THE MORNING OREGONTAN,' THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1910.
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PORTXAND, THURSDAY,, MARCH 3, 1810.
"THE THIEVES OF THE WEST." I
It Is perfectly clear that people of
the Eastern States, Who see us using,
natural resources, even as they or j
their ancestors have msed them, think
us "thieves." Chief apostle of this
notion Is GifCord Pinchot a mere
theorist, a man -who 'knows nothing
about conditions of life and growth in,
a new country, where pioneer work
-must be done; but talks of old coun
tries, and of Germany In particular
the most absolute of old monarchies
as examples for our country. Ger
many must be our model for conser
vation. This la the fallacy of "a priori
argument," when applied to govern
ment and to conditions In one coun
try and another. It is a mistake to
suppose that wliat Is good for Ger
many, and what Germany approves,
could toe good for us situated and
conditioned as we are. It ex
hausts patience to . find, In our
day and time, such misconception
of conditions, such sophistry In treat
ment ctf the details of public affairs.
Each and every great nation must
have Its own policy, in internal af
fairs, conditioned . upon its national
life. All the main follies of modern
government in our states arise from
the rigor of this a priori argument,
Germany has a system suited to her
self. "We must follow it!
In1 Oregon we are advised to take
'Switzerland and New Zealand for our
models. It is the greatest absurdity
in the world. Our country has Its
own policy, based on its history, its
character, its development; and must
pursue it. Most of the disturbances,
most of the -evils, that arise In modern
government and society spring from
the effort to force application of the
a priori arguunent.
The fallacy pursues ways more sub
tle than the positive example. Even
the speculations of Rousseau and the
reveries of Condorcet, the vagarious
ideas of Karl Marx and the notions of
Henry George, have been deemed by
large numbers, now and again, as a
sufficient gospel. In every age there
is a great lot of people who take to
hobbles and ride them; who expect to
introduce some vagrant Idea, bor
rowed from somewhere or nowhere,
as the governing idea of their own
country. A class f this sort of peo- i
pie is very active now. "Conserva
tion" is their theme; and they hold
that those who would use the re
sources of the country for the develop
ment of states, as always heretofore,
are spoilers and thieves.
But the spoilers and thieves are
those who set up and establish an
immense official system, which checks
and hinders the development of the
country, and devours, meantime, in
salaries and expenses, sums tenfold
greater than all the value they con
serve. The system burns the candle
at both ends; it stops the development
of the country and lays heavy charges
for its own expenses upon the public
treasury.
It is a result that always will fol
low theoretical notions carried by in
novators into the administration of
public affairs, Here in the remote
West we are politically weak; and,
therefore, -we shall be compelled to
submit to the taunt that we are
"thieves," because we object to change
of the historic policy that has made
the older states great. But, until we
are deprived also of the right of free
speech and free press, we shall still
have a word to say. "We have among
us here a few shallow politicians and
Journalists, who know nothing of the
West, and who, therefore, approve
the policy of strangulation. But they
are contemptible. There are Judases
everywhere. The one thing in the
course of George Chamberlain, Sen
ator from Oregon, that meets highest
and practically universal approval, is
his stand for his state and for the
whole West on this question.
STEAM SUPPLANTS SAIL.
Announcement is made of the estab
lishment of a regular line of steam
ships between Antwerp and . other
European ports and Portland, the
service to begin with sailings every
six weeks. There are two features of
special interest in connection with this
announcement. ; One is the fact that
Columbia River territory is thus
drawn much nearer than ever before
to the markets of the Old World;
steamship service facilitates trade to
the advantage of both buyer and
seller. The other feature of special
interest is the substitution of steam
for sail on one of the few remaining
trade routes of the world where up to
the present time the sailing vessel
has succeeded in holding its own.
For many years after the tramp
reamer had driven the sailing vessel
from the North Atlantic and from .the
Far Eastern trade, the grain trade of
the Pacific Northwest and the nitrate
trade of the west coast of South
America continued to be the special
preserve of the sailing ship. Steam
ers have been breaking into the
nitrate trade for the past five or six
years, but it is only quite recently that
they have made their presence felt in
the North Pacific. Regular lines al
ready ply out of Puget Sound ports
and San Francicso to European ports,
and , the establishment pf a regular
line between Portland and these
ports will put Columbia River terri
tory on even terms with other ports.
We have already had an opportu
nity of Judging of the value of this
rapid communication with the- Old
World ports by the "service of the
American-Hawaiian steamship line.
European freight sent to Portland by
way of the Tehuantepec route now
reaches Portland in less than one-half
the time formerly consumed, but the
necessity of trans-shipment at the
Isthmus has tended to hamper ship
ment of Oregon products to Europe.
The new line will remedy this disad
vantage and will undoubtedly shorten
the time and reduce the cost of serv
ice to such an extent that in a short
time the slow-moving sailer will be
entirely displaced.
