TIIE MORXIXG OREGONIAX TnCTSDAY. JANUARY 4, 1913.
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AO OEEX BT AX FVGLJ-.trw.AX.
It I desirable not only to se our
flTri a others see us. but to see our
political leaders aa men of other na
tions se them. For this reason an ar
ticle In the English Fortnightly Re
view la Interesting.
This writer, discussing Roosevelt,
says:
Tha failure of hi New Tork Stat carn
palaa bmfca hta Influence ovor tha sretr
tart of lb touritry. Th Weat la till faltb-f-.il.
but elaewbare h 1 beliea-d by moat
anple to be poiltleajly dead. Tby do ot
r.:a what vttal fore tharw la ta him. He
do not quite realtsa It blraaalf. Ka thtake
lao ha aaaurod na laat year that ba baa
paaaad over the craat of tha wav and is
aw einktna; In tha trouah. But ba ha
oftaa thought this before. IBleae th Amer
ican ataip of atata anould unexpectedly Bllda
Into calm water. Theodora Rooeelt will ba
found aaaln at har balm. 1b th meantime
Wowlroa Wliaon I probably th maa h
wouid moat gladly aa elected-
Thla leads him to contrast Roosevelt
with Wliaon. whom he describes as
"analytical, sardonic, a keen knlfe
edse sort of a man. and to quote Wil
son as making; fun of Roosevelt's
knack of ruahlna; In with a bio; stick
before he quite knows whose head he
ought to break with It, and as saying;
that "as soon as Mr. Roosevelt thinks
he talks, a simultaneous miracle that
fs not, according; to our education, the
customary way of formlns; an opinion."
He says that neither Roosevelt nor
Wilson la a man of Ideas, but that they
assimilate and give forth promptly
other people's Ideas. He continues:
Tha dtffaranoe batwaan tham la this mat
tar ta that Mr. Rooaaaolt takaa up aa la,
upon hla wa jut!mnt of I la marl la. Tha
tat for blm la. Ioaa It appaal to mar Mr.
H ums la mora cautious. H aaka. toa It
ai to e ("lbs wur Ha It beaa triad
anrwhare and proTad a workable propo
aitloa t
This characterisation fits what m
know of Wilson certainly. Before he
had engaged In political strife and
when he took a purely academic In
terest In political questions, he con
demned the initiative, referendum and
recall. After he had been elected Gov
ernor and had conceived an ambition
to be President, he found that these
political ideas were ruins; well, so far
aa their popularity went with the ele
ments he hoped to win. Wilson, the
cautious, opportunist politician, then
threw overboad the opinions of WlUon
the college prestdt-nt. and became the
apostle of direct legislation.
That Mr. Roosevelt takes up an Idea
on his own Judgment of 1U merits Is
true, but he could not have gained his
reputation as a past master In politics
had he not also considered whether
the Idea would go well. Yet he has
repeatedly taken up Ideas on their
merits and vehemently forced them on
public attention, though he must
have known they would prove unpop
ular. An example Is his recommenda
tion that railroad trafflc pools be le
galized, a measure which, when taken
up by Taft, aroused the Insurgents
those Insurgents who are now fondly
turning to Roosevelt as their leader
to frenxy.
Nor Is It true that Roosevelt talks as
soon aa he begins to think, though,
when he once begins to talk on any
subject, he talks so forcibly and con
tinuously as to create that Impression
to the casual observer. There were
several occasions during his presi
dency when the Washington corre
. apondents could not get a word from
him on certain momentous" questions
then pending, though he was certainly
thinking deeply on them. At that time
It was said that Rooaevelt, far from
being Impulsive, deliberated long with
out uttering a word, but that hla de
cision once reached, he announced It
clearly and with emphasis and pro
ceeded to carry It out with that tre
mendous driving force which led peo
ple to suppose that he was acting upon
Impulse.
The cruelest thrust of the Fortnight
ly writer Is reserved for Governor Har
mon. He says the Ohio candidate Is
"not an Illuminating person." "rather
puzzled by modern Ideas." "anything
but a leader, "a thoroughly good sort."
and complete the operation of damn
ing with faint praise by saying:
II mlcht ba a llrttlab Colon! or n.ltra
aava fnr hla tor. raay movrmrnl and th
arni: around tha rornrra of h'a mouth.
Ltlt.'t AT BOTH MtRr.rH.
The Commercial and Financial
Chronicle is always ready with ap
proval for any denunciation of the
criminal poor, the labor dynamiter and
slugger, but It grows virtuously Indig
nant when Senator Borah extonds hi
eondemnation to the criminal" rich. Mr.
Borah truly salj that law Is deued in
the highest walks of business. Law
lessness In that quarter provokes It at
the other extreme of the social scale,
for the delusion that two blacks make
a white still prevails. Only a minor
ity of rich men may be lawless, and
Mr. Borah did not charge that con
tempt for law was general among
them, but It ts practiced and voiced by
enough to furnish a plausible excuse
for such men as the MeNamaras.
The Chronicle also charges ex
Treiident Roosevelt with exploiting
crime "when he denounced wealth and
great fortunes and large business com
binations." Neither Mr. Borah nor
Mr. Roosevelt denounced all wealth:
they denounced only Ill-gotten wealth.
