THE JIOKIAU OKEGQxMAJf, TUESDAY, JULY 26, 1'JlO.
'. PORTLAND. OBEGOX.
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PORTLAND, TUESDAY, JILY 26, 1910.
I WHAT ARE "INTERESTS?"
The "Interests" would use up the
people's resources, say Pinchot, Gar
field, Beveridge, Polndexter and other
insurgent alarmists, but for conserva
tion. But these men never define
"interests.' Meanwhile they are stand
ing on one of the chief planks of the
Socialist party platform, as con
structed In 1908:
J"We pledge ourselves and our elect
ed! officers . . . to the extension
of. the public domain, to include mines,
ivjarries, oil wells; forest and water
power."
.This doctrine of extreme socialism
these several statesmen, including
Cummins. ' of Iowa, are doing their
level best to foist upon people of the
East for Federalization of resources
of. the West. They try,, to affright
Eastern folk with the cry of "inter
ests." But what are "interests"?
Truth is, anybody who makes profit,
in' any business whatever, and any per
son who plans to make 'profit out of
the public domain belong to what
these statesmen call "Interests." It is
mot enough that they should denounce
the malefactors of great wealth and
declare for abolition of abuses in indi
vidual appropriation of resources;
they also denounce the American
habit of progress, which has prevailed
in every state of the Union and which
has benefited the "common people"
everywhere. They declare the desire
of Western people for settlement of
wilderness, for local control of re
sources in conformity with local needs
and for local taxation of those re
sources Instead of Federal taxation
"outgrown" in the progress of the
country and as a relic of "interests."
This is queer stalk to the ears of
Western pioneers. It would be queer
to the ears of Atlantic Coast and Mid
dle West pioneers, were they alive to
hear it.
Poindexter is talking this very stuff
to people of the State of Washington
a commonwealth damaged immeas
urably by Pinchot's public ownership
of resources and alien non-use. Poin
dexter had the temerity last Saturday
to proclaim in Seattle Pinchot's con
servation the very best and the laws
and the regulations as nigh perfect
this In a city whose prosperity is
blighted by false conservation as prac
ticed in stagnated Alaska.
It is cheap clap-trap to harangue
about interests and conservation,
without defining those two subjects, in
some approach to rational meaning.
Are settlers and homebuilders "inter
ests"? Are people of Alaska, who
want cheap home coal instead of $15
Japan coal "Interests"? Are people
of the West who want use of their
(treams toll-free of the Federal Gov
ernment "interests"?
Definition of terms, however, would
deprive certain statesmen of many
choice specimens of political bun
combe. STIRRING CP MORTGAGE TAX.
Next after the call of the Oregon
Tax Commission for mortgage tax
comes another from that body, de
claring that the constitutional tax
amendments, proposed byVhe granges,
should be "enacted" by the people
next November. Otherwise, says the
Tax Commission, it will be unlawful
for Assessors to refrain from assess
ing mortgage notes. The amendments
authorize the lawmaking power, the
commission remarks, "either to pro
vide for exemption of intangible per
sonality or to tax it specifically in a
manner reasonable and collectible."
But before the busy Tax Commis
sion began tampering with tax mat
ters, there was no trouble with mort
gage tax. Now in order to relieve
itself of responsibility for its own act,
the commission announces that the
constitution must be changed.
The law which the commission has
called to mind for the assessment of
mortgage notes, comes down from the
year 1854. Oregon was then a terri
tory and in primitive pioneer stage.
The text of that law has been repeated
in each subsequent tax enactment. It
defines personal estate and personal
property as " . . . all debts due
op to become due from solvent debtors,
whether on account, contract, note,
rrfortgage or otherwise." This antique
law, passed over during many years
by County Assessors as a relic of a
departed time and by common con
sent overlooked since repeal of mort
gage tax in this State, the Tax Com
mission displays as a warrant for its
mortgage tax "Instructions." The
commission thinks that this law must
be repealed and the constitution
anended. else Assessors cannot law
fully exempt mortgage notes (or
bonds) from the assessment roll.
But the grange amendments are
dangerous to the security of property.
They abolish the requirement that tax
ation "shall be equal and uniform"
the oldest, safest rule of taxation.
They allow property to be segregated
into different classes, upon each of
which a different rate of taxation may
b levied. This is ' theoretical, not
practical business. It cannot be more
successful in ferreting out property
for taxation than the present system.
because property will dodge assessors
whenever it can. Moreover, it abol
Ishes the most tried and true rule of
free government and tax justice
equal and uniform taxation. No bet
. ter rule ever was discovered, through
all the history of men, for fair taxa
tion and protection of property. This
rule in the Oregon constitution is the
product of ages of strife and experi
ment and spoliation. It is the safe
rule for Oregon to cline- to.
.There would be no bother as to
mortgage tax had not the Tax Com
" ii iiiut is me
vy the members take to rnnvlnrn
axpayers they are earning their sal-
aries, they will miss their mark. There
would be no need for these new offi
cials, anyway, had it not been neces
sary in the last Legislature to create
additional places for jobless politicians.
