8
THE MORXIXG OREGOXIAN, SATURDAY, JUIT 16, 1910.
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PORTLAND SATURDAY, JULY 16, 1910.
'' DIRECT -LEGISLATION? BARBARISM.
Parliamentary legislation Is regard
ed by historians as a great achieve
ment of political progress. They see
Srt delegated, representative lawmaking
a. powerful force of national unity and
of uplift from political barbarism. Yet
In Oregon and In. some other places
"statesmen" have sprung up declaring
this system antiquated and "direct"
legislation fit to take its place.
Governor Hay, of the State of
Washington, showed himself a student
of the world's experience when he de
clared himself last Wednesday op
posed to direct legislation as substi
tute for the parliamentary method.
The place of the Governor's remarks
was the annual picnic of Pierce Coun
ty Pioneers at Lake Sequalitschew,
wnere ne reviewea oia times oi tne
ancient and primitive folkmoot, toward
which direct legislation is reverting.
The Governor said:
There are those who now advocate a
return to the system that a race outgrew
as It emerged from barbarism; that is. a
return to the folkmoot in Its pristine sim
plicity. They would have us who are in the
midst of a highly organized civilisation at
tempt to govern ourselves with a system that
met the needs of a simple, pastoral and bar
baric age. They profess to believe, and doubt
less many of them do believe, that we who
often refuse or fail to drop absorbing vo
cations and private Interests long enough to
call a halt to those few representatives who
have gone wrong, could and would give
the practical and painstaking consideration
necessary to secure practical and efficient
government by direct legislation.
1 To me the proposition would appear ridic
ulous were it not so dangerous in its por
tent. The remedy for whatever evils may
could be applied without changing the form
or wrecking the fabric created by the pat
riots of the Revolution and handed down to
us by our forefathers.
This means that Governor Hav op
poses the "Oregon system" In his
RtnlP 1 1 i la nnf n una In Vila nntMi-l
tion. The example of Oregon, sup
planting parliamentary lawmaking
with direct legislation, is not a pleas
ing one. It was not intended by the
people of Oregon that the direct
method of making laws should take
precedence over the other and burden
voters with the absurd task that con
fronts electors of this state in the
next election. Had it been foreseen
several years ago, when the initiative
and referendum was adopted, that the
new system would lead to present ex
cesses. Its adoption would have been
iroiaiou, JUBl 1 1 U IV na HUUpUUU IS
resisted In the State of Washington.
Under the initiative and referendum
next November, voters of Oregon will
, Mtempt lawmaking functions of the
Legislature by "direct" voting on 32
. measures. Seven of these measures
come from the Legislature for refer
endum. Twenty-five others come. In
nearly every case, from Innovators,
agitators or self-seeking groups of
citizens. None of the twenty-five In
itiative bills has been framed by a
representative body of citizens, with
regard to substantial justice for In
terests Involved or to adjustment of
conflicting needs of the body politic.
Of the seven referendum bills, four
are constitutional amendments and
three are statutory enactments. Of
the twenty-five Initiative bills, seven
are constitutional amendments and
eighteen are statutory enactments.
They are complicate and intricate.
There Is no difference in the method
of voting, as to constitutional and
statutory enactments. These many
bills need careful deliberation, such
as members of a Legislature, or lead
ers of such a body, are called upon
to give. A number of them conflict
In their provisions and purposes. In
most of them special knowledge of
details and particulars is needed for
Intelligent voting, and this knowledge
Is such that the great mass of the vot
ing citizens will not acquire.
These initiative and referendum ex
cesses have surprised Oregon's voting
population. Defenders of the "sys
tem" vainly endeavored to curtail
thorn this year by reducing the num-
ber of initiative bills. Each group of
Innovators insisted on exercising its
full privilege under the constitution.
The result is an Impossible task for
voters. It is a task that only delegated
members of the body politic, in par
liamentary assembly, have time and
opportunity to dispose of. The aver
age voter is not as well qualified as
the average legislator to act on mat
ters of legislation, and it is absurd
to deny this obvious truth.
Governor Hay has stated the matter
in able and forceful manner. .Subver
sion of delegated, representative legis
lation is return to political barbarism.
Parliamentary government is the best
bulwark of democracy and of national
unity. The lesson is as old as. history
and the great historians all note it.
Oregon's "statesmen," however, head
ed by TJPRen. have ideas which they
think superior to the tested ideas of
experience.
OUR BASALTIC ROCKS.
The statement that Oregon pos
sesses the best supply of good road
material in the world reminds one of
the. plight of the shoemaker's wife.
Though her husband worked at his
last constantly the poor woman had
no shoes. Of course, one is merely
reminded of this suffering female, for
the two cases are not exactly parallel.
Oregon has roads of a sort. A physi
cian of some standing was once heard
to say at a public meeting that they
are the best on earth, but he was ex
cused by his friends on the ground
that he had dined better than usual
that day. A charitable rendering of
the fact about Oregon's roads would
bp to say that they are as bad as
they can be. In Summer they are
deep in dust. In Winter they are deep
in mud. This state of things might
be endured with some equanimity if
the good-roads problem in Oregon
were difficult, but the truth seems to
be that it is remarkably easy. The
report that roads are difficult to build
here can be laid away with the old
bits of folly that this state will not
grow clover and that corn, will not
ripen in Oregon.
