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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 7, 1911)
TITE 3TORTyO OREGOXIAX, TTTHSPAY. yOTlnTETR 7, , 1911. 10 lOBTLAXD. om. Eatere ! Port and. Oroa. f"U " fcuaacriBUoa fcai lavartably " 1ST MAO.) ra!:y. Sodar taeiudod. year. V..7. Soa-lar lacladea, : '... lei.y. 4Bdir included. ttr ' X.m:.y. luDdir included. mosna.... -it I j. without Suodav. ena year........ J-" &al.y. wi:bouc Sunday, si month r la.:. wltboal Builar, three -lJ La.ty. wltnoet Buaoay. ec aaoalB . . an year ?? Sander, Oct oar -T auadajr aa4 Weealy. year.. - I!'y. Sunday Included, ana year lai . Suada? larladed. eu month..... -13 How t aUaall aoaa poetofnoe mono or! it. preaa ardor or personal cheeS aa yeur local bank, ataoipa. cola o eurrewey aro at tu .odor's Ms. Olra potorce Mllrs la fuil. lae-ud:&- eoaoty and atata. footaa- Hale 10 lo 14 pea. 1 root; It ta 21 aoa. a oaau; to la u pace. conla: 44 u 14 paaee, 4 cent. rar.a postas aoab: rat. Oaotera BiOiu Offli Vorro a Cn la .New Tarn, Kruaawtck ui.ding. Car o. Ster butldla. Olnci .. Beens atraaa, av roKTXAXO. ITDHUr, XOT. T. Ull TODAT ELECTIO.NS AS STRAWS. Tha elections today. while compara tively faw and only for state and local offices, except a few scattering Con gressional t lectio tin to fill vacancies, will be mora or leas definite straws to show which war tha political wind blows for tha treat struggle of next year. We may ba abla to guess from them to what aztent tha breach In tha Republican racks has been healed, how far tha party has resumed tha ajrgreaslve and whether tha voters who by changing to Democrats or ab stention from voting brought about tha Democratic victory of 110 hava repented and returned to their own party ranks. . MiiaairhusetU has a close fight for Governor between Foas, Democrat, and Frothing-ham. the present Repub lican Lieutenant-Governor. Foas Is aided by tha sentiment of that great manufacturing- state for free raw ma terial and reciprocity, but Frothlng fcam la strengthened by President Taft'a strong constructive tariff policy and hi valiant fight for reciprocity. The usual local Issues will Impair the value of the election aa an Indication of the attitude of the state on National Usuee. 1 Foas should win by about the same plurality as In IflO, such result may be attributed to local as much aa National issues. If Froth tnghara should win. it will Indicate a decided diminishing of the discontent with the Republican party. The chances seern about ran. New Jersey Is electing a Legislature and the result will have some bearing on Oovernor Wilson's chances of the Twmocrattc Presidential nomination. Sljrna point to a Republican victory, which would Impair his chance by presaclng his loss of the state la 113. though the PreslJsntlal preference pri mary Is sure to give htm a solid dele gation. If by any chance he should rsrry the Legislature, his claim on the nomination would ba greatly strengthened. New Tork Is to elect an assembly, which the Republicans predict they will control. New Tork City la elect ing local officers and a strong fusion ticket is fighting Tammany with the probability of a close decision. Fusion victory would naturally hearten. the Republicans for the battle of next year. In Maryland the bitter factional ficht In the Democracy caused by the nomination of Arthur Pus Oorman by the machine for Oovernor gives the Republicans good hopes of success. Though such an outcome would not Justify confidence that they would re peat the victory next year, aa Mary land Is naturally a Democratic state. It would prove the presence of an ag gressive Republican organization. Tha Maryland Democracy is naturally con servative and therefore averse to tha radicalism which now controls the party. If tha Democrats should again nominate a radical for President, the state may again give Its vote to a Re publican, as It did In 19 and 1J00, or divide Ita vote in a close result, aa It did in l0i an ad 10S. Kentucky la electing a Oovernor and tha campaign has bevn fought mainly on National Issues, though lo cal option has teen an Important fac tor. The majority cither way prom ises to be small, confirming the ten dency of the state to become doubtful. In all states except those of the Middle West which are under tha In fluence of La Follette the Republicans appear to have been closing their ranks In preparation to present a united front to tha Democracy In 1911. In doing so they have been greatly aided by the strong constructive pol icy on the tariff which baa been adopt ed by the President. The source of doubt about Republican success La the Insurgent states of the Middle West, where La Follette la fighting the party while still claiming a place In Its ranka Events may prove that tha rank and Ale of tha voters who con stitute the main Insurgent strength have recognized that Tart Is the real progressive leader and that he took a more pessimistic view of the outlook ta his recent Chloago speech than con ditions Justify. lmrt n torn dektred. The National Republican Progrea alre League had an aasembiy last month In Chicago, adopted a plat form, and nominated, or recom znemled. a candidate for President of the United States. Senator Pourr-.e. Its president, was not there. The Wash ington correspondent of The Oregt nlan offers the surprising explanation that the distinguished Oregon Senator first president of tha league and self-elected pilot of the progreselve movement was not at the. assembly because he w-as not wanted. The explanation does credit to tha Senator's well-known sense of deli cacy, but it Is hardly adequate. Pos sibly the further explanation that Sen ator Hourne has