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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 23, 1911)
TITE MOKXIXG OKECOXIAX, MONDAY, OCTOBER 23. 1911. G PORTLAND. OREGON. irrt t Portland, Oregon, Pcatotac a Second-Cla Matter. fcubacriptloa fcate Invariably la Adraac. CUT MAIL.) rl!y. Punday included, on year. .....) Imliy. Sundav Included. six month.... 43 Ielir. Sunday Included. thrv mental.. Jjslly. fcunday Included., on mania. I'i:jr, without Sunday, on year.... Dally, wl'hout Sunday, tlx month.. Xlly. without Sunday. thr mootaa I'!ir. wltnout Sunday, on monta.... Weekly on year. Sunday, on ear ................... Sunday and Weekly, on year....... IBT CARRIER.) I'attr. Punday Included, en year ... , lally. Sunday Included, on month... How to Remit Send Poatofflc money rder. ezprea order or pronal cheek on your local bank, stamp, coin or currency ra at t! sender's rUk. UIt postofflc addreu la full. Including county and slat. Pala Kate 10 to 14 pace. 1 cent; IS to .1 verm. 3 ceata: SO to 40 pace. cents; pound In the United States, and carry no parcel heavier than four pound. We are a philanthropic Nation. UTRKTU' Ari'ORMXO TO LAW. The TaTt campaign : committee for Orrgon has been appointed, and its associate committees are to be a p pointed. In strict conformity with the Presidential preference primary law, framed by Senator Bourne and adopt ed by the people In November, 1910. Yet the excited apostles of Republican tliMenion Inspired organs of Dem ocratic strategy have undertaken to revive the ghost of assemblylsnv. "What Is the use of a committee at this time anyway?" asks one shrieking Bourne-Chamberlain voice. "Did not the axsernblyltes set their fill of committees that mode it their busi ness to teach the voters what candi dates to nominate? 'The usual time for a rAmnalcm committee is after the Souif. rair" r"'a PO""' ! Primaries." What IS the difference I.atera BoataeM Offlre. V.rr. Conk- Detween an asemDiy 01 nvv mo ui TS too I 21 1.75 ,0 ISO ISO 1.40 M .TS sadly shaken by this disaster Just as It was rising again after the defeat at Bull Run, and the South made Gen eral Evans, who commanded the Con federates, the hero of the hour. An effort to place the blame was fruit less, McClellan denying that he had ordered General Charles P. Stone to year, and the profits of the harvest were absorbed In store bills, black smiths' bills and In paying harvest help with discouraging regularity, leaving the farmer and his family to "live on what they could do without" as the weary wife of a man who owned and tilled a beautiful and pro send troops across the river, and Gen- ductlve wheat farm in Yamhill Coun- eral Stone asset-ting that Se could not carry out McCloilan's instructions without crossing the Potomac. The death of Colonel Baker was re garded throughout tSe country as a j severe blow to tho Union cause. He was famed as orator, lawyer and poli tician, and had been a power In hold- ty some years ago expressed it. But times have changed and methods have changed, and today the farmer who has something to sell on every weekly market day rejoices in returns for his labor that enable him to pay spot cash for family supplies. This means, of , course, that he must get .early to Ing the Pacific Coast faithful to the market with his products in good con Union. He occupied the strange po- I dltlon, and this in turn means that lln .Sew Tor, rtrunawlca building. Chl- tato, gteger bulldlna. ttnreu Ofnr .No. S Resent trt. a. W. Leadea. PORTLAND. 1IOXDAT. OCTOBER IS. Mil. CrRRKXCY REFORM. To what extent currency reform will be considered at the next session of ConsrcM depends on tho reception Rnd falrv to prNient to the Repub lican voters of Oregon the merits and IS? Is also asked Xo real difference, perhaps. But It Is not an assembly of eighteen or any other number. It is a campaign committee of eighteen. It la organ ized before the primary for the ob vious reason that Its work Is to be done there. It will proceed in exact accord with the Presidential primary law. and will seek openly, honorably to be accorded the final report of the National Monetary Commission, which Is to b presented on January 8, 1912. But at leant a good beginning will be made at educating public opinion on the subject that It may be molded Into legislation at the first session la the new Presidential term. The obstacle to action ton this sub ject Is that It Is ginerully regarded as one Interesting particularly to bankers, and as a dry subject at t--t. In fact. It !s of vital Interest to the whole Nation, and more so to the manufacturer, merchant, farmer and filler builnrM man. and through them to the Korklirman, than to the banker. As the Commercial and Fi nancial Chronicle truly says: The bankr cut hi garment to te rllh of any financial system, however bad. It Is th tHirrower h'i has to pay the penalty fur In bad system and who realises, in in en1. in benrflt of a eixxl sstem- The prime object of the National reserve system proposed by the com mission Is to facilitate loans for legit imate business and so to effect co-operation among the banks that a sur plus of money In one city may quickly flow to a city where money is scarce and solvent borrowers many. This Is t r h. ff t K v tho .t.ihllKhmnt nf " a uniform rate of discounr for good commercial paper throughout the country. Such paper la to be dls- ... .. , , .1 ln.llcl.liia I h.nb. Kv tn..ol associations of banks, or by district associations, fifteen In number. Into which these local associations are to be federated, or by the National Re serve Association, Into which the dis trict associations are to be federated In timrw of stress the relief which has hitherto been afforded locally