The project of the Agricultural Col
lege faculty to bring home to the pub
lic our wealth of roadmaking material
by 'actual demonstration is highly
commendable. Most people resemble
Doubting Thomas in the respect that
they will not believe a fact until they
see it and feel it. No doubt Professor
Parks will give the farmers an oppor
tunity both to see and handle the ba
saltic rocks which abound everywhere
in the state and which would make
our roads smooth and dry at all times
of the year if they were broken up and
properly applied.
THE ASSEMBLY TODAY, -v
The Republican county assembly,
which meets today, will be the larg
est representative conference of party
hitherto held in Oregon. It will be
exceeded in membership only by the
state assembly, to be held in the fol
lowing week. The delegates in to
day's conference come "straight from
the people." They were elected in
precinct meetings of party members
throughout the county for the pur
pose of deliberating upon remedies
for minority factionalism, plurality
primary nominations, and disruption
and disorganization of the Republican
party. Republicans make up consid
erable more than the majority of vot
ing citizens in Multnomah County and
in Oregon, yet find their purposes
foiled in election of high officers of
government, and In. control of politi
cal policies.
The gathering today Is intended to
be a conference where citizens of in
fluence and foresight shall reason to
gether and determine upon a common
basis of party unity hereafter. It has
been intended from the first of the
assembly movement that this confer
ence and others in the state shall be
free from boss dictation and machine
rule, and there is no reason to dis
believe that the 800-odd members of
the assembly will be free agents of
the party, in recommending policies
and principles of party action and
candidates to represent those policies
and principles in primary and elec
tion and government.
Assembly is the instinctive recourse
of American citizens. The hitherto
impotent state of the Republican
party in Oregon makes a real emer
gency for intelligent and patriotic and
open discussion in today's gathering.
It will be borne in mind that there
can be no cure for existing political
troubles so long as minority nomina
tions shall persist. Nor can there be
purposeful and consistent party effort
so long as' the instrument of Demo
cratic fakery and perjury Statement
One shall be accepted by any con
siderable body of Republicans. Un
less the assembly shall name candi
dates whom majority of party will
accept and who will forswear State
ment One, its mission will fail. But
the members of today's assembly
doubtless know these matters full
well. They realize that all they need
do to win the approval of the Repub
lican voters is to act as free agents
of the voters they represent and place
before them right principles of politi
cal conduct and worthy candidates for
primary nomination.
ACTIVITIES I" THE DAY'S XWS.
Mid-July marks the Summer dull
ness everywhere in the country re
laxation of strenuous effort in all
forms of activities, the husbanding of
strength for the hard work of Fall and
Winter. Big enterprises involving
large capital are usually in suspense.
Apart from the harvest, people are
taking things easy in the Pacific
Northwest. Yet the news columns of
The Oregonian yesterday disclosed
this list of things denoting material
progress:
Irrigation project to furnish water
for 55,000 acres in Rogue River Val
ley, involving the expenditure of
$2,000,000.
Bank deposits at Kelso, Wash., in
crease $132,000 during the year.
Auto road building between Vancou
ver and Kelso.
Preparing to bridge the Lewis River
at Woodland, Wash.
Contract let for 16-mile extension
of the Pacific & Northern Idaho, from
Evergreen to Meadows.
O. R. & N. cut-off from Stanfield,
Umatilla County, to Coyote.
Survey finished for $200,000 auto
mobile boulevard from Medford to
Crater Lake. .
Notable street improvements at
Oregon City.
All unsurveyed lands in Idaho to be
surveyed under the new law.
Milwaukie spending $50,000 on
street improvements.
Nine carloads of gas mains re
ceived at Eugene.
Newport laying a wide board walk
to the Yaquina beach.
Albany erecting a $40,000 city hall.
Survey for power project on Clear
Lake in Eastern Lane County..
One hundred acres of beaverdam
land in Marion County to be convert
ed into vegetable farms.
Three thousand people a' month go
ing into Central Oregon by way of
Shaniko.
Of the great big things in the way
of railroad construction involving mil
lions and the unprecedented building
operations in Portland it is not neces
sary to speak. Attention is invited to
the foregoing list merely to show the
activities that naturally fall into the
news of one day. These show that
midsummer dullness in the "Oregon
Country" Is more fiction than fact.
THE not; A USELESS BRUTE.
The report that the government of
Turkey has bepun to devise measures
to abate the dog nuisance may well
awaken envious reflections in the
minds of dog-harried Americans.
Travelers have always pointed toCon
stantinople as the city where the
canine nuisance throve most abun
dantly, but the chances are that some
place in the United States will soon
succeed to the dubious distinction.
Perhaps Portland will receive the
palm before long for harboring a
greater number of useless and pestif
erous curs than any other city in the
world.
