Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, October 27, 1911, Page 12, Image 12

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    12 THE MORNTXQ OKEGOXIAy, FKIPAT, OCTOBER 27, 1911.
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PORTLAND. OKEbOX. '
Enteral at Portland. Oregon. Fcetotfloe
Facond-OaM Mattar.
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Sunday and Weakly, ons yaar.
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How HsnUt esnd rostoftlcs monsy
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your loca.1 bank. fttajnpe. coin or eurrcy
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rORTU.XD, FRIDAY. OCTOMB 17. 111.
ARE THEKE WI LEON'S VIEWS
A very Interesting llttlo book, called
"Short Ballot Principle." has been
written by Richard S. Childs. which
seems to be edging its way Into the
Presidential nomination contest In the
Democratic party. Mr. Child's book
not only presents certain novel and
radical propositions, but presents them
In a picturesque style not often found
In writings on such subjects. The
ideas presented have attracted atten
tion and they deserve to, but as they
gain this attention Mr. Childs retires
r-omewhat to the background and Gov
ernor Woodrow Wilson moves for
ward. The cause may be considered some
what elusive, but it is this: Mr. Childs
Is secretary of the National Short-Ballot
Organization and Governor Wilson
Is president of the same organization.
It is argued that the short-ballot prin
ciples enunciated by Mr. Childs are the
principles of the short-ballot organi
zation and that therefore they are the
principles of Woodrow Wilson, Gover
nor of New Jersey and Presidential
aspirant. Among the things suggested
in "Short Ballot Principles" is abol
ishment of counties and the recon
struction of political parties. The fol
lowing principles have been selected
from the book as among the most
surprising:
1 believe that ws "hall ultimately find onr
war oul f th county prol.lem ... by
gradually aboliMilnK tlio c'uil" as an elec
tive unit. . . . HherlfTs may le replaced
bv ofneers of a stats police ntrcing stats
laa-a.
Ail Judges should be nnpntntlve rather
than el.- live. . . . Kaderul Judgns ar
j;erior la honesty and ability to elected
1 ud t es.
The two branches of the legislature
a'mu.J be consolidated Into ons body of not
mors than thirty member. In a large stats
like New York or ten In a stats like Mary
land or Nebraska. This body should se-l-ot
the tlovernor. who In turn would se
lect the other slate officers, lea lug the
government "strong and unhnmpered."
Parties governed by the rank and file are
topny-turvy." The government snouid be
a democracy, but the party an sulci rar,.
parties should be controlled from auovs
and not from below.
But apparently Governor Wilson's
friends do not want to stand sponsor
for Mr. Childs' principles. Newspa
pers friendly to Governor Wilson have
repudiated the principles in his behalf
and now the short-ballot organization
does the same thing. The latter an
nounces that only four chapters out of
the twelve in the book parallel the
preachings of the organization and
that "the rest of the book (Including
the part taken exception to by the
newspapers) Involves questions of the
application of the doctrine which the
organization in its constitution Is ex
pressly debarred from trying to de
cide." It is distinctly stated that the
hook Is not In any way the official ex
pression of the short-ballot organiza
tion or of Woodrow Wilson.
But there is something almost as
surprising about this announcement as
there is In the principles published in
Mr. Childs book. Accompanying the
denial of responsibility which has been
sent to the press is a further an
nouncement. "Short Ballot Princi
ples" by Mr. Childs may be repub
lished In the newspapers. For per
mission to republish apply to the Na
tional Short-Ballot Organization. Odd,
isn't it. that after repudiating the
work the organization Invites applica
tions to itself for permission to repub
lish? We also find that the outside paper
cover of Mr. Childs' book carries the
following inscription: "The short-ballot
organization, of which Woodrow
Wilson. Governor of New Jersey, is
president, and which has on its advis
ory board many prominent men, is
one from which goodly results may
confldently be expected. This state
ment of its principles by its executive
secretary is of distinct value to the
public at large."
Here we have a volume advertised
as containing a statement of the prin
ciples of the organization of which
Governor Wilson is president; a vol
ume for which sponsorship Is denied
by the organization, but still a volume
which the organization offers to sell to
the press. The situation undoubtedly
holds advertising advantages for Mr.
Childs and his publishers and adver
tising disadvantages for a Presidential
aspirant who seems to find the
views expressed In the book too radi
cal for him to father at this time, but
which may continually bob up as his
neglected and repudiated offspring.
CERMAJt DESIGNS IX AFRICA.
Germany's real purpose in stirring
up the Moroccan controversy is gradu
ally coming to light. About Morocco
Itself she appears to have cared little,
but magnified her shadowy claim on
that country to the utmost as a means
of extorting concessions from France
on the central coast of West Africa.