by clearing-house certificate will be ex ended to the business Interests of the whole Nation through the co-opera tion of all banks. It Is unfortunate that past contro Versles on the money system have be come associated In the public mind with Wall street and stock specula tlon. Any proposed legislation on the subject awakens fear lest Wall street profit and speculation be facilitated. The National reserve plan will have an effect directly opposite to that feared. In the words of Professor J, Laurence Laughlln In an address be fore the Chicago Association of Com merce it was originally "carefully ' studied to divert funds away from speculative stock markets to the legit, lmate uses of Industry and trade. The modifications made In the final report by Chairman Al.lrlch expressly provide that the notes and bills eligi ble for discount by the association are restricted to such notes and bills of exchange as are "Issued or drawn for agricultural. Industrial or commer cial purposes, .nd not for carrying stocks, bonds or other Investment se curities." The present Inelastic currency sys tem Is to be replnced by one which will be elastic. The present National bank notes are to be retired by de grees and supplanted by notes Issued by the National Reserve Association, the volume of which will rise and fall with the demands of commerce and which w!!l be based, not on Govern- ' ment bonds alone, but on gold. Gov ernment bonds and commercial paper combined. A graduated rate of taxa ; tlon will automatically cause the Issue f or retirement of these notes as busi ness demands. As the mention of banks suggests Vail street, the mention of Wall street conjure up visions of Rockefeller and Morgan In the popular mind, partic ularly when the banks which they con trol have Just organized subsidiary companies which can hold stocks In other banks throughout the country. Dread of domination of the National Reserve Association by these men Is aroused, but the scheme as finally submitted to the Monetary Commis sion by Its chairman has been modi fied to avert danger of such domina tion. The association Is to have forty- five directors, among whom three will .board ex-ofllclo. Of the thirty-nine : elected directors. New York State can only have four, though It has one fifth of the banking capital of the country, the others being divided In such manner as to represent all sec tions and all commercial Interests. The other three members are to be the governor and his two deputies, fleeted by the forty--tvo. The plan Is broadened to admit state banks trust companies and thus to cover the whole financial power of the country. Though ex-Senator Aldrich has been chiefly Instrumental In drafting this scheme. It Is the work "and has the approval of the whole commission, which Is a nun-partisan body. Its main features have received the frank approval of Senator Cummins, the in surgent leader, who certainly cannot' be suspected of any undue partiality to Mr. Aldrlch or his work. The fact that William J. Bryan has shown signs of hostility does not necessarily Imply that the Democrats will oppose It. The subject Is one In which the whole Nation is so vitally Interested that we ought to consider It Impartially with out regard to any party or person. It then cannot but . commend Itself to well-informed, fair-minded men and enlist their active support. sltlon of Oregon Senator commanding a California regiment raised in New York by himself and composed or New Yorkers. This course was fol lowed rather than march troops raised in California across the continent or send them around the Horn or across tbe Isthmus. deserts of Mr. Taft as a Presidential candidate. It Is ridiculous. It Is stupid. It Is dishonest, to say that a campaign must take care of Itself without or ganization, direction, suggestion or advice. .A newspaper that makes so foolish a contention has a low opin ion of the law and a demagogic view of Its duties to the public. The Presidential preference pri mary law expressly recognizes cam paign committees. It explicitly pro vides for the furtherance of their plans. It mentions them In several placus and It declares that "the com mittee or organization which shall file a petition to place the namo of any person on the nominating ballot of their political party to be voted for by Its members for expression of their choice for the nomination of such party for President or Vice President of the United States, shall have the right," etc.. etc. Space In the campaign textbook Is reserved for a statement by such committee or or ganization. Is anything more needed to show the entire good faith of the Taft com mittee or the entire bad faith of its critics? CATCHIVC. THE HARE. Mr. I. N. Day has selected some, pertinent extracts from the writings of Henry tJqorge Tor the purpose of offsetting the misrepresentations of single tax leaders In Oregon. These extracts have been given space else where In The Oregonlan, because The Oregonlan believes. . with Mr. Day, that the farmers and homebullders should understand Just what Is con templated by single tax. The promise of the single taxers that adoption of their plan would re duce taxes on Improved land Is un doubtedly made without the faith of lis proponents themselves. It Is but the method used to get the soup meat. "When the hare Is once caught and killed cooking hlrn will follow as a matter of course," said Henry George. His followers In Oregon are now after the hare. When the single tax apostle spoke of the "hare" he meant the proposi tion to put all taxes on the value of land. When he referred to the "cook ing" he had in mind the taking of so much of the rental value of land that "not much more than Is