6
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 1910.
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PORTLAND, MONDAY, JAN. S, 1010.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY ASSEMBLY.
It need not be forgotten that the
Democratic party of Oregon has a fine
and effective record In favor of "the
assembly." A list of those who at
tended the Democratic assembly of
1906 and a considerable portion of
the proceedings Is reprinted today.
You might suppose from recent utter
ances that the wickedness of the as
sembly was due wholly to Republican,
depravity, directed by the most un
scrupulous of gangs and rings; yet lo!
here is the record of the proceedings
of the Democratic assembly held in
Portland in March, 1906, whioji named
an entire state ticket. Including Rep
resentatives in Congress, which ticket
was presented at the primary, ana
nominated without a break, right
down the line. To-wit: For Governor,
George E. Chamberlain; for United
States Senator, John M. Gearin; for
G. Halley; for Secretary of State, Paul
Sroat, of Marion; for State Treasurer,
J. D. Matlock, of Lane; for Attorney
General, Robert Miller, of Multnomah;
for State Printer, J. Scott Taylor, of
Klamath; for Superintendent of Pub
lic Instruction, E. E. Bragg, of Union;
alternate, W. A. Wann, of Linn; Wann
was nominated; for Representatives
in Congress, First District, C. V. Gal
loway, ' of Yamhill; alternate, P. A.
Cochran, of Marlon; Galloway wis
nominated; Second District, Harvey
Graham, of Baker; W. T. Vaughn, of
Multnomah;. Graham was nominated
There you have the Democratic as
sembly and its fruits. .The assembly
"suggested" or "recommended" names
for all the st,ate offices, and "invited"
the persons named to stand as candi
dates for the primary. The ticket thus
"suggested" was nominated from top
to bottom. Say, now! was the. pri
mary law eet aside? Was Its sacred
chastity violated?
Oh! but perhaps it was all right for
Democrats to assemble and "suggest"
a ticket, and then turn in and nomi
nate it throughout; but It will be very
wrong for Republicans to do the like.
In the one case it was "invitation";
in the other it will be "dictation."
The one was a pure patriotic effort,
entirely within the Intent of the pri
mary law. The other will be the ef
fort of "a, ring of discredited politi
cians to subvert the law." Now kind
ly look over that list of participants In
the Democratic assembly, and see If
you note anything ringy or bossy
about it. Observe whether you' find
any "discredited politicians in it."
Possibly it will be said that this as
sembly didn't meet in the name of the
Democratic party nor attempt to "dic
tate" a ticket. It did meet expressly in
the name of the Democratic party. It
put forth a long pronunciamento or
platform, beginning with the words:
"We, Democrats of Oregon, In mass
meeting assembled at Portland this 7th
day of March, 1906," etc. Did it "dic
tate" a ticket to the party? Well, the
ticket it "offered," "suggested" or "in
vited," was nominated throughout.
What show was there for "free choice
in the primary," which it is now feared
by our Democratic brethren the Re
publican assembly will cut off?
The Republican party proposes now
to use the. assembly a.- the Democratic
party' has used it heretofore, but to
put it on a wider ami more represent
ative basis. The Democratic assemhly"
consisted of self-constituted members,
assuming to act In the. nam,e of their
party. The Republican assembly, on
the contrary, will be wholly represent
ative. Selection by the body of the
members of the party of a great num
ber of delegates, as nearly in propor
tion as possible to the Republican vote
in each of the counties, is intended.
These appointed representatives of
their party will suggest, recommend
or invite designated men upon whom
v the assembly may agree, to become
candidates for nomination at the di
rect primary election. Some or all of
; them may be opposed at the primary
by other Republicans. No "ring" in
the Republican party has such power
of "dictation" as that possessed by the
Democratic assembly which met at
Portland and "dictated" a ticket
which no group or member of the
party was permitted to oppose, but
which was put straight through ac-
l cording to the programme.
It is Just as well to refresh the
) memory of the people of Oregon about
tnes-e proceedings, and especially the 3
i memory of those of our Democratic'
J brethren who are wont to asseverate,
i now in indignant, now in solemn
i tones, that if Republicans assemble to
J "suggest" or "recommend" candidates,
I or to "invite" particular men to be
j candidates, they are subverting or de-
striving the primary law. On this
point the Republican assembly may
I as1 well copy and follow to the letter
the proceedings of the Democratic as
sembly of 1906. Perhaps this might
relieve the anxiety of our brethren,
and check the flow of their exclama-'
tory holophrasms.
There has been no general election
for the state since 1906. This year
such election will again be held and
the Democratic ticket, as heretofore.
J will be a product of a conference or
assembly of leading politicians of the
party. Preparation for it among
them, with a view to alliance with Re-
publicans, supposed to be "sore,", is
going on all the time.
A go-as-you-please .primary, very
candidate nominating himself, disor
ganizes and disintegrates a political
i -party, especially the majority party.
- The minority party hopes to build
J Itself up by this disorganization of its
opponents, and so. helps It on all it
can. But here In Oregon the minority
u party fcr itself anticipates the primary
by putting out its candidates before
hand and keeping solid Its own ranks.
It has no go-as-you-please candidates.
