THE 3IORXIXG OREGOXIAX. MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 1911.
rORILAXB. OR EG OX.
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r-ORTC-VND. MONDAY. JAN. tl.
TAIT AD C.VXAL rORTinCATIOX
It I cleaned from the address by
President TafC who has at his dis
posal more accurate sourer of Infor
mation than are possessed by upllfters
who oppose fortification of tne rn
rno a-r,a1 that the total COalt Of for
tlflcatlon would be III.OOO.OOO and
that cost of maintenance aiuu.vuu an
nually.
It appears therefrom that the exag-
wnrettlnna i ftin Annaranti Of fortlfl'
cation need be reduced more than
fYiurtha on the original cost
Item and nine-tenths on the mainten
tic aatlmata.
Hmtrr HLiwoiint than either of
these may be applied also to the as
vrtlon made by David Starr Jordan
TV n lTnu.Ha Mlfta JuMM AtldaUnS anC
others that fortification of the canal
iM-nr-lrtlti rv troatv obligations.
In the Clayton-Burwer treaty of
1SS the Vnlted States ana tngiana
pledged themselves to act together in
f renervinf; tne neutrality i me
a ......j ihamulvM not to erect
fortifications commanding- the canal
or waters adjacent, in tne later nay
t. ,.,, fr.atv (treat Britain is re
lieved from Its obligation to aid In
preserving the neutrality oi tne canui.
Are we to believe that the United
States assumed the whole responsibil
ity for preserving neutrality In the
canal without reserving- the most ef
fective means of discharging; that ob
ligation? It Is a point on which at least those
who negotiated the treaty had a com
plete understanding. This is proved
by documentary evidence. Extracts
from Secretary Huy's confidential
communication to the Semite and
from Lord Lansdown' memorandum
to Ivird rauncefote were published
recently by the New York Sun. From
the Hay report the following extract
Is given:
Tee whole theory of the treaty Is that
the canal la v be an entirely Am wan
canal. The enormous coat of construct
ing It Is to be borne by the United States
; whan constructed It Is to be ex
rluaivcly the property of the t'nlted State
and Is to be managed, controlled and de
fended by It. I'nder these elriumatancas.
and considering tbal now by ths new treaty
Oreat Britain Is relieved of al! the re
srjns!MI!ty and burden of malntalnlnc Its
neutrality and security It waa thought en
tirely fair to omit the prohibition that na
formication ehail be erected commanding
the canal or the waters adjacent."
The Lansdown memorandum Is
' equally clear and definite on the same
subject. The following portion Is
quoted:
In mr dispatch I pointed oat the danger
eus amblsur.y of an Instrument of wuirh
one clause permitted the adoption of de
fensive measures, while another prohibit
ed the erection of fortifications. It Is moat
Important that BO doubt ehould exist as to
the Intention of the contracting parties. As
sr. this. I understand that by the omission
of all reference to the matter of defense
the t'ntjed States Government deslree to
reserve the power of taking maaanrai to
-protect the cana. at any time when the
United States n-.aV be at war. from de
si ruction or damage at the hands of an
enemy or enemlee. On the ether hand. 1
conclude that, with the above exception,
there la no Intention to derogate from the
principles of neutrality laid dowa by the
ues rules.
History, too. Indicates clearly the
chief motive of the United States In
engaging In Isthmian canal construc
. tlon. It -waa to fill a need made
prominent by Navy movements In the
war with Spain. It is recognized that
the canal will not be a paying com
mercial Investment from the stand
point of delivering returns on the
money Invested. In brief the United
States Is investing $S0O.0OO.00O for
National defense and is asked to sur
render as muan as It gains to any oth
er nation with which It may go to war.
as vN'tvAKJiAxrrn com rii NT
Considering the shameful manner
In which irrigation funds which right
fully should have been apportioned tc
Oregon have been diverted to other
states. It is Indeed refreshing to learn
from Seattle that Portland has been
given better than a fair deal on some
of the irrigation projects. The re
markable discovery that this city waa
about tp receive more Irrigation bene
fits than It was entitled to waa made
by 3atr. Otto Sclrwarsschlld. a Seattle
contractor, and other Kittitas Valley
property owners. They have taken
the matter up with Representative
Humphrey and with the aid of the
commercial bodies of Seattle will en
deavor to effect an-alteration In the
Government's plans. According to
the complaint of Mr. Schwarsschlld.
four of the five Irrigation projects In
Washington are "on or near the Co
lumbia River, reached by railroad
lines that will pour the wealth of the
new districts lnt Portland."
This discovery Is flattering Indeed
to Portland and the territory on
w hlch it draws for business, but It is
difficult to understand what can be
accomplished by the Seattle contrac
tor to change the situation. The Gov
ernment is not expending money for
the purpose of benefiting Portland.
Seattle or any other city or town. It
Is investing millions in Irrigation proj
ects for the benefit of the settlers who
will make use of the lands involved. In
-selecting- localities within a state for
Irrigation development, the two prin
cipal factor's that are or should be con
sidered are quality of the soil and pos
sibilities for watering It. These ele
ments being present. It Is a matter of
small concern to the settler, who is
to make use of the soil and water. Into
what city the "wealth" that he Is
about to create will be poured.
