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niTUXD, OstECO.
Knterel at Portland. Oreaoo, Postofrica as
fU-rond-eias Matter.
tuMcnpUM Kates laearlaoly In Ada.
(BY KIL)
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Hew Reran Send Pcetofr.ce money or.
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la! tan. Stm;e. coin or rtjrrtnrr r
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la f ill. lnci-idlne; count and stale.
rtaaa Helee 1 to 14 paa. 1 rent; la
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to 40 paces. 4 casta, ForaifO poatafa.
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Hi Y..fi. Itrunawlck building. Clil-
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tar-pMa Office No. I Recant street. S-
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rORTLAND. MDMSDAt. JAM. . WW-
THKIB BOFE IS IN EOOMVI1-T.
' Insurgent Republicanism is In
Mrcb of a candidate for the Repub
lican nomination for President, That
la the inference to be drawn from the
action of the Ohio Progressive Repub
lican conference in refusing specifically
to Indorse Senator La Toilette can
didacy. He has been tried, but proved
a disappointment even to his most ar
dent supporters. His audiences have
applauded hla principles, but they
have proved on the test to be Roose
velt men instead of La Follette men.
Division among tho Insurgent lead
em has developed In consequence. The
course of Plnchot and Gartleld In op
posing a direct Indorsement of the
Wisconsin man Is evidence mat mci
desire to leave the way open rtr the
entire insurgent strength in the con
vention to switch to Roosevelt. The
rejtolutlon adopted "as a personal ex
pression of the delegates." lauding La
Follette as "the living embodiment of
the principles of the progressive move
ment" is simply Intended to use him
as a stalking horse to draw and hold
together votes for any candidate on
whom the Insurgents may concentrate.
If Plnchot and Garfield can have
their way. that candidate will be
Roosevelt, but they have one obstacle
to overcome the Colonel himself. Had
they his consent to be a candidate,
would they not have used all the arts
of oratory and personal suasion to se
cure the adoption of a resolution spe
cifically Indorsing him? Senator
M'orks' assertion that Roosevelt should
declare himself and Plnchot's declara
tion that a gTeat majority of "pro
gressives" favor Roosevelt as first
t holce. and that the Roosevelt pro
gressive sentiment should be crystal
lized plainly Indicate that they are
aching to use his great prestige to help
along the insurgent movement, but
they have not been able to aecufe his
consent.
The insurgents are In distress. Some
of their leaders, are pledged to boost
for La Follette. but are embarrassed
by persistent cries for Roosevelt.
Other leaders wish to turn to Roose
velt, but are without authority to
peak for him. La Follette stumps
the country in a vain effort to turn
sentiment his way. but la lauded only
as second choice. The insurgents are
embarrassed by a too willing candidate
n the one hand and by the silence of
the man whom they seek as a candi
date on the other. They can make no
headway unless Roosevelt declares
himself with them. What will he do?
fUEJlDM E LEAPS TO BLTXBE1UXO.
Jumping with avidity at any oppor
tunity to oppose a measure recom
I mended by President Taft and to sup
I port a measure proposed by Insur
gents, the Saturday Evening Post has
blundered sadly in Its Indorsement of
Senator Polndexter's bill to abolish the
Court of Commerce. It quotes with
approval Polndexter" statement that
"the raw Commerce Court, without-
special experience, on a brief hearing"
enjoins the Spokane rate order of the
Interstate Commerce Commission. The
Tost adds:
The Interstate Commwrt Commission, by
years of Inveetirallon. baa become familiar
tth tha problems of tranaportatlon. The
commerce court act simply inakea t hie expel t
body subject to a body that does Dot know
so much about transportation. That tha r'n
eral effect of tha court will be to paralyse
tha ComtnUalon at leaat until such time as
the court Itself becomee expert In transpor-
ttlon eeems most likely. This new court
Uluatratee Mr. Taft'a passion for turning
ever as much as possible of the Government
to the learned but extremely dilatory band
of the Judre.
There la no question bare of denying the
railroeda a nrht of appeal to the courts.
Taat riant they aletajs have bad and al
ways will have
This "raw" court, "without special
experience." has for Its presiding
Judge M. A. Knapp. who was for years
chairman of the Interstate Commis
sion and in that capacity, to quote the
words applied by the Post to that
body, "by year of investigation has
become familiar with the problems of
transportation." The other Judges are,
with one exception, men of experience
on the Federal bench and m-ith trans
portation rases. Had this court not
been created, orders of the Commis
sion would still have been aubject to
review, but by a court less expert in
r-.tilroad litigation than the Commerce
Court whose presiding Judge the Post
admits, by Implication, to have become
expert during his service with the
Commission.
The effect of the creation of the
Commerce Court Is to expedite rail
road litigation, tor that court devotes
its entire time to interstate commerce.
Were there no such court, appeals
from the Commisison would "-till be
taken, but would take their turn with
other cases In the ordinary Federal
courts, before Judges who do not make
a special study of Interstate commerce
law.
AX OLD AND COTAVn.Y KKTRKINQ
QltJTll.