The news from Vancouver of the
attack upon two children by. a vicious
cur can be paralleled in the newspa
pers almost every day. This particu
lar Vancouver dog seems to have been
exceptionally dangerous, since, after
mangling the children, he turned upon
a man who ran to their rescue. But
nobody can tell at what moment any
dog may be seized with the innate
instinct of its race to bite and tear.
The dog is in reality a modified wolf
and the instincts of the wolf are
never very far below the surface in
him.
To one who knows the facts about
dogs and their traits the notion of
placing children under their "protec
tion" would be absurd if it were not
frightful. A dog will protect a. child
so long as the wolf in . him does not
come to the surface. When it does it
is his instinct to slay and devour the
child, and unless prevented he will
carry out his natural bent. The stories
about the great intelligence of the hog
are almost all discredited by sane in
vestigation. His fidelity reduces to a
mere matter of habit when it is in
vestigated by science, and his so-called
friendship for man lasts as long as
man ministers to his hunger. A dog
which is not well fed will attack a
human being as quickly as a rabbit If
he can take his victim at a disad
vantage. The spectacle of the groups of
worthless curs which infest the streets
of Portland is a reproach to the civil
ization of the city. Hideous by day,
by night their howling prevents sleep
and hastens the approach of death to
the 111. To see the miserable creatures
on the street indulging , their filthy
habits is bad enough, but to see a
woman hugging and kissing one of
the dirty brutes in a public conveyance
is sickening.
THE LEGISLATIVE TICKET.
An important duty of the Multno
mah Republican Assembly today will
be the nomination of the legislative
ticket. It will, be recalled that the
Multnomah legislative delegation two
years ago, nominated by the free-for-all
primary, did not make a record at
Salem notable either for efficiency or
dignity. The House delegation had
few members whose names were
familiar in the business, political or
social world. There was no harmony,
no unity of action, no common pur
pose to promote the interests of the
county and state, no understanding
of the needs of the public, no real
desire to meet them, and no effort at
any time to put the general welfare
beyond private interests. The Orego
nian speaks of the House delegation
as a whole. There were two or three
members, who with proper support
from their colleagues, would have
been able to meet expectations. They
were lonesome exceptions.
Such a legislative delegation' was
and always will be the product of un
guided primary. The assembly today
is to nominate one candidate for
State Senator from Multnomah County
and twelve candidates for Representa
tive in the House. Great care should
be taken in selecting members of the
House delegation. It should be made
up of men who stand for something.
They should be capable of restoring
the prestige of Multnomah County in
the Legislature at Salem. In former
days the voice of Multnomah at Sa
lem, was potent. Lately it has been
different.
The recommendation of the assem
bly will have weight at the primary
in proportion to the merit of its nom
inations. The Oregonian has no sug
gestion as to persons to make to the
assembly for its consideration in the
selection of House nominees. But it
observes that there is a movement to
call upon the assembly to nominate
for State Senator for Multnomah
County Mr. L. G. Clarke. It approves
the suggestion and ventures to express
the hope that Mr. Clarke may be
nominated. Mr. Clarke has not been
actively known as a politician nor has
he been prominent as a partisan in
the camp of any faction; but he has
been a Republican and has done his
share as a citizen through intelligent
and honorable participation in affairs.
On these accounts he is a candidate
of special availability at this time. He
is widely known, and he is a man of
judgment, sense, character and high
business capacity. Much else could be
said for him. Nothing can be or will
be said against him.
HIGH PRESSURE.
In warning his hearers at the Glad
stone Chautauqua to shun the "high
presssUre life," Dr. William S. Sadler
followed an example which is respect
able and not altogether unwise. Most
of our writers upon health recommend
less hurry and heat in our dally lives.
Worry is not desirable for anybody,
and years of unbroken toil under the
lash of ambition, necessity or habit
will destroy happiness if not health.
The story of the banker who for more
than thirty years went to his office at
a certain hour every morning, worked
until night without Intermission and
returned home at the close of busi
ness to refreshing sleep, taking no
holidays and keeping always in per
fect health, cannot be deemed typical.
This man, if he ever existed, was saved
from physical danger by his regular
habits. But while his health escaped
injury, the same cannot be said of his
intelligence, his interest in life, his
higher sentiments. Even the great
Darwin tells us of himself that his
unremitting devotion to science de
stroyed his love of music and poetry.
The incessant counting of money and
computation of interest for thirty
years could hardly do less.
It may be suggested that strenuous
toil is not the worst enemy to health
and efficiency there is in the world.
Mental competency is more impaired
by lackadaisical lingering over a task
than by concentrated effort. The best
work of the world is invariably done
under pressure. Matters of mere rou
tine can perhaps be attended to very
well when a person is in a semi-slumber,
but no work which demands
thought carl be achieved properly
without expending effort at white
heat. The writer for the press, to cite
a humble instance, seldom interests
his readers until he has kindled some
thing of a fire in his brain. The poet
must roll his eyes in a. fine frenzy,
he must learn in .suffering what he
teaches in song. The mathematician
loses himself completely in his pro
found meditations. Many of the great
ones. Abel. Galois, Riemann, have been
consumed in youth by the inner flame
as if they had been a Byron or Keats.
