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rOBTLAXD, THURSDAY. FEB. 17. 1910.
tXNCOLVS TBOPHECr' ONCE MORE
In the days of wildest popullstlo
Journalism "a prophecy," ascribed to
Abraham 'Lincoln, was printed and
reprinted continually. No use, for a
time, to show that It was fictitious
and false: that It could not possibly
have emanated from Lincoln. No
use to challenge production of It
from any authorized source of Lin
coln's utterances, or to ask when,
where, or on what occasion, it was
delivered. Orators of the grade of
Sockless Jerry stuck to it: and all
Populist and not a few Democratic
prints, likewise. Finally, however,
there was success In fixing attention
on the Impossibility of the assump
tion that any such utterance could
have proceeded from Lincoln and the
fabrication was dropped for a time.
But it now begins to reappear. Sev
eral newspapers that ought to know
better among them the Chicago
Evening Journal took the opportun
ity of Lincoln's latest birthday to set
it going again. In former times It was
said to have been spoken ' by Mr.
Lincoln in November, 1864. Now the
Chicago paper says It was uttered by
him "Just before Lee surrendered at
Appomattox." Some twenty years ago
its utterance was declared to have
been traced back to a spiritualistic
medium, who delivered it about the
year 1875. Beyond that, no trace
of it ever has been discovered. The
"prophecy" runs thus:
We may congratulate ourselves that this
cruel war is nearlng Its close. It has
cost a vast amount in treasure and blood,
i'ho best blood of the flower of Amer
ican youth has been freely offered upon
our country's altar, that the Nation might
live. It has been. Indeed, a trying , hour
tor the Republic, but I see In the near
future a crisis approaching that unnerves
pie. and causes me to tremble for the
Safety of my country.
As a result of the war. corporations have
been enthroned, and an era of corruption
in high places will follow, and the money
power of the country will endeavor to
prolong the reign by working upon the
prejudices of the people until all wealth
Is aggregated in the hands of the few,
and the Republic destroyed.
I feel at this moment more anxiety for
the safety of my country than ever be
fore, even in the midst of war.
No person accustomed to literary
Inquiry and criticism could for a mo
ment be misled into a belief or sup
position that this screed came from
Abraham Lincoln. Its spuriousness
appears in every part of it. The first
canon of literary inquiry and criti
cism is that every genuine literary
product, purporting to belong to a
particular time, must be in harmony
with the general thought, language,
events and conditions of that time.
Every spurious thing in literature has
been betrayed by its own internal evi
dences. So of this "alleged prophecy."
Every person competent to judge sees
that it does not belong to Lincoln's
lime.
; First, look at the improbability of
the assertion that Lincoln said: "We
may congratulate ourselves that this
cruel war is nearing its close." He
could not, then, have said such a
thing. Nobody was in position to say
It. The Confederacy resisted with an
unflagging energy to the last. Again,
Lincoln is made to say, in the midst
of war, that he "felt more anxiety
for his country than ever before, even
In the midst of war." But these are
not the chief discrepancies. Note
the general language. People then
were not talking about the "en
thronement of corporations," the
"reign of the money power" and the
"aggregation of all wealth in the
hands of the few." That was the lingo
of a much later time. It appeared
In the populistic and fiat money era
of our political life. There was not a
single note of it in Lincoln's time.
The country and the President were
engrossed with other thoughts. Cor
porations had not assumed any part
of the importance that they attained
In the later growth; nor was any
body talking In those days about the
aggregation of wealth in the hands
of the few. The country was strain
ing every nerve and pressing its re
sources to exhaustion, in the prosecu
tion of the war. The very language,
the turns of thought and expression
of this so-called prophecy are the
rhetorical rubbish of later ..times
that is, of the aggressive days of a
rising populistic fervor not yet wholly
spent. It prohably was the work of
a ': woman. Certainly It sounds most
like an outburst of the populist femi
nine mind of some Mary Ellen
Lease, who had the shriek with the
lingo, and could even get "spirit rev
elations" on demand.
Sound criticism always turns to the
Internal evidence of a composition to
decide its genuineness. If not gen
uine it certainly will betray itself by
anachronisms of thought and expres
sion. Ever since Bentley (1699)
cleared the way for this method of
criticism and interpretation, it has
been followed by all competent schol
arship. Through it most of the prin
cipal literary impostures of various
times'have been cleared up as those
in, English of Chatterton, Psalman
azar and Macpherson, and of Defoe,
most natural, or adroltest, of all. It
affords a "method also of inestimable
use in Biblical criticism as in exam
inatlon of the Pentateuch and. new
distribution of its elements; in sep
aration of the two parts of Isaiah
and assignment of each to its approx
imate date; in changing the Judgment
of the world as to the date of the
Book of Daniel, and of sorting and
assigning to their sources the prin
cipal materials of the Gospel of John
Examination of the syntax of a com
position, of Its use of words and
particles, of the materials borrowed
by the writer, of the conditions as
far as ascertainable under which -his
work must have been produced, tend
to approximation to the time and ex
planation of the purpose of the
writer. The Italian Ferrero, whose
Roman history is the admiration of
the literary world of our day, gives
with a sure touch the occasion and
the date of almost every one of the
principal metric compositions of
Horace almost as clearly as we know
the origin 'of "Paradise Lost" and
"In Memoriam." The science of liter
ary interpretation enables the mod
ern mind to read the past with a
sureness and certainty that give his
tory a new meaning.
