Tins aronxixo oitegoxian. Saturday, jaxttary 20, 1912.
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fOKlXAXD. UUROir, JAN. ta, 1st.
BLATXX AXD ROOSEVELT.
An tne-ninua wirter In the New
Trk Evening- Post has worked out
quite a convincing parallel between
tha relation of Harrison and Blain
In 1181 and those of TaTt and Boose
welt In 112. The temptation to max
uch a comparison lies In the fact that
Blaine pushed Harrison to the front
in 1SSS and virtually made rum iresi
dent. Then, almost At once, following
the election, a coolness arose between
Harrison and his benefactor. Every
body had expected that Blaine would
be aDDolnted Secretary of State imme
diately. Gratitude seemed to require
It. But Harrison delayed naming him
and it was not till a month after the
inauguration that the matter was set
tied. Various tripling explanations
have been offered of the breach be
tween Harrison aad Blaine but the
truth Is, no doubt, that the President
-was Jealous of his too conspicuous
friend and did. not desire to keep him
in the public eye during his Adminis
tration. It requires not much acute
rtess to see in these circumstances
some resemblance to the fact that
Roosevelt brought Taft to the front In
DOS and that a subsequent coolness,
either real or only apparent, is said
to have diminished the cordiality of
their friendship
But the parallel goes farther than
this merely personal matter. The lie
Klnlev tariff bill was signed by Presi
dent Harrison October 1. 1890. In the
second year after his election. The
Payne-Aldrlch tariff bill was passed
at a special session called by Mr. Taft
Immediately after his Inauguration
Both of these acta made a great pre
tense of reducing duties, but were be
lieved by the public to have increased
them, and bitter resentment ensued.
The McKlnley bill was followed in
US J by the election of a Democratic
House and the choice of G rover Cleve
land for President. It is feared by
sore anxious minds that the conse
quence of the Aid rich bill may be
similar. They look for Taft's defeat
in 111! as Harrison was defeated in
1891. We already have a Democratic
House, so that the parallel is partially
fulfllled even as matters stand. It
goes farther.
During Harrison's term, from 1888
to 1891. Blaine occupied a positio n not
unlike Roosevelt's since Mr. Tar. took
office. He was the most conspicuous
man In the Republican party and
many thought him the ablest. Ha was
brilliant, magnetic and versatile. A
charming orator and brimming over
with original Ideas, be was conteded
to be a suitable man for the Presi
dency. Harrison's Administration was
not popular and the question was con.
stantly asked whether Blaine would
seek to be the Republican nominee
or not In 1892. He chllllly disclaimed
any such intent, but his disclaimer left
many openings In case events should
take a favorable turn. Mr. Roosevelt
stands as conspicuous In the public eye
as Blain did in 1892. Like Blaine he
ha said that he does not. wish to be
a candidate this year, but he ha not
said it In such a way a to settle the
question once and for all. It 1 still
discussed. In fact the discussion
grow livelier every day.
It 1 easy, however, to push a paral
lel of thl sort too far. There Is very
little resemblance between the charac
ters or Taft and Harrison and hardly
any between those of Blaine and
Roosevelt. Blaine with all his bril
liancy was superficial. He was full of
ideas, but not many of them were es
pecially valuable. The country ad
mired him, but never gave him Its
confidence. We do not think, on the
other hand, that anybody has ever
spoken of Mr. Roosevelt a "brilliant
Almost every adjective in the diction
ary, good and bad. has been applied
to him. but not that one. It is of no
iervlce to a public man In this coun
try to be called brilliant and Mr.
Roosevelt ha happliy escaped that
dubious compliment. His admirers
speak of his as "a solid man." This
has helped him as much, perhaps, as
his Impregnable reputation for sincer.
Ity. Far otherwise than with Blaine,
the people believe that Roosevelt is
absolutely sincere. In his mistakes
they see no evil purpose. In his suc
cesses they always discern pre-eminent
wisdom. He has won and held the
public confidence more completely
than ar.y other man since Lincoln, and
he ha been able to do it. partly to be
sure on account of his towering abil
ity, but largely because of his direct
ness and candor, qualities which were
not often attributed to Blaine.
The parallel between Blaine and
Rooeevelt fails In another particular.
In 1892 the Republican party was
badlr discouraged and expected de
feat, but It was not broken up Into
factions. Nor had any radical division
appeared among the Democrats.
Things are different now. The Repub
lican party Is no longer homogeneous,
ft has developed two factions which
offer but slender hope of reunion this
year or for some time to come. The
same is true of the Democrats. In
both parties there are "standpatters"
nd "Insurgents" bitterly hostile to
one another. Some observers mould
not be surprised to see the Democratic
party place two nominees In the field
as its fragments did In 1860. and it Is
conceivable that the two wings of the
rtepuDiican may do the same thing.
