TITE MORNING OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15. '1911.
10
rOHTLATD. ORXOOX.
Eaierad at Psrttaad, Gna-oo. PoatofOe as
rooo4-CIM Matter.
abacrtpuoa Kate tavartabry la Advance.
IBT MAIL)
Party. Raadar Inclodad. oo year. ... ..!-
t'ai:ir. Suadar lacludad. eii month. ... .
l-:lT. fuadar lacludad. tor month.. J.
ra ' 1 v lnni!if lneluAJ nr monLA.... .13
Fally. awtnoul Suauay. on ar. ....... 6-0
l-aily. without Sunday. is aaoatna,.... , r
L'aily. wttnout fianilar, lhr nutitAa..
I a.: r. without Sunday. a moata...-.
Wakl. n yar. 1-30
Suaier. oc yaar.... a
S4ily u4 VMklr. n yar....... -
IDT CARRIER
yfTy, tjn("ay Included. n yoer...... "
lt''T. Sucday Included, oa month.. ...
How to Ta)ill iliad poetorric msaev
rd4X. .aareae ordar or poxaoaal CBck a
your local buL Stamp, cola or eurraacT
at th jvndor'e rta. Glv poetofric
ad r. a ln fii lEr!ad:n eoabtv aftd at at.
foot- Bale io 10 l CUM 1 : I
to xa . ? caata: o t u cat, a coat
o to u paaaa. a caata. raraiga poa'a
aotjm rat.
Eaatorm Baateaoa Offlta a Varr ai Conk
New Tor. KnanaatCA. eallJlns. Coi-
ctfa stag- bu!Mlna
FORTLAXTJ, tVEDXTSDAT. MABCH 1.
1T1B AND HONOR.
President Taft took a bold stand
when he Mid that he could see no
food reason "why matter of National
honor should not be submitted to ar
bitration." Usually It has been held
that when the National hoonr Is at
stake there Is nothing to do but go to
r. No matter what the cost may
be ln life and property, no matter how
much misery may ensue, fight we
must when once a question of honor
has arisen. Not many years ago the
. situation was the same between indi
viduals. They might properly submit
to the courts all questions affecting
their Ilres and property. Their lib
erty and all their dearest interests
were perfectly safe in the hands of the
Judges, but let anything come up which
affected their honor and they must
straightway fight a duel. War be
tween nations stands logically and eth
ically on the same basis as duels be
tween Individuals. There is no more
or better reason for one resort than
for the other. We hare seen the prog.
ress of Christian civilization gradually
extirpate the duel. In English-speaking
countries gentlemen never think
any more of settling their difficulties
with sword or pistol. The practice
till survives in France, but even there
tt has been reduced to a harmless ab
surdity. Nobody Is ever seriously In
jured in a French duel.
It is impossible to doubt that war
will travel the same road as the duel.
Ultimately It will become indecent for
two civilized nations to fight each
other. No doubt It will take time to
reach this desirable consummation.
The pathway to It will be long and
devious, but we are certainly moving
In that direction. The growth of sen
timent In favor of International peace
has been astonishingly rapid In the
last few years. There is good ground
for hoping that It will grow faster and
faster ln the years to come through
the Impetus of Its own momentum.
We are not so rash as to believe , that
no more wars will ever be fought.
There will be many more ln all likeli
hood. The number of hotheaded fools
is dlscouraglngly large. The multitude
of men who find their profit In war
is numerous and influential. Peoples
are separated by mutual ignorance, by
prejudice, by rooted suspicion, by the
memory of wrongs unavenged, by
commercial rivalry, but ln spite of all
that the feeling that war is absurdly
useless makes Itself manifest more
plainly every day. Strip war of Its
panoply of fal.e splendor, make man
kind perceive how silly It Is beneath
all Its magnificent pretensions, and Its
end will be at hand. It Is useless per
haps to urge death, misery and waste
as reasons for peace. Death does not
frighten an excited country and men
woo misery like a bride when their
passions are aroused, but tear off the
deceptive mask and show them the
Idiocy of the performance and It will
be shorn of Its attractions.
Mr. Taft la qualified to take a sensi
ble rtew of warfare by the habits
of his life. Be was accustomed for
many years to see men entrust all
their interests. Including honor, to
Judges and come off vastly better than
If they had fought with one anothrr.
With admirable logic he asks himself
"Why should not nations do the same
thing?" Is It not safer, upon the
whole, to entrust the national honor
to a bench of grave and fair-minded
Judges than to the arbitrament of
war? Does war always decide Justly T
What of Poland? What of Denmark
In the fight for Scbleewlg-IIolatelnT
Napoleon sold In his candid way that
the Lord always takes the side of the
heaviest battalions, which Is a very
different thing from taking the aide
of Justice. Gibbon expressed the same
doubt of the final rectitude of mili
tary success when he wrote that "the
winds and waves are on the side of
the ablest navigators." There is no
more Justice to be expected from the
outcome of a war than from a fist
fight between two bullies. The man
with the best wind and training will be
victor, and there It ends. National
honor and national right are far safer
In the care of a group of Impartial
Judges than an army can make them.
Not that armies are useless by any
means. W'e only say that there Is
something better.
Commenting In the House of Com
mons on President Taft's suggestion.
Sir Edward Grey expressed -a thought
which must have occurerd to - every
reflective obeerrer of current affairs.
The growth of armaments. he said,
"must In the long run break civiliza
tion down." Where can the Insane
race for armies, fortifications and bat
tleships end If not ln International
bankruptcy? It costs more today for
the world to live on a peace footing
than active warfare did a century ago.