The charity that keeps open house
to all comers with meals and lodging
as attractions Is very likely to be over
taxed In Midwinter. Indeed, at any
time of the year it offers a refuge that
la eagerly sought by those who make
up the rank and file of the great army
of umhrtft and insobriety. While the
keynote of such charity Is the tender
one of human sympathy, the burden
of Its lament is pauperism, and thus
w eighed It runs rapidly down the scale
and ends In a trail of helplessness.
It is thus that the Institution known
as the Plsgah Home in a 'suburb of
this city, though based upon the
broadest conception of the dally phy
sical and spiritual wants of the needy.
Is likely to be In straits for food
wherewith to supply those who are
eager to accept its bounty. It has
g'.Toa within the past three weeks
about 6000 meals free and free lodging-
eh r aa ire iDsr nermitted to
all who have applied. While some of
the men who have been housed and
fid have repaid the expenditure in
their behalf from the earnWiBS that
they have managed to secure, a large,
and by far the greater, part have not
offered poeslbly they have not been
able to offer remuneration for the
service rendered. Thus, of course, this
charity finds Itself without sufficient
Income to meet the outgo and is likely
to have to suspend its work.
It is a condition, not a theory, that
confronts us here. To meet this con
. . , i . i . .ktAWn all trmories
I anion eiwmMfc .
in reynrd to the pauperizing effect of
i A..t.uhf nrnmltfunutL organized char
ity is difficult if not impossioie. in
theory and Indeed. In fact, every able,
bodied person of mature age should
be able at leant to live in comfort
through his or her endeavor. In real-
- fninmne tentfl DTeSseS
nt e n i iiij "
1 more or le.-s constantly, and In stress
of eiuon. Insistently upon tne gates oi
thrift, demanding entrance as a right,
and eating of Its dole without shame
or gratitude.
Apparently the most and the least
that can be done Is to meet the ques
tion from day to day, for the tempo
rary relief of the destitute, striving
meanwhile by precept and example to
Impress the duty and dignity of self
support upon these derelicts on the
sea of human life, to the end. or at
least In the hope, that they may not.
after a Summer of more or less preda
ceous Idleness, return in Winter to be
fed and housed by the gracious hand
of that charity which "auffereth long
and la kind."
KII1P-K HAGGARD'S NEW HOXOB.
King George has not failed to keep
up the good old British custom of re
cruiting the nobility from the ranks
of distinguished commoners. The New
Veee'e 1 1 eff ft nrOrTlOtionS IS nOt long.
! but It Is long enough to show that the
I wi .ll nnl fall Into
w uuirsvtiie ' . " ' " ' -
desuetude during this reign. The year,
ly accessions of new members have
maintained the intelligence and vigor
of the British nobility for several cen
turies. While the German "Adel" Is
decadent. Italian counts a laughing
stock and French Dukes the symbols
of debauchery, there Is still a good
deal of red blood and some brains In
an English peer if he is properly se
lected from the herd. Very few of
the noble families run farther back
than the Wars of the Hoses. In that
prolonged contest most of the old aris
tocratic stocks were happily killed off
by one another. King Henry VII cre
ated a great many new peers to take
the places and estates of the departd
and it was In his reign that great num
bers of British peerages began.
King George has not chosen hla
candidates for promotion solely from
among the millionaires and politicians.
It is a commendable English custom
to honor literature and art on these
occasions, though of course rather
sparingly. The suocess of a mere au
thor ought not to be set on the same
level as that of a great brewer, as
everybody admits. Still success is suc
cess, though It be In a humble field,
and the British crown usually recog
nizes It In a quiet way. This time the
King has made a baronet of Rider
Haggard, whose books have paid pret
ty well to say the least. Nobody ever
dreamed of making a baronet of
George Meredith. We suppose the rea-
enn VOe that hla TlOVr-la Tl ft VP T SO 1 (1
1 very well. The fact that they stood
at the head of English literature lor
many years could not atone for this
fatal defect.
Rider Haggard's novela have always
been good sellers. The one entitled
"She" went off like hot cakes In both
hemispheres. It was a rattling good
story. The only thing it lacked to
make It Immortal was a little literary
merit. Haggard has also written well
on agriculture and fought valiant
battles for vaccination against British
cranks. Upon the whole he deserves
his promotion . and we hope he will
enjoy his baronetcy.
riNANCISG OF RAILROADS.
If all those who engage in discussion
of the relation of the railroad to the
shipper and passenger on the one hand
and to the Investor on the other hand
would read the report of the Railroad
Securities Commission they would get
rid of many prevalent misapprehen
sions and would acquire a clearer Idea
of what they seek and how to at
tain It.
The shipper and passenger want the
lowest rate which the railroad com
pany will accept and continue busi
ness, but they also want efficient,
speedy and safe service. The investor
wants Interest on his bonds or divi
dends on his stock equivalent to the
return he can obtain on any other In
vestment with due allowance for the
comparative risk of loss. The greater
the risk, the higher return he de
mands; the less the risk, the smaller
the return. If the rates be so reduced
as to deprive the Investor of such a
return, new capital cannot be secured
for extensions and Improvements,
which the shipper considers as essen
tial as reasonable rates. If the rates
be so high as to pay an excessive re
turn, the resulting antagonism may
cause the Federal or state regulative
body to reduce them unreasonably.
