon
gone. They might grieve over it, but
taxpayers and suitors would rejoice.
The 'complications of the law are
wholly artificial. None of them are
nfffiMnrv In thA nature of things.
Some arise from the economic Inter
est of lawyers whose fees are multi-
1 i o rl Vi- ovoi-tr turn ' In thA lahvrinth.
Some arise from the timidity of judges
who yield their common sense to the
awe-inspiring majesty of precedent
Give nrecedent an inch and immedi
ately it takes an ell. To unravel the
inmnloirlt.a rf niirt nrOCedurO W
naturally be a difficult task and one
that cannot be completed In a day,
but It can be done and It ought
be done. The lawyers ought to
nralBAit Trtt" 11 n r Art A 1c i n LT it.
Their project of making each Judge
belong to the wnoie court is eminently
sensible. It is a serious error to be
lieve that minor ability and skimped
learning can do any better service In
a county or munlcpal court than It can
on the bench of last appeal. The more
learning there Is In the lower precincts
of Justice the less occasion mere w
be to take suits to the higher. It
ill
is
nKtnmarv In the United States
to
treat tiict if-es. nt the tieace" with a SDe
cles of contempt. The higher tribunals
do not try to hide their scorn ror th'
. . i " . . 11.1. In nnn lnrtrd
rural masiairuic. j. mo 10 vc . . -ant
note In that general cacophony
which passes with us for the adminis
tration of the law. All tribunals should
be respectable and all should be re
.nt.ii wviAn nil nre made orsrans o
a unified and co-ordinate whole they
will be. To pursue the subject a little
farther, one perceives no reason why
a Inrte-P who is competent to noia
court in Klamath County should no
i-.a nroclaplv as comoetent in Multno
mah. The law Is the same in both
and formal procedure might easily be
made the same, even if It is not so
.in- Th ViAAvv advantage of makin
Judges eligible for service everywhere
is apparent to anybody. In a county
few suits to be tried
tv.A inrlire would end his sitting in a
day or two and travel to anotner w nere
ihorA 'APf manv. In a great press or
business two or more Judges might
hold court at the same time in ainer-i-nnmai'na
thev , reeularly do In
Portland. Common sense readily calls
up a multitude of benefit from this
project, but the principal one is that
no inferior person would ever dare to
toiro a tiiHtro.xhin and no Darty would
-ever dare to nominate an uruu man
it..Ati if Via worn nominated for munici
pal Judge, he might be called on the
day he took his oath or onice to try
a suit In the Supreme Court and a
pretty figure he would cut If he were
a mere shyster.
THE BALANCE OF TRADE.
The foregin trade summary -of the
Bureau of Statistics for the month of
Julv shows that the balance of traae
last month, as in June, was against
us. The- value of the July Imports
exceeded that' of the exports by J2,
837,862, while in June the excess was
$7,158,104.- As we have had no bal
ance on thisside of the ledger since
1897. the showing for the two months
is causing Considerable comment. That
we have been working around to this
unusual condition for a long time Is
shown In the figures for the seven
months ending with July. During that
period, the imports were 1830,287,488,
while the exports were valued at $897,-
425,504. This balance of trade of
$67,138,016 in our favor is the small
est in more tha twenty years. The"
causes for this dwindling of our trade
balances abroad are to be found more
in heavy increases in imports than In
decreases in exports, although there
has been some falling off of the lat
ter. The prospective changes in the
tariff stimulated the import business
quite materially, and aside from that
feature the general trade -revival In
this country was responsible for a
considerable portion of .the increase.
.No figures on the August business
will be available for a fortnight, but
It Is reasonably certain that for tlje
third month since 1897 our exports
will prove Insufficient to pay for the
Imports. Wheat, which usually swells
the'export figures more rapidly than.
any other commodity, has not yet be
gun moving in any such volume as was
In evidence a year ago. For the first
eight weeks of the season beginning
July 1, shipments have been but 14.-
000,000 bushels compared with Zo,
260,000 bushels for the same period
last year. At present prices this item
alone would show a decrease of more
than $10,000,000 In values.
In addition to this surplus of Im
ports, for which we are now Indebted
to foreign countries, there is also a
large Invisible balance of trade in
curred by our army of tourists and
for shipping, insurance and other ex
penses. To meet this it will require
several months of heavy exports, but,
with our big crops and high prices,
there is no reason why we should not
wipe out the adverse balance by the
end of the year.