Almost every 'civilized country Is
plunrtng Into debt to keep up Its army
and fleet. If some of them, like the
United States, can manage to foot the
bills as they accrue. It Is only because
the war maniacs have not had their
way. They will never be satisfied as
long as they can beg or borrow an
other dollar to spend on their favorite
game. But the time Is not far off
when there will be no more money for
them to waste. Pretty nearly every
country In the world Is approaching
the limit of Its resources) and the In
crease of armaments must stop. An
arbitration agreement between Great
Britain and the United States which
should Include their honor as well as
other points would be welcome to all
the world. It would set an example
which every other country would be
glad to follow. No nation really wants
to fight. If they all felt certain that
the rest would keep the peace their
armaments would be disbanded to
morrow. It is Impossible to overesti
mate the moral effect upoi the world
f an agreement between two flrst
f ..f powers Ilk the U&itod Stales and i
England never to go to var upon any
provocation whatever. It would give
the Peace Tribunal a prestige which
no government could afford to Insult.
It would make war d is respectable as
well as foolish.
TUB rSCAX. SPECIAL SES8IOX.
Two special sessions of the State
Legislature have been made Impera
tive in recent years through faulty leg
islationone to enable the state to
carry forward the usual ami necessary
processes of public taxation and the
other to rescue the state Institutions
from the accidental failure of the gen.
eral appropriation bill. A special ses
sion for 1911 has been narrowly avert
ed If Indeed It has been finally avert
edby discovery of Indispensable leg
islative records ln some) remote pigeon
hole, where they had been placed by
a thoughtless clerk.
Is anybody to blame for the muss
and muddle of the legislative records?
Undoubtedly. But what benefit will
tt be to the public to fasten accounta
bility for Ignorance or carelessness or
Incompetence on a fat-headed clerk
or an Inexperienced assistant whose
chief qualifications are devoted per
sonal service to some political ma
chine? The lesson to be learned from
the all too frequent blunders ln legis
lation la that the Legislature should
have expert clerical help. The special
session to retrieve errors of haste and
Inadvertence should not be the usual
sequel of the regular meetings of the
Oregon Legislature.
The Oregon Legislature considers at
one session 700 or 800 bills. The ses
sion Is forty days a short enough
period for so great a labs even when
.the legislators devote themselves as
siduously to their duties. But tne leg
islators do not. The first half of the
session Is given over to dawdling, de
lay and getting ready. The last half Is
given up to bustle, hurry and crowd
ing. Three-fourths of the bills that go
ln should never be Introduced. One
half the remainder or less are worthy
of real consideration. If the Inexper
ienced legislator would make It his
business to get experienced advice and
assistance, this work would be well
done, and half the public criticism
would cease.
GEiGTSQ IX EXGLISH.
Last November, when Signer Bond
returned to America, he made up his
mind to try the novel experiment of
singing In English at a recital In Car
negie Hal I. His success was surpris
ing. The papers said the next morn
ing that Bond had sung "with an ex
cellent pronunciation and a diction
that might put native singers to
shame." This must have been agree
able Indeed to the Italian, but there
was a drop of bitter ln the cup. Mr.
David Bispham could not rest until he
had made up a story that Bond was
going into the business of teaching
American singers how to pronounce
English. Of course this was nonsense.
as Slgnor Bond shows In a pleasant
letter to the Times, which The Ore
gonlan reprints today. The distin
guished Italian has other work to do.
But If he Is not ready for the task of
teaching our singers how to pronounce
their own language. It Is a pity that
somebody does not take It up, for such
Instruction Is sadly needed. Our vocal
artists spend a great deal of time
learning how to enunciate Italian,
German. French, but nobody ever
dreams of teaching them to enunciate
English.
They sing beautifully In all tongues
but their own. When they undertake
to render a ballad or a madrigal their
pronunciation la slovenly to the last
degree. Nobody could tell from hear
ing them whether they were trying to
sing ln Polish or Houghnhnm. It Is
much the same with our actors. The
last art they ever think of acquiring Is
the utterance of the language ln which
their roles are written. Upon the stage
they stammer, gasp and mumble, but
they do not speak. A few good les
sons In elocution would be worth a
fortune to almost any actor who has
visited Portland ln the last ten years.
to say nothing of actresses.
English Is about as weu adapted to
singing as any other tongue. As
Slgnor Bonn says in his letter, our
vowels are not so elaborate as the
Italian, and we have rather too many
gutturals, but training would over
come these difficulties. It Is not nec
essary ln order to neutralize them to
reduce the language to an unintelligi
ble hash of sounds as most singers do.
Would that Bond might be persuaded
to give some singers we know of half
a dozen lessons.
ciilsa's rnovTrjar. crisis.
Russia, apparently tiring of the eva
sive, dilatory tactics of China regard
ing a renewal or the treaty of 1881.
has dispatched an ultimatum to Pekin
and matters will reach a crisis In the
near future. The grasping spirit of
conquest that for generations has been
moving the Russian o a posts rarther
and farther Into Asiatic territory will
not In the present case meet with the
outside Interference that checked the
advance on Constantinople, or ln Af
ghanistan, or even at the Corean fron
tier. The present case seems to be one
of the few diplomatic events In which
the reel of the world will withhold the
usual note of warning which It is ac
customed to Issue whenever Russia
starts to grab new territory.