WHY HE READS THIS PAPER.
6HELTON, Wash.. July 22. (To the Ed
itor.) I want your psychic expert to answer:
I have taken, read and paid tor The Ore
gonian for about 15 years. Why do I do it?
I am a Southern man. m lawyer, a Demo
crat, love a good dog and am a reasonably
decent citizen, all of which The Oregonian
detests, and does not hesitate to say so.
S. P. RICHARDSON'.
The Oregonian has no psychic ex
pert and therefore no answer can be
made on such so-called scientific au
thority. Besides, if a psychic expert
wee to undertake a reply, there is not
the slightest likelihood that anyone
could understand It, even himself. If
a psychic expert, or other apostle of
the vague and vacuous, ever l5y any
chance, should express himself in plain
language, his occupation would be
gone forever. The successful expert
1s one who is able to convince the pub
lic that he knows all about something
he doesn't know anything about.
The questions our anxious corre
spondent asks might be easily an
swered by any other in this office, ex
cept that modesty forbids more than a
mere hint as to the reason why a
Southern man, a lawyer, a democrat,
lover of good dogs and decent citizen
should studiously read a newspaper
which constantly fails to conform with
his notions as to what a newspaper
should be. Or does It not so con
form? If it did not conform, he would
not read it. . Because It challenges
respect and attention in its discussion
of affairs, because it prints the news
all the time, because it tells the truth
as it sees it in all circumstances, and
because its opinions are its own and no
other's. The Oregonian is everywhere
read by people who do not agree with
it in many matters.
But where did our Southern friend
get the idea that The Oregonian de
tests a Southern man,- or a Democrat,
or a reasonably good citizen, or even a
lawyer and a lover of dogs? So
discriminating and candid a judge of
good newspapers ought to be more
careful In statement, for there is a
great mistake here. The Oregonian
detests dogs, not lovers of dogs;
pseudo-democrats, not Democrats;
shysters, not lawyers; professional
Southerners, not Southern men; and
hypocrisy, cant and false pretense of
virtue in citizenship, not decent citi
zens. We are reluctant .to believe that
after fifteen years,- Mr. Richardson
does not understand all this better
than he says he does. .
IS THE PEOPLE'S WILL SUPREME?
Here now is Editor Dugger, of the
Scio News, throwing his usual heb-
.aomaaai rit over the assembly, this
time gravely warning the public that
"all who favor the assembly nre nn-
posed to the election of United States
senators by direct vote of the people"
and that "any ordinarv evprv-rlav fnni
can easily see and safely predict that
every line of reform legislation whjcb
nas taiten us years to accomplish, will
be erased from our star urn rinnirs
Wre shall withstand the easy tempta
tions to remark that the ordinary fool
at Scio has a more than ordlnnrv fnn'l
for an advocate in his senseless
clamor about the danger to "every
line of reform legislation."
All, or nearly all, the so-called re
form legislation in Oregon has been
enacted under the initiative. The di
rect primary, local option, the. cor
rupt Dractices act.
on, owe their being to the "will of the
people expressed through the pre
cious initiative. How, then, can the
assembly, or the election of assembly
candidates to the Legislature, or any
where, endanger these valuable monu
ments to the people's ability to legis
late for themselves? The Legislature
cannot repeal the initiative; the peo
ple must do it. if at all.
Will the Scio . News say that if the
people exercise their sovereign power
under the initiative or referendum to
abandon the initiative and return to
representative government, the peo
ple's will is not to be supreme? Will
the News tell us also how the initia
tive and referendum is otherwise to
be overturned than by the people ex
pressing their solemn and definite in
tention at the polls?
NOT ALL CRIME.
Under the caption,. "The Crime of
the Pork Barrel," the current number
of the World's Work contains a severe
arraignment of the river and harbor
bill. By selecting a number of the most
glaring of the "grafts" that have been
worked in the past, the article suc
ceeds in holding up to contempt the
entire river and harbor policy of the
Government. Naturally when a proj
ect of merit is grouped with so many
which are nothing more nor less than
barefaced frauds, the good project
must suffer for the company it is
keeping; but the World's Work writer
is hardly "fair in overlooking many
river and harbor projects which pos
sess real merit. Because the Govern
ment spent $11.91 for every ton of
freight which passed through the Mus
cle Shoals Canal on the Tennessee
River does not justify the rejection of
an improvement scheme whereby the
cost of moving freight can be lessened
several dollars per ton.
The traffic of Green River, Ken
tucky, last year amounted to 1819 tons
and the Government is now being
urged to spend $ i aO.000 for more locks
and dams, which, to quote from the
World's Work, will make it possible
to bring down to the marts of trade
another lone mule now braying on
the upper reaches of the stream." Sta
tistics on the river business of the
port of St. Louis show that it has
shrunk steadily from 2.130,525 tons In
1880 to 1. 105.070 tons in 1890, and
374,093 tons in 1909. Tet. on the 200-
mile stretch of river between St. Louis
and the mouth" of the Ohio, the Gov
ernment has spent $12,000,000. On
the river between St. Paul and New
Orleans $90,000,000 has been pent
with the traffic dwindling steadily as
the money was spent. None of the
criticism that is made by the magazine
writer, however, can in any manner
be fairly applied to the improvement
which the Government has made on
the lower Columbia.