necessary to Induce them to collect the public rev enues" would be left to landlords, Single tax advocates propose In their own minds, but not always openly, an equivalent to the ownership of all land by all the people. "Let the In dividuals retain possession of what they are pleased to term their land," said Henry Georpe. "We may leave them the shell If we take the kernel." He would leave to landowners as rent revenues a percentage less than what It would cost the state "to rent lands through state agency" and this out come, he said, "is so natural and easy that it may be considered as Involved or understood In the proposition to put all taxes on the value of land." Unquestionably the real single tax leaders in Oregon believe that the ex cluding of all property but land from, taxation "Is the first step upon which the practical struggle must be made." But they are purposely silent on this phase of the subject. They offer fair promises of desired blessings. They would capture the "hare" la baited snares or pitfalls. They are pot hunt ers, not sportsmen. KVAPORATTNQ THE WATER. James J. Hill proposes to dispose of the trusts by evaporating the water which has been poured into their stock. This Is how he would do it: Th truat will vanlah aa coon a they ar compelled to show that every dollar or their capital atock ha been paid for In caah or property and labor at a fair valua tion. Oblige every corporation to do this, under Density of an assessment on stock holder to mak aood any deficiency 1n capi tal or surplus, or a scaling down ot capitalization to actual value, and tb truat would not long bother anybody. If this course were adopted, all of the capitalization representing mo nopoly value, economy of manage ment and exorbitant protection would disappear and the trusts would resemble a dropsical man re duced to bare bones. By this process the entire common stock of the steel, tobacco and probably many other trusts would be wiped out. This would be beneficial to the general public either in bringing down trust profits accordingly or in exposing their extortionate character. ' It would have one drawback, how ever. The persons who would suffer by the scaling of capitalization or as sessment of stock would not be the organizers of the trusts, who are the real culprits, for they have generally sold out and escaped with the plun der. It would be the innocent inves tors. A great cry would therefore go up on behalf of these "widows and orphans." "good roads from farm to market' are Indispensable.' This being true, the time will como when the rural community's reputa tion for thrift will be based upon the condition of what may be called "neighborhood roads." In the wider outlook the character. of the state for thrift and progressiveness will be Judged by the state highways. Both good neighborhood roads and good, broad highways are needed, if we would read our title clear to matorlal prosperity and to social and edu cational advancement. All will come In due time, not by pulling apart, but by pulling together the owners of farm vehicles and the owners of auto mobiles; those who dwell apart in rural communities and those who come together In urban and suburban life. Trolley lines and electric roads have done and are doing a great work for all classes, but they cannot wholly supplant, either In utility or pleasure, the good, broad highways leading up and down the state and the roads leading from farm to market. These should be worked for in harmony, not set up as achievements hostile to each other. The neighborhood roads we can have without leaving the state highways entirely out of the question, and we are fain to hope and believe that both will como In due time, for the simple reason that, as a progres sive state and people, we must have them. The United States has parcels post to almost every country except our own, thanks to the Senators who rep resent the express companies while pre tending to represent the people.. We have Just concluded a treaty with Pan. ama whereby we carry parcels weigh ing up to eleven pounds for 12 cents a pound, though we charge 16 cents a HOW COLON F.t, BAKER DIED. Fifty years ago,' on October 21. Col onel E. D. Baker, United States Sen ator from Oregon, was killed while leading the California regiment In the disastrous battle of Balls Bluff, near Leesburg. V, the second important engagement of the Civil War. News of this loss by the Pacific Coast was the first to come over the telegraph wire, after its completion from the East to Sacramento. It turned a day of re joicing Into one of gloom. In the course of a series of opera tions designed to clear his front of Confederates, and simply to hold the ground gained without making a gen eral advance. McClellan allowed a re ennnoissance on the Virginia side of the Potomac at Balls Bluff. No Con federate troops were uncovered and nd ' more troops were sent across until the Union force had grown to 2000 men. The troops first sent across were the Fifteenth and Twentieth Massachu setts, under Colonel Charles Dcvens of the former. They no sooner crossed than they were attacked by a far su perior force of Confederates. Behind them was the steep bluff, down which alone they coutd reach the river. They had no means of crossing except on three or four flatboats and a few smaller craft. The California regiment under Baker with a few detachments was sent to their relief, only to aggravate the disaster. After stubborn resist ance the Federals were driven to the edge of the bluff, down which they fled. Huddled at the foot of the bluff, many were shot down, powcrle'as to make effective resistance, many more tried to reach Harrison's Island in the middle of the liver by swimming or In boats and were drowned. The de feat became almost a massacre, in which Colonel Baker and several other officers were killed and many others drowned or captured. The Fifteenth Massachusetts lost 2S killed, TO wound ed and 324 drowned or captured, a total of III out of S25 engaged. The confidence ot the North was JfEVV RA1LROlU roucY. Severance of the management of the Southern Pacific and O.