The province of III. which Is the
bone of contention between the two
countries. Is one of the richest of the
Chinese provinces. In the ancient days
of the caravan routes to the East It was
one of the great sources of commercial
wealth. Its principal city, Kashgar,
was so well known as a trading center
that It Is frequently mentioned in the
decidedly ancient and Interesting "Ara
bian Nights. The province Is' divided
Into two districts, Sungarla and East
Turkestan, with a combined area of
SSO.000 square miles. This wonder
fully rich territory, larger than Illinois,
Indiana. Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Michigan, New York. Kansas. Ken
tucky and Minnesota. Is more than 600
miles from a railroad. Today It Is but
little farther along on the road to civ
ilization than It was during the reign
of Haroun el Raschld. This vast ter
ritory extends south from- Siberia to
the northern border of Tibet. Russian
Interest ln the territory dates back
about forty years, when a Tartar rebel
lion became so serious that Russia was
obliged to intervene.
The Muscovites were practically In
possession of the rebellious province
for ten years, but ln 1811 handed It
back to China. In return for restor
ing order and successfully handling
the provlnce-for a decade. Russia was
given by treaty special trade privileges
and the allotment of certain portions
of the territory Into which Russians
might settle and develop the country If
they so desired. The treaty was to
expire on formal notice at ten-year In
tervals, and, until this year, it has been ,
rennwad mi tha nris-inal terms. This
year China dedded to terminate the
treaty, and the first Russian note,
which was the beginning of the pres
ent trouble, demanded that China state
the relations which she desired to con
tinue to maintain with Russia after
the termination of the treaty.
The reply of China was, as usual,
evasive and unsatisfactory. The Rus
sian forces promptly moved up a little
closer to the frontier. This brought
from China a second note, wlhch was
somewhat more liberal than the first,
but which sUll failed to declare
whether Russia was to be permitted to
enjoy the favors which were granted
her as a reward for putting down the
Tartar rebellion forty years ago. The
receipt of the second note was the sig
nal for Russia to send reinforcements
Into the field and to send China an
ultimatum. If China could count on
the sympathy or assistance of the
powers ln resisting the Russian de
mand, further evasion and possibly a
display of arms might result.
The rest of the world, however. Is
not particularly pleased at the sealing
up of such a vast territory of great
natural resources. If It were devel
oped today It could feed a few millions
of the starving Chinese who are now
dependent on the charity of civilized
people. If China would build railroads,
open the country and increase the
means for keeping alive her swarming
itiinn Ik, rt ff the world -mlKht
I be Inclined to ask Russia to keep
hands off. although Russia clearly nas
rights ln the matter. Past perform
ances, however, do not Justify the be
lief that China will do anything in the
way of development, and for that rea
son Russia will not be molested unless
she becomes too aggressive ln her ef
forts to retain her rights.
TESITXO THE 6EATTXB 6 11 KIT.
Seattle, having by a large majority
dedded to embark ln the street rail
way business and authorized the sale
of 1800,000 worth of bonds to provide
for the purchase of thirteen miles of
trolley line to Ronton, Is now looking
for a purchaser for the bonds. The
City Controller has recently returned
from the East and states that his ob
servations have led him to the conclu
sion that, although the credit of the
city Is high ln the East. It will be a
very difficult matter to market these
particular bonds. He therefore rec
ommends that the bonds be offered
to the citizens of Seattle ln small de
nominations. The City Controller
states that by this method the Interest
on the bonds would be kept ln Seattle
and a further advantage- would result
because the "Interest of the citizens
In a road which they themselves were
financing would be greatly increased."
Seattle has always been noted for
that famous spirit that could conjure
up dollars for almost any scheme that
would "save her face." For that rea
son this bond issue of problematical
value may be taken up by the Seattle
taxpayers not the nontaxpayers
whose votes saddled the scheme
on Seattle. The sentiment which
dragged Seattle Into this unfortunate
predicament was caused by the refusal
of the Renton line to carry passengers
the entire length of the road for less
than 10 cents. Under municipal own
ership a 6 -cent fare will be in effect.
The distance to Renton was so great
and the volume of travel so light that
the owners of the line contended they
could not handle ' the business on a
6-cent fare except at a loss. Under
municipal ownership the large body
of taxpayers who do not use the line
will make up any deficit which Is cre
ated for the advantage of those who
seek a thirteen-mile ride for 6 cents.
The experiment will be watched
with interest. It attracted attention
In th East before the vote was cast.
The New York Financial Chronicle,
nearly a month before the election,
forecasted the failure of Seattle to
market the bonds in the East in the
following words:
Capital from the conservative Investors
of tha Eaat cannot ba euxcted to flow In
nntnterrupted atraama Into Invaatmenta, In
municipal bonds or otnrwle. In thoa onm
mJolilee which ahow toemaelve ready to
rlak thalr reaourcea and thalr credit In on
reck!aa and untried experiment after an
other. Eastern tneatora mar b wrona In
thalr Jui! men t of thee matters, but they
are In puaaaaalon of the capital nereeiary
to flnanc th development of tha pacttlo
Coaat and th Far and Middle tVeat; ther
la as rat no statute, Federal or atata, com
pelling them to make Investment asalnat
their will, and their rapltai will go to
thoa commanltlo which ahow th leaat
apaculativ and viaionarv spirit In th con
duct both of thalr public and tbalr prlvat
buaiaaas. '
RAILROAD ECONOMIES.
