THE MORMXG OREGOXIAN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1912.
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WHAT IS A rROOREi-ITEf
"We progressives." says Ur. U Fol
lette. tand for applying the recall to
the Judges."
"Governor Harmon." says Mr.
Pryan. "la either a standpatter or a
progressive. He cannot be both."
Mr. liryan's obvious purpose Is to
Identify Mr. Harmon wtth the stand
patters, Mr. La Folate's obvious
purpose la ta deny that all progressives
who do not stand for the thin La
Follette supports are progressives.
Mr. Hryan recognizes no middle
round and reads out of the progress
ive nine of the Dvmooratio party ail
except the Bryan progressives.
But who are progressives? The La
Follette progressives or the Bryan
progressives? The Kooscvelt progress.
Ives or the Wilson progressives? The
Cummins progressives or the Folk
progress Ives ?
Colonel Roosevelt is not for the Ju
dicial recall. Mr. Wilson is not for
the Judicial recall. Colonel Roosevelt
has repeatedly doubled the efficacy of
the Initiative, though Indeed In Oregon
he Indorsed what had been done under
the Oregon system. Mr. Wilson says
that the Initiative belongs to the re
serve powers of the people, and should
be used only In emergencies, or aa a
persuader of action by a Legislature.
It ought to be a loaded gun high up
on -the wall, or large club In the
closet. In Oregon it Is something
quite different, and all who augrest
the gun or club Idea are denounced
as reactionaries.
Mr. Harmon has favored the Initia
tive for Ohio municipalities and ap
pears to approve the movement for its
general application.
Is Mr. Cummins for the Initiative?
Who has beard him aay so? Tet Is
lie not a progressive?
Can a man be a progressive without
meeting the La Follette definition of
a progressive? Or the Bryan defini
tion? Or the Wilson definition? Or
the Roosevelt definition? Or the Cum
mins definition?
Doubtless. A progressive la appar
ently what he says he Is. But the pub
lic will estimate his progresslveness
by what he Is or what it believes he la,
THE PEATII Or THE KCTT THKATTB.
The thirty philanthropic million
aires who deckled in the Fail of 10
to consecrate some of their super
abundant money to the support of an
endowed theater have met with many
vicissitudes and finally abandoned
the project In complete discourage
ment. As the public remembers, they
brawn their enterprise In a splendid
edifice, named The New Theater,
w hich was built more for display than
rrvice. It was too big for the mod
ern drama, which Is domestic if not
r--y. and Is played best on a stage
not much larger than a drawing-room.
The stage of The New Theater was as
broad as all outdoors, while the gal
leries ran so far back Into remote re
cesses that sitters could not hear the
srtors or even see them.
The equipment of the huge theater
was pretentious and expensive. The
promoters aimed to employ the best
actors thfre were, and show the best
f lays. They begun with "Antony and
I'leopatra." perhaps Shakespeare's
greatest play, but not the most popu
lar by any means. It Is more philo
sophical than "Hamlet." which Is
flashy in compnrison, and more poet
ical than "The Tempest." The tragedy
U superhuman, the pathos Infinite, but
the crowd does not like it. At The
New Theater. In spite of lavish set
ting and great acting. It was a failure.
Nor did this bad beginning foretell
a good ending. The New Theater
dragged all through the first year.
The second year It did better. Mae
terllnrk's eiiulsite "Blue Bird" was
played to full house Other produc
tions drew as well. The Income must
have been very large, but It never was
large enough to balance the outgo.
The overgrown undertaking necessar
ily Implied a perpetual deficit.
There were moral as well as finan
cial lions In the way. The public was
from the first Inclined to Jeer at The
New Theater and question its found
ers' motives. Democracy suspected
them of a design to pose as illumi
nated patrons of the herd. Dramatic
art was to be embellished with dollars.
Shakespeare was to march In a tri
umphal procession tied to the tall of
Mr. Vanderbilt's richly caparisoned
charger. The opulent founders, to
quote their own melancholy words,
"were treated like thieves and pick
pockets." What In the name of good
ness did they expect? When did
the public ever treat a real bene
factor otherwise than as a pick
pocket? Never except when It treated
him still worse. That these theater
living millionaires looked for praise In
return for their generosity shows how
little they knew of mankind. They
should have stuck' to their coupon
clipping and preserved their peace of
mind.
Disheartened by these many tribu
lations, they Anally shut up the vast
and gorgeous New Theater and de
bated the project of carrying on en
dowed acting in a smaller tabernacle.
But new obstacles appeared. They
could not hire a manager for love or
money. Augustus Thomas, Frohman.