-W. R. St N. Railroads implies a disposition on the part of the Harrlman officials to comply with the law as Interpreted by the recent anti-trust decisions without awaiting decision of the ap peal In tho Government's suit against the Harriman system. Action of the Harrlman managoment U in the na ture of a voluntary dissolution of the combination. President Farxell's recent state ments convey the Impression that the object of this new policy goes beyond a mere desire to keep within the law. It Is also to win the confidence and co-operation of the people In carrying on the work in which, as Mr. Farrell truly says, the railroads and the people are partners, The Interests of railroads and people are reciprocal. Under modern condl Hons neither can prosper without the other. Each should be willing to do Justice; neither should ask or be given more than Justice. It is desirable that each should cultivate In the other, as In Itself, a frame of mind which will avoid controversy where possible or will settle controversy without resort to law. Lawsuits block the regular course of business, whether they re late to railroad rates or other affairs, and they produce Irritation on both sides which causes friction in minor daily transactions. We now have a good code of railroad law In both state and Nation and we are gradu ally getting it construed and learning Its exact meaning and Its effect on business. It may need expanding a little in some directions, contracting In others, but the main structure Is com. plcte. Let us ascertain the precise meaning and effect of this law before we seek any changes, for then we shall know better exactly what changes are needed. In the meantime let the people recognize the new spirit which ani mates the railroad managements. They cheerfully accept accomplished facts: then let the people forget past grievances. They hold out the hand to the people and say: "Let us pull together"; let tho people grasp that hand In the same spirit and accept the Invitation. For there Is much work for railroads and people to do Jointly, which neither can do separ ately. The banks keep the money of tho country circulating, but the rail roads keep the commodities circulat ing which that money represents. Without people In the country to pro duce traffic, the railroads would starve to death; without railroads to open up the country and haul Its products to market, the country would be sparsely settled or remain art uninhabited . waste. These are truisms, but we need to be frequently reminded of them that they may guide our conduct. The participation of such men as Mr. Farrell In that great field of public affairs which is without the domain of politics and which In secret societies comes under the head of "general good of the order" should be welcomed. A man who can suc cessfully manage several thousand miles of railroad Is equipped to aid materially any movement for the general good. The respective views which a city and country Jury take of a low-cut gown will be made known if Dorothy Jardon carries out her threat (or promise, which?) to dance In the gown before a New ' York Jury when her defamation suit against Martinetti comes to trial. A "farmers' Jury" hits awarded Martinetti J6500 damages for dismissal because he protested against the gown. This affords tho first op portunity to distinguish between coun. try and city Ideas of propriety. But perhaps the farmers would have de cided otherwise if Miss Jardon had danced before them In the gown. WHAT SINGLE TAX RALLY IS Extracts From Henry Geors-e'a Writings Belie Arguments of Local Advocate. PORTLAND. Oct. 22. (To the Edi tor.) The wide spread Interest taken in the discussion of the single taoc theory evidenced by the frequent let ters published in the local press and the amount of misinformation spread before the reading public, impels me to suggest that the discussion be confined more closly to a consideration of the basic principles of the theory. Inasmuch as the single tax theory will probably be submitted to the voters of Orepron at the coming election for adoption or rejection. It is import ant that the subject be thoroughly understood by every voter thereof and especially important to the . farmers and home builders to know the scope and Intent of the single tax. Few people have the . time, oppor tunity and inclination to investigate at first hand the various remedies offered for the betterment of the condition of society and it becomes the function and duty of a great journal to epito mize the various arguments for and against to the end that citizens may vote understanding thereon. In view of the well nigh popular misconception of what 1b meant by the single tax, and the wide and Irrelevant range the discussion has taken, I take the liberty of offering the following literal quotations from the writings of Henry George, the expounder of the doctrine, from which a clearer un derstanding may be had of his theory, than can be obtained by attempting to follow the vague, illogical and decep tive wanderings of his deluded fol lowers. As considerable space will be taken therewith I will not attempt In this communication to discuss what must appear to every sound student of poli tical enconomy what would be the dis astrous effects the adoption of the single tax