STRICTLY rV ACCORD WITH THE DAW
Nobody proposes abolition of the
primary law. Nobody proposes to
disregard it. All must obey it. Nom
ination" of all, candidates will be car
ried on under the primary law and
strictly in accord with its provisions
and requirements. The assembly or
convention does not disturb it, does
not take one Jot or tittle from it.
The assembly or convention simply
offers candidates for nomination at
the primary. It is merely a method
a party, or a group of citizens, may
employ for agreement among them
selves as to candidates whom they sup
pose might be suitable and fit for the
positions to be filled. If these are con
firmed at the primary, then they will
be candidates for the election. They
may be nominated at the primary,
may not; they may win at the general
election, may not.
This method of convention is
wholly different from the old one.
The primary then was not under pro
tection or sanction of law. Now, it is
strictly so. The candidates then were
nominated by conventions. Now they
can be nominated only at primaries,
strictly governed by law. There is
no similarity .between the old and
the new. The difference goes to the
basis of the whole system.
No party, no body of citizens, can
follow the old system. -The present
primary law makes it impossible. It
Is useless, therefore, to conjure up
the ghost of the old system, for new
terror. That is a paltry expedient of
politicians who are in mortal fear
lest their opponents shall "get to
gether" and thereby become able to
elect men to important office again.
The call for convention or assembly
is a proper effort for party organi
zation, on a representative system.
perfectly In accord with the primary
law. Political parties are expressly
recognized in the law, and by the
law Itself.
Possibly the reason why ce.rtain
politicians don't mind' the business
of their own party lies in their reali
zation that their party in Oregon is
not Important enough to have any
'business save that of intrusion into
the affairs of others.
PORTLANIVS GRAIN EXPORTING TRADE
If anyone has doubt about the pre
eminence of Portland in the grain
trade of the Pacific Northwest, It will
be dispelled by a glance at the list
of firms doing business in this city.
The twenty Portland firms signing a
call for a special meeting at the
Merchants Exchange yesterday, with
their Puget Sound branches, have
this year handled more than 80 per
cent, of the grain sold in Oregon,
Washington and Idaho.
There are. no wheat exporters on
Puget Sound except the firms who
have their principal, headquarters in
this city. In addition to these ex
porters, there -are a dozen firms oper
ating in this city which have no of
fices on Puget Sound.
Nearly one-half of these new firms
have, come into the field since the
North Bank road was completed to
Portland. With the coming of the
Central Oregon road there will un
doubtedly be many others.
AMERICANIZING CANADA.
That the so-called American "In
vasion" of Canada Is a far more seri
ous matter for the British Empire
than is generally recognized, is strik
ingly set forth in a remarkable article
recently published by the Calgary
Optimist. Loyalty of 'Alberta and
Saskatchewan, two of the greatest
provinces in Canada, is openly ques
tioned by this bold Canadian writer,
who asserts that 'the two provinces
"offer a problem In patriotism," and
that while there is no thought of dis
loyalty to the dominion, it is a ques
tion "How far will the prairie West
follow the East in her loyalty to the
Empire?" The Optimist writer finds
a large and increasing number of
men who firmly believe that a politic
al union of the North American con
tinent would create "oncei and for
ever the greatest nation of the earth"
and the Americans all favor this
union. He is quite positive that the
American does not lose any of his
patriotism by crossing the line. On
this point he says:
Canada deceives herself when she thinks
if she does so think that the American
settler, as a unit, has lost his heart to
the Dominion as an Integral part of the
Empire. He likes Canada. He Is grate
ful for the bountiful opportunity she af
fords. He will stoutly uphold the virtue
of her laws and institutions. But deep
in his heart. In the Holy of Holies of his
patriotic shrine is the Stars and Stripes.
Americans believe in their country. They
have a splendid patriotism. Almost any day
you can hear an American in Calgary
point out his " nation's shortcomings and
defects, but If you want to test his patriot
ism for his native land, attack it. I know,
for 1 have made the test a hundred times
without a failure.
Much of the credit or discredit for
this transplanted patriotism, accord
ing to the point from which it is
viewed, Is given the. Canadian Pacific
which plays it as one of its strong
cards in inducing immigration of the
American in preference to all other
classes. It is pointed out that the
railroad company does not care for
immigrants from Eastern Canada,
for they are already located there
and are needed to create business for
the eastern divisions of the line. This
sagacious transcontinental line which
is officered by ex-Americans makes
a special effort to secure American
farmers because they are recognized
as the best type obtainable and If
they can only be Induced to cross
the line, in the language of the Op
timist, "the question of Imperial re
sponsibility can go hang."