At any rate, the fight In 1911 Is not
likely to be so simple as it was In 1892
between Harrison and Cleveland. Al
most anything In the way of political
phenomena may develop in the next
few months. The old parties have
lost much of their hold on the popu
lar feeling. We need not expect that
new ones will actually be formed, but
taera ma be audi a shifting of votaraj
from one to the other that It will
amount to the same, thing.' It is freely
predicted that the party which nomi
nate the most radical candidate will
win the election. It Is also raid that
If both the old parties should nomi
nate conservatives the socialist vote
will run up Into the millions In pro
test. All these speculations are fas
cinating, but who shall say how much
foundation they have In solid fact?
. TABOOED StBJECTS.
The New Tork World makes an at
tack upon the historic unit rule of the
National Democratic Conventions.
Unmindful of the fact that It is a
Democratic principle, thoroughly es
tablished, by Democratic precedent, the
World does .not hesitate to. declare
that it is "unfair, unjust and pregnant
with mischief. It plays into the hands
of rfc bos and the corrupt manipu
lator of delegates."
The World is the only Democratic
paper that has yet had the courage to
assail the sacred unit rule, so far as
The Oregonian has observed. Scan
thw'columns of any "Independent" or
Democratic newspaper and you will
find always that It ts deeply agitated
only over the misdeeds of rfie Repub
lican party and the Taft Administra
tion. We Invite discussion by the Ore
gon Democratic press of any of the
following subjects: ,
The action of the Democratic Na
tional Committee In refusing to adopt
the Presidential primary.
The unit rule.
Dr. Wilson and the Harvey episode.
Pensions and Democratic economy.
The "independent" papers of Oregon
would undoubtedly discuss these ques
tions If they could think of anything
to say.
THE COXTtRT.
Woodrow Wilson evidently changed
his mind about Colonel Harvey, too.
It is a way he has. The new light
throws its radiant glow about him
the new light of personal ambition
and political desire and he sees
things differently.
The Jollne letter was written in
1907. when Dr. Wilson was still wan
derlng In the unredeemed maze of
scholastic darkness. Then he . ex
pressed an unorthodox and unholy
wish to knock Colonel Bryan into
cocked hat. In 1908 that burning as
piration was realized.
But Bryan wa used to It all. Per
haps that is one reason, he forgives the
belligerent professor tf he forgives
him. If he doe, it Is also because he
knows that Professor Wilson, being
then fast in the dutches of economic
and political re actionem, was preach
lng to the students of Princeton and
others against the iniquities of the Ini
tiative, referendum and recall, with
occasional reminders of the folly of
free sliver.
The exact date of Professor Wilson
conversion is lost to history. It ap
pears to have come some time between
1907 and 1909. It wias about this time
that he repented of his previous sins
and became a candidate for Governor
of New Jersey on his road to the Pres
idency. It is a striking coincidence.
But we can fix exactly the hour
when Dr. Wilson burned behind him
the last bridge between himself and
ail his former admiring friends and
associates. It wa at the famous con
ference at the Manhattan Club, when
he repudiated Colonel Harvey and
spurned his loyal and long-continued
support. - 't
is the Presidency a sufficient re
ward for this supreme act of selfish
ness and treachery?
TREATIES ARE 'OTHTSO TO SUBSIDY
Ship subsidy advocate . have one
virtue they do not know when they
are beaten. Ni obstacle to the attain
ment of their end are so great that
they will not attempt to overcome
them. Undaunted by their failure to
extract money, directly or Indirectly,
from the United States Treasury, they
now ask that the United States seek
the abrogation of the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty, and. falling that, violate the
treaty, la order that we may Indirectly
subsidize American ships by granting
them free use of the Panama Canal
while exacting tolls from foreign ships.
This is the substance of a policy set
fcrth by Lewis Nixon, the present chief
of the subsidy forces, in the Editorial
Review.
It matters nothing to these men that
by the Hay-Pauncefote treaty, which
they ask us to abrogate or violate, we
guarantee equal treatment to all na
tion In consideration of the consent
of Great Britain to the abrogation of
the Clajton-Bulwer treaty, which de
barred either power from exclusive
control of the canal, forbade them to
occupy or fortify any part of Central
America, made them Joint guarantors
of the protection and neutrality of the
canal and Invited other powers to Join
In this guaranty. It is now proposed
that, after we have been allowed to
assume exclusive control and to con
tract and fortify the canal in accord
ance with this treaty, we shall refuse
to carry out our part of the bargain.
n other words, having received the
goods, we should refuse to pay for
them.