"JfOTHUfO DOING."
Newspaper controversies are profit
less. The Oregonlan has no desire to
enter a controversy with any news
paper. It studiously avoids every
thing of the kind. It now quotes thi3
from an Oregon journal, not from any
desire of controversy with it, but to
open a way to make plain a matter of
public interest:
The insistence that the Pinchot conser
vation policy is destructive of development
Is belled by the unparalleled conditions of
growth and enterprise In Oregon, where the
exact spirit of the conservation policy was
made statute law by the last Oregon Leg
islature. The whole opposition to con
servation is based either on ignorance of
what real conservation means or on wilful
misrepresentation of the facts by those who
know better but Incorrectly state the case
for private reasons.
There Is steady development in Ore
gon, but not under the water power
act passed by the Legislature of Ore
gon, at the last session. That act
provided that all water, hitherto un
appropriated for power purposes,
should be subject to certain close
regulations, and pay fees to the state.
Even if the stream were on one's own
land, the owner could not use it for
power purposes without compliance
with burdensome conditions imposed
by this law.
But this law does not affect nor
can it apply to power water rights or
use of them. There is activity under
these,, but nothing doing on the water
powers affected by the new act. Nor
likely to be.
HATE WE- A CIVILIZATION ?
The Bprlngfield Republican seems
to be a little out of patience with the
habit of saying that everything which
happens in this country. If it is
wicked, is a "blot on American civili
zation." In its distaste for the ill
conditioned phrase, the Republican
raises the question whether there is
any such thing as American civiliza
tion, and, after a discussion more or
less adequate, answers it in the nega
tive. There are many local civiliza
tions, it thinks, but no National one.
The too-numerous murders which all
Europe holds up its hands in horror
at and unanimously declares are a
"blot on our civilization" are, accord
ing to the Republican, "the direct re
sult of the abnormal social and racial
conditions in the South." This con
clusion is so comforting to our Na
tional pride that we wish it had some
Justification fn fact. The sad truth is,
however, that while murders are more
numerous in the black belt than else
where, similar crimes exceed the
number which decent sentiment
ought - to tolerate in most of
the Atlantic States and through
out the West. The negro is not
a factor in the affairs of Oregon,
but we have many more murders here
in proportion to the population than
any of the progressive European na
tions. The evil of reckless disregard
for human life Is a National one, and
any explanation of it which begins by
denying the. facts is worse than none
at all. .
So far as the prevalence of murder
goes, the Republican is certainly not
Justified in saying that "America, far
from having one civilization, has
many." The plain truth is that we
have a pretty uniform civilization
throughout the country in that partic
ular, .but not a very high one. Pass
ing to the subject of divorce, which is
another of the "blots," the Republican
finds that it is merely a local trouble,
after all. The Southern States have
very few divorces and South Carolina
none. Hence we have no truly Na
tional evil of that kind to deal with.
Our contemporary finds the reason for
the Southerner's dislike of divorce in
the reaction of the white taste against
negro looseness. Perhaps this plays a
part in the matter, but we fancy,
when the subject comes to be anal
yzed searchlngly, it will be found that
the South has fewer divorces than the
North simply because the economic
reasons which cause them here have
not yet begun to act very strongly
there. Southern women are still in
economic dependence upon their men.
The desire for . self-support and the
ability to carry It out are compara
tively rare among them, and in conse
quence they submit to outrages from
their husbands which would drive a
Northern woman to the divorce court.
Divorces increase in number every
where in proportion as women become
Individualized by earnjng their own
living, by taking part in public af
fairs, or by any other independent ac
tivity. Hence it cannot be said that
Southern civilization is essentially
different from the Northern and West
ern in this respect, but only that it
has as yet felt the modern impulse
less keenly. - Such difference as exists
Is evanescent.
What the Springfield Republican
wants is to localize our various mis
chiefs and hold each section responsi
ble for its own sins. Thus it tries,
without much success, to shoulder
the evil of murder off upon the South
and divorce upon the West. Just
where it would locate municipal mis
government It does not specify, though
that Is by far the most interesting of
all our psychological disorders. But
the question whether the various ills
which afflict us can be localized or not
is really trivial. Even If" each one
could be strictly set off by itself and
assigned to a single state or county, it
would still be a "blot on the civiliza
tion" of J:he whole country. The di
verse parts of this country are so
closely united by commerce. National
feeling and a common language that
they are much like the members of
the human body. Nobody would think
of calling a man healthy who had an
Incurable ulcer on his leg, even if his
face appeared ruddy and his arm was
strong. There Is something wrong
with his system or the ulcer would
heal. So it Is with our murders and
divorces. Grant that most of the kill
ings are in the South and most of the
divorces in the West, and what fol
lows? Simply that the Inner poison
of the body politic works out wher
ever conditions permit, taking one
form here and another there.