' It is not apparent from the com
plaint of the Seattle man that the
lands Involved In the five Washington
projects are not rich and desirably lo
cated for reclamation purposes. The
plea seems to be based on the ground
that Seattle needs the money, but un
less some stronger reason can be ad
vanced fortha desired change, it Is
hardly probable that the Government
will substitute Its present Irrigation
policy for one that can be used to
build, up an undesirably .located city
at the expense of one on which nature
ht te?n more kind In Its gifts.
Seattle persons desiring to partici
pate in the benefits which will follow
irrigation projects In Portland terri
tory can still find excellent openings
In this city for almost any lino of
business In which they may care to
engage. .
(.EXEKAX. OWE SIMMER!.
Throughout the Pacific Northwest
regret will be widespread and genu
ine that Brigadier-General Owen
Summer was cut off almost In hla
prime. Though not a trained soldfcr
he was a born fighter and In the
highest sense a patriot- For soldiery
as a profession he had little love: for
his country's defense In time of dan
ger no sacrifice was too great, least
of all his own life. He was a good
leader and Inspired those under him.
His fame as military man rests on
the achievements of the gallant Sec
ond Oregon on the Island of Luion
after the breaking out of the Spanish
American War. The regiment for
more than a year was In the thick of
things. It saw- more hard fighting
than any other organization which
left the United States to put down
the numerous Insurrections. It al
ways had the place of honor where
danger was the greatest. And Gen
eral Summers led his men.
General Summers was a typical
American citisen of the breed and
training that have, made the country
famous In war as well as peace. As
a soldier boy, faring the fire of the
rebels In the closing days of the Civil
War. as a husky young Indian fighter
aiding; in winning the West from the
savages, or as a seasoned veteran lead
ing his troops through "the shot and
shell and fire of hell" at Malabon and
other Philippine battle-fields. Sum
mers was always a first-class fighting
man. to whom the Stars and Stripes
were ever an Inspiration. It Is In the
patriotism displayed by men of whom
the dead warrior was such a splendid
type that the- security of our country
against invasion by a foreign foe will
always rest.
TBTE BONDAGE OF "CONSERVATION."
Mr. Bowerman, as acting Governor,
recommended to the Legislature that
it abolish the so-called State Conser
vation Commission and shut off Its
money supplies. He charged that the
Commission had obstructed progress
and real conservation In Oregon by
supporting the Plnchot system of non
resident control of public forests,
waters, minerals and lands In this
state thereby depriving the people of
Oregon of home-rule conservation.
Mr. J. N. Teal, chairman of the
Commission, replies that he Is "not
afraid of any improper .National con
trol or Interference" and enumerates
dotaila of service which he says the
Commission has performed la the lo
cal Interest.
It Is time that this state should as
sert Itself In opposition to the non
resident theories of bureaucrats
ni doctrinaires who have Insti
tuted an absentee system of control In
Oregon and other Western states. Mr.
Teal's Commission has allied Itself
with this system. As spokesman for
the Commission he has stood opposed
to home-rule conservation of public
resources by the people of this state.
In his frequent trips to Eastern states
he has represented Oregon as an ally
of the. Pinchot system. On all occa
sions he has opposed efforts of West
ern people to rescue public resources
In this part of the Nation from the
blight of Plnchot conservation. Mr.
Teat Is not a suitable spokesman of
this state on this subject, nor is his
CommUslon.
Mr. Bowerman stated the case truly
In his message: '
The larre sums of money expended each
J ear for the horde of Federal officeholders,
which today Infest our state and embarrass
our settlers, retard Industrial growth and
hamper lerltlmate enterprises, should be
saved to the Federal Government, and the
state, under proper Federal regulation, ehould
be permitted to administer these affaire In
the Interest of the people of Oregon. Our
livestock Industry has been hampered and
In some rases almost exterminated. Large
areas of the state, now without transporta
tion facllltlea are remaining- undeveloped
because they lie In localities In which a
great portion of the lands are in Federal
control. Settlers residing In the vicinity of
these reservee are denied the privilege of
neighborhood associations, schools and high
way Improvements because of the blight of
the present Federal policy. During the
last Summer, great areas of timber, having
a value running Into large eums of muuoy,
were burned over by foreet fires which were
largely the result of the present unwise
forest policy of the Federal Government.
Fine words will not smooth over
these faults of alien conservation, nor
will they excuse the Oregon Commis
sion's alliance with that sort of con
servation. The "system" has deprived
the people of this state of vast areas
of land and has locked up from their
use great resources. It is one of the
forces that took from Oregon Its due
share of the National Irrigation
money. However busy Mr. Teal's
Commission may have been It did not
lend Its Influence to correction of
these great evils.
Mr. Bowerman stated the case
clearly for the people of this state.
Mr. Teal's rejoinder did not meet the
Issue. His Conservation Commission
has opposed the residents of Oregon
In their, endeavor to manage and use
the public resources for the progress
and development of their common
wealth. The State of Oregon can
show where It stands on "conserva
tion" by declining to endorse the
Plnchot system an endorsement It
will certainly give If It shall make an
appropriation for th Oregon Conser
vation Commission.