Next come Commissioner Chamber
lain, of the Bureau of Navigation, with
suggestion that the law of 1884.
which provides that no toll or operat-
tng charges shall be levied for the use
of any lock or canal then owned or
thereafter constructed or acquired by
the United States, should apply to the
Panama Canal. He suggest that In
order that we may make It applicable
to citizens or the United States and
not to foreigners, we secure the modi
fication of the treaty to the extent of
allowing us to favor oar own shipping.
There is no reason to suppose that
Great Britain would consent to such a
modification of the treaty, since the
principle of equal treatment Is copied
from the Sues Canal treaty, which she
cheerfully observes, though she owns
control of that canal. There is no
reason why we should ask her con
sent, merely for the purpose of put
ting in effect a policy which has been
repudiated by repeated votes In Con
gress. If, we were to discriminate in
toll rates without Britain's consent we
should be branded as treaty-breakers
by the outraged public opinion of the
civilized world. Moreover, the law of
lS84was Intended to apply not to a
canal built by this Nation In a foreign
country, but to Improvements in our
own harbors and waterways.
The only manner in which we can
grant free passage to American ships
without violating; the treaty Is by re
funding the tolls. That would be as
plainly a subsidy as the payment pro
posed by any of the subsidy schemes
hitherto rejected by Congress. Public
opinion has declared definitely and
decisively against Jhat t.oUcjr, Tha
beat course for the ahipownera to pur-
sue is to cease chasing the pot of gold
at the tail of the subsidy rainbow,
cease making common cause with the
shipbuilders and Join forces with the
advocates of free ships. The adoption
of that policy would do far more for
the upbuilding of their business than
any subsidy scheme which can be
devised.
A TRTVATE INCIDENT.
It Is probably Just as well that the
Cowell-Erlckson wedding ceremony at
Centralta broke off the way It did.
While the minister was reciting the !
marriage service - the bride changed
her mind and at the fateful question,
"Do you take this man to be your
wedded husband?" she replied, "I do
not." No doubt It is to bo regretted
that this does not happen oftener. It
would be much better for the bride to
decide that she has made a mistake
before the ceremony Is complete than
to wait for a few months and resort
to the divorce courts. Prevention Is
far preferable to "cure, especially the
cure . which goes by the name of
divorce.
Ia this Instance it 1 not learned
that there wa any active dislike be
tween the bride and bridegroom. The
prospective mother-in-law was not
suited with the match. There was the
rub. She seem to have been a person
of great force of character. Whan
she found that the marriage wa to
take place in spite of her she took a
dose of poison, or pretended to do so,
and managed to have the news of it
announced while the ceremony was in
progress. This decided the bride to
say "I will not.
Happy Mr. Co-well." Think of the
life he must have led with such a
mother-in-law. Think of the qualities
his prospective bride had probably in
herited from such a parent. To trans
mit characteristics or that sort to the
next generation Is a heavy responsibil
ity. No man ought to wish to do it,
while the thought of living with a
woman who exhibits such traits is
insupportable.
Every incident of this nature which
occurs re-enforces the demand for
some kind of an examination before
the wedding ceremony is permissible.
Since the state must bear a large part
of the trouble and expense which arose
from unsuitable matches, it Is fitting
that the state should have a voice in
deciding who shall and who shall not
unite in marriage. The way to check
the divorce evil Is not to apply texts
of Scripture to the subject or to pass
restrictive laws, but to cut it off at
the root. Unhappy marriages should
be prevented. Then there will be no
need to dissolve them.
PREPARE FOB IMMIGRATIOX.
Most timely is the call Issued by the
Toung Men's Christian Associations
of the Pacific Northwest for a confer
ence between their officers and the
commercial bodies of this section at
Tacoma on. February 21 and 22 on the
immigration which will come to the
Pacific Coast after the completion of
the Panama Canal. A flood of new
population from Southern Europe and
Western Asia is assured when direct
Hnes of steamers begin plying from
Europe, particularly the Mediterra
nean Sea, to the Pacific Coast. Meas
ures must be taken to place these new
Immigrants where they will do the
most -good to themselves and the
country. If they are left to their own
devices, too many of them will congre
gate in the cities and develop slums
such a have become a menace to the
health and safety or Atlantic Coast
cities. If they are given friendly guid
ance, they can be scattered through
the country, and, by aiding Its devel
opment, may be made a blessing in
stead of a source of danger.
