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THE MORNING OREGONIAN. TUESDAY. MAY 24, 1910.
PORTLAND, OREGON.
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PORTLAND. Tl'ESUAY, MAY 24, 1910.
DISCONTENT WITH PROTECTIVE
TARIFF.
. No political party will hold together
on the tariff issue of free raw mate
rials and "protected" manufactured
products. That Issue wrecked the
Democratic party fifteen years ago
and will wreck it again when It next
comes into power.
Xor will any party hold together,
ignoring the only Just principle of tar
iff for revenue only. Neglect of that
principle is breaking up the Republi
can party, just as it contributed to
break up the Democratic party.
And it will be impossible for either
party in Congress to maintain itself
oblivious of the truth that the vast
revenues which the National Govern
ment needs must be raised phlefly
from taxes on articles of the people's
consumption and on luxuries of the
rich and well-to-do. Promise of light
tax on those articles is buncombe that
will perish amid the clash of protec
tive spoils interests and amid the ne
cessities of the General Government
for revenue.
These are abiding principles, neglect
of which has overturned politics in
this country in the past, is overturning
them now and will repeat the per
formance until tariff shall be placed
on rational basis, beyond reach of self
ish interests in East, South and West,
that continuously are seeking protec
tion of their respective selves, at ex
pense of others.
Evidently the newly-elected Demo
cratic Representative in Congress from
Massachusetts, Eugene N. Foss, has
little or no perception of protective
tariff fallacies. Already he is ha
ranguing in Congress for protection of
Industries of his New England district,
at expense of industries of the South
and the West. Last Saturday, in the
House of Representatives, he declared
the rallying cry of tariff reform should
be "free wool and cheap clothing."
He demanded, also-, lower duties on
sugar and iron. As to the wool tariff
he said: "Millions of our people are
deprived of comfort and health and
even of life by the so-called protective
tariff on wool and woolens for the
benefit of the sheep ranchers and
woolen trusts." Further, he remarked:
"Responsibility of 'an honest revision
of the tariff is up to the Democratic
party with the aid of the insurgent
and such Independent elements as will
ally themselves with us."
So that Mr. Foss" idea of tariff re
vision is free trade in raw. products
of the South and the West and pro
tection for manufacturing interests of
New England and other parts of the
East.
But this will not be a successful ral
lying cry. The policy it proclaims
w,ould not make square deal nor jus
tice. It would not be supported even
within the Democratic party. The
Democratic South, with its raw ma
terials sugar, rice, tobacco, iron,
hemp, wool, lumber -will not agree
to it any more than In Cleveland's
time, when It repudiated his doctrine
of free raw materials and he repudi
ated its Wilson tariff bill as disgrace
and dishonor. The West and the Mid
dle West, irrespective of party, will
loin the South In resisting the protec
tive tariff schemes of Eastern and New
England manufacturers, i
So that seeds of revolt and insur
gency are germinating in the Demo
e.at.e party, in the midst of its grow
ing political opportunities.
This war of interests will keep up
Just so long as protective tariff shall
be attempted either, by Republicans
or Democrats. It is complicated by
the "pledges" of demagogic politicians
for low duties or none on articles of
the "people's consumption." Fulfill
ment of such pledges is impossible.
For how are the vast expenses of the
General Government to be met unless
by taxation of articles most generally
used by the public? The Government
needs now the enormous revenue of
$1, 000, 000, 000 a year and the demands
for appropriations and for increase of
officialdom are growing fast. It will
be Impossible to raise this - needed
revenue without obtaining it from the
mass of the people.
Heavy duties and excises should
also be levied on luxuries and on rich
wearing apparel, in addition to taxes
on articles of general consumption.
These duties should not be so high as
greatly to curtail use of luxuries, since
that would shut off revenue, but they
should be "as high as the traffic will
bear" within that limit.'
This means that articles consumed
most widely by the people should be
taxed such as coffee, tea, sugar, to
bacco, liquor. ' These articles, taxed on
the basis of tariff for revenue, instead
of for "protection" of numerous in
dustries and interests would yi. ld the
revenues needed by the Government.
This would place the tax burdens of
the General Government where thoy
must necessarily rest, would atolish
the fakery and spoils of protective
tariff, and would compel trusts and
monopolies, now pampered by tariff, to
meet competition of th,e world's indus
tries for benefit of consumers in the
United States.
There can be no just balance be
tween demands of Interests, industries
and localities, under protective tariff.
There was not under the Democratic
tariff, there is not under the present
Republican tariff, and there will not
be under any protective tariff Demo
crats may enact hereafter.
The people will have to support the
General Government through payment
of taxes on articles of their most gen
eral consumption, the taxes to be. ad
justed so as to supply the necessary
revenue without stopping or greatly
diminishing use of those articles. The
people support their state and city and
other local governments through di
rect taxation, and the burden Is caus
ing them to complain loudly. The Na
tional Government cannot invade this
Held of direct taxation; Its recent at
tempt to do so, by means of the cor
poration tax, has encountered univer
sal hostility.