The Oregontan makes no objection
to, but It distinctly approves, proper
legislation and a liberal appropriation
for forest fire protection; but it thinks
that the funds should be expended
and the work done through some
agency other than the Oregon Conser
vation Commission.
CIJEAXUNErlt A HOME VIKTVK.
If government is to scrub school
children, why not also or rather scrub
parents? The beautiful schemes of
socialUm or paternalism ought not to
stop short of the larger essentials".
The bill. Introduced In the Oregon
Legislature, 'ordaining bathtubs and
official scrubbers for schoolchildren,
falls far short of the right mark.
Dirty children seldom have clean par
ents. Government will hardly suc
ceed in teaching permanent lessons of
cleanliness In school if fathers and
mothers continue to Inculcate the
other kind at home.
Yet we imagine the drift of social
ism would be shortly stalled if gov
ernment Inspectors and scrubbers
were to poke their noses within each
home to learn whether the adult
members of th family went througa
the required lavatory processea on
Saturday night or on Sunday morning.
The first requirement would be. of
course, that government install In
each home a hot-water bath system
so that It would be as convenient for
the laborer as for the banker to keep
clean.
Cleanliness, like all the several vir
tues, should begin at home. Honesty,
sobriety and industry are among those
that should there begin. And they
will never begin successfully anywhere
else, not even In the schools.
Speaking seriously about this bath
and scrub business, it may be said
that school baths will no more solve
the problem of cleanliness than would
school food or school clothing solve
the problem of thrift and Industry.
Every scheme to lift from parents re
sponsibility for their offspring results
In the breeding of more children to be
bathed, fed and shod. On this basis
society could easily become a vast
"free" home for support of worthless,
thriftless elements at expense of pru
dent. Industrious ones. Within the
definition of Herbert Spencer, that
would be slavery since any plan that
compels one Individual to carry or
support another Is slavery.
"FROTECTION " AND BIIIP BOl'NTT.
During many years two genera
tions almost the United States has
been "protecting" ships and ship
building through tariff and embargo
laws. This country has made it un
profitable for its citizens to build
ships for general commerce; more
over. It has forbidden them to buy
vessels abroad and import ownership
of them to these shores.
The result is, American vessels are
scarce upon the ocean. As a further
result. It is proposed to lift "naviga
tion interests" over the law obstacles
by giving them "bounty."
Years ago It could have been fore
seen that the statutes would keep
American shipping dwarfed. Indeed,
It was foreseen and the ( warning was
repeatedly sounded. Just what was
then predicted by clear-seeing minds
has come to pass. It Is not profitable
to build or own American vessels for
the carrying trade of the world,
James J. Hill Is One of the latest
Americans to prove the failure of the
business.
It costs too much money In this
country to buy materials for ships
and put them together. In foreign
lands the materials and the building
are cheaper. We are forbidden by
law to bring either the materials or
finished ships from abroad. Residents
of foreign countries have all the ben
efit of cheaper ships, but those of the
United States are "protected" from
such benefit.
Here Is one of the great; hoaxes of
protection. There are many others
One of the strange things In Ameri
can politics is that Uptakes so long
time to work them out.
WASTING A GREAT RFJOI7RCE.
President Wentworth, of the Oregon
and Washington Lumber Manufactur
ers' Association, recognizes an eco
nomic feature of the lumber Industry
which seems to have escaped the at
tention of a good many loggers and
manufacturers who have been rather
prodigal in their waste of. raw ma
terial that can never be replaced.
"Let us remember." said President
Wentworth. "that the Almighty only
gave us one chance at our magnifi
cent forests, and that we owe a duty
to our state, to our banker, our chil
dren, and our children's children, to
manufacture these' trees In such man
ner that we will have something more
to show for our stewardship than a
dismantled sawmill and a few thou
sand acres of barren, burned-Over
stump land."
Labor is represented to such an
overwhelming extent in the cost of
lumber that the industry Is one of the
greatest economic forces In the P-
clflo Northwest. It thus becomes
highly eeosntlal, not only to the man
ufacturers of lumber and owners of
tlmberland, but to every laborer and
tradesman In this territory, that the
conversion of our wonderful forests
Into a merchantable product be ac
complished with the least possible de
gree of waste.
A lumber manufacturer provided
with unlimited capital could, if he so
desired, cut up our fine timber and
sell It at prices so low that It would be
bought for fuel. It ehouldbe remem
bered, however, as stated by President
Wentworth, that the manufacturers
will have but "one chance"; that
thrift and economy In manufacturing
and marketing the product are essen
tial in order that there be no waste
In handling this rapidly vanishing; raw
material. Reforestation may. In the
far distant ruture, accomplish much
in providing a timber supply,- but
never again will the world behold
such magnificent timber supplies as
those now being swept out of existence
to meet the demand for lumber.
The present era of low prices may
prove advantageous to the consumers
or lumber and much Inducement Is
offered those who contemplate build
ing. Cheap lumber, however, is not a
good thing for Oregon and Washing
ton and rather than destroy the for
ests for the purpose of cutting lumber
to throw on an over-loaded market,
and thus provoke needless waste, the
manufacturers need either find new
markets or else curtail the output.
ins ART'S MISTAKE.