The effect which our various "blots"
produce on the minds of observers in
other parts of the world is pretty well
summed up In the phrase, which is
becoming common, tiat America is a
misgoverned country! The reproach
is often made more poignant by. add
ing the remark that the United States
is the only badly misgoverned democ
racy in the world. France has a pop
ular government, more democratic
than ours In some respects, but life
and property are safer- there than
here, while domestic morals are not
so badly threatened by divorce. Eng
land Is also a democratic country, but
It has escaped some of our worst
troubles. It is not afflicted ' with the
murder mania, nor With an excessive
numbrr of-divorces, nor with munici
pal corruption. Many other critics
would answer the question, "Is there
an American civilization?" in the neg
ative, as the Republican does, but In a
different eer.re. The Republican thinks
we have many local civilizations, they
think we have none at all.
BELFTN'O THE BOYS.
It is impossible to praise too highly
the motives of the men who have
pledged themselves to act as "big
brothers" to the delinquent lads of
the city and help them t lead worthy
lives. The bestowal of personal serv
ice is the most Christian species of
help and the only kind that is of much
avail in the formation of character.
Next to abating the need for help to
delinquent boys by lessening their
number, this enterprise Is the most
humanely beautiful that could be
Imagined.
Perhaps the notion that more' boys
between the ages of 10 and 20 years
go astray than Is absolutely necessary
is but an idle dream. Most aspira
tions for genuine Improvement In
things seem to be more or less dreamy
when they are critically examined; but
we have a suspicion that there is some
connection between the curriculum of
the public schools and the fact, as
stated by Judge Bronaugh, that "there
are 400 boys under parole in this
city." Between an antiquated and un
practical course of study in the schools
and bad boys on the streets, there may
possibly exist a relation of cause and
effect.
Suppose the public schools were
doing for the little boys who attend
them what the Y. M. C. A. does for
the big boys who frequent its courses?
The old maxim that an idle brain is
the devil's workshop states a partial
truth, as most maxima do, but not a
whole one. The devil works with an
idle hand quite as willingly as with
an idle brain. The failure of the
schools to hold the interest of the
boys is acknowledged by everybody
who has studied into the matter, and
the reason for it is also perfectly well
known. It is because they deal with
abstractions Instead of realities. They
seek to educate directly through the
brain, while it is as certain as any
thing can be that to educate a boy
you must reach his brain through his
hand. If the public schools should
begin tomorrow to teach real" things
to the boys, what would be the effect
upon the number who need to be
haled into court and paroled? Would
not the schoolteacher make a better
big brother, or sister, all things con
sidered, for these boys than even the
most kindly amateur?
TOLL, OF THE 8TORM.
Not since the coming of the rail
roads have the elements played such
havoc with the transportation lines of
the Pacific Northwest -as during tho
piest-r.t storm. For loss of life a-id
destruction of property a nw record
has been established, and it will oe
weeks before the extent of the disas
ter can be fully determined. It is for
tunate, indeed, that only once in a
generation, or longer, do these wiid
orgies of. the elements levy heavy toll
on life and property, for there is no
precaution that will prevent them
leaving such a wake of destruction
behind them. The most distressing
part of this -widespread storm is, of
course, the heavy loss of life. Rail
road grades can be rebuilt and buried
towns will emerge from the ava
lanches which overwhelmed them, but
the loss of life is irreparable.
Flood damage, unlike fire, Is never
covered by Insurance, and is absolute
and complete. Nominally it Is borne
by the railroad companies that are
called on to repair it, but In the end it
becomes a fixed charge against the in
dustries of the people who support the
railroad. In the present storm all of
the railroads seem to have suffered
to a greater or less degree, but the
physical damage inflicted on the Mil
waukee road has been the most severe
encountered by any of the lines, al
though the preat Northern loss Is also
very heavy. The Milwaukee, being a
new line, was 111 prepared for such un
usual conditions and was placed out of
eommlslon long before the older and
more thoroughly seasoned lines began
to suffer seriously.
That the storm was unexpected and
of unusual severity is plainly shown
by the fact that in the twenty years
during which the Great Northern has
been crossing the Cascades there have
never before been any signs of dan.
ger near the scene of the present trag
edy. All of the precautions 'Which
man can take against the forces of
Nature will not prevent occasional
disasters, but it is noticeable in the
present trouble that the lines which
suffered the least were those which
followed the Columbia River down
through the gorge at the Cascades.
AtL COMPETITNON ELIMINATED.
In the language of James J. Hill,
in the current number of The World's
Work, "The principles of rate-making
laid down In the Interstate Com
merce law and the decisions rendered
under it absolutely prohibit compe
tition." The great railroader dis
cusses at length his big problem,
which has cost the railroads millions
for attorneys' fees and court expenses.