The railroads, thwarted by the
Interstate Commerce Commission ln
their attempt to equalize the Increased
cost of operation and maintenance
with' an increase ln freight rates, are
now seeking a method for readjust
ment by which they can effect savings
with which to meet the increased cost
of service. The Bureau of Railway
Economics has Just tssueda summary
of revenues and expenses 'of the rail
roads and the comparative statements
of revenues and expenses is anything
but cheering to the railroad men. The
report, however, discloses some en
couraging features by means of which
the roads have done much to over
come or equalize the Increased wages
and other dividend-affecting factors.
Among these encouraging features
mentioned is an Increase in the trac
tive power of locomotives ln the past
eight years of nearly 99 per cent and
an Increase ln number of locomotives
of 64.6 per cent In 10 years. Car ca
pacity Increased T3 per cent ln eight
years while the number of cars In
creased but 68 per cent In ten years.
Larger cars and heavier engines of
course tend to reduce the cost per ton
per mile of moving freight, and it is
hardly probable that the limit of econ.
omy In this direction has been reached.
In this direction the railroads may
effect some of the saving made neces
sary If they are to keep their securi
ties at anything like an 'attractive
price. Other avenues through which
some improvement ln earnings might
eventually flow are double tracking
and construction of feeoers. The In
terstate Commerce Commission has
made it very difficult for the roads to
secure funds at advantageous rates,
but all of the transcontinental lines
have announced their xietermlnatlon to
proceed with the announced Improve
ments as rspldly as possible.
The possibilities of saving with a
double track are very great. Many of
the single-track roads are working
so close to the maximum of their phys
ical capacity that an Immense loss la
suffered through delay In moving
trains. Just jrlor to the 1907 panio
some of these roads were so badly con
gested that 100 miles per day was
about the best distance that a freight
train could cover. Double tracking
will admit of great economies ln train
crew wages and ln use of equipment.
Construction of feeders Is made neces
sary in order that the trunk lines rep
resenting an enormous investment may
be supplied with the greatest possioie
amount of traffic.
It will be no easy matter for the
roads to secure all of the money need
ed for this new construction, but ln
no other way does It seem possible for
them to get even with the heavy ia
creases ln cost of operation and main
tenance. This seems to be a case
where the necessity for retrenchment
has forced the railroads to spend a
lot of money getting ln shape for econ
omizing. "Night-riding," which has become
a rather common pastime ln the half
civilized regions of the South, will
never gain much of a foothold ln the
West. The leader of a band oi cow
ardly outlaws who were terrorizing
the new settlers on Camas Prairie in
Idaho was shot and killed by a man
he was trying to drive out of the
Mimtn Aa nn .TamnU fit the feeling
which the Idaho people have for the
undesirables, it is statea in uie uews
reports of the acquittal of the slayer
that "cheers rang ln the courtroom
when the slayer was freed and he was
carried from the scene of the three
days' trial on the shoulders of his ad
mirers, one of whom was a Baptist
minister." Desperate cases require
dMnerate remedies and the law of
self-defense is older than any that
has been placed on the statute books.
For that reason the act of the Idaho
mn nrlil hn cpnprallv commended and
may have a wholesome effect on the
conduct of other cowardly night naers
who are SetulKlng arouna v-u-iiina
Prairie.
Tht) death of Mary Porter Logan,
which occurred a. few days ago at the
home of her brother. Judge William
Waldo, of Salem, will recall vividly to
many minds an era ln pioneer history
in iwhich Mrs. Logan then Miss
Waldo, of the Waldo Hills of Marlon
County was well known. She came
to Oregon Territory in 1847, a child of
three years. Her childhood ana girl
hood were passed in the Waldo Hills
on the home ranch of her father, the
late Daniel Waldo. There, at the age
of 22, she was married to David Logan,
one of the most brilliant of the early
lawyers of the state a contemporary
of Judce Deady, Hon. Amory HolorooK
and Judge William Strong, and others
whose names are connected with our
territorial Jurisprudence. David Logan
died many years ago, as did all of his
contemporaries mentioned. The pass
ing of the woman who was nrteen
years his wife and thirty-six years his
widow closes a long chapter ln pioneer
life, replete with Incident and adven
ture that would grace the pages of old
romance. -
The most encouraging feature of
the colonist movement now under way
la the fact that nearly all the new
comers are headed for the country
Instead of the city. If we can only
divert the stream of newcomers to the
country where there are opportunities
for creating new wealth by tilling the
soil and producing the great staples
for which the world is waiting, the
city will In due season feel the effects
of the new population. The city can
not grow and prosper unless the coun
try Is prospering. The colonists need
ed ln the cKy are those who come
with plenty of money and are pre
pared to engage ln manufacturing en
terprises. Portland needs a larger
dinner-pail brigaae. until our manu
facturing is increased there will be but
small demand ln the 'city for colonists
who come here without money expect
ing to find immediate employment.
Oregon can support a million new set
tlers, but some discretion is needed in
placing them.
Captain Evelyn Brlggs Baldwin, Who
has had eighteen years' experience in
polar exploration, has arrived at San
Francisco to make preliminary prep
arations for a polar expedition in 1918.
Now that the Government has awarded
Peary $500 per month for life and the
people have tied a can to Dr. Cook,
the American public ought to be In a
receptive mood for a polar discovery
duly witnessed and vouched for by
some one besides the man who claimed
all the glory. Captain Baldwin appar
ently sees an opening for this kind of a
North Pole discovery, for he says: "I
can't see where I can fail to reach the
exact spot where the Pole Is supposed
to be." It Is unnecessary to state,
however, that If Captain Baldwin
comes back with pictures of the Pole
showing the American flag nailed
thereto, his observations and data will
be very carefully looked over before
any wreaths or halos are hung around
him by a hero-worshiping people.
