Morning Oregonian., January 30, 1912, Page 10, Image 10

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ClTUJfO THE TROT BIX.
A speaker at a recent fympoilura In
Chicago on the high cost of living
whlth la afractir.f all of us. assigned
the followta seven causes for the
calamity: Expensive flaw, automo
biles, swell clothe, domestics, tele
phones and poodle do. No doubt
each, of theee factors plays a rart In
making It difficult to par some peo
ple's bills, but the ajitute reader will
note that they do not a.'fect the prob
lem at ail as far as the poor are con
cerned, and It Is the poor to whom the
dally grocery, fuel and clothing bills
mean ml aery. If they go beyond a cer
tain flirure. To be sure every house
hold which subsist upon a fixed in
come feels the pinch when prices ro
up and continue to go up without sur
cease, but It la usually only pride
which suffers In this cane. Some com.
forts which they have learned to fancy
must be foregone, some little luxuries
must be abandoned until times are
better. But bread, meat and fuel can
be obtained by the salaried man as a
rule no matter how high prices may
soar. It la the poor who ro hungry
when the cost of living Increase and
It 1 not the poor who dwell In ex
pensive flats, sport automobiles and
fondle pedigreed lapdogs. So the Chi
cago speaker's solution of the problem
does not apply to them.
It la not very sensible to seek to
evade the difficulty Involved In the
rising coat of the necessaries of life.
Papers like the Springfield Republi
can may find It amusing to slur the
matter over and make It appear as If
there were no real hardship In the
case, or none at any rate, which could
not be eliminated by economy and
humility. But to those who feel the
rreesure 6t poverty the subject Is any
thing but funny. The question how to
obtain the bare necessities of life hon
estly Is becoming more and more diffi
cult every day for the ordinary Ameri
can family to solve. It Is one which
demands careful thought and states
manlike action rather than humorous
and shallow homilies. We all know
that it la our duty to economize, but
there comes a time when economy can
not be carried farther without endan
gering life and health. What shall the
head of a family do then?
Dr. Peters, a clergyman of New
York. has set about answering
this nuentlon In a way which speaks
highly both for his Christian feeling
and his common sense. He ha or
ganized a little store, to be open from
1 o'clock till noon dally, where the
poor of the neighborhood can come
and procure their groceries without
the alJ of "the cheating grocer and
the rapacious middleman." We all
know what the sins of the middleman
are. Out of the $ 1 S. 000. 000 000
which the food products of this coun
trv sell for each year he get 17.000.
090.000. or a good deal more than
ha'.f. while he produces precisely noth
ing at alL The man who does produce
everything we eat g'ts less than a
quarter of what we pay for It In the
market.
But Dr. Peters knows what he Is
saying when he speaks of the "cheat
ing grocer." ICe has the facts to back
up his adjective. He went to one of
the tribe and bought what purported
to b a bushel of potatoes. On weigh,
tng his purchase he found that It was
IT pounds short. Another man bought
a bushel of the same grocer which
weighed only 14 pounds Instead of
the pretended (0. So the story ran In
rvery family of the neighborhood. Not
only were they paying exorbitant
prices for their food, even If It had
been weighed honestly, but they were
rheated over and over on the weight.
The time had come when patience
ceased to be a virtue. So Dr. Peters
called on his congregation to provide
funds to open his little store. Of
course we have no grocers In Portland
who skimp on the weight of what they
sell, but the middleman la here raking
In the gold which ought to go to the
farmer on one hand and a good deal
of which ought to stay In the house
keeper's pocket on the other. It
ahould be fairly easy for some SO or 40
f-imllles to pool their resources and
open a small market such as Dr.
Peters has started In New Tork and
the benefits would be very large. All
the excessive cost of delivery wagons,
luxurious window advertising and so
ca would be saved and the customers
would be sure of receiving honest
weight and good quality.