Thus both the shipper and the investor
are sure to suffer from the effects of
their own greed.
New capital will be needed by the
railroads in great volume probably
as great In the future as In the past
in order to keep up with the standard
of service expected by the shipper and
with the Improvement of the times.
Not so much will be needed for the
building of new lines as for the Im
provement of existing lines. As popu
lation grows nensrr, tracks must be
doubled, bridges made more substan
tial, grade crossings eliminated, ter
minals enlarged, safety appliances In
stalled and equipment improved. Our
railroads must gradually advance
from American standards of construc
tion, for which the present average
capitalization of less than $60.00 a
mile is adequate, until they approach
the European standard, which has re
quired a capitalization per mile in
Germany $104,000. In France I1S7..
000. in Belgium J177.000, In Great
Britain 1:65.000.
In order to attract this new capital,
the return must be sufficient to com
pensate for the risk, which Is greater
in some cases than others and which
still has a considerable element of
speculation. It Is often assumed that
railroad Investments have attained
such a degree of permanence as dif
fers little from savings banks and baa
the same general uniformity of profit,
but this is only true of some roads.
Profits necesari:y vary according to
the wisdom of the original location of
a line and according to Its good or
bad manaeiemtint, even where the con
ditions of business have become stable.
Tn a neer nnrtlallV deVelODed country
there will be great fluctuation of
traffic, due to rapid shifts of popula
tion. This Is particularly the case In
mining countries, where towns rise
and die In a few months or years. In
such a country the investor has a right
to somewhat higher returns to com
pensate for the greater risks Involved.
New inventions may also render obso
lete equipment and structures which
represent a large Investment and may
require a new investment to bring a
road up to date.
The commission therefore concludes
that It is more desirable to insure
publicity of stock and bond Issues, of
the amount of the proceeds, and of
the manner In which they are applied,
than to limit the amount of such Is
sues. By this means the shipper -will
know If rates are charged to pay divi
dends on water, and tho investor will
know If the railroad on which bonds
are Issued Is adequate security for tha
loan and if the money lent is actually
Invested in the property. After all,
that Is what they want to know.
Knowing that, the shipper has a rem
edy for excessive rates and the in
vestor has a remedy for Juggled
finances.
STRAW TOTES OX DEATH PENALTT.
The suggestion made by Rector Den
ham H. Qulnn. of Chehalls. In a letter
printed Sunday that The Oregonlan In
vite its readers, by means of balloting,
to express their opinions on capital
punishment, does not appeal to us as
worthy of adoption. A straw vote Is
valueless as Indicating the true fixity
of public opinion. The elector doea
not feel that he has a duy to perform
when a straw vote Is invited. Those
who feel strongly on the subject are
likely to participate If they don't
forget It. Only a small percentage of
the public makes the small effort re
quired to send a ballot on the Issue.
One might as well attempt to gauge
public opinion by checking against
each other the numerous letters writ
ten to the editor on this topic.
Furthermore we are promised the
presentation of the Issue at the polls
next November. The people them
selves will then decide whether capital
punishment shall be abolished. We
are not sure that we shall then have
a true expression of public opinion on
the advisability of retaining the death
penalty for murder. If some murder
er is under reprieve at the time a great
many voters will decide the Issue on
whether. In their belief, that particu
lar man should be hanged or impris
oned for life. They are likely to be
Influenced more by arguments for or
against his gu'.lt. provocation or sanity
than by the logic presented In behalf
of protecting society.
To here answer one of our corre
spondent's queries, society. It may
be stated. Is the socially developed
and organized population. Some of
the units that make up society
may be gravely mistaken In their
views as to what is best for
society as a whole. A majority,
even, may err, or be led astray by
minor issues, but under our system of
government the majority rules. The
majority through Its legislators has
decreed that In Oregon premeditated
murder shall be punished by death.
To safeguard against the remote pos
sibility of Inflicting injustice the ma
jority gave the' Governor the emerg
ency power to reprieve murderers, or
commute their sentences. Certainly It
was never Intended to give each suc
ceeding Governor the power to abolish
or enforce capital punishment during
hla term of office as his Inclination
happened to direct. To convert this
emergency power Into a sweeping" one
Is usurpation of authority that no
straw vote can condone.
COIXJNKL SEFTOX " ANT HISS SCOTT.
Colonel Harry Sefton, the Chicago
theater man, has been sued for breach
of promise of marriage, the fair one
whose heart he has broken claiming
S25.000 damages. Any man who for
sakes a woman after promising her his
hand and heart must expect public
feeling to run strongly against him.
The presumption Is that he is a vil
lain with too much money and too
little conscience who occupies his
scandalous leisure in wrecking the
lives of trusting females. This pre
sumption does not invariably accord
with the facts, though the lawyer for
the prosecution rarely rails to make
the Jury think It does. Readers of
The Oregonlan, however, are not a
mere Jury waiting to be bamboozled
by the eloquence of the first silver
tongued lawyer who happens along.