Neither of them denounced all large
business combinations: they de
nounced only business combinations
formed and continued In defiance of
law. Mr. Roosevelt with equal vehe
mence denounced crimes committed In
the name of labor and he carefully dis
criminated between the law-abiding
and the lawless among rich and poor
alike.
The fault for prevalent lawlessness,
says the Chronicle. Is "not with the
public, but with the lawmaker."
whom it accuses of being controlled by
"politics, pure and simple." But who
except th public makes tha lawmak-
r,1 Than tna. nnhllfi la reSDOflSible
forawlessness. The remedy lies In a
deeper sense of responsibility on the
part of the Individual voter. Let each
citizen cast his vote for the man who
will make a good public servant, not
for the "good fellow." "one of our
crowd," or one who "belongs to our
lodge"; let him scrupulously observe
the law himself and back up the pub
lic servant In enforcement of the law,
even against his own crowd and his
own lodge members. Then lawless
ness will soon be reduced to a mini
mum. We repeat, the responsibility
for lawlessness comes back to the In
dividual citizen.
KOBLXY DtatilJHOX EVAN.
Ruffle the drums and half-mast the
ensign, for the Admiral has passed.
Robley D. Evans' has completed the
tempestuous voyage of Life and sailed
the Unknown Sea to salute the Great
Admiral. Beloved of the people of
this Nation for his fighting qualities
In war and his counsels of wisdom In
peace, the news of his death comes as
the loss of a member of the family.
He was a typical American In that
he loved his country and he showed It
by entering Annapolla during the
throes that preceded the Civil War.
when such action meant for him. na
tive Virginian, complete severing of
home ties. Perhaps .ostracism deter
mined his career, fostering and devel
oping the bulldog tenacity that erupt
ed at critical epochs and won.
Robley D. Evans, looking Into the
years, saw hla country Involved and
hoped to be In and of the conflict. The
lessons of his career will strengthen
the hands that bear the Flag to future
victories.
TRADE WITH BXHSIA MAIX.
Russia's proposed retaliatory tariff
on American Imports, In revenge for
the abrogation of the trade treaty, will
not make more than a dent In th
great bulk of American foreign trade.
According to the Bureau of Statistics,
although American trade with Russia
has practically doubled In the last ten
years, our export were only about
126.000.000 and our Imports about
lit. 000. 000.
Th largest Item of exports was ag
ricultural Implements, about $8,000,
000; the next unmanufactured cotton.
tt.Z40.000; the third Iron and steel
manufactures. I3.5SJ.000; the remain
der being divided among twine, cop
per, leather,' rosin, meat and dairy
products, lubricating oil. cars and car
riages, Th two leading articles Im
ported were hides and skins, .5,409,
191;, and manufactured wool. 13.097.
S3. The rest waa divided among furs
and fur skins, scrap rubber, licorice
root, fibers and textile grasses, hair,
wood pulp, wool manufactures. Iron
and steel manufactures, but no one of
the latter Items exceeded 11.000.000.
If Russia ahould entirely stop this
trade, we should feel It and she would
b aa much Injured as should we be.
STORET FOIXOW9 WTRT-9 PMCEDEXT.
Ex-Sheriff Storey carries Governor
West's theory about criminal law to
Its logical conclusion and prove to
what disastrous results it leads. Why
trouble to arrest a criminal, prosecute
him and take him to the penitentiary
If he Is only to be released In a few
months on parole or honor by a sym
pathetic Governor? Mr. Storey rea
sons that, if the burglar Is to be par
doned, he might as well pardon him
first aa last and save all this trouble
and expense. In so doing, he may be
setting aside the law. but th Gover
nor the chief representative of the
law. Its executive has set the prece
dent, so why should Mr. 8torey not
follow It?
This would lead naturally to th
exercise of fh pardoning power by
every citizen who suffers by th crime
of another. Compounding of felony,
which Is already so dangerously prev
alent that It Is regarded as a venial
offense, would then become universal.
We should lose sight of that funda
mental precept of law that a crime Is
committed not against Its Immediate
object, but through that object against
the state, and that It Is the duty of
every citizen to aid the stai In bring
ing a criminal to Justice, no matter
whether reparation has been made to
him Individually or not.
tLVOd.lTlON Or THE VMTM.
Mr. Henry E. Reed"s announcement
of candidacy for th Republican nomi
nation for Assessor Is an interesting
example of the evolution of Oregon's
political system. Instead of party
representatives gntherlng In conven
ventlon and declaring a set of princi
ples, each aspirant for offlc now
writes his own platform. The office
of Assessor is an administrative one.
The Incumbent simply administers the
laws In force. Yet Mr. Reed deems It
politically expedient to write a legis
lative platform. Ho advocates a re
form in taxation which he haa no
more power to put Into effect than the
Individual clerk, the merchant, th
lawyer, the machinist, the barber or
the laborer. He has one vote and no
more. So has every other citizen. In
the same order of procedure we have
heretofore had candidates for Justice
of the peace declare themselvs In fa
vor of Statement One and Initiative
and referendum, with none of which
their Judicial powers would have th
slightest thing to do.