No provision for the direction of
immlgratlpn can be fully effective un
less it reaches back' to the source of
the new population. The steamship
companies are looking out only for
the passage money and care nothing
whether an immigrant Is desirable or
undesirable, provided he is not
liable to rejection by the immigration
officials.
The usefulness of an organized ef
fort, in directing the right kind of
immigrants to this Coast, in encour
aging the incoming of men to till the
soil, in discouraging the immigration
to this Coast of skilled workmen in
trades already oversupplied with labor
or the overrunning of the country
with unskilled labor the usefulness of
uch a concerted and well-directed ef
fort cannot be- disputed.
There is much to be done in prepar.
atlon for the first swarm of immi
grants, and the Tacoma conference is
called none too soon if it is to be done
with system and good results.
POULTRY RAISINO AS A PROFESSION.
There Is something interesting and
attractive in the poultry business. It
is a business, however, which requires
the greatest care and persistence and
no small degree of intelligence to suc
ceed. Also, if it Is to be a business by
itself, instead of a side line of general
farming, complete and somewhat ex
pensive equipment is necessary to
success.
In the first place the old days of
the un pedigreed barnyard fowl are In
the past. Old Speckle, that stole her
nest out in the Spring, hatched a
dozen out of fifteen or twenty eggs,
scratched vigorously for her brood,
raised most of them for the block and
then went into retirement so far as
henly activities were concerned during
the rest of the year, has gone the way
of remales or other species who de
voted their time strictly to' reproduc
tion. They live In memory along with
our grandmothers who ruthlessly
"wrung their necks" when they ceased
to bo profitable, or, in the language of
the time, "quit laying." They have
been succeeded by an aristocracy In
feathers, princesses in poultrydom,
that have been bred to laying, while to
the incubator and the brooder have
been given the task and responsibility
of hatching and mothering the chicks.
Of course this Is contrary, to the ma
ternal Instinct that Is supposed to per
vade all animal nature, but the high
bred hens seem to enjoy the change
though the best among them cluck
their discontent at times briefly, then
go back to the end and aim of modern
henhood the production of eggs.
All or this and much more is exploit
ed in the model poultry plant that is
essential to success In what is known
In common terms as '.the chicken
business. This plant comprises houses
that are designed especially ror the
work to be performed. There Li the
incubator house wherein artificial in
cubation goes on; the brooder house,
where the motherless chicks are
warmed and cuddled and fed; the col
ony houses for the older hens, with
Doatro leeojDs; aevioes. drinking I
troughs, trap nests and generally "ef
ficiency" plans; the happy, fluffy,
healthy flocks these are the adjuncts
of commercial poultry raising.
The poultry industry as carried on
with these modern' appliances and
under these conditions approaches the
dignity of a profession. The amateur
without means blunders at It spas
modically and fails to make It pay. But
any man or woman, with a few hun
dred dollars to put in a small equip
ment and stock, within easy access to
market and with Intelligence and per
sistence a personal assets, can engage
in and learn the poultry business to
his or her profit. It is a( business in
which small beginnings are advised, as
likely to produce satisfactory results.
The Oregonian has no fowls to sell
and no special breed of fowls to ex
ploit. It has this to say, however, to
anyone who contemplates engaging In
poultry raising: Get good, approved
laying stock; do not mix breeds. Leave
that to the poultry fancier. Do not
scrimp on the 'price of pure-blooded
male stock; find a balanced ration for
epg production, and reed systematical
ly; keep the rowls comfortable and
they will be happy and profitable.
Lorlmer'a story of the fidelity of hi
former associates on the streetcar
lines to him Is typical of the old Idea
in politics that voting and political
work should be guided by personal
friendship rather than the public in
terest. A political leader's first duty
was considered to be to stand by his
friends and a political organization
was regarded as a means by which It
members helped each other at the
public expense, not as a method of
putting certain principles of govern
ment in effect. The highest praise
given. Quay by his supporters was that
he never broke a promise to a political
friend and fought with the whole
power of his organization to fulfill
such a promise. Politicians trained
up with such ideals are incapable of
comprehending the new Ideals of duty
to the public interest which are now
fast gaining a hold on the public mind.
' As It will be impossible to prevent
railroads from operating steamship
lines by the canal- route, either direct
ly or through controlled companies, it
is probable that a strong demand will
arise for extension of the Jurisdiction
of the Interstate Commerce Commis
sion over coastwise shipping through
the canal. This Jurisdiction may be
applied to prevention of a repetition
of the tactics by which the Pacific
Mall killed competition on the Isth
mian route reduction of rates to
drive out competitors, followed by
combination with railroads. Such tac
tics could be prevented only by adop
tion of the policy pursued in Germany,
fixing a minimum below which rates
for water traffic should not go and
below which railroads competing with
water routes should not reduce rates.