repudiated his own child or been repudiated by It, as the case may be and has owuilxed a new progressive league of his own "and Is busy enlightening the world through Its press bureau. Is more like ly to prove satisfactory. Tet wa hava not had from the great anti-assembly apostle any repudiation of the Chi cago assembly because It was an as sembly. Nor have we had any rea sonable explanation of other flagrant cases of absenteeism from the Chicago meeting. Senator Cummlna was not there. Senator Brtstow was not there. Sen ator Kenyon was not there. Ex-Senator Beveridge was not there. Senator Frown was not there. Not a slng member of that devoted band of Sen ate Insurgents except Clapp and also except Crawford was there. Only thee two. Nor more than one or two of tha many generals of the roaring Insurgent army la tha Eousa. Where were tbeyT Meanwhile wa rise to repeat the Inquiry made by The Oregonlan the other day an Inquiry directed toward the noisy Democratic papers In Oregon that are boosting La Follette for the Republican nomination and are dis creetly evasive or altogether silent about their preference for the Demo cratic nomination, for any old Demo crat will suit, and they will all be for him. The Oregonlan In tho politest terms, and in the most ardent good faith, asked these papers to explain. If they could, the difference between tha Bourne-La Follette assembly In Chi cago, which they uproariously ap proved, and the late lamented assem blies In Oregon, which they all vehe mently and Indignantly denounced. We pause for a reply. Wa seek light. TAXXSO THE nOWXTKODrHr FARMER. Dwelling ever in the sunshlsie of tha well-paid single-tax luminary, Mr. tTRen. the Oregon City Courier natu rally reflects tha views of that accom plished statesman on all subjects, from proportional representation down to gettlng-stron g-w hlle-lyicg-In-bed. The most recent outgiving of the Courier Is a complaint about the downtrodden settler who comes to Oregon looking- for cheap land. In this wise: U buy a farm. Tha taxes are vary law, aa It la linlmprovoii land. Ho cra an aero, and It la taxod. . Ho bul.ds a huuo. and It I taiod. l!o acta out fruil lr. and lhr axa taxed. II a buUda a bam. and It I taxed. bo It ijoo. tvory time ho put In a month w.ira It I t-J. wtill a IJolnlns iani. hold by tho peculator, dooon't par ent moro taxes, yet twh day ktow to value aa tha aott.or cleara and improve aim io.nu. So your single toxer would tax the nnoccupled, unimproved, uncultivated land, which Is not worth anything, and make Its owner bear the burden or the chief burden, of all the cost of government. Hut what is the use of government, or civilization, or tm rrovements. or society, to the eben tee owner of a deaert waste T Whom are they for? Why Is the farmer taxed? Why Is the home-owner taxed T Why Is any body taxed T The farmer wants roads and he la taxed for them. Could ha get along without roads? The farmer wants schools and he Is taxed for them. Could the farmer get along without schools? The farmer wants police protection and he la taxed for It. Could the farmer get along without police protection ? The farmer wants courts of Justice and he Is taxed for them. Could the farmer get along without courts? The farmer wants markets, society, comfort, health, malls, churches, and the thousand and one conveniences and necc-wittles that make up the dally life of a dweller In a civilized commu nity: and he mut pay for them through his contribution to govern' ment- What are his Improvements, his house, his barn. J". Is cultivated fields, his fruit trees, worth, except as they are made valuable by tha efforts of others and the development and movement of organized society? Of course the farmer is taxed. Of course even body Is taxed. If land Is to pay all the tax, where does tha poor farmer come out In the dlstrl button of coftte and benefits? TTRKErS AITT-tt TO THE TJ. . In these days the United States Is becoming the peacemaker between nations and the refuge of nations op pressed both by tyranny and debt as well as the refuge of oppressed Indi viduals. The protest of Turkey to this country against the barbarities of which ahe accuses the Italians is the latest evidence of this altruistic mission. We first assumed this part when the Monroe doctrine was promulgated and we proved that we meant It by demanding the French withdrawal from Mexico. This made the restora tion or the republic possible. In 1898 we made war on Spain to right the wrongs of Cuba and founded another republic. At. the same time wo took the Philippines and Porto Rico under our wing and undertook to teach them the ways of democracy, .though we had no desire thus to expand our do minions. In 105 our mediation end ed the war between Russia and Japan and our representative at the Alge clras conference arranged a compro mise by which the Moroccan dispute was prevented from causing a great war. We have taken Santo Domingo. Honduras and Nicaragua under our financial guardianship and are help ing them to recover from Internecine strife and to unload their great debts. Now comes Turkey, hitherto held to be the most barbarous nation In Eu rope, and asks us to put a stop to bar. baiitles of which she accuses Italy, a boasted center of civilization. Appeals to other European nations against the Invasion of Tripoli have been of no avail, and their treatment of ap peal, even If given, would be In fluenced by their selfish Interests. In such straits Turkey, newly launched on the sea of democracy, calls upon the greatest of democracies to rebuke Italy for Inhumanity. She knows that we are too far removed from the scene of strife to have any serious