However, we are not disposed to
quarrel with Mr. Reed over his writ
ing a platform. We simply call atten
tion to an Interesting development of
so-called progressive government, Mr.
Reed's platform, moreover, is Interest
ing in other particulars. On might
almost be Justified in accusing him of
stealing single-tax stage thunder, yet
denouncing the sheet Iron which re
verberates the sound. Ha likes the
noise, but not the thing that produces
it. He proposes to exclude Improve
ments and personal property from pri
mary taxation. This Is the "big noise"
of the single taxers. It Is th basis for
practically all their arguments. Their
ultimate purpose to have the state ex
propriate all land values is kept In
the background. The single taxers
figures, prepared with the Idea of
showing that such exemptions would
aid the farmer and. small home-owner
will. If of any value at all. be as use
ful In supporting Mr. Reed's plan as
In boosting Mr. VRen's preliminary
measures.
At this point, however. Mr. ITRen
and Mr. Reed part. Th former fol
lows Henry George Into visionary
realms where all "community-made"
value are taken from th landowner
and converted Into utilities. Improve
ments and beaut If lent Ions for the ben
efit of the community. Mr. Reed
would Impose an Income tax and per
haps a business tax. although as to
the latter he says nothing. He does
not propose the taking of private prop
erty for public uses without gl'ring
compensation.
It is all very edifying to know how
our candidate for county office stand
on general policies which they have
no power to put Into effect, but per
haps no more edifying than when In
the old days we learned through con
vention platforms that our candidates
for Assessor favored the gold stand
ard or free coinage of silver.
MONOPOLY OB COMPETITION f
Mr. Akers, of Heppner, whose letter
The Oregonlan prints today, asks us
a question which he evidently thinks
we cannot answer for ourselves. So
he benevolently supplies an answer
for us.
His question is. "If you will have
neither monopoly nor competition,
what Is your avenue of escape?" And
hi answer Is, "public ownership of
those articles on which life Is de
pendent." We appreciate Mr. Akers kindness
in trying to help us out of a difficult
dilemma, but we flatter ourselves that
w have a solution of the problem he
proposes fully as good aa his and may
be a little .better.
In the first place, whil w object
to private monopoly, we agree with
Mr. Brandeia that monopoly properly
reined and regulated by law may be
a very good thing because It prevents
waste and lowers the cost of produc
tion. This benefit may be obtained
without government ownership. As
long as the law regulate a monopoly
for the general good, what Is the harm
If Its shares of stock are owned by
individuals? Indeed, we think that
Is the better way.
In th second place, we want com
petition and we will doubtless have it
whether we want It or not. Wo do not
want the petty, malignant, wasteful
kind, but In Its proper field competi
tion is a stimulus to genius and a help
to economy. Our biggest trusts are
wasters of time and material, as sta
tistics show. ' There Is no single for
mula which will settle these vexed
and complicated questions at a stroke.
They demand profound study, and.
above all, a generous application of
tolerant common sense.
THE CtKwTMISSIOX MEN A"D THE FTB
UC. a
Th protest of Mr. R. S. Farrell
against the meat-Inspection ordinance
which Is now in preparation deserve
careful consideration. Mr. Farrell
represents the commission men. Dr.
Calvin S. White and City Attorney
Grant, who have given some attention
to drawing the proposed ordlncjice,
represent the publlo of Portland. Ac
cording to Mr. Farrell, there is a clash
between the lntertmta which he stands
for and those of the public So com
plete Is the clash that he says "the
ordinance If passed will put the com
mission men out of business." This
would be a calamity to the commission
men, for we understand that their
business as carried on yields handsome
protits. It might also be Inconvenient
to the public An ordinance which
threatens disaster so dire to a recog
nized branch of trade ought to be ex
amined with great care both by the
Council and by the public and relieved
of its dangerous provision What,
then, does the new inspection ordi
nance propose to do? Nothing very
terrible on Its face, but of course hid
den perils may lurk somewhere In Its
murky depths.
The ordinance provides In the first
place for an Inspector and an assistant.
Their duty will be to visit the slaughter-houses
and see that no diseased
cattle are killed for the Portland trade.
They will also look after sanitary con
ditions. Perhaps their duty In this
particular may resemble that of the
Inspectors In German cities, who keep
all slaughter-houses as clean aa a
farmer's kitchen. If they find filthy
surroundings In any slaughter-house
they are to order a clean-up. If they
find any meat for sale which Is dis
eased or dirty they are to condemn It.
This seems to be about all of their
duties under the proposed ordinance.
Mr. Farrell tells us that if the ordi
nance Is passed it will put the commis
sion men out of business. In other
words Mr. Farrell seems to say that
unless foul and diseased meat Is sent
freely to the Portland market, th
commission business cannot flourish.
Of course the commission business
Is very Important, but the public
health Is important too. Which Is of
the greater consequence may be a mat
ter of opinion, but certainly the public
deserves a hearing.