Her ambition is to secure a strip of
territory across Central Africa "from
coast to coast and to connect the In
dian and Atlantlo Oceans with a Ger
man railroad. By securing from
France the cession of French Congo
north and east of the Sanga River, she
will secure a foothold on the Atlantic
and obtain territory stretching far
into the interior. The northern part
of the Belgian Congo win still Inter
vene between this new acquisition and
German East Africa. We may expect
her to maneuver next for a slice of
that country sufficient to close the gap.
This will require the consent of all the
powers which placed the Congo under
Belgian rule, and of these the United
States Is one.
Should Germany gain her point, she
will have won what Great Britain has
lost the opportunity to cross Africa
by rail- The only non-British terri
tory on the route of the proposed
Cape-to-Cairo Railroad Is German
East Africa, which Great Britain
weakly or from necessity let go. A
British railroad may extend south
wixi from Alexandria to the aorta-
era shore of Victoria Nyanza and from
Cape Town to the southern end of
Lake Tanganyika, but the two roads
cannot be connected to close the gap
without crossing " German East Af
rica. This will require the consent of
Germany, who may be expected to ex
act British support of the cession of
part of Belgian Congo as the price.
This deal completed, Africa will
soon be bisected by a British railroad
from north to south and a German
railroad from east to west and the
heart of what was once the Dark Con
tinent will have one of the greatest
railroad Junctions in the world..
HOW ABOTT MR. BRTAJTf
Rome enthusiastic Oregon Democrats at a
banquet the other evening raided enthusi
asm over a proposal ty have William Jen
nings Hryan the standard bearer again for
the coming campaign. Oregon politics
mske such a proposal seem posslbls In
Oregon only. Chetialig Nugget.
Mr. Bryan is the only open, avowed,
unconditional, uncompromising friend
of the Oregon system In the field
among the Democrats. He is for the
initiative and referendum, the recall
(Including the Judiciary), the direct
election of United States Senators,
Statement No. 1, the direct primary
and every policy, issue, principle, pro
vision, statute and proposal of the
Oregon system, down to the last syl
lable. No other Democrat of Presi
dential stature has said so much or
done so much for the Oregon system.
Every other Democrat has saved an
exception, or several exceptions, in
his approval, or has been uncertain,
evasive or silent. But not Bryan.
Many Democrats in Oregon believe
that the Oregon system should be
made a National issue. Some Dem
ocrats insist that every other con
sideration of politics or government is
comparatively Insignificant or entirely
negligible. The next Democratic Na
tional Convention will be asked to ap
prove affirmatively and explicitly the
Oregon plan, either as an entirety or
in Its various essential features.
Where will stand Mr. Wilson, or Mr.
Harmon, or Mr. Folk, or Mr. Clark, on
that vital proposal? They will take
to the woods, every one of them. But
not Mr. Bryan. He will be for the
Oregon method, with all the power of
his persuasive eloquence.
How can any Oregon Democrat,
loyal to the Oregon plan, be for any
other than Bryan for President?
MrCH XEW8 FOR ROGERS.
The surprise of Rogers, alias Kelly,
who has recently discovered his Iden
tity, on learning the news of the Span
ish War, serves to recall how many
great events are crowded Into a short
period. Not only Is the Spanish War,
with all Its consequences, news to
Rogers, but the Boer War, the Boxer
expedition to Pekln, the Russo-Japanese
War, the construction of the Pan
ama Canal, the assassination of Mc
Klnley, the entire Roosevelt Adminis
tration, the eruption of Mount Peleo,
the San Francisco earthquake, the in
vasion of the Orient by democracy, the
death of many great men and women,
and. last but not least, the discovery
of Plnchot and eruption of Plnchot
ism. All these great events, which are
stale to us who have read of them
from day to day, have all the piquancy
of news to Rogers, and will be poured
into his reawakened memory in one
stream. He will have to learn all
about automobiles and airships, about
Jeffries and Johnson, about Christy
Mathewson and Baker. If he wishes
really to catch up, he will have to read
a small library.
Then think of the things he has es
caped by being transformed from
Rogers to Kelly and back again to
Rogers. Kelly, who has now ceased
to exist, had to endure endless Presi
dent's messages, speeches and debates
In Congress. He suffered through a
whole dozen years of uplift and muck
raking. He was compensated for this
Infliction to some extent by reading all
the salacious matrimonial adventures
of the Coreys, Castellanes. Astors and
Goodwins. If Rogers wishes to learn
of these things, he must go back to the
old newspaper files.
Liosn of identity has Its advantages as
well as its drawbacks. We can think
of some men who would confer a boon
on humanity by losing their identity
and qever finding It.
MR. MKRCHR OX MORALS.
The Oregonlan gathers several in
ter eating things from the belated let
ter of Its old friend, Mr. McKercher.
The first and most pleasant Is that
Brother McKercher is still alive and
kicking and In the van. of the forlorn
hope for Nation-wide prohibition.