So that the National Government Is
required to obtain the bulk of its rev
enue from duties and excises. This
taxation should be put on a purely
revenue basis. "Protection" is fal
lacy and spreads Injustice everywhere.
Democrats may 'falsely persuade the
country but only temporarily- that
they can "reform" protective tariff
abuses. But they will not do so. The
only possible reform Is that of aboli
tion of protective tariff. President
Taft is probably right in asserting .hat
the present law is the best protecttv-3
law the country ever had. Democrats
will enact none better. The people of
the United States are dissatisfied with
protection without understanding the
trao reason the fallacy of the whole
scheme.
AND STILL THE DRAWBRXDGK ANNOY
ANCE. "Senatorial courtesy" allowed the
Bourne measure for closed draws in
Portland to pass the) Senate, but that
courtesy does not prevail in the House,
so that the amendment to the river
and harbor bill meets in the lower
branch of Congress the fate that was
clearly foreseen from the start. This
courtesy allows many pet bills to pass
the Senate for "home consumption."
on the understanding that they shall
die in the House.
It is absurd to suppose that Con
gress would allow any bill to become
law, singling out Portland from all
other navigation cities from the uni
versal authority of the War Depart
ment. Senator Lodge perceived the
futility of endeavoring to pass a
closed-draw bill for Boston and there
fore made arrangements directly with
the War Department. Senatorial court
esy passed his Boston bill through the
Senate but he found that It would un
doubtedly have died in the House.
Congress would not enact a closed
draw bill for either Boston or Port
land against protests of the War De
partment. The proper way for Oregon's Sena
tors to show their influence In the Na
tional Capital in this matter is to ob
tain this draw concession from the
War Department, same as Senator
Lodge has done for Boston. What
Oregon needs In Washington, D. C, is
more stalwart statesmanship and less
sham and humbug. That would prove,'
more than anything else, the virtues
of Oregon's "system" which is an ob
ject of so much satisfaction and pride
to Oregon's Senators.
THE SALOON PROBLEM.
Among decent and disinterested peo
ple in the United States there is little
difference of opinion about the law
less or disorderly saloon and the drink
habit. It is conceded that both are
as bad as anything can be, and it Is
also conceded that both ought to be
abated. When it comes to the best
method of abating the admitted
nuisances, however, there is room for
rational and conscientious difference
of opinion, and such difference actu
ally exists. Many persons who yield
to nobody In their hatred of the sa
loon as an instrumentality of vice and
a factor In corrupt politics neverthe
less do not. believe that state prohibi
tion would help to eliminate it J .The
evil would be changed slightly in outer
appearance, they contend, but it would
continue in full force and might even
be worse than It Is now. - The license
which the law grants the saloon Is
really a means of controlling it. We
do not intend to say that the means is'
used as It ought to be or that it brings
to bear anywhere near as much re
straining influence as it might, Still
the fact that a restraint 1 often badly
administered is no argument against
the restraint itself and those who con
tend that the license system ought to
be abolished simply ask for the re
moval of the most practical device we
have at present for checking the evils
of the saloon. .
The belief that the saloons can all
be abolished at one stroke by the
adoption "of a state prohibitory law
collides with a great mass of experi
ence. Such laws have been tried in
many states, and there are one or two
where it is claimed that they have in
large measure accomplished their pur
pose. But in general when a prohibi
tory law Is adopted it is forced upon
the population of many sections
against their strong preference. This
preference may be mistaken. It may
be deplorably bad. But it exists and
it must be reckoned with. It is one
of the disastrous blunders of our pro
hibitory brethren that, with all their
earnestness and sincerity, they persist
in ignoring the plainest facts.
It is one thing to pass a prohibitory
law and a very different thing to en
force it. Unless we agree to change
the entire system of our Government!
the enforcement must toe left in local
hands. The local officials necessarily
reflect the sentiment of the voters who
put them in office and when those
voters repudiate prohibition the men
who represent them are bound' to do
the same. How then is the law to be
made effective? It is impossible. The
claim that prohibitory laws can be en
forced in communities where the peo
ple repudiate them is flatly contrary
to fact.
Impatience with the slow results of
argument, example and education im
perfectly natural in the matter of
dealing with the drink problem. The
evils of its abuse are so grossly mani
fest, the waste of money and energy
which it entails Is so exhausting to the
community, and its influence on the
individual and the family is so ruin
ous that all good citizens unite in seek
ing for relief and many who know
better are led by their wish for the
abatement of the nuisance to favor a
prohibitory law. They are not ig
norant of its probable failure, but they
wish to condemn and possibly check
the flagrant evil and therefore vote for
a measure which has nothing to rec
omend it but good intentions. A com
munity which desires the sale of liquor
to go on cannot be hindered from
gratifying its appetite by any law. On
the other hand a community which
does not wish to tolerate saloons can
abate them completely. It is purely
a question of local sentiment, and it
ought to be clear even to the most
ardent fanatic that the only way to ln
crease the number of communities
which will not tolerate the saloon is
to teach the public the pertinent facta
with unwearied diligence.