He states emphatically: "The asser
tion by the state of control of the rate
making power, in the slightest degree,
at once logically destroys the possibil
ity of competition, for universal com
petition can exist only where prices
are absolutely free to go up and down
without regulation or limit, until the
competing concerns and the public
that they serve meet on the level of
the cheapest service that is consistent
with a reasonable profit, or until some
competitors are forced to the wall."
In his defense of the consolidation
movement, Mr. Hill cites the fact that
in the twenty-five years covering the
period in which weak -roads were be
ing absorbed by the strong, the aver
age receipts per passenger per mile
dropped from 2.42 cents, in. 1883, to
2.01 cents in 1906, and the average
freight rate per ton per mile dropped
nearly 40 per cent from $1.22 to 77
cents. Mr. Hill contends that the dis
solution of the Northerns Securities
Company has resulted In a loss to the
public of advantages which the
simpler plan of operating the consoli
dated properties would have afforded.
while the only difference it has made
with the owners has been "merely the
Inconvenience of holding two cer
tificates of stock of different colors in
stead of one and of keeping track of
two different sets of securities."
While Mr. Hill finds fault with the
restraint placed on the railroads by
the present laws, he is emphatic in
urging correction of the evil of over
capitalization, terming it the simplest,
most effective regulation to be ap
plied to modern business. The article
throughout quite naturally leans to
the side of the railroads, but It Is
filled with wisdom, and Its criticism of
the results that have followed the ef
forts of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission Is 'to a considerable extent
Justified.
The Senate has passed the bill au
thorizing an issue of $30,000,000
worth of certificates of indebtedness
to complete existing Irrigation proj
ects. This is a measure that will not
only hasten the date when thousands
of settlers along the uncompleted
projects can begin getting their land
into productive shape, but it will also
enable the Government to realize on
its investment, which will - remain
worthless until the lands are provided
with water. Very few projects for
which the Government appropriates
money will make as large returns on
the investment as will be secured from
the various irrigation projects which
can be completed in a very short time,
if there Is no further delay in securing
the necessary funds. Aside from the
financial part of the deal, the Gov
ernment is under moral obligations to
many settlers who have bought land
in the irrigation districts with the un
derstanding that .there would be no
unnecessary delay in securing the
needed water.
Opposition to assembly is simply
opposition to party organization.
That, and nothing more; that, and
nothing less. But how can rational
men 'expect to do anything in direc
tion of public affairs without combi
nation and action through party? Has
any other way ever been discovered?
Note the closeness of party division
in England now. Likewise in Ger
many and France where, however,
the conditions are such that action
through parties is within limits less
distinctly defined. Where there Is
free debate, and opinion controls,
men must act In parties, 4f they expect
to accomplish anything. Assembly,
debate, conference, consideration as to
candidates for presentation for elec
tion, are necessary to party organiza
tion and party action. Are men to act
a -separate and disconnected part, and
accomplish nothlng, or to unite to
gether on principles on which they
are agreed, for accomplishment of
their objects?
The possibilities of "wireless" are
great. Thus far, the principal use of
the new agency for spreading news
has been the summoning of aid to
sinking ships, but something under
the head of new business is reported
In a Newport (Or.) dispatch in The
Oregonlan yesterday. The cook on
the steamer Alliance fell down the
hatchway and was severely, injured
while the vessel was fifteen miles off
shore, and, there being no physician
aboard, a wireless message was flashed
to Taquina asking a physician at that
port to prescribe for the injured man.
Whatever may be the merits of the
dispute between Secretary Wilson and
ex-Forester Pinchot as to the former's
sanction of . the famous Dolllver let
ter. It is clear that Wilson never saw
it until after it had been read in the
Senate. Why did not Pinchot sub
mit the letter to Wilson for approval?
Because he wanted to take no chances
of his disapproval and he expected
to claim afterward that Wilson told
him to go ahead. There is no other
interpretation of Pinchot's course to
be made. It is dishonest and con
temptible. "We look," says the Independent
(New York) "to see a tery large share
of town taxation paid by utilization
of town power." That Is, by utiliza
tion of power of streams flowing
through towns or near them. But we
look for nothing of the kind. The
multitude of officials and expenses of
administration, under management
professedly for "the people," . will
leave the people in debt, every time.
It can't be managed under our politi
cal and electoral system.
Wouldn't all railroad trains. better
quit the route over the Cascade Moun
tains, to and from Puget Sound, and
use the Columbia River route? It is
evident that the North Bank Road
was and is a necessity and was not
built too soon.
The assembly does not "fight the
direct primary." The direct primary
is the law for all parties and for all
the people. The assembly's function
will simply be to submit the names of
candidates for consideration at the
direct primary. .
A" Seattle-Portland train was lost
temporarily from sight yesterday,
somewhere on Cowlitz River. For
some of the passengers It might have
been a pleasant resort from flrst-of-the-month
bill collectors.