Ames, were successively approached
and all declined. It seemed as if they
feared a pestilence. Perhaps more
flunkeyism is expected of a theater di
rector for thirty millionaires than
euch men find tasteful. It Is all very
well to kiss one gilded beot toe. bat
to kiss thirty every day might be
wearisome. Without a director there
could be no drama, so the Ust ves
tiges of the protect were annihilated
and It is gone forever. No doubt the
opulent thirty are glad of an excuse
to drop an undertaking which never
could have succeeded even if It had
been managed sensibly.
Dramatic art. like all other art. In
order to be a living thing must grow
op from among the people. It cannot
be Imposed upon them from above or
from without. It must spring from
the common Mfe. This has always
been Its history and nothing different
can ever be expected. Our million
aires might as well bring over mum
mies to perpetuate the human species
as Rembrandt canvases to fertilize our
native art. Life cannot emanate from
death. Likewise the American drama
must originate In the life of the Amer
ican people, and when It Is here In the
power and splendor of Its maturity It
will build Itself a house. When the
drama begins to speak with the Na
tional voice from the National heart,
the people will endow 1r as they have
endowed education. Millionaires can
help the movement, but they cannot
direct It. Its motive power is the
flowing tide of life. What Its goal la.
or ought to be. nobody knows.
THE PAM0 or THX COLONEL.
The man who loves a military title.
Its gold lace, cocked hat and clanking
word Is gradually being relegated to
the uniformed secret societies, picture
galleries and history. The latest
light Inflicted on him Is the an
nouncement of Governor-elect Hunt,
of Arizona, that he wants none of this
military pomp at his inauguration.
He Is devoted to JefTersonlan simplic
ity and leaves the gaudy trappings of
war to Oriental potentates and the
dress parade Colonels who draw the
sword only that the rays of the sun
may strike It. i
If this Iconoclastic tendency Is to
spread, what is to become of the fa
mous, battle-scarred Colonel James
Hamilton Lewis he of the pink whis
kers and the unhacked sword? Shall
he never again shine resplendent In an
Inaugural parade, as his warhorse
prances and champs the bit? Shall
the floor of the Inaugural ballroom
never again echo to his martial tread
and the maiden's eyes be cast down
and her cheeks suffused with blushes
at the fiery gaze which shoots from
beneath his beetling brow? Is the
splendor of the Governor's staff for
ever to depart? Are we to have no
more Colonels whose sole use is to be
beautiful, and Is that glorious title to
be reserved only for men who com
mand In the debasing work of war?
Alas and alack! The good old days
when the title and trappings of a Colo
nel could be worn as an ornament
have departed and all our Colonels
must be real soldiers.
BOG IS TrlTirDRAWALA.
The busy prognostlcators who have
been putting Roosevelt into the Pres
idential race, and have at the same
time been withdrawing both Mr. Taft
and Mr. La Follette. will now have to
find some now field for their trouble
some energies. The statement comes
from the White House that Mr. Taft
expects renomlnation and re-election,
and has no notion of abandoning the
contest. The La Follette headquarters
at Washington and Chicago declare
In one grand chorus that their candi
date will stay and the campaign "will
continue until the gavel falls declar
ing who Is the nominee of the Repub
lican convention for President. There
need be no speculation Indulged In
regarding this fact."
The ethics of all Presidential con
tests requires that the candidate who
aeeks the nomination shall never say
so, but permits his activities and the
anxieties and actions of his friends to
speak for him. It would seem to fol
low that the candidate should seek
by equally delicate methods of Indi
rection to deny that he Is going to get
out of th race. It Is therefore satis
factory and conclusive enough to hear
from those fortunate persons who may
fairly be presumed to have the candi
dates ears that they (the candidates)
sre there to stay. Of course. If a
Presidential candidate desires to with
draw. Presidential ethics permits him
to do It himself. Therefore we may
assume that both Taft and La Follette
reserve for themselves all withdrawal
rights. Just as Colonel Roosevelt did
and does. It must be admitted, how
ever, that Colonel Roosevelt has not
done a finished Job along that line.
Others could do it better, and are will
ing to try.
It may be assumed that the news
from Chicago and Washington will
shed a warm glow of relief and grati
tude over the La Follette committee in
Portland, consisting of Mr. McCusker
and others yet unnamed. Mr. McCus
ker Is en the Job. He is a stayer. La
Follette Is sure of one vote In Oregon.
If Mr. McCusker lives.
He might get another In the re
mote event that Senator Bourne
should return to Oregon. As for the
rest, we depend on Mr. McCusker.
CROfDlXS FEAR Or THI RIXAL.L
It Is strange the depth to which ar
guments against the recall of Judges
sometimes) go. One which recently ap
peared in the New York Sun almost
requires deep-sea equipment to sound
It. It seems there is a law In New York
which. In brief, provides for reciprocal
honoring of subpenas Issued In other
states for witnesses in criminal trials,
The witness may bo heard in opposi
tion to the subpens, but If he has been
tendered mileage and a per diem of
$5 per day he may be punished for not
obeying as if the subpena bad been Is
sued In New York.