"What ails The Oregonian." re
marks Colonel Hofer, in discussing the
Presidential straw vote, "is the fact
that there are not many votes for Taft
in the straw ballots that come in."
But there will be, there will be, we
are sure. Take Colonel Hofer, for ex
ample, ir he is at Salem during the
progress or the balloting and alive and
able to do his duty, he will cast a vote
for Taft. For he is a supporter of
Taft. He told The Oregonian so
himself.
The second, annual report of the
Portland Union Stockyards for 1911
Is a booklet of many tables of statis
tics that prove the recognition of this
city's supremacy as the livestock mar
ket of the Pacific Coast, and its dis
semination will increase the broaden
ing knowledge among producers of
the advantage In shipping here.
Governor Wilson's speech at Detroit
implies that he desires the dissolution
of both parties into their original ele
ments and the organization of a new
one with him as Its standard-bearer.
How will the other Democratic leaders
think that squares with his allegiance
to their party, whose nomination for
President Wilson seeks?.
Watch Tor a scramble among the
other Democratic aspirants ror the
salvage rrom the Wilson boom.
wrecked by the break with Colonel
Harvey. The man rrom Nebraska may
yet gainer it in. to save the Democracy
from falling Into the hands of the
reactionaries.
uicer oregonlans. In noting the
death of James M. De Moss, will recall
the pleasure given by the famous fam
ily of musicians to many a crossroads
audience a quarter century and more
ago.
Governor West will find that in plac
ing "honor" men too near liberty un
der intangible restraint he Is putting
them under the strongest temptation
to break away. A convict Is human
and subject to human frailties.
A few words of kindly warning have
been wonderfully effective In bringing
Cuba to her senses. That pleases Uncle
Sam, for he would far rather swing
the rod than use it.
There is a close relation between
such displays as that of the gifts at
the Stotesbury-Cromwell wedding and
the display of dynamite at the Mc
Namara trial.
Are the game laws being enforced
to conserve the good work the birds
do in the scheme of nature or to make
better hunting during the open sea
son? As litigation continues, the value of
"Lucky" Baldwin's estate grows. Each
depends upon the other, and the law
yers fatten their purses.
There will be no handicap on sup
plying the appetite for smelt, for the
plan to license peddlers has been
killed.
Though all forsake him. Senator
Chamberlain Is with Wilson to the
finish, if there be any further finish.
Some of those grandmothers In San
Francisco society will cut striking fig
ures at the coming Oriental ball.
San Francisco takes a dose of the
civil service medicine which President
Taft prescribes for the Nation.
An Oregon fowl won the highest
prize at Walla Walla, and she was a
Clackamas County pullet, too.
Reduction of
creases traffic.
suburban fares In-
Now let work
bridge- b&glA-
on the Broadway
ISTEO.TJAL1TIES OP SINGLE TAX.
Writer Contrasts Effect of Scheme en
Wealthy and the Poor.
PORTLAND, Jan. 19. (To the Ed
itor.) In a booklet called "Outlines of
Louis Post's Lectures on the Single
Tax" and kindred subjects in which the
author strongly advocates the adoption
of that scheme of taxation be adds an
appendix stating certain questions
which have been asked and his answers
thereto. One or such questions quoted
on page 106 is in the following words;
Iticn man with larce xnanalon;' poor man
with amall home on earoe atzed lot adjoln
iuc. Tha two pay the lame tax. Ia that
rltht? Tha anewer immediately followins
made by him ia In these worda:
There ia no reaaon In justice why the
Community ehould not charga poor 'widow
aa much tor monopolising valuable land aa
It chargea rich men. In either caae It con
fers a special prlvllesa and should be paid
what the prlvllese la worth. Tha question
la aaldom asked In food faith. Poor widows
who live on lota adjoining tare mansions
ara not numerous, and when they axlat they
ara almply land-srabbera. In our sympathy
tor these widowa let us not target the vast
armlea of widows who not only do not live
next to mansions, but haveVio place in the
whole wlda world upon which to rest.
This author is so able and earnest In
his advocacy of single tax. and his
opinions and philosophy are so much;
In accord with the other single taxers,
that I quote his answer as being repre
sentative of tbelr ideas on the question
propounded. This is not a man of
straw set up to be knocked down, but
the real doctrine of the single taxers,
so far as It relates to the question
quoted.
Two young married couples came
West and each bought for a few hun
dred dollars, adjoining lots, of same
size In what is now Inside property In
Portland.