The House committee which has
been Investigating the matter has de
cided that Captain Peary came within
1.6 miles of the North Pole, which is
regarded by the committee as near
enough to establish his claim to have
been at the exact spot. The basis of
the committee's findings Is the chart
prepared by the officers of the United
States Geodetic Survey from observa
tions reputed to have been made by
Peary. It is unfortunate for Peary,
assuming that he reached the Pole or
got within less than two miles of It,
that his vanity prevented him from
taking with htm an intelligent or
capable witness who could confirm
his statements and observations.
The findings of the House commit
tee, which are of no more value than
Peary's unsubstantiated statements,
will be accepted by a great many peo
ple as unquestionable confirmation of
Peary's success. By a great many
thousand others they will be viewed
with suspicion, and for this suspicion
Peary alone Is to blame. By pur
posely excluding all white attendants
from the last stage of the Journey,
and taking only two Eskimos and a
negro, none of whom could make an
observation or read the Instrument,
Captain Peary left himself with no
testimony to corroborate his own
statements. In brief his claim to
hava discovered the North Pole, even
with the approval of the House com
mittee, rests solely on his unsup
ported word. This naturally, in the
minds of many of Peary'-s enemies.
leaves the Polar problem still un
solved. William T. Stead, who has been
communing with the spirit of Sir John
Franklin, who preceded Cook and
Peary by several decades, gravely In
forms the world that he has .It
straight from Franklin that neither
Cook nor Peary reached the Pole, but
that Cook was nearer than Peary.
Testimony of this nature is not use
ful even before a House committee,
but in many respects It Is as valuable
as corroborative testimony by Peary's
Eskimos, relative to the observations
shown by the instruments of their
chief.
OLD ARGUMENTS WORN THIN.
Times change and even the United
States Senate changes with them. A
few years ago nobody would have been
so rash as to prophecy that our ada
mantine conscript fathers would ever
listen to a project for popular elec
tion. The Constitution was against it.
the custom of more, than a century
forbade any alteration in the sacred
document, the legislative election was
a bulwark whose removal would Im
peril the safety of our institutions.
Such was the talk.
Today the Senate lKtens without ap
parent fright to a resolution reported
from committee by Mr. Borah flatly
favoring popular election. It is said
that there will be no vote upon it be
fore March 4, but scarcely any shrieks
were 'heard when' the resolution was
read. No doubt even the most rock
ribbed members have seen and com
prehended the handwriting on the
wall, or Wherever It is. Their hope is
to defeat the resolution by indirection
without displaying their true colors.
Old arguments against it-seem to
have lost most of their force by a
process of attrition. They have been
repeated until they are worn thin and
ghostly, w hon an argument has gen
uine value the oftener It Is heard the
j stronger it grows. That against popu
lar election or senators resembles lit
tle Miss Reddlhgoat in her white petti
coat. The longer It stands the shorter,
or thinner, it grows.
It has dawned upon a great many
conservative minds that the people
of the Unjted States are not In truth
a wild-eyed mob eagerly seeking for
a chance to rob and murder every
body ifhj has a little property. Most
of them own property themselves and
are desirous of protecting It. It Is
reasonably certain that they will use
power more equitably than do the in
terests which have heretofore too often
controlled the choice of Senators. It
Is granted that the people will make
mistakes, but they will not be vicious
mistaken. They will arise largely from
good Intentions misdirected and can
he remedied by argument and lnfor
matlon. The misdeeds of the interests
in electing Senators can be remedied
only by taking away their power.
Like the famous parrot of the story.
commander Sims now appreciates the
folly of talking too much. It was not
a very hard slap on the wrist that was
administered by President Taft as
punishment for the Commander's In
discreet utterances in London, but It
was numlliatlng and ought to serve
as a warning to other naval gentlemen
who engage in the dangerous pastime
of after-dinner speaking. Command
er Sims, however, may find comfort
in the reflection that he has not es
tablished a precedent. His speech
was mild and lady-like compared with
the famous "Hoch der Kaiser" round
elay the late Admiral Coghlan war
bled at Manila, and' Fighting Bob
Evans has on more than one occasion
been guilty of after-dinner speeches
that caused a ruffling of the Interna
tional fur. Even Emperor William
has been obliged to swallow some
pretty hard reprimands for hia indis
creet speeches; so on the whole Com
mander Sims' offense Is not a very
serious matter and will soon be for
gotten. " '
The Tacoma Judge needs the wis
dom of Solomon to decide who owns
the corpse the sons of the first wife
or their step-mother. Meanwhile
burial Is delayed, the second wife re
fusing to allow the remains interment
beside her predecessor. Yet many will
believe there is already a reunion be
yond Jurisdiction of mundane courts.
The House" committee on Naval af
fairs finds that Peary got within 1.6
miles of the Pole and the majority
report recommends he be retired with
rank of Rear-Admiral. The persim
mons go with the pole.
No. It can hardly be said that Mrs.
Potter Palmer of Chicago mads
Rogue River Valley famous. Nature
may take full credit for the creation,
though now everybody is helping to
exploit its beauty and frultfulness.
Other Pacific Coast places may
quarrel occasionally with San Fran
cisco but In her fight for the Panama
Canal Fair every hamlet, village,
town and city is her friend and ally.