Another is that he indicts the people,
the Government and the states for
bartering away publlo health and
public morals for the sake of paltry
gold, although the United States Su
preme Court says plainly that they
have no right to do it; but they per
versely go right ahead doing as they
like about their own health and
morals. Another idea we get Is that
Brother McKercher is severely of the
opinion that the President of the
United States ought to adopt an at
titude toward prohibition that will
lead to his certain defeat.
We are Just a trifle perplexed as to
how to deal with the McKercher let
ter. It would appear, however, that
If the Government, the people and the
states unite to determine what Is best
for the public health and morals, they
should be left to their fate, even
though a Supreme Court declares that
they really ought not to do It. But
possibly the court. In expressing the
opinion which Mr. McKercher so feel
ingly quotes, was not discussing liquor,
license or prohibition at all. We sus
pect ao. Will the brother let us
know?
Of course. It can be well understood
that the prohibitionist Ideal of a can
didate for President la of one who is
neither a Republican, Democrat,
statesman, nor politician, and cannot
by any possibility be elected. Presi
dent Taft still entertains the hope
that he may be re-elected and de
clines to destroy his chances by fol
lowing the prohibition lead. But he
is a prohibitionist, nevertheless. He
drinks no liquor: not a drop. There
are many people In the country who
regard personal abstinence as the only
true and practicable prohibition.
A ICCRO.
It Is sometimes said in opposition
to international peace that without
war there will be nothing to develop
bravery. Heroes will disappear from
the face of the earth, and self-sacrifice
will be heard of no more forever.
No doubt war does to a certain ex
tent develop heroism. During many
ages no heroes were heard of except
those of the battlefield, but does it
follow that no others existed? Were
It not for the accidental survival of
their printed works we should never
know from the records of the Eliza
bethan age that Shakespeare, Mar
lowe and Ben Jonson were men of
any consequence. The chronicles
have much to say of the glories of
military personages but little or noth
ing of their superiors.
Very likely It has been the same al
ways. There have been multitudes of
heroes of all sorts but Inasmuch as
nobody took the trouble to sing their
praises their memories were obliterat
ed. So It comes about that we believe
In the silly falsehood that war is the
only cause which makes heroes. There
are many causes. Baseball has Its
roll.
Any man who does his duty at the
cost of pain to himself is a hero.
When Jack Coombs, the Philadelphia
pitcher, injured himself in the middle
of a game thj- other day if he had
been a man of common mold he
would have gone groaning from the
fiold at once. But Jack did not leave
the field. He did not even- groan.
though the agony he was suffering
must have been something terrible.
He pitched on and only yielded to his
injury in what in the absence of a tie
would have been the last inning.
Steadfast fidelity to duty is the
most precious thing In the world, no
matter whether a man shows It on the
battlefield or at a baseball game or
In the performance of the quiet duties
of dally life. It is fidelity to duty
that holds civilization together. With
out it the world would fall Into chaos
and all that we value would perish
We bow to the man who does his
duty, be it exalted or humble, and
we hail him as the real hero of the
world.
A 8 HARP ARRAIOXMirST.
The clubwomen of Chicago are go
ing to address themselves to the gam
bling evil that runs riot in high places
and In low for the purpose not of
checking It merely, but in the hope
practically to eliminate it. Pursuant
to this purpose they will begin their
attack upon bridge whist gaming
which, together with the tolerant at
titude of the mothers of the unborn
as well as of children already in their
homes, they regard as the baleful root
of a monstrous growth called g&mDiing.
The attention of the clubwomen of
Chicago was called to this phase of
the gambling evil by the scathing re
marks of Municipal Judge Walker, of
that city, who, in passing upon a gam
bling case recently, declared that play
ing bridge whist for a penny a point
was gambling and that he would pun
Ish any woman brought before him on
this charge as severely as he would
common cigar-store poker players.
Instead of making Indignant pro
test against this plainly righteous rul
ing, prominent clubwomen accept its
Justice. One highly Intelligent wo
man, who is a forceful and persua
slve speaker before women's clubs.
said:
If r emiM annaar before the women a
clubs of Chlcsgo and tell them of the sor
row that gambling has orougm into
homs 1 could Indues svsrr olubwoman In
Chicago to drop brldgs whist, suchre, or
any other game she plays for prlres.
That In Itself Is not so bad, but It lsarts
to a tolerant attltudo on ths part of ths
women t::at prevents them from keeping
their husbani'n and sons from gambling.
They are ashamed to complain, when they
know they are equally guilty.
That this estimate is not over
drawn; that It is in fact well within
the lines of moderation all but the
most slavish devotees of prize whist
Dlavlns7 must acknowledge. That the
seeds of gambling are sown in the
"penny-a-point game" cannot be
questioned. But the first sowing is
when the dainty prize In silver, china
or quaint device of deft fingers that
is of more than souvenir value is of
fered to be eagerly striven for not
always In friendly spirit or smiling
good, nature, but with knitted brows,
black looks at the partner who has
made a stupid play, or manifest anger
at supposed, perhaps alleged, trickery
In opposing players. What, Indeed, Is
this but gambling? What but foster
ing the gambling spirit mayhap In
the unborn, certainly in the home?