TO AIR THE SHTTriXG GRIEVANCE.
The California shipping men who
announce their determination to test
the strength of the coastwise shipping
law by bringing American coal from
Baltimore to a Pacific Coast port In
a foreign ship will encounter troublo
If they carry' out their plan. There
la an Inelegantly expressed saw which
asserts that "two wrongs never made
one right," and the fact that the Gov
ernment is breaking its own laws will
not excuse the shipping men for break-
lng them; The only good that can
come out of the test case- will be its
exposure of the shameless manner In
which the American consumers are
prevented from securing the benefits
of competition in the carrying trade.
For example, as stated In yesterday's
Washington dispatch, foreign steam
ships are carrying coal from the At
lantic to the Pacific Coast ports for
$8.38 per ton, while the American
owners demand $8 to $8.50 per ton for
steam freights for coal In the same
voyage.
Ex-PVesldent Roosevelt once ruled
that American ships should be shown
a preference of fifty per cent over the
foreign vessels, but the rates now
quoted are so far In excess of the
fifty per cent differential granted that
the contract could not well be awarded
to the Americans. Let us see where
the consumer figures in this case. By
the foreign steamer he receives his
coal about $5 per ton cheaper than
by the American craft. On the aver
age steamer cargo this would mean
a saving of about $30,000 in this sin
gle item of freight. By depriving the
consumer of the benefit of competi
tion which is enjoyed by the Govern
ment, he thus loses this great sum,
which Is divided among very wealthy
shipowners and the protected trusts
who supply them with high-priced ma
terial for building ships. The rights
of the ' producer and consumer to
functionaries would be dispensed w
ane a vlinla trlho rf Tin nirers-nn
have., their products carried to market
by the most economical method possl
ble never seems to appeal to the ship
owners. We accordingly find Robert
Dollar, who is more or less inclined
to the free-ship plan, quoted In the
San Francisco Commercial News as
follows:
Last year the Government chartered a
number of foreign colliers to carry coal for
our battleship lleet. It did not foresee the
damage it would be to our Aiaerloan sailing
vessels on this Coast, that they were mak
ing a precarious living in the foreign trade.
The result of it was that our American ves-
sets were laid up. the tramp steamers got
what freight they couid at any rates, there
by demoralizing the regular liners, and many
vessels left our Coast In ballast. The ex
port trade was forced, foreign nations got
the beneQt of low freights, causing our mer
chandise to sell at such low prices' that
we have not yet been able' to recover
from it.
Nothing could more clearly disclose
the biased view of the shipowner. The
foreign steamers which brought coal
to the Coast effected a saving of many
thousands for the Government. The
Pacific Coast producer, and not the
"foreign nations," got the benefit of
low freights, and the presence of this
fleet of steamers not only made low
rates for the producers on the freight
carried by these steamers, but lncl
dentally reduced the rates on all other
carriers, so that their presence here
added a vast sum to the profits of an
army of producers, and the only suffer
ers. If there were any, were a few
wealthy shipowners. We trust this
proposed test case will be carried to
a finish. It will show up the fallacy
of the ship subsidy to perfection. .
Chief Umaplne of the Cayuses and
Tin-tin-meet-sa of the Umatillas have
gone to the Crow Reservation In Mon
tana as the guests of Dr. Joseph K.
Dixon, who is gathering data for a
history of the Indian tribes of the
great interior. The story that these
Indians and other leading men of their
race have to tell or are able to tell if
they choose to do so, will form an at
tractive and interesting chapter in the
history of a fast-vanishing race. A gen
eration or two hence the data that
they can now furnish will be lmpossi
ble to secure. Let the tale be told
while yet It may.
That Corvallis man who has a. gen
lus for raising the Chinese pheasant
in capitlvity Is about to ship a carload,
more of less, of his birds to the game
warden of Idaho,- that state having
decided to stock its fields with the
greatest game bird on earth. The only
remarkable feature of this Incident 'is
that there is a man In Oregon who
could fill such an order, and it simply
shows there are opportunities in the
state's diversified industry awaiting
discovery and development by the
proper persons.
President Taft will lay the corner
stone of the First Unlversalist Church
at Portland, on the Sunday which will
be Included In his visit here. That
will be a good deed; "yet we recall, the
story about the good old lady who,
when told by a friend that he hoped
all men. would be saved, replied: "May
be they will be; but I hope for better
things."