A New Jersey woman, as we learn
from one of the current magazines,
has devised another and perhaps bet
ter solution of the cost of living prob
lm. She ha formed a purchasing
rlub consisting of a dozen families or
-1 and has thus obtained substantial
reductions from the local grocers. She
hs also been able to deal directly with
f irmers to their advantage and that
of her clu.braembers. This Is merely
applying our famous American "prac
tical sense to an Immediate and press
lag difficulty. The wonder Is thnt In
asmuch as we have so much of this
"practical sense" we make so little use
of It. There Is no people In the world
so helpless In the face of economic
hardship as we are. We are so In
grained with the notion of Individual
Independence that It seems Just about
Impossible for as to club together to
save money by common action. Mayor
Shank, of Indianapolis, has supplied
some of the practical sense which his
constituents lack, but such Mayors
are rare. In the long run people must
depend upon themselves to solve prob
lems of this kind and If they lack the
ability to hit upon the right action the
problem will not be solved. Apparent
ly the stress of hardship Is developing
this ablUty here and there among
some of our citizen and they will be
the gainers by It even If they lose
some of their stiff-necked "Individu
ality." Man I a social creature and
he gcU the best result, as a usual
thing, when he consents to co-operate
with his fellows.
democrats iroraiXHSLT frut.
Bryan's unsuccessful fight for the
exclusion of J. M. Guffey from the
Democratic National Committee ac
centuate the sharp division in hi
party and promises to cause a more
serious fight In the next National con
vention than that which resulted In
the expulsion of the Guffey delegation
from the convention at Denver In 1908.
It threatens to create a breach which
cannot be healed. The comment on
the event from both side Indicates a
desire of the "safe and sane" Democ
racy to throw Bryan out of the party
and of Bryan to throw out the bosses
who call themselves -safe and sane.
Bryan reminded the committee that
the Guffey faction had polled only one.
third of the total Democratic vote In
Pennsylvania in 1910. and that In re
sponse to the demands of the other
two-thirds he hnd been unseated as
National committeeman. A. M. Palmer
was selected In his plnce by the state
committee with the Indorsement of all
the Democratic Congressmen from
Pennslyvanla and thirty-seven of the
forty-five Democratic legislators. In
the face of this expression of party
sentiment the National committee held
that the state committee had no au
thority to rescind Its election of Guffey,
whom Bryan denouncoa as represent
ing "predatory Influences" and as a
"burden to his party at home and a
disgrace abroad."
Bryan discusses the subject at
length and excoriates the National
committee without mercy In the Com
mener and thus accentunte the spilt.
The fight Is to be carried Into the state
primaries In Pennslyvanla in April by
the Progressives, headed by Chairman
Guthrie, of the state committee. The
old guard threatens that. If beaten at
the primaries, it will hold a separate
convention and seize the Democratic
column on the ballot. This will result
In the sending; of rival delegation to
the National convention and rival
members to the National committee.
No doubt Bryan will be at Baltimore
and will make a direct issue between
the factions, with Guffey as the sub
ject of contention.
If Bryan should not dominate the
Baltimore convention, as he did that
at Denver, he will give the Macks,
Murphys. Taggarts. Sulllvans. Guffeys
and men of their type a most Interest,
lng quarter of an hour, and will give
the country a beautiful demonstration
of Democratic harmony.
or It I-TB FCRALTTT IX PENSIONS.
Any person who served ninety days
or more In the Civil War and ha
reached the age of (3 years I entitled
to a pension from the Government. As
this means that every soldier of the
Civil War who was 16 years old In
186S may now have a pension, the
practical effect of the act of 1907 Is to
pension every honorably discharged
soldier who served his country for
three months. This I In addition to
the pension granted veterans' widows,
the caring at Government expense for
23,000 survivors In the ten National
homes, and 20.000 survivors in thirty
state soldiers' homes. Many states
have made further provision for the
veterans of the War of the Rebellion,
such a relief from certain forms of
taxation and requirements that veter
ans be given preference In public em
ployment. Naturally one will Imagine that
there Is something wrong with the rec
ord of the veteran who cannot now ob
tain a pension or Is forced "with de
sponding heart and palsied limbs to
totter from door to door, bowing hi
yet untamed soul to meet the frozen
bosom of reluctant charity." Yet In
the extraordinary session of Congress
In 1911. held when every veteran who
had served ninety days and received
honorable discharge was entitled to a
pension. 2494 private pension bills
were Introduced In Congress. The fig
ures are more remarkable when it Is
known that the total of bills of every
kind, including private pension bills,
was only S2. Since the close or the
Civil War Congress has granted 35.987
pensions by private act.