would have upon the affairs of the citizens of Oregon. I. N. DAY, WHAT'S DOIJTG Ui OREGON COCN'TRY Banking- In Bllas. . Dayton Tribune. Our editorial home was relieved of Its gloom a few days this week by the return of the editor's better half. World Backed OS Map. Burns News. For pretty and intelligent women, fine cooking and the most charming service, no place on earth can hold a candle to our little city. Tho amount of money .expended annually on pensions Is at last on the decline, there having been a net de crease in the number of pensioners in the last fiscal year of 28,985. The amount expended has not decreased In proportion, the decline ' having been checked by the passage of hosts of private pension bills. Unless Congress should materially increase the rate of pension paid each veteran, a steady annual decrease may be expected. The grand hailing sign has an ef fect the reverse of that Intended when given to Judge Gay In his official ca pacity. If Charles Hollenbeck had given the grand hailing sign before attempting blackmail Judge Gay 'In his private capacity might have saved him from Judge Gay on the bench. He has five years to meditate on his blunder. The yacht Coronet, of the Holy Ghost and Us Society, is the vessel which was said to have "panhandled" its way across the Atlantic by begging provisions from ocean liners. The crew would have made a better voy age had it paid more attention to nav. igatlon and less to theology. If it is good business for the Gov ernment to irrigate arid land and sell It on ten-year payments, Why Is It not good business for the state to clear logged-off land on the same terms, or for banks to make loans for the pur pose? The champion Beavers have not left the stage, but the Winged M has al ready entered and won Its initial vie- tory- It Portland can add the football to the baseball championship, what a glorious year 1911 will be in history, New England is so afraid of ml crobes that it objects, to keeping paper money In circulation more than three weeks, while the South keeps it over a year. Well, New England always was a rather finicky old maid. The wife of a lifelong Democrat naturally will vote the Republican ticket when given the opportunity. Women are progressive, and Republic anism Is the essence of progress. The East Is fastidious in demanding clean currency. The difference be tween the coasts Is that here money revolves so rapidly It acquires a pol ish. WK T.ED GOOD KOADfl. Farmers of Oregon, as far as they have expressed themselves through resolutions passed by the granges, are in favor of good roads I. e. good roads for hauling produce from farm to market and Incidentally, of course, for use of automobiles in business and In pleasure. They are opposed to the construction of trunk highways by state aid, believing that each dis trict should be taxed only for the building of its own roads. This view, under the circumstances. Is a natural one. Farmers need roads, as they ex press it, "from farm to market," that will supplement their agricultural ef forts by enabling them to place crops where they can secure returns for them promptly, not only during a few months In the year, but -at any time of year. Diversified farming means "some thing to sell" from the farm, the or chard, the vegetable garden, the poul try plant or the dairy every week In the year. Returns came In, according to the single crop method, once a Having acquired a competence and quit newspaper work. Nelson XV. Dur ham may run for Congress in the East ern Washington district to keep busy. Lively would make the right kind of livestock commissioner for the big exposition. Lively knows livestock from tip to tall. Death of Reuben Smith, builder of the f'rst steamboat to run on the Co lumbia, reminds us how young Oregon Is after all. Bidding for the Mormon vote In Idaho Is biennial diversion for both big parties. Mr. Hill's Great Northern made a good record for the past year in injur ing but nine passengers and killing none. James J. Hill says money Is plenty, but he men who hold It are lacking In confidence. Was It ever otherwise? The man who wants a little "vel vet" for the. holidays can make It by withholding sale of his hops. The welcome Eugene Is giving io the electric line shows that hustling1 city knows what it wants. Hops are not hops any more. They are money In the Fall of 1911. Fall seeding Is In progress and game birds are fat. rage 2D5. W have traced th unequal distribution of wealth which Is the curse and menace of modern civilization to the institution ot private property In land. We must make land common property. This Is the remedy lor the unjust and unequal distribution of wealth and all the evils that Bow from It. This simple measure Is easy of application. Pare S07. if r clear a forest, drain a swamp or fill a morass, all I can Justly claim 1 th value given by these exertions. They give to me no right to the land Itself, no claim other than to my equal share with every other member of the community in the value which is added to It by th growth of the community. Page S08. Thou are ImDTOvementi which. In time. hecome indlstinculshable from the land Itself. Very well the title to the improve ments becomes blended with the tltl to the land, the Individual right Is lost In th common right, Pag Set. The fact 'that after a certain lapse time the value of such permanent improvements would be considered as having lapsed Into the land and would be taxed accordingly could have no deterrent effect oa such im provements. rare me. By the time the people of the United States are sufficiently aroused to the In justice and disadvantages of individual ownership of land to induce them to at tempt Its