What but making unjust the reproach
directed by a prize-whist player at
the son she has borne or the husband
she has trusted when he reels home
from the gaming table ruined In
purse?
This Is putting it pretty strong. But
not stronger than the presidents of
the various women's clubs In Chicago
have put It not stronger than the
facta in the case warrant. It is but
Just to say, however, that gambling
antedates by centuries in history of
mankind the introduction of bridge
whist and the playing of this and
other games by women In their homes
for prizes. Hence this can hardly be
called the "root of the evil." To the
conscientious woman who still retains
the highly responsible cast of charac
ter that made women the conserva
tors of the morals of the home and of
society In the storied past, the chat
ter of the bridge whist players on the
streetcars as they go home to a late
dinner, cynical husband and fretting
children, after having wasted an en
tire afternoon at cards, trying to "best
each other" on penny points or eager
ly striving to win the prize offered by
the hostess, reveals a mental empti
ness if not a moral nakedness.
"I do not think," Said the president
of a very large club of women in Chi
cago, in connection with this matter,
"that women who Indulge in these
games realize the deplorable results
of their example." This Is a charita
ble and no doubt a Just view. But it
Is a view that cannot be held If, after
having their attention called to the
subject as the Chicago clubwomen
propose, bridge whist gambling con
tinues to prevail under the seductive
guise of social enjoyment, or to bo
made the leading feature In seml
publlc entertainments. The charge is
one that cannot be dismissed by a
haughty shrug or a scornful stare.
The evidence adduced of the demor
alizing effect of playing bridge whist
or other social games for "penny
points" or valuable prizes calls for
stronger rebuttal than this before the
case will be discredited In the open
court of public opinion.
As shown by the report of Commissioner-General
Henry G. Sharp of the
United States Army, several Impor
tant changes In the Army ration for
the American solider have been, made
during the past year. These, briefly
summarized, consist In the elimina
tion of chicken from the Army menu,
at a yearly saving of 152,000 to the
Government, the limitation of turkey
to Thanksgiving and Christmas, and
the substitution of so-called "field
bread" for hardtack. Vnll lhls
change In the sollder's ration will
doubtless be criticised as parsimonious
since, as shown further in the report,
it costs the Government a little less
than 23 cents- a day per capita to
feed soldiers stationed at home posts,
It Is more than probable that the ra
tion, with these changes. Is still more
varied and abundant than that of a J
majority of the laboring men of the J
country, ce mis as it may, uicm is
no reason to fear that the American
soldier will go hungry, or that he will
not be supplied with wholesome food.
The manner in which the "Progres
sives" progress resembles the course
of a man who made a wager to row
across a river blindfolded. He would
shoot out from the shore for a few
strokes, then the current would "grad
ually turn the boat until he would
land on the bank from which he
started. The "Progressives" left the
shore of regular Republicanism and
pulled bravely towards the middle of
the political stream, but they have
gradually veered around until they
have returned to the bank whence they
started but higher up, in the camp
of the reactionaries. Meanwhile
President Taffs craft has been career
ing along in the main current of prog
ress. President Taft's objection to the col
lege yell is In line with the campaign
against high school "frats" and other
extravagances and absurdities of
school and college life. It is not easy
to understand why students, should
substitute a number of grotesque, sav.
age, senseless sounds for the old-fash.
loned cheer, unless it be that students
desire novelty and to display their in
ventlve genius. This would be excus
able If the result were an improvement
on the old cheer, but it is usually a
cross between a savage warcry and a
bark. -If the boys must have some
thing different from the hurrah, let it
be something better.
With Hearst back in the Democratic
fold and leading an anti-Tammany
fight, and with the Democratic League
fighting Hearst as bitterly as It fights
Tammany, the New York Democrats
are preparing a thoroughly enjoyable
time for themselves. But what will
the Independence Lesague do? Aban-
done'd by Hearst, it has neither leader
nor bank account, and unless it can
show enough votes to count, the old
parties will not think it worth a fusion
deal.
There has been a great deal of hyp
ocritical sermonizing over Italy's
wickedness in seizing Tripoli. Eng
land, Germany and France have all
held up horrlfled hands at her, but It
Is a case of the pot calling the kettle
black. All these nations have done
much worse deeds of which they still
enjoy the profit. Their outcries re
mind one of the pickpocket who
shouts "Stop thief!" to cover his own
escape.
The will of one James L. Doyle was
recently recorded in the Surrogate's
office In New York City, whereby the
testator devised to his two daughters
Jointly his estate, valued at J5.10. The
old man would have saved Recorder's
fees to his heirs by calling them to
his bedside and giving them out of
hand 2.65 apiece. However, he would
have lost the dignity of bequeathing
an estate to his heirs.