One couple grew wealthy and became
owners of large buildings (one of which
Is on their original lot) a large man
sion up town and much personal prop
erty. The other couple being less prosper
ous and cautious, became the parents of
a family of children, the struggle to
support which was too much for the
! husband and he died
The widow has
remained In the small house they built
on their lot and cared for her little ones
the best she could.
Now if the scheme or the single taxer
Is to prevail, this widow should pay the
same taxes as the rich man who would
be relieved or all taxes except on his
bare lot and bis voluntary contribution
to the Fels rund to bring the curse on
other counties as well as his own.
The mere ract that the.wldow remains
In her old house, earns her the oppro
brious epithet or "land grabber" and ir
she owns but one lot and It happens to
be in the vicinity of the Holtz Bros.'s
building, she should pay the Govern
ment 8100 per day or get off the lot.
according to the showing made by the
gentleman who has nominated himself
for Assessor of Multnomah County, and
who so ably and accurately sets forth
the doctrines of the single taxers.
A half-baked single taxer suggests
that tbe widow should sell her lot and
buy in a cheaper neighborhood. But
what could she get for it if the wretch
ed scheme is to be adopted? Would any
one pay anything for It If he were to
be at once obliged to pay 8100 per day
to some one else for the use or It? What
isthe fee worth If the buyer must pay
the "full rental value" of bis own prop
erty to the Government? This single
taxer has not fully studied the doctrine
if he supposes that the purpose is to
leave any value of land in- the hands of
the "owner."
It seems to me the above quoted an
swer Is enough to damn any scheme In
support of which it is made.
E. F. RILEY.
ANOTHER TEST FOR PROSECUTOR
Let Candidates Spit at a Mark, Nobody
Barred, Says Writer.
PORTLAND. Jan. 19. (To the Edi
ltor.) A suggestion "in the cause of
right and good morals" has come from
Judge Olsen that the "really and truly"
good candidates for District Attorney,
of which ho says he Is one, settle their
claims to the nomination by flipping a
coin, Cameron and Seneca Fouts to be
barred. Others favor tbe Idea if Olsen
in n in hnrrpil Vnn r pnpMsnnnH.n " T
II. M.." has suggested as a better test
r.f ,h i,.. k
or efficiency that the candidates be
lined up in Judge Kavanaugh's court
and that the nomination be awarded to
the man who can hold his breath the
longest.
In the old barbaric days, when nobody
but a cutthroat or a thug could get an
office, it was thought that nomination
in an open convention, made by dele
gates chosen In primaries by the rank
and file of the party, would be most
satisfactory. Senator Bourne, John B.
Goddard and others have discovered
that under the present system such a
proceeding would be a shameless vio
lation of the direct-primary law, and
the backroom and livery-stable method
has been adopted.
In this campaign, however, six can
didates for District Attorney have al
ready got loose, and the "really and
truly good" candidates, like Olsen, see
the possibility or a disastrous split in
the ranks or the righteous, and the ele
vation or a reactionary, or a gargoyle,
or something else Just as bad. This is
the rirst intimation any one has ever
had that It was possible, since conven
tions and assemblies were abolished, to
nominate and elect anybody who was
not a real nice man. The "system
seems to have slipped a cog, or sprung
a leak. Very properly, good men are
barred rrom getting together and dis
cussing the situation In groups or more
than five or six, and then only after
candle-lighting and In a secluded spot
The "composite citizen" can't be trust
ed in the open.
Olsen's system for flipping a coin
leaves too much to the element of
chance. Holding the breath would de
bar a weak-lunged candidate. We sug
gest as a better test of fitness that all
candidates be lined up and compelled to
spit at a mark and that it be free for
all nobody barred. C. B. M.
Limiting the Tax Levy.
BAKER, Or., Jan. 18. (To the Edi
tor.) It seems to me that Oregon could
have no greater advertisement, nor a
greater Inducement in Inviting new im
migration to settle In our great state
than to be able to say to every new
comer that our state laws do not per
mit a greater tax levy than 10 mills.
Let every taxpayer and voter within
the state pledge himself not to support
any candidate for the Legislature who
will not pledge himself to help pass and
support such a law.
If all cash, personal and real property
was assessed at its actual cash value,
there are no reasons why Oregon should
not be able to do its business from the
revenue so raised.
The State of Ohio passed such a law
at its last session of the Legislature
and has a law today that the tax levy
overlng all taxes shall not be greater
than 10 mills.
The railroads, cities and every ham
let in Oregon are spending money with
a lavish hand to Induce new immigra
tion to Oregon, and we boast of our
congenial climate, mild Winters and
fertile soils, but what greater Induce
ment If we were able to say that our
full tax levy can be no greater than 10
mills.