nationalization they will be suf ficiently aroused to nationalize It In a much more direct and easy way than by purchase. They will not trouble themselves about com pensating the proprietors of land. Pace 820. If we apply the same maxims of Justice that have been formulated by landowners into law, we will not think of giving the landholders any compensation for the land, but will take all the Improvements and whatever else they may have as well. But I do not propose to go so far. Let the land owners retain their improvements and per sonal property. In t this would be no op pression, no Injury to any class. Even landownera would share In th gen eral gain. The gain of even the large land holders would be a real one. For In wel coming Justice, men welcome th handmaid of love. Peace and plenty follow In their train. Page 863. We have weighed every objection and seen that neither on the ground of equity or expediency Is there anything to deter ua from making land common property by con fiacatlng rent. We should satisfy the law of Justice, we meet all economic requirements by at one stroke abolishing all private titles, declar ing land public property and letting It out to the hicheet bidders In lots to suit under such conditions as would sacredly guard the private rights to improvements. Page 303. But such a plan, though perfectly feasi ble, does not "seem to me the best. 1 pro- Dose to accomplish the same thing in simpler, easier and quieter way than that of formally confiscating all the land and formally letting it out to tho highest bidder. Page 864. I do not propose to purchase or confis cate private property In land. Let the individuals retain possession of what they are pleased to call their land. We may leave them th aheli If we take the kernel. It la not necessary to confiscate land. It is only necessary to confiscate rent. The machinery already exists. By leaving landowners a percentage of rent less than the cost and loss Involved in attempting, to rent lands through state agency and by making use of this machln ery. we may assert the common right to land by taking rent for public use. We already take some rent by taxation. We have only to make some changes in our modes of taxation to take it all. What I propose is to appropriate rent by taxation. In this way the state may become the universal landlord. - Rent being taken by the state In taxes. and no matter In whose name It stood or In what parcels held, would become com mon property. Paaje 865. Inasmuch as taxation of rent or land values must necessarily be increased. Just as we abolish other taxes, we put the propo sition 1n practical form. 1. e,. abolish all taxation save that upon land values. It will be necessary when rent exceeds the present Governmental revenues to in crease the amount taken in taxation and to continue this Increase as society progresses and rent advances. This Is so natural and easy that It may be considered as in volved or .underatood In the propoaftion to put all taxes on the value of land. This Is the first step upon which the practical struggle must be made. When the hare Is once caught and killed, cooking him will follow aa a matter of course. When the common right to land is so tar appreciated that all taxes are abolished, save those which fall upon rent, there is no danger of much more than la neceaaary to Induce them to collect the public revenues being 'left to landlorda. Page 886. If once the truth which I am trying to make clear la understood by the masses. It Is easy to see how a union of political forces, strong enough to carry it into prac tice, becomes possible. Page 802. This simple device of plaoing all taxes on tho value of land would be In effect putting up the land at auction to whoever would pay the highest rent to the state. The demand for land Axes Its value, hence If taxes were placed so as to very "nearly consume that value, the man who wished to hold land without using It would have to pay very nearly what It would be worth to anyone who wanted to use It. Sacramento's First Born Is Sweep. Albany Democrat. George Stougii, the old man chimney sweep, has been cleaning chimneys for 41 years, beginning when he was 30. He was born in Sacramento in 1840. the first white child born in that city. He has spent his entire life on the Coast, Utah being the furthest east, and has probably been in every town on the Coast from Portland to Los Angeles. WHEN MOTHER'S AWAY By Janus K. Faucett. Deaf Worker la Wizard. Hillsboro Argus. There is a deaf mute on the paving contract that is a wizard to ''work and the way he eats up labor stunts is worth while. He can move around faster than a Frenchman and he is not afraid of exercising his muscle. He holds the rock spreader and is Just fitted for the work, as he can't swear at the team or teamster, whereas, were he able to Indulge m lauguage there would certainly be some sul phuric English poured out every min ute or so. Reuben's Fxtnctnre. Forest Grove News-Times. Rejben Whitlow, an aged native son of Oregon, having first seen the light of day in Yamhill County about 60 years ago, visited the Grove Wednes day. When he was a young fellow he and his brother Miles went gunning one day. with the old family blunder buss loaded with fine -shot. Miles took a shot at about everything that ran on four legs or wore feathers that they met, but failed to bring down any game. This disgusted Reuben and he told his brother that he couldn't hit the side of a barn. "Why," said Reu ben, "you couldn't hit me." Reuben stood off about 100 yards, broadside to his brother, in a stooping position, with his face to the east. Miles took dead aim and fired and Reuben took his rations from the mantel for the