A member of the Senate, speaking
the other day of our pension system,
said:
It Is lha moat It barm I paaalea laclslallna
avr anarlad In lha hlitnrr of lha world.
Il la aa anivaraal In Ita Indiscriminate bena.
ftta aa lha aunahlne urwii lha avil aod the
rood, or aa lha ram. ahlch fal'a al!ka upon
lha Juit and lha unjust. J hat ahollthnl
all distinctions Mwn tha d-n n!rnt poor
and in lnd"clidnt rich; blt.n Invalid
Ism and hraith; bsiattn tha wounrtrd and
tha oninjursd; brlwaan lha wararora rnjlar
of 14H tatt ss and tha bouxht and paid for
sanstltut who aarrsd la aome atata mllltla
and nsttr aaw a ballla (laid: btlxari tha
disabled To.unt.ar. who qarcklr answartd
tha I'rvaldant'a proclamation and bora lha
haat and burdaa of tha battla. and tha mar
ranary bounty Jumpar. who au gtrtr IB
anr battla If ha could h.lp It. and whnaa
e.rlra wara mars I r nominal: batwaan tha
"battla-ararrad" rstaran anT tha "battla
avarad" oaaartar. hie widow, child, bmthar
or fathar: batwaan tha dapandant old widow
who I oat bar aoldlar-huaband In lha clash of
battla. and soma holiday home suatv.sman
Indapandant yeun widow, born aftar tha
war waa ovtr.
Reduced to a matter-of-fact propo
sition, the adoption of the Sherwood
bill In addition to such legislation Is
not strictly a question of adding
more name to the pension roll. It Is
one of Increasing the amounts now
paid the Individual veterana It Is
proposed that this Increase shall be
applied Indiscriminately In spite of an
estimate by the pension committee of
the House that from 20 to 30 per cent
of the pensioners now have an annual
net Income of more than 11000. Ab
sence of need Is not to be a drawback
to increased pension under the Sher
wood bill.
One-half the amount collected
through the tariff la now expended on
pensions. The Sherwood measure at
a low estimate would Increase It to
two-thirds. Increased expenditures
from a reduced Income will not cure
the high cost of living nor make good
Democratic party pledge. It Is prob
able that a pension bill could be de
vised that would fully compensate for
Injuries or loss of health traceable to
service and reward also for meritor
ious service those In need. We say It
could be done, but it probably will
not. Yet It is strange that a wider de
mand Is not exerted for a purging of
a pension roll. We might thereby
rare better for the deserving and re
duce governmental expenditures In the
same- proceeding.
The Democrats have been so uni
formly unfortunate with their muck
raking committee work that they
would better hesitate about Investigat
ing the money trust, especially a It
has been already exhaustively Investi
gated by Messrs. Moody and Turner,
who set forth the result fully in a
series of magazine articles. If the
House Insist on a report on the
money trust It can save much labor
and money by buying the copyright
of those articles and reprinting them
as a public document. Everybody
knows that the money of the country
is owned or controlled by a small num
ber of men. who control the great
banks, railroads, trust companies and
insurance companies. We know" the
facts. The Democrats will accomplish
more good by finding a remedy than
by Investigating all over sgain.
Ml RDERS AND FALSE SENTIMENT.