That the American is perfectly
free to let this responsibility "go
hang," and is even aided in the act
by the Western Canadians themselves,
is apparent from an incident men
tioned by the writer in which two
Canadians were discussing the quali
fications of a certain man for a cer
tain position. "He calls himself an
American," said one, "but I believe
he is a damn Englishman." The
writer In commenting on the Incident
states that he never .In the United
States heard as much open prejudice
against Englishmen as is heard in
Canada. "I attribute it," said he, "to
the .subject of Canada's alleged Im
perial responsibility. Deep in the
average Canadian heart exists a re
sentment against the British implica
tion that Canada .must come
through."
As further illustration of the feeling
of the Canadians against "coming
through" wjth ' any contributions to
the imperial navy, it is noted that
a prominent Canadian publicly de
clared, "the West wants box cars,
not battleships." This sentiment is
again reflected by the Optimist
writer, who sums up the situation in
the statement that "Canada has a
world of landed area to subdue and
develop. She has, west of Manitoba,
newly discovered room for . the pop
ulation . of the .British Isles. She is
at work with feverish energy at its
development. She is losing Interest
in England's brown inheritance in
India; losing interest in England's
problem. In the deep, absorbing study
of her own."
This kind of talk would have been
regarded as treasonable, a few years
ago, but this courageous Canadian
goes still further and openly predicts
the early birth of an independent Ca
nadian nation. He follows this pre
diction with the startling question:
"What other conclusion can you glean
from the drift of the times, from the
tacit declination of Parliament to con
tribute ships or money to the imperial
defense? She could not thus decline
and imply acceptance "of continued
British protection. She proceeds to
build her own defense. Was there
ever a declaration of independence
that declared more?"
This remarkable political condition
in Western Canada can hardly fail to
have a disquieting effect among the
loyal Britons and a correspondingly
pleasing effect on the American in
vaders", who have certainly been ac
tive in spreading the gospel of free
dom in their new homes.
WHY IS A COMET'S TAIL?
As Halley's comet in its fearsome
advance draws nearer to the 'earth,
timorous interest in its tail grows
deeper. Nobody seems to pay much
attention to its head. Everybody
wants to know what the tail is and
whether or not it Is likely to annihil
ate the population of the earth. Pro
fessor R. K. Duncan, of Kansas Uni
versity, has Just published a book
which supplies answers to these ques
tions. The comet's tail, he says, con
sists of sooty dust thrown out by the
head, as the sun heats it. The parti
cles are very fine, and they are driven
away from the sun and made to form
a 'tail by the force of light. Most
people will shy at this. Light has no
impulsive force. If it had any, how
could it continue to batter away at the
sensitive eye and still cause no pain?
Thus the scorner. But he is mis
taken. Light, strikes very feebly
against things, but it has some force,
enough to twist a thin gold leaf hung
In a vacuum by a nnewire.
On heavy bodies it produces no ef
fect The slight impulse is taken up
by their mass and lost. But very
small bodies, like dust particles, have
not much mass, or weight. On the
other hand, their surface is relatively
large. The smaller a particle be
comes the greater grows its surface in
comparison with its weight.1" In other
words, much light strikes it and' its
resistance to the impulsive force is
almost nothing. Therefore, like an
evil spirit, it flees before the light and
the smaller It is the faster it goes.
This is why a comet's tail shoots
out so rapidly. It is also the reason
why it always points away from the
sun. That is the direction in which
light travels. Finally, it is the reason
why the tail of a comet never harmed
anybody and never can.
BOYS AND GIRLS IN HIGH SCHOOLS.
Job Wood, statistician in the office
of State Superintendent of Public Ed
ucation, of California, has, by careful
observation reached the conclusion
that boys and girls of our public
schools should be segregated in their
studies and association. That is to
say that there should be high schools
for boys and high schools for girls.
This segregation is urged strictly in
the interest of boys who, as this au
thority believes, do not, have a fair
show, when at the "awkward age"
they are put in competition with girls
in study, manners and personal ap
pearance "Put boys by themselves,"
he urges, "and they will work to excel
their class mates, in that way bringing
out what there is in them."
There is something in this, no doubt.
We are all familiar with the argu
ments on the other side, of how girls
tend to refine boys and teach them to
be mannerly; how boys, from natural
pride, will strive to get higher marks
than the girls In their class, etc., etc.
But the fact remains that in the larger
cities of the country it has been found
to be both wise and expedient to seg
regate the boys and girls in the high
schools not for the good of the boys
alone, but for the benefit of the girls,
also.
The question is a simple and nat
ural one that should be considered
without prejudice, discussed without
heat and decided in accordance with
the knowledge of a human nature that
Is neither good nor bad, but that at
the adolescent stage needs to be taught
some things that are not found in
books. '
IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS.
Indiscriminate immigration has
cost this country unnumbered mil
lions through the lawlessness, worth
lessness and "general cussedness" of
large numbers of that horde of ignor
ant and vicious aliens who have
poured into this country under our
present rather loose laws. The an
nual report of Commissioner-General
Keefe, a synopsis of which appeared
in The Oregonian yesterday, urges
the adoption of more stringent meas
ures for shutting out undesirables.