following two months. We miss her in the mornin" when our peepers open ur. We miss her in the evenln' when the kids come home to sup: We miss her 'long at noon time an' again along at night, We miss her when we're feelin fine an' when we don't feel right When the dishes all need washin' piled upon the table top An the floor Is Jest demand In soap an water and a mop. When the bed sheets need a changln' and the klvers stralghtcnin' out. An' our hats 'n' coats need findin' (though of course they're close about). An' a hundred other little things a-beckonln' us to come When we hain't the time to do 'em no not half of 'em By Gum! It is then again we mis the one thet's gone away from homo. Robert misses. Philip misses. Ruth she misses you. Dad, he misses. All send kisses to dear Mother true. Dolly Horse is lookin" lankoy an' we think It's cause She's gone. An' tho Rooster's crow is feeble every mornin' Jest at dawn. An' the bees don't gathpr honey ('cause the Honey's gone away). But 1 guess they'll all feel better when I tell 'em she won't stay. What's the use of alius workin' when the mother's gone away, When you can't have her approval of tho labors of the day? Glad you worked an' glad you're weary, yet a-wlshin' mighty hard That afore you closed yer peepers ye could talk some with yer pard Why, say, mister, "Nothln" Doin' " is the motto I'll adopt If this awful lonesome feelin' isn't pretty quickly stopped. Robert misses, Philip misses. Daddy misses. All send kisses To Dear Mother True. Stanfleld. Or., October 21, 1911. rage 431. The assumption of physical improvement In the race within the time of which we have knowledge is utterly without warrant and la absolutely disproved. We know that neither in proportion nor strength has the race improved within 2000 years. , But the assumption of mental improve ment which Is even more confidently and generally made, la still more preposterous. Did the invention of the railroad, coming when it did. prove any greater Inventive power than did the invention of the wheel barrow ? A child of the most Ignorant parents may become a pioneer of science or a leader of thought. Pat-e 409. Society would thus approach the abolition of government. But of government only as a directing aad repressive power. . It would at the same time and in the same degree become possible for it to realUe th dream of socialism. HEALTH DEFENSE LEAGUE SPEAKS Confidence Expressed That Compulsory Vaccination Is Doomed. PORTLAND, Oct, 21. (To the Edi tor.) Let's turn the light on the vac cination question now that we have started it. Compulsory vaccination is not going to last long; it has had Its day Just as the authority of kings and churches have had theirs. Right here I wish to state that vaccination does not prevent smallpox and we can prove it in one or a hundred Instances. England abolished . compulsory vac cination some time ago, for the Eng lish discovered the folly of it. The States of Michigan, Louisiana, Minnesota and Utah have abolished compulsory vaccination. And now comes our sister state California which has repealed tne law compelling people to Inject poison Into their systems to make them well. let The Oregonlan says that our reit eration of stock falsehoods and ignor ance win win converts. A great many doctors yes, M. D's. do not believe in vaccination and would not allow their children to be vaccln ated under any circumstances. How well do the doctors know that if their vaccination theory is exploded and ex posed that their entire serum theory is wrong absolutely. Osteopaths, chiropractors, naturo paths, many homeopaths and eclectics don t vaccinate people and thev are strongly opposed to It- Let those who want vaccination vaccinate and re-vac clnate and re-re-vaccinate as much as they like; of course they will then be immune; but leave the rest of us alone. for what matters it to those vaccinated? Let The Oregonlan fairly investigate the vaccination of the streetcar men recently at the Piedmont barns and sea what resulted. The vaccinated people manage for the most part to keep free irom Diooa poisoning until the vacci nator visits them. Smallpox certainly should be avoided and can be by keep ing the blood pure and healthy, by proper iooa and rignt living generally. CHARLES W. EITZ, Secretary Health Defense League. REFORM NEEDED IN JURY SYSTE5I Correspondent Declares It an Instru ment for Discrediting; Intelligence. WALLOW A.' Or., Oct. 20. (To the Editor.) I read with interest The Ore gonian's excellent editorial on the "Model Juror" and Indorse all you say "touching on and appertaining thereto." Our jury system is so often extolled as the Inviolable bulwark of our Na tional liberties that it has become al most a fetish. At the mere mention of the subject impassioned orators are wont to Jump to their feet. Jerk their long, red tongues out of their scab bards, and brandish them about in the most frenzied manner. So inolerant of criticism are these champions of our liberties that one is reminded of the hindu devotee, who, beholding a cup of water from the sacred Ganges River under a microscope for the first time, and seeing with horror the wriggling vermin therein, promptly smashed the microscope to pieces and supposed he had settled the matter once and for ever. It must be apparent, however, to every falrrminded and intelligent observer that your criticisms on our modern Jury system are very much in point. Mark Twain once declared that the most ingenious and Impregnable in stitution ever devised by human genius for dfTeating the ends of Justice is the American Jury system. And while we cannot accept the humorist's stric ture without a considerable reservation for the purposes of wit, it can be