selfish Interest and that ail our predilections are for peaoa and humanity. Thus she adds fresh recognition of the posi tion of the United States as the leader in tha causa of civilization. WOT CXlTUXXBETrTETJ. Water In tha Willamette Rtver Is lower so say the records than It has ever been before since records of Its varying stages have been kept. While this Is true as fir as official records go, a low stage of water similar to the present realinj; of the water gauge vexed steamboat men fn the early navigation years of the Willamette. Pioneers will recall one Fall forty-fllve or , fifty years ago when Canemah was the rendezvous of boats on the river above the falls of the Willamette, and every craft on the river. Including the Surprise, the Enterprise, the Reli ance and other boats of the sternwheel fleet of wheat-carrying craft were tied up awaiting water enough to float them over tha river bars and through the Rock Island channel until close on to Christmas time. These were not. of course, tha light-draft boats of a later era in steam boating, but such as they were they lay, with steam low In their boilers, and a watchman aboard of each waiting for a rise In the river that would enable them to turn their wheels without stirring up the sand In the shallows, all 'through the Fall months and well along Into the Winter. Their crews irked sorely at the de lay. Every warehouse on the river bank tha farmers' sola facility for storage, as supplemental to their Fall hauling from farm to shipping point before tha ralna sat Id was bulging with wheat awaiting transportation to deep water. Rats became a pest to warehousemen; store bills, dus "when the wheat was marketed," grew to discouraging proportions both to the merchant and their farmer patrons, and men who were engaged In river transportation aa a means of supporte Ing their families grew shabby In their garb, and despairing withal, as tha blight days turned Into gray and still tha promise of rain was not fulfilled. At length, however, the embargo of the Fall drouth was lifted and rain fell In such generous abundance as to send every tributary of the Willam ette out of Its banks In February and keep tha river at a good boating stage up to the first of July. Let no one therefore imagine that the present low stage of water Is un precedented in the annals of "Beauti ful Willamette." and base tlrereon the solemn assertion that "the climate of Oregon Is changing." The weather during the post six weeks was unusual for the season of tho year, but by no means unprecedented In the Willam ette Valley. Nor does the cause lie In the fact that much timber has been cut In various sections of the Willam ette watershed. The "unusual season" occurs now and then. Just aa It oc curred In the early days of the settle ment of tho Willamette Valley. Its secret Is in a combination of currents and counter currents In the upper air, tha whim of which the most saga clous "forecaster" is unable to predict beyond the limit of twenty-four hours or less, and Is even then unable to ex plain. The simple truth of the matter Is that the sun shines and tha rain falls upon the Just and the unjust, and that seasons come and go, pretty much aa they did in the far-away years to which tire memory of man runneth not back. jraTERsorf and axabciit. If Mr. C. E. 8. Wood wore pushed hard by a resolute crltlo, he might find some little difficulty In substan tlatlng his statement that Thomas Jefferson was an anarchist. Jefferson was certainly a man of extremely ad vanced views for his age, and he did say that the best government was the one which governed least. Carrying this on to Its legitimate outcome, of course, wa must conclude that no gov emment at all Is better than any other plan. But Jefferson never carried It to Its) legitimate outcome, and never meant to. "Government" to him and the other liberals of his day often meant simply an organized conspiracy against the welfare of humanity and history Justified their view of it. They had before their eyes the desolation of France under Its absolute kings, the misery of Germany under Its petty tyrants, the dismal quagmire of Spain under Its priests. No wonder they made up their minds that government of the sort seen up to that date was an evil. But Jefferson never denied the possibility of devising a kind of government which should not be an evil. What kind of government that would be If it ever came Into being we may learn clearly enough from the Declaration of Independence, which no doubt expresses the very depths of Jefferson's political soul. He said In that document that a government derives Its Just powers from the con sent of the governed, and In those words he both admitted tnat a govern ment might be Just and showed how to make It so. What Jefferson hated was power which Imposes Itself upon men. What he loved was tha Idea of men Imposing restrictions npon them selves for the common good. It is the first concept which he has In mind when he says that the lesa government we have the better for us. It Is the second when he says that tha Just pow. era of government come from the con' sent of the governed. Jefferson had a clear concept of government acting as the agent of a people's collective will. Of course that was something very different from government which consisted of one man's will or the will of a select few. WHY WE DEPEND OTt RAILROADS. The great arteries of the Nation are the railways. Whenever anything hap pens In any way to clog or retard these arteries the effect Is almost Instantly felt by millions of people, even by the Nation Itself. To show how true this must be It Is only necessary to point to the number of employes directly drawing their pay from the companies or the terminal and switching companies connected with them. These total ovf 2,000,- UUv. LDUnung m uuniuci iiu ue- pendents of this vast army. It can be seen that S, 000,000 or 7,000,000, or perhaps one person in every ten of our inhabitants, are dependent upon the railways for their livelihood. Save the one occupation of agriculture. there Is no industry that approaches the number of persons looking to the railways for their support. The wages paid to these workmen last year, 1910, amounted to the 'vast sum of el.163.044.SD0. an amount squal to almost 115 per capita for our entire population. The total mileage, exclusive of yard tracks and sidings (which amounted to 85,581 miles) at the close of 1910, amounted to l8. 