Among those who must use either
their hands or their brains the use of
liquor is rapidly dying out. Its ef
fects upon both mental and physical
labor power are demonstrably dis
astrous and the exigencies of competi
tion are eliminating all but abstainers.
The only classes which drink heavily
today are the besotted rich and the
besotted poor. The orgies of the
slums are duplicated by the orgies of
the elite dinner table, and the baccha
nalian New Year's day of the million
aire's son differs in no respect from
the drunken debauch of a redlight
gang of thieves and holdup men. The
man who uses his earning power ab
stains from drink because he must.
The economic forces of the modern
world are against the saloon. They
are against the use of liquor in all its
forms. Science is on the same side
of the question and so is enlightened
morality. Since all this is true, who
can doubt that if the saloon is not
abolished within a few years it will
be radically modified? But, on the
other hand, what well-informed stu
dent of society expects to, see -the
change brought about by law? Law
registers the progress of the world
after It has been accomplished. It
does not as,a rule figure among the
causes of progress, simply for the
reason that the progress must have
been made before the law can produce
any effect.
SPEAKING OF POLITICS. .
Much Is said nowadays of "jackpot"
election of United States Senators in
Illinois and Indiana. Much could be
said also of the perjury election of
United States Senators in Oregon un
der Statement One, wherein thousands
of Democrats swore falsely that they
were Republicans and turned the Re
publican primaries to a candidate
whom the party refused to elect. Also
much could be said of the Insignifi
cance " of Oregon at present in the
United States Senate.
Something might also be added to
the effect that if the people cannot
elect honest Legislatures they cannot
elect honest men to any office what
ever and don't deserve the suffrage.
Further, it might be said that while
the people could properly elect United
States Senators by direct vote, they
will not choose the men they want
through the jugglery and upset of
Statement One or through the minor
ity choice of free-for-all primaries.
The political assembly is the first
step toward returning political sanity
in Oregon. The Grange, the labor
unions, the Bar Association and the
Democrats have set the example.
NEW SEASIDE SERVICE.
Remarkable evidence of the giowth
of Portland and the tributary territory
is shown in the wonderful increase in
the volume of travel to seaside resorts
easily reached from this city. It is
but little more than twenty years since
the Summer visitors who journey to
Seaside and other Clatsop resorts were
obliged to go by steamer to Astoria,
thence by small tug to Skipanon land
ing or old Fort Clatsop on the Lewis
and Clark and from those points by
stage to Seaside. It was a long two
days' journey and it sometimes re
quired three days in which to make
the trip. The railroad from Astoria
to Seaside helped, and with its com
pletion it was possible for a Portland
man to leave the city in the morning
and reach Seaside the same evening.
The building of the Hammond road
from Goble to Astoria gave Portland
through rail connection to the beach,
and the Improvement in the service
was so pronounced that the business
doubled and trebled.
For the past three years the service
in the'Summer season has been inade
quate, but the schedule announced in
the Sunday's Oregonian of three
through trains daily, with an extra
train on Saturdays and Mondays, will
probably attract to Seaside the largest
crowds that will gather at any beach
resort in the Pacific Northwest. The
service promised by the Summer time
card of the Astoria and Columbia
River Railroad, will not only attract
crowds to Seaside and adjacent resorts
as far south as Arch Cape, but the
local service between Seaside and As
toria will enable visitors to move
around and visit the various points of
interest between Astoria and the ter
minus of the line. . The feature of the
new service which will appeal strong
est to the Portland people whose fam
ilies Summer at the beach is the lim
ited train by which the beach is
reached three- -and- one-half hours
from Portland. The people who can
best understand the meaning of that
improvement are those who in the
past have stood up in the aisles while
an overcrowded train was putting in
six to seven hours in making the run
from Seaside to Portland.
RECORD TOURIST EXODl'S.
Seven steamships departing from
New York Saturday, carried 2695 cabin
passengers, the figure establishing a
new single day's record for that class
of travel. As the European's bound
home from the United States to an
overwhelming extent travel in the
steerage, it is reasonable to assume
that most of these cabin passengers
were Americans of the tourist type.
This annual Spring. exodus has in fact
become one of the regular features of
American life. It has reached such
proportions that it has an appreciable
effect on the trade balance between
this country and Europe. There will
be a wide difference in the amounts
expended by the most thrifty and the
most prodigal of the great crowd that
sailed away from New York Saturday;
but, making allowance for the return
ing Europeans who were included, and
estimating the outlay of the remainder
at a very modest per capita, it is easy
to see where more than $1,000,000 was
taken out of the country forever by
the prosperous Americans who have
acquired the "going abroad" habit.