That folly It leaves to Its opponent
and encourages In its opponents, I hat
it may divide and beat them.
TIIE ECONOMIC LAW.
"Many ingenious reasons," says the
New York American, "are offered to
explain the high prices of foodstuffs,
but the simplest reason is that not
enough food is produced." Why not?
The Secretary of the Department of
Agriculture says: "There are not
enough people on the farms producing
food, and too many people are going
to the towns to be fed."
Asked if he had any plan for induc
ing people to go to the country to
help produce the food, the Secretary
answered by quoting James J. Hill,
who says "they will go there when
they get hungry."
The economic laws the only sure
one. Though its course may' be
checked for a time, it will certainly
have its way at last. The Boston
Transcript has these Judicious obser
vations: "The sweeping away of our
forests has been universally deplored.
So has the enhanced price of lumber.
But the latter Is economic law's way
of restoring the forests. The same ia
true of coal and water power, and a
thousand other things. Through the
rising price of leather economic law
Issues an invitation to inventors and
mechanics to bring forth their substi
tute materials; the development along
that line is now rapid. While Amer
ica may cease to feed the outsldo
countries it will be a very long time
before it will ask them in any large
degree to feed us. Rising prices will
in the long run put that incentive be
hind the plow-handles."
FOOZLED AGAIN.
The other day the diligent press
bureau of Senator Bourne at Wash
ington informed a gasping world
that the Senator had made another
brilliant coup for the benefit of his
pleased constituents. Or, rather, it
was announced that he was about to
do it.' In the exact language of the
press dispatch, the Senator was "con
sidering the advisability of attempting
to secure legislation to extend the 32A
acre homestead law to Oregon. He Is
personally favorable to bringing Ore
gon within the provisions of the en
larged homestead law, but probably
will not act until he can .obtain ex
pressions of opinion from Oregon
homesteaders."
Great! Great indeed! . The Oregon
Senator, ever alive to the wishes' of the
plain people, wants to receive their im
perial mandate. Meanwhile he.wi'l
do nothing rash. He will take his
time while strolling leisurely around
the golf links in "considering" the
matter with his caddy.
It is well. For Congress and the
Secretary of the Interior have already
anticipated by a year or more any need
for the Senator to worry his brain
with "considering" anything about the
homestead act. The 320-acre dry-farm
act was passed by Congress at its last
session,' while "Senator Bourne was
presumably at Washington. Refer
ence to the recent annual report of the
Secretary of the Interior will discover
the fact that 8,403,200 acres had been
set apart in Oregon for entry under
this law prior to .November 1, 1909.
The Senator's belated purpose to do
something .big for the dry-farm home
steaders of Oregon is another hand
some foozle.
IkBSCHX'TES RAILROAD TRUCE.
No regret will be felt over cessation
of hostilities between the Hill and the
Harriman forces now rushing work
on the Central Oregon lines. Compe
tition of the kind that has been in
evidence since the warfare began,
about six months ago, is always ex
pensive, and in the end the public
pays the bills. The reported . truce
has apparently been declared without
in any way affecting or retarding
early completion of both roads. The
public is thus assured of a healthy
natural competition after the lines
shall be completed, and it will at the
same time be relieved of the extra
burden of expense that a prolonged
struggle between the two companies
would have entailed. The money
wasted on unnecessary construction
work, while fighting for strategic
points, becomes a part of the cost of
the road, and a fixed charge lies
against it until the end of time.
The public is seldom, if ever, taken
into the confidence of the men who
formulate and enforce . the railroad
policies of the country, but it seems
probable that the hostilities in 'the
Deschutes were abandoned for the
same reason that the proposed con
struction of a second line to Puget'
Sound was supplanted by a trackage
agreement over the line already con
structed. The competing forces in
both of these projects had shown a
determination to reach their respec
tive goals, regardless of cost; and,
once having reached them, all the
money spent in obstructive tactics
would have been wasted. The rail
roads accordingly accepted the Inev
itable with as good a grace as possible.
ana undoubtedly saved a number of
millions of dollars in each case.. With
this cessation of hostilities between
the rival forces in the Deschutes, much
less difficulty should be encountered In
securing the prompt approval by the
Government of the location maps not
aireaay passed on.
Pending this settlement, this ap
proval was delayed by the obstructive
.ii.-iH.-a ui ine two roaas ana also b-,
objections raised by people unfamiliar
with the situation, but who were un
aer tne erroneous Impression that the
ngnis or tne uescnutes were
being Jeopardized by construction of
the roads on the locations selected
With no further clashing between the
two roads, the only 'possible excuse for
withholding Government permission
to proceed with the plans as now out
lined would 'be the objections of a few
ineoretical conservationists who fear
That the line might interfere with
some power sites along the stream.
Astne interior Department has al
ready approved the west-bank loca
tion, no logical reason can be ad
vanced for refusing to approve a slm
liar location on the east bank. The
activity of the construction forces on
the two lines, and the enormous sums
or money that are being expended in
rushing the work tend to confirm the
general belief that the two enterprises
are of greater magnitude than has
yet been admitted.
One and perhaps both of these lines
may be Intended to form a new trans
portation link between Oregon ind
ainornia. There is at stake the de
velopment of the largest area of rich
timber and farm land that remains
without railroad facilities anywhere in
the United States.