Incidentally, the Commissioner sug
gests a method for shutting out also
some desirables who might be ex
pected to compete with labor already
here. He is In favor of "permitting
the Importation of alien skilled labor
ers if labor Of like kind unemployed
cannot be found here." To admit this
class of labor, however, it is provided
that the consent of the Secretary of
Commerce and Labor should be ob
tained in advance. Any one at all fa
miliar with labor union methods in
this country can readily understand
that there will be no positions availa
ble that home talent cannot fill.
Mr. Keefe makes an excellent sug
gestion in the proposal that all male
aliens between the ages of 16 and 50
be required to pass a physical exam
ination equal to that observed by
Army requirements. We cannot al
ways determine the moral disabilities
which make undesirables out of. many
of the low-browed foreigners entering
our ports, but the physically unfit can
be rejected without much difficulty.
Another striking economic feature
of the report lies in the figures on
naturalization certificates Issued last
year. The principal part of this work
was transacted in New York, Penn
sylvania, Illinois and Massachusetts,
the sections In which immigration Is
less needed or . desired .than any
where else in the United States. It
would be impossible to determine
how far the newcomers are affected
for good or bad by the unfortunate
environment in which they land in
this country. Certain it is, there can
be nothing very attractive or encour
aging for an incoming alien, flushed
with the hopes of picking up some
of the "easy money" which all Euro
peans expect to find here, to land In
such congested labor centers as can
be found nowhere In this country ex
cept in the state's mentioned. If some
system could be perfected for distrib
uting this labor, throughout the West
it would be advantageous alike to the
West, which needs the labor; to the
East, which does not need it, and to
the laborer himself, who needs employment.
.Venerable Claus Spreckels, stern
and unforgiving, went to his grave
with hatred, in his heart for his own
flesh and blood. All of the millions
which were piled up -by . the sugar
king and his sons were Insufficient
to keep the family skeletons from
dancing out of the closet and 'parad
ing before the public. But now the
courts have decided that the man
of millions, so far as it had a finan
cial bearing on his family, could not
carry his hatred beyond the grave.
The mighty fortune he built up must
be divided equally between the sons
he favored and those he cast off.
The widow of the dead millionaire
and the mother of the warring chil
dren passed from earth on the day
the court rendered the decision which
set aside the will. For at least two
of the family, the possession of so
many millions is no longer a source
of trouble and scandal. "Vanity of
vanities," etc.
Out of the mass of fool wagers by
which men are expected to break rec
ords in walking, riding, eating, drink
ing, talking, etc., shines "like a good
deed in a naughty world," that of
wealthy Mr. Van Fleet of Elmira,
N. T. Mr. Van Fleet wagered $10,000
that he could work for two years as
a common laborer and save $400. He
won the bet and had $59 margin to
spare. The best Job he had during
the two years was driving a milk
wagon at $40 a month. As a demon
strator of the world-old fact that
thrift and industry still bring their
rewards, Mr. Van Fleet is a public
benefactor. If some skeptical student
of political economy is desirous of
learning how many men there are in
Portland who do not care to save
$400 in two years by hard work, all
that is necessary is for him to attempt
to hire some of the street corner Jaw
smiths with $40 a month as the best
job offered.
The extent to which the electric line
is encroaching on the preserves of the
steam road is shown in a statement
in yesterday's news dispatches relat
ing the experience of a man who trav
eled from Syracuse, N. Y., to St. Louis
by a roundabout route through sev
eral states, in which he used electric
lines for a distance of 1689 miles out
of a total of 1749 miles traveled. His
return trip is to be made over electric
lines, and will cover 1009 miles. The
electric road, especially in the West,
has always proved an excellent devel
oper of new traffic, and it is not im
probable that a greater portion of the
vast network of lines in the East are
supported by new business that they
have encouraged. Eventually, how
ever, the trolley, with its economy of
operation and general utility in local
work, will make serious inroads on
the revenues of the steam roads.
While Clatsop and Tillamook Coun
ties are preparing to spend unusually
large amounts for road work during
the coming season, in order that travel
and traffic may be expedited, Yamhill
County is reported to have leased
twelve miles of the Sheridan road lead,
ing to the Tillamook County line to
persons who will operate -it as a toll
road. The tollroad has never been
a popular institution in this country,
and, while there are isolated cases
where the enterprise of the private
citizen in building a Voad through a
bad stretch of country should be re
warded with the privilege of taking
toll from travelers, it seems hardly
proper that a County Court should
lease any of the highways already
built for exploitation by private Indi
viduals. The tollroad to Tillamook
will hardly prove popular.
After repeated postponements, the
celebrated Southern Pacific-Union
Pacific merger case is at last on trial
in New York. If it should be estab
lished by the testimony that these two
roads, for the greater part of their
length, several hundred miles apart,
should be dissolved from common
ownership, there may be a chance to
break up some of the merged roads in
the East, which are located within, a
mile or two of each other.
Mr. Wehrung, it is said, since quit
ting the Oregon exhibit at Seattle and
the Livestock show at Portland, will
start a bank. In that business he
ought to get all that's coming his way.