A case came before the New York
courts where the Boston District At
torney was prosecuting a Massachu
setts coal dealer for fraud and the
testimony of the wholesale dealer in
New York who sold the Boston mer
chant was desired. It seems the New
York wholesaler resisted the' subpena
and an effort was made in the courts
to compel him to obey. It was the
first case of the kind on record. The
lower court declared the law requiring
witnesses to obey subpenas from other
states to be unconstitutional, but the
appellate court sustained the act.
Nothing to Involve the Justice of the
recall, so far in the story. Is there?
But this is the way the argument Is
put forth:
Attention has bn ealld by lawyers to a
rece.il clion by th App:lt DlrtUon
of tho Hupretno Court. F1rt Department. In
whim tho nshts snd llbrrtleo of cltliens aro
InTolYed to ouch a extont tht under cer
tain eu-eunntonceo tboro mlibt bo an at
tmt to resort to a roc all of tho Judge
Inrolred If there wore suea. a law In thl
late oinro there was aa precedent tor auch
declrlon. It Is pointed out that In aucb a
caae where tho Jud-w had no oatablnhed
principle t nid them there tntcht b an
opportunity for an error of law which would
not occur stain In a llfellm. and huty
action br the elector would bo Trlr
pu untied by tho loo at able Judrea.
Kxpressed In other words. New York
lawyers fear the recall may be exer
cised every time a Judge passes upon
a question never before presented If
that question Involves the rights or
liberties of citizens. Persons show
ing fear of the recall usually over
look the fact that considerable effort
and some money are required to put it
In motion. Court decisions very rarely
affect the mass of people directly. In
the New York case cited the court de.
clslon involved the liberty or rights of
one citizen directly. It Is true that
contingencies could be imagined where
It would have a bearing on the liber
ties of a number. But only one man's
liberties were Immediately threatened.
i Suppose he had been punished under
: a different ruling by the lower court,
I how many voters could he rally to re
i tallate upon the Judge by seeking his
recall? And where could a reputable
candidate be secured by the recallers
if the Issue were primarily one of legal
construction of a statute? Experi
ence so far seems to indicate that
Judges are in less danger than admin
istrative officers from improper use of
the recall. Ethics of the legal pro
fession which deters reputable lawyers
from seeking to oust Judges on trivial
grounds, the rarity of decisions di
rectly affecting the people at large and
the presence of at least a modicum
of common sense In the average voter
In fact make Judges practically Im
mune from recall abuses. They need
only fear the recall when corrupt or
grossly Incompetent.
rBl'DEXCK WITnOCT PARKIMOXT.
It was asserted and consistently
maintained by The Oregonlan, when
the proposal to Increase property val
uations In this city and county for the
purposes of taxation was under dis
cussion, that Increased valuations
would mean an Increased tax levy
from year to year, as time went on,
until the rate became literally all the
revenue-producing property would
bear, and more than non-producing
property could support without prac
tical confiscation. Against this view
the tax-levying and the tax-eating
class loudly protested, asserting that
the Increase In valuation would be off
set from year to year by a lower levy
until a reasonable working minimum
was reached. Time has proved the
estimate of The Oregonlan to be the.
correct one. The tax levy has risen
steadily since the innovation that
promised a lower rate, from 18 mills
or thereabouts to 24 mills tho out
look for the present year.
This, to a logical mind, was a fore
gone conclusion. In the first place. It
Is a fact grounded In human experi
ence that ability to pay, real or sup
posed, hi always preyed upon by con
scienceless demand. The dictum In
such cases finds expression In the
words, "He can afford It," and thus
assured, the demand rises higher and
higher as the scale of an Individual's
or a community's wealth Is advanced,
whether upon a real or a fictitious
basis It does not matter.
The word goes out that Portland is
an opulent city and amply able to pay
either In direct taxes or by means of
interest-bearing securities, any and
every demand that the fertile minds
of promoters, looking to their own
profits, suggest. It Is, thus thut the
clamor for bonds arises; water bonds,
brldire bond, public dock bonds, park
bonds, auditorium bonds, sewer bonds,
and what not, some necessary provi
sions, many not, and that In response
thereto bond Issues are likely to be
pushed beyond a safe margin.
We are facing a tax levy of 14 mills
on an aggregate valuation of $317,
000,000. Our needs, or rather our
"wants," have been figured closely
Into this levy. Our needs, estimated
from the standpoint of a progressive
community, and one amply able to
meet all of the legitimate demands
upon It are great and they should be
met without parsimony; our "wants"
are incomparably greater and these
should be controlled by economical
considerations which no prudent indi
vidual or community can afford to
disregard. The watchword In making
and scaling these estimates should be
"prudence without parsimony." We
have wealthy men in Portland, but
that is not to say that they should be
fleeced to make a public display; we
have thrifty and Industrious horae
bullders, but surely the savings of
these as expressed In the ownership
of small homes should not be confis
cated. Let us not because we esteem
ourselves rich in aggregate rush Into
extravagances that mean an Inordinate
tax levy, to meet which may mean the
sacrifice of home and comfort to the
small property-owner.