It Is to be hoped that the postal
department will hasten the general
opening of the savings banks. No
measure can be Imagined which will
be of more economic advantage to
persons of small means. In the United
States this class of people are almost
without fadlitles for absolutely secure
Investment of their savings. Conse
quently they fall a ready prey to the
"get rich quick" schemer. It Is said
that hundreds of millions of dollars
go annually Into the pockets of fraud
ulent promoters which a complete sys
tem of postal savings banks would
rescue. The excellent record which the
new banks have made Is encouraging,
but their number is too small.
It must be romantic to live on
Camas Prairie. Idaho. To be visited
at the holy hour of midnight by a
gang of bullies and ordered out of the
country on pain of death would give
almost anybody a delicious thrill. But
Joseph Vaught was not fond of thrills.
He preferred to shoot and luoklly he
got his man. His brave deed will
break up night-riding on Camas Prai
rie and enable people to live in peace
there. His courage has proved to be
contagious. Other persecuted settlers
now dare to defend themselves and the
associated blackguards will have to
decamp. It Is the first step that costs
and Vaught was bold enough to take it.
, It is a pity that some adventurous
experimenter does not plant a few
almond trees somewhere between
Portland and Salem. We hear of fil
berts, walnuts and pecans, but no al
monds. The tree Is known to be hardy
ln this latitude, but perhaps It would
not bear. Perhaps, on the other hand,
it would produce abundantly. Nobody
will ever know nntll it has been tried
on a considerable scale.
A church dedicated to the memory
of Jason Lee. a pioneer missionary,
teacher and preacher of the Willam
ette Valley, is to be built in Salem, the
scene of his strenuous labors in a past
era. The building will be a suitable
monument to the devotion of a man
who nrovad his worth, by, his andeavor. X
BOXCI Olf SOIGIIfO IN ENGLISH
rHatlnsralahed Tenor Heaps Coals of
Fire en Blapbam'a Head.
Letter ln New York Times.
It te only today that I read the account
appearing ln Musical America of the
dinner given recently by the Fratinal
Association of Music Teachers, at which
the principal topio of discussion was
"Opera in English," and that one con
tribution was a paper sent by Mr. David
Bispham (unable to be present evt the
dinner and read by Mr. Gareisseln). I
note that Mr. Bispham. after paying a
tribute of admiration to my singing, tried
to heap ridicule on me on the assump
tion that I pretend to teach English pro
nunciation to American singers. Now,
this Is quite untrue. Two years ago in
Chicago, at a banquet tendered to me by
the Press Club of that city. I first ex
pressed my opinion that the English
language is singable and that singing ln
English should be quite enjoyable. The
somewhat Indefinite color of some of lte
vowels. Its guttural sounds with their
tendency to prevent the bringing of the
voice to the front of the mouth, I sold,
will no more be a handicap to the produc
tion of a beautiful tone and to the render,
lng of the legato style. If the singer will
submit to a proper training of his vloce
and will make a special study of articula
tion. When I returned to this country last
November, I decided to give e. publlo
demonstration of my ideas as to singing
in English at my recital ln Carnegie Hall.
On the morning following the recital. I
was surprised to read in several New
York papers, that I had sung with an
excellent pronunciation end that my dic
tion might put most of the native singers
to shame. I was surprised at such
opinions as well as I am now surprised
to learn that Mr. Bispham has chosen to
attribute to me the pretension of teach
ing American singers how to sing in
English and the American people how to
pronounce their own language.
Mr. Bispham, on the other hand, found
It necessary to state ln his oration that
I "sang with an accent and manner so
foreign aa to be laughable." The disa
greement between the opinions of Messrs.
Rawllng, Henderson, Krehbiel, Sanborn,
etc, and that of Mr. Bispham, la rather
striking. But this Is the only thing in
the whole matter that does not come to
me as a surprise. In fact it may be said
that the artists never agree with the
critics except when they are the re
cipients of the praises of the latter.
Mr. Bispham ln his paper puts this
question: "What would be thought if I
went to Italy to teach people how to pro
nounce Italian V Incidentally, I could
answer Mr. Bispham that ln Italy (a
country much more sectional than Amer
ica) nobody is tolerated on the lyrla
stage unless he can pronounce Italian
well, but should we be unable to speak
our language well and should we die
cover that an American could teach us
how to pronounce it correctly ln singing,
we would no doubt welcome and bless
him. It as not Italy that has not yet
understood that "chauvlnieme" ln art
(and ln America there is unfortunately
an abundance of it) is perhaps the most
serious handicap to the development of
the artistic possibilities of a country. But
I do not want to enter such a dlsousslon.
I am satisfied with stating most em
phatically that I never claimed ability
to teach English diction to American
singers.
Therefore, the adjective "ridiculous"
was improperly used by Mr. Bispham, to
qualify an attitude that I never assumed.
This being the case, there is no reason
for further comment on Mr. Bispham's
paper. There is however, another point
perhaps the main point which Justifies
at least to a certain extent, what Mr.
Bispham has expressed in his paper and
even the "clearness and eloquency" with
which according to Musical America it
was read by Mr. Gareisseln. From the
words of Mr. Bispham it appears that he
is almost ln despair over the possibility
of a large "backing of money" for an in
stitution headed by me with the purpose
of giving opera ln English, end "calls to
account the Americans who have sug
gested such a thing."