This Spring tide of travel has been
at a flood stage for more than a
month and It will continue well into
the Summer. Then, after a brief
respite, the Winter travel to the Medi
terranean will begin. As the money
taken out of the country by these
American tourists does not figure on
the export records, the volume of the
traffic is "not easily arrived at. It is
easy to understand, however, that it
has reached a figure that entitles it
to due. consideration as an important
feature of the general economic situa
tion. It is poticeable that during the
past year, with a wheat crop which,
with a single exception, was t'.ie larg
est on record, with a cotton crop which
more than made up in value for what
it lacked in size, and with every branch
of our agricultural industry showing
up remarkably well, the excess of ex
ports over imports was the smallest
this country has had in more than
twenty year3.
This "balance of trade," which in
the past has been regarded as the
strongest evidence of -our invincible
prosperity, has been steadily shrink
ing since the panic of 1907. In that
period the creation of new wealth- in
the country has . gone forward at. a
more rapid pace than ever before.
Viewed by the Government's trade re
turns, we have decreased our export
able surplus of agricultural products
simultaneously with heavy increases
in the imports of foreign goods. Mean
while our "exportation" of tourists
with vast sums of money drawn out
of American trade channels is steadily
Increasing.
The situation would seem to indi
cate that we are either prospering so
greatly that we find it unnecessary
to seek the foreign markets as we
formerly did, or we are sending too
many tourists and not enough wheat,
corn, cotton, etc., to those markets.
The situation is wholly , unlike any
thing we have ' ever experienced and
will eventually call for a readjustment
of our economic system.
The Nicaraguan War is not over,
and victory seems to perch on the
banners of the forces who are last
represented at the cable offices. Sat
urday's report from the insurgent
stronghold stated that the enemy was
surrounded and the surrender of an
entire train with 200,000 rounds of
ammunition was expected at any time.
A week ago the Madriz forces were
reported to have the rebellion so thor
oughly under control that Estrada's
life did not seem to be worth a penny.
Unless Estrada and -JUadriz ge"t to
gether and agree to call the contest
a "draw," they may soon be experi
encing trfe fate of the Kilkenny cats.
The time is rapidly approaching when
some first-class power should take
charge of Nicaragua and do a little
civilizing for the good, not alone of
Nicaragua but . of other countries
which do business down there and are
weary of these steadily recurring re
bellions which result in nothing but
trouble and expense for all concerned.
A California miner prospecting on
Jewel Creek, near Mlnersville, struck
a pocket which yielded J 6000, in seven
days, some of the pans running as
high as $100. There has been a small
stampede to the canyon in which the
find was reported, and all of the
ground In the vicinity has been staked
by prospectors. There is unquestion
ably gold still in the ground in the
old mining districts .of California as
well as other states", and finds like
that reported in Jewel Creek Canyon
will continue to be heard of for many
years. Jewel Creek, Cal., however, Is
too near at hand, too easily accessible
to admit of" much of a stampede. Six
thousand dollar pockets in far-off
Alaska, Africa, or some other remote
region might draw a big crowd from
the "uttermost ends of the earth," but
not California. That state had her
day when it was more difficult to
reach the Jewel Creek deposits than
it now Is to reach the most remote
districts in Alaska.
Nobody wants Broadway bridge
bonds while litigation involves that
project in delay and uncertainty.
Therefore no offer was received from
any source for the first $250,000 in
stallment of Broadway bonds. ' But
that is not the whole story. There
was one bid only for $1,000,000 of
Portland water bonds at 91, or al
most $100,000 below par. There are
no lawsuits over the water bonds.
They are desirable in every way. Yet
the price qffered is so low that the
Mayor and members of the Water
Board are said to have been "as
tonished and nonplussed." Naturally.
The bond market Is not active. Bond
buyers are investing slowly. They are
seeking bargains. What will happen
if they shall be offered $500,000 of
public dock bonds? Yet the necessity
of selling such bonds far below par,
if at all, will doubtless not discourage
the promoters of that questionable
scheme.
The statement that Harry Courtaine,
the original Simon Legree of Uncle
Tom's Cabin, an inmate of a New York
almshouse, was confirmed in the
Episcopal Church last Sunday recalls
the dark days prior to the Civil War
wherein Legree's revolting character
was depicted by Harriet Beecher
Stowe. A bitter criticism of Mrs.
Stowe's powerful story was that the
pictures it drew were unfair to the
better class of the slaveholders of the
South. There was no contention, how
ever, over the fact that the Institution
of slavery made possible and occasion
ally produced a Simon ' Legree. The
chill horror of that time and recital
comes back after threescore years at
the mention of the name of Simon
Legree. A pauper, his name a syno
nym for coarse brutality and revolting
sensuality in every land under the sun,
let him pass.
The town of 'Clarkston, Wash., is
planning a big free barbecue for June
4, in celebration of the $2,500,000 in
vestment made there through Spencer
Trask & Company. This investment
means much for the progress of the
town and Its vicinity. Governors of
Idaho and Washington are expected to
be present; also a number of good
speakers. This will be a notable
event, signalizing the opening of a
new period of progress for the Snake
River country.