THK OITLOOK rOR 181J.
At the opening of the year 1912 the
United States, from a business stand
point, is well compared with a hound
straining at the leash and eager to be
upon the chase. The leash which re
strains It may be described as general
uncertainty about what la to come,
particularly as a result of the Presi
dential election. No two men who un
dertake to forecast the immediate fu
ture prophesy alike. Their predic
tions are necessarily colored by their
own circumstances and surroundings,
ami may be influenced also by the con
dition of their liver. The year opens
with several hopeful signs, but the
hope they generate Is tempered by
doubt.
The first of the bases of hope for re
vived activity In trade Is the generally
sound condition of mercantile busi
ness, with buying limited to consump
tion requirements, consumption thus
having overtaken production. Such
a condition will quickly bring prosper
ity all along the line when the revival
begins. Crops have been better than
was anticipated, and the low price of
cotton has Its compensation in the
stimulus It gives to renewed activity In
the textile mills. The work of clean
ing up the wreckage left by the panic
of 1907 has been about completed,
and. though the ruling price of securi
ties Is low and capital Is at present
timid about taking up new enterprises,
liquidation is done and the ground has
been prepared for a new period of pro
ductive Industry and general develop
ment. The steel trade Is held to be
the businss barometer, and buying In
that trade is active, the Pittsburg
mills are busy, and IL C. Frlck pre
dicts for this year the heaviest vol-
I ume of business ever reported. Even
I the railroad presidents, who have had
to face so many adversities In 1911
that they are rather predisposed to
pessimism, are Inclined to believe that
- the turning point for the better has
I been reached.
But there are deterrent Influences
which may postpone the full beneficial
effect of the revival for another year.
Chief among these Is the Presidential
election, although some bankers In
cline to the belief that the quadren-
nial disturbance of business by poli
tics grows less "with each recurrence.
But, with the parties contending about
such questions aa the tariff, trusts and
the monetary system, which concern
the very foundations of business, and
with each of the two leading parties
divided into conservative and radical,
or so-called progressive, wings, the
election cannot but restrain business
activity and keep it impatiently wait
ing until legislation on these subjects
has taken definite shape.
Another deterrent Influence isthe
financial condition of the principal
European countries. England Is
threatened with a serious labor strug
gle and its security market Is glutted,
Investors holding back because of po
litical uncertainty, hence that country
cannot absorb any American securi
ties at present- Germany has not
enough money In circulation to carry
on the nation's expanding business and
Is dependent mainly on credit, which
would be destroyed by war, hence
Germany would suffer more than any
other European country by an armed
conflict. Under such conditions the
Germans are more apt to withdraw
their American Investments than to
Increase them. France has abundant
money for Investment, the amount be
ing estimated at (500.000.000 to J600,
000,000, and the strength of Its finan
cial position is apparent from the fact
that the metal reserve of the Bank of
France Is equal to the reserves of the
Bank of England, the Imperial Bank
of Germany and the Bank of Austria
Hungary combined.
Although President Taffa policy
towards the trusts prevents the float
ing of new enterprises and Inspires
conservatism on the part of existing
corporations, public opinion on ' the
subject is fast crystallizing to the de
gree that corporation officials know
what to expect. Not only are some of
these men inviting Federal regula
tion, but a canvass of the bankers
shows them to favor almost unani
mously the reinforcement of the Sher
man law instead of Its repeal. While
promoters are thus discouraged,
money Is likely to be easy and would
be very easy but for the strong de
mand from Europe due to the causes
cited.
The fact that business activity is to a
degree held In check by the political
controversy which rages around the
questions of tariff, trusts and money
is an earnest that these questions are
on the eve of definite settlement. With
both parties committed to some form
of tariff revision, it is certain that the
tariff will be revised and will then be
left undisturbed for a long period.
There is auch general agreement on
the manner of dealing with the trusts
and the demand for action from the
trusts themselves Is becoming so ur
gent that legislation cannot be long
delayed. The National reserve scheme
has met with such general approval
among business men that some legisla
tion on its general lines cannot fail of
early adoption. With these three prob
lems solved, the worst stumbling
blocks In the way of continued pros
perity will have been removed.
In short, business may be said to
have prepared itself for a period of
activity. It will probably move for
ward gradually and cautiously during
1912. but will be ready to move con
fidently and at accelerated speed after
the Incoming of the Administration in
1913, " whatever may be the political
complexion of that Administration.
The Olympla girl who wants a per
fect husband Is as likely to find him by
an advertisement as In any other way.