Now, I do not know Mr. Bispham per
sonally, but I sincerely wish to be on
the best terms with him. Therefore I am
quite willing to turn the Americans in
question over to -film. I am an extremely
busy man.
Let Mr. Bispham assume the adminis
tration and reap the glory. I ask merely
not to have assigned to me things that I
never said. A. BONCL
POSSIBLE RITHPC1 WITH ENGLASDf
New Llsht oa Dlspnte Between George
. S. Shepherd and ConanI Laid! aw. .
PORTLAND. March 14. (To the Edi
tor.) A number of readers of The
Oregonlan were seated around a square
table discussing the probability of war
arising because of England's alleged
Insult to the United States of America,
England acting through its Consul
James Laldlaw, and the United States
represented la the person of George,
of course, we mean. Captain George S.
Shepherd, of the Navy.
These questions arose: "Does the
maxim; The greater the truth the
greater the libel" hold good ln inter
national matters? That is, admitting
what Consul Laldlaw said about
George was true, as we think It was,
can a truthful statement be an insult?
If so, and this difference is settled
without bloodshed, will George be an
international figure?
Can such a difference be settled un
der any treaty now ln exlstance be
tween the nations, or are all now ex
isting Just to cover minor matters?
If England apologizes rather than
go to war, will King George person
ally do it to George, or will Mr. Lald
law do it to George?
If I have taken out my first papers.
can I express my opinion of George
without recourse by him to my native,
land?
How must one go about it to get
exclusive moving picture rights of the
apology that will be worth one million?
We so often hear the expression
"Let George do it" Does that always
refer to Captain George 8. Shepherd
of the Navy?
There are many who don't chew gum
Interested in the above. B AND S
Extent ef Loulelana Purchase.
PORTLAND, March 13. (To the Edi
tor.) Would you kindly oblige an old
subscriber, and Inform him the extent
of "Louisiana Purchase" from Napoleon
ln 1903? I mean what states were com
prised ln that territory. How wide and
long, north and west of the Mississippi
River? Also did we not get Florida from
Spain at an early date? I wish to con
vince i a stubborn son, that he don't
know anything about his own country.
I believe the price paid to France was
tlS.000,000 and that the country comprised
about 800,000 square miles.
BUBStJKIiJEK..
The Louisiana Purchase, closed In
1803, extended from the Mississippi
River on the East, (including the New
Orleans district east of the Mississippi)
to tha main divide of the KocKy Moun
tains and to the Arkansas, the Red and
the Sabine Rivers on tne west; ana
from the Gulf of Mexico to tae Cana
dian line. The territory now comprises
In whole or ln part, chiefly ln whole.
Louisiana, Arkansas. Missouri, Iowa,
Minnesota, North Dakota, South Da
kota. Nebraska Kansas, Colorado,
Wyoming, Montana. Oklahoma and In
dian Territory. The area was b.cuuu
aauare miles and the price paid $1S,QJ)0.-
000. Florida passed to the United States
In 1821. by treaty with spun in ism.
Damon and Pythias of 1911.
Chicago Record-Herald.
"Pa. who were Damon and Pythias?"
"I've kind of forgotten now whether
they were a champion bowling team or
whether they were a battery some club
got from the Texas League. I wish
you wouldn't bother me. Can't you see
that I'm busy readin' about what's
goln" on la Wall Street?"
JOE) CANNON REVIEWS HIMSELF.
Champ Clark Gets Pointers en Speak
ers' Manifold Duties.
Washington (D. C.) Star.
"Come, Mr. Cannon, give me a few
points out of your abundant experi
ence as Speaker."
"Champ, not a bit of it would fit
your case."
"Why not?"
"Well. I was a tyrant in the office. I
knew no law. I possessed the power o
life and death over legislation. As I
understood it, you are to be simply a
presiding officer a sort of Judge ln
the chair."
"Oh, well, now, let's be serious.'
"I am serious. I can quote chapter
and verse as to my unworthiness. It
seems to me you contributed something
to my conviction."
"You will have your little Joke. But
really, I should like a "steer" about a
few things."
"How are your eyes. Champ?"
"Good as can be, I'm happy to say.
Why?"
"They should not be too good. There
will be times when you should not be
able to see Republicans when they
rise to make motions. Keep your good
eyes for your own side. You'll need
em, even as a Judge." "
"But that would subject me to cri
ticism." "My boy, don't shrink from criticism.
Rather court it Make a few husky
enemies, by all means. And try to in
clude among the number some dad
gasted windjammers, who carry a full
line of coarse vituperation. The Lord,
you know, tempers the wind to the
shorn lamb. He also, at times, advances
our fortunes by the enemies he sends
us. Pray to receive the right kind of
enemies, and when you get 'em hold
on to 'em. Never, whatever you do, turn
away their wrath."
"You have enjoyed 'emT'
"Very much. They have helped me.
Now you give me a pointer or two. As
you are to be a sort of Judge, are you
going to hold on to the old form of
addressing the Chair? Shall It be "Mr.
Speaker?1 or "May it please your hon
or?" If there is to be a change, let me
Introduce it."
"I hadn't thought about that. Let me
consult with Underwood before giving
you an answer. Suppose we change
the form. Will you treat the Court
with proper deference?"
"Most assuredly. With all deference.
Mind you, I shall reserve my right un
der the Constitution- to cuss the Court,
but shall never exercise it until I
have reached the tavern or the quiet
precincts of my committee room. I
know my duty to a Court, whether of
Justice or injustice."
"We shall get along. Mr. Cannon."