as serted with absolute and undevillzed truth that as an instrument for dls crediting human Intelligence our Jury system Is about the finest thing that human wit ever devised or human pa tience ever suffered to endure. The largest room in this world is the room for improvement in the method of se lectlng and Impaneling a Jury. I think your suggestion to eliminate th peremptory challenge and leave the matter of dismissal for cause to the cold neutrality of an impartial judge s a very sensible and practical im provement.. ANDREW R. MARKER. Country Town Sayings by Ed Howe A Congressman is a good deal like a railroad man: he Jollies the people along until they forget their wrongs, and the people have so many wrongs that they can't remember all of them very long. How careful and sensible a man ts the day after he made a fool of him self! In Winter, when the different legisla tures are In session, a reform wave is as certain as a revival in the South when the negroes have nothing else to do. A poker Joke always gets a laugh; but a large majority of men know little about the game except that a good hand Is hard to get. An awkward man in society Is often a thoroughbred In business. We all have too much confidence; and this conceit often gets us into trouble. Keep out of trouble. If possible; about all your friends will do for you when you get In, will be to say: "I'm sorry." A contractor's "tomorrow" means three or four weejes from tomorrow. I haven't gone to school in 40 years, but the ringing of a school bell always gives me a vague feeling of dread. This is a great country for rain when we don't need It, and for dry weather when we need rain. Half a Century Ago From The Oregonlan October 23, 1861. Captain Lingenfelter, killed in a recent skirmish near Washington, was formerly a resident of Jackson County in this state, and was appointed a captain in Roderick Mathewson's Cali fornia regiment three or four months ago. He was esteemed as a man of great promise as a soldier and In private life was an exemplary citizen. The Oregon City Argus says the new warehouse Is rapidly approaching com pletion and the breakwater Is rapidly being repaired. Hereafter freights will be raised and lowered there by means of a car running up and down an In clined plane. The Steamship Pacific from San Fran cisco brought up five companies of volunteers to garrison the forts In Oregon. They were landed at Vancouver. Ex-Governor I. I. Stevens, as Colo nel, led the late advance of 2500 men Into Virginia. We believe that Gov ernor Stevens will make his mark in this war. Secret in Preserving Paintings. New York Herald. Experiments made by William B. Van Ingen, the mural painter, convince him that he has found the method by which the ancient Egyptians produced paint ings which have stood the test of thou sands of years and have proved them selves more durable than works In oil. He is assured of his success by a re cent inspection of his decorations in the United States mint In Philadelphia, which were made in this medium, which was old when the pyramids were young. The colors are mixed with rosin and white beeswax and are applied hot. The design is perfected 'with iron tools of various sizes and forms, modeled after instruments of the ancient painters which were exhumed from the Egyp tian sands. It is necessary to keep thi colors hot while they are being laid on, and the tools with which the surface Is worked later are heated. SINGLE TAXER COVETS A FARM f Corvallla Writer Thinks Fels Cult la Composed of Town Exotica. CORVALLIS, Or., Oct. 20. (To the Editor.) I see Joseph IL Wilson offers to sell the single tuxer signing "Just a Woman," a farm in the locality she desires at an eighth of what she claims they cost. Let me inform brother Wil son that your typical single taxer is an exotio of the towns and wants the farm only for the other fellow. Out side their propaganda work, they turn up their noses at the conditions of the farm. Your true farmer, knowing the land to be his chief and prime essential asset, is not howling for all the taxes to be placed on it. It is your single taxer like "Only a Woman," and "R. C. Lascomb," who want the land made "cheap," "accessible" and "desirable" by taxing the value out of it. The place for these economists to air their views is in that limbo one plane lower than the residence of the one trying to lift himself over the fence by pulling on his boot straps, or the inventor of perpetual motion. If such is the logic of woman, let us con tent ourselves with the single taxers, without meddling at present with wom an suffrage. "The unearned increment," All the rental value," "The land mo nopoly," are the stock phrases of those that want not to live on and work the land, but that the state shall socialize it, acquire Its capital value and lease Jt to the farmers, who shall bear the burdens of the state, while your single taxer, professional politician and tax- eater enjoys the proceeds, loafs in town, theaters, clubs, automobiles and all the rest of the more or less delect able concomitants of the "high cost of living," while the farmer he pays the piper and gets but little of the fun. Let me whisper in the ear of the single-taxer: "Friend, you are not a farmer, you are right in keeping oft the farm, but don't meddle with farm ers or their taxes. Their taxes are high enough, and it 'is not they who get. covet or depend on taxes. The town can take care of you, but the folly of fools cuts a poor caper on the farm." T. R. SLASSON. Dlsclplinsr a Friend. Baltimore American. Friend (sarcastically) Which one of your many bad habits do you think you could manage to give up? Easy One (nettled) That of lending: my friends money.