Speaking of Rogue River Valley,
why does not that favored section be
gin a bigger campaign of publicity to
the world as one of the finest Winter
resorts on the Pacific Coast?
That nloneer of railroad settlement
across the continent, the yellow cat.
seems to have been ignored at the
ihow. but her relative, the orange ani
mal, was remembered.
, Red fire Is expected this week In
one Illinois county where votes were
sold at so much per. Oddly enough,
the name of the county Is Vermillion.
No one has suggested the discharge
of enough Inmates to relieve the de
ficiency in the Penitentiary appro
priation. How to outwit the Mormon vote Is
as great a problem in Idaho today as
when ex-Senator Dubois was young in
politics. '
Does Senator Kellaher's law au
thorize the hotel Inspectors to pass
upon the quality of the, meals?
Those cats that were not prize-winners
are at least glad that the agony
Is over.
If we do not fortify the canal some
body will when we lose It.
Mr. Barnes of New York is again In
the saddle
China Iasneej Sew Bible.
London Tit-Bits.
The final revised edition of the New
Testament, together with the first com
pleted, book of the Old Testament, the
Psalme of David, Is now lsnulng from
Ui presa at faking in Chiosse,
TRI-COUNTT MEASURE: EXPLAINED.
Push Club Tells vVr Batterllle Bridge
Law la Desired.
SALEM. Or., Jan. 3D. (To the Editor.)
Through The Oregonian I would like to
explain to the public in general and to
the Senators and Representatives of the
Oregon State Legislature, as near as I
can, the. meaning of the bill presented by
Senator Carson for the construction of
a bridge across the Willamette River at
Butteville, Or., on January 19, in the
State Senate.
' We'vJo not wish the Oregon State Legis
lature, or the general public to confuse
this project with another brldee project.
The Trl-County Push CTub was organized
over a year ago for the express purpose
of advocating this bridge and never have
we let up on this project during all these
days, for we were certain that a bridge
could be constructed for less money here
than any other place along the river,
nearly. There are suitable banks to con
struct the bridge without the use of any
craw a, consequently there would be no
expense in maintaining the bridge after
once built. Then, too, the expense 'of con
structing the bridge would be borne by
the three counties Yamhill, Marion ana
Clackamas which are equally benefited.
The west end of the bridge would :rest
in Clackamas and Yamhill Counties,
while the east end of the bridge would
rest In Marlon County. Now the cost of
this bridge to these three counties would
be so light that no one would feel the
burden, as the assessed valuation of the
three counties is eS4.000.000 and the esti
mated cost of the bridge 90,000, or in
other words about a one-mill tax on the
assessable property of the three counties
one-half mill to be paid in 1912 and the
other half to be paid in the year 1913.
Now, as to the other projeot, I will
state that there Is a law on the statute
book permuting two counties to Join to
gether in the construction of. a bridge.
Therefore, we contend that we have the
only bridge project before the Legislature
at this time. While we are not oppos
ing construction of a bridge at any other
point along the river at this time, we
are working for the passage of the bill
that we have introduced through Senator
Carson for a bridge at Butteville, and we
feel at this time that in the event our
efforts fail through the cupidity of a few
who are seeking to further their own In
terests we would not be kindly disposed
to their project.
TRI-COUNTY PUSH CLUB.
HARSH HENItY SAILS FOR EUROPE
Goes Abroad Wishing;, but Doubting
Success of His Party.
From the New York World.
Colonel Henry Watterson, Veteran
editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal,
eailed on the Amerlka for Europe re
cently, to remain away until May. He
leaves Dmocracy behind to work out
its salvation minus his editorial sug
gestions or assistance. He says he be
lieves that "the grace of God may pull
the Democrats through, even if there
Isn't much grace In the party as yet."
"The trouble with the Democrats,"
said Marse Henry to a reporter for the
World, at the Waldorf, "Is that they
have been playing politics like children
for 20 years. Cleveland played politics
like a child. In one way, and Bryan in
another.
"Just now the party has come back
into power without any coherence or
preparation. In Congress, the Demo
crats have commenced very illy by the
appointment of this so-called commit
tee on committees. It's a poor scheme,
v klnl, TTtiap Ita nnpratlan. nO one
shoulders responsibility. Mark my word.
the Democrats in Congress, n mis com
mittee - on - committees idea prevails,
will be like a shlo without a rudder or
compass in an open sea."
"Well, if the - .Democrats are in a.
hole, what about the Republicans?"
Watterson was asked.
"I never was vitally Interested In
them."
"And Colonel Roosevelt?"
"Very still! Very still." vouchsafed
Marse Henry, a pleased expression
stealing over his face. "The stillness
is almost audible. Roosevelt's jumping
ka Vullrlne rf the lnwat kind
of politics during the recent election
can only oe compared to napwwuu a
march on Moscow In the Winter."
v. .... n..a.t. n tlaraa Hanrv
that mayhap the Colonel was ill-ad
vised.
"Oh, no!" laughed the veteran editor.
'Impossible! The Colonel Is never ad-
Vised."
Smoke Prevention in England.
Government Consular Report.