185 miles, sufficient mileage to make ten-track road around the world. with some 16.000 miles over. To handle the Immense traffic from which these roads derive their pay takes 59.000 engines and X. 180. 831 cars. The number of passengers car ried last year was 971.183.199. the number of miles traveled by these passengers was 83.I33.4S8.329. the revenue derived therefrom was 1628, 992.478. The freight revenue was 81.9:5.553.086. The capital of the 2196 roads making up the total was the enormous sum of $18,417,182,238. When we look at these figures and remember that these railways have all been constructed and this great busi ness all built up within the memory of many people new living, the fact Is startling. Tet the Industry is grow ing faster now than ever before. It Is all well enough to decry the great corporations, but when we look a tha above figures we find tnat the great bulk of their earnings, aside from dividends on the stock, comes back to the pockets of the people In the way of wages to the great army comprising their employes. So what ever "hits" tha purses of the railways actually takes the money from our ovrn pockets. Which our lawmakers often forget when they attempt to en act, or actually enact, hostile legisla tion. No doubt much of the capital above mentioned is water. We all know It la How to get rid of this water is a question for wise statesmanship, and perhaps much of It can never ba J squeezed out. Under tha present strin gent laws stock watering is almost im possible In railway enterprises, so tha business will undoubtedly soon bo on an equitable basis. POTATOES axd other thtxgs. The potato, a lowly tuber no longer, though grown In the dark. Is vying with the apple In variety and Import ance. Lately the German"purple po tato" was exploited, at a luncheon given by an auxiliary organization of the Commercial Club of Oregon City, by being made into a salad that was truly royal. Of Its size and yield per acre Its promoters did not "speak, but an active effort will be made to Induce farmers of Clackamas County to plant It. " Of course we have known for long that Clackamas County and other por. tlons of tho Willamette Valley could raise the very best of potatoes, so this exhibit of the glories of.the purple po tato Induced satisfaction rather than pride. But later have come the farm ers of the erstwhile dry but now irri gated belt In the Redmond district of Eastern Oregon with a potato exhibit that astonished all beholders and took .numerous prizes. There were potatoes' and potatoes In this exhibit. The declination "good, better, best," ap plied to all of the many varieties shown, there being no Inferior tubers among them. Tho old reliable Burbank, tho smooth Late Rose, the up-and-a-com-lng Early Ohio, the shining Early Rose, the regal Sir Walter Raleigh, and others of lesser note all well grown and full of promise of many a toothsome meal, were there. Potatoes that were grown on Irrigated soil; dry land potatoes and potatoes of a volun teer crop, all told the story of the fer tility of the soil and the invigorating air of Central Oregon. And to keep the potato In countenance perhaps to curb Its grower's vanity. It was flanked at every turn In tho exhibit by mam moth cabbages, turnips, rutabagas, mangel wurzels, carrots, artichokes and pumpkins, while Just beyond were chickens In coops, honey in cases and cornstalks literally "out of reach." Great Indeed Is Central Oregon; great Is Irrigation that makes It blos som as the rose and flourish as the green bay tree, and great the spirit of enterprise that has brought It in touch with the markets of the world and en couraged thrift and Industry to take up their abode upon Its truly enchant ed lands. No sooner does the progressive Cali fornia woman secure the enfranchise ment of her sex than the reactionary woman moves to get lid of It, prefer ring "the very many courtesies and privileges which are now so gladly given," and which, she fears, may be withdrawn as a result of woman suf frage. If the question comes to vote under the initiative, we may be treat ed to the spectacle of many women using the franchise to get rid of the franchise by voting to repeal woman suffrage. Then we shall know whether the majority of women really desire to vote. It is most appropralte In these days of equality of opportunity between the sexes that a man's heart should be won by the spectacle of a woman's prowess In slaying a Hon. In the "good, old days" of the Ivy clinging to the oak Mrs. Gutlerres would have fainted at the eight of the lion and Reginald Thomas would have slain the beast and then "gathered her In his arms," as the novelists would say. In these bad. new days he calmly watches her kill the Hon and tha courtship, follows without the fainting spell. . To turn . the achoolhouses over to the people for "civic centers" Is a com mon sense