For the ordinary routine worker it
is well enough to cultivate a certain
serenity. The precepts not to toil very
hard or very long at a time may en
hance his health and happiness If he
obeys them, but on the other hand if
he does so he never will rise yery high
nor will the work he does attain to
any great importance. An accom
plished task never contains more than
is put into it. If the worker puts fire
and energy Into what he does, those
elements will show themselves there
and mankind will value the work ac
cordingly. Perhaps, after all, the best
use one can make of hrs life is to
spend it in ardent endeavor.
The remark that calmness is the one
virtue which a stagnant pool possesses
is not devoid of instruction. The man
who is too calm Is pretty likely -to
grow noxious vegetation of one sort
or another. Perhaps the warning to
avoid high pressure is not the best that
Dr. Sadler might have given us. Would
it not have been preferable to say,
"Work under all the pressure you can
generate while you are working, but
do not forget to cool the fires down
now and then and give the machinery i
a rest" ? i
A rancher near Shaniko sold his
land a few months ago and set out for
Canada, where he hoped to secure a
location more suited to his desires. He
returned a few days ago and bought
his old ranch again at an advanced
price. Canadians will, of course, de
ride him for a homesick tenderfoot.
Oregonians will, however, laud him
for the discernment he displayed in
choosing between Oregon and Ca
nadian opportunity, climate and en
vironment, and in having the good,
hard common sense to retrieve his
mistake even though he was compelled
to pay for the chance to do so. There
is no reason in the world why a man
who has holdings in wheat lands or
stock range in Central Oregon should
seek to exchange these for Canadian
lands. If he is seeking lands open to
entry he might be justified in crossing
the border in his quest, since the Ca
nadian government is not monkeying
with a conservation policy that shuts
settlers out.
Perhaps it was only a coincidence,
but the news that James J. Hill had
enjoyed a very successful salmon-fishing
outing in Labrador was followed
by a repoft from New York that the
great railroad man is taking a much
more optimistic view of the Industrial
situation in this country. Poor crop
reports and an avalanche of railroad
legislation gave . a very pessimistic
tone to Mr. Hill's talk just before he
went to Labrador, but with the salmon
biting freely it is apparent that all
the world assumed a brighter hue, and
Mr. Hill returns to find that this. is a
pretty good country after all. It is,
of course, noticeable that a four
months' adjournment of the Interstate
Commerce Commission has just been
taken, and this may have added to
the pleasure that received its inception
in Labrador, where the spoon hook
was whirling in the bright waters
where the salmon play.
In replying to an invitation from the
executive secretary of the National
conservation congress to appoint dele
gates from Washington, Governor Hay
very properly insists that at least one
of his delegates be given a prominent
place on the programme. Our neigh
boring Governor voices the sentiments
of Oregon as well as those of his own
people when he. says that "we of the
Northwest feel that we are more com
petent to determine how our natural
resources may be developed or han
dled than men who live 3000 miles
away and who cannot, in the nature
of things, be conversant with all the
conditions existing here." This as
sumption of the people of the West
that they are competent to manage
their own interests may not meet with
the approval of Gifford the Pinchot,
but it is a fact which he will event
ually be obliged to accept.
Commander John Drake Sloat, U. S.
N., took possession of California for
the United States June 14, 184&! The
military reservation overlooking Mon
terey Bay was the place over which
he unfurled the Stars and Stripes in
the name of his Government. At this
point, sixty years later, an imposing
memorial in granite was dedicated to
Commander Sloat. The record of an
event that might otherwise pass from
memory or be obscured in the his
tory of the larger events which mark
the progress of our National life, will
thus be preserved In a most enduring
and suitable form. It will also serve
to carry the name of Commander Sloat
down to posterity as that of a man
who saw the Nation's opportunity to
acquire a firm foothold on the Pacific
Coast and closed with it. Three years
later gold was discovered in California.
The rest is recent history.
The war of scientists on mosquitoes
along the Gulf coast and around the
Mississippi delta, so far from exter
minating these distracting, disease
carrying pests, has made no percepti
ble inroad upon their numbers. They
are, in fact, so numerous and vora
cious that wild animals are forced
from the woods, where the leafage
swarrhs with them, out into the open
fields, where they are comparatively
free from attack. It is gravely as
serted that stock in the lowlands is
being- killed by the swarms of the
pests that find lodgment in their nos
trils and shut off their breathing.
This is not a snake story, nor yet a
fish story. It is simply a mosquito
story that Alaska may be challenged
to match.
All of the romance which hovered
around the old-time pirate seems to
have vanished. Even the pirates
themselves are scare, but they are still
in evidence in the Far East. When a
Portuguese gunboat set out to bom
bard a colony of them, the pirates
were, reinforced by Chinese from the
interior, who were all using modern J
rifles and smokeless powder." This is
indeed a progressive age. If modern
invention continues to confer its ad
vantages on all races, we may expect
a year or so hence to read that the
Colowan pirates have been chasing
merchant vessels with airships.
Wallowa County, that had not a
railroad until last year, is feeling the
stimulating effect of the locomotive.