The claim of the United Stiates to
regulate the construction and opera
tion of bridges wholly within a state
goes too far. It makes a very trouble
some situation at Portland.
Mr. Glavls thinks a tremendous
public responsibility rests on his
shoulders. It makes a big man of
him, and the lesser responsibility of
husband' does not count.
Democrats can get back from the
Jeffries-Johnson prizefight next July
in full time to keep close watch on
the Republican assembly.
Appointment of Peary as Rear-Admiral
would bring the1 polar contro
versy home to a lot of resentful Navy
officers.
With Dr. Cook reported in the
Southern Hemisphere, the quest for
the South Pole becomes alarming.
No oldest inhabitants have come
forth to tell about the Winter of Hal
ley's comet's preceding visit.
EAST SIDE'S POPriATIO.V. j
Some Psrts Which Bear en Proposed
Location of Auditorium.
PORTLAND, Feb. 16. To the Edi
tor.) In your issue of this morning
B. S. Josselyn, In discussing a loca
tion for the proposed auditorium says:
"The auditorium should be located so
that it will have the benefit of the
greatest possible proportion of the
city's car service. For that reason the
Lewis and Clark Fair grounds are
admirably suited. The auditorium
should ndt be located on the East Side
because of the difficulty of getting"
large numbers of persons across the
bridges."
In saying these things It Is evident
that Mr. Josselyn is speaking not so
much for the people of Portland, as
for the Portland, Railway, Light &
Power Co.. whose faithful servant he
Is. For at least four-fifths of the peo
ple of Portland the location proposed
would be one of the most Inconvenient
that could be named. To reach It every
body would have to contribute to the
Portland Railway, Light & Power Co.
Does Mr. Josselyn realize where the
people of Portland live? noes he real
ize that even llolladay Park, an East
Side park, lies west of a line drawn
north and Bouth through the middle of
Portland? Does he realize that at least
36,000 more people live on the East
Side than on the West Side? Does he
not know that for the last two or
three years for every residence permit
issued for the West Side there have
been ten issued for the East Side? Does
he realize that even at the present rate
(and the percentage is certain to be
increased), that there will be soon at least
100.000 more people on the East Side
than on the West? What will be the
situation in ten years, or In 20 years?
Why then does he say: "the auditorium
should not be ' located on the East
Side because of the difficulty of getting
large numbers of persons across the
bridges?"
The "large numbers" are on the East
Side. Even ignoring the main weak
ness of his suggestion, bridges of the
proposed width and height of the new
Steel and Broadway bridges will offer
absolutely no obstruction to car traf
fic and practically no obstruction to
river traffic. Our friends of the West
Side should begin to realize that the
East Side Is no longer the tall of the
dog. The greatest number of the
finest homes In Portland are to be, not
in her western suburb, but In the main
city, on the East Side, in Holladay and
Irvlngton and Alameda Park and Rose
City and Laurelhurst and stretching
all the way from Walnut Park aiv?
Piedmont to Eastmoreland on the
south. The pe.ople who are to fill your
auditorium are to come largely from
these homes, and among them Mr.
Josselyn's proposition that they buy
buttons for an auditorium at Linnton,
or the Lewis and Clark Fair grounds,
will not, as he suggests, "run like wild
fire" by any manner of means.
CHARLES B. MOORES.
Oregon Trust Bank Affairs.
PORTLAND, Feb. lfl. (To the Editor.)
Noticing the great credit the German-Amer
ican Bank and its officials seem to assume
for the manner in which they have met
their liabilities as connected with their
assumption of the assets and liabilities of
the Oregon Trust & Savings Bank. I would
like to ask Mr. Willis why? Numerous vie
tlms of that late Institution, who, in ac
cordance with the assurance held out to
them that by' subscribing to and taking
telephone bonds they would enahle the bank
to pay out dollar for dollar, and' further,
by the advice of Receiver Devlin and oth
ers In the German-American Bank were
prompted to take Home Telephone bonds of
Omaha, have not been Included In thlB deal
and received equal recognition .with the de
positors, who not only stood back, but even
constantly annoying and obstructing the
means put forth for their protection. It
seems like gross injustice at this time,
especially when, according to your columns
of recent date, the Bankers' Association of
this city was willing to negotiate this loan,
providing those who had subscribed for
bonds and helped Mr. Willis and the German-American,
Bank to settle these affairs,
were protected also, that this proposition
was turned down by Mr. Willis and his
associates. SUBSCRIBER.
Mr. Willis refused to make any state
ment last night in regard to the above
letter, saying that he knew nothing
about the matter.
"The telephone bonds were not re
deemed at the bank," he said, "for the
simple reason that the German-American
bank had nothing to do with them.
That is an entirely different matter.
I know nothing about it, so I cannot
express any opinion regarding It."
Mr. Willis was asked if he knew of
any agreement that Mr. Devlin had
made or considered, and replied:
"I know nothing about Mr. Devlin's
affairs."
Not Lincoln, But Barnum.
Letter in London Spectator, January 29.