They are thoughtful individuals will
ing to be argued with sensibly and
anxious to reach Just conclusions. We
therefore advance the remark, without
much apprehension of violence, that
Colonel Sefton had some grounds for
breaking off his engagement with
the fair Miss Scott who now seeks to
recover damages for her wounded
affections.
She smokes cigarettes. Reflect
upon this proposition if you please
and try to conceive of its full horror.
The young woman does not smoke a
pipe, not even an old and stinking one.
She does not smoke a cigar, not even
a clirar made of cabbage loaves and
assafoetlda, the kind so popular on
streetcars. She does not "chaw,"
which is a comparatively Innocent and
ladylike habit. She does not "dip," a
practice which is recognized socially
as of extreme elegance in some parts
of the sunny southland. No. Miss
Stfott solaces herself with none of
these pardonable uses of the weed.
She has chosen the most obnoxious
employment which It Is possible to
make of It. She smokes cigarettes.
This Is the reason why Colonel Sefton
has diverted his affections from her
and broken his plighted vows. Is the
reason sufficient? Is his conduct ex
cusable? An enlightened public has
been appealed to for a decision, and.
we are pained to say, opinions are
divided.
We mean that the opinions of wom
ankind are divided. Of course no man
would hesitate for a second to declare
that the Colonel did exactly the right
thing and should be praised for it.
Think of kissing a maiden whose lips
are polluted with the venom of a cig
arette. But women are of various
minds on the subject. Some of them
say that If the Colonel loved Miss
Scott as warmly as he ought he would
forgive the cigarette smoking and
take her to his bosom, stench and all.
Others hold that he probably knew
about the cigarettes when he offered
her his heart and since he has made
a contract he ought to be compelled
to keep It, There Is still another sec
tion of feminine opinion which takes
the ground that the Colonel ought to
marry Miss Scott with all her faults
and devote himself to reforming her
afterward.
Thus from the same circumstances
different people will draw different
conclusions. Our own. which we shall
proffer with becoming modesty in a
moment, stands In a class by Itself and
resembles none of those propounded
by our fair sisters. As to the first,
that Colonel Sefton would marry Miss
Scott in spite of her cigarettes if he
truly loved her, it is open to this ob
jection. Love seeks the welfare of its
object, not her ruin. How then could
the Colonel's love condone a hideous
habit which Is sure. If it is persisted
In long enough, to accompany Miss
Scott to the grave? Evidently the
more he loves the damsel the harder
he will fight against her cigarette de
bauchery, and of course he cannot
marry her while she continues to revel
In sin. That would be the same as
saying, "Go on sinning, my love. I
think Just as much of you as I should
if you were as holy as I am myself."
No self-respecting Colonel could be
guilty of such conduct, ,
Then as to holding him to his con
tract whether or no, this, we submit.
Is harsh doctrine. Love Is an Illusion
from which sooner or later a man Is
pretty certain to recover. Shall we
oblige him when he becomes sane to
keep all the promises he made in his
lunes and ravings? The ancients had
a maxim that Jove laughs at lovers'
vows. In this passage the word "Jove"
evidently means "the law." Is not
this a more humane spirit than that
of our modern tribunals which take
the hallucinations and frenzies of lov
ers as the most serious things in the
world and make a man pay damages
because he has a heart? If the law
exacted damages from us for having
brains it would be far less Injurious
because the offense la so much rarer.
Finally we turn to the proposition
that the Colonel ought to marry Miss
Scott and reform her afterwards. We
seem to remember having heard some
thing of this sort before, only the ta
bles were turned the other way. Usual
ly the woman is expected to reform
the man, and we know how she suc
ceeds. If Miss Scott will not drop her
cigarette-smoking before the wedding
ceremony she will not do it afterward.
The Influence of a lover Is Just about
a thousand times as great as that of a
spouse. We can Imagine dark and
dismal hours when Miss Scott, trans
muted Into Mrs. Sefton, might light up
simply to exasperate her expostulating
husband and coolly ask him what he
was going to do about It, even as a
husband comes home drunk and kicks
over the dinner table to show that he
is his own boss. Nay, nay. There
should be no marrying or giving in
marriage until the cigarette question
has been definitely settled one way or
the other.
Our opinion, which we have sagely
withheld up to this moment. Is that
the Colonel and Miss Scott ought to
travel together for a year on a yacht
In the South Seas with no company
but her chaperone. He should deliver
a dally sermon to her on the evils of
cigarette smoking. In the course of
the voyage she will either murder him
or reform. In either case the ques
tion of their marriage will be happily
disposed of without "troubling the
courts.
The democratic nations of the world
are the ones that favor arbitration.
America, England, France, Scandina
via, all stand for it. Germany's arbi
trary ruler opposes it, and the Czar,
of course, disposes of it with fine and
meaningless phrases. Freedom means
peace. Just as it means prosperity and
happiness. Make all men comfortable
and you destroy tho fundamental mo
tive for going to war.