It Is given out by Senator Chamber
lain that he is tired of public service,
that he has "followed a public career
for what has seemed an age," and that
"at the end of his present term as Sen
ator" he will be "ready to retire." Like
many another man, he will be ready to
retire If he can't be re-elected.
What young Harriman learns by
dragging a chain or firing or brakirlg
will be of slight help when he suc
ceeds his father, but he will be able
some time to tell a meeting of dls
contented employes "how I held her
when she got away down that hill."
There Is a new Indicator on the1
prosperity barometer, according to the
National association of men who make
tombstones. They say people do not
Indulge In such luxuries when times
are hard, and Just now sales are heavy.
Every old-time Portland business
man, and many others, remember with
kindness Colonel Dudley Evans, presl
dent of the Wells-Fargo Express Com
pany. They bid him welcome on his
present visit "back home."
The Ohio man who provides coats
to keep flies off his cows and individual
tooth brushes for the animals need
go but a step fartherand hire a dentist
to equip the bovines with teeth for
the lower jaws.
Having resumed the laudable prac
tlce of making excursions to neighbor
ing cities, the Portland Realty Board
snuuiu cultivate umicuuie reiauuiis
with new towns on the North Bank
road.
Still there are a great many people
who would rather put their' savings
Into Portland real estate than in a
postal savings bank at 2 per cent;
likewise into fruit and farm lands.
In these days of making and break
ing records there Is the Linn County
man who soon will celebrate his silver
Jubilee in the hopyards. Fame Is of
varied hue and many complexions.
Mrs. Besant says the name 'of the
futiye Spiritual leader is Bodhlssattva.
If he ever materializes, the United
States will abbreviate that title.
1
With Pinchot in Seattle and Bal-
linger In Kittitas and John Barrett
presiding, the dove of peace is taking
time to moult.
The mere idea of a family dog who
rail own the familv iewels on circus
s-w
day Is discouraging to sleuths who are
paid to detect...
The hitherto classiness of the vic
tim of appendicitis is liable to be
bumped hard by the operation of skin
grafting. Aviation Is making more heroes and
af a more rapid rate than baseball,
or even the prizerlng In its palmiest
days.
The Junior Senator from Oregon
says he is tired of hearing the state
say: "Let George do It.
Can the oldest inhabitant remember
pleasanter "nights than Oregon is hav
ing these August days?
Ala vor- Simon w.on out in the Lone
Fir Cemetery matter. Mayor Simon
has that habit.
The Beavers' are a few points ahead
of the Colts, anyway, but it Is a family
matter.
Schively seems to have won on a
technicality. They all do.
. SHIP SUBSIDY A SKIN GAME. '
How a Nation- la Robbed to Enrich
'Owner of Veaacla.
PORTLAND, Aug. 27. (To the Ed
itor.) Since my arrival in Oregon
over two years, ago I have been much
Interested In the editorials In The
Morning Oregonlan against ship sub
sidy. Another appeared this mornlug.
The subject is one of large propor
tions. I have made but a loose and
general study of It, but, owing to the
nature of my work and the rare op
portunities which I have to gather data
on the working side of a ship subsidy
'from first hand, I believe It may bo of
interest to place a view o it before
the public '
I have gone over hundreds of ships'
logbooks during the past two years
that have entered this port. It has
been strikingly revealed to me that a
subsidy placed on a mileage basis is
but a form of legalized robbery of the
United States Treasury, that is, If It
was adopted by this Government. A
most notorious example of this I have
been a constant observer "Of. The ships
of a certain maritime nation offering
a subsidy are very numerous in this
port during the grain shipping season.
This nation can point with pride to
the, fact that her flag files in most
conspicuous numbers on all the seas of
the world, but it is an expensive boast
and those who place the money In the
treasury of this nation pay the bill.
Without an exception the logbooks of
subsidized ships enlighten one on the
dishonest methods adopted by ship
owners to drain the public treasury.
One versed in the subject of naviga
tion will readily deduce from the pages
of uninteresting figures that the voy
ages have been unnecessarily long, that
routes have been 'chosen which are
only excusable by the fact that each
thousand miles of added distance
brings In an additional pile of gold
from the public funds to the private
funds of the owner of the ship. One
Iearn that it is very profitable to
cruise the seas with no cargo. Be
cause of this fact when there are car
goes offering, they can be bid for 'with
a lower rate than any other unsub
sidized ship can afford, and it Is due
to this fact that there are so many
ships flying the flag of the sub
sidized nation. It Is profitable to build
and operate them even if cargoes are
not to be had. During the waning of the
subsidized season there are a startling
number of wrecks of these fine ships.