Sir In your article on "The Elections
So Far," in last week's Spectator, you
refer to "Abraham Lincoln's great prin
ciple that though you may fool some of
the people all the time, and all the people
some of the time, you can not fool all
the people all the time." In the Interests
of accuracy, it may be worth- while to
point out that there is no ground what
ever for the popular attribution of this
maxim to Lincoln. Its authorship was in
vestigated a few years ago by Mr. Spof
ford, the assistant librarian of Congress,
who could find no trace of it in any of
the great. President's speeches, papers,
letters, or recorded sayings. Neither Mr.
Hay nor Mr. Nicolay, the Joint authors
of the standard biography of Lincoln,
knew anything about it. Mr. Spofford's
inquiries led him to the conclusion that
the originator of this much-quoted sen
tence was Mr. Phineas T. Barnum
whose qualifications for generalizing on
such a subject every one must recognize.
I am, sir, etc.
I HERBERT W. HORWILL.
What Investigations Conceal.
Boston Traveler.
The more Investigations they have in
Congress of Ballinger, beef trusts, boost
ers of prices, conservation conspiracies,
railroad rates and all the things agitating
the public the better the Congressmen
will like It. for . then nobody will have
time to monkey with the tariff or Con
gressional extravagance or the th'rgs
that count. The situation is parallel tr
that of a man sick unto death; everybody
is anxious to know the cause of his Ill
ness; bacteriologists analyze the water of
the house; sanitary engineers examiut the
plumbing; this one does this and that
one does that; and by the time the name
and origin of the sickness are identified
the patient is dead and the undertaker
has a Job. Great are Investigations.
Very Simple Reception for X. R.
Indianapolis Star.
Mr. Roosevelt Is said to have consented
to accept a reception on his. return home
provided It takes place on the day of his
arrival and Is a simple affair. The sim
plicity of It Is already Indicated by the
expectation that every boat of every sort
about the harbor or within a hundred
miles of it, except the ferryboats, will
Insist on Joining the water craft proces
sion that will go out to meet his ship. As
for the land parade, that may be simple,
too, If numbers do not count.
Will Not Imitate Roosevelt.
Baltimore Sun.
At any rate, there need be no fear
that T. R-, on landing In New York, will
follow the example of a former promi
nent home-comer and put his foot in his
mouth as soon as he opens it.
The Optimist.
Tit-Bits.
Small Boy Pa, what is an optimist?
Pa An optimist, my son, is a man who
doesn't care a rap what happens so that
it doesn't happen to him.
CLEAR REVIEW OF THE HERMANN TRIAL
Exact Statement of the Charges and Analysis of the Testimony for and
Against the Defendant Value of and Importance of the Meldrum Story.
This summary of the Hermann trial was
written for the rallas Observer by a lawyer
who was & spectator In the Federal Court
during many days of the proceedings. It is
so clean and impartial as to be worthy of
reproduction In The Oregonian.
PORTLAND, Feb. 14. The great Her
mann trial is ended, as far as' the first
trial is concerned, with a hung jury.
The charge, divested of its legal
verbiage, was that in 1901 Blnger Her
mann, F. P. Mays and others conspired
to purchase a lot of state land in the
Blue Mountains, then create a forest re
serve and thus, having their land taken
from them, get scrip In Its place worth
about $S an acre.
The plan as claimed by the Govern
ment was that Mays would purchase a
large lot of state land at $1.25 an acre,
pay one-third down, get a reserve creat
ed out of their land, thus entitling them
to the scrip. It was within the espe
cial jurisdiction of Mr. Hermann, as
Commissioner of the General Land Of
fice, to create forest reserves.
Mr. Heney claimed that Hermann was
ambitious to become United States Sen
ator from Oregon; that he was very
anxious to secure the political support
of Mr. Mays; that this could be secured
by placng Mays under personal obliga
tion to him; that to do so, Hermann
must be inattentive to the Government
Interests by doing a lawful thing for an
unjust or wrongful purpose. In other
words, that it was perfectly lawful for
Mr. Hermann to create a forest reserve,
but that It was evidently a "stand in"
to create one In the exact spot where
Mr. Mays had accidentally (?) pur
chased a large lot of state land, worth
but little In the market and of still less
value for private holding, but very
valuable when it became represented by
scrip that could be used In securing
from the Government an equal number
of acres of valuable land elsewhere and
used by the holder in securing title to
such land. The Government did not
claim that Hermann was to benefit
financially, but rather, incidentally, in
furthering his political ambition.
It appeared from the testimony of
Henry Meldrum that Hermann entered
Into the arrangement with Mays. The
defense claimed in this connection that
Hermann had published in The Ore
gonian an interview In which he took
strong ground against the creation of
any more forest reserves, and also had
in evidence the reports of Mr. Hermann
to Congress against the creation of re
serves. Mr. Heney asked the jury to consider
this question: "'If Mays and others
believed Hermann sincere, or. In other
words. If they did not know what Her
mann would do, would they have spent
large sums of money in purchasing land
that the evidence showed was not worth
50 cents an acre?"