The thought that we must consume
diseased beef In order to provide a
comfortable Income for some of our
traders Is not entirely agreeable. Could
they not manage to obtain an Income
from some other source? We admit
that there Is more money In selling
diseased than healthy meat because It
can be bought cheaper on the hoof
from farmers. Under state Inspection
laws a number of cowa have recently
been slaughtered for tuberculosis.
These carcasses can be obtained from
the farmers at very reasonable fig
ures Indeed, and they cut up Just as
well as any others for the simple
minded Portland housewife and her
family. The proposed Inspection or
dinance might Interfere disagreeably
with this practice and of course th
profits of the commission men would
suffer, but the housewife's delight in
cooking steaks which she felt certain
were fre from disease might partially
compensate for their woes.
The public Is aware, no doubt, of
the limitations upon the efficiency of
the Federal Inspection law. This Im
perfect legislation was enacted after a
furious struggle, and It applies only to
meat designed for Interstate com
merce. Cattle and hogs Intended for
the Portland market only, and not for
shipment to other states, need not be
Inspected under the Federal act. The
packers and many other caterers of
food products have used the Federal
Inspection law as an advertisement.
Sometimes Its advertising power has
been a little overworked, perhaps, and
the purity which la guaranteed for In
terstate trade has been extended by
virtue of the Imagination to Intra-state
trade as well. We do not question the
Ingenuity of this process, but It Is Just
as well for th Innocent public to un
derstand exactly what Federal Inspec
tion means and what It does not mean.
The United States Government pays
for it and the meat caterers profit by
it. but It does not afford one Jot of
protection to the local public except
when a carcass slaughtered for ship
ment 1 by chance offered In the home
market- Obviously, on the other
hand, meat rejected for Interstate
trade can be disposed of without In
terference In Portland.
The argument Is advanced against
Inspection that it will make meat
dearer. We do not see how the price
of meat can possibly rise much higher
without stop ping its sal altogether to
everybody but millionaires. Still, as
a general principle. It stands to reason
that It costs something to be clean and
to keep free from disease, and In our
opinion the public are willing to pay
whatever may be necessary to secure
wholesome food, though sometimes
they may not have the means. We
are told In the same way that we must
be satisfied with contaminated milk
because adequate dairy Inspection is
so expensive. Force the dairymen to
provide a wholesome product and you
will & rive them out of business. Ac
cording to those who use this argu
ment the antagonism between private
Interests and the public health Is Ir
reconcilable. There can be no com
promise, they tell us. Either the pri
vate interest must go out of business
or the welfare of the public must be
sacrificed. No doubt they are mis
taken. There Is probably some way
open to the dealers to provide clean
meat and still make money. But if
there Is nonsuch way. If we must
choose between the commission men's
profits and the public health, which
Is the more important?
The National Association of Manu
facturers calls for a cessation of po
litical agitation, naming tariff agita
tion in particular, but at th same time
calls for ameadment of the Sherman
act. Federal Incorporation and regu
lation of trusts and an Improved sys
tem of banking and currency. We
cannot have a cessation of political
agitation as affecting business until
these questions are settled permanent
ly, for they concern the very founda
tions of business. The best means of
stilling political agitation Is to work
for the scientific revision of the tar
iff, regulation of the trusts and the
National reserve scheme. When these
fundamental questions are settled on
sound principles, political agitation
need disturb business but little, for It
can relate only to details of the su
perstructure to be built on these
foundations.
Gold production In the Transvaal
continues to Increase month by month.
In November, 1911, It was 719, T29
ounces and for the eleven months of
that year showed an Increase of nearly
H per cent over the same period of
1910. The 1911 output will nearly
equal the output of the whole world
In 1894. These facts should not be
overlooked by those who seek the
cause of high prices. The value of all
commodities being measured In gold,
an Increased supply of that metal re
duces Its purchasing power and causes
prices to rise. While prices of other
commodities may be relatively higher,
gold has become cheaper.
The National flag ought to be an
object of reverence. Laws may do
something toward securing this desir
able condition, but education can do
much more. No law can prevent a
person from desecrating the flag In
private, but proper education will pre
vent all desire to do so. General
Wood objects to seeing an Army chap
lain spread the flag ovor the altar to
lay th Bible on. This Is silly. When
fetishism Is pushed beyond a certain
point It provokes a reaction and de
feats Its own ends.
Democrats In Congress are probing
into everything that ever happened in
search of campaign material. As the
Roosevelt and Taft Administrations
have both been particularly busy,
there Is plenty of opportunity, but
caution Is necessary lest they bring to
light something to their own discredit,
like the Dlck-to-Dick forgery, or to
the credit of the Republicans, which
would be eqwally disastrous to them.
The political prober needs to be par
ticularly wary.
It would not seem necessary to hold
a Congressional Investigation to learn
"how Teddy took Panama.' He has
told all about It, confessing the details
of the affair In all their monstrosity.
The process was very simple. When
he wanted the Isthmus he sent down
and took it. leaving posterity to enjoy
the benefits and shriek over the meth
od. Most great acta have been done
In the same way. Statesmen who are
finical over ways and means seldom
achieve results.
Before mutual accusations of thiev
ery become too virulent between plain
tiff and defendant In the Wilde case,
the anxious public would like to know
what. If anything, was stolen. The
defense alleges that It took nothing.