All her mills are busy and this year's
lumber shipments will total twenty
million feet. In other lines the effect
is also far-reaching, for Wallowa is a
great field for livestock and fruit.
Bull Run water is not on the market
for speculative purposes, certain con
ditions that have been developed in
the Mount Scott district to the con
trary, notwithstanding. That is to say,
a man must be on the inside, officially
speaking, to be able to turn a corner
in the aqua pura which we boast.
Governor Shafroth has called an
extraordinary session of the Colorado
Legislature to correct the neglect of
the recent session, which was con
trolled by a Democratic majority, yet
failed to provide laws that would reg
ulate that end of the universe.
There will be an all-day session of
esperantists in Portland today. Esper
anto is a kind of language in which
a man can swear and be understood
anywhere in the world.
High wages in the harvest field are
luring men from the river boats. The
roustabout Is an honest toller who
fattens on hard work.
THE CHARGES AGAISST MR. 1IOFEH
Mr. Moores FamUhcs Copy- of tne Let
ter Sent to President Xaf t.
PORTLAND. July 15. (To the Editor.)
In the Portland Journal of last even
ing there appears a synopsis of an al
leged editorial in the Salem Journal in
which Mr. Hofer "demands" that Mr.
Moores produce the letter of "a promi
nent citizen of Salem," preferring charges
against him, and the name of the writer
who filed them.
Mr. Hofer Is famous for his methods
of Indirection, for "striking an attitude,"
and for making- mock heroic demands in
double-leaded editorials for the consump
tion of the readers of the Capital Jour
nal. -"His assumption of ignorance as to
the writer and as to the contents of
the letter referred to is pure affectation;
he knows that a direct and a polite re
quest would secure the letter as well as
a "demand," but It would not be so
dramatic.
He was mistaken in supposing a copy
of the letter was not accessible. As may
be supposed, our personal relations are
not friendly, but I bear him no malice,
and will not Intentionally do him an in
justice. For nearly 20 years the columns
of his paper have reeked with personal
abuse of almost every man who has ever
taken part in the public affairs of Marion
County orof the State of Oregon. It
seems impossible for him to discuss any
public question without Impugning the
motives or questioning the honor of those
who differ with him.
In his latest effusion he kindly refers
to me as "one who stands for the sacred
rights of v predatory political methods."
Such a man, especially when posing as
a leader, and conducting a campaign for
the Governorship of the state, cannot
hope to escape an inquiry as to his own
personal and political methods. Such in
quiry, fairly prosecuted, is entirely legiti
mate. We assume that Mr. Hofer con
cedes this much and that he desires the
letter referred to published so that he
may openly meet the charges and com
pletely dissipate every doubt as to his
own purity of character.
Here is the letter:
October. 27. 1909. Hon. Fred W. Car
penter. Washington. D. c. Dear Sir: It is
generally, understood by public men in this
state that Senator Bourne is to present to
President Taft the name of E. Hofer. a
local editor of this city, for a Federal po
sition, presumably Collector of Customs
for the Port of Portland, Oregon.
As protest In the name of common de
cency does not appeal favorably to Senator
Bourne, I protest through you to the Pres
ident against this proposed appointment.
As to my moral and financial responsi
bility. I refer you to Hon. Francis J.
Heney, San Francisco, Cal.; Hon. W. B.
Gilbert. U. S. Circuit Judge, Portland. Or.,
and Hon. William H. Hunt, TJ. S. District
Judge, Helena, Mont.
Mr. Hofer has. for more than 15 years.
Published a small dally paper in this city,
sometimes in the Interest of the Republi
can party, at other times in the interest of
the People's party, the Free Silver Repub
lican party and as independent.
Shortly after he commenced publishing
the paper, it became noised about that his
paper could be purchased to advocate or
condemn any person or measure, for money.
At this time, and for many years last past,
his general representation has been, and Is
now, that of grafter.
I can furnish you a list of the leading
men of this cits', including lawyers, doctors,
clergymen, merchants and Judges upon the
bench, all of whom will say that Hofer"s
reputation for being a grafter la not dis
putable. It la accepted here as a fact all
persons know, as the recurrence of the sea
eon, the rise and fall of the tides, and the
phases of the moon.
It may be a good thing for Senator
Bourne to pay political debts by making
such appointments, but it appears to me this
Administration cannot knowingly be a party
to this proposed debasement of the public
service. After having advised you of this
condition, the Administration cannot escape
responsibility without investigating the
charges I make.
This letter is not private and It may be
shown to Mr. Hofer, to 6enator Bourne, or
given to the-public. I am financially re
sponsible, and am prepared to substantiate
these charges before any official who may
care to investigate them on behalf of the
Government and before any Jury of my fel
low citizens. Very truly yours.
L. H. M'MAHAN,
In writing this letter Mr. McMahan has
assumed the grave responsibility of being
required, by every consideration of fair
ness, to sustain beyond question all of
his charges, and in "demanding" Its pub
lication Mr. Hofer is placed under like
responsibility of refutlpg every charge.
One or the other of these gentlemen
should be blotted out of Oregon politics.