The voters of Oregon at the next
general election will be called upon to
vote "yea" or "no" upon the propo
sition to abolish capital punishment In
this state. The matter Is -one that
should give all thoughtful men pause
and constrain even the thoughtless to
a consideration of facts bearing upon
It. To this end the timely remarks of
Judge Kavanaugh, of the Superior
Court of Chicago, at a banquet given
In that city last Saturday evening,
should receive serious attention. In
his view, while Imprisonment for life Is
the most severe penalty that can be
meted out to murderers, the death
penalty Is the greatest deterrent of
' murder.
"Capital punishment." aald ha, "has al
mnat disappeared In this country. Not
rountlna lha lirnnrant narxra who wara
hand In lha Poutn. only DO murdarara wera
axacutad In 1611. a yaar In which more than
lo.n) murders ware committed; In tha
Cllr of Chicago alona 20i parsons, man.
woman and children, wara murdarad. but
there ware no execution!."
The murders committed In Chicago
In the year exceeded fourfold those
committed In London, a city three
times as large. In the same period.
British Justice was at the Judicial helm
In the latter city and needless to say
the London murderers were promptly
tried, convicted and executed.
"Misguided sentimentalists" In the
opinion of Judge Kavanaugh are those
who face the appalling record of 10.
000 murders in the United States last
year, with but $0 executions and yet
clamor for the abrogation of the
Mosaic law: "He that smlteth a man
so that he die shall surely be put to
death." Co-ordinate in misguided
sentimentality with those who clamor
for the abrogation of this law as re
flected upon modern statutes, and
recreant to one of the most solemn
duties of citizenship, are those desig
nated by Judge Kavanaugh as "thou
sands of our best citizens" who get
excused from Jury duty on the plea
that they are "opposed to capital pun.
lshment." These men, according to
this estimate, "In doing so make them
selves partly responsible for the orgy
of death that goes on about us. Since
the death penalty must be Inflicted In
accordance with a Jury verdict every
good citizen should feel It his duty to
serve the commonwealth In serving
upon such Jury when called upon."
This Is the opinion of a Jurist who
stand high among his fellows, a Judge
of the Superior Court of a great city
and a man who has won fame as a
soldier and author. It is apparent,
moreover, that he is one who has read
carefully, not only "the ancient Rab
binical lore," but who Is In close touch
with the criminal and Judicial records
of his time, as they apply to the sac
redness and security of human Ufa.
MAKIR CORCT.1X.
A reader of The Oregonlan at Hood
River. Mr. George W. Karback, asks
a number of questions about the "lit
erary work"- of Marie Corel!!. The
answers to them may be of some use
to others and for that reason they are
given here. Our correspondent sa3-s
there is n good deal of discussion cur
rent In literary circles at Hood River
over Marie Corelll's merits. Perhaps
the same malady may be prevalent In
other towns. We should be highly
gratified were It possible to add any
thing of value to a controversy of so
much moment.
Mr. Karback's first question refers
to Arnold Bennett's remark that
"David Harum" Is more literary than
Marie Corelll's "Master Christian."
"Do we think this Judgment Is cor
rect?" Yes, we do. There Is nothing
literary about "The Master Christian"
or any other of Miss Corelll's books.
This particular book Is one-third Ig
norance, one-third bigotry and the rest
false sentimentality. The next ques
tion is whether or not we should "call
The Master Christian' a masterpiece
of literature?" We should call It a
masterpiece of nonsense.
"Does Mis Corelll's best work rank
with Mark Twain'?" About the same
aa a flea ranks with an elephant.
"Do you think she has done any
thing thus far that will win her a per
manent place In English literature?"
Yes; she will probably always be re
membered as the greatest humbug of
the century.
"In your opinion, are there any
American novelists living that are do
ing work superior to Corelll's?" In
our opinion there are probably 10,000
who are doing it. Including most
schoolchildren In the eighth grade who
write stories for their compositions.
What sort of English teaching are
the common school doing when a pre
sumably mature and fairly well-educated
American citizen can gravely
think of comparing Marie Corelll and
Mark Twain? It ought to be possible
to give pupils In the common schools
enough literary sense so that they will
not class this silly woman among the
Immortals.
n.r.A.rKr.s or tovtx and country.