measure which has been too long delayed. Give young people a chance to meet socially f at the schoolhouses In the company 'of their elders with warmth, light and music and freedom to enjoy themselves wholesomely and the "white slave problem" is half solved at a stroke. Evil thrives on our neglect to supply the good. Fate loves nothing so much as Irony, With a pungent taste for Incongruity and veiled satire the monster has stirred up two open wars and half a dozen smoldering ones Just at the mo ment when the advocates of peace plume themselves on a near victory, International peace Is a beautiful vision which will become real some time, but the secret of attaining It is almost as elusive as the philosopher's stone. The story that the Turks are on the point of obliterating Italy by stirring up a "holy war Is followed the next day by a report that they ore begging Mr. Taft to Intervene and save them from destruction. A holy war re quires a background of fanatical su perstltion which still exists in the depths of the Sahara and Tartary, but unhappily for the Turks transporta tion facilities from those reservoirs of ignorant fury are Inadequate. When a young man Is projected from high school Into the great world at tha mature age of 18, his teachers should repeat the sage advice of Tony Weller to "bevare of vldders," and should add "especially grass widows." After his sad experience with a woman eight years his senior, Eugene Davis may now have a real love affair. The a-oodiest young man In the country lives at Ludlow, Mass., and has been awarded a prize for general saintly quality. He haa never used tobacco or liquor, sworn or kissed a girl. His name is Charles not Char lie, but it would better be Joseph. The hustling Elks should find little trouble In raising the needed balance. Every owner of a lot will see its value Increased by the advertising tha big convention will give this city. Colonel Wood says patience Is the supreme characteristic of believers in anarchy, and they could wait 1,000.000 years to have their teachings realized. Let us hope they will. Already there art) rumors of offers of 25 cents for hops next season. As there will be no 1911's to carry over, tha demand will be good. f Rain may stop some street work, but nothing stops construction of class A buildings In Portland. There are now two women In the state prison to be company for each other. If tha East does not like California's green oranges. It can feast on Oregon's rosy apples. DESIRE! TO OWN HOME IS STRONG. Cor-ralUa Writer DlKtum Heary Georsre Flam af Coazlaeation. CORVALLI3. Or .Nov. 4. (To the Editor.) One cannot read Henry George's "Progress and Poverty" with out feeling that he was writing from the point of view of the man without property. There Is a constant com plaint throughout the book against the owner of land. This complaint In "Social Problems," under the caption "The First Great Reform," .-finds ex pression In this wise: What mora prepoatarou than tha treat ment of land a individual property. . . . What mora prepoeterou than that wa living in New Tork City In tnla year 1SS8, ahould be working tor a lot ot landlords who get tha authority to llv on our labor from some EngiUh. Kin-, dead and gone these centurlea. The desire of the human being to own his own home Is as strong and In many Instances stronger than the desire of any one to eventually reach Paradise. This Is evident from the fact that the world over men are struggling to own and maintain individual prop erty in the land where they build their homes. The ownership of land is an ever- present asset. Our ancestor may have derived the right. In the first instance, to the use of land through an English King, but as time marched on he with stood every attempt to wrest this prop erty away. He had to meet changing conditions, he had to pay the increas ing; tax, he had to improve this prop erty to correspond with his neighbors. In order to derive from It this Income of which Mr. George complains. Any day he became willing to part with it he could do so at the enhanced price. It was simply a change of names. An other no better and no worse, but who desired this property more, became the Individual owner. Furthermore, there was never a time but what he would have parted with this land If another had advanced the offered price above the surrounding land. Why? Not be cause the ownership of It made It more valuable, not because of any family sentiment, but because by .the great law of supply and demand he had only to buy hi i neighbor s property adjoin Ing It to reap a profit. They get their authority to charge a reasonable rental from the land they own through the reigning dynasty, Through the power of the government. for the moment on top in that land. They support this government, their property Is committed to its support. their "lives, property and sacred hon or," as one celebrated writer has It. Is involved. Arguing along this line. In "Social Problems," Mr. George uses this argu ment: Zf shafts can ba sunk, and tunnel can ba run. and tha most costly machinery can be put up on publlo land on mere security or possession, wy epula not Improvements or all kind b made on that aecurltyt I answer that they could. If that were the fact. But It Is not the fact. A man finds a piece of mining ground, and files a notice on It. He performs the labor the mining law provides, to hold the claim one year. Each year this labor is necessary, or the first comer who will perform such labor takes It away. Sometimes he will on the security of this notice Install plant to work the ground, to elevate rock and ore to the surface, but al ways with the ultimate