Any ruling of the Government that
would tend to retard the construction
of these roads through the Deschutes
Canyon would injure thousands of set
tlers without offering any counter ad
vantages. The adverse criticism which
has been heaped on Secretary Ballln
ger by .the uninformed muckrakers
should not and probably will not in
fluence him in doing what Is right by
the people of Oregon in hastening the
opening of the great Central Oregon
empire.
CUTTING OFF OUR OWN NOSE.
The Government is preparing to
levy a fine of J182.000 against a big
Hamburg-American liner, which is
approaching the California shores I
with 660 tourists who left New York
several months ago on a tour of the
world. During the Winter season,
when business is dull on the Atlantic,
these big liners offer very attractive
inducements to travelers who seek the
maximum of comfort and the mini
mum of expense. They are permitted
to land at "coastwise" ports in every
other country on earth but ours.
We are great believers in protection,
however, and must make an example
of this ship, that has had the audacity
to carry passengers between New York
and San Francisco via the Mediter
ranean, Suez Canal, Singapore, China,
Japan and other countries.
The fine is of sufficient propor
tions to prevent any company from
repeating the offense, and American
travelers desiring an economical trip
around the world can wait until the
ship-subsidy bill passes, and we run
our foreign competitors off the ocean.
AN .ASTORIA MISUNDKRSTANDrNG.
Elsewhere The Oregonian prints a
communication from T. O. Trullin
ger, of Astoria. The questions asked
by Mr. Trull inger have been answered
so often in these columns that an apol
ogy is perhaps due our readers for
again discussing them. Mr. Trullinger
begins wltha. statement "entirely at
variance with the facts. Astoria can
not "ship lumber or salmon to the in
terior points anywhere in the Inland
Empire as cheaply as Seattle can."
Nor is it true that "commodities of
any kind can be shipped to Astoria
from the Inland Empire as cheaply as
to Seattle." The local rate between
Portland and Astoria is added in every
case.
There is perhaps some excuse for
Mr. Trullinger's opinion that Portland
should get a lesser rate than the
Sound" from certain, territory; but, so
long as the railroads maintain tracks,
stations and other equipment between
the Inland Empire and Seattle, they
will meet the Portland rate, no matter
how low that rate may be. Northern
Pacific officials, however, will not ad
mit that the downhill haul to Port
land is anything more than an equali
zation of the advantage of cheap fuel
enjoyed by the lines to Puget Sound.
The O. R. & N. is In direct competi
tion with the Northern roads at a
number of points in the Inland Em
pire. Large milling concerns on Pu
get Sound,' with extensive warehouse
systems at these competitive points.
can thus force the O. R. & N. either to
haul their wheat to Puget Sound, or
not get any of the business. The rule
works both ways, and it will probably
be news to Mr. Trullinger to learn
that, prior to completion of the North
Bank road, in a single year more than
1,000,000 bushels of wheat has been
hauled over the Cascade Mountains
through Tacoma to Portland. .
As explained in the Interstate Com
merce Commission decision, no com
parison can toe .made between a point
where there is business and one where
there is none. If Astoria would build
mills and elevators as important as
those on Puget Sound, and establish
warehouses and elevators at interior
points where the two rail systems con
tended for freight, it would have some
excuse for asking the same rate as is
granted other points which have those
facilities, although it would still be
necessary- to demonstrate where any
advantage would accrue to the pro
ducer or the consumer of the freight
involved.
Mr. , Trullinger's knowledge of the
tramp steamer traffic is' somewhat
vague and uncertain. The -shipowner
does not pay the expense of dredging
between Portland and Astoria any
more than he pays the cost of the
much more expensive river improve
ment work between Astoria- and the
sea. It costs him, in the shape of fixed
charges, pilotage, crew wages, etc.,
from 5 cents to 10 cents per ton to
move freight over the 100-mile stretch
of water between Portland and As
toria. Wrhat Portland has spent In
Improving the river does not concern
the shipowner any more than It would
concern the railroad that might carry
the freight by rail to Astoria.
Portland's expenditures for river
work are In the same class as her ex
penditures for streets, water works
and other municipal improvements.
With an assessed valuation of more
than J200.000.000 and a Jobbing trade
of $250,000,000 per year, there has
never been any objection to the com
paratively small amount spent to keep
our river in shape for handling not
only outward-bound but inward-bound
ships. Of course, if we forced the
railroads to haul the wheat, to Astoria
free, they would be obliged to haul
the inward cargo from ships coniing in
for wheat at the . same , price. The
question of river improvement, does
not enter into the matter, for the rea
son that the river channel will not be
closed, no matter what rates, might be
made to Astoria.
THE OLD XOG SCHOOL-HOUSE.
The old log school-house, like the
old stage coach at one time and for
long advance guards of civilization in
the wilderness has practically disap
peared from the Pacific Northwest.
But two of these old houses, we are
told, remain in service in Washing
ton County. Probably not more than
that number remain in any county of
the Willamette Valley. Rude devices
reared by the pioneers of a past era
to shelter and provide educational ad
vantages for their children in the days
when an arithmetic, a copy book and
a slate and pencil constituted the in
dividual equipment for study for each
child, while two or more of the same
family shared, in common the reader
and spelling book, " these old log
school-houses 6erved well their day
and purpose.