The prosecution declares that It took
nothing of any consequence. If a
philosopher should set out to steal evi
dence he would select papers which
signified something, but perhaps it Is
different with lawyers.
While the Goulds are marrying their
daughters to lords, giving their wives
$500,000 necklaces and buying Scotch
estates. Investors In their railroads axe
trying to oust them from management.
The Goulds' way of spending money
does not tempt capital to Investment
In their enterprises. . It seems Impossi
ble to combine in the same persons the
follies of the second generation of a
rich family with the business ability
of the first generation.
If many more men of Morse's type
should go to prison and the wardens
should be "easy." tickers may be in
stalled and convicts may relieve the
tedium of prison life by watching the
market on Wall street and taking an
occasional flyer. Why not? The
Wall-street game, persistently played,
naturally leads lta votaries to prison
cells.
What are we coming to when a man
like Edward Hines cannot use his club
to put through a little political deal
without being called to account? The
wave of political purification has swept
into the favorite resorts of the wealthy
and bribery Is no longer respectable
condemnation of It no longer is dema
gogy. .
The sock-darning craze Is growing
among actresses, but the relapse of
Margaret Illlngton Into stage life will
cause the Interested to watch for a
like relapse on the part of Dorothy
Marlowe. The call of the stage seems
Irresistible to women "who have one
responded.
In view of ex-King Manuel's poverty-stricken
condition, the Manchu
Princes are not likely to give their
millions to prop up a lost cause.
General Wood Is needlessly alarmed
over desecration of the flag. Nobody
repeats the offense after he leaves
the hospital
The Gresham butcher who used a
shotgun on his business rival would
have don more effective work with a
cleaver.
Stars and Star-Makers
Br Le Caiaa Baer.
Max Flgman. who played a season of
stock in Portland last Summer, and
went later to Los Angeles to head a
stock organization, has left the latter
city for New York, whero he Intends
to gather together a company of play
ers headed Jointly by Mr. Flgman and
his wife. Lollta Robertson. They are
already rehearsing the play, entitled
"The Little Joker." and which is going
to have an early production in the
East somewhere under Cort - Morosco
management. Hayden Talbot is the au
thor of the comedy.
Self-explanatory Is the following bit
taken from the Seattle Times.
The failure of the Myrtle Vane com
pany to attract paying patronage to
the Alhambra Theater lends emphasis
to the peculiar and oft-demonstrated
fact that Seattle does not "want, and
w ill not support, a single stock organi
zation of any kind.
During the past 11 seasons stock has
been tried at the Grand, the Seattle, the
Lois and the Alhambra. during many
different seasons and in widely differ
ent location), proving that external
conditions have nothing to do with the
case. There have been companies play
lnaj everything from "Monte Crlsto' and
"hfast Lynne" to the very latest royalty
plays for which as high as $1600 a week
lias been paid. There have been fair,
good and splendid companies, such
high-class organizations as the Fraw
lev. Baker. James O'Xeill and Ralph
Stuart troupes, and while there have,
of course, been many winning weeks,
there have been more losing ones, and
not one organization has been able to
year In and year out demonstrate such
a consistent profit and patronage as
San Francisco accords the Alcazar, or
Los Angeles her Burbank or Belasco, or
Portland Its Baker.
It should be an object lesson to other
stock managers who look hopefully
toward a field which is not here, for It
Is desirable neither for themselves, for
their players nor for the town to start
to build something which, as the little
girl at the Empress says this week,
they can't put a roof on.
"The Squawman." which plays week
after next at the Baker, Is this week In
Spokane. "The Barrier," with Eleanor
Haber, the Sa Francisco star, featured
in the production, and which opens at
the Baker next Sunday, is now playing
Eastern Oregon towns.
Montgomery and Stone are heading
back East, via Seattle, where they
are playing this week at the Moore;
then next week they go to Spokane for
Sunday and Monday performances.
That tuneful musical comedy, "Madame
Sherry," of every-little-movement fame.
Is coming to Portland soon, by way of
the north.
Forbes Robertson Is finishing up a
fortnight's engagement In San.. Francis
co at the Cort Theater, then he plays
Sacramento, and Jumps Into Portland to
open at the Helllg in the mystery play,
"The Passing of the Third Floor Back."
,
In Spokane the natives are feeling
themselves very much aggrieved be
cause pretty little Mizzl Hajos' enter
prising press agent has hung one of his
very best stories on that city. Here's
the way the Spokesman - Review un
burdens Itself:
Each day It becomes more apparent
that there are some managers of trav
eling theatrical companies who have no
scruples in presenting any class of in
formation to the eager public that en
Joys the Interesting facts pertaining to
stage people. At hand there has come
a clipping from New York concerning
Mlzzi Hafos, who appeared In this city
In "The Spring Maid."
When Miss Hajos first came to
America she was no doubt the center
of great interest because of her at
tractive accent and her bewitching mis
takes in grammar and choice of worda.
But now the accent Is fast being lost
in her ability to master the English
tongue. And a few minutes' conversa
tion convinces one that she makes few
mistakes In grammar or choice of
words. But the wise manager does not
want her to become "wised" too rapid
ly, and for this reason she is kept in
tie primer of English grammar as long
aa possible. That is, the publlo is led
to believe such.