There need be no fear of Japan, If
our false conservationists should have
their way, because the Japs would
find on the Pacific Coast only a wil
derness. Is it fair for Pinchot men to declare
themselves the only foes of land
fraud and to condemn persons who
oppose their schemes as .frnds of
fraud?
The plumber works the hold-up by
day and the "gun man" by night, but
the effect on the victim Is much the
same In either case.
According to Mr. Plnchotjl Idea, as
revealed In his testimony, there is
only one 'conservation" and Pinchot
is its prophet.
These warm chinook storms are
pretty hard also on the dealers who
sell higher-cost-of-livlng fueL
The last Winter month i3 February,
by the calendar, but some persons ex
pect too much all at once.
When plumbers fall out, honest men
may get their dues.
And the equinoctial storms are still
in store.
THE EAST AGAINST THE WEST.
All Are Tnlevea and Llnra bat Pinchot
and Glavls.
Tacoma Tribune.
The Balllnger-Pinchot controversy
has been attracting wide attention all
over the country for months, yet there
may be many people who have only a
very hazy Idea of what it is all about.
They know, in a general way, that
the people of the West support Bal
linger, and the theorists of New Eng
land and the great "interests" support
Pinchot; but because of the very ex
tensive press bureau maintained by
the Pinchot administration, which is
still turning out tons of literature, at
the public expense, and at the behest
of Pinchot, the public is kept con
fused as to the real issues.
Perhaps the Cunningham coal case
will serve, as well as any, to show the
lineup. Cunningham and some other
prospectors found coal in the Copper
River country. It looked promising
and Cunningham Induced C. J. Smith,
perhaps one of the best known coal men
of the Northwest, and H. C. Henry, a
prominent banker and contractor, to
grubstake him to make further prospects.
The field looked better. To carry on the
work, they took in Miles C Moore, of
Walla Walla, and several other live men
who had money and were willing to risk
it for the development of the mines.
About this time overtures were
made to the Guggenhelns. who were
proposing to build a railroad up ln,to
the country, to sell them the find at
a handsome profit; but, after taking
an option, the Guggenheims allowed it
to lapse, subsequent events indicating
that they expected an easier way of
getting control. -
Pinchot, hearing the prospect was
worth something, sent in his men to
secure evidence, or make it, to pre
vent these prospectors from getting
the coal, in order that after they were
driven off the find might be made by
those in the favor of Pinchot, not know
ing that Smith and Moore and Henry
stood for anything more than any com
mon tenderfoot that would be easily
bluffed when the "Government" got after
them.
When they saw the. fight was on the
locl men "got together" with other
strong men in the Northwest to pre
pare for the coming fight. Senator
Borah, Carter, Congressman Mondell
and other leaders of the Northwest
took a hand, and the tissues of lies
and accusations by" which the "Govern
ment" had been accustomed to drive out
Western prospectors and their backers
is laid bare. But Pinchot. with his head
up and eyes flashing, boldly denes them
all and declares they are all thieves and
liars and he is the only good and true.
MOST INSOLENT CITT ON THIS GLOBE
F. Hopklnaon Smith's Harsh Criticism
of Greater New York.
New York Times.
F. Hopkinson Smith, artist, author, and
engineer, told the 700 members of the
New York Southern Society gathered at
the annual "Dixie dinner" at the Hotel
Astor last night that New" "Fork is "the
most Insolent city on the face of the
globe."
Mr. Smith was introduced by William
G. McAdoo, president of the society and
toastmaeter. and his hot Southern blood
seemed in the ascendant when he rose to
speak.
"All here tonight have a feeling of
exile," said he. "People are kind to us
here, but It Is because they want our
brains to lead them on to success. It is
hardly 25 years since the Southerner
was considered as lazy, and quixotic. He
had a reputation for not paying his debts
some of which ought not to have been
paid. When, however, the old type of
Southern gentleman passes away who will
teach the present generation manhood?
We live In the most Insolent city on the
face of the globe. That if a hard state
ment to make, but it is true. Hardly a
streetcar conductor or a policeman gives
one a civil answer. Thousands are cour
teous here, but It Isn't in their blood as
It Is in ours. My father took off his hat
to the man he met on the street, not from
courtesy's sake, but because he was a
man and a gentleman. Let us keep alive
our old traditions, for we are the custo
dians of the records.
"People are too busy here. Materialism
Is rampant. If we meet a man on the
street can we stop to take our hat oft to
him? Not at all. When he wants to see
us he makes an appointment at his office
with a stenographer on one side, a type
writer on the other, and a messenger boy
waiting outside. When all is over In
life, what Is accomplished? ' What's be
come of the cheerful chat over the old
Madeira, the warm handclasps and the
real friendships? What's it all gone for?
I tell you, the accumulation of money
and a large-sized bank account. Let's
get back to our traditions, let's De
courteous to women, true to our friends
in a word, the Southern blood."
Mr. Smith's remarks were received with
enthusiasm by men and women whose
homes were formerly in the South.