This improvement will not suffer if
the Government follows the suggestion-
of the World's Work writer, who
insists on a policy that would "Let the
Government reserve its bounty for
those who demonstrate a desire and a
"capacity to bear their proportion of
the burden." Under this kini of a
policy. Portland and the lower Colum
bia will never suffer, for this city has
already contributed more than
$2,000,000 towards the improvement
of a hundred-mile stretch of river
that already floats more than 4,000,-
000 tons of freight annually.
This improvement benefits the entire
Pacific Northwest, and it Is clearly
unfair that Portland should bear so
large a portion of the burden alone.
Eventually the new territory benefited
by this expenditure should join in the
expense, but meanwhile the Govern
ment should not be niggardly with its
appropriations on a stream thathas
never yet asked for anything which,
was not perfectly legitimate and
worthy.
PORTLAND'S BRIDGE PLIGHT.
The Dan Kellahers and the Frank
Kiernans are making it bard as pos
sible for the people to secure a new
river bridge. Yet. they pose as stal
wart friends of the people. Another
friend" is Harry Lane, who, as Mayor,
put off rebuilding Madison bridge for
months in a useless and demagogue
squabble with the streetcar company,
thereby making trouble now for thou
sands of the river-crossing public.
The Frank Kiernans have stopped
progress of Broadway bridge "in the
interest" of the people, and the Dan
Kellahers are trying to stop construc
tion of the double-deck bridge at Ore
gon street, on the same pretext. All
these several patriots have jockeyed
the bridge business with various
tricks and have made annoyance and
money loss to residents of Portland.
It seems impossible to institute new
bridges, badly needed though they are,
without meeting obstructions of these
busybodies. The motto of each and
all of them is: "Let the people rule."
But themselves and their own clique
they think are the only people to be
considered.
The city has only two good bridges
spanning the river. It badly needs
three more. One of the three will be
finished perhaps next Winter" two
years after the old bridge was closed.
That is the one at Madison street.
The Broadway bridge cannot be even
started; it is tied up with litigation.
Foes of the Oregon bridge, led by Dan
Kellaher, are trying to tie up the Ore
gon bridge the same way.
Too many citizens feel themselves
called upon to shoulder guardianship
of the people. W7hat is needed Is a
good, strong political foolkiller.
ECONOMIC VALUE OF GOOD ROADS.
"Just to show what good roads will
do for a country," said Henry Wremme,
one of Portland's best authorities on
good roads, in an Interview In The
Oregonian, "you take all that land
around the Base Line and Section Line
roads, and you can't get an acre less
than $300 to $500. Out in Washington
County, land with just as good soil
brings $150 to $200 per acre." This
striking economic situation has not
been newly discovered by Mr. Wemme.
It is one that has been commented on
for years, although the difference in
value between good roads and bad
roads has been reflected in real estate
prices to a greater extent in the past
year than ever before. Mr. Wemme's
statement, "In good roads you will
find the remedy for the high cost of
living," has a practical demonstration
in various parts of the country.
In the same issue of The Oregonian
appeared a Klamath Falls special re
garding a communication from Silver
Lake business interests asking Klam
ath County to assist In improving the
county road so that Silver Lake could
secure its supplies by way of Klamath
Instead of through Shaniko. It is 130
miles from Klamath to Silver Lake
and 170' miles to Shahlko. but the
roads to Shaniko-are in so much better
condition than those by way -of Klam
ath that a saving is effected by mak
ing the additional 40-mile wagon haul.
In other words, the consumers of
the Silver Lake country' are forced to
pay 30 per cent more for freight than
would be necessary if the roads were
in good condition. The interest dis
played in the good roads question and
the advantages that follow the im
provement of the public highways is
shown daily in the regular news col
umns of the paper. Hardly a day
passes without mention from some
part of the state of extensive new road
building projects.
AN OVERBOLD STATEMENT.
That heroism, determination and
self-sacrifice marked the early his
tory of the Mormons is unquestionably
true. That Mormon pioneers, by and
through these qualities, dominated and
urged by religious belief and Inde
fatigable industry, contributed largely,
indeed, compassed the subjugation of
waste places in the then Far West to
agriculture and made possible the de
velopment of desert lands, is a mat
ter of history. Blind devotees to faith,
possessed by a burning zeal that rose
superior to all material obstacles, the
disciples of Joseph Smith and the
followers of Brigham Toung literally
made the desert to blossom as the
rose in the early occupation of the
great and then forbidding West.
The story of the persecutions of
these people, resulting in their flight
from Nauvoo; of their long and weary
march to the wilderness of Utah: the
industry that made the desert lands
of the great Salt Lake Valley bud,
blossom and bring forth beauty and
aoundance, has often been told and the
facts detailed have never been dis
puted. They furnished the first les
son in irrigation in times known to
history, at least, in the great semi-arid
lands of the North American continent.