To this end a letter has Just been
published in the New York papers from
the fair Mizzl. that, besides being a
model of mangled English, has drawn
upon an imagination for an occurrence
which did not take place in Spokane.
The letter lfl quoted for a paragraph:
On thing I they do Jokea with me.
Ppokan ba haa big time for Apple festa.
The man cornea down In the aiale and I ear
It t flowera aome flower and he poura
great horn of gold full with apples over
on th stage and they roll and roll every
where on my feet. 1 must lauirh and be
ona small lady pig en thee apples.
So far as can be learned no one
threw apples at the young lady's feet in
this city, although the Apple Show was
In progress. In truth, the young Hun
garian miss complained while in this
city that she was not given the recep
tion that was tendered her in other
cities In the West, but, no doubt, Mizzl
read the Jetter the first time when we
did, so tne fault le not to her.
According to Leon Friedman, who Is
In Portland this week, ahead of Anna
Held, who plays the Helllg In "Miss
Innocence" on January 14-16, that
French comedienne is one of the largest
receivers of royalty In the world. For
wearing gowns made by famous
ladies' tailors In Paris, exclusive crea
tions, furs, coats, hats, boots and other
toilette accessories she receives annu
ally a royalty of $6000. Besides this,
she Is allowed a royalty of 83 1-3 per
cent discount on all purchases made by
herself (or others) of the firm she
represents. One of the gorgeousity
creations she will bedazzle us with Is
a "dress of diamonds" which is said
(get the "Is said") to have cost $30,000,
and bae over 3000 small sparklers sewed
on the gown.
Dillon and King, comedians, who
were favorites with the Lyrio Musical
Comedy Company last year, have re
cently opened at the Columbia Theater
In Oakland, which has been closed for
aome time. The two comedians have
gathered about them a bunch of
"talent" in the way of pretty chorus
girls and near-principals for Dillon
and King do most of the comedlng
and are presenting musical - comedy
shows "at popular prices," eo the bills
say.
I . '
New Road Law.
YAMHILL. Or.. Jan. 8. (To the Ed
itor.) Kindly publish the gist of the
Oregon law, recently enacted, covering
the matter of private thoroughfare in
case of an occupant of land isolated
from the public highway. The infor
mation sought is also desired by
neighbors similarly situated.
HENRY G. G R ANVTLLE.
Upon sworn petition of any person
that his residence, land, timber land or
timber Is not reached by publlo road
and that It Is necessary for the pub
lic and himself to have Ingress to and
egress therefrom, the County Court Is
required therefor to appoint the Board
of County Road Viewers, who shall,
within ten days, view out and locate a
county road not exceeding 60 feet wide,
a gateway not less than 10 nor more
than SO feet wide from the residence,
land, timber land or timber of such
person to some other publio road,
steamboat landing or railway station
according to the application, and to
assess damages to be sustained there
by. A copy of this order 'must be
served upon the owners of the land
through which the road or gateway Is
to pass within 30 days after the mak
ing of the order. '
FREE SCHOOLS AJTD TAXATION.
Writer Believe Bowds Keaalt ta Call-
area Paylasr tor KdwcaUoau
PnBTT.ATl Jon X (To the Edi-
nr Tt ahnnlrl ha riftrtlMllarlv gratify
ing to the laboring men of Portland
that the proposed issue of school bonds
was voted down at the annual taxpay
ers meeting Friday night. Being a
laborer myself, and only a small tax
payer, all I can hope to give my large
family is a good name and a grammar
school education, but I expect the lat
ter free, that is, I expect the taxpay
ers to furnish the teachers and the
school buildings free.
These would not be free tr Donas
war,, laaiioit tn hulld the buildiners. for
as soon as my children grow up to be
taxpayers they will have to turn in
and help pay the bonds or, in other
worda, pay lor tne Duuaing in whkb
they attended school, which would
make free education a delusion.
Strictly speaking, we do not have
free education if any bonds at all are
I--.. A an Bhtnnl nlirnOKAA tfi be Dald
by the next generation. It is natural
that the public service corporation!,,
whose franchises would expire about
v. .v. - ,nnHa wanlil mature, should
favor the issuance of bonds, and a
lower levy.
It Is a sinful waste of money to build
.... aammai- acrinnl buildings in
districts upon which business is rap-
Idly encroacmng. tiign toiuu
rents and taxes drive out the families
, i ...hAAl htlilnB-a remain
& II Li CiyCllOI I U DWUUW.
an encumbrance on the property, an
Illustration or wnicn iuuuu
Library building at Seventh and Stark
streets.