Their architecture was of the most
primitive type. Logs cut from : the
abounding forest, with due regard to
size and symmetry perhaps roughly
hewn on one or two sides, but quite
as likely left in their natural state;
deeply notched by the settlers' ax at
the corners where they were laid
together; a stick and mud chimney
and fireplace half across one end; a
roof and door of shakes riven from
straight billets of yellow fir at the
other; low, square windows along
the sides, each set with a . saah
and four panes of glass; a . long,
sloping shelf running along under the
windows with a shelf underneath for
slate and books; rude benches in front
of these" shelves, a small table on a
slightly raised platform at one side of
the fireplace, and a chair with raw
hide or splint bottom for the teacher
this was the old log school-house
and its equipment for the comfort of
the children of the pioneers as they
strove to master the simple rudiments
of what was then known as a "com
mon school education."
Fragrant of the balsam, distilled by
the sun and air from the fir trunks
of which they were built; well venti
lated, since there was no attempt to
make the walls tight, or to fit the win
dows snugly; the wide fireplace . full
of glowing logs during the Winter
term and gay with evergreen boughs
in the Spring; the birds singing out
side, and flitting now and then through
the open door in quest of a safe nest
ing place; the path that led to the
spring, from which the children drank
recklessly (the germ theory of disease
having not yet been evolved) can any
one who ever went to school in one
of these primitive log school-houses
ever forget it?
Harry K. Thaw, who removed the
unspeakable Stanford White from this
world, has reached the end of his
financial tether, and has been offi
cially declared a bankrupt. When
the almost measuresless sorrow and
heartaches which this worthless son
of a rich man has caused are consid
ered, it seems a great pity that his
father had not become a bankrupt and
left the young man a legacy of debt
Instead of millions. Poverty is not
pleasant,.' but it has Certain features
which for the development of charac
ter arid moral stamina are much su
perior to anything that riches have
ever produced. Had Fortune decreed
that Harry Thaw's days should have
been spent in earning instead of
spending money, he might today be
enjoying his freedom and the respect
which decent mankind is always will
ing to accord the honest worker.
It is well enough to keep in mind
that there is to be an election in Port
land school district February 2 to de
cide on .the issue of $350,000 bon is
for a new West Side High School. .Of
course no one will say that the West
Side should not have a high school
equal to the two fine structures on the
East Side; yet there are interests op
posed to any Improvement even for
schools that would, if they could, de
feat the project. All who desire to
have the West Side properly provided
with a high school should govern
themselves accordingly on February 2.
Russia, Japan, France and Great
Britain have declined to assent to the
plan of Secretary Knox for "the neu
tralization of the Manchurian rail
roads. At this writing the plan has
not appealed to anyone except Mr.
Knox. This fiasco, following so close
ly on the affair in which Mr. Knox
threatened much, and did .nothing
towards punishing Zelaya, mu3t be
rather discomfiting to the distin
guished Secretary of State. As yet it
has not been announced that ex-Miri-ister
Crane has extended his regrets.
The - Hood River Fruitgrowers'
Union, after a successful career of 18
years, has been dissolved, and its af
fairs are being wound up. It has been
succeeded by a larger and more im
portant organization, but it will not
soon be forgotten that it was the now
defunct organization that first made
Hood River famous as a fruit center,
and to its wonderful work is due
much of the remarkable development
of the fruit industry in the Hood River
valley.
The Albany Democrat thinks Milt
Miller, as Democratic candidate for
Governor, might "slip in," for "the
people are not going to vote for any
assembly-dictated candidates." But
the Democratic party did vote for their
assembly candidates in 1906 without a
murmur of protest; and one of them
"slipped in."
The state Democratic assembly in
1906 didn't "make a ticket" simply
Invited men to become candidates
That is Just what the Republican as
sembly will do this year, and the Re,
publican assembly will comply more
nearly with the primary law than did
the Democratic assembly of 1906.
Five Republicans only out of thirty-
four interviewed by The Oregonian
yesterday opposed the assembly. This
would seem to be about the custom
ary proportion throughout the state.
Three of the' five hold office. Others
who hold office favor the assembly.
Now what's the "answer?
It Is now certain that- the Irish
party, known In the returns as Na
tionalists, will hold the balance cf
power in the British Commons. Which
of the parties will grant what the Na
tionalists ask, for the sake of thilr
support on questions of English pol
icy? Will either?
Ballinger is no mealy-mouth when
it comes to retort upon his assailants.
His speech' in Wljliamstown, Mass., on
Saturday, was brimful of hot stuff. It
is just the' kind of speech an able man
could make and should make, -when
in position to defy traducers.
"The more the farmer gets for his
products the more prosperity," says
the Albany (Oregon Democrat. Now
what is the consumer in the city, and
the wageworker in general, all in re
volt against -high prices, to think of
that?
Having found it impossible to make
bluffs that would keep each other out,
the two. railroads up the Deschutes
Canyon agree to agree. That is to be
expected, since none of Nature's bluffs
could keep either railroad out.