Sale by the Government of the fili
bustering steamer Hornet Is a severe
blow to .the Central American revolu
tion industry. With the supply of
men, arms and ammunition from the
southern porta thus shut off and the
finances of two Central American re
publics under control of the United
States, the soldier of fortune will find
his occupation -gone and may have to
do some useful work.
Director Newell, of the Reclamation
Service, would do well to practice
what he preaches. Had he made "sys
tematic and thorough investigation of
the physical conditions relating to a
project," he would not have found It
necessary to Increase again his esti
mate of the cost and settlers on land
to be reclaimed would not have been
left In the dark as to the irrigation
charge they assumed.
There is nothing like the hard
knocks of financial reverses to take
the conceit out of a man, as both Kolb
and Dill have discovered. Each has
learned that he la not "the whole
show," and their delightful partner
ship may be renewed on the basis of
a due appreciation by each of the
other.
If diseased meat is being sold in the
local markets and Dr. Calvin S.
White la not given to misstating facts
there is efficient remedy at hand.
Make the Jails big enough to hold the
rascals.
The Oregonlan's Annual spread a
vernal hue over the city that should
exalt the heart of even such an op
timist as Judge Hennessy Murphy.
By deporting Mrs. Snead and her
affinity, Canada shows how she con
tiA mnrnls of her npoDle when
Irregularity becomes known.
Verdict of manslaughter for the
man who broke the neck of the little
orphan girl at Orovllle is rank mis
carriage of Justice.
Eighty would-be doctors are under
going examination to practice In the
most healthful part of the Union.
Cotton operatives In New England
are treading on thin ice in making de
mands for more pay Just now.
Which will New York's woman dep
uty sheriffs do if an offender shows
fight? Scream or shoot?
The Seattle doctor who ran amuck
here New Tear's night had a eimple
case of nostalgia.
A Finn, and his name was not John
son, either, has won the Marathon at
Edinburgh
Let us hope the country beyond the
Rocky Mountains keeps Its frigidity at
home.
. The Empress has donated two mil
lions for the China war; not all cash,
however.
Turn off the water and spite the
alnmhar.
PEOPLE W1R.VED AGAIXST FADS.
W. H. H. Dafar Cosdtauu Slnarle Tax
'as Worst of Class Lcsrlalatlom.
PORTLAND, Dec 31. (To the Edi
tor.) I enclose you a letter from Hon.
W. H. H. Dufur, one time member of
the Oregon Legislature, and later ser-geant-at-arms
of the Senate, who Is at
present visiting and recuperating In
California. I thought perhaps its
publication would be of interest, as his
; views are clear on "Single Tax" fanati
cism. EUGENE PAiuVlJDK.
"Business conditions, of both county
and state, must certainly be looked
upon and viewed by business men and
the average citizen with considerable
alarm. In the Journal of November 20
I notice a letter, dated December 19.
headed 'Procedure Under 6ingle Tax,'
and written by Alfred D. Crldge. If
Mr. Crldge's definition of single tax.
as given there. Is correct, then I am
not surprised that there la a slack
market In small realty dealings, both
la city lots and acreage.
"I, for one, cannot understand how
we can expect to prosper and perma
nently upbuild the state under a sys
tem of taxation that excuses and ex
empts all classes of property and Im
provements, and places ail taxes on
land values. If his theory Is correct.
then a poor Individual, or one who is
unable to put up a skyscraper, rami
pay Just as great a tax as the neighbor
who has his millions, and is able to place
them In a manner greater to increase
hie Income; or, a poor little home
steader, who has, we will say, 10
acres of land and who, with hla wife,
has worked the better part of his life,
depriving his family of all the pleas
ures of life, must pay Just as much
tax as the wealthy city owner right
alongside of him. who has purchased
for his own pleasure 160 or more acres,
and who has lavishly Improved his
property for his own Individual pleas
ures and benefit. He expends 10,000,
$;0.000 or 130.000 for beautifying and
fixing up his property to suit his fas
tidious notions. On the other hand, the
homesteader or the man with the mort
gage hanging over him. who is Just as
good a citizen, and Just as useful a
member of society, under the single
tax system, must pay Just as much
taxes as the wealthy neighbor, who
was born perhaps with a million tn his
mouth.
"Are not the people of the state of
Oregon at the present time, especially
the farmers, crying out against the ex
cessive taxes thejr have-to pay? And
yet. In his speecsj before the Realty
Board on September 19, Mr. ITRen ac
knowledges that It will Increase the
land tax 100 per cent. Now. If this is
the case, and It will do It, what In the
name of common sense are the farmers
and the faim interests of Oregon going
to do, saying nothing of the small lot
owners In the city of Portland? They
cry, 'Something must be done to get
the. people back to the farm." Tes,
something must be done, but for God's
sake don't go to work and adopt class
legislation of tMs kind, exempting
millions upon millions of taxable prop
erty and placing It upon the unfortu
nate landowner, or home builder. It Is
a theory that may work, when the Hon
and the lamb He down together, but
not under present business conditions.