The 1911 budget of New York City
is an example of a bond-ridden city
which now has a Board of Commission
ers of Accounts, whose chief duty it is
to look after the Indebtedness of the
city. The entire 1911 budget amounted
to $173,967,836.16, of which about 29
per cent, or $50.661.821.99, ' is required
for debt service, divided as follows:
Installments payable to sinking
funds this year for future re-
deMptlon :-V' "."S38 01
Redemption of that part of the
year4'" Wbi?..m.".U.?."..t 8.6M.945.30
Interest" on 'city bonds 84.214.137.09
These figures fairly stagger the
imagination. The circulating medium
of the entire country Is only about $35
per capita, but New York City must
raise over $10 per capita for debt serv
ice alone annually, and the amount In
creases every year. Is It any wonder
that the most ostentatious wealth and
the most degraded poverty are found
in New York City? Laboring men are
beginning to learn that in its last
analysis they, themselves, in increased
cost of living, must bear the bulk or
this burden, and they are not so keen
to vote large bond issues as they once
were. E. BROWNE.
There is no such thing as free schools
or a free education. Somebody must
pay. The taxpayer does, whether he
sends his children to the publlo schools
or not. Does this correspondent expect
his children to be educated at some
body else's expense, and then, when
they grow up, to contribute nothing to
the support of the public schools? It
would appear so. The only way they
can avoid paying anything Is to have
nothing with which to pay; and. If that
is the result of their eduoatlon, it has
not paid them, and has been a poor in
vestment for the public, which has edu
cated them. wa
New York is heavily In debt; but Its
credit la the best In the United States
and Its tax rate is low lower than In
Portland. Figures as to taxes mean
little when the burden rests lightly on
the Individual.
PUBLIO OWNERSHIP HIS PLAN
Mr. Akers Thinks It Only Escape From
Monopoly mr Competition.
HEPPNER. Or., Jan. 3. (To the Ed
itor ) In commenting on the high
cost of living m The Oregonlan De
cember 28. you said that in a per
fectly organized society It would be
Just as easy to earn a living when
trold was scarce as when It was Plen
tiful, but you failed to tell us what In
your estimation constituted a perfect
organization of society. There can nev
L ,..w nra-anlzed society as
long as human energy is robbed of Its
I . - oranHarri of
God-given nentaso s -
all values. I agree with you when you
say that under the perfectly organ
ized society labor sacrifice would not
flutuate when the supply of gold di
minishes or increases. Right there did
you stop to think that gold would lose
its prestige a a standard of values?
Gold would right there surrender its
power to labor and the high cost of
living would be solved. It seems to
be very poor Judgment on the part of
a civilized community to adopt an arti
cle as a medium of exchange that can
be cornered by a few and make it
obligatory that human energy be trad
ed for that article before it will be
accepted In payment for a debt- Such
an act is placing gold on a pedestal
high above labor and compelling labor
to bow In submission before It. The
rule of gold not only greatly obstructs
the path of the "Golden Rule," taught
by the Great Pacificator, but It is the
author of crime. Christ recognized
the evil attributive to gold when it
Is out of harmony with Its natural
relation to labor, hence the declara
tion that "the lov of money Is tha
root of all evil."
The fact that "labor sacrifice must
pass through the hands of the gold
Idol before It Is made capable of pay
ing a debt lays the foundation of gi
gantic monopolies and, aided by other
forces, such as watering of stock, pro
tective tariffs and other special priv
ileges, the money power has reached
that stage where the people's will Is
as easily thwarted as a mouse's when
in the paws of pussy.
After 2(1 years on the statute book
the people have Just begun to awaken
to the fact that the Sherman act Is
only a Joke. No trust will ever be
"busted" by its hands. Even if the
Sherman law was enforced, how much
better would the country be? It would
Just be turning the leaves of progress
backward and forcing on the people
an Industrial competitive warfare with
Its millions annually of wasted en
ergy. You mention monopoly and
waste as two agents responsible for
the high cost of living. Realizing the
effect that waste has in enhancing
prices to the consumer. I am sure you
do not want to return to competition.
Then, If you will have neither monopoly
or competition, will you please tell us
your avenue of escape from either?
Why not be frank and acknowledge
first as last that the only feasible
escape from both is uy way of public
ownership of those articles on- which
life is dependent?
All the great labor-saving devices
Introduced In the last 50 years have
had the effect of fortifying more
strongly the money power and widen
ing the gulf between capital and la
bor. Man's Ingenuity, which, under
natural conditions, would solve the
problem of human drudgery, through
private ownership of its product, has
further enslaved him. Since the various
Industries have reached a stage where
it defies competition, it naturally has
little further use for the genius, and,
unless the trusts are "busted" and the
industrial race begun over again, as
the Democrats would have It, we must
either be contented to pay our annual
Increased tribute to our captains of
Industry or organize an industrial
democracy in the name of the great
co-operative commonwealth, and sub
stitute t;he term "production for use,"
In place of "production for profit."
A. a AKERS.
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonian of Jan. 4, 1862.
One of the greatest triumphs of the
year over secessionism has been gained
by the farmers of Illinois, in the suc
cessful culture of a wide g.-owth of
Chinese sugar cane. It is estimated
that in La Salle County there is enough
raised to make syrup for "home con
sumption and have some to spare.
There are eight or ten cane mills In
full blast in Ottawa and immediate
vicinity, and how many are running
In other parts of the county we can
only guess from accounts of the
amount of sorghum raised. The num
ber must be over 60 and perhaps 100.
The steamer Coutts arrived last
evening. We have Eastern telegraphic
dates. Including 24th December. The
despatches we copy from the San Fran
cisco Bulletin, Aita, Call and Sacra
mento Union.