Their value has been paid for by the
nation and now the insurance com
panies pay a little more. There Is a
hastiness to sell these vessels alsp.
By the time the subsidy is no more, the
magnificent commercial marine of the
nation is back In its old place again,
smaller in numbers and gathering
smaller profits, being subject to the
economic laws of supply and demand
more. The only thing gained is a
-burst of maritime glory and a ship
owners' full pocketbook and a; corre
sponding reduction of the peoples'
money which the consumer of life's
necessities furnished.
If a ship subsidy is necessary it
should be' on - an evaluation basis,
evaluation' of cargoes carried. There
may be tricks in the money trade even
then, of which I do not know, but I
do know that the navigational tricks
worked In a mileage basis are humiliat
ing to the character of those profiting
thereby. JOHN M'NULTT. .
GREATEST GRAFT IX HISTORY.
- ' j. . . - A I .. . hA
inoigpsni , i u n ... .-... ...t - - .
. . M I I t .. t .
PORTLAND. Aug. J6. (To the Editor.)
I wish' to tayi not in the way of cheap
flatterv to vour paper to secure the
printing of what is offered, but as a bil
re .,,th nn a Tnatfpr of crrave imnortance
hot tbA notA smnnried bv Tha Oreeonian
in this morning's issue on pensioning the
"Merry Wiuow" wno uumagiggiea tub
old soldier is most timely.
Only yesterday an inmate of the Na
tinnal Soldiers' Home at Sawtelle,, Cal.
here, on furloUeh. stated that a colony of
women exists at Sawtelle. or near by
on purpose to marry the old veterans ir
the home for no further reason than th(
nanoinn thpv nnw cet. and in the confi
dent expectation that the Government
will ultimately place them (deserving
souls) on the pension roll.
Thie hiitainftas. Infamous beyond de
scription, should in some way be de
feated. It ought to make the blood of
every patriot who wore the blue and
every life-long companion or sucn ei
eran tingle with refentment.', Putting
everv woman who victimizes a silly old
fool into marrying her on the Govern
n n.tia!nnnr hiinrlrpris Of thOU
sands of them in the aggregate would
ft In modern history.
w rj - - o-
Let The Oregonlan lead the press of
the country in preventing sucn a mras
T-V-i. n.nco nlrtnp can do it.
t ti-,- n a R willinir to forfeit the
last vestlae of respect by demanding
such a thing? VETERAN.
Proxreas In Aviation.
Chicago Tribune,
n-v. ,-,f thft nrnm-Pfia in avl
ation is not to be found so much in tne
flight of Bleriot across the English Chan
nel, in the successful tests of the Wright
machine, or in tne rorinconuiia
at Rhelms, as it is in the less conspicu-
UUS tVOUls.
A New York firm advertises its ability
to supply aeroplanes to oraer in io uaj.
a .u -v-.. -v-r-ir firm establishes an
AILUIMCJ . ' - .
aerial garage on the roof of a building.
A Dayton man Duys a cauuuu - "
ent for his 18-year-old daughter. Those
J . V. !nti r".C TT1 .1 It 1 n IT due allOW-
ance for flie element of fiction, Indicate
a growing belief in the general utility of
aeroplanes and dirigible balloons and a
-i nnnx-i,.(inn that thpv are adapt
able for other than military purposes.
The military idea has been dominant in
all thus far attempted in aviation, but
now the Wright brothers, tlie most con
servative of tne suecessiui nvumrs, sug
gest the use of the aeroplane in carry
in rnoila omi mpn of wealth are contem
plating the possible use of the air as an
exciting recreation. m
The Direct Primary. "
Indianapolis Star.