"I am an advocate of popular Gov
ernment by the people, and was very,
very proud of the people of Oregon
when they adopted the progressive
ideas they did. and set the example to
the balance of the United States that
Oregon had the best state government
In the world; and I firmly believe and
have perfect faith In the intelligence
of the voters of both state and Nation,
and I shall be awfully mistaken if they
allow theorists and faddists' untried
ideas to pull the wool over their, eyes
at the next election on this single tax
question.
"W. H. H. DUFUR.
NON-TILLABLE LAND IS USEFUL
fuck of Tbat Not Classed as Fertile
Will Sustain Livestock.
CORVALIS, Or., Jan. 1. (To the Ed
itor.) Permit me to congratulate you
on your splendid New Year'B edition. It
is beyond question the best and most
complete compilation of tho resources
of Oregon extant. A veritable ency
clopedia of the Industrial activities of
the state. I desire, howeveV, to correct
a typographical error in a report from
this office relating to the tillable land
in Oregon. Clackamas County should
be -credited with 728.400 acres of plow
land, instead of S, 288.400 acres.
While It Is estimatetd that Oregon
has 22,817,930 acres of fertile, tillable
land. It should be borne in mind that
much of the remaining area of 38,039.
830 acres Is excellent grazing land, cap
able of sustaining millions of sheep
and goats and large numbers of cattle
and horsea.
JAMES WITHTCOMBE.
Cause of Jim Warner's Death.
SILETe. Or., Dec. 29. (To the Edi
tor ) I noticed a small article in The
Oregonlan Thursday in regard to the
death of Jim Warner, an Indian shot In
March by a white man, and In reply
will say:
The Prosecuting Attorney is reported
to have said that Jim Warner died
from heart disease. This Is a mistake.
Jim Warier did not die from heart dis
ease. Because Jim was an old man,
that does not prove it by any means.
Nobody else but myself treated Warner.
I examined Jim op several occasions
before he was shot, and I am fully con
vinced that he had no heart trouble.
I have made quite a number -of post
mortem, myself in private and host
pital practice, and witnessed a good
many in some of the Eastern institu
tions, and am fully competent to recog
nize and diagnosticate normal and
pathologic conditions. I testified un
der oath before the grand Jury at To
ledo and explained my findings of the
post-mortem to them, and informed the
Jury that Jim Warner had died from
a secondary hemorrhage, due to the
gunshot wound.
Furthermore, I wish to state that I
have three or four witnesses who will
testify at any time that Jim Warner
told them, and I myself beard, it, that
Chanaler had shot him after he had
made him drunk.
In conclusion, I again emphatically
reiterate: Jim Warner did not die from
heart disease.
M. F. CLAUSIUS, M. D
Physician, U. S. Indian Service.
Clxrarrttra and the Presidency.
Fred C. Kelly in the Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
If the truth must be told, Oscar Un
derwood, the House majority leader,
smokes cigarettes. The other day an
unknown admirer of Underwood' up in
XT -... Tnrl, who. rpc&rda him as a
strong Presidential possibility, wrote
him a long letter decrying me nan
he is taking. "You may be able to get
away with it," the man wrote, "but
there's no sense in butting against the
stone wall of prejudice that exists in
many quarters against people who
smoke cigarettes rather than cigars or
a corncob pipe."
Problem 1st the Milk Trade. '
The Sketch.
The Lady How much mils: does the
old cow give a day, Tom?
Tom About eight quarts, ma'am.
The Lady And bow much of that do
you sell?
Tom About 12 quarts, ma am.
A Native Asaerlcmn, 124 Tears.
Indianapolis News.
That he Is the oldest resident of the
United States Is the assertion of a
Cherokee Indian in Virginia, who
claims that he has lived more than 120
vears-4
MODE OF LIVING NEEDS REVISION
Artificial Ufa sad Taate for Luxuries
Raise Geaeral Llvlns Coat.
FORT STEVENS, - Or., Jan. 2. (To
the Editor.) The widely - discussed
"bugbear," known as the "increased
cost of living," can scarcely be said
to have arisen from any one definite
cause. Many and various agencies in
volved in the expansion and higher de
velopment of the human race during
'comparatively recent times have ex
erted their proportionate Influence In
rendering It progressively more diffi
cult for the average human being to
earn a living and support a family.
During even-the past century ad
vances In the general administration
! of human affairs, decrease In the num
ber of men killed in war, lessened tatai
lty from pestilence due to advances in
hygienic knowledge, and fewer deaths
from famine due to modern facilities
for the transportation of foodstuffs
from regions of comparative plenty to
those of scarcity, have, together with
other accompanying Influences, promot
ed a much more rapid increase in the
population of the civilized world than
was possible under previously existing
conditions.