The Government attorney contended
strenuously for the truth of Meldrum's
testimony; in fact, this testimony was
the storm center of the case. The de
fense sought to attack It by various
means. One witness was very positive
that no conversation was had by her
and Meldrum, except she said: "I ap
plied once for a position in Meldrum's
office. I never talked with him but
once, and all of the conversation was
simply asking him if he had a place for
me. He said no. I told him good-day
and never called again." The prosecu
tion had proved some very damaging
things as having been said by this wit
ness to Meldrum. and the witness was
confronted with letters written by Her
mann in which he referred to her let
ters to him about having called twice
to see Meldrum and about a lengthy
conversation she reported to Hermann
as having had with Meldrum.
All through the case, to every little
conversation and every little contradic
tion, apparent or real, the respective
attorneys directed their argument.
Nothing escaped either side. Much
amusement was created by some of
Hermann's letters to Brownell, Loomis
and Ormsby, in which he asked their
support for Senator.
"
Mr. Hermann's cross - examination
weakened him quite materially not in
any one thing he said, but In his seem
ing lack of frankness. If Innocent.
Heney made much of this. The defense
SAW THE HALLEY COMET IX 1S5.
Portland Veteran Gives) Hla Impressions
of the Celestial Visitor.
PORTLAND, Feb. 14. (To the Edit
or.) Having noticed from time to time
many comments on the Halley comet,
I had the good fortune to gaze upon
Its passage for many evenings as It
traversed the heavens in 1835.
I was living at that time in the
village of Williamsburg. 12 miles south
of Dayton, Ohio, and there was no
appreciable disturbance . noticed to
either man, beast or fowl. Some peo
ple I think lost a few hens from the
night gazers, but I think this loss
could not be attributed to the comet.
Now as-to what may happen at this
time I am not competent to Judge, but
those who. are fortunate to view the
comet's appearance this year will have
something to store In their memories
for all time, as its magnificent grand
eur was simply indescribable on its
former appearance. If the comet car
ries out its former programme when
the earth passes through the tail of
the comet, there may be a brilliant
display of what may seem falling stars,
but as far as my memory serves me I
recall no disaster of any kind.
WILLIAM MORTON.
Steering; Boats By Wireless.
According to the Frankfort Gazette,
some successful experiments were recent
ly carried on at Nuremberg by the Arm
of Wlrth. Beck & Knauss in steering a
motorboat by means) of wireless teleg
raphy. At the lighthouse on the lake
they erected the antennae and on the
bridge they installed the transmitting ap
paratus. On the boat the wire was
stretched between two masts, 13 feet in
height and IS feet apart. The receiving
apparatus was fitted In the forepart of
the boat, and In the stern were the
switch and electric steering gear. In the
course of the trials the boat was made
to describe curves to the right or left
and to turn sharply In either direction.
The object of the tests was to prove that
it was possible to transmit signals to an
Intermediate point, and thence, as di
rected by a shore station, to control the
steering gear on board a vessel.
Quaker Meditation.
Philadelphia Record.
The hardest thing to beat in this world
is your way through life.
The trouble with self-confidence is that
it isn't always backed up by ability.
Just because a man's sympathies are
enlisted is no reason why he should draw
a pension.
Our castles In the air frequently take
the form of the top floor of a 16-story
apartment-house.
Some people are such sticklers for form
that they wouldn't even go to work with
out an engraved invitation.
When a fellow who has sand proposes
to a girl who Is as sweet as sugar. It
ought to make a successful mixture..
By this time the average man has
broken all the resolutions he made at
New Year's, and a few he didn't make.
Heartless Woman.
Houston Post
There are some very heartless women
in this world. A New York woman prose
cuted a man who kissed her, even after
he explained that he was attracted not
only by her beauty but By her hat, which
was the prettiest he ever saw.
devoted niuch attention to Meldrum
and bitterly assailed his testimony aa
that of one still having two Indictments
hanging over him.
The defense had many of the leading
men of Oregon testify as to Hermann's
good reputation for honesty, and it also
pressed home with effect the evident
Intent of two of the Government wit
nesses to force Mr. Hermann . out of
public life. One witness, who was very
damaging In his testimony, if believed.
was shown to have been in the employ
of Hyde and Benson, land-fraud men.
while holding a confidential nosition
in the Land Office under Hermann.
This man -was clearly shown up to be a
scoundrel, not only by his own confes
sion, but by documentary evidence.
Much was made by the prosecution
concerning Hermann's political letters,
but this was answered by the. defense
by citing the fact that it is no unusual
thing for a candidate for off.ee to hold
out Inducements In the way of implied
promises of friendship to his support
ers. A large number of persons in the
courtroom, who had heard all of the
testimony, expressed a confidence in
Hermann's acquittal.
In his charge to the jury. Judge
Wolverton said it was not necessary
that there should have been an express
understanding among Mays, Hermann
and others to constitute a conspiracy,
but that If there was a tacit under
standing tiiat Hermann would do cer
tain things for his part in the further
ance of the common purpose, that
would be sufficient evidence of a con
spiracy. In many ways the case against Mr.