Trenton, N. J., has a no-seat-no-fare
law, and the women prefer to stand
rather than to take the men's seats.
The law, then, is several ways a boon.
Thaw is declared bankrupt. He
might as well be released from the
asylum, then, since actresses can find
nothing further in him worth while.
With the Irish holding the balance
of power in the next Parliament, there
will be something doing. Paddy In
the limelight will cut a neat caper.
NEWS BY GROUND WIRE.
Somewhat Startling Discoveries After
the Manner of Sherlock Holmes,
People's Press, Portland. .
There has come to our ears of late a
touching tale that our Jonathan Bourne
was going to start a morning paper in
Portland. Of this sheet W. S. U'Ren
would be the editor. Real money, stamped
with the Bourne trademark, was said al
ready to be in circulation here; and a
much larger opening of "the sack" was
said to be only a matter of a few days.
In fact, it was reported that Jonathan
had hired several refrigerator cars and
was even now having them loaded with
simoleons for the campaign in the dear
old Beaver State.
The People's Press at once put its Sher
lock Holmes on the trail of this story.
Disguised as a Statement One politician,
our sleuth took up his stand half way be
tween Oregon City and the Portland
Labor Press, and put his ear to the
ground. Presently he got up and smiled,
having tapped a wireless message pass
ing between these two points, and came
into the office to report.
"You may say without fear of contra
diction," said he, "that Jonathan Bourne
has already dispatched $120,000 to Oregon,
to be expended in educating the people
as to the great dangers of the assembly
plan. This money is in the hands of six
committeemen, all appointed by Jona
than, after consultation with one man
Chamberlain. While it is expected that
some of the money will stick to the hands
of this sextette of faithful workers, the
greatest part will be used to getting out
predigested editorial matter for the coun
try newspapers of Oregon, and for pay
ing for the insertion of this matter under
the guise of legitimate copy.
"Mr. Bourne does not intend to start
a newspaper in Portland, but will rely
upon the efforts of the Journal and the
Labor Press to spread his Ideas in Mult
nomah's metropolis. Elsewhere in the
state, however, he is planning the ac
quirement of interests in several papers,
and 'will shortly require 'good men and
true' to take up the editorial responsi
bilities of these sheets, and see that
only pro-Bourne and pro-Chamberlain
matter is published in conspicuous posi
tions in these papers. There will be mpre
money coming from the East shortly to
add to this preliminary $120,000."
We received this information with great
Joy and Instructed our Sherlock Holmes
to remain on the job. still disguised as
a Statement One politician. As soon as
further information is forthcoming, the
readers of the People's Press will be In
formed of developments.
WATER POWER, SITES.
Presentation of Pacta Against Imagin
ative Theories.
New York Sun.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 17. Theoretically
water power is the cheapest possible me
chanical energy, yet official reports de
clare that "water power has not held Its
own, but has steadily declined in relative
Importance since 1870, when it was 48.2
per cent of the whole (horsepower in the
country), whereas for 1905 it was only
11.3 per cent." Reports for the year 1906
show the use in mechanical industries of
1,647,969 horsepower generated by running
water. Out of this about 40 per cent
was in New England and about 27 per
cent in the State of New York. Analysis
would in all probability show that the
greater part of this is used in mills built
many years ago. For various reasons
water power is not the first choice as a
source of energy in mechanical Industries.
For present use, at 'least, a power site
Is not eagerly sought by the factory pro
prietors. It is possible, though the fact
is not clearly established, that some
grasping "trust," in anticipation of future
conditions in parts, of the country, is
"gobbling up" the best and most desira
ble power sites. Even if this is true, it
may not be an evil. The use of a power
site for the development of power is an
unprofitable enterprise unless, the power
can be sold directly as water power or
indirectly as electrical energy. If power
Is offered on reasonable terms, the prob
able result is mills and factories employ
ing hands and paying wages, or light,
heat and power for towns and cities. If
charges for power are excessive, there
will be no sale for the power. The prac
tical utilization of a power site requires,
usually, a large expenditure of money
and a central control. It is even con
ceivable that this alleged "water power
trust" may be a blessing in, disguise, if
such an organization really does exist. It
may mean new centers of industry and
more wage earners, more business for
railroads and more wealth for the Na
tion. There are parts of the power site con
servation programme which are obvious
ly commendable. Such sites have a value,
either actual and immediate or potential.
If they were valueless no "trust" would
want them. Any Federal grant of such a
site should carry conditions, such as
time limit for development and operation
and protection against an abuse of mo
nopolistic powers, by the grantee, while
the laws should make impossible any
spoliation of the public, they should, make
easily possible the benefits that may be
derived from developed water power.
"Our Saviors
Albany (Or) Herald.
In a recent Issue of the Detroit Times
appeared the pictures of Senators Jona
than Bourne and George E. Chamberlain,
with the statement that they were joined
together in an effort to deliver the peo
pie of Oregon from the .rule of the
"gang." Somebody said something to
the effect that distance lends enchant
ment to the view. The writer of the ar
ticle probably knows nothing about con
ditions in Oregon. Or it may be that
the Detroit Times runs ads on its first
page. We know of but one way to judge
a man, and that Is by what he has done
and by what he is doing now. You can't
Judge him by what he may do. Judging
from, the past record of Jonathan Bourne
and from his record thus far in the
United States Senate, we should hardly
suspect him of leading a movement to
deliver the people of Oregon from the
gang. It was a wolf, was it not, that
was going to lead little Red Riding Hood
out of the woods? We are willing to be
delivered "from," but most of us would
like to know what we are to be delivered
"to." As to Senator Chamberlain, we
have nothing to say at present He is a
Democrat and owns up to It.