XJmrm of Poetry.
From an Old Scrapbook.
A girl said to me a few days ago of
a friend of hers, "I never in my life
knew anybody who had such a flow of
language as she has. She is never
at a loss for a word of comparison, or
an appropriate quotation. How in the
world does she do it?" Well, I asked
her, and this Is what the good talker
said:
"When I was a very little girl my
great delight was to read and study
poetry. I learned poems by heart to
recite at school, to say to my mother
and my brothers. I have always kept
up that habit,, and every day as I am
dressing. I have an open book on my
bureau and learn something by heart,
even if It Is only four lines. I have
never given drawing-room recitations,
for I know I should simply bore peo
ple, but I have gained a great deal of
pleasure myself from the habit, and I
believe ' It has done more to give me
a good command of words than any
thing else."
An Obstacle to Sucecaa.
Los Angeles Times.
Senator Klkins, deploring at a din
ner in Washington the dishonest meth
ods of one type of business man, said
with a smile:
"It all brings back to me a dialogue
I once heard in a Southern school.
" 'Children.' said the teacher, 'be dili
gent and steadfast, and you will suc
ceed. .Take the case of George Wash
ington, whose birthday we are soon to
celebrate. Do you remember me telling
you of the great difficulty George
Washington had to contend against?"
" 'Yes, ma'am,' said a little boy. 'He
couldn't tell a lie.' "
All the Comforts of Home.
Chicago Record-Herald.
Charles Frohman announces that he is
to hae a theater on the steamship
Mauretania, It will soon be possible
while at sea to do about everything one
does at home except shovel snow from
the sidewalks In the Winter and mow the
lawn In the Summer.
Overdoing; the Historical Picture.
Jiew York Evening Post.
Of course, there will be a "national
welcome" to Roosevelt next June, but
isn't It a little cruel to ask President
Taft to Join In it? If we remember,
Louis XVIII was not requested to go
to melt the other man irora Elba.
A WORKING, NOT TALKING CABINET
President Tart's Advisers Sawing Wood
Steadily All the Time.
Washington Letter to Boston Adver
tiser. Now one hears knocking that Presi
dent Taffs Cabinet is unsatisfactory
and that it is not the equal in ability
of those that have gone before It at
all events Seeming to lack conspicuous
achievement and timber. This Is com
ment read from outside, and seems
curious to Washington, which has been
thinking that the Cabinet has been do
ing finely. People- seem to be very
impatient. The critics appear to want
things accomplished in one year that
it has taken others four and even seven
years to do. President Taft Is himself
expected to accomplish in the first year
of his term more than his predecessor
in the seven years of his two terms.
Knox is thought not to be as great as
Root, MacVeagh as Cortelyou. and so
on.
But this is a working Cabinet. Not
for some tlirfe have the members been
such responsible heads as these of to
day. They are not mere clerks. Cab
inet meetings mean something. They
last for several hours instead of less
than an hour. Not for a long time has
the State Department had such vex
ing questions before It, and it is ac
complishing wonders between the na
tions and ourselves. The Central Amer
ican situation has- to be tenderly
handled, and the China question is a
large one. Things cannot1 be done in
a moment In diplomacy. Mr. Knox
has not been able to go about the
country making speeches. Ho has been
too busy and is Interested in his work.
Secretary MacVeagh Is introducing
business methods In the Treasury and
has made some good addresses. The
application of the tariff has to be
closely studied. Never before has the
office of Attorney-General been so busy
as today, and Influential In legislation,
but here, too, some ritlcsi would not
wait for results. The War Department
is now so well established In all Its poli
cies and working -so smoothly and cer
I tain of the governments to the south of
us behaving so well that sensations
cannot be seized out of that depart
ment, and the able Dickinson, who has
been Journeying about familiarizing
himself with his vast duties, is put
down as "colorless."
Hitchcock, as Postmaster-General, is
giving close attention to the Immense
bu&iness proposition his department is
and some politics. But he never did
own a megaphone, and so therefore In
the opinion of some outsiders, he must
be a failure. Ballinger is proving him
self a most efficient working Secretary
of the Interior, and Nagel Is also am
bitious to make his Department of
Commerce and Labor successful in a
business way. and Meyer is hard at
work over his problems to make the
Navy really efficacious.
Perhaps "after a while the members
of the Cabinet will have time to go
about the country becoming "conspicu
ous" by making speeches, but mean
time they are serving their country by
staying in Washington doing real and
great service. Their deeds when round
ed out will speak for them. Meantime
it may be believed they will willingly
worry along under the accusation of
being failures because they -do not
spring a sensation every day in the
year.
Secretary BulIInKer.
Philadelphia Ledger.