What vestiges of civilization there
are in Russia are kept alive by the
Jew. When the Czar has banished
the last member of this race, he will
reign over a country devoid of every
spark of ambition or intelligence.
This Is the noble end for which he is
striving. The exile of a new band of
Jews shows that his purpose Is Inflex
ible, and, as things are going, in a few
years he ought to accomplish it.
The ease with which the Industrial
Insurance Commlslson of Washington
disposes of workmen's claims for . in
juries is a beautiful contrast to the
ambulance-chasing, long damage suits
and frequent appeals, with endless sus
pense, which marked the old system.
If Oregon should try this system once
she would want no other.
Elimination of mining frauds Is ap
propriate work for real miners those
who mine In the ground Instead of
other people's pockets. They have to
share the odium of the frauds and
their legitimate enterprises are ob
structed by the arousing of general
suspicion of mining.
The Irvington school may or may
not be unsanitary. The facts await
Investigation. But In a city like Port
land the schools ought to be above
suspicion. Conditions ought to be so
manifestly good that complaints like
those coming from Irvington would
be absurd on their face.
The case of the section boss by the
name of O'Brien at Hood River, who
allowed himself to be chased up a tree
by his Japanese hands, is a breach of
International comity that demands a
syllogism from no less a master of Jur
isprudence than Judge Hennessy Mur
phy. When a rich man runs for Senator
he invites political grafters to bleed
him. They see his bulging sack and
cut holes In It. That Is one lesson of
the Stephenson inquiry. Another. Is
that the candidate expects to be bled
and thinks the office worth the price.
A noted dwarf, 88 pounds heavy, 86
inches high and 88 years old. Is Just
dead. These statistics are supplied
that the cause of death may properly
be understood. He died of acute in
digestion, which may mean that his
appetite outran his holding capacity.
The Czar of Russia has issued an
imperial decree permitting Russian
nobles to marry beneath them. The
question now is where will these
nobles find wives in accordance with
the terms of this permit?
The thief who would lead Detective
Joe Day into a sprint willfully violates
all the humane laws and needs to be
looked after by the society which
makes specialty of prevention.
Mr. Bryan thinks the trusts will
choose a successor to Justice Harlan.
Somebody ought to steal Mr. Bryan's
doughnut and compel him to widen
his range of vision.
One would Imagine the barbers'
union, which is nothing if not' sani
tary, would attend to the man who
continued at work while his wife at
home had smallpox.
No more smoking on streetcars, not
even in the rear seats of the open af
fairs, which are out of season, anyway.
It Is up to Madero to prove that he
is as skillful at suppressing rebellions
as he was at leading one.
The time is near for Japan to start
maneuvers on, the Chinese border.
I I BAH'l'ISHUli AAI i I I
Stars and Star-Makers
By Lesae Cass Baer.
Down in San Francisco "Gertie" is
reminiscing of a dozen years ago when
she was plain very plain Kitty
Hayes, and the only Russian art she
wotted of grew on' Russian Hill. Every
one who ever "went to school" with
her at the Clement grammar school on
Geary street near Jones, has called to
pay his respects to Miss Hoffmann.
According to an "interview" she is
rather proud of those days. Shs says:
I can remember the days when I was
Kitty Hayes and was dancing at the old
Grand Opera House and at the old Al
cazar for a couple of dollars a week.
The high water mark of salary I ve
reached since those dayT About $300
a week. Yes, that was a big jump. But
recently I have been working for evert
less than the J1.60 David Belasco used
to pay me at the old Artazar. That's
true. I've had to work for love, 'inai
was one of the sacrifices I had to make
to rn 1 i t mv drpam.
It seems odd to be back again In the
scenes of mv grlrlhood. and go back
over the old trails. Those were happy
(iavi. I remember them well and with
not a shadow of regret. To have
worked In the chorus for $1.60 a week
is a momorv worth cheriahinfr. I got
exactly $1.50 a week and started in as
Pluto, the Spanish dancer, with nor
ence Roberts' "Sapho."
And the first theatrical criticism '.
ever got 'was the announcement that
I was "onet of the sriirflrlinB- DaRes
which made Miss Roberts froth. For
a year and a half here I got some stage
training with the Southwell Oiera
Company at the Grand opera-houee and
doing bits at tne Alcazar, men my
chance rama at least. I thousrht it did.
My family wasn't poverty-stricken
by any means, but we didn't have any
too much money. Even if mother'd
had the money she wouldn't have given
It to me to go to New York with. But
tne manager or. tne company wnicn
played George Ade's first comedy
promised to send me a ticket to Join
them. Perhaps ne never intended to
do It. Anyway. I waited and waited
and It never came. I was frantic. The
next day would be too late.