Mlmmr Wanted It."
New York Sun.
We learn from the Nashville Tennessean
that the Hon. James Rudolph Garfield,
reported to have been the Hon. William
Alden Smith's candidate for Chief For
ester last week, "is very keen in the race
for the Governorship of Ohio." No doubt.
"Why." somebody is said to have asked
the Hon. Theodore Roosevelt once upon
a time, "did you make Garfield Secretary
of the Interior?" "Oh," replied that fa
mous humorist, "Jimmy wanted it,"
Poe and Holmes In Court.
Washington Star.
With Edgar Allan Poe arguing a case
before" Oliver Wendell Holmes the clock
in the United States Supreme Courtroom
seemed to have turned back several de
cades today. -
But it was so. Oliver Wendell Holmes
was on the bench; Edgar Allan Poe was
at the bar. Counsellor Poe is a member
of the famous Poe family of Baltimore,
Justice Holmes' pedigree also Is well
known. An Error of Early Days.
New York World.
In the early days of the republic there
was a theory that small salaries would
prevent men from seeking office for pe
cuniary reward; but it is a theory that
this country long ago outgrew. J mall
salaries are an Inducement to the wrong
kind of men to seek public office and an
obstacle in the way of the right kind of
men.
ASSEMBLY NECESSARY FOR VOTERS
Individuals Cant Personally Know All
Nominees, Says Salem Lawyer.
SALEM. Or., Jan. 23. (To the Editor.)
How any man of ordinary intelligence can
honestly assert and maintain that the pro
posed assembly or convention plan, for the
purpose of recommending suitable candi
dates for office by the Republicans of
Oregon, Is a menace to the direct primary
law, is wnat l cannot understand. I am
inclined to think that those who maintain
that position are not so solicitous for the I
welfare of the Republican party as they
are for their own personal interests. So
far as I have been able to ascertain, there
are but two newspapers In the state,
claiming to be Republican, that oppose
said plan, and one of those was, a few
years ago, doing all it could to disrupt
and defeat the Republican party, and
which paper, although now nominally Re
publican, has not been again received into
full fellowship and the confidence of the
party. The paper referred to may as
sume to voice the principles of the Repub
lican party, but it is the voice of Jacob,
while its haTid is the hand of Esau.
If It is the purpose of the direct primary
law to prohibit the people from assem
bling in a peaceable manner for religious
or political consultation, It Is subversive
of that liberty which. Jefferson declared
to be inalienable and which is guaranteed
by the Constitution of Washington, Madi
son, Franklin and their compeers.
This Is a representative government, not
a democracy nor yet an oligarchy. All of
the voters within a voting precinct
may personally know every candl-x
date therein and be eminently qual
ified to choose wisely therefrom,
and - still be entirely unacquainted
with candidates in other precincts within
the county and state. Nearly every voter
will know of some representative of his
party who is better qualified than he to
select candidates for county and state of
fices, and it is his right and privilege to
delegate that man to represent him. In
spite of all the restrictions thrown about
the voter by the primary law, a large per
cent of voters now vote unintelligibly.
This is patent to everybody who will
Watch the process of voting at any gen
eral election. Voters find it necessary not
only to inquire of some one in whom they
have confidence the choice they should
hvake, but they even are ignorant of the
politics of the men whose names are on
the ticket.
For myself, I profess to possess average
intelligence and an average knowledge of
the politics of the state and the standing
of many of the candidates. At the same
time, I know of men within the Republi
can party who are much better lnTormea
concerning both than I am, and whom I
prefer to have represent me in Jhe coun
cils of the party, because of said superior
knowledge. Again, no one man will know
all of the candidates for all of tne county
offices, to say nothing about the candi
dates for state offices. But an assembly
of representative men will contain men
who do know them and by conferring and
discussing their merits will be more lively
to select a good ticket than will tne
"shotgun" method of the direct primary.
After the convention, or the "assembly,"
if that name" is liked better, has com
pleted Its work and made Its report, there
remains the direct-primary law in full
force and vigor to correct any errors it
may have made. The primary law is here
and it is going to remain. It may be
somewhat modified or amended, but it
will remain substantially as it is now,
and all the conventions and , assemblies
that may be convened cannot affect it one
particle. Let us have the assembly, and
then the primary and the choice of the
people will be better and more faithfully
expressed than It has been within the last
four years. Therefore, let the Republicans
hold their precinct, county and state as
semblies, and let the "wolf hoWl."
D. WEBSTBK-
VIRULENCE OP BRITISH POLITICS
No Gentle Word Are These, Addressed
to Englishmen.
It need not to be supposed that Brit
ish political contests are conducted al
ways with decency, dignity and gravity,
free from venomous attacks on polit
ical opponents. In our own country we
seldom or never have anything quite
so virulent as the assaults of the or
gans of each of the political parties
upon the leading men of the other.