The burden of taxation Is beyond all
limit, and It is time that our political
leaders try and Introduce some reform
In expenditures. I- B. S.
Magazine for Fishermen.
BILVERTON. Or., Jan. 18. (To the
Editor.) Will you kindly Inform me
If there Is any trade Journal or paper
devoted to fisheries and the fishing
Industry? If so kindly give address.
I. S. HOE.
Paoiflo Fisherman, Seattle,
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonian. January 20, 1962.
In a recent article "on "change" the
Memphis Appeal discusses the famine
prices to which breadstuffs and neces
sary supplies are tending. Flour sold
on tha day previous at $11.50; wheat,
$1.60 for poor to $3 for good; corn, 90c
to $1; sugar, 8 to 8c; hams, 25c; salt
had advanced to $12.50 per sack in New
Orleans and so advanced to Memphis.
There was great complaint among mer
chants that the military authorities so
controlled all the railroads that no ade
quate supplies could be drawn from
region, where there was greatest
plenty.
The width of the Willamette River,
ad measured-on the ice, is 1178 feet, or
a little over a quarter of a mile.
Governor William Pickering This
gentleman has been appointed Govern
or of Washington Territory. Ho is a
citizen of Illinois, born In England and
emigrated to that state some 30 years
ago with a large nurnber of wealthy
and Intelligent families. These fami
lies settled in the counties of Edwards
and Wabash, and their descendants are
among the best citizen of the country.
The City Council or Oregon City on
Monday of last week granted the right
or way to sundry citizens or the upper
country for building a canal to be con
structed around the falls at that city.
This is the rirst step; the second will
be to obtain the capital to construct the
work, and the next to do the work. It
is intimated that the- state prison con
victs would be employed with advan
tags in, making the excavations for the
canal.
The Argus says that on the nltrht o
the 7th, three men broke into the sad
dler's shop of Mr. Ferguson at Lafay
ette and carried off some $300 worth o
work. The thieves were caught and
the stolen property found. One found
security to appear at court; two were
put Into jail, from whence they made
their escape after two days' confine
ment.
The whole of Saturday was occupied
by most of our young men in various
amusements on the Ice, which now
spans the Willamette River. During
the day several horses crossed over to
the other side. We also noticed Mr.
William Daly, one of the publishers or
the Advertiser, taking a ride on a sleigh
which had a large blanket spread ror
a sail as a means or propelling it.
Arter dark a few remaining parties on
the lea were startled by the cry of
"Help, help!" occasionally Intermingled
with "God verdam, Rome, Rome." It
was soon discovered that a Mr. Johns,
who resides on the East Side of the
river, where he keeps a tannery, had
fallen Into one of the many airholes
which abound on the river, while on his
way borne. By means of ropes and
planks he was extricated from his pre
carious situation. Yesterday Mr. John
Collins also received considerable of
ducking while exhibiting his skill and
agility on a pair or skates.
The steamer Mountain Buck, sunk by
the Ice a few days ago, at the O. S. N.
Company s shipyard, has been well se
cured against damajre when the Ice
breaks up, by means of strong hawsers
and by cutting the ice around her.
Union County's Population.
UNION, Or., Jan. 15. (To the Editor.)
The compilations from the census pub
ll8hed in The Oregonian, December 31
makes it appear that the Increase or
population or Union County since the
census or 1000 has been but 121, and
the same time shows an increase or
city and town populatiton or 4715. This
Increase or. city population would ap
pear at the expense or the rural dis
tricts and would Justify the estimate
of decrease of rural population as given
by la. 2 per cent. Now the real facts
are that Union County has increased in
population during the ten years both
In cities, as shown, and in rural dis
tricts. In compiling his table your sta
tistician undoubtedly overlooked the
fact that the Oregon Legislative As
serably at Its session in 1901, lmme
dlately following the 1900 census, took
twy fr.om ,Unien "l and av l
Baker County the southeastern part or
Union County, known as tha "panhan
handle," and carrying with it nearly
one-third the territory and 4000 to 400
of Union County s population.
Making the proper deduction from the
1900 census would leave the population
or Union County, as trimmed up by the
Legislature, at less than 12,000, and
would show a gain ror 1910 of about
35 per cent, shared by the rural dis
tricts, which actually have made a con
siderable gain. Instead of loss of 15.2
per cent, as shown by your tabulation.
W. T. WRIGHT.
The tabulations, were prepared by the
Census Department at Washington, D.
C. Footnotes in the census bulletin
show that In the total of 16,070 given
Union County in the 1900 census. 2721
population in nine precincts annexed to
Baker County In 1902, was Included.