Here in Indianapolis, for example, we
have nominated two men lor mayor.
neither of whom is fit for it; and the
spectacle Is presented of intelligent citi
zens of both parties trying to hypnotize
themselves into the belief that Shank or
Gauss is. in fact, a wonderful statesman.
philosopher and publicist, whose tran
scendent qualities have in some mys
terious wav escaped notice throughout
the 30 or 40 years he has lived and moved
among u. Few will pretend to say that
ither candidate wouia naveDeen cnosen
by a representative convention or nis
party; and it is not the whole truth that
the newspapers are grieved because they
did not impose nominees of their own
choosing from -both parties; for tne
papers in this matter, as in most, what
ever; the'ir private prepossession or pur
pose, are compelled to reflect a sentiment
which Is generally shared by the most
thoughtful and trustworthy elements in
the community.
Silver Lining to the Cloud.
Kansas City Star.
Nevertheless. Kansas City's bank clear
ings are twice as great as those of any
other city In. the, American Bafiebail Association..
PROHIBITION IV JOSEPHINE.
How the System Worhi Wet" In a
Dry" County.
Grants Pass Observer.
It is a little over a year since Jose
phine became "dry," and In that time
there has been more whisky drinking
in he county than ever before. The
prohibition leaders here know that, be
cause they obtained a list of all ship
ments from the station agent, who was
afterwards brought to task by his su
perior officers for giving the Informa
tion. Anybody, man or boy, can send
$3 to Portland and receive by express
prepaid four quarts of whisky. This
is very much cheaper than whisky
could be bought in Grants Pass when
the saloons were In operation, and It
is probably safe to say that thousands
of packages of Intoxicants have been
shipped to this city from other counties
and states. That Is not prohibition.
Apart from the obtaining of liquors
lawfully, there has never been a time
during the "dry" period, when Intoxi
cants could not be bought in Grants
Pass by those who knew the ropes.
New "blind pigs" were opened to share
in the traffic and for a time liquor
was sold practically openly. The large
profits Induced the risk. The seller
has no .lcense to pay of consequence,
and he gets double the price for drinks.
Beer at 10 cents for a reduced glass
pans out money quickly when trade is
good, and it pretty regularly Is in
Grants Pass. There are, too, blind pigs
doing business in the rural districts
at the same profitable rates -and no
licenses to pay.
Prohibition in Josephine County has
failed dismally. The sum of it is that
drinking goes on just the same and the
city loses $6000 license fees and the
county $3000. In the saloon ''days
minors had difficulty in getting liquor,
and few succeeded. Under prohibition
many minors obtain intoxicants with
out any difficulty. Half the people of
the county hold the prohibition law In
contempt, and It tends to breed con
tempt for all law. Men of average
good character have engaged In the
illegal traffic and criminalized them
selves. A few have been punished, but
the sale of liquor goes on and cannot
be stopped. Prohibition makes crim
inals, and does no good, for those who
want stinVulants can easily get them,
and those who do not want stimulants
have no need of prohibition. Many
people voted last year to bar other
people from drinking while they fully
intended to keep supplies for them
selves. That Is contemptible and hypo
critical." The're is nothing' good in pro
hibition, and very many people who
favored it last year do not favor it
now.
The road from here to Woodville, In
Jackson County, Is hedged with empty
bottles. Thousands of dollars go to
Medford for Irduors. Gold Hill gets, a
share. People in the southern part of
Josephine County now trade in Med
ford who never traded there before.
The sawmills are closing down and the
workmen scattering with full purses.
Many of them will go to Medford for a
good time, brants Pass loses revenue,
loses trade and gains nothing but new
evils. The Observer's forecast has been
abundantly verified. Prohibition could
not e enforced in Canada, where laws
are strict, and it cannot be enforced
in this country where laws are loose.
Under it the old evil continues in worse
form and other evils are Induced.
KIN'G EDWARD TAKING THE CURE.
Worn Out After a Strenuoun Senson of
So-inI Featlvltlew. N
By the Chief European Correspondent
of the Laffan Bureau.
King Edward is enjoying a much
needed rest at Marienbad after what
has probably been the busiest season
he has ever known. Not only have
visits from the Czar and the Russian
Duma added to his social duties, but he
has fullilled an unusual number of
engagements in London and the prov
inces. In Lancashire, Gloucester and Bir
mingham many of his subjects saw him
for the first time since he has been
King of England:' At Epsom a tremen
dous crowd cheered his victory In the
Derby race, and at Wellington and
Rugby schoolboys heard him speak on
the duties , of citizenship. He hns
opened museums, reviewed artillery
companies and boys' brigades, In
spected hospitals and attended many
dedication ceremonies.