"Undoubtedly, Champ, and all the
better for an occasional sharp ex
change. And when the performance be
gins we'll send to the Senate for John
Williams and have him come over and
lament the successful ambition which
removed him from so live and inter
esting a chamber."
DR. AKED, 'TWEEN HAY AND GRASS
Questionable Wisdom to Import Forelgna
Minsters of the Word,
finiinarfield CMass.l Republican.
rr. Aked's resignation as pastor of the
Fifth-Avenue Baptist Church in New
York City after a brief pastorate might
well raise the question of the wisdom of
calling ministers from other countries to
fill American pulpits. Er. AKed's experi
ence has not thus far been happy, al
though that fact may eignlfy nothing coa
cernlng the question referred to. It is
stated that the Fifth-Avenue Baptist
Church will not go to England for its
next pastor under any conditions what
ever. Perhaps that, too, means nothing.
Possibly the handicaps to be overcome
by Imported clergymen are too severe as
yet in this country, the mere fact that
England and America have the same Jan.
guage being a very slight basis for a
free Interchange of ministerial timber
between the. two countries. It is to be
hoped that as time passes, the conditions
making for the success of Imported
clergymen will Improve and undoubtedly
they will. Meanwhile, Dr. Aked should
do one thing or the other. He should go
back to England and stay there, or oe
should eet naturalized and make America
his permanent home. He has the making
of a very successful American preacner.
If he can get the pulpit precisely suited
to him. At present, he is between hay
and grass.
Half a Century Ago
From Th Oregonlan, March 15, 186L
We notice a movement on foot to or
ganize a regatta club. There is cer
tainly no better way to develop the
muscles than a Jolly good pull at the
oars. Let us have one by all means
and then another.
rvtinnoi Tmn Cnrnalitia delivered a
drove of cattle in this city, which were
fat, at seven cents net.
The demand for good Indian horses
and pack mules continues, both in this
city .and at The Dalles.
It is reported that the British govern
ment has determined to build a naval
depot at Esquimault and that S150.000 is
already set aside for the purpose.
The grand Jury report that, having
visited the penitentiary and investigated
Its condition, the details of its adminis
tration, and of the keeping, treatment,
employment and subsistence of the con
victs; that they found the said peni
tentiary ln a bad and insecure condition
for the safe keeping of convicts: that
the cells and many parts of the building
are in filthy and unsatisfactory condi
tion, that the provisions (with the ex
ception of injured meat which has been
supplied the prisoners), is of a good and
wholesome kind.
During the months of January. Febru
ary and the first week of March there
has been sold, contracted or driven to
market 2719 head of Oregon 'cattle which
we have received accounts of. The aver
age value of these may be piacea at
82S per hesd.
Senators In New State.
NYE. Or., March 19. (To the Editor.)
Will you please answer these questions
through the columns of The Oregonlan:
First When a new state is admitted
Into the Union how do they determine for
how long the first Senators shall serve?
Second Could a -boy born ln China of
American parents acting as missionaries
become President? STUDENT.
First The method of determining the
length of terms of Senators is prescribed
in the constitution, plans varying ln
different state. In Oregon the first Sena
tors elected were divided by lot Into two
classes, the first class holding office two
years and the second class four years. In
Washington Senatons chosen from odd
numbered districts went out of office at
the end of the first -year and Senators
elected from even numbered districts
went out at the end of the third year.
Second A boy born in China of Ameri
can parents who returns to the United
States to reside before attaining his ma
jority is eligible to become President.
Profanity and Pew Rent.
New York Times.
Charles M. Jessup, of White Plains,
further illustrated the Idea of wel
come by a story of Rear-Admiral
Robley D. Evans. He entered, it is
refated, a church and was shown to
a pew near the door. Its sole occupant
glared at him and then, pulling out a
card, wrote on it the words:
"I pay 8600 a year for the exclusive
use of this pew."
The Admiral, said Mr. Jessup wrote
underneath as he passed back the card:
"Then you pay a d d sight to much."
ANNB WARWICK is a wise young '
woman, or else her New York pub
lishers are very enterprising. She is the
authoress of the new novel, "Compensa
tion," in which the political and social
activities of Washington, D. C, of the
present day are attractively mirrored,
and a discreet note from her publishers
states that the name Anne Warwick is
a nom-de-plume, that she is a Portland,
Or., girl, and that she and her father
are both well known here.
That statement Is calculated to arouse
and does arouse local interest ln the
novel, and its sales ought to be mate
rially helped. That is why Anne War
wick is wise beyond her years. Her
story is so good, however, that it does
not require any mystery to recommend
It. With really clever dialogue and well
sustained Interest, it keeps the reader
guessing, and its problem affecting the
marriage relation Is well handled n or
thodox, non-shocking style.
a a a
George Bernard Shaw, Socialist, satirist
and novelist, has a keen sense of the
value of the unusual in making the
publio aware that he still lives.
Very few authors, nowadays, contribute
wordy prefaces to their books, but Shaw
Is in a class by himself. He has Just
caused to be Issued three of his plays,
"The Doctor's Dilemma," "Getting Mar
ried" and "The Showing Up of Blanca
Posnet," with a preface of over 25,000
words. Part of this preface is amusing,
and other parts wearisome. In "Getting
Married," Mr. Shaw makes this shy,
shrinking allusion to himself:
Louis Tou imagine that I'm simply as
ordinary criminal.
Walpole Not an ordinary on, Dnde.
bat. Do yourself Justice.
Louis Well, you're on th wrong track
altogether. All your moralizing hav no
value for me. I don't believe ln morality.