Let us pity, since we must, people
of the unreasoning sort who from fear
of death drop dead. A situation so in
congruous would excite derision ex
cept for the fact that such victims of
folly have paid the penalty from w-hich
there is no appeal. Simply stated,
"that which they feared came upon
them." -
A carman who bbpeks traffic for
fifteen minutes while an obstreperous
passenger refuses to pay fare may be
following instructions, but he is not
climbing toward the head of the op
erating department.
That Grant County outfit which
lynched a prisoner last year shows a
proper fear of the law when up
against it. The lyncher is always
"yellow," anyway. .
The New York Board of Health
again calls attention to the danger of
germs in money. Just tell that to
John D. and Carnegie.
JudgeiBurnett is coming from Mar
ion to help on the Multnomah Circuit
bench, and the Beavers will be at
home today.
The inventor of the rotary snow
plow is dead. He will be remembered
annually in the highest places in the
land.
Threshermen will hold an assembly
in Albany next month. The State
Grange forgot to denounce this as
sembly. The comet perhaps swished its tail
to the other side. -
"CLT OIT" PROTECTION GRAFT.
Democrats Called Ipra to Put Public
Good Ahead of Local Grab.
Lewiston (Me.) Sun.
The Republican party has declared
President Taft said it a year ago, Vice
President Sherman said it the other night,
oth.ers have said it and most have taken
it for granted that the country is com
mitted to the policy of protection. It
is for the Democratic party to denounce
that party as inherently unjust and de
mand that it be cut out.
The Democratic cry should be: Cut out
protection! Cut out protection! Protec
tion is robbery of the wage-earner; cut it
out. Protection is violation of the funda
mental economic principles; cut it out.
Protection is immoral, in giving one rich
man the right. to bleed many poor men;
cut it out. Protection is corruption to all
National legislation, making it possible
and profitable to maintain expensve lob
bies in Washington: cut it out.
Don't fool with the subject as those
Republican insurgents In the Senate
fooled with it last Summer Cummins and
Dolliver and La Follette and Beveridge
fighting for a little less of the same
poison. Insist that protection Is bad
bad all the time always was bad always
must be bad. Cut it out!
The Democrats need not expect to win
until they deserve to win. They will not
deserve to win until they resolutely put
the large public good ahead of the petty
local grab. They cannot expect to get
and hold the confidence of the public un
til they set their faces squarely against
seeking protection favors for their several
states and districts. Cut it out!
But getting something for your district
and getting something for your state,
that's the way to make friends and win
support. Yes, the friendship and support
of the few favored ones, but the millions
who are the American people, the way to
do something for them to win their favor
is to shut off these favors to the fa
vored few.
AS AN ENGLISH WRITER SEES IT
Complete Failure of Charges Against
the Secretary of the Interior.
A. Maurice Low, In the London National
Review.
The investigation of the charges brought
by Mr. Pinchot, the ex-chief forester,
against Mr. Ballinger, the Secretary of
the Interior, which has been In progress
for the last two months and may last no
one knows how much longer, has lost
all interest for the public because it has
long been seen that Mr. Pinchot had no
ground for his accusations against Mr.
Ballinger and the great sensations that
were promised have not materialized.
Both Mr. Pinchot and Mr. Garfield have
appeared before the Joint Congressional
committee appointed to conduct the in
vestigation, but neither has been able to
prove his case, much to the disappoint
ment of their partisans, who confidently
expected amazing revelations that would
drive Mr. Ballinger out of the Cabinet,
rehabilitate Mr. Pinchot, and make Mr.
Garfield a popular idol. Nothing of the
kind has happened. Both men made a
bad impression In the witness chair. Mr.
Pinchot before testifying read a state
ment of what he proposed to prove. It
was really an indictment of Secretary
Ballinger and justified all that had been
said of Mr. Ballinger's unfitness, but
Mr.- Pinchot, like Mr. Garfield, later,
"thought" and "believed" and was "un
der the Impression," but neither was able
to produce evidence damaging to Mr.
Ballinger's reputation.
Mr. Pinchot is highly respected for his
excellent Intentions, but he is a theoretic
extremist who Is so carried away by his
ideals that he Is apt to do injustice to any
one who does not agree with him, and,
like all men of an unsuspicious nature,
easily imposed upon. Consequently, there
Is all the more regret that Mr. Pinchot,
who ' has been a useful public servant,
should have given encouragement to Mr.
Ballinger's detractors and taken part in
an agitation for which there was no
warrant
Champ Clark and the Leadership,
New York American.
It grates unpleasantly on ears Demo
cratic, Independent or otherwise to hear
of captious opposition to Champ Clark
for Speaker in case the Democrats
carry the Congressional elections in
November. Measured by courage, can
dor and fidelity, there 1b not a man In
the Democratic ranks who will deserve
better things of a triumphant Democ
racy than the present minority leader
of the House of Representatives. Stal
wart and unflinching, stout of heart
and firm of faith, the gallant Missou
rian has held the helm through all the
floundering of the Democratic ship
through heavy seas. It would be not
less unwise than ungrateful for the
Democracy in its hour of triumph to
turn Its back upon the leader whose
high, brave spirit has been Its excellent
asset In adversity.