When the country boy or girl goes
to the city, he or she I attracted by
the glamor, the lights, the pleasures
and the crowds. Young folk weary of
the solitude of the country, of seeing
the same few faces day by day. They
Imagine that they will never feel lone
ly or at a loss for society In a town.
Instead of the dull monotony of coun
try life, they see "something doing all
the time" In the town.
But when they go to town, what do
they find? Behind the glamer they
see vice and squalor. The crowds are
made up of strangers, who do not
know them and seem not to care to
know them. They feel that worst of
all loneliness loneliness in the midst
of a crowd. There are pleasures in
abundance, but they cost money or
cannot be enjoyed w-lthout friends.
The country boy or girl, beginning
on the bottom rung of the ladder in
town, earns little and cannot usually
spare the money to pay for pleasures.
Even when the country folk begin to
make friends, they cannot enjoy the
society of their friends without as
good clothes and without bearing their
share of expenses. Unless they let
themselves get Into debt,, they are In
worse plight than when In the country,
for they are dally spectators of pleas
ure In which they cannot take part.
If the drift of country boys and girls
J to the town 1 to be checked, they
must be made to realize these facts.
They must be taught to value the pure
air, pure water, roominess and expan
sive view of the country. But the at
tractions of country life, most be In
creased. A Jaunt over the country
roads must be made a pleasure In
stead of a penance by the Improvement
of those roads. Libraries and enter
talnmonts must be provided at the
country schoolhouse. Interest in the
things of the country roust be stimu
lated by the teaching of farming, gar
dening, botany, zoology, geology. When
Interest Is created In every plant, in
sect, animal,- rock, every step of coun
try life will supply its pleasure. But
In order that these pleasures may be
enjoyed, we must have good roads.
Boys and girls will be tempted to en
Joy tho pleasures of the country when
they can roam the roads without wad
ing In mud or dust, not otherwise.
Side by side with the back-to-the-farm
movement is needed a stay-on-the-farm
movement. This can be pro
moted by showing how meretricious
are the pleasures of the town com
pared with those of the country, and
how greatly the pleasures of the coun.
try can be expanded.
As the leasing system would perpet
ually exempt a large proportion of the
area of public land states from state
taxation, the Government might ap
propriately grant to the state a pro
portion of the revenue from leases
equivalent to the estimated taxation.
This principle has already been applied
to the National forests by the grant to
the counties of one-fourth of the for
est revenue. It could well be applied
to all of the public domain which is
retained under lease. It Is not likely
that the Eastern States will consent to
any such division of the gross Income
as that proposed by Mr. Newlands
75 per cent to the state and 25 per cent
to the Nation, nor would It be equita
ble. The states are entitled to no
more than they would receive as taxes
if the land were patented to Individu
als. The Ecuadorians will prove them
selves to be quite cultured if they keep
on killing Generals. They are not yet
up with the Athenians, who once killed
12 in a bunch, but they are progress
ing. Five is a nice beginning and
shows that they have the true Greek,
or artistic, spirit. The Democratic
party might take a hint from the
Ecuadorians as , to disposing of Its
Colonels. Taken in bunches of five
they could bo dispatched with com
paratively little noise and the party
would soon experience great relief.
Judge Kavanaugh, of Chicago, stated
the other day that while 10.000 mur
der were committed in the United
States only 50 murderers were execut
ed. What became of the rest? The
Judge did not tell, but we can guess.
A large proportion of them were freed
by pettifogging play on technicalities.
Many have not yet been tried and
never will be. Others have not even
been arrested. Human life is cheap
liere that Is, all lives except murder,
ers'. They are precious above rubles.
There will probably be some cracked
skulls In Belfast next week when
Churchill and Redmond hold a home
rule meeting In the stronghold of the
Orangemen. The Issue Is really raised
by fanatical Protestants, who become
frenzied at the prospect that after
three centuries of supremacy they are
to yield to those whom they formerly
oppressed. But one-sixth of Ireland
will not be allowed to dictate to five
sixths, nor one-half of Ulster to the
other half.