Henry Miller was playing a season
then at the Columbia with Margaret
Anglln. Florence Roberts was at one
of the matinees in a box. I knew that
and flew down there. I didn't know
any better then than to rush right in
and ask her to help me. I guess she
took pity on my distraction, for she
wrote a note on her visiting card, told
me to take it to the passenger agent
and that night I was the happiest lit
tie lady out of San Francisco. I Joined
the company in St. Paul and went
uast wun uiem.
s s
Lewis S. Stone and the Belasoo
Theater Company in Los Angeles are
the first stock organisation In the
country to present Mrs. Franoes
Hodgeson's play "The Dawn of a To
morrow," In which Gertrude Elliott
starred last season.
With Mr. Stone in the role of
"Dandy" and Bessie Barri scale as
"Glad" the Belasco players are holding
forth this week at the Belasco Theater,
s s a
The Lawrence COrsay company in
"The Earl of Pawtucket" is headed
Portland-way, via Canadian theater
towns. On November 11-18 the D'Orsay
players appear in Seattle, stopping at
Aberdeen, Tacoma, Olympla, Kelso and
Astoria before they reach Portland for
November 26, at the Helllg.
Edgar Selwyn's play of New York
life "The Country Boy" plays this eve
ning in Pomona, then It hits one night
stands in California arrives in Eugene
on November 8, and plays at the Helllg
Theater here on November 9-11. This
comedy was originally tried out at
the Burbank Theater in Los Angeles
last season.
Frederick Thompson has announced
for early production a four-aot drama
called "Graft," written by B. William
Brown Meloney (commonly known as
Billy Meloney) a former San Fran
cisco newspaper man. "Graft" Is the
work of a long experience with poli
tical and social conditions in every
part of the United States. Mr. Thomp
son, the producer, says he considers it
the slay for which the public have long
been waiting. Certainly the subject
presents latitude.
s s mi
When "Baby Mine" was playing In
Seattle on October 13, two of the prin
cipals, Earle Mitchell and Frances Bar
ton Fetter, were wed. Mr. Mitchell
Is the aotor who plays the role of
Jimmy, the baby-collector, end Miss
Barton enacts the child role of Maggie,
the washer dame's daughter. The wed
ding is the culmination of a romance
begun last season when Mr. Mitchell
and Miss Barton were playing in the
Chicago "Baby Mine" company.
s s s
Coming to Portland before the
Christmas holidays is Kyrle Bellew In
"The Mollusc," "Mother," Jules Eckert
Goodman's play, and "Don" a play
which was given at the New Theater
in New York last season with William
Courtenay in the title role. The com
pany Includes Alfred Fisher, Jeffle
Tilbury. Jessie Glendenning and
Reginald Barlow.
s s
Portland's first grand opera of the
1911 season Is now but a few weeks
away. The 8heehan English Opera
Company Is coming to us via Seattle
where It opens next Sunday evening
and is to appear at the Helllg the
latter part of this month. Among the
offerings will be Offenbach's "Love
Tales of Hoffmann." bits of the score
of which we have heard In all the
local cafes, and also In tabloid form
by Helena Frederick, at the Orpheum
last season.
www
Graee Tan Studdlford opened last
evening at the Moore in Seattle In a
Parisian comio opera bouffe "The Para
dise of Mahomet." The muslo of
which was written by the famous
French composer Robert Planquette.
One week from Sunday evening Miss
Yan Studdiford comes to the Helllg for
an engagement of four evenings. It Is
six years since Portlanders have seen
this comic opera prima donna. She
starred in "Red Feather." In 1905, and
three years before that appeared with
the Bostonlans. Her present char
acter woman is Laura Burt who was an
ingenue with various Coast productions
and more especially with the "Blue
Jeans" company at the old Seattle
Opera-House 20 years ago. In 1896
she appeared here as Madge In "Old
Kentucky." Edward Mora, with Miss
Van Studdiford, has twice been seen
here with "The Prince of Pllsen," and
Florence Kolb, of her company, was
here as a comedian with "The Three
Twins," 1909 company.
ass
"The House Next Door," in which
William V. Mong, the former Baker
player, appeared a fortnight ago at
the Baker Theater, is now 'chasing
merrily across California, by way of
one night stands. This evening he
plays in Santa Barbara, tomorrow eve
ning in Oxnard, then San Bernardino,
Jumping into Los Angeles for a one
week stay from October 29 to Novem
ber 4, i
Prohlbitionla View of the Duties of
President.
PORTLAND, Oct. 24. (To the Edi
tor.) I read with interest the recent
editorial in The Oregonlan, "Let them
call on Mr. Bryan." and have declined
earlier to ask space for reply because
even Prohibitionists regard Mr. Taft
as their President, and I did not wish
to cumber your columns with argu
mentlve matter during his visit to our
state. A call of this kind upon Mr.