Plnchotites a Lylnjr Lot.
Roseburg Leader.
It appears that the witnesses opposed
to Secretary Ballinger are cut from the
same piece of dirty cloth. They are sim
ply an unscrupulous lot and their aim
Is solely to uphold Pinchot if they, by
their lying, sacrifice the Republican
party. After the trial demanded by the
Secretary of the Interior is ended and
that gentleman is acquitted, It would be
but proper were the Republicans of the
country to demand the dismissal at the
hands of President Taft of the entire lot
of unprincipled members of the cabal,
and among the first, Horace T. Jones.
He is not even as good as Glavis, and
the latter is too contemptible for the
recognition of any one in good standing.
Need of a County Law.
Sumpter American.
It is said there will be no less than
seven new counties to be voted on by
the people of Oregon at the next elec
tion. It would be-well for all voters to
postpone the creation of any new coun
ties in the state until the people have
placed upon. the statute books a law
permitting only the voters of the ter
ritory affected to vote on any question
that affects the division of their ter
ritory. Otherwise your home, your life's
work, is at the mercy of every ambitious
hamlet and would-be officeholder with
in your county boundaries.
Newspapers as Text Books.
Milwaukee Sentinel.
An experiment is being tried in the
public schools at Danzig of teaching the
children by making Vie dally paper the
reading textbook. The teachers ex
clude all politics and crime, and the
reading Is confined to scientific and
literary news and weather reports, and
even stock exchange Information is dis
cussed. This new mode of letting the
scholar know what Is going on is very
popular, and has been found so far to
give good results.
And Now Democrats Will Assemble.
Albany Citizen.
A circular has been sent out from
Portland to each Democratic commit
teeman to be present at a Democratlo
gathering in the metropolis during the
Rose Carnival. Without going into a
discussion of the merits or demerits of
the proposed Republican Assembly, it
may be remarked that the Democratic
party has held an assembly each year
and decided who should run for office
and who should not. O, consistency,
thou art a"peach!"
Looking on the Bright Side.
Chicago Record-Herald.
"Bennington is one of the most per
sistent optimists I ever met."
"Yes. he is always looking on the bright
side of things. He told me the other
day that while he regretted the serious
illness of his wife he would, if Bhe were
taken from him, have enough good hair
to stuff a mattress."
VIRGINIA FIGHTS INCOME TAX.
Speaker of Legislature Says His State
Wants That Power for Itself.
Letter to New York Sun.
(To the Editor of the Sun) Sir: It
may be interesting to note the consid
erations which controlled the General
Assembly of Virginia in refusing to
ratify the .proposed Sixteenth Amend
ment. ,
A majority of the State Senate elect
ed in 1907 voted for ratification, but a
larger majority of the House of Dele
gates elected in 1909 voted against rati
fication. Reasons which influenced the
House of Delegates were:
(1) The very broad language of the
amendment, which seems to confer
powers liable to abuse.
(2) An income tax is a legitimate
and customary source of state revenue,
and there is no adequate reason ad
vanced why this revenue should be
handed over to the Federal Govern
ment. These, however, were not the domi
nant objections. The real objection
which controlled the House of Dele
gates went to the very heart of the
matter.
The proposal of the Sixteenth Amend
ment is necessarily based upon the pro
position that the powers conferred in it
are .not now within the competence of
the Federal Government. The amend
ment Is therefore a grant of power, and
to the extent of that grant a diminu
tion of the reserved rights of the
states.
The results of the Civil War. the
amendments which followed It and the
interpretation of courts have done
much to curtail what was in the earlier
view the rights of the states. These
things Virginia could not help.
The Sixteenth Amendment, however,
is a voluntary Invitation to the Federal
Government to invade and occupy the
innermost citadel of what remains of the
reserved rights of the states.
The Sixteenth Amendment, however,
is a voluntary Invitation to the Fed-
The Sixteenth Amendment would do
what the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments did not do. It would put
the Federal Government in direct con
tact with the indivldaul citizens in the
everyday affairs of life and in the
prosecution of every business. A hand
from Washington would be stretched
out and placed on every man's shoulder.
The eye of the Federal inspector
would .be in every man's counting
house.
Inquisition would be made into every
man's business and the employment of
spies and informers would be an in
evitable consequence. Administrative
rules having the practical force of law
would hedge men about. The income
tax law would be enacted by a Fed
eral Congress, construed by Federal
Judges and administered by Federal
officials.
If the enforcement of the revenue
laws in the South can be taken as a
guide, citizens would be cited to dis
tant and unfamiliar tribunals and find
it difficult to invoke the protection of
law against the energy exerted by tlie
administrative rules of a Federal de
partment. The House of Delegates of Vifginia
felt that these objections were more
potent than the argument that rich
men would by the proposed method be"
compelled to pay greater taxes than
they are paying now.