The Secretary, of the Interior is be
having very strangely for one who Is
supposed to be an "enemy of conserva
tion." ' His wlthdrawls of land from
settlement are even more frequent and
quite as extensive. In the aggregate,
as those made by his predecessor. The
difference appears to be that under
the former administration these with
drawals were made in mass and with
out discrimination, whereas the . law
authorizes such action only in regard
to certain kinds of land and, for epe-.
clal reasons. This applies especially
to -mineral lands. The Secretary 1ms
asked for additional legislation to regu
late the great mining privileges, and
pending this has temporarily withheld
from entry many large tracks in Alas
ka. The special advocates of conserva
tion ought to Join In perfecting and
passing the legislation required Instead
of exhausting their energies in abuse
of Mr. Ballinger.
Sentence Sermons.
Henry F. Cope, in Chicago Tribune.
Saints seldom suffer from a sense of
superiority.-
Unity of aim Is more than identity of
appearance.
You can never pray for another with
your lips alone.
A good man is never blind to the good
In other men.
The best pride of ancestry Is to be a
light to posterity.
Faith does more than defend old facts;
it makes new ones.
He can never know men who will not
stop to know children.
Some men come near proving the devil
when they argue on their god.
Anxiety tries- to see the mountains In
the way and trips us up over a pebble.
He who sets his sails to the winds of
applause steers with his back to the
future.
A present annoyance will try out saint
hood much better than a prospective
martyrdom.
Suitable Honor.
Birmingham Age-Herald.
"I once found a Pullman porter who
was a perfect Chesterfield. He fur
thermore looked after my wants with
as much care and consideration as if
he had been my personal servant. When
he had given me the final brushdown
and I was about to leave the car, I
merely thanked him and did not hand
him a tip."
"What did the porter do then?"
"He smiled, and said: 'Don't men
tion It, sir. It's a pleasure to wait on
you.' Honestly, I "
"Hold on! Hold, on!"
"What's the matter?"
"I'm going down town and call a
special meeting of the Liars' Club to
elect you president for life."
Pointed ParaKraphs.
Chicago News.
People with the complaint habit invaria
bly slop over.
A lazy man is always whining about
his tough luck.
You hear a lot about "blushing brides,"
but did you ever see one?
The man who dislikes you nearly al
ways likes those you dislike.
Many a man who knows himself is for
that reason suspicious of others.
Anyway, a girl looks better in an au
tomobile than she did on a bicycle.
The meekness of a sleeping-car porter
is conspicuous because of its absence.
Usurer Rebuked.
New York Sun.
Shylock was bargaining for his
pound of flesh.
"Nothing doing," answered Portia,
"we are on the yegetable wagon."
Not understanding the terms. Shake,
speare wrote up a different version.
Can Do It Alone.
Philadelphia North American.
A row was caused in the Reichstag be
cause a member said the Emperor ought
to have the power to send ten soldiers
and shut off the debate. Now, in free
America, one man can do it any time.
Ask Uncle Joe.
Is It Possible?
Chicago Record-Herald.
There are In the United States Senate
several men whom we are almost sure
George Washington would disapprove
of if he were here now.
INCREASED COST OF" LIVING.
"AlI-the-Trafric-WlIl-Bear Spirit Re
nnonnible for Most of It.
SALEM. Or.. March 1. (To the Edi
'"") The reasons advanced for the al
leged Increased cost of living are le
gion. The Oregonlan of March 1 says
editorially: "The enormously Increased
cost of government with all the multi
tudious methods employed through the
agency of commissions and local boards
Is among the chief causes of the in
creased cost of living, if not the chief!
est cause." Preacher Mathews, of Se
attle, says it is "Joy rides." wine and
similar wickedness. A Portland man
thinks it is because we patronize street
cars and do not shine our own shoes
and scrape our own chins; and all that
kind of economies. What carfare has
to do with the price of eggs, or shoes
blacking with the cost of onions, but
ter or potatoes, is too deep a question
for me. Many unite in asserting: that
It Is because we spend too much for
whisky and cigars, but as the price
of bread, butter and "bran mash" for
breakfast is just the same for temper
ance crank and toper alike, this ex
planation does not explain. Others join
In laying the blame on all kinds ot
extravagances, and each and all think
they have "touched the center of the
raw."
I will add my individual opinion to
the long array of those already offered,
for I do not think the main cause haa
yet been even hinted at. The average
workman Is not taking any Joy rides,"
drinking champagne, or even blowing
In his seldom dollars on contributions
to spectacular revivalists who pose as
makers of long-haired epigrams, and
use long-eared arguments to keep in
the lime-light, and yet it is his class
upon which the burden of high-priced
food products falls heaviest. The Ore
gonian's reason accounts for a consid
erable portion of the increased cost,
for the tax (collected always- indi
rectly from the consumer) now con
sidered necessary for carrying or.
the government. National, state and
local, is- pqmething enormous, prob
ably amounting to $20 a year
for every man. woman and child
in the United States, and to $75 to
$100 a year for each ablebodied male
Inhabitant.