A smoke consumer and fuel econo
mise the invention of a Rotherham
man, was successfully demonstrated in
that city In the latter part of October
In the presence- of a number of mem
bers and officials of the Rotherham
corporation. The Inventor has been at
work on the problem of smoke preven
tion for 20 years and claims to have
arrived at Its solution.
Coal was fed into the furnace of a
boiler generating steam for running the
works, with the usual result, the emis
sion of black smoke from ths chimney)
then the "consumer" was put into oper
ation and the effect was at once appar
ent. In the place of the black defile
ment there was only a slight trace of
the products of combustion.
The change Is effected Dy an arrange
ment of a series of devices so placed in
the flues as to Intercept the smoke and
cause it to be Ignited by the flames of
the fire. Two air circulators are so
placed as to allow the desired quantity
of external air to be circulated among
these devices, causing the smoke to be
properly Ignited and consumed around
the boiler flues before entering the
chimney..
There is nothing to get out or order
and the claim Is that a saving of fuel Is
effected. An Important, claim Is that
the apparatus can be affixed during a
week end to almost any type of boiler.
As to fuel economy, the experiments are
not yet completed.
International Peace Hymn.
Baltimore News.
NEW YORK, Jan. 12. Andrew Car
negie has found a hymn of International
peace that he prefers to "America."
The metre Is the same, but, although he
prefers the new words, he does not
urge them as a substitute. , several
thousand copies of the hymn were dis
tributed by Mr. Carnegie among those
Interested In the peace movement. It
was written by Professor George Hunt
ington, librarian at Carleton College,
Oak Park, 111., who retired some years
ago on a pension from the Carnegie
foundation.
Two empires by the sea.
Two nations sreat and free.
One anthem rsise.
One rSoe of ancient fame.
One tonirue. one faith, we claim.
One God, whose glorious name
We love and praise.
What deeds our father wrought.
What tattles we have tousht.
Let fame record.
Now, venareful pssslon, cease.
Come, victories of peace;
Nor hate, nor pride's caprice,
Unaheath the sword.
Though deep the sea, and wide.
Twlxt realm and realm, its tide
Binds strand to strand.
So be the gulf between,.
Gray coasts and Islands green.
With bonds of peace serene
And friendship spanned.
Now, may the God above
Guard the dear land we love,
Both east and west.
Let love more fervent glow
As peaceful a-ea so
And strength yet stronger grow.
Blessing and blest.
More Truth Than poetry.
Harold Susmsn, in Llpplncott'a.
This shopping-mania's a crime.
And not the least bit funny;
In stores my wife spends all her time.
And alio all my xnuneV
GERMS, DRUGS AND RIGHT LIVING
Perfect Health Is Immunity, bnt Few
Have It or Can Attain It.
PORTLAND. Jan. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) The contribution of Helen Spyr
Gray, and the editorial comment there
on, occupy almost two columns of The
Oregonian of January 20; and while
each contributed some very excellent
food for thought, both writers seem to
have 'largely overlooked the "milk of
the cocoanut." contenting themselves
with merely. the "shaggy appearance of
the outside."
Numberless Instances prove beyond
doubt that of two Individuals exposed
to the same strain of a given bac
terium, under identical environment, one
will contract disease, while the other
will not; this lnaisputed fact Is ex
plainable on the ground of differing de
grees of vital resistance, or susceptibil
ity, on the part of the Individuals. How
ever, a single Individual, exposed to
one strain of a certain bacterium, very
successfully resists its invasion; where
as, if later exposed to another strain
of the same bacterium, which has risen
in , virulence and Infective power
through active development In the body
of some susceptible organism, this same
Individual, whom we originally consid
ered immune, may readily contract the
Infection and possibly die from it.
In this largely artificial age in which
we live there is no criterion by which
we may safely Judge the vital resist
ance of any given individual, or the
virulence of the various bacteria with
which he may come in contact. The
assertion that a perfectly normal and
healthy, individual Is absolutely im
mune to ordinary bacterial Infection
through the natural channels, has never
yet been successfully disproved; but
the trouble oomes when we begin to
search for really normal and healthy
human beings they are decidedly
scarce!
In all probability one Is most likely
to avoid dluease by so feeding, exercis
ing and otherwise caring for his body
from early life as to develop and main
tain a vital resistance which Infective
bacteria are unable to overcome; but
there are many among us who do not
understand how to accomplish this, and
Wh6 cannot bring themselves conscien
tiously to follow directions even after
they have sought advice in the matter.
. Again, heredity undoubtedly plays its
part; the development of a healthy body
Is truly a case In which the education
of the chHd should begin with Its grand
father. Consequently, the "ninety and
nine" of our eeneral public are "sus
ceptible"; if exposed to infection they'll
contract almost any disease- once, and
If in an especially poor state of nutri
tion they may contract the same disease
repeatedly.