Handsome young men of sound mind
and body with big bank accounts are
rare birds. Efforts to net them In
ballrooms are usually disappointing.
Sometimes they are captured at co
educational colleges, but not often. A
damsel of Olympla has resorted to the
newspapers for help. Here's wishing
her success. If some of us were
thirty years younger, but there, there.
Let It pass.
Professional funny men like Weber
and Fields ought to have too much
sense of humor to quarrel and stay
estranged for years. But they do it.
The fact is that funny people seldom
get much fun out of life. A great
comedian went Incognito to a physi
cian for relief from his persistent mel
ancholy. "Go and see Harlequin,"
said the doctor. "He'll make you
laugh and shake up your liver." The
comedian sighed. "Alas," said he, "I
am Harlequin."
The Colorado Supreme Court is
four years behlnd-hand with Its calen
dar. This Is the worst record of the
kind in a land of bad records. The
Colorado court has the usual number
of Judges, Including the well-known
Judge Gabbert, but somehow Its work
drags. Justice Is not always meted out
with the speed which our Judicial out
fit would lead us to expect.
Next time we wish to revise the city
charter we might Intrust the work to
a commission elected by the people
and dispense with the work of an ap
pointive commission, a volunteer com
mission and C. E. S. Wood. Three or
four charters to be voted on are an
embarrassment of riches and make
work for Councllmen in combining
them Into a crazy quilt.
Jack Johnson can raise the wind,
after his carnival of spending In Eu
rope, by having a couple of fights, but
the time will come when he must earn
a living by running a bar-room or
physical culture resort, like many a
former champion bruiser.
Snow is not welcome in Western
Oregon, where It is soon reduced to
slush, but It is worth many dollars to
the farmers of the Inland Empire In
the assurance it gives of a good wheat
crop, and to the miners in the assur
ance of water for sluicing and milling-.
If Chanler had been content to ad
mire Cavallerl's charms across the
footlights, they would not have faded
to such an extent that when she came
In at the door he would Jump out of
the window. Some women will not
stand the test of close'scrutiny.
Such a cult as that of Mrs. Tingley
always professes to develop the spirit
ual as against the material side of Its
votaries, but It seems to attract their
material possessions, and to develop
their spirits by diminishing their
wealth.
Oregon City's two Chiefs of Police
may be too busy trying to hold the
Jobs and oust each other to pay much
attention to criminals.
The Spreckels feud Illustrates once
more how a great fortune sunders :
family ties and destroys natural ailec
tion. j
HOW ONE TOWS WAS CLEAXED VP
Writer Draws Leiao From Weit
Towm of Prof awe Sin
PORTLAND, Or., Jan. 3. (To the
Editor.) Quite a number of years ago
there was. In one of the Western states
(I will not give the name of the state
nor town) a lively little burg In which
miners and cowhoys used to congregate.
The principal business houses were
gambling: dens and their usual adjuncts.
j and the only amusements for either
citizens or casual visitors were gam
bling and boozing. A sort of rivalry
always existed between the cowboys
and miners, as the former, after a long
spell of abstemiousness consequent on
I their calling, bitterly resented a certain
j indescribable air of city superiority
I that was visible In the deportment of
J the latter. As a natural consequence.
I revolver fights were frequent when
j they met In the various stages of ex
I cttement or exhilaration produced by
I the attractions offered for their deglu
j tition.
i In addition to these two branches of
the human family there was invariably
a large and varied assortment of hobos
and hangers-on. who lived by plunder
and acted as carrion crows for what
was left by the saloons. If a man was
so fortunate as to escape alive from
his place of entertainment, exhibiting
the accustomed signs of alcoholism, he
was certain to be waylaid by" the
thugs and robbed, to which was added
murder if he resisted.
Tha one single redeeming feature the
town possessed lay in the appropriate
ness of its name, which was "Hell on
Wheels." It was quite a common thing
In the early morning to find "stiffs"
laid out on the plank sidewalks who
had met their fate In some one of the
saloons during the night and had been
thrown out as the easiest way to make
room for more paying customers. And
there they lay until some good Samari
tan happened along on his cayuse,
hitched his lariat to the feet of the
deceased, and yanked him out to boot
hill cemetery, where he was unceremo
niously hidden from sight unmourned
and unsung.
But at length there came a time
when patience appeared no longer as a
virtue, and the better class of citizens
for there were Just a few got to
gether to see what could be done to
relieve the pressure. The argument
was a hated one, some being in favor
of Immediate action, while others,
whose counsel finally prevailed, favored
giving the obnoxious parties one more
chance. The next morning, hung be
tween two poles in the middle of the
street, appeared a placard In large let
ters, black on a white ground, which
read as follows: "Any man who is In
'Hell on Wheels' at noon of this date,
who cannot show his visible means of
support, will be strung up without fur
ther notice.
"VIGILANCE COMMITTEE."