This also Is an undisputed fact. That
the story of the Mormons, their perse
cutions, their flight, their zeal, their
faith, their industry "is unparalleled
in the history of the world since Moses
led the children of Israel out. of
Egypt," is the assertion made by the
prophets and elders of .the church of
the Latter Day Saints.
Along these lines, the world is ready
to accept the history of the Mormon
movement as recited by its disciples
and accord all credit due. There has,
however, been too much light let .In
upon the dark places In the history
and occupation of Utah by the Mor
mons to permit a candid wqrld to ac
cept as deserved the unqualified glori
fication of these people as martyrs,
as proclaimed by their apostles. There
are chapters written in the blood of
the innocent: chapters written In the
tears of women; chapters written by
the pen of domestic arrogance and
cruelty; chapters recording defiance of
common law and Federal mandate;
chapters in which the hopeless miser
ies of a domestic system that had long
been outgrown by civilization are re
corded. This being true as true a3
are the facts noted as a credit to the
energy and persistence of the follow
ers of Brigham Young in subduing the
desert and in building a temple to the
gods of their idolatry it is unwar
ranted assumption for a Mormon to
stand vp before an enlightened com
munity as did Elder Ballard in Port
land last Sunday and laud Mormons
as among the greatest peoples of tfce
world and call upon history to verify
the eulogy.
Details of the pilotage business at
the entrance of the Columbia River
show that the so-called independent
pilots have secured a large portion of
the work of handling the steamers
coming to the port. The competition
established by the Port of Portland
has had a remarkably good effect on
the service, for never before in the
iistory of the port have the Astoria
bar pilots traveled so far to meet ships
or hustled them in and out of the
river with such slight delays as dur
ing the past year. This improvement
in the service, .while adding nothing
to the profits of the Port of Portland,
has been of distinct advantage to the
port, as it will hardly .fall to reach the
notice of owners throughout the world.
To secure improvement in the service,
and lower the cost to the ships was
the only reasons for which the Port of
Portland took over the pilotage serv
ice. This has been accomplished, and
the Port of Portland is entitled to
credit for the change.
An advance of nearly five cents per
bushel in the price of corn yesterday
reflects either a very serious condi-1
tion of the crop or an excellently
managed campaign tQ send up prices.
The September option sold yesterday
above 66 cents per bushel. This is
not a record price, but when it is con
sidered that a few years ago the Kan
sas farmers were burning corn for
fuel because there was no other use
to which It could be put, the present
figure seems rather high. Wheat is
a commodity of much more general
use throughout the world than corn,
but the possibilities of the latter for
speculative purposes are enhanced
somewhat by the fact that this coun
try produces about three-fourths of
the world's supply. The Argentine is
rapidly increasing Its corn yield, but
it will be many years before it will
be of much consequence In comparison
with that of the United States.
The Portland Canal gold strike and
the Iditarod fake seem to be In about
the same class. Each has drawn
thousands of unfortunate miners from
remote corners of the earth and each
has utterly failed to come up to the
expectations of the gold-hunters. The
Portland Canal district has a decided
advantage over the Iditarod In being
several thousand miles nearer civili
zation. Vancouver advices are that
the Bitter Creek strike In the Port
land Canal district has been so thor
oughly exploited in England tltat hun
dreds of English adventurers have set
out for the new land of gold. If this
popular Western transportation policy
of attracting travel ever strikes in on
the trans-Atlantic lines as it has on
those interested in Pacific Coast travel,
we may expect an annual discovery of
gold fields of . marvelous extent, in
almost any part of the far Northwest.
"No man who participated in it is
bound by the state convention" is ad
vice now from Democratic sources.
Why not? If the assembly was
"packed," it was the duty of the dele
gate or candidate who didn't like it
to protest then and there. How could
the person who "participated"! fail to
know all about the assembly, and how
can he come now with any complaint
that he was not treated, fairly? Is any
one who was in the assembly com
plaining, with a view of bolting, 'by
the way? Or are interested outsiders
merely trying to .find some one who
will complain, and bolt?
The dear people, eager to serve each
other, are everywhere In evidence. If
all who seek office are, or could be
successful in their quest we would
indeed become a community of office
holders, with no one left in the lowly
ranks of labor or the harried ranks of
business to earn the wherewithal to
pay official salaries.
The climatic rigors of Western Can
ada have caused a decided list of the
4mmigration bulk to the Southern and
Southeastern . States. Oregon- should
catch the full force of this movement,
if a mild climate and generous soil
are what these people are seeking.
J. P. O. Lownsdale, for many years
a familiar figure upon the streets of
Portland and in former years closely
identified with many of its business
interests, has passed on. He was a
man of Integrity, industry and public
spirit.
The President is cruising around tfie
bays and inlets of Maine, but Oyster
Bay continues business through the
hot days of a dull Summer. However,
the ex-Presidency has neither office
hours nor a vacation period.