RICHARD EVELYN BYRD,
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
Richmond. Va., May 3.
'ROOSEVELT'S STAY IN ENGLAND.
He Knows Everybody, and Therefore
la at Home.
London Cor. New York Times.
The interest taken by the British public
In Mr. Roosevelt may be gauged by the
fact that the Daily Mail will tomorrow
give a whole column on its principal news
page to- its report of the ex-President's
arrival, the rest of the page being taken
up with matter pertaining to the royal
funeral. Describing Mr. Roosevelt's ar
rival at Queensborough, the paper saya
the real Rooseveltian smile seemed to
pervade the ex-President's face as he
stood at the door of his stateroom wait
ing for Vice-Admiral Sir George Neville
and his companions, who met him there,
to introduce themselves. The Admiral
spoke first. "My name is Neville," he
said. "I am in command here. I had
the pleasure of meeting you at James
town." "I'm right glad to see you," said Mr.
Roosevelt. "I knew I had met you be
fore, but I couldn't quite place you. Yes,
Indeed! We met at Jamestown, and I'm
very pleased to meet you again."
"This is Lord Dundonald." said Ad
miral Neville.
Mr. Roosevelt turned to the tall figure
of the Earl of Dundohald and gripped
his hand.
"And descended from the Dundonald?"
he asked, with a world of admiration in
his tone.
"My grandfather." said the Earl almost
shyly.
Mr. Roosevelt, who knows everything,
laughed with pleasure.
"Your grandfather." he repeated with
enthusiasm. "The man of Coppenhagen.
The man who took the brig into action,
firing both broadsides together. I am
delighted to meet you."
Then it was the turn of Commander
Cunnlnghame Graham to be introduced,
and again Mr. Roosevelt rose to the occa
sion. "Are you related to the writer of
the same name?" he asked.
"My brother." said the Commander.
"I'm indebted to him for many pleasant
hours," said the ex-President, and forth
with repeated a good story from one of
R. B. Cunnlnghame Graham's travel
books, which, says the Daily Mali, seethe
four laughing heartily and cemented the
friendship of this extraordinary man with
his newly-found acquaintances.
Plnchot'a Charges Fall.
Burns News.
The so-called Ballinger investigation
is drawing to a close and it is plain to
the most casual observer that Secre
tary Ballinger Is going to come out of
it without a stain or a smirch. Mr.
Pinchot and his followers have based
their wild charges and innuendos on
their own theories and have made de
ductions against Mr. Ballinger which
they have been unab'e to fortify with
facts. It has come to be simply a con
test between the faddists and idealists
of the East and the practical, virile
spirit of the West which would give to
the present generation an opportunity
to make use of existing resources for
the development of the country.
Our Georsre Admonished.
Albany Citizen.
If you take notice to the recent tone
of the Democratic press throughout' the
state, you will perceive a coming effort
to pull George E. Chamberlain and
Jonathan Bourne through together.
Well, George, we will forgive you for
being a Democrat; you were borrf that
way. but for heaven's sake be careful
of the company you keep.
Real Fear of Democrats.
Hillsboro Independent.
Now, isn't It barely possible that the
pious fear expressed by the Democratic
press either sailing under Its true colors
or masked by a pretense of independence
that an assembly will enable the wicked
Portland politicians to name the candi
dates, is in reality a fear that it will
Interfere with the plans of the righteous
ones themselves?
No Cause for Worry.
Houston Post.
It is said that the expenses of the
Roosevelt party in Europe are 250 a day.
Well. Teddy can write 250 words In 10
minutes, so what's the use of worry
about it?
LIFE'S SUNNY SIDE
While spending the Winter in Georgia,
before his inauguration as President. Mr.
Taft went to the City of Athens to de
liver an address to the students of the
University of Georgia. He met a mem
ber of the faculty a stanch Democrat
who said, "Judge. I voted the Democratic
ticket, but wanted to see you win."
Judge Taft replied: "l'ou remind me of
the story of Brer Jusper and Brer .John
son, who were both deacons in the Shilo
Baptist Church, although avowed enemies.
Brer Jasper died, and the other deacons
told Brer Johnson he. must say something
good about the deceased on Sunday night.
At first he declined, but finally consent
ed. Sunday night, when the time for the
eulogy arrived, he arose slowly and bald:
Brederen and Sisteren: I promised ter say
somp'n good 'bout Deacon Jasper tonight,
an' I will say we all hopes he's gone
whar we knows he ain't.' " London Tit
Bits. ...
The stranger in the hotel plumped down
his bag.
"I wanter room!" he said.
"No. 37!" rapped the clerk. "Second
floor."
"Is it a good one?" queried the stranger.
"Excellent! The boy will show you the
way." replied the clerk.
The stranger took up his bag.
"Right-ho!" he said. "Oh. I say, what's
the eatin' hours in this hotel?"
"Breakfast," answered the clerk, "7 to
11; lunch, 11 to S; dinner, 3 to S; supper, 8
to 12."