As to the state functions of the sea
son It Is Impossible to do more than
hint at them. There were the usual
levees, investitures, receptions and
balls, and in addition the press dele
gates from the colonies and a dele
gation from the Turkish imperial par
liament jrere entertained. With all
this the king did not omit visits to his
friends.
He made 14 week-end visits to coun
try houses, three of them to Ameri
cans, Lady Paget, the Whitelaw Reids
and Mrs. Lewis Harcourt having been
among his entertainers. He dined
with many of his friends in London
also, and found time to appear at the
opera at Convent Garden seven times,
and the theaters nine times, whicli
included the matinee performance of
"His Borrowed Plumes," by Mrs. Corn
wallis West. He attended two fash
ionable weddings and countless bridge
pr.rties, besides gala days at the horse
show and other public affairs.
Now after this whirl of business and
pleasure the king Is leading the simple
life at Marienbad, rising at 8 A. M. to
drink the waters while walking to the
golf course, after breakfast giving
three hours to correspondence and
state matters, then after a simple
lunch more walking, a little croquet,
more waters, an early dinner and bed
at 11 or thereabouts.
Rcflectlonff of a Rnchelor.
New York Press.
Before a man asks a girl to marry
him she asks him to ask her.
What makes a man interesting to a
woman is she Just pretends he is.
The deeper a man is in debt the still
deeper he would go if anybody would
let him.
A man seems to think home is a
place to go and get even for all the
disagreeable things that have hap
pened somewhere else.
There are precious few of us who
wouldn't rather do a little thing and
be praised for it than a big thing and
not be.
Lynch Law In n Nutshell.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
The principle laid down in mob murders
has been that "there are cases in which
citizens may take the law into their own
hands." That doctrine is, of coure, sub
versive of order and provocative of gen
eral .outlawry. Followed to its ultimate
analysis and it is so followed, as the
record of mob murders will show means
that wherever and whenever three or
more men wish to kill another they may
do so.
A Wlae Landlord.
Springfield Republican.
He was bound to come, the landlord
reported from St. Louis, who is open
ing tenements which shall be rented
only to families with children. And
he is a wise landlord, while his
brother who admits only childless fam-
iies is blind, for . w-hat is to become
of the appreciation of land values it a
policy of race suicide is encouraged?
Total Deprnvlly.
. ' Washington Star.
I suppose you have a wife and eight
children," sneered the heartless man.
Great Scott, no! answered Plodding
Pete. "If I had, don t you s pose I d be
home makin' 'em workr""
i
Life's SunnySide
1 A joimg man in his shirt sleeves drew
a crowd about the window of a downtown
men's furnishing store one day last week
to watch his operations with a green tie
and a turndown collar. The point was
that he could slip the tie under the turn
over without unbuttoning the collar and
then pull It out and in, right and left,
as if it were running over a pulley. The
men in the crowd looked on with amaze
ment and joy.
"Why is he trying to choke himself
with that tie?" asked a pretty girl of her
escort.
"He Isn't," was the reply. "He's a
demonstrator for the Society for the Sup
pression of Profanity."
At a country fair out in Kansas a man
went up to a tent where some elk were on
exhibition and stared wistfully up at the
sign.
"I'd like to go in there," he said to
the keeper, "but it would be mean to go
in without my family, and I cannot af
ford to pay for my wife and seventeen
children."
The keeper stared at him in astonish
ment. "Are all these your children?" he
gasped.
"Every one," said the man.
"You wait a minute." said the keeper.
"I'm going to bring the elk ut and let
them see you." The Argonaut.
At the afternoon session of the prohi
bition convention the delegates, among
i-hom the women greatly predominated,
were extremely enthusiastic over the cold
water issue and every resolution in
furtherance of the prohibition cause was
upheld aggressively and unanimously.
Toward the end of the session the
speaker of the day was announced. This
gentleman had recently returned from
abroad, where he had been recuperating
from his arduous work on behalf of
temperance. Smilingly acknowledging
his tumultuous reception, this speaker
at once plunged into the pleasant events
of his foreign trlp
In the midst of this Interesting narra
tion a lady delegate from a rural district
sprang to her feet, her eyes blazing.
"I protest against such goings on as
this," she cried, glaring at the narrator.
"It's a sname. I "
"Sit downl"
"Let him proceed!"