Out from o.d packing-cases and ev
ery other conceivable and inconceivable
hiding place tliey crawled, leaving the
town In as much haste as their consti
tutional laziness would permit, by twos
and threes; and so accurately did they
diagnose the temper of the committee,
that they never returned. "Hell on
Wheels" was dead; a thing of the past,
and was then and there rechristened.
The name then g.ven to It it bears
now with honor to Itself and its citi
zens. Now, suppose that a like notice to
the one described were hung up at
Third and Burnslde streets and at Sixth
and Washington (for all the worthless
loafers do not wear fustian), what
would be the effect? Presumably noth
ing, as none would believe that it was
meant. But suppose again that they
did believe It; about one-twentieth of
the city's population would be on the
hike. And how does this large num
ber of men live? In various ways, and
none of them creditable. Those who
congregate at Sixth and Washington
(let the people of Portland take notice
as they pass that corner) mostly
live by their wits. The Burn
side street contingent also live by their
wits, though not in quite so sumptuous
a style. How? Well, I will tell you.
There Is In Portland, as In most other
large cities, an institution termed "the
free lunch counter," and any man who
la halfway slick, who has been able to
beg, borrow or steal a nickel, can buy
a beer and not only fill himself to re
pletion for that day but purloin suffi
cient on the sly to do him for the next
day, too. No wonder that at the har
vest and fruit gathering times the
papers are crowded with ads for men
to labor In the wheat fields and or
chards. But that is altogether too much
like work for men who can exist bo
easily without It, and who, many of
them, go around pretending to seek
work and praying that they may not
find it.
Do away with the "free lunch" coun
ter and Portland will rid Itself of a
large proportion of the men from whose
ranks are culled toughs of various de
grees who are at present burdening the
city, because they must then go to
work. A. B. B.
SEVERE SEXTESCE FOR COLONEL
Year at Sea With Clicarette-Smoklnr
Female Too Much, Says Writer.
PORTLAND, Or., Jan. 3. (To the
Editor.) I have read the editorial In
The Oregonlan about the breach of
promise suit of Miss Scott against
Colonel Sefton. who refused to marry
her because she smokes cigarettes, and
I wondered if you bad a grudge against
him that you should wish to compel
him to travel with Miss Scott for a
year upon a yacht In the South Seas
with no company but her chaperone.
If Colonel Sefton has committed no
other offense than to refuse to marry
a cigarette fiend, I think the sentence
of one year on the high seas In com
pany with the same. Is too severe. He
should receive a golden medal instead.
Since cigarette Mem less provolcln
To th one that do tho molcln'.
Oh, won't ome power pleaae compel 'em.
To smell themselves a others smell 'em.
I don't know the author of this quo
tation, but It coincides with my ideas
on cigarettes exactly. If Colonel Sef
ton and Miss Scott should carry out
your Idea in this matter the gallant
Colonel would no doubt be glad they
were upon . the high sea where he could
stand on the windward side of Miss
Scott while delivering the lecture that
you propose for each day during the
voyage.
I think he was not only Justified, but
that It was his duty to refuse marriage
with a cigarette fiend. Suppose he
should marry her and by some accident
the stork should leave a cute little
baby boy at their house. When It
grew to be 6 or 6 years old the Joke
we read In the papers a few days ago
might be an actual occurrence, viz.:
"Johnny, what would your mother
say If she should catch you smoking
cigarettes?"
"Oh, she'd have a fit these are her
cigarettes."
I will promptly refuse any cigarette
smoking female who proposes to me
during this leap year.
C M. MOORE.
Motorboat Records.
HOOVER, Wash., Jan. 2. (To the Edi
tor.) I read about the Wolf winning
the New Year's free-for-all. making
more than 41 miles an hour, and that
she came near beating the world's rec
ord. Dixie IV, you say, has a record
of 41.4 miles an hour. You must be
mistaken about her speed. Dixie IV
made 6S miles an hour in one of her
trials over the International cup course
at Huntington. A. M. PETERSON.
The Wolf record referred to Is over
course of ten miles, consisting of two
laps or four turns: Dixie's 56-mile rec
ord was made over stralght-away.
FARJI COIX"Y PLA-V IS PRAISED.
Switzerland' Method of Dealins With
the I'aemployed V'rffed.
PORTLAND, Jan. S. (To the Edi
tor.) The unemployed problem, which
le assuming such serious proportions
in our county this season, should make
every student of social conditions and
every officer of the county and state
study the problem from a ' far wider
and deeper standpoint than temporary
relief, as important as this is.
It Is an economic as well as a hu
manitarian problem.
Not all tramps are bums, not all
down-and-out men are unworthy, and,
taking i the entire problem, "by and
large," every one of these men is a
human being, and every human being
is either an asset or a liability to the
county and state. So it is self-evident
that the unemployed proDlem is one oi
conservation.