For the majority of Individuals a
modified attack . of smallpox, in the
form of non-contagious vaccination. Is
protective against the serious ravages
of the genuine disease; and just so long
as the great mass of out population re
mains "susceDtlble," it wouia seem ex
tremely unwise to discard such a potent
and comparatively harmless prevent
ive. It may not be rational; It may not
be always effective; but in the long run
history seems to have unaeniaDiy pruv
an Ita vnlllA
So long as humanity is deaf to the
teachings Of those who plead for sane
and natural methods of diet, ventila
tion, exercise and dress rin so far as
we are enabled to understand these
matters just so long must we place
our partial dependence upon such mea
sures as vaccines, serums, antitoxins
and certain medicines makeshifts, if
you please, and not always successful
but at the same time , indispensable
until we all arrive at a proper appre
ciation of the fact that danger from
disease comes not from without, nor
from above, but from within. And ..hat
it is directly proportional to our con
scious or unconscious disregard of
proper methods of life and nutritioni
CHESTER J. STEDMAN. M. D.
TURNING LOOSE OK MURDERERS.
Society Not Always Protected by Send
ing; to the Penitentiary.
PORTLAND. Jan. 19. (To the Edi
tor.) As the question of capital punish
ment is again under discussion, I Will
ask the privilege Of a few words.
Evidence is not wanting that a man
Who will commit premeditated murder
will do it again under favorable con
ditions. To Illustrate: A man In Idaho
slme SO odd years ago killed a man.
but so managed the killing that he got
off on a plea of manslaughter, and was
sentenced to the penitentiary for 10
years. Some three or four years after
ward the Governor pardoned him and
he went to Oregon. The next I heard
of him he had killed a man but got
clear on a technicality of some kind.
Again I heard a few years after that
he had entered a lawyer's office and
killed the lawyer. But I never heard
anything further about him.
The case illustrates the fact that the
penitentiary is not a safe custodian of
a murderer. Hundreds of other cases
Illustrate the same fact.
There is no idea of "blood for blood"
in the case. Capital punishment is
for the protection of the law-abiding
and Innocent citizen. If a wilful mur
derer is executed he does not kill bet
ter citizens afterwards. The law gives
all criminals the benefit of the doubt,
but If the crime Is one of "malice
aforethought" the criminal should meet
the necessary punishment for the pro
tection of society. . J. B. WRIGHT.
Little Good In School Holidays.
M'MINNVILLE, Or., Jan. 20. (To the
Editor.) i heartily approve of the bill
Introduced in the Oregon Legislature to
abolish some of the school holidays. The
Intention of the law, as I construe It, In
establishing holidays for schools Is to
Instill Into the minds of the boys and
girls Ideas of reverence and patriotism,
but I question very much whether such
Is the result. For example, on Wash
ington's Birthday the pupil Is excused
from attendance at school. Do you
think that his mind is burdened with
thoughts Of the "Father of His COun-
. In mnm inatHnO.P.n h A I ft lOSfinfiT
about the streets. Would It not be bet
ter to keep the pupil in Echool and by
means of appropriate exercises really
do something to impress upon his mind
. , .An. narrlnrlnm? Mont te&ch-
uua lOBouii, v , j
ers do not care for so many holidays,
as they realize that these days break
into the work oi tne ween very ma-
.--,.11.. iTn.tharmnrA. the. nubile in
ICl IttilJ . - " ' ,
general does not want schools dismissed
so much; it wants ysiub iwenw
every dollar that Is put Into the public
school system. ' H. H. BELT.
Some Freak Races.
TJav Vnrk Sun.
"As a freak race," remarked a follower
of sport, "that one at Moncrief Park
was all right between a horse run
ning six furlongs, a mule running four
and a half furlongs, a man running
660 yards and an automobile running a
mile and an eighth. Something that
beats it for excitement, though, is a
donkey race, the last donkey to cross
the finish line being the winner. You
might think the donkey that ' could
walk the slowest would win, but a fur
ther condition Is that every rider must
be astride some one else's donkey. As
no rider wants to have his rival's don
key come In last and so win the prize
he whips his mount on for all he Is
worth and there Is plenty of excite
ment for participants and spectators."
Americans Self-Conlalned.
MOTTNTAINDALE, Or., Jan. IS. (To
the Edltof.) I have Just started reading
The Oregonian of the 8th Inst. I see on
page a, section 4, that Hugh Lloyd says
that Americans are "self-contained and
never Impolite." Did he ever attend a
baseball game in America? or visit the
Chicago wheat pit? or witness a college
football game? Has he asked the um
pire about it?
A VOICE FROM THE) WILDERNESS.
I RURAL LIFE AND SOCIAL CENTER
Mrs. Waldo Draws Pleasant Picture of
Co-operative Conimonlly.
PORTLAND, Or., Jan. 21. (To the Edi
tor.) The Idea of a social center of rural
life In Oregon Is far removed from a
typical "tillers' village" In Europe,
composed chiefly of tenants and labor
ers. But even these villages demon
strate the benefits of social contact
and a division of labor.
Because the problem of distribution
is more oomplex than that of produc
tion, the Oregon farmer wishes to
abandon diversified farming and go to
a specialty of commercial demand.
Whenever farmers specialize in proauc
tlon.lt is essential that they co-operate
very closely, both in buying supplies
and in selling their crops. Business
interests draw them together. Hence
this suggestion of centralized rural
homes has an economic value.
Suppose as Is now going On all over
the state a farm of 1000 acres be cut
Into 10-acre tracts and all set to apples.
By the time these trees come into
bearing 100 families come to live there.