I'm a disciple of Bernard Shaw.
Sir Patrick Bernard Shaw I never
heard of him. He's a Methodist preacher,
I suppose.
a a
A. C. Benson has Just been appointed
to the chair of English literature, found
ed by Sir Harold Harmsworth, at Cam
bridge University, "England. Mr. Benson
Is the first to receive this distinction.
a a a
New and hair-raising stories about the
great Thomas Carlyle are promised in
the forthcoming memoirs of the late
Chnrton Collins, also hitherto unpub
lished letters by Swinburne.
a
R. F. Johnston, one of the English offi
cials ruling in Wel-hai-wei, ln a newly
published volume on his Chinese experi
ences, notes that the local magistrates
have difficulties in dealing with village
shrews. He asked one complaining hus
band why he ran away from a woman.
"Is she not your wife and can you not
make her obey you?" The plaintiff's
face is described as broadening into a
mirthless smile as he replied: "I am
afraid of her. Eight men out of 10 are
afraid of their wives."
a a
A new edition of Messrs. Potash and
Perlmutter, Ladles' Cloaks and Suits, by
Montague Glass, will be issued soon.
These stories, in serial form, have al
ready won Immense popularity and warm
criticism.
a
The autobiography and biography of
the late Father Tyrrellr is being pub
lished ln London. The priest's account
of his life was written ln 1901 and it
ends Just before the time of his mother's
death. Notes and supplements to each
chapter are supplied by Miss Maude D.
Petre, who adds a record of the modern
ist's later years. Father Tyrrell was
born an Anglican, but he became a con
vert and entered the Jesuit order, from
which he was expelled four years ago.
His biographer, who is a daughter of
Lady Catherine Howard, comes of a long
Catholic line, and .she is herself a
"founder" of Westminster Cathedral. Be
sides writing several devotional books
(one "The Soul's Orbit." being done in
collaboration with Father Tyrrell). Miss
Petre is the author of some pointed
studies In spiritual liberty entitled
"Catholicism and Independence."
- "
Charles Bann Kennedy's play, "The
Servant in the House," familiar on the
stage a few seasons ago, and the subject
of much discussion and reading in book
form, was produced last week with con
spicuous success at Germany's most cele
brated playhouse, the Court Theater of
the Duchy of Saxe-Melningen.
a ' a
"My hero dies in the middle of my
latest novel," said the young author.
"That's a grave mistake," replied the
editor. "He should not die before the
reader does." Atlanta Constitution,
a a
The great Gaelic Dictionary, compiled,
set, stereotyped, illustrated and pub
lished by one determined man, with the
help of a little home press, is nearly
completed. The three volumes contain
full references for over 80,000 Gaelic
words. Edward Dwelly has been ab
sorbed ln the work for 30 years, and has
been at the printing part of It for the
last 12 years. His is an almost Incredi
ble story of labor for he has been forced
to earn money as a printer at night in
, n thn dictionary work
by day. He has even had to sell tne
Gaelic library irom wmcu
tti. ..tv,..,i.cm Vina hroucrht him tri
ms r;ii i " "
umpnantly through many discourage
ments. m .
. i a -rmaff, Umni. instead
of going on to Rome, as they Intended,
have stopped at Florence for . short
stay, and are hard at work on their new
novel. ...
. S , . . ,v . mlnnr
An unusual numoej- w
manuscripts of well-known American au-
Via mOVlrAT f fl 1
thors nave come uyuu ;
Winter-notably those of Poe and Sted-
..... .i C7 n . 1 n-, . ru llhmrv.
man, mciuaea in mo ow-m
dispersed last month; the Eugene Field
16-page pamphlet addressed to Mr. Sted-
io )s . th aame sale:
man soia iur . ." - , , -
those of several of Mark Twain's shorter
' ,-.n dlanosed of
stories, wiiit; ii wom . T ,
with the humorist's collection of books,
and two of Bret Harte'e, which formed
a part of the collection of Judge Jacob
1 . r i . , A Worn nf the
Kiein. or ot wuw
' ' .-rem "Snllv Dowa"
Golden uaio v -- 7.
($500). Notable prices have been paid
for authors' letters also-especlaliy those
of Swinburne, the Brownings. Hawthorne
and Harte.
A new novel by Miss Frances Powell,
"An Ula jsaam b v cufatoiv,
. , ft-u. h.PA ns fa an
within a lew uaya. a no
American girl and the s ory with an
element OI mysmij l, - ----
thor, runs Its course ln the Riviera.
Late in the Spring there will be Issued
, i... winter. "Members
a new novei uj vnu
- ,-. 11" tolltner a StOrV SbOUt
the same people as those J0 f?"d,J1n1
Mr. Wisters -virniiu.i.. - --- -----
. .w. . -r rni... T nolo hV AirS.
also De "ine uove i -
Mabel Osgood Wright described a. a
novel of human ostun " - - -
lem ' studies and historical
iot appear, bate i" Jf" .
Lee Luther. This has to do with the at
tempts of a European prmj-o
. , . , An American arirl and
a reuaai neiuoe - - . .
an aeroplane are '4,
various well-known places of continental
Europe. .
Mrs. Hubert Barclay's novel of mar
ried life. "Trevor Lordship, ana ins
Income Tax." by Professor E. R. A
int Thn latter ail-
ueiigmau, wo --
thor believes that the income tax will
adopted in tnis coumij. """"
... -...j.. ha hiatnrv. thaorv and
la a biuuj j - - .
nrarrtlce- 'of income taxation at home and
abroad."