This was all rural population. In the
present County of Union, outside of La
Grande, the population therefore In
creased 990, or 9.5 per cent in the ten
years. These figures may be arfected
more or less by changes In the boun
darl"! of La Grande In the same period.
The Oregonian Circulation
and Advertising Patronage
Grows Steadily
There is never any boom to Oregonian circulation. It
keeps right on increasing as the city grows. Probably 25,
000 people represents the annual increase of population
for Portland at present That represents about 5000 new
homes. The Oregonian is the first paper these new homes
subscribe for. Not every single one of these homes will
take The Oregonian, but the most of them will.
The circulation of The Oregonian a year ago was about
6000 less than it is today. Most of this increase is city
circulation. Some of it, of course, is increase of circulation
in neary-by cities and towns.
And don't forget that The Oregonian readers in these
near-to-Portland towns do the most of their buying in
Portland.
The point to be emphasized is this. The circulation
of The Oregonian is growing j'ust as fast as the population
of Portland. It is a steady, healthy growth. And so with
advertising business. The Oregonian is getting more and
.more from one year to another.
This shows that the people believe in The Oregonian.
The discernbg merchants and other business men, realiz
ing that The Oregonian is THE advertising power in
Portland, are ready and willing to tell their business news
to Portland's people through the columns of The Ore
gonian to a greater extent than through the columns of any
other Portland newspaper.
Nitts on Spook Securities
By Dean Collina.
Nescius Nitts, he whose wisdom, men
state,
Kept Punkindorf Station with pride
plumb elate.
Observed an ant crawl o'er an old onipn
crate,
(A curtain I'll draw o'er the ant's bitter
- fate.)
Then spake upon spooks, as I herein
relate. '
"It's marvelous data, from realms of
them mystic
People who peddle that theosophistio
Reincarnation and transmigration
Theory plumb past my meek 'magina-
tion
It's marvelous data, I thinks, that can
show
How sperrits can borrow us pore mor
tals' dou'sjh.
And come, with soft words, rrom our
hands to displace
Our cash, as I've learned from this here
Tingley case.
"Wal, I've been teched fer cash, times
without end.
By ev"ry type, style., race and color of
friend.
And friends I have teched for a dollar
or so
Ten thousand of times, insofar as I
know;
But never In all of my varied career
Was I teched by a spook, any time in
tha year;
And shorely it gives me misgivings and
gloom
To think of this new sort of "Hark from
' the tomb.'
"Now, granting a sperrit should come,
with a groan.
And holdup some pore earthly friend
fer a loan,
What chanct has the rriend fer to Jog
up that ghost
And get back his dollar when he needs
It most?
What Deputy Sheriff would take it in
hand
To round up one's debtors in dim
sperrit land?
And furthermore, I must maintain, at
the most.
It's darned slim secur'ty you'd get from
a ghost!"
Portland, January 19.
Country Town Sayings by Ed Howe
Yesterday belongs to everybody, but
tomorrow belongs to you.
How you admire the man who hap
pens to catch you doing a good deed!
How many months since you had
good luck? How many minutes since
you had bad luck?
The most disgusting sight in the
world Is a natural-born scoundrel try
ing to do good.
A man seldom fails to avoid every
fight possible, yet he is always talking
about bis enemy "getting all he.
wants," and generally tries to create
the impression that he is very fond
of fighting, and loaded to the muzzle.
Popularity
cheap.
is costly; self-denial is
There is a good deal of manufac
turing In every country town; the peo
ple manufacture stories on each other.
I don't believe I'd like to attend a
revival, and stand up for prayers.
Some people are so conceited that
they admire their mistakes because
they made them.
A man thinks a woman should be
free and easy with him, but very par
ticular with others.
Salaries In Consrrea".
DEER ISLAND, Or.. Jan. 16. (To the
Editor.) What are the salaries of the
Representatives and Senators?
R. G. M.
Representatives and Senators in Con
gress receive salaries of $ia00 a year,
and mileage at the rate of 20 cents a
mile each way. The salary of the
Speaker of the House of Representa
tives is $12,000.
Census Statistics.
SHERWOOD, Or., Jan. 18. (To the
Editor.) Please Inform me as to tha
population of Portland, the population
of Oregon and the number of people
required for one representative in
Congress. ROY E. BIERLY.
The population of Portland (1910
census) is 217,214; Oregon. 672,765;
rate or last Congressional apportion-!
ment, 211,877.
No Danger.
Judge.
Peevish person (in crowded car)
Madam, you have pricKed my checK
with that barbarous hatpin!
Stylish Woman Don't be alarmed.
sir! I sterilize it evrv day