Hermann is a sad one. For nearly 50
years the defendant has been a. well
known public man. He came to Oregon
when a boy, worked on a farm, taught
school, and educated himself for a law
yer. He was made Deputy Collector of
Internal Revenue, a State Senator. Re
ceiver of the LanA Office at Riwehursr
and a Congressman from Oregon for 12
years. He was appointed Commissioner
of the General Land Office by President
McKinley. Resigning this office, he re
turned to Oregon and was elected to
fill out the unexpired term of the man
who had defeated him for Congress in
1896.' Was again elected to Congress,
but before his term expired was in
dicted by the United States grand jury
on a charge of conspiring to defraud
the state and Government. For fivo
years this indictment hung over him,"
and, after a trial of five weeks, he
must undergo the ordeal again.
During all the years of his endeavor
no one has ever charged that Hermann
was not honest in all his financial deal
ings. No one has ever claimed that lie
used his various offices to make money
out of them, except what belonged to
him by right. While men Joked about
his suave manners and Jolly handshake,
while others questioned the sincerity of
his friendship, his real Innate honesty
was never Questioned. Sad indeed it
wns for one, not even a political sup
porter, to listen to the terrible arraign
ment as the Government attorneys
sought to weave around him a chain of
circumstances indicating, as tiiey
claimed, his guilt. Vet it was a relief
to know that these attorneys disclaimed
any purpose of Mr. Hermann to gain
money by what they asserted was a
plan on his part to sleep at his post of
duty while his political friends put dis
honest dollars in their pockets.
Sad, Indeed. It was! A man, nearly 70
years of age. surrounded by his wife
and children, sitting in the courtroom
while the attorneys for the Government
charged him with betrayal of his trust
to gain political Influence. How rapt
his attention to every word! Again,
turn to watch him as his attorneys
went over the testimony, building up
their theory that all he did was for the
public good, showing np the motives of
those who sought his ruin. What could
have been his thoughts as the Jury filed
out of the courtroom, and he knew that
in the hands of these 12 men rested his
fate. Would it be McNeill's Island ami
disgrace, or would It be freedom and
his home in Roseburg?
Guilty, Binger Hermann's punishment
has been great.' Innocent, the. wrong
done him can never be righted.
HE WORKS AT 7tt WITHOUT MEAT
W. E. Pridgen Haas Been a Vegetarian
Twenty Years and Labored Uaily.
Kansas City Star.
I have not eaten ten pounds of meat
In all my life. I soon will be 76 years
old and I can do as heavy work as any
man half my age. 1 believe the average
American working-man would live
longer and be happier certainly he
would be healthier if he would eat
less meat.
A grizzly bearded man gave the fore
going advice. He is a wagon maker and
his fellow workmen say W. B. Fridgen
can do as much work as any of them In
spite of his gray hair and brow wrinkled
with age. And Pridgen says it's all be
cause he hasn't eaten meat.
Mr. Pridgen lives at 916 East Four
teenth street. He is employed at the
Pa ul ham Wagon Works at Fifteenth
street and Garfield avenue.
"I have been a vegetarian all my life,"
he said. "It has been no hobby or fad.
Meat In any form never has appealed to
me, so I simply wouldn't eat it. 1 was
born on & farm In Illinois. We used to
have meat on the table three times a
day but I would never touch it, even
when a child. Thanksgiving I would eat
all the 'trimmins' and let the other folks
get rid of the turkey. They said I was
'queer.' Perhaps I was, but I have out
lived all my brothers.
"When I served through the Civil War
with the Ninety-first Illinois I would
trade my bacon for sugar or coffee or
'hard tack.' Once or twice I had to eat
meat because I could get nothing else,
but I know I have not eaten more than
10 pounds of meat of any kind in my en
tire life. The last time I touched it was
20 years ago, on my 56th birthday an
niversary. Some friends persuaded ma
to eat a dish of breakfast bacon. It
looked crisp and smelled nice, but I
didn't like it. Your sizzling steaks have
no charm for me.
"What do I eat? Any vegetable, there
are plenty of them more appetizing than
meat. And biscuits. The number of bis
cuits I have eaten In my life would be
almost as remarkable as the small
amount of meat. My advice to working
men would be, 'Fiat less meat. If you
can't do without it altogether, cut down
on the amount- You will live longer and
be happier.' "
' I. oaf Bread a Modern Food.
London Chronicle.
It Is perhaps worth recalling that fas
art of baking loaves'came to Europe quite
late in history. Flat cakes were baked
even in the earliest times, but as late as
the beginning of the 19th century lotf
bread was comparatively unknown la.
many parts of the Continent. In 1S12,
for instance, when an English captain
ordered loaves to the value of 1 in Goth
enburg the baker stipulated for payment
in advance, on the ground that he woiId
never be able to sell them In the city :
they were left on his hands.
The Punishment for the Crime.
The Spectator (Portland).
Blnger Hermann seems to be on trial
for having an ambition to go to the
United States Senate. If all our cit
izens similarly minded were found
guilty of that offense we should have
to close- our hotels and build more
penitentiaries.