Bryan would doubtbless secure a re
sponse, but the trouble is he is ' not
President, though quite likely he would
have been but that Tammany turned
Republican at the last Presidential
election.
One of the most important preroga
tives of the Pres'dent Is to recommend
to the Congress that such legislation as
he may deem to be for the good of the
people. The United States Supreme
Court has said in express terms, and
repeatedly confirmed it in slightly
varying terms, that "No legislature can
bargain away the public health or pub
lic morals. The people themselves can
not do it, much less their servants.
Government is organized with a view
to their preservation and cannot divest
itself of the power to provide for
them."
Under the license system, which you
appear to approve, our Legislatures are
bargaining away both the public health
and public morals. The United States
Supreme Court says they have no right
to do it- Under "local option" the peo
ple themselves are' bargaining them
away. The United States Supreme
Court says they have no right to do it.
Under the Federal license system the
Government itself is bargaining them
away, and the United States Supreme
Court says it has no right to do it.
When the people In local communi
ties, the states through Legislatures,
and the Federal Government are each
and all performing acts which the
United States Supreme Court not only
says they have no right to perform,
but that they exist for the very purpose
of doing the exactly opposite thing, is
it an absurd thing that we ask our
President to take cognizance of such
state of affairs, even if It requires more
and a higher quality of cou-age than
any of his predecessors have possessed?
Would you have us believe that the
fact that the people, the states and the
National Government are bargaining
away, for paltry gold, the public
health and public morals, is a matter
of so little import as to be unworthy
the notice of our President?
Would you have us believe that Mr.
Taft is so narrow, so selfish and so
perverted, that when his attention is
called to so destructive a tendency that
he would refuse to do his duty because
it would "defeat him for re-election,"
as your editorial plainly Implies?
Would you have us believe that so
greatly Interested Is he in tariff re
vision, reciprocity and arbitration, his
gray matter has been .entirely con
sumed thereby and that he therefore
hag no mental energies left to be ap
plied to the question of public health
and public morals?
Would you have us believe lnAned.
that In his whole corporocity there is
not an ounce of the stuff of which men
and heroes are made?
In asking you to call his attention to
the anomalous situation, I even I
owned to a larger hope, and to a
stronger faith in him.
F. M'KERCHER.
Bicycle Ordinance Outlined.
PORTLAND. Oct 26. (To the Editor.)
Will you kindly inform me if there
is an ordinance requiring bicycle riders
to have lights after dark, and ring bells
at crossings, and to keep to the right,
as required of other vehicles, or are
they permitted to run over people with
out giving any warning?
TAXPAYER.
The city ordinance requires all bi
cycles to have bells which can be heard
for at least SO feet, renulr. hniiiirhta
. .. ..j..
at night," the headlights to be visible
ror so reet, ana prohibits riding within
the city limits at a greater speed than
eight miles an hour. All bicycle riders
must. If they comply with the ordi
nance, keep on the right side of streets,
county roads and bicycle paths. It Is
unlawful to drive animals on bicycle
paths in the city, or to put ashes, glass,
tacks. scrar Iron, crockerv or othnr
articles which might injure tires on any
bicycle path.
Officeholders as One Man Sees Them.
PORTLAND, Oct. 26. (To the Editor.)
Was it through the influence of a
certain clique of would-be politicians
in Salem that Oswald West was in
duced to run for Governor of this state,
or was George E. Chamberlain to blame
for his candidacy? At any and all
events, it is patently clear to every
person in this state that it is no trick
at all to be elected Governor.
Supposing that we should invoke the
recall on West, how soon after peti
tioned with the required number of
signers demanding his recall can the
election be held?
Are Jonathan Bourne and George E.
Chamberlain the two U. S. Senators now
in Congress from this state. Free Silver
Republicans or Democrats?
What a freakish lot of officeholders
both in state and Congress Oregon has.
It seems to be the laughing stock of
the Nation. J. A. PIERCE.
o Peddlers" Sign Effective.
PORTLAND, . Oct. 25. (To tho Edi
tor.) First let me tell you I live in a
part of the city where we see a police
man about once In the year. On my
front porch is a sign, "No peddlers or
agents wanted," and yet I am called to
the door perhaps five times every
morning by peddlers and agents of all
kinds. This is very hard on my health,
as I am not strong and have my work
to do, and besides, my little children,
who play about the doorstep, are ao-
costed by these itinerants, who tell me
the sign on my porch amounts to noth
ing. WTiat is my recourse?
CALIFORNIA,
You can navo the peddlers or agents
arrested and prosecuted for trespass.
Who Owns Prescription
PORTLAND, Oct. 25. (To the Ed
itor.) Will you please advise me
what the legal decision was about
who's property a doctor's prescription
Is. the druggist s who nils it, the doc
tor's who prescribes it, or the patient's?
Can a druggest refuse to return the
original or a copy of same?