Intention of patenting the land and obtaining an Individual ownership to It. When he finds it Is worth the price, he does patent It, and thus obtains Individual ownership. No man would Invest money on mining ground, unless he could eventually own it Individually. The advocates of the single tax in Oregon do not go so far as Henry George went. They do not advocate the destruction of Individual ownership in land. Neither do our neighbors In Can ad a. The single-tax idea promulgated here seems to have Its chief argument In the hope that Its application to land In Oregon will tend to Increase the population and add numerically to In dividual ownership. Henry George said in "Progress and Poverty": If private property in land ba Just then I tho remedy I propose a false one; If, on tha contrary, private property in land ba unjust, then Is this remedy th true one. The Henry George Idea Is clear. It destroys Individual property In land. Do we want to destroy Individual property in land In Oregon? For my part, I do not. Sometimes a prophet does arise, and offens a panacea for our ills, but goes too far. Is this the case with Henry George? Is there a middle ground be tween Individual ownership In land and the sing's tax? I am still open-minded on this sub ject. If It can be shown to me that the single tax will not have the effect of confiscating Individual property In land, that under Its reign the taxes on a tract of land not in use, or poorly used, will not be materially Increased, or of a City property that the taxes will not be advanced beyond what the oommunity value Is ascertained to be, then I will be for the single tax. I think I am an average citizen. Only average. What will convince me will convince others like me. Show me! J. H. WILSON. OIL TAJntS I! OVB OTHER CITY. Salt Lake Reaerrolrs 12 "titles Outalde Town Limit, PORTLAND, Nov. 6. (To the Edi tor.) The oil men have made so many misleading statements, that in Justice to the people of Portland permit me to say that 99 out of every 100 want the oil tanks outside the city. Mrs. A Kenny writes: "Salt Lake City oil tanks are located about twelve miles outside city limits, other side of Beck's hot springs, in foot hills of mountains, as are all other explosives, powder' magazines, etc" The buildings of the oil tanks were to have been built partly on filled ground In South Portland. A great catastrophe would occur were they so built. Twelve-inch walls were blown down In the fire that killed Chief Dave Campbell. The constitution guarantees us protection to our lives and property and should one life be lost in an oil fire, the revenge of a whole people should be placed upon those placing such a danger unnecessarily in our midst. JOHN HEITKEMPEH, Chairman Cltixens' Committee. SprtnsTfleld Dry Comm ended. . LOUISVILLE, Ky., Nov. 1. (To the Editor.) I read in The Oregonlan re cently a special dispatch from Spring field. Or, stating tnat me -wets" ana "drys" of that city had come to an agreement to have but one ticket in the field at the coming annual city electron. If the city Is voted "wet." the dispatch says, an ordinance will be passed by the Council permitting a lim ited number of saloons to do business under certain restrictions. Whichever side wins, there will be no division among the people of Springfield to in terfere with the growth of the com munity. In this Instance the "drys" acted with commendable good sense and rea son. In most communities they oppose odel license laws for the regulation of the business and will stand for noth ing less than the closing of all licensed places where liquor is sold. The result la the Illicit saie oi liquor inrousn me agency of blind tigers and bootlegging. The "dry people or epringiieia nave chosen the "better way, and if they are defeated, let us hope the Council will dopt an ordinance regulating the sale of liquors which will be self-enforcing after the model license plan. T. M. GILMORK, Proa Kan Model License League. BAN'S LIFE! AND COSCIOUS.NESS. Noted Philosophic Writer MM a tain Coatlnulty of Life Beyond Present. PORTLAND, Nov. 4. (To the Ed itor.) In the Hllebert Journal for Oc tober appears Henri Bergson's "Hux ley Lecture," delivered at the Univer sity of Birmingham in May last on the subject, "Life and Consciousness." Probably no modern author in the philosophic world haa attracted more widespread notice than Mr. Bergaon, and as the Right Honorable Arthur J. Balfour, M. P., in the same number of the Journal, criticising his "L'Evolution Creatrice." says of him: "Apart alto gether from his admirable criticisms, his psychological Insight, his charms of Btyle, there is permanent value in his theories." A perusal of the article in auestlon will well repay those Interested In philosophy because of Its suggestive brilliancy and wealth of Illustration as well as its originality. Two points in the lecture In partic ular are worthy of notice, chiefly be cause of ' the marked contrast which they present to the naturalistic philos ophy of the middle of last century. First, In the author's own words: I doubt that the evolution of life will ever be explained by a mere combination of mechanical forces. Obviously there Is a vi tal lmpulsti. What I was calling an Impulse towards a higher and higher efficiency, aomethlng which ever seeks to transcend Itself, to extract from Itself more than there Is In a word, to create. Now, a force which draw from Itself more than It contains, which gives more than It has, la precisely what Is called a spiritual force; in fact, I do not see how otherwise spirit Is to ba defined. Then follows an illuminative discus sion of the conflict which takes place between