Resolutions such as those of the
Denver Trades and Labor Assembly
denouncing Haywood, the talker of
dynamite, will go far to clear the la
bor unions of the cloud under which
they were put by the crimes of the
McNamaras and by the backing given
the dynamiters by Gompers.
The Stockton man who poisoned his
baby by caressing it with an infected
finger could teach some of our the
orists a few useful lessons on germs.
The favorite cry among the cranks is
that germs have no connection with
disease. We wish they would explain
what killed this baby.
If the marriage license clerk of Se
attle undertakes to become a match-maker-ln-general,
he will require a
large number of expert assistants. Un
less these assistants are good Judges of
character, a divorce boom will follow
their activity.
The Baroness de Meyer only met the
fute of other foreign sportsmen and
sportswomen when she lost her fencing
honors to Mrs. Dewar. Her humllia
atlon Is In proportion to her conildence,
and was invited by her boasting.
C. P. Connolly, who write for a
periodical much given to mudspread
ing, asserts the courts of the country
are corrupt. Every man who has lost
a case will agree with him, which
does not establish the fact.
Now listen for a chorus of protest
from every locality which Secretary
Stlmson proposes to deprive of Its
Army post. They care more for the
perquisites of the post than for the
efficiency of the Army.
"Bill" Hanley Is one of Oregon's best
exhibits to -the East. His genial na
ture, shrewd common sense and busi
ness success combine to equip him for
the office of Booster-In-General for
Oregon.
Enormous shipments of cotton to
Japan are said to presage a conflict.
To be sure. The Japs need it to plug
their ears when firing broadsides.
Unprecedented demand for nursery
stock this Spring shows that people
have little fear of overproduction.
Only nine candidates are seeking
Republican nomination for Sheriff.
The diffidence Is remarkable.
Things are quiet around the Alblna
shops. One nonunion workef had his
skull fractured Sunday night.
One would think a big country like
this could keep West Point filled, yet
there are 50 vacancies.
In the event of a deadlock the key
will be found at Lincoln, hanging on
a cross of gold.
Ecuadorean mob law closely resem
bles the Draconian law.
Generals are cheap In Ecuador and
killing them la easy.
SINGLE! TAX ARGUMENT SMASHED j
Vaacoaver Now Rnnmlna: Soap-hooa
ad Having Hard '11 me a.
PORTLAND, Jan. 28. (To the Edi
tor.) Having Just returned from Van
couver B. C. the place which the Fels-
. 1 1 ' t,..iA .a,- nenna vrn nrl ists cite
. j a. ci a",.? . - e. -
' as an example of what even a form of
single tax win ao to mane a cny
perous, it occurs to me that some of j
your readers might be interested in ,
knowing of actual conditions aa mtj
exist in that city at this time.
The facts are that business and labor
conditions are worse today in Van
couver, B. C, than In Portland, Or. The
City of Vancouver has converted the
old McGUl University building, near
the corner of Cambie and Pender
streets, into a free soup-house where
two meals a day are served to the un
employed. At 3 o'clock in the after
noon of January 26 there was a line-up
over a block long of hungry men, wait
ing to be served. An employe said
there, was a long lineup at 7 o'clock in
the morning. Vancouver was obliged
to open free soup-houses six weeks
ago, and. although the city is sending
out many men on public work, condi
tions are getting worse instead of bet
ter and thousands are fed daily by the
city.
When It Is remembered that every
laborer must have 150 cash to enter
British Columbia It will be readily seen
that times must be very bad and work
scarce to have reduced so many men
to the bread line. The reaction set in
about the 1st of November and free
soup houses were opened about De
cember 15.
Retail merchants report business the
dullest In years, holiday trade poor,
competition keen, rents very high and
profits small. Wholesale merchants
report sales poor and collections very
slow. The real estate market has col
lapsed, and the banks are not loaning
on real estate.