Why should these people dig 100 wells,
lay out and construct miles of road,
put up telephone poles and wires and
miles of costly fencing, when this ex
tra expense could be avoided by clust
ering their homes' on the highway? The
cost of 100 wells would go far towards
installing a good water and sewage
system. The money saved on roads
and fencing would buy a substantial
auto-bus with a lower compartment for
freight and seats- for 20 passongers
above. At a low rate of fare per mile
this motor-bus could carry the people
to and from the railway station, mar
ket town, consolidated high schools
and neighboring villages.
If possible, there should be electrlo
light and power for all. Perhaps a
central heating plant could be In
stalled. The cultivation of the orchard could
be done more cheaply without division
fences and by a co-operative system
of labor. Fewer horses would be re
quired. Small, neat stations for feed
ing teams and storing implements could
be erected, with a comfortable room In
which the workers could eat the noon
day meal. ThiB could be served hot
from a cook-wagon, or by the use of
thermal bottles and fireless cookers,
the workers could take it with them
In the morning and find it hot and
wholesome at noon.
Near a large orchard there should
be established, on land not suitable for
fruit, poultry and dairy farms, with
swine in connection, perhaps. While
each man will be a specialist it were
wisdom if the community, as a whole,
represented diversified farming.
Beside the general merchandise store,
repair shop, bakery, laundry, cold stor
age warehouse, fruit evaporator, can
nery, cider factory and packing houses,
there would be the union church, school
house, gymnasium, library, social clubs,
lecture and amusement hall, play
grounds, athletic field, grove and park
and an agricultural and botanical ex
perimental garden. All this should be
arranged with an eye to beauty as
well as utility.
An apartment house with every mod
ern convenience would be a delightful
home for the unattached and elderly
members of the community.
The weakest point In Oregon's edu
cational system Is the country school.
The farmer, who pays taxes, has no
educational advantages for his chil
dren to be compared with those af
forded the children of artisans and day
laborers In the town. This causes
many families every year to leave the
farm. Village life would at once rem
edy, this. Consolidated schools can be
run on less money when the roads
are good and provide better facilities
of grade work, than it is possible to
secure in one-room country schools.
Country women suffer moBt of all
for lack of social opportunities and
the co-operation which makes town
life so agreeable. Rural social cen
ters would change life for the country
women and very soon there would be
such an intermingling of town and
country interests that there would be
no more "city limits" in matters of
social and intellectual interests.
This modern artistic village, amidst
natural beautiful and healthful sur
roundings, would surely attract city
people as a restful resort. Thus would
open a new line of profit which need
not Interfere with the agricultural
work.
Whoever is Intending to build a new
home In the country should consider
the advantages of living near others
engaged in a similar pursuit. With
the thousands of new homes to ha
erected this year In Oregon, there is
no reason why we should not witness
the formation of many rural villages
not the usual straggling, down-at-the-heel
sort of hamlet we are familiar
with but a compact, neat and well
arranged group of homes, factories,
shops and social Institutions, meeting
the needs of a progressive community.
CLARA H. WALDO.
Common Sense and Foreat Protection.
GRANTS PAS3, Or., Jan. 20. (To the
Editor.) The consensus of opinion on
the matter of saving the forests and
preventing the destructive forest fires
that have marred the timbered regions
of Oregon is I think, In strict accord
with the views of N. F. Thorne, pub
lished in Tha Oregonian on the 18th
Inst. ,
Systematic burning of the accumulat
ed trash that falls from the growing
and dead timber and the brush is the
only safe way to protect our pine and
fir, as well as our cedar and redwood
and spruce forests. It is the only sure
method to adopt. A forest service that
will not allow the trash to be cleaned
up bv burning is inviting disaster In
.if. "i. n. it ia lust as Mr. Thorne
has said: That the losses of the past
year In Idaho, Washington and Oregon
will be repeated If this method is not
followed.
t . .v.. en-Aet cervine does not adont
a different regime of rules on this sub
ject and get busy putting wem in elo
cution their conservaiiun iiruimsmiui
,,i ...i.. n he na It ia now. In a
measure, a fungus growth on the body
politic. Backfiring can be made along
the ridges and creeks to ward off and
cope with brush and forest fires; but
the best back fire is to burn it all
over at a time of the year between ex
treme dry seasons, when there is abso
lutely no danger of destroying the
large timber. The forester who says
that fires should be started In the
. v. ttmhar at no time (to Dre-
vent greater fires) does not know his
. a n f r i 1 1
business, wnen appneu iu v
known methods of coping with fire.
A little common sense Is about the
principal thing that the conservationist
needs to inject into the system.
The forest service will ultimately be
come a great factor for our good; but
it may find that the proper way to
fight the devil Is with fire. I will
have to admit that water Is likewise
indUpensible when it can be had in
sufficient quantities. License the
rancher to burn and co-operate with
the forester (between danger seasons)
and the future safety of our valuabla
forests will be assured. My experi
ence teaches me there Is no other safe
method. Over 60 Summers ia the West
has proven this theory to me beyond
cavil.
We hope ths forest servioe will "take
a tumble" and get busy at the right
time before the fire.
H. B. HENDRICKS.
Fixing the Blame.
Puck.
Twaa man who made the motor car
As sure as you were born!
God made the view along the way.
And the devil made the hornl
rf