Miss Caroline Hazard, retiring pres
ident of Wellesley, saplently remarks
that women should be educated for
wives, mothers and homemakers. This
sentiment is not altogether new, but
none the less true.
Colonel Bryan is for prohibition
through county option and nearly the
entire Democracy of Nebraska opposes
him. You can take the Democracy
to the trough, but you can't make it
drink water.
There will be anti-assembly candi
dates all over Oregon, we are told.
We guess so. But there is going also
to be a primary and the voter in the
primary will know who's who this
timei
If the police really want to reap a
rich harvest of automobile fiends, let
a few men be stationed on North
Twenty-fifth and on Thurman streets
any evening right after dinner.
Where is there a more anDronrlate
I nlar f nr e-atrierinor rf Wnrtilman
than the metropolis of a state that
has more standing timber than any
other like area in the world?
The assembly candidates for .the
Legislature, want a slogan. How
would "against Statement No. 1 and
for the rule of reason and reign of
law" do?
This week all eyes will be fixed on
the game in Ohio, where politics is
played over every square foot of the
soil all the year round.
There are no splinters on those
Woodmen who are here in blocks and
squares this week.
Wrhy don't those insurgents move
on down into Illinois and beat Old
Man Cannon on his own dunghill?
At any rate, the Broadway bridge
won't hold up the shipping of the 32
firms that protested.
FRAUD CASE NEARS ITS END I
Federal Court to Witness Final Ar
guments Today.
Final argument - of the case wherein
the Government is attempting to regain
title to 60 quarter sections of Linn and
Lane County timber lands, now owned
by the Linn & Lane Timber Company,
will begin before the United States Court
today. United States Attorney John Jlc
Court will appear for the Government,
and John Lind. ex-Governor of Minne
sota and a leading lawyer of that state,
will present the case for the timber
men.
C. A. Smith, the MinneaDolis million
aire who is president of the concern, now
claiming title to the land, will be pres
ent. ie did not attend the hearing, but
later testified at his home. Mr. McCourt
going East for the purpose of securing
ms testimony, vv hile-returning "to Port
land the younger son of the. attorney for
the Government died at Denver. This
misfortune caused a postponement of the
argument until today. Governor Lind
nas been in the city since July 18. The
attorneys will probably consume the rest
of the week in the presentation of the
law and a discussion of the evidence.
The suit was founded upon informa
tion furnished by S. A. D. Puter to the
effect that the lands were acquired by
him, Horace McKlnley and C. A. Smith, j
luiuusu a uuiispiracy to aeiraua tne
United States. When first confessing his
connection with the matter Puter stated
that McKlnley was to locate the lands
by hiring residents of the Willamette
Valley to make filings on them after
entering into an agreement to sell them
to whomever Puter should direct. It
was alleged by Puter that Smith under
stood all the operations of the' conspiracy
and was to furnish the money to finance
the scheme.
When appearing on the witness stand
Puter repudiated the confession upon
which the cases were founded, and stated
that many of the filings were made at
the Roseburg Land Office before Smith
sent Frederick A. Kribs to Oregon to
inspect the lands. Letters were produced,
written by Puter to McKinley, which ap
peared to substantiate the evidence of
Puter as to the non-connection of Smith
with the fraudulent matters prior to the
time that final proofs were submitted.
The Government contended that Kribs
came to Oregon as the agent of Smith,
and while the execution of the Puter
McKInley conspiracy was in progress,
became thoroughly familiar with their
plans.
Kribs testified that he was not an
agent for Smith, but that he bought and
sold timber lands, Smith relying upon in
formation as to their value and often
advancing money to carry forward the
operations of Kribs.
It is contended by the defense that the
sale of the lands by Smith to the Linn
& Lane Timber Company was regular
and that the company wah not named as
a defendant in the litigation until after
the statute of limitations had become
effective. The Government will argue
that the titles to the lands were con
cealed in the Linn & Lane Timber Com
pany, and that Its formation was brought
about to defeat the ends -of justice.
TWO MEN FIGHT OVER GIRL
Row Follows Refusal of One to In
troduce Other to Her.
His heart swelling with indignation be
cause John Ryan, a rural mailcarrier in
Washington County, refused to introduce
him to Ryan's girl at a Hillsboro dance.
Elmer Percell, a young farmer of the dis
trict, ordered Ryan to make an apology.
Failing to receive the apology, Percell
challenged Ryan to a fight: failing to
secure a fight, Percell and John Reynolds
waylaid Ryan along the mail route June 2
and started a war of words, aided and
abetted by a large revolver and a club.
Yesterday Percell was bound over to
the United States grand jury upon a
charge of interfering with the United
States mails. Reynolds is said to be in
hiding in Washington, 'but will be ap
prehended. At the hearing yesterday before Com
missioner A. M. " Cannon a large number
of witnesses ' appeared, and the affair
assumed the aspect of a neighborhood
row between irresponsible boys. The
court expressed regret at the decline of
the use of the paddle as a feature of
home training.-
J. L. MATTHEWS BURIED
Clark County Resident Since 1852,
Dies, Aged 73 Years.