With this comparatively rapid In
crease In population and gradual ad
vancement of the sum of human intelli
gence, the average Individual has like
wise risen in intelligence. -Higher in
stitutions of learning have multiplied
by hundreds; and whereas 70 years ago
a certain proportion of the population
contentedly completed their education
by attendance of a few years at an in
different district school, and a consid
erable percentage of the people re
mained comparatively illiterate, nowa
days compulsory education Is provided
for practically all, and the proportion
of high school and college graduates is
steadily and rapidly increasing. For
those who cannot afford to attend col
lege In person, the steady growth of
the "correspondence method" opens
further avenues of learning.
As a natural result of this widespread
and continually increasing diffusion of
knowledge, the boy who 70 years ago
was content to follow In his father's
footsteps on the farm, or to inherit his
father's comfortable blacksmithlng
trade. In either of which positions he
would remain a producer, now strives
to become an engineer, or a lawyer, or
a preacher, or a politician, or a physi
cian, in either of which already over
filled professions he at' once becomes
a consumer and must needs live at the
expense of other people. The gradual
but nevertheless steady exodus from
the producing farm to the consuming
city is slowly but surely creating a
top-heaviness in our modern fife sys
tem that sooner or later must reach
a point where even an artificial balance
can no longer be maintained., Unless
there develops A decided change in the
trend of our modern life, the grad
ually increasing cost of living, at least
to the consuming city dweller, must
sooner or later become absolutely pro
hibitive. It would seera reasonable to believe
that an intellifent revision "sldewlse"
of our modern strenuous and highly
artificial life from dark and noisy city
flats to airy" and comfortable farm cot
tages; from the expensive and vanity
satisfying automobile to the light
buggy; from days of enervating phys
ical inactivity in a 15th-story office to
days of health and wealth-producing
manual labor next the soil; from reck
less and Indiscriminate libertinism to
a virtuous conservation of the family
circle; and from champagne suppers to
cider and apples, would not only no
ticeably decrease the average cost of
living but would -at the same time
vastly Increase the sum of real human
happiness.
CHESTER J. STEDMAN, M. D.
SLANT FOREIGNERS THERE ALSO
Canada Not as Much White Man's
Country as This, Saja Writer.
. PORTLAND, Dec. 11. (To the Edi
tor.) The Vancouver Daily Province
of recent date states editorially that
over 40 per cent of the population of
New York City are foreigners, and that
Walla Walla, Wash., Is the only Ameri
can city.
Having in mind the "passing of the
American," I took a trip to Canada last
Summer, when tho thought struck me,
"Here witnesseth the white man's last
stand." Upon traveling along the
Canadian Pacific Railroad, into New
Westminster and Vancouver, B. C, the
sight of thousands of Chinese, Japanese
and Hindus almost took my breath
away and completely routed my idea
of Canada being the white man's last
stand. I saw more Orientals in British
Columbia in proportion to tHe popula
tion than in any section of the United
Statee. European foreigners (dark
skinned) are also in Canada by the
thousands.
As a result of this conglomeration of
races, white folk In Canada, Vancouver
especially, are casting fond glances to
wards Australia, the only white man's
country, and many are leaving for Aus
tralia, amounting to almost an exodus,
as witnessed by crowded boats loavlng
Vancouver, B. C. Some boats' passen
ger capacities are filled ten days be
fore sailing date.
I have talked to Australians 4n Can
ada and they all stated that the "con
glomeration" on this continent made
them sick and that at the first oppor
tunity they would return to Australia,
"the 'white man's home."
Tho Oregonlan today has a news arti
cle regarding New Yoi-k City's popula
tion which bears out the editorial men
tioned above. The Oregonlan also had
a news item regarding the coming of
some Australian officials to encourage
American emigration, which, from my
personal observations throughout the
West, will be readily responded to.
M. L. BELL.
Country Town Sayings by Ed Howe
When a man falls heir to a big Job,
It Is always said his head swells. And
frequently it Is true.
The claim that American women
drink too much probably isn't serious.
When women drink wine, it is a sip
and a protest, and usually more tem
perance lecture than dissipation.
When people say, "It should be
done," It doesn't follow that It can be
done.
When invitations are sent out for a
big social affair in a country town,
the line Is only drawn at color and
murder.
It mir be depended upon that when
a man dedicates his life to a. cause, he I
has a secret understanding with nim
self that he may take his life back If
the labor to which he has dedicated
himself does not pay.
Every man must be his own phy
sician; health Is a delicate matter you
cannot delegate to another.
It is unfair to give to any one man
credit for that which belongs to a race;
to an age. '
A fool will not only pay for a "cure"
that does him no good, but will write
a testimonial to the effect that he was
cured.
If you achieve success, you must pass
the slow men.
When a thing is up to some people.
It Is Just the same as dead.
A DesIa-ntnK Suitor Fishes.
Boston Evening Transcript.
She My father made a fortune be
fore he was 40. Would you like to
know how he did it? '
He no; but I'd like to know if he
atlll baa it-f
N. NITTS ON DEPUTIES
By Deaa Collins.
Nesciue Nitts, he whose wisdom ex
pands Past Punkindorf's limits to e'en for
eign lands.
Cast a far-away gaze on the dill-pickle
stands.
And combed with his fingers his long
goatee's strands;
Then spake upon power In feminine
hands.
"I sees by the papers, that Harburger
feller.