This cuts some Ice. but there Is stllj
another thing that Is the main cause
for high prices, and that is the com
mercialism of the age that has brought
our business standard down to the basis
of "all the traffic will bear."
To illustrate: The Oregonlan of
February 22 had a local story to the
effect that the storm raging at that
time, together with the Weather Bu
reau's statement that it was general
and might continue for some time,
caused the dealers to Jump the price
of eggs several cents a dozen, and to
also lift the price of butter. Now the
eggs and butter were already In stock
In Portland and were, no doubt, being
sold at a satisfactory advance on the
price paid for them before the storm
suggested ralBe. The price was jumped,
not because the articles were worth
more, but because the storm might
cause a falling off in the supply, hence
the wide-awake dealer jumped the
prices In advance of Increase in the cost
at the sources of supply, and, in fact,
collected this Increased price from the
consumer, when indeed there was not
at the time, or since, any Increase In
prices by the producer. The latter
got nothing from this increased price,
while the consumer got it in the neck,
and the dealer got his In his pocket.
This is' the custom, not in Portland
alone by any means, nor is this in
tended as a slam at the Portland deal,
ers, for It is the "American spirit;"
perfectly legitimate, highly commend
able, and an evidence of the business
sagacity of the dealer. The consumer
is simply the victim of the system of "all
the traffic will bear," everywhere and
all the time.
It Is not the cost of living, however,
that alone has advanced. The medical
gentlemen who superintend the "for
ladles only" functions when the em
bryo consumer is ushered into the
world, have advanced their prices un
til the Increased price of being born
would undoubtedly deter the future
consumer from arriving at all if it was
a matter of choice with him, and he
had to pay the bill himself. As It is,
as soon as he arrives the increased
cost of living fastens on him with a
grip that will never loosen during his
life. When he gets his first bottle,
the glass, milk and rubber trusts each
take a whack at the artificial bosom
from which he draws his pabulum, and
to balance things, the cotton or linen
trusts' levy toll on his diapers, while
the wool trust gets in its work on
his little shirts and the swaddling
bands around his little tummy. The
leather trust chivalrously refuses to
jump on him until he Is big enough to
wear shoes and walk. As soon as he
starts to school the book trust de
mands a rakeoff before he is permitted
even to learn "a-a-b-a-a, black sheep,"
and while his pretty little Sunday
school teacher is inculcating in his un
suspecting mind the duty of helping
the heathen, the same book trust helps
'itself to a percentage on the Sunday
school library, for the trusts, like a
! mortgage, work Just as hard Sundays
as any other day, and then it is safer
to take your rake-off yourself, Instead
of waiting for contributions as the
uneducated heathen have to. And it
is not only for the things of this earth
that have gone up in price, but high
salaries and the fact that the modern
minister gives us only about 10 per
cent of religious doctrine and 90 per
cent of advice as to worldly things
has so diluted the Teal religious in
fluence of the pulpit that salvation has
almost got beyond the 'reach of the
common people, while the undertakers'
combination and the florists' union
have made death almost a luxury.
Sure it costs much more, whatever
the reason, to live on this good old
earth than it did our ancestors, but
considering how they lived and how
little they had to do with, it is' per
haps worth the price and much more.
J. H. CRADLEBAUGH.
He Did.
Housekeeper.
Tommy came out of a room in which
his father was tacking down carpet.
He was crying lustily.
"Why. Tommy, what's the matter?"
asked -his mother.
vp.p.p-papa hit his finger with the
hammer," sobbed Tommy.
"Well, you needn't cry at a thing
like that, comforted the mother. "Why
didn't you laugh?"
"I did," sobbed Tommy, disconsolate.
Current Newspaper jokes.
"This Is Lent." said the footpad. "I
know it." said the pedestrian. "Well, what
are you going to give up?" Louisville
Courier-Journal.
"How did they manage to get all -those
facts about the Milk Trust?" "In the nat
ural way. I suppose." "How -was that?"
"Purrped the witnesses." Baltimore Amer
ican. Kind Lady (at the kitchen door o you
were in the Army during the war with
Spain?. What was your capacity there ?
Hungry Hobo Trouble rations. ma'am.
Chicago Daily News.
"Have you been married, Bridget?
"Twlcet. mum." "And have you any chil
dren?" "Yis. mum I've three. One be
th' third wife ov me second husband, an'
two be the second wife av me first." Cleve
land Leader.
"Wouldn't a railway increase the popula
tion of this village?" asked the enterpris
ing person. "Dunno's It would," replied
the native. "It 'ud be a constant tempta
tion to a lot of us Inhabitants to get away."
- Washing-ton Star.
Young Professor's Wife I.ysander, you
nave explained to me several times how
the overproduction of gold causes high
prices, but somehow I can't get it through
my head. Young Professor Oh, yes you
can: the passage from one ear to the other
seems to be entirely unobstructed. Chicago
Tribune