The grafter and the coiner of false
charges are in the same category. It Is
not a mere personal controversy. There
is a higher and graver question of decent
political methods Involved.
CHARLES B. MOORES.
Initiative and Referendum Snrfelt.
Cathlamet (Wash.) Sun.
Oregon is very busy these days and
has no time for recreation. Under the
initiative and referendum law every
Tom, Dick and Harry in the state with
a governmental fad or with private
gain or grudge in view has by the judi
cious use of petitions got his little bill
before the people. Think of puzzling
over 32 lengthy bills and attempting
to vote intelligently on them. No chance
for amendment or compromise the
voter must accept or reject them. It is
to be hoped that Washington will be
in no haste to adopt this system of leg
islation. While our last Legislature
was about the limit in passing every
measure that could be devised, a spe
cial session disposed of some of the
most "ornery" ones and the voter is
not called upon to wade through 32
good, bad and Indifferent laws, as has
our Oregon brother. The State of
Washington can well afford to sit back
and watch the results of the initiative
and referendum in Oregon. There
should be no haste to adopt the pro
posed reform, if reform it be.
The Democratic "Game."
. Baker City Herald.
The Democrats of the state are not
taking much interest in politics with
in their own party, but they are
watching Republican affairs very close
ly and doing all within their power to
cause a split on the question of as
sembly and direct primary. By this
means they hope to cause so much
strife within the Republican ranks
that the Democratic candidates will
be able to step in and carry off the
piums.
Uncouth.
Detroit Free Press.
"He's so uncouth."
"What's the matter?"
"He actually eats the lettuce leaf the
salad rests on." .
The Mrv-king Bird.
By Grlf Alexander.
Howdy. Uintah Mockln' Bird!
FlitUn' all alor.e
Singin' leventy-leven songs
An" none of 'em yo' own.
Busy eatin' cherries ripe
Nuffln' else to do.
Ef I was Jes' as full o' Juice
I'd sing as well as you!
Mollv. she done gone to town
Holdin' high her haid:
G'wine t' see a clrctu clown
When we's all In bald.
6hook me fo' that Mandy's Jo
(Mollys epitln' two!)
That's the way a yaller gal
Done turns a black man blue!
How come that you' mockln bird?
That's no way to do!
They's mo' pains inside mah heart
Than cherries et by you!
How come that yo' mockin' bird?
Cahn yo le' me be?
Cahn yo sing a lover's song
An bring her back to me?
Wonder how many cherries a mocking
bird. can. sat. In js, day's work
SfOSi-PARTISAX RISK OF LAWYERS
Certain Ones Seek 'Influence' With
Judsea of the People's Courts.
La Grande Observer.
The "non-partisan" attorneys of the
"non - partisan" Multnomah bar have
met, whereased, and resolved, and
placed in nomination two Republicans
and one Democrat for judges, thereby
giving the cloak of falsehood to their
very claim for action. These attorneys,
inconsistent as can be imagined, hope
to delude the voters. They hope to
make people believe they have select
ed a bench without partisan influence.
All of which they know to be buncombe
and silly twaddle.
But, listen, why has an attorney any
right to select his court? Why should
he, who works under the court, be
the man to choose his master? Is it
not a matter of record that in almost
every instance where a judge's salary
is to be raised or where any favor Is
to be extended, the bench attorneys
seldom object?
A sample of this was visible last
Winter when the Legislature added two
more justices to the Supreme Court of
Oregon without constitutional author
ity. It was also in evidence when sal
ary bills were before the Legislature.
For these and other reasons it is not
a good plan for attorneys to choose
the courts, and we do not believe the
people ofv the state will approve of the
action of those who are proclaiming
foB a "non-partisan" Judiciary, when,
as a matter of fact, the "non-partisan"
feature la merely a ruse.
VOTE "XO" AND STOP TjTRENISM.
Only Safe Wat- to Deal With Initiative
Excesses.
Amity Standard.
Thirty-two questions will be on the
ballot at the November election for the
voters of Oregon to pass judgment
upon. Not to exceed five or six of them
are cl sufficient state-wide interest to
he brought to the attentiqn of the vot
ers in a manner that they may become
familiar enough with the purpose of
the measure to cast an Intelligent vote
therecn. Some few of them are state
wide questions that will be openly dis
cussed from now until the election
comes, and every voter will have the
opportunity to hear and read sufficient
about them thoroughly to understand
their meaning and cast a vote with a
knowledge of the right and the wrong
side of the question from his poini of
view. Eut, In the case of the great
mass of them the only safe way for the
average voter is to vote "No." The
Initiative and referendum was never
Intended for solving trifling problems,
and its use in this direction Is an abuse
that should be stopped at once by the
emphatic stand of all voters. A "No"
vote upon every measure that is not of
general interest to the entire state will
be the most effective way by which the
abuse of the privilege can be stopped,
and direct legislation of some benefit
to the state secured. Local or section
al questions should not be given any
consideration in the state at large, but
by rights be referred back to their own
localities.
Political Issues in Oregon.
Astoria Asorlan.