If, as reported, there are 17.500 per
sons unable to find employment, it
means an economic loss to the county
of at least 11500 per day. The road to
prosperity in any state or nation is
paved with productive power or pur
chasing power of the people. Any
thing that decreases this purchasing
power is an economic waste. Any
thing that hinders the productive
power of men and women is a social
waste. Without minimizing the Impor
tance of the conservation of forests,
waterways, minerals, etix, we state
without hesitation that the greatest
conservation question before ub at any
time is the conservation of human life.
Vagrancy is very often kept alive by
Indiscriminate alms giving and (mis
named) charit. -a. as soup houses and
bread lines. It Is becoming more and
more recognized that there is an im
portant distinction between poverty
and oaUDerlsm. and that pauperism in
I the form of common vagrancy Is not
successfully dealt with by private
charity. Dut Dy state or guvrruincu
tal agencies. It is Indeed quite time
that Oregon should study the labor
colony system already proved effec
tive in Holland. Belgium and Switzer
land. While Portland is very much in need
of a municipal lodging house, such as
is known to be doing such good work
In New York and other cities, still
more than this do we need to see what
a great thing It would be for Multno
mah County to have an Intelligently
operated farm colony. The reasons for
such Institutions, which shall, in deal
ing with unemployed, stand between
the alms house and the penitentiary,
are well explained to us In an inter
esting monograph entitled "The Elim
ination of the Tramp." This mono
graph was written by Edmund Kelly,
who for 20 years made an extensive
study of the entire problem. Here we
read of the success of the colony plan,
especially of that of Switzerland, where
the two grades are carried on. one the
voluntary coljny, the other the forced
colony.
The establishment of these colonies
has practically solved the tramp and
vagrancy problems and largely the un
employed one. Mr. Kelly says: "Every
person found wandering on the high
way or the streets without means of
support can, by the introduction of
such colonies, be inexpensively provid
ed for, in the forced colony for those
who need discipline, and the volunteer
one for the blameless victim of indus
trial conditions."
"The Travelers' Relief Book ana
other Inside methods of the Swiss plan
are worthy our careful Investigation.
Temporary relief here In Portland
can best be brought about certainly
by our county commissioners putting
the unemployed at work on the very
much needed county road repairing,
but let us not stop at relief work, but
see to It that Oregon takes a forward
step progressive as she is. Why
should America be behind other coun
tries In effective methods for perma
nent relief?
One more thought: If the waste
labor should be placed on waste land,
would there not be ways to reclaim the
land and reform the tramp labor?
, L, H, A.
MORAL SUAIOJf HOT EFFECTIVE.
License Advocated to Weed Out Dis
honest Real Estate Agents.
PORTLAND, Jan, J. (To the Edi
tor ) Will you be kind enough to give
me space to make a few remarks re
garding the views of Mr. V. Vincent
Jones on behalf of the "Portland Realty
Board." whose letter appeared Decem-
bAccording to the writer, the object
of the board Is undoubtedly legitimate,
but It should be Interesting to know
how he expects to carry out his good
intentions, in checking dishonest real
estate dealings, based upon misrepre
sentation which demoralizes many pros
pective Investors.
The fact that the board shall honestly
and faithfully endeavor to raise the
moral tone of the profession by frown
ing upon and opposing questionable
practices, dishonest dealing, misrepre
sentation, etc, does not necessarily Im
ply that "persuasion" will ever accom
plish much good in this respect. In
my opinion, a platonic argument will
never induce a "wicked" real estate
agent to deal honestly, for the forcible
reason that he Is rather eager to pocket
a fat commission than to safeguard the
Interests of his client by thoroughly In
vestigating the property before closing
a deal. I am in a position to substan
tiate publicly the truthfulness of this
assertion at any time he desires me to
do so. .
As a matter of fact, 96 per cent of
Investors In real estate have no other
means of ascertaining the value of any
property, but through their agent.
Therefore, It Is up to the agent to In
vestigate to the best of his knowledge,
any property which he offers for sale,
before he closes the deal. It Is also his
duty to examine carefully the titles,
draw the papers and assume all re
sponsibility for errors which may oc
casionally occur, since he is paid for
this work.
Now, as to the matter of a license for
real estate dealers, I believe that It
should be encouraged, only with the
understanding that the said license
should be granted exclusively to men
of "unquestionable qualifications" as
far as their knowledge and Integrity
are concerned. Applicants should bind
themselves under oath never to resort
to questionable practices, such as sell
ing land under misrepresentation. The
board of directors should be composed
exclusively of men of high standing and
absolute integrity, so as to Impress
favorably the Interested parties. Un
der the present conditions, thousands
of Investors are the innocent victims of
unprincipled real estate dealers, where
as. If the Portland Realty Board suc
ceed to compel their licensed members
to abide by the above stated rules of
honest dealing, it is quite certain that
the results obtained will be far-reaching
and most gratifying, in which case
they would deserve the full support of
the public at large, as well as the co
operation of The Oregonlan, which has
been a constant advocate of straight
dealings.