Before us is the National Review for
January, one of the champions of the
Conservative cause. Following, are
some of its remarks on the Ministry,
and in particular on Asquitli and Lloyd
George: They have scarcely a spark of patriotism
among them, and are cynically indifferent
to the future of these islands, while the
word "Empire" never pollutes their lips.
They seem resolutely resolved to resort to
any falsehoods calculated to catch votes
and to save salaries. The Cabinet avowed
ly contains several Moderates, who claim
the reBpect of decent folk, to which, how
ever, they are no longer entitled since their
abject surrender to a couple of blatant
demagogues, who live only to Injure publio
Interests and to advance their own. One
Is a hysterical Welsh attorney, with a pos
itively Insane hatred of England which
finds frequent expression in his Welsh
speeches and sermons totally unfit to hold
any serious office, whose Chancellorship of
the Exchequer has probably cost this un
fortunate nation some fzoo.txw, uuu, t. e..
the amount of the French Indemnity to
Germany in 1871. The other is a renegade
who only became a Radical politician be
cause he had failed to become a Unionist
Minister. He- devotes his energies to
vendetta against all the causes he used to
champion. Liberals seem to have adopted
as their war-cry, "If at first you don't
succeed, lie. He, lie again," and politicians
formerly believed incapable of conscious de.
vlatlon from accuracy have caught the pre
vailing epidemic, feeling presumably that as
they came in on an ocean or terminological
Inexactitudes, they may as well go out in
an orgy of Urea.
PA1THFIL READER OF OREGONIAN
Corroboration That Colonel Parker Has
Read This Paper tor 40 Years.
LYLE, Wash., Jan. 23. (To the Editor.)
I wish to verify Colonel Frank J. Park
er's plight, when without the daily visit
of The Oregonian as expressed by him
in The Oregonian of last Sunday.
Some months ago Colonel Parker came
for a week at my homestead on the
Klickitat. Mail service at that time was
not adjusted on the Goldendale branch.
The second day after Colonel Parker's
arrival. The Oregonian of that morning
did not arrive. The next 24 hours had
strenuous moments for me, and the
Colonel at times was correspondingly de
pressed. The offer of a pipe with a change of
tobacco and another attraction did not
seem to soothe Colonel Parker's over
strung nerves. The following day, Con
ductor Harry Wherland, who has a pro
clivity to accommodate the fisherman and
healthseeker, was Interviewed. Hence,
The Oregonian came every day "on the
dot" for the Colonel, six hours after
leaving the press. Parker was a changed
man, and he bore, the marks of old times
up in the Walla Walla country when
that city was a village and he was the
wide-awake editor of the Statesman,
hammering away for a transcontinental
railroad. Parker, at the time on the
Klickitat, related that for the last 40
years ho had daily read The Oregonian,
with one interruption back in the Sum
mer of 1878, when he was a scout for the
late General O. O. Howard, up in the
Owyhee country, during the Bannock In
dians' outbreak.
JOHN G. MADDOCK.
There Are Difficulties.
New York Sun.
The Indianapolis News gives way to
unnecessary regret when It sighs that all
the efforts for the "purification" of the
Indiana Democracy have ended In the
supremacy of the Hon. Thomas Taggart.
Why kick at Tom? He is one of the nu
merous immortal and immutable Demo-
cratio principles.
ASTORIA MAX WANTS TO KNOW.
Asks Some Questions About Common
Point, Answered Elsewhere.
ASTORIA, Or., Jan. 21. (To the Efll-'
tor.) As I have been a subscriber to The
Oregonian for the last in. years. I feel at
liberty to ask you to explain a few mat
ters in regard to the common point rata
on wheat from the Inland Empire to As
toria that has just been decided by the
Interstate Commission. The Commission
thought Astoria was discriminated against
too much, and so they reduced the discri
minative rate of J2 a ton to "JO cents a ton.
from Portland to Astoria, which, in fact,
leaves 90 cents a ton handicap yet. Per
haps this Is fair, but it does not seem
so to Astoria, With this handicap As
toria cannot expect any business as far
as shipping wheat is concerned.
Wheat is the only commodity on which
the railroads discriminate against As
toria. Astoria can ship lumber or sal
mon to the interior points anywhere in
the Inland Empire as cheap as Seattle
can. "and any commodities of any kind
can be shipped to Astoria from the In
land Empire (except wheat) as cheaply
as to Seattle. 1 cannot understand that.
Leave Portland out of the discussion al
together, as The Oregonian ncently com- .
menting on this Issue, said the railroad
balked at a 90-cent rate in competition
with the river by tramp steamer, which
no doubt from your conclusion is true.
As Portland is nearer the Inland Em
pire, with the advantage of a downhill
haul, I always believed it should get a
lesser rate than the Sound, but I cannot
see why Seattle or the Sound should get
a better rate than Astoria. That is one
of the questions that I wish you to ex
plain. As the Union Pacific, through the O. R.