this force and matter in the organic world. Second: When we see that consciousness, whilst being at once creation and choice, la also memory, that one of Its essential func tions ts to accumulate and preserve the past, that very probably I lack the time to attempt the demonstration of this point) the brain la an instrument of forgetf ulncss aa much as one of remembrance, and that in pure consciousness nothing of the past Is lost, the whole life of a conscious per sonality being an Indivisible continuity, are we not led to suppose that the effort con tinues beyonft. and that In this passage of consclousnsss through matter conscious nes Is tempered like steel, and tests Itself by clearly constituting personalities and preparing them, by tha very effort which each of them la called upon to make, for a higher form of existence? If we admit that with man consciousness ha finally left tho tunnel (he uses tha Illustration of a current of consciousness which flows down Into matter aa Into a tunnel), that every where eiae consciousness ha remained im prisoned, that every other species corre sponds to tae arrest of something which in man succeeded In overcoming resistance and in expanding almost freely, thus dis playing Itself in true personalities capable of remembering all and willing all and controlling their past and their future, we shall have no repugnance In admitting that In man, though perhaps in man alone, con sciousness pursue Its path beyond this earthly life. It is exceedingly suggestive to hear one who is probably the foremost philo sophic writer of the day state so forc ibly the doctrines of the spiritual ori gin and maintenance of the uni verse, and the continuity of man's life beyond the present. JOHN BAIN. TRAFFIC RULES - OS SIDEWALKS Writer Asks for explanation of Ap parent Discrimination by Police. PORTLAND, Nov. 4. (To the .Edi tor.) In The Oregonlan today I notice that the police committee of the Ex ecutive Board exonerated Policeman Black of 'misconduct In the arrest of V. V. Jones, September 9, for refusing to move to the curb line from in front pf a store window. According to Mr. Jones, the policeman overlooked two "mashers" and two men expectorating on the sidewalk before he ordered Mr. Jones to move on. Now, a question or two occurs to me In connection with this case, which I would like The Ore gonlan to answer. Why Is It that religious cranks. So cialists and other Jawsmiths are al lowed to hold forth on the streets and their audiences to block half of said Btreets and more than half of the ad Joining sidewalk, If It Is against police regulations for one poor lone man to stand up against a store window and wait for a friend? I would also like to know why strikers are allowed to block the side walks In Lower Alblna to such an ex tent that one occasionally has to elbow one's way through them. Not only are they allowed to congregate on the sidewalk, but they are allowed to con struct seats on it and to Insult non union workmen on their way to the streetcars, and this under the very noses of the police. I am neither a striker, strikebreaker, masher nor expectorator. I'm simply a common, everyday citizen and taxpayer who would like to know why some should be privileged to Buch an extent over others In the matter of using our streets and sidewalks. SUBSCRIBER. It Is ths understanding of Tho Ore gonlan that Mp. Jones was asked to move to the curb by Policeman Black In compliance with a general effort on congested parts of Washington .street to keep persons away from plateglass windows. This regulation is made for the protection of property and to give nodestrlans view of the window dis plays as well as to avoid blocking of sidewalks. Because two transgressions are overlooked is no reason why a tnira should be Ignored. The city authori ties attempt to ctanflne street meetings to "dark" plaoes. such as points in front of banks, day stores or blank walls. The keeping open of a pass . , . i ag0 way is required anu oUivm-c least In the business district FBSB AXR ON THE STREET CARS. Writer Thinks Many wno upm dows Axa Mere Cranks on Snbject. wirtund. Nov. 4. (To the Edi tor.) I have no doubt but those who throw ODen the wmaow oi a irunejr car as soon as they enter it are warm blooded made so by good, healthful out-door exercise, or tnrougn toe agency of beer and beefsteak and feel the necessity of cold air on their faces and bodies. But some, I think, from their appearance, are merely cranks desirous of advertising their wholesome independence. I would like to suggest to these per sons that other passengers In the car may not enjoy the cold arari or air made more penetrating by the speed of the ear. In fact I have seen ladies with children huddle together to avoid ih oni draft from an open window at which sat a buxom, healthy-vlsaged woman. If these fresh-air people cannot en dure the atmosphere of the car I would further suggest that they oc cupy the rear seats, so as to discom mode as few of the passengers ' as possible: but my observation Is that they always occupy the front seats. u. u. m. Death of Sir "William Gilbert. SALEM. Or.. Nov. 4. (To the Edi tor.) Please say when Sir Gilbert Sul livan, author or "nnaiore, "MiKaao, etc, died. Is It true that he was drowned last year on the day his Pinafore" was revived In New Tork CltyT v A DOUBTING THOMAS. Sir W. S. Gilbert, librettist of "H. M. S. Pinafore" and "The Mikado." was drowned May 29, 911, on the night of which the Shubert revival of "Pinafore" was scheduled to open In New Tork. Sir Arthur Sullivan, oomposer, died In 1S00. N. NITTS ON OPPORTUNITY Br Dean Collins. 