The stranger dropped his hag again.
"Great Jerusalem!" he exclaimed,
"When am I goin' to git time to see the
to wn ?" Answers.
After Senator Heyburn had talked him
self thirsty on the agricultural bill he
called for a glass of water.
"That reminds me." said a gentleman in
the gallery, "of an incident that happened
in the New York Legislature. A member
had been speaking on a certain bill for
more than an hour, much to the discom
fort of his hearers, when he called for a
glass of water, and started off afresh.
Another member on the other side of the
chamber was or his feet in a Jiffy and
said: 'Mr. Speaker, I rise to a point of
order.' 'State your point of order.' re
sponded the Speaker. "Mr. Speaker,' said
the objecting member. 'I make the point
of order against the member from Scho
harie County that it Is out of order to at
tempt to run a windmill with water.' "
Washington Herald.
mm
Richard Burton, noted poet and educa
tor, rejoiced at a. luncheon in Minneapo
lis over the disappearance of the old en
mity between Minneapolis and St. Paul.
"It was a bitter and irrational enmity."
said Professor Burton, "for Minneapolis
and St. Paul are both very pleasant
places.
"It is recorded that a Minneapolis capi.
tallst could not. till late in life, be in
duced to set foot inside St. Paul. He did
one day make the journey, and after
some hours in or neighbor city he re
turned home again, a bitter set to his
mouth.
" 'Well, what did you think of our town,
sir?' a St. Paul reporter asked him that
night.
" 'The ugliest, vilest town I've ever
seen,' the capitalist replied.
"The reporter was hurt. He knew he
could not print anything of the sort. He
bit his lip and said:
" 'Yet God made St. Paul, sir.
' " "Certainly he did." the capitalist an
swered, 'but we must always remember
that he made it for the St. Paulites; and
by the same token, though comparisons
are odious, he made hell." " Detroit Free
Press.
Two miners were returning from a lec
ture at the village institute, when one of
them after a thoughtful pause remarked:
"Say. Bill, I doan't see the necessity o'
bringing chaps frae London to teach us
aboot manners in the 'ome. We ain't so
bad as that feller made out."
"O, course we ain't." replied Bill.
"Not by a long way." went on the first.
"I never swears before my wife "
"No more don't I," put in Bill. "I alius
ses ladies fust. That's me." Tit-Bits.
Only One Normal Needed. i
v Grants Pass Outlook.
The open season for normal schooi
petitions Is now on. They will soon be
confronting the voter at every turn of
the road. Don't sign one of them
don't even encourage the circulator by
reading one of them unless you have
made a mental canvass of the situation
and have convictions on the subject,
and have In view the educational needs
of the state. The man who signs to
please a friend or to help his particular
section will only help on a muddle as
vexatious as that which has hung upon
our legislators in the past. That the
state is sadly in need of an institution
for the proper training of teachers is
made most emphatic by the annual
importation of teachers from the East.
They are about as stable an article of
import as butter and bacon, and the
fact is no credit to the state. As to the
number of normals the taxing capacity
of the state indicates that One is a
plenty. The geographical conditions
demand that there should be two one
In Southern Oregon, and one at or near
Portland, where it would be convenient
for the Inhabitants of both the Wil
lamette Valley and Northeastern Ore
gon. Pinchot Ized Patriots.
Aberdeen World.
Mr. Pinchot- conceives himself as
owing a "vast duty" to his country. So
does Mr. Glavis. So now does the hum
blest employe in the office of Secretary
Ballinger, who sententiously testifies
that he felt himself "the confidential
clerk to the Government, rather than to
Secretary Ballinger." We are going to
be saved in spite of everything. We are
Sure safe with the Government In such
hands and with such exalted ideals ex
istent. Queer, though, that these duties
all take the form of enmity to Bal
linger. Queer, that they should all try
to discredit the President. Queer, that
they should all look to the glorification
of the Pinchot ideas of conservation.
Every man owes a duty to his country,
no matter what his work or what his
capacity in the Government. But the
duty is broad. It does not extend merely
to the destruction of the reputation of
an individual.
Pointed Paragraphs.
Chicago News.
Your second thoughts may be best
if they arrive on time.
There's no hope for a young man who
is too lazy to fall in love.
A lot of valuable time is wasted on
explanations and apologies.
Even if a woman doesn t love a man
she loves to have a man love her.
There never was an "oldest inhabi
tant" who had not seen better days.
A man is to be excused for writing
silly letters if he doesn't send them.
How many men do you know who
would starve if it wasn't for their
wives?
Need of New Department.
New York World.
If there is to be a further enlarge
ment of the President's Cabinet, as
many persons have urged, we should
like to suggest a Department of Com
mon Sense, in charge of a competent
secretary who could always be trusted
to act s a disinterested adviser to the
Chief Magistrate.
Supprcsslne Bad Plays.
Pittsburg Dispatch.
Also, a way to help the suppression of
filthy plays, in which everyone can
share, is not to go near the theater In
which they are presented.