VANCOUVER, Wash., July 25 (Spe
cial.) Driving an ox across the plains
from Iowa James Leander Matthews
arrived at The Dalles in 1852. Today
he was buried at the Sara cemetery.
He died on his farm yesterday morning
at Felida.
Mr. Matthews was born July 31, 1837,
in Iowa and came vVest in 1852, making
his home on Salmon Creek.
He is survived by the widow. Mrs.
Mary A. Matthews: four daughters.
Mrs. Clara Martin and Mrs. Ada Chase,
both of Bellingham. Wash.; Mrs. Joella
Houghton, of Woodland, Wash., and
Mrs. Mae Sabpn, of Felida, Wash., and
three sons, John T. and James, Jr., of
Felida, and W. L. Matthews, of Cali
fornia. A'eteran of Two Wars-Dead.
SALEM, Or., July 25. (Special.)
John Parkhill, 91 years of age, whose
body was sent today to 'Portland for
burial, was a veteran of both the Mex
ican and Civil Wars. He died at the
asylum, where he had been an inmate
since April 6, 1899. He was a pen
sioner and had with him medals of
honor for his services In both of the
great conflicts. He was born in Ire
land, and was a carpenter. So far as
is known at the asylum, he had no
relatives, but a guardian is living in
Portland.
Cantaloupe Rate Protested.
SALEM. Or.. July 25. (Special.) F.
H. Schmalz & Co., of Portland, have
filed a complaint with the State Rail
road Commission against the rate on
cantaloupes from Payette, Idaho, to
Portland.
The Commission has replied that, as
this is a purely interstate question, it
is out of that body's jurisdiction, but
a communication has been sent to the
express company asking that it expe
dite the reduction of the rate.
EDITOR HOFER CALLS FOR FACTS
Thlaks Charge That He Is si Grafter
Should Be Made Specific.
SALEM, Or., July 25. (To the Edi
tor.) The Oregonian has allowed Hon.
C. B. Moores. of Portland, and L. H.
McMahan, of Salem, considerable space
on its editorial page to charge me with
being a "grafter." After 21 years' resi
dence in this state friends of mine con
sider this a serious reflection upon my
honor as a man and my integrity as a
journalist. I know that your paper Is
fair enough to allow me to state the
following briefly in reply:
Mr. Moores does not pretend to have
any personal knowledge bearing on
the subject under discussion. He pro
duces a letter written by Mr. Mc
Mahan, who also has no personal
knowledge on the subject, but says he
knows of other people who have been
"grafted" by me.
As The Oregonian has not editor
ially commented on these charges. It
apparently does not believe them to be
true. I think it is the duty of any citi
zen if he has personal experience with
a "grafter" to give the cold, hard facts
without referring the public to other
people. E. HOFER.
LONG
TRIAL
NEARS
END
Attorneys Begin Arguments in- Dev-lin-Reddy
Case. '
The last witness for the defendants
In the Devlin-Reddy case, was heard
yesterday morning. Yesterday after
noon Attorney A. E. Clark began his
argument for Thomas C. Devlin, t"he
receiver of the Oregon Trust & Savings
Bank. Judge Gatens, the trial judge,
has told the attorneys they must finish
their arguments by Saturday noon. Be
sides Attorney Clark six lawyers are to
be heard M. L. Pipes for Devlin. Wirt
Minor for Leo Frlede. C. W. Fulton for
W. H. Moore. Sam White for W. H
Copeland. C A. Johns, of Baker City,
for A. T- Smith, and L. O. Ralston and
John Hall for E. E. Lytle.
The case has been on trial since June J
2, and has consumed 34 days. Eighty
four witnesses have testified about the
affairs of the Oregon Trust Bank, and
their testimony, so far as it has ex
tended, fills two large volumes of close
ly typewritten pages, 1893 In all. Be
sides the defendants already named
are S. W. Stryker. .George L. Estes. J.
F. Reddy, H. A. Moore and W. Cooper
Morris. .
In his argument yesterday Mr. Clark
took up first the testimony regarding
the notes aggregating $8702.71. signed
Dy lare pence, which he has failed to
pay. The attorney argued that W.
Cooper Morris, cashier of the bank,
must have known the risk of extending
further credit to Pence, when that in
dividual was "touching" him every few
days for loans of $5 and $10 with which
to keep his family from suffering. "Yet
these high financiers would have the
court believe that, although owing the
bank over $8000 in past-due notes.
Pence had equipment which could sat
isfy any judgment brought against him
on those notes. In spite of this argu
ment they took no steps to seize that
property and force payment. They
didn't do it because Pence didn't have
anything. He never had anything ex
cept his nerve. How could he have been a
good banking risk in March and Sep
tember, when on September 12. three
days after the last loan was made, the
notes were declared worthless? I can
not understand how any man not getting-
a private profit from the bank
would venture the funds of his trust
in loans of that character. Another
thing they secured the indorsement
of C. M. Idleman to these notes, when
at that time ther e were unsatisfied
judgments against him in Multnomah
County of $7000."