As I am confident that Mr. V. Vin
cent Jones Is open to suggestions re
garding the best possible method to
be resorted to in order to eradicate
whatever evils there are and put the
profession on a high plane, I sincerely
hope that my Ideas shall meet with his
views, Blnce It will give mm tne means
of throwing overboard all undesirable
Individuals, thus protecting both the
i elite of the- profession and the public
' Respectfully yours,
CHAKLbS MAKtHAAU.
Xo.
PORTLAND, Jan. 4. (To the Editor.)
Is it necessary for i.resh-water fish
to take In air above the surface of the
water in order to live?
RUNNING TOO SOON
By Deaa Collin.
(An-unpopular song.)
Convention year was only Just be
ginning. And candidates were rising for the
race;
And every politician was slipping
Into his sleeve his most convenient
ace;
When, looking o'er the field, "Where Is
La Follette.
Who recently the heavy betting led?'
Was queried by a gink, whereat an
other Looked sorrowful, and to him sadly
said:
Chorus (banjo accompaniment).
"He started in running too soon, pal.
He started in running too soon.
He made a big noise several months
In advance.
But flunked in the early forenoon.
When nobody else was a-making a
noise.
La Follette stood well with us Insurgent
boys. ,
But now at the test
He's 'bout seventeenth best.
And scarce can be heard o'er the noise
of the rest.
He started in running too soon, pal,
(Plink. plank.) Started running too
And all about. Insurgents were a-look-
ing
And sizing up the different sorts of
folk
Who looked to them like Presidential
timber
But they couldn't see La Follette for
the smoke.
His boom had bloomed in magazines
and papers
Long months before, but now had
fallen dead.
His fate was very, very well described
when,
(Plink. plank.) That politician sadly
said:
Chorus "He started in running too
soon. Dal,
(Plink. plank) started running, etc.
January 4. 1S12.
Country Town Sayings by Ed Howe
"I wo r," a man, thinks, when he
gets a wedding Invitation, "what la
expected in the way of a present?"
How many rumj are true? I once
kept count and found that only one
rumor in 20 had any actual foundation.
There is no excuse for juries staying
out so long; the average man can re
tire with a newspaper and return a
verdict in half an hour.
Two things a man always puts off
buying a cemetery lot anfi making
hie will.
A cure for old age would sell read
ily; people are always willing to try
experiments.
Is there any love strong enough to
forgive an old man who is sick and
troublesome and cross? You will say
there la, to stand up for your race, but
do you really think: there ls?
A man may not know et onoe when
he Is being laughed at, but If he has
any eense he soon finds It out.
"There!" the women say nearly
every day, looking at the weather pre
dictions In the almanac, "the almanac
has missed it again."
The community in which I lived as
a boy was so dull that the only re
markable thing there was a girl named
Florida,
Don't be crazy to do a lot of things
you can't do.
Great Salt Lake.
PORTLAND, Jan. 1. (To the Editor.)
Please advise what per cent salt there
Is in the Great Salt Lake in Utah.
"B. CLEMENTS."
The waters of greet Salt Lake con
tain about 22 per cent of sodium chlo
ride, slightly mixed with other salts.
Sneedins; the Putins Grnest.
Philadelphia Record.
He Now, don't yon bother to help
me on with my coat. She It's no
bother. It's a pleasure.
SPECIAL FEATURES
OF
The Sunday
Oregonian
Voice Culture A new star in
the musical world tells of the pit
falls of the student in Paris. A
graphic full page, elaborately il
lustrated. Nineteen-Twelve Centenaries
The new year is to be prolifio in
anniversary celebrations.
Disguise W. J. Burns tells of
the art of make-up as he has ap
plied it during his remarkable
career as a detective. How he
staked his life on a disguise is
recorded.
Muzzling the Press An as
tounding account of the methods
of Russian officialdom to keep
the masses in mental darkness.
The Popular Song Factory
Revealing the inner practices and
methods of the men who hammer
out tunes for popular consump-'
tion.
Our Modern Drama Hamlin
Garland-, the noted author, takes
a few vitriolic flings at the mak
ers of American plays. Greed de
nominates them, says he.
Fables in Slang George Ade
writes a mirth-inspiring fable
about "the galloping pilgrim who
tried to sit down by the wayside."
John Davis, Manager Another
crisp short story of the business
world which is well worth read
ing. What Became of Petit? -A
tense short story, set in a string
of islands off Alabama.
Sambo, Dorothy Deere, Slim
Jim, Hairbreadth Harry, Mrs.
Timekiller and Mr. Boss give
brand-new performances in color.
Pretty Anna Belle has still more
cut-out frocks.
MANY OTHER FEATURES