& N. Company, is seeking business from
the Inland Empire to the Sound, I under
stand that it has made the same -rate
from interior points to Seattle as it gives
to Portland. It docs not seem tr balK.
the O. R. & N. Company much to. hnul
wheat down the Columbia River to Van
couver, and from there to Seattle, which
Is 180 miles, some 70 miles farther than
Astoria, which is down-grade all the way.
Yet they have to haul up grade to get
into tne bound. Strange how the rail
roads balk at hauling down towards As
toria, but It seems to be a pleasure to
go up hill to go to the Sound. You might
kindly explain that situation.
Now one more little matter. The Ore
gonian has always contended that a
tramp steamer could carry a cargo of.
say, 6000 tons from Portland to Astoria
cheaper than the railroad. Your answer
to this is like the boy that lived at home,
and his parents furnished his board and
clothes and paid all his expenses, and the
money he earned, of course. vas his own.
and naturally would make a good show
ing. Otherwise the truth half-told, to
say the- least, sometimes is misleading.
Suppose you would charge the expenses
that Portland has met in dredging the
river against the tramp steamer freight,
what would the rate be? Or. in other
words, which costs most to maintain, the
railroad or the river?
I am not complaining about the cost of
dredging, because Portland has borne
it cheerfully. I know The Oregonian in
discussing the state portage road at The
Dalles, counted all the expenses, and The
Oregonian said that they amounted to
some $90 a ton. I contend a locomotive
can haul 100 cars with 50 tons to the car.
or 5000 tons from Portland to Astoria
cheaper than the same freight can la
handled from Portland to Astoria on a
tramp steamer. Or, would a sane man
think that it would cost $450u fo continue
that 100 cars on to Astoria?
If It does, how much would it cost to
continue the same 100 cars on to Seattle,
which is 70 miles farther, and also an up
grade which no locomotive could haul?
These are matters which have always
been hard for me to understand, and, if
you can explain this, you will confer a
great favor on me.
T. O. TRULUXGEU.
DEATH OF AN INDIGENT SOLI1IEH.
Case In Point of Veteran Too III to lie
Moved In Cars Many .Mil cm.
TROUTDALE, Or., Jan. 22. (To the
Editor.) Rev. C. E. Cline'a letter in The
Oregonian of this dato reads very nicely.
But let me tell a true story:
Last May an old 6oldier whom I have
known for 18 years lay near death in a
vacant saloon building. It was a vile
smelling place and I "was called in as
acting Health Officer of the town of
Troutdale. I phoned to Greshani for the
nearest physician, who urged the man's
removal at once to the hospital. The old
soldier was a pauper. He had some prop
erty here at one time, and this is his
record: Corporal Company C. Regi
ment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry,
pension certificate No. 232641. He wan too
sick a man to be taken to the poor farm
on the cars on account of the frequent
transfers, so I phoned to a wealthy farm
er who had an automobile, and. with an
attendant, took him to the County Court
house. The farmer got in trouble with
the people of the building. It seemed they
wanted to take the patient on a hayrack
to the poor farm, but the farmer object
ed, and he then drove the soldier to the
poor farm, with his auto.
In e. day or so after this the old soldier
died and the authorities, knowing he had
friends in Troutdale, sent the body to a
firm of undertakers in Portland, whose
bill was $55. The county was asked to
pay it, but a refusal was met with. The
money was raised here by subscription.
Now I am to be sued for the use of the
auto. How about it, Judge Webster?
AARON FOX,
Ex-Mayor Troutdale, Or.
Young Men In House of Commons.
Westminster Gazettte.
In connection with the question which
has arisen as to who ts tho youngest
candidate at the present election it may
be recalled that in 1613 there was no
fewer than 40 gentlemen not more than
20 and some not exceeding lt who had
seats in the House of Commons. Hatsell
in his "'Precedents" remarks that the"
poet Waller, among others, sat in Parlia
ment (1622) before he was 17 years of
age. A statute of William III makes
void the election of any person who is
not 21 years of age. but members under
age have been occasionally admitted not
withstanding the provisions of this act.
Charles James Fox was returned and sat
at the age of 19, but Chesterfield under
simllar circumstances received from the
Ministry of the day, whom he had at
tacked, a hint that he must withdraw.
Collector's Wonderful Purchases.
London Globe.
Many remarkable stories might be told
of Isaac Falcke, whose death has re
moved one of the greatest of art col
lectors. He was a born connoisseur and
in the course of his career made some
wonderful finds and, no fewer than three
separate collections. At 'one time Mr.
Falcke and his brother had more diffi
culty in securing packing cases for their
Continental finds than in obtaining ob
jects of art. A writer in the Times men
tions that the finest enamel gold boxes
of the Louis XV and XVI epochs wero
bought by them by the dozen for their
weight in gold, from which was deducted
the weight of the enamel on them.
Still Imparting Information.
Chicago Tribune.
Mrs. Chugwater (taking off her glasses
and wiping them) Josiah. what docs this
paper mean when it talks about the
"eternal feminine?"
Mr. Chugwater Lillian Russell. I sup
pose. Takes too much work to dig out a
fact for yourself once In awhile, does it?
The Vnterrlfled Improver.
New York Sup.
First Angel What is the rumpus in the
seventh heaven?
Second Angel A moral uplifter has
broken through the roof trying to find .an,
eighth heaven.