Attorney Clark then took up the
Order of Washington notes, saying that
the order was insolvent when Morris
acted the part of the "good angel," say
ing he had some "loose cash" and
would finance the order.
"The loose cash was the money the
dear public had been induced to de
posit in the Oregon Trust bank," said
Clark. "The final payment to ma
tured policy-holders was 1 per cent.
The Order of Washington continuallv
had an overdraft with the Oregon Trust
Bank, and was an unsafe risk from
1902 until 1907, when it went out of
existence."
JAGGAR ESTATE IS $100,000
Son of Man Killed Auto Accident Is
. Administrator.
The estate of Louis Jaggar, worth
$100,000, was admitted to probate in
the County Court yesterday, and Sam
uel C. Jaggar. a son. appointed admin
istrator, upon his filing a bond of
$60,000. Jaggar, senior, was the com
mission merchant who was killed in an
automobile accident east of Portland
July 11. He was returning Jrom a trip
to Mount Hood.
The personal property of the estate
is valued at $25,000, and the income"
from the real estate is $5000 a year.
So far as known Jaggar left no will.
Mary E. Jaggar, the widow, waived her
right to appointment as administratrix.
The other heirs are: Benjamin F. Jag
gar. son; Myrtle L. Fones, daughter;
Bessie L. Maxon, daughter, and Henry
E. Jaggar, a son.
Court Xotes.
Maud Etta Huston filed a divorce
suit in the Circuit Court yesterday
against Harry Cobb Huston., on the
ground of desertion. She accuses him
of having left her September 8, 1908,
while they were living at St. Paul,
Minn. He has refused to return, she
says. She married him in Winona,
Minn., February 2, 1905.
To recover the cost of a s.et of teeth
of the "Alveolar" pattern, alleged to
be worth $180, the Rex Dental Com
pany brought suit in the Circuit Court
yesterday against Mrs. C. R. Keller.
H. Sinfields appears as the nominal
plaintiff, the claim having been as
signed to him for collection. The com
pany says $30 has been paid on the
bill. After ordering v the teeth, Mrs.
Keller is alleged to have given in
structions that they be remodeled. Then
she refused to take them, it is alleged.
EXCURSION IS DUE THURSDAY
Golden Gate Party Will Spend Day
in Portland.
What is known as the Golden Gate
excursion, arranged by the Southern
Pacific and Oregon & Washington rail
roads, will leave San Francisco today
by special train on a visit to points of
attraction in Oregon, Washington and
British Columbia.
It is believed - that there will be
about 75 in the party, and they will
spend an entire day in Portland. To
morrow afternoon a stop of one hour
will be made in Portland. Tomorrow
afternoon a stop of one hour will be
made In Ashland, one hour and 15 min
utes in Medford, and one hour and 15
minutes in Grants Pass.
The train is due in Portland at 9
A. M., Thursday, and will remain here
until 12:01 A. M., departing for Seattle
by the Oregon & Washington route.
In Portland the visitors will take lunch
at the Hotel Portland and be enter
tained at dinner at the Commercial
Club.
Hood River to Advertise.
A booklet that is calculated to call
the attentions of land buyers and East
ern investors to a section of Western
Oregon is now in course of preparation
by the Hood River Commercial Club,
and will be distributed by that body
and the Portland Commercial Club to
prospective patrons in all parts of the
country. The pamphlet, it is an
nounced, will be one of superior quality
and will carry many illustrations.
Woodmen Given Booklets.
Through J. J. Jennings, chairman of
the local reception committee of the
Woodmen of the World, 200 copies of
the booklet, "Oregon, the Land of Op
portunity," will be distributed among
the visiting delegates to the Woodmen
convention, now In progress In this
city.' The pamphlets were published by
the Portland Commercial Cluh, and the
required number of copies were deliv
ered to Mr. Jennings yesterday. ,
w OIney Sawmill Running.
ASTORIA. Or.. July 25. (Special.) The
Western Cooperage Company's sawmill
has been erected a short distance from
Olney and is now in operation. It is
being used to cut lumber for the buildings
in the company's camp that is to be es
tablished along the line of the Astoria
Southern Railroad and to also cut ties
for construction, of the railway.'
COMMENT ON' THE ASSEMBLY.
BIsj Grt-Totcetker Meeting.
Tillamook Headlight.
We want to inform the Herald's grouty,
anti-assembly, anti-Republican editor
that the Republicans are having one of
the biggest get-together meetings ever
held In Oregon. Bully for the Republican
party.
To Dethrone the Minority.
Yakima Republican.
The assembly is probably the beginning
of a determined movement for an amend
ment of the primary system to such an
extent, at least, that the minority can
no longer continue to run things in the
Webfoot state.
Boittrman Will "Oct There."
Irrigon Irrigator.
The Irrigator does not know what was
done at the state assembly, but we ven
ture to say Bwerman will be the choice
of the delegates for Governor. We hope
we are not prophesying falsely, for we
would delight in seeing Jay "get there."