New York's new - elected disturbance
dispeller.
Has sprung what will be an odd thing
around there. If
He gives women badges fer deputy
sheriff.
As he has announced he is thinkln' of
doin',
Malntainin' his scheme is entirely a
new one.
"I holds this a dangerous thing, and I
say
He oughtn't to deputize ladles that
way.
In fust place, consider its Leap Year
to boot.
In which women has the full right of
pursuit;
Now wherefore make bad enough
worser by far.
By addin' the power that lies In a star?
"Jest think of the bachelors Leap Year
has left
From their one protection entirely be
reft. Since custom in Leap Year to women
gives o'er
The right cuetom give to the men folks
before.
By Leap. Year deprived of this safe-
guardin' right.
The bachelor's last chance lies only tn
flight.
"Consider how fearful 'twould be. Jest
supposln'
He seen that a woman was plannln'
proposin'.
Percelvln' his danger, 'Excuse ' me,'
sezee, .
And backs toward the doorway, pre
parin" to flee;
But scarce has them words of farewell
been expressed,
When 'Halt!' cries the lady, "You're
under arrest!'
"What chance fer the bachelor, held
there In awe '
And fear of the powerful arm of the
law? - '
I scarce can conceive of a fearfuller
scrape
Than thus to be shet from all means
of escape.
The pint In the f oregoin" argument
made is:
Leap Year's a bad time fer to deputize
ladles."
Pi. rtland, January 2.
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonlan, January 8, 1862.
It is said that Lieutenant Adair has
left the Army and gone to Victoria, his
resignation not having been accepted.
He is in a good position, in case of war
with England, to take position in the
rebel forces.
ASTORIA, Dec 21. Our little village
was enlivened Friday evening, the 20th
inst, with an exhibition at the court
house by the scholars and children of
our "free district school" on the occa
sion of the close of a nine-months term
by our present very excellent teachers,
Mr. and Mrs. Deardorff.
Gold has been discovered in consider
able quantities In the province of
Otago, New Zealand. Sailors were de
serting their ships, the value of labor
had increased, and there was every
appearance of all public works being
stopped.
S. J. McCormick. Esq., of the Frank
lin Book Store, was awarded the con
tract of furnishing the state with sta
tionery for the ensuing year.
The Columbia River Is closed with
Ice. and the steamer from this place
to Vancouver was unable to reach that
place yesterday and returned.
Yesterday a number of boys, while
skating on the pond north of the city,
came across-the dead body of a man,
which was protruding through the Ice.
Coroner McCoy visited the Bpot and
took charge of the body. The Jury
returned a verdict that he came to his
death by drowning.
In consequence of the floating ice in
the Colombia River, the steamer Julia,
bound for The Dalles, was forced to
return without making her trip. The
steamer Vancouver is also unable to
proceed to Vancouver. The river is
said to be blocked up with ice as far
down as Willow Bar. The Julia was
sent down to St. Helens yesterday
morning to take the passengers and
freight from the steamship Cortes,
which is supposed to ba detained there.
A sudden freak of honesty seems to
have come over some of the secession
party in the loyal states. They suffer
Intensely from, reports current that
contractors and others- are swindling
Government In furnishing supplies for
the Army. This sudden exhibition of
honesty would be respected if sincere.
The last administration was sustained
by the secession Democracy and con
trolled by them. There was one gen
eral system-of robbing the Government
from the beginning to the end of It,
Even "J. B." did not fail to use his
power to help his friends to plunder.
At the close of Mr. Buchanan's ad
ministration the system of plunder cul
minated In the robbery of the Govern
ment of nearly a million dollars by
the Secretary of War, and the general
robbery of mints, arsenals, public
stores and forts of property by the
secession Democracy In the Southern
states. Did ever one of this stamp In
the loyal states, editor or otherwise,
complain of these robberies? Never.
There may be swindlers now who
are contractors for Government sup
plies. Very likely. There are always
bad men about. But the Government
countenances no such robberies. A spe
cial committee of Congress, sitting in
the recess. Is employed to look into
such charges, and they are doing so
without fear, favor or affection. The
guilty 'will be made to suffer. The
Government has got its face as a flint
against the system of robberies inau
gurated by the preceding admlnistra-
tion.
The Richmond Examiner of the 31st
ult., speaking of the Federal troops,
says: ."Take them all in all, their
forces are as precious a set of rascals
as could be scraped together with a
fine-tooth comb from the pothouses and
hellhouses of the North. They have
been fertilized by filth and grown up
crisp, fresh and unmitigatediy wretched
from the mire of municipal corruption."
Ex-Governor Wickllffe, of Ken
tucky. ex-Postmaster-General, etc., Is
loyal to the heart's core, but has a son
in the Army. That son attempted to
apply the torch to his own father's
house in Bardstown. but General An
derson sent a regiment to the rescue.
Bird Houses In Vineyards.
Baltimore American.
German wine growers are being en- v
eouraged by the government to scatter
nesting material and erect bird houses
in their vineyards to attract feathered
foes of insects that prey upon vines.