A. B. C.
Some states have laws prohibiting
the refilling of any prescriptions ex
cept on order of physician. In Oregon
the law regulating the, sale of mor
phine and similar drugs may be con
strued in the same way, but the ordi
nary prescription, we understand, is
the property of the patient.
Palmistry Headings.
PORTLAND, Oct 25. (To the Editor.)
-Klnrilv Inform ma whether it Is law
ful to give private professional read
ings in palmistry. Could one be prose
cuted for so doing?
A SUJBSUitJ..B.t;il.
A Portland city ordinance makes it
unlawful to charge for such readings.
Redeeming Land Sold For Taxes.
' SILVERTOX, Or., Oct 25. (To the
Editor.) If A owns a piece of land and
B buys same under tax title, how shall
A proceed to redeem tne land under
Oregon statutes? SUBSCRIBER.
Institute an action to quiet title. J
f
N. NITTS ON QUEUES
By Dean Collins.
Nesoius Nitts. he whose brain convo
lutions Were 'mong Punkindorf's most revered
institutions.
Drove a blue bottle fly into rout with
Infusions
Of nicotine juice, and then voiced his
conclusions
On Dame Fashion's debt to Chinese
revolutions.
"The course of events, as I often have
stated.
Is plumb interlaced and plumb con
catenated; The fall of a leaf vibrates clean to the
stars,
A Cuban strike boosts up the price of
cigars;
And by these same tokens, to me It Is
clear
This Chinj' war's bound to 'feet fash
ions this year.
"Them Chinese rebellers, I sees by the
news.
Has formed an abldln' dislikin' fer
queues;
Whenever hostilities comes to a stop.
They spends the recess down in some
barber shop.
Returning, at length, with bald heads
resplendent,
Proclaimin' they're free, likewise inde
pendent "American fashions at least them this
year
Decrees that them rats, they must all
disappear,
And women's commanded, this season,
to wear
But few of them puff things stuck
round in their hair;
But this cannot last there's blamed
little to choose
When Chiny comes through with this)
big crop of queues.
"Dame fashion must yield, fer she ain't
got no chance
To stand in the way of this new cir
cumstance; The market will have to "change front
I declare,
In face of this pleth'ra of Chinamen's
hair.
I bet women folk, 'fore the season Is
o'er
Will frizz out their wigs worse than
ever before.
"1 tells you, rt Jest' one of Nature's
Intents
That there should be links betwixt
sep'rate events;
The squawk of a goose saved the City
of Rome.
High prices in hops deeps the depths
of the foam;
The queue Chiny loses, Tm sorely
afraid
America gains as a coronet braid."
Portland, October 25.
Country Town Sayings by Ed Howe
There are some sane people I can't
stand; I don't know what I should do
If compelled to be much with craey
people.
Mules are about the most worthy ani
mals I know anything about They
work hard and live on half that horses
require. I never knew a mule to kick
anybody, or run away; yet no one ever
looks at a mule without saying:
"Whoa, there I"
No man can be so respectable that a
good many will not lie about him.
It Is this new blood people talk so
much about that cauees most of the
runaways.
Some people will eay your real dia
monds are glass.
The first and last yeara of your life
don't amount to much.
When It is generally said of a man
that he doesn't work very hard, you
will find, also, that he doesn't get along
very well.
It is impossible to make your con
duct perfect but you can make it bet
ter than It has been.
Special Features
of
The Sunday
Oregonian
New Slang Fables George Ade
writes for next Sunday the 1911
Fable of the Juvenile Stringers
versus the Veteran Campaigner,
and a second fable of the "kind
he liked and the kind he liked to
S h e r 1 o ck Holmes A. Conan
Doyle lays a deep mystery and
works out a thrilling adventure in
"A Scandal in Bohemia," Com
plete in Sunday's issue.
Senora Madero A half page,
illustrated by photos, about the
little woman who played a big
part in the overthrow of Diaz in
Mexico.
Civil War Reminiscences
Charles A. Malarkey, Portland
veteran, who was with Ellsworth
Zouaves, tells of the Battle of
Bull Run and the famous retreat
Nlghthawks of New York A
close-range study by a Portland
writer of girls who go wrong in
the great metropolis.
Carrying Mail by Aeroplane
Uncle Sam establishes new and
novel method of rushing letters.
The Manicure Girl Gertrude
Quainlan's big song success in
"The Henpecks."
Kings and Kaisers of Tomorrow
An illustrated three-quarters
page on the Princes and Princesses
who stand closest to the Old
World's 25 thrones.
On the Edge of Things A
short story of adventure in the
lighthouse service.
Sambo has an adventure on a
raft, the constables almost cap
ture Slim Jim again, Hairbreadth
Harry is the hero in a terrible
drama, Mrs. Timekiller kills more
time, Anna Belle has some strik
ing new clothes in colors for the
children to cut out.
MANY OTHER FEATURES