Three great and vital purposes are
actuating Republican Oregon at the
present moment: The sound and com
plete rehabilitation of the party within
the state; the resumption of the rights
of the party in the government of the
state, and its full and proper repre
sentation and standing at Washington.
It is needless to attempt the review of
the causes which have dispossessed the
party of these things; it is enough to
know they are within the reach of the
people who have the absolute right to
them and who are bent upon their
honest achievement.
The first of these can be secureaonly
by a hearty unanimity of partisan
merger; a clean and clear purpose to
get together again upon the simple
plane of genuine Republicanism, unim
peded by factional project, unham
pered by personal ambition, and free
from . every ism, clique and contract
that vitiated the old organism, and
cinched its constitutional prerogatives
in the hands of the opposing minority.
If the 2000 and more representative
Republicans who will gather at that
time can give the signal for a free and
friendly harmony, a genuine, unen
gaged, unstinted singleness of purpose,
and that purpose the solemn and sin
cere unification of the party, then in
deed will there be something doing for
which all men in the ranks can be
proud and grateful and eager. But, if
the assembly is to be turned to a
medium for personal ends, private In
terest and factional disorder the
breach and brand of failure and final
disruption will be upon us fast and
finally. What shall we make of it all?
A Sane View of Assembly.
Hood River Glacier.
The assembly is a new institution In
Oregon politics, and while its results
cannot be known absolutely until after
it has been given a chance, it is certain
ly not a thing to be attacked until it
has been shown to be bad. In Hood
River County so far it seems to be
very commendable, and we can see no
reason why It will not continue to be
so. The precinct meetings, which were
well attended by real Republicans,
named as delegates to the county
assembly men who surely can be trust
ed with the duties which they will be
called upon to perform. If they see fit
to recommend candidates for the county
offices there is little doubt but that
they will select the best men who can
be found for the places. However,
their choice, if they make a choice,
will be subject to the indorsement of
the Republicans, both the real Repub
licans and the others of various parties
who register with the majority party,
in the primary election to be held in
September. Thus there is no danger to
the direct primary or any other insti
tution by the. holding of the assembly
which may recommend candidates.
. Direct Election of Senators.
Denver Times.
If we amend the Constitution to pro
vide for the direct election of Senators,
will not that question of Senatorial rep
resentation on a population basis be
come a very grave issue? No man is
entitled to deny, the possibility of this
result following such an amendment of
the Constitution; it has at least his
torical logic for its Justification; and
the thinly-populated West will be well
advised in considering the secondary
effects of a "reform." however desir
able the first and immediate ends it
has in view may seem to be. Given an
amendment of the Constitution for
direct election of Senators by the peo
ple; given some new and burning con
troversy between the East end the
West, such as there have been In other
years, and would not the people of
the State of New York, with Its popu
lation of 8,000,000. begin to wonder why
their views on that burning question
should have no more Senatorial weight
than the views of the people of Col
orado, who numbered less than 1,000,000?
Pinchot 's Queer Conservation.
The Dalles Optimist.
The scale of dues in Gifford Pinchot's
new conservation party are graded,
from $2 per year up to $1000 for life
membership. This money is to be used
to press legislation to conserve our
natural resources, says Gifford. One
branch of the duties of the conBervers
will be to conserve the junipers of Cen
tral Oregon for. future generations, and
let the present generation go without
fuel. Another, to conserve the coal of
Alaska and let the present generation
send to China and Japan for fuel, as
they are forced to do now.
COXSIDER NATURE OF THE MAX.
How Caa Roosevelt Escape From Ills
Popularity and Op port unity f
New York World. Ind. Dcm.
T-'pon his arrival in New York Mr.
Roosevelt declared he would make no
political speeches for two months. In
less than two weeks he had publicly
intervened in the Republican fight at
Albany; yesterday morning he made an
editorial plea in the Outlook for direct
nominations, and yesterday afternoon
he agreed to make a campaign speech
next Fall for Senator Beveildse of In
diana, one of the insurgents wno vote'!
against the Payne-Aldrlch tariff, which
Mr. Taft calls "the best tariff ever eit
acted." At the time he was so positive In as
serting he would have nothing to sav
about politics for two months he wrote
to the secretary of the Republican Club
of Oneida County: "I ask that the club
at once stop any agitation to have mo
nominated for Governor. It would be
an absolute impossibility for me to ac
cept." Nevertheless, wl'l ne accept?
Mr. Roosevelt laiiuec escape from
his popularity, his opportunity and his
own nature. The first is enormous.
There is an Ideal Roosevelt of popular
Imagination that sways the public mind
more potently than any other single
force In our politics. The opportunity
is extraordinary. His party, on the
verge of breaking into factional dis
sensions, calls for a new organizer. In
dependent voters are eager for a leader.
The Governorship of the greatest of
American commonwealths is to be
filled. Beyond the Governorship Is a
seat in the United States Senate. Be
yond that is the Presidency itself. When
all these partisans, independents and
enthusiasts In mass meetings and pri
maries and conventions send up a
great shout for the leader to como
forth and master the opportunity, will
he, can he, refuse?