1 1 : Nesclus Nltts, he whose sapient can To Punklndorf proved him a plumb highbrowed man. Bit Into his plug the full breadth of a span; And whlie the stain turned his white whiskers to tan. Upon opportunity thus he begani "'Tls strange how the minds of them millionaire men Has changed as they has, since some years ago, when Tf-y ducked from subpenas In deep consternation And kept themselves hedged in sub lime Isolation, Arrangln' their homes so they never was there if The person who called was a Deputy Sheriff. "Now how things has ohangedl They appears to Jest yearn And hanker around while a-waltin' - their turn. They says to the butler, 'Jest send in a call To the Sheriff today, and find out if they all Can't kindly glance over their papers, 'and see If they hasn't got a subpena fer me.' "Or maybe they stops when they chances to meet A deputy roamin' about on the street: 'You must come and dine with mel Have a cigar! I'm Jest goin' home nowl Hop Into my car! And say by the way do you happen to be Prepared, please, to serve a subpena on met "If this state continues, I haa an idee -The deputy's star Is shore destined to be Right in the ascendant, and thousands will throng Around Sheriffs' offices all pleadin" strong Fer deputies' Jobs, since these Jobs has began To offer a chance fer an ambitious man. "My "dvlce to young men Is: "Go East now. young man. And get you a deputy's star If you can; Fer magnates all over the land 'twould appear Gives premiums- on plain subpenas this year. Go East, fer success Is awaltln' you there If Ton only can get in as Deputy Sheriff." Portland, November 6. Half a Century Ago From The Oregonlan Nov. T. 1861. The San Francisco Herald, in speak ing of candidates for the position of the late Colonel Baker, says: "There Is Benjamin Stark, a native of Connecticut, and there Is ex-Governor George L. Curry, at present edi tor of the Portland Advertiser, who was defeated In convention by Whlte aker for the Gubernatorial nomination and who has since been a candidate for the Senate with very small chances of success. There is also John H. Reed, a lawyer, of Jacksonville, a "fellow of Infinite Jest," a boon companion, a fair lawyer native of Ohio or Kentucky. Rev. E. R. Geary, of Linn County, late Superintendent of Indian Affairs in Oregon a native of Pennsylvania (a brother of Colonel John W. Geary, ex Mayor of San Francisco, ex-Governor of Kansas, and now commanding a reg iment on the Potomac), a man of good abilities, something of a divine but more of a politician. M. P. Deady, United States District Judge of Oregon, would, we think, get the appointment if he would have it He is a native of Maryland, was once a leader of tha anti-Lane wing of the Democracy, but subsequently became a Lane man." The Western states have suffered from most extraordinary rains the present season. In Cincinnati soma streets were flooded and persons were drnwnpii in the basements of houses. In Illinois the rains were heavy and unparalleled, and the crops of matured grain were greatly injured. Oregon is now receiving a- heavy installment of Fall rains which are needed to raise the rivers and put tho ground in order for plowing. Washington,' Oct. 81. General Stone has published his report of the battle of Balls Bluff. He states that Colonel Baker acted with indiscretion and ex ceeded his order, although he performed his duties with unexampled bravery. A special dispatch says there is no truth ot' the Intended resignation of Mc Clellan and Scott; also that an order for the removal of Fremont has been ordered. New Tork, OcC 31. A merchant of Brooklyn, named Brownell, visited Beauregard at his headquarters, one mile from Fortress Monroe, on Wednes day last week, and conversed with him during the day. Beauregard said as far as he was concerned ha preferred acting entirely on the defensive, satis fled with a repulse of the . Federal Army whenever It made an advance. He denies that aliens are prevented from leaving the state or Virginia. Conntty Town Sayings by Ed Howe One trouble with our beloved coun try Is, we are doing a lot of big work that doesn't amount to anything. If you don't say "No" pretty often your money wouldn't last long. Every little while a good gentleman appears with a statement that death un der the age of 150 years, Is unnatural. Here's where Doc Wiley comes In: peo ple believe they become old at 70 be cause storekeepers sell them adulterat ed food. Did anyone ever pay a compliment without adding a stinger of some sort? Honesty not only means that the oth. er fellow should be square with you;. It also means that you ahould be fair with the other fellow. I have known a certain man 33 years, and when he Is not drinking whiskey, he is circulating a temperance pledge. And so far as I am able to make out, rfi-utrfeo his time about equally be tween the two occupations; he has never been able, apparently, to decide which suits him best. ' In country towns, we are often fooled by "opera bouffe" companies. The story gets around that he girls In the chorus wear almost nothing; the men talk of the show In a mysterious way, and the women are Jealous. But when the show arrives, it Is a wretched affair, and we find we have been "sold" again. There is probably no fact more cred itable to this country than that the buffalo has been driven from the West ern plains, in order that the plains may be occupied by farmers. Tet some peo ple are always complaining because the buffalo has been exterminated. It is a poor writer who has not at some time In his career been likened to Machiavelli, who Is supposed to be an old wretch second only to the devil In meanness. I suppose everyone Imagines that he Is greatly misunderstood.