Loyal Republican Will Give Support.
Ontario Optimist.
Those Republicans who believe in
party success, in Republican princi
ples, in the people's rule, will support
those Republicans who have gone be
fore the assembly for state offices and
who abide by the results of their party
representatives.
Unification of the Party.
Astorlan.
The vital object attained, to" our think
ing, is the unification of the party: the
readjustment of Its differences, and the
erection of a newer and sounder predi
cate for future action and comprehen
sive success; the proper play of the
IHH.JU1- sentiment ana rule everywhere tn
Oregon: in other words the complete re-
vci3i ui muse conaitions tnat nave
made her the political laug"htng-stock of
the Nation for the last six or seven
years.
Politics and War.
Weston Leader.
Candidates are of and for the "ma
chine," and the machine is a device of
Satan to bind the voters of Oregon and
cast them to the demnition bow-wows.
At least, that is what we infer from read
ing the anti-assembly press. To be sure,
no Republican Is compelled to vote for
mese men at the primaries: but this
consoling fact seems to be lost sight of
amidst the din .of wailing and gnashing
of teeth. Sherman, we believe, said that
ar is hell." But war has nothing on
Oregon politics in this particular.
Vital to Preservation of Party.
Hillsboro Independent.
There can be no question that the
future of the Republican party largely
hinges upon the assembly question. The
Independent believes the assembly vital
to the preservation of party organiza
tion, and this being true too much care
cannot be taken to prevent color being
lent to the charges of the opposition of
slates and ring rule. The matter of pun
ishment and reward can be left to the
future, and the recommendation of men
possessing the confidence of the people
and believed to be the cnolce of the larg
est number should be the sole aim.
Long Stride Toward Correcting Abuses.
Salem Statesman.
The direct primary is the correct prin
ciple, and if abuses of it are eliminated
it will live. Republicans have taken
one of the longest strides toward correct
ing these abuses, and yet have not de
tracted one iota from the benefits of the
primary; and if later developments
should prove that in any instance the
assembly committed an error the Repub
lican voters at the polls have the power
and will correct that error without sac
rificing their party principles, which they
believe absolutely essential to a success
ful conduct of the state and National
Government.
Of National Interest.
Tacoma Ledger.
The assembly of Oregon Republicans
is an effort to apply the principles of
the New York bill indorsed by Governor
Hughes and Colonel Roosevelt. The as
sembly is referred to by some as an at
tack on the "Oregon system." It is an
organized effort to prevent a repetition
of such an outcome as the election in a
Republican state and by a Republican
Legislature, of a Democratic United
States Senator. ... The outcome of
the effort in Oregon to correct the so
called defects of the Oregon system by
applying features of the New York bill
is of National interest-
Republicans Must Win.
Irrigon Irrigator.
But we will win. We must win. The
voters surely will not "fall" for such
methods, for such men as will oppose us.
We still have some faith in the Oregon
electorate, some hope for the Oregon Re
publicans, and we believe the campaign
can be carried on along educational lines
so that the voters may know just what
our defeat will mean the entire disinte
gration of the party. If we go down to
defeat now, the state will be turned
over to as corrupt a gang of political
tricksters as ever infested any common
wealth in the country. And we do not
believe the regular Republicans of the
state can be so hoodwinked.
Each Parry Ought to Name Candidates.
Heppner Times.
The Times fails to see anything wrong
in any party naming its candidates for
office. The assembly plan will certalnly
put the damper on members of one party
registering with another for the purpose
of securing the nomination of a weak
man on the opposition ticket. At present
this is the real purpose of the assembly
movement. It is not surprising that the
minority party will try to make capital
of the assembly movement, solely for
political reasons, charging bossism and
ring rule, but the fact remains that each
party should have the right to name the
candidates for its own ticket.
Dawn of New and Better Era.
Eugene Register.
The Register feels that, taken all in
all. the Republican assembly and organi
zation of the Oregon Republican Press
Association in Portland were the real
first dawn of a new and better political
era for this state. In only remains for
the- 1209 delegates to the assembly and
the editors who also assembled, to stand
by the spirit of party loyalty exemplified
in both meetings and the future glory
of Oregon Republicanism is assured. The
press and the party must stand solidly
together. each feeling tne need and help
of the other in this great campaign that
Is before us and victory for the party
will be assured all down the line.
Representative Ticket.
Salem Statesman.
When the state assembly concluded its
deliberations in Portland yesterday the
results of its labors showed that it had
Indorsed a set of men for the considera
tion of the Republicans of Oregon at
the next primary election which, while
possibly not beyond criticism, will stand
without dispute as the most representa
tive ticket for the whole state ever in
dorsed by a political party in Oregon,
and one which comes as near being be
yond criticism as could be possible in
a country where .each individual has a
say in its ' government, where each indi
vidual thinks for himself, arxi conse
quently differs in opinion from his neigh
bor or best friend, although one may be
as nearly right as the other. It is simply
one more proof of a truth illustrated by
the story of the man who said he was
glad that all men did not think as ha
did, else they would all be in love with
his wife