The Mason and Slidell affair is likely
to be settled without difficulty; the
tone of the British Minister was mod
erate: the rebel lines are said to be
complete on the Potomac and they are
awaiting an attack from General Mc
Clellan; the rebels are flying In Mis
souri; General Pope captured another
rebel force with a large amount of
baggage, horses, etc.: 1300 rebels have
been captured at Warrensburg, Mo.;
cotton has been shipped from Beaufort;
General Burnside's expedition is ready
to start for the South; smart and suc
cessful action with the rebels on the
Potomac; Fort Pickens bombarding
Fort McRae; great guns distributed to
English warships; great slave insur
rection in Mississippi with Immense
destruction of property; General Hai
leck proclaims death to men who cut
telegraph lines and compels secession
ists on the route of railroads to re
pair them; destruction of a railroad;
General pope determined to clear Mis
souri of the rebels.
According to previous notice, tho two
rival boatmen made their appearance
in their respective boats at the ap
pointed hour In front of Commercial
wharf; both men were confident of
success, but Seaman bad great odds,
he having the swiftest and lightest
built boat. When the signal for start
ing was given. Frenchy put in some ot
his "best licks," which brought him
about a moat's length ahead of his
rival, which he retained until nearlng
the home stretch. When about at tha
foot of Salmon street, Lyman put In
a little more muscle, which brought
him home about two boat lengths
ahead of his opponent. Time by our
chronometer, 87 minutes. Distance,
two miles. There must have been some
700 or 800 persons present, who seemed
highly Interested In the race.
Immediately after the termination ot
the boat race yesterday. Seaman and
Frenchy again matched to pull a race
the same distance this afternoon at
2 o'clock, for $200 a side.
We have The Mountaineer of the
1st .Inst- The Colonel Wright was laid
up for the season. A good deal of Ice
running In the Columbia River. Cap
tain Currey's company of 44 men had
been mustered -Into the service. A
company of miners are about to pro
ceed to Salmon River overland. The
snow was 12 inches deep in the neigh
borhood of The Dalles on the 1st. The
Mountaineer supposes 20,000 persons
will travel over the Mullan road next
season.
Qulncy, Dec. 24. The House yester
day passed Wilson's resolutions pro
hibiting the United States officers
using any of their forces for the pur
pose of returning fugitive slaves. j
Fenton introduced a bill granting
lands for a railroad from Missouri
River to San Francisco.
PORTLAND, Jan. J. (To the Editor.)
"Captain Gray's Party," a book -written
by Mrs. Abigail Scott Duniway -many
years ago, of her and others' experi
ences In crossing the plains before the
advent of the railroads, has, as 1
understand, run through two editions.
Can you advise me as to where a copy
could be obtained? Several of your
readers would highly appreciate it.
CHAS. F. FORD. ;
Mrs. Dunlway's book, "From th
West to the West," contains the ao
count of Captain Gray's party.. J. K.
Gill & Co, Portland, have a limited
number of copies In- stock.
Winter Roads la California.
HILLSDALE. Or., Jan., 2. (To tha
Editor.) Is the road from San Fran
cisco to Los Angeles in good condition
for automobile traveling during month
of January? A SUBSCRIBER.
Rains, when they occur In January in
Southern California, are often torren
tial, and render roads unsatisfactory
for auto touring. Tha soil dries out
quickly, however. An auto tourist
would have to take bis chances.
Estate la Cbancery.
PORTLAND, Jan. . (To the Editorl)
Can you tell me where the list of
heirs can be obtained in the Bank of
Chancery, and In what city is the Bank
of Chancery situated in England?
STEADY SUBSCRIBER. '
We know of no bank of chancery in
England. There is a Court of Chan
cery, but the story that the settlement
of many estates In chancery awaits the
claims of American heirs is fiction. -
Unlawful L'se of Man.
WOODLAND, Wash.. Jan. 8. (To the
Editor.) Who Is the proper postal of
ficial to appeal to when you suspect
one of tryihg to cheat through fraudu
lent advertising? j,
CONSTANT READER.
Chief Postofflce Inspector, Washing
ton, D. C. -
Country Town Sayings by Ed Howe
Man's Interest In big things is so
great that he will discuss radium and
neglect that well-known but little fact,
his liver.
Business is hard work; every time
a clothing merchant sells a suit of
clothes he works as hard as a man
who organizes and successfully
launches a hew oil company.
The next time an agent calls on you,
let this thought run through your
mind: "Iow much honest . busiaess
does this fellow represent, and how
much robbery?"
Nothing makes a man feel so little
as to discover that someone Is trying
to "shake" him. or get rid of him. A
thing like that will keep a man awake
after he goes to bed.
Many a man who hears a whispered
call can't hear the recall when it is
as loud as thunder.
Don't let an orator sway you or A
book agent sell you.
Some girls in poor families have
mighty little to do.
No matter how good looking a
woman is, when she gets a Jealous look
in her eyes, she's ugly.
Too many men decide that they can't
do anything without a "pull;" without
"influence." As a matter of fact, good
work and good character will beat any
other pull on earth.