Consider the nature of the man; his
restless activity, his gwntus lor poli
tics, his passionate ambition. Consider
hU weakness, his fondness Tor office
from boyhood, his responsiveness to
popular clamor, his eagerness to dom
inate everything, his contempt for
precedents, traditions, laws, customs
Congress, courts and the Constitution
itself.
With such a nature, prompted by
such popularity and surrounded by
such opportuniiies, Is It likely he will
retire to seclusion as a dummy trustee
of an insurance company or be periaa
nently content as a sub-editor of a
weekly Journal of criticism,?
Why should he not be a candidate?
All talk of a dictatorship as a result
of his ambitions is silly. A personal
popularity can ar.d does afCect the
passing issues of the day. but the des
tinies of a nation are ordered only by
forces inherent in the nation itself.
Jefferson could name his successor and
the successor of that successor, bui
there his power ended. Jackson could
procure the election of Van Buren for
one term, but not for another. Grunt,
with all the prestige of a great mili
tary career that saved the very life of
the Nation, though backed by one of
the most powerful of political organ
izations, could not gain a third lorni
against the third-term cry, when once
he had lost the confidence of the peo
ple. How great was the ptisonn.1 pop
ularity of Clay, of Webster, of Scott,
of Blaine and of Greeley? What did
it avail them on election day?
The one critical point in tlie problem
of Roosevelt is to know what he stands
for. Thus far he has taken a definite
stand only on the issue of direct nom
inations. He has visited the President
as a friend, and aa a friend he has re
ceived the political enemies of the
President. Will the Indiana speech bo
an indorsement of Senator Beveriajes
attitude toward the Payne-Aldrich bill ?
Is he for the regulars or the insur
gents? For the Aldrich tariff or againsc
it? His most prominent visitors thus
far have been insurgents like Lev Br
idge, La Follette, Bristow. Murdoek,
Fish and Polntiexter, who is the anti
Ballinger candidate for Senator- in
Washington. The one speech he has
promised to make is in Indiana, where
the Republican state convention re
fused to indorse the Payne-Aldrioh
tariff, after which refusal Mr. Taft
canceled his engagement to go to In
dianapolis. How he will stand on the living is
sues of the day is of more -importance
than his popularity or his opportunity.
If he will stand for a lower tariff, for
retrenchment, for . reform, for peace
against militarism, for economy against
extravagance, for public confidence and
credit against unwise and unnecessary
business agitations and disturbances,
for honesty against corruption, for
genuine democracy and true American
ism against plutocracy and jingoism,
his election as Governor would not only
be possible but under certain condi
tions desirable. The World has no per
sonal or political prejudices.
If if.
"Common Sense" Party Started.
Indianapolis News.
The first formal announcement for the
Presidential race of 1912 has been made
by F. P. Walts, an attorney of Billet, 111.,
in the Democrat, a paper published at
Princeton, Ind. The announcement, which
is self-explanatory, follows:
F. P. Walts, attorney-at-law in the states
of Kentucky and Indiana, now residing in
Billet, Lawrence County, Illinois, announces
to the voters of the United States of
America his candidacy for the nomination
to the office of President of the .United
States at the convention and meeting of a
new political party hereafter to be organ
ised, the vote of aforesaid meeting and con-,
vention to be decided upon and announced
at a reasonable time prior to the election Of
President in the Fall of 1912.
The aforesaid party is hereby given tho
title of the Common People's Common Senee
Party.
Dated July 4. 1910, at Princeton, - Ind. .
FP. WALTS. .
Torture Known as "Breaking; It Gently"
New York Evening Sun.
Telling news is always bungled. It .
cannot by the very nature of thtnsrs be
anything else. There is that torturing
experience- known- as breaking news
gently. It consists of working, a .-person
who is about to bear sad news irt.o such
a state of rage against you that his
anger In a measure mitigates his sorrow.
Just why it has always been considered
better to have to bear two great emo
tions than one it Is difficult to say. but
the dilution is always Insisted upon. A
sorrow is always a shock, it cannot be
anything else, but to have a person Inti
mate that a dozen dreadful things have '
happened by way of preparing you for
hearing that one has, does seem a curious
method of procedure. . .
Righteous Indignation.
Portland Advocate (Colored).
In the hopes of discrediting Cham
pion - Jack Johnson's victory over his
opponent, James Jeffries. In the pug
ilistic world, a dally paper says tlie
fight was a frame-up, and that James
Jeffries was a physical wreck. A very
small, dirty piece of work. But - men
experienced In the prizefighting game,
who were at the . ringside know better,
and the public can judge between the
veracity of the newspaper and men ex
perienced in the art of pugdoin.
Her Method.
Chicago Record-Herald.
"Our landlady seems to be determined
that not one of us shall have the right to
regard himself as the star boarder."
"What is her method?"
"She makes us take turns at hooking up
her waist."
Relative Risks. -
Philadelphia Ledge--.
"You know the fate of the pitcher that
goes to the well too often."
"Going to the well never hurt a pitcher
yet. It s going to the corner saloon that
sends him back to the bush leagues."