"I won't sit down!" declared the irate
delegate, sending a scornful glance at
her fellow members. "I say It's a shame,
a disgrace and deplorable thing for that
man, who poses as an apostle of tem
perance and a hater of ginshops, to stand
up there and deliberately tell us that on
his way across the Atlantic he spent
many delightful evenings in the ship's
saloon." Brooklyn Life.
The other evening Miss Y.. a maiden
lady of uncertain years, suspecting the
cook was entertaining her beau down
stairs, called Martha and Inquired
whether she did not hear someone talking
with her.
"Oh, no, ma'am," cried the quick
witted Martha; "it was only me singing
a psalm."
"Very good," returned Miss Y., signifi
cantly; "you may amuse yourself wlfh
psalms, but lots have no hlms." New
York Herald.
Rose O'Noil, artist and author of 'The
Ijady in the White Veil." Is personally
noted for a charming readiness of speech,
and every woman knows what a very
present help that Is in time of troublo.
Shortly aftrr the young American first
went to London and her friends are de
lighted to tell the story she met an Eng
lishman who prided himself on his
brusque speeches, and who- had heard
quite enough, apparently, about the
young visitor's talents and charm. Turn
ing to her he said in a thundering voice
that might have.-been an echo of Dr.
Johnson's: "If you are the cleverest
woman In America, how long will you
last In England?"
"Conundrums?" she rejoined. "If you
are the rudest man in England, how long
would you last. In America?"
"Ah," exclaimed one listener delighted
ly; " 'tis because she has the Irish in
her name, and the Irish have the way
with them!" Pjttsburg Chronicle Tele
graph. An Irishman was sitting in a depot
smoking when a woman came and sit
ting down beside him remarked:
"Sir. if you were a gentleman you
would not smoke here."
"Mum." ho said: "if ye wuz a lady
ye'd sit farther away."
Prefty soon the woman burst out again.
"If you were my husband I'd give you
poison."
"Well, mum," returned the Irishman
as he puffed away at his pipe, "if you
wuz me wife I'd take it." Kansas City
Independent.
4 Ami the Ark Not Ready.
Richmond Tlmes-Dlspn' U'h.
This time a year ago over ISO miles of
freight cars were standing idle in Amer
ica. But 12 months works miracles in
this land, and today the elevators ara
bursting with wheat, the banks are over
flowing with currency, and even the pes
simist sees that a car shortage Is im
pending. The railroads knew this was
coming, but In the hard times from l.OT
Oa they nrro unable to borrow the money
for purchasing necessary equipment, and
now the Hood h::s com.-, and the ark is
not ready. Whoti James J. Hill said
that It would take $."),ci.vifi,0"'i0 to build
thfc tracks-and purclu:Fe the equipment
neceswary to carry on America s business,
few believed and many mocked. The
optimism of two years ago has become
an assured fact of today, and the car
shortage may well have the effect of
causing tho lof-s of a large part of the
profits that ordinarily would come from
this year's bumper crops.
When the Sun Stood Still.
SALEM. Or., Aug. 24. (To the Editor.)
The Bihle says, in Joshua, that the
sun stood still. lA local authority upon
astronomy says that the Bible is correct
and that the sun did stand still about
four hours. In proof of his assertion
he says that no astronomical calculation
is- correct or can be correct without al
lowing for the period of time the sun
stood still. The writer is unable to verify
tills statement. Could you assist an in
terested suhsoriher? Where can I find
a discourse upon this subject? F. W.
One cannot help but wonder that F.
W's credulity equal.1' his informant's
ignorance or Inveracity.
Greatest Woman In All Hlatory.
Boston Traveler.
It Is safe to say that there are no suf
fragettes in the town of Cawker, for
here is a report of the Woman's Debat
ing Society:
"Who may rightly be said to be the
greatest woman in history? The answer
that was awarded the prize was this:
'The wife of a man of moderate means,
who does her own cooking, washing and
ironing, brings up a family of girls and
boys to be useful members of society,
and finds time for her own intellectual
and moral improvement is the greatest
woman in all history.' " ,
Marrierera Lack Originality.
Baltimore News.
There is absolutely no originality in
the makeup of the average murderer.
After confessing, he invariably "calmly
lights a cigarette." Some one -would
make a decided hit If he would take a
chew of tobacco or call for an ice cream
cone.
' Education That In II".
Baltimore American.
The education which develops a woman
toward masculinity is as much a falhu-e
as that which develops a man toward effeminacy.