In the United States, whenever times
tighten up a bunch of stand-patters
Jump up and yell "Raise the tariff and
conditions will improve." So, I suppose,
the Fels-U'Ren "war chest" will Insist
that all that Vancouver needs Is to
abolish the Income tax, poll occupation
tax, inheritance tax, and put all the
burden on the land and Vancouver will
fulfill all the dreams of the single
taxers.
In the pitiable condition of Van
couver an important lesson can be
drawn, viz., that there Is an Inexorable
law of supply and demand for cities
as well as any other commodity. There
Is now more city at Vancouver than
there Is demand for. Just as there
would be here if everybody were com
pelled to Improve his property without
regard to whether there would be ten
ants for the Improvements. The coun
try feeds the city and f the city grows
faster than the country demands, dis
tress must follow. F. S. MYERS.
Marie Corelll' Works.
HOOD RIVER, Or., Jan. 28. (To the
Editor.) I have been greatly interest
ed In the editorials on literary sub
jects that have appeared In The Orego
nlan from time to time. Your rather
high appreciation of Arnold Bennett,
Jr., your almost startling opinion that
Gertrude Atherton's work "Is probably
as powerful as George Eliot's," show
that you have convictions as to the
merits of present-day writers.
Among general readers, I have found
decided diversity of opinion as to the
quality of Marie Corelll's books. In
deed, I have been present when discus
sion has become acrimonious through
the ardor of advocates pro and con.
Will you try to help us to some fair
conclusion?
Will you kindly give us a literary es
timate of her work? Was Arnold Ben
nett fair to Corelll in saying, as
quoted by the Literary Digest, that
" "David Harum' 1s infinitely nearer to
literature than 'The Master Chris
tian" "? Do you consider "The Master
Christian" Corelll's best book? From
a literary standpoint Is It worthy to
be called a "masterpiece"?
Does her best work rank with Mark
Twain's best? Do you think she has
been anything thus far that will win
her a parmanent place in English lit
erature? In your opinion, are there
any American novelists living that are
doing work superior to Corelll?
GEORGE W. KARBACK.
Challenging of Jorora.
PORTLAND. Jan. 25. (To the Edi
tor.) I am at a loss, when reading
accounts of the Wilde case, as well as
other cases, to understand such terms
as a Juror being "passed for cause,"
also, "peremptory challenge." Would
you kindly explain in The Oregonlan?
Also this: A man, resident of Ore
gon, died, has a wife and child, leaves
no will. What part of the estate does
the wife receive also what part does
the child? Would the wife receive
less In case there was more than one
child? To whom would the household
goods belong? C. J. WILSON.
"Passing for cause" means that the
talesman's answers to questions dis
close no want of the qualifications laid
down by statute for Jurors. A per
emptory challenge Is an objection to a
Juror for which no reason need be
given, but upon which the court shall
exclude him. Peremptory challenges
are limited as to number, varying In
Oregon In criminal cases with the de
gree of crime charged In the indict
ment. 2. The wife receives one-half the
personal property and one-half the In
come from the real property. She
would not receive less If there were
two or more children. The children
inherit one-half tho personal property
and the fee in all the real property,
subject to the widow's right to half
the income during life.
Status of Woman Suffrage.
PORTLAND, Jan. 27. (To the Edi
tor.) In how many states does school
or municipal suffrage for women pre
vail? Name countries of the world where
full suffrage obtains for both men and
women.
How has woman's suffrage prevailed
In Great Britain?
What is the status of woman suffrage
in Canada? SUBSCRIBER.
Women have some form of school
suffrage In SO states. In addition to
the full suffrage In Washington. Cali
fornia, Wyoming. Utah, Colorado and
Idaho, women have municipal and bond
suffrage in Kansas: women have bond
suffrage In Iowa; women of Minnesota
may vote for library trustees; tax-paying
women may vote on tax questions
in Louisiana, Montana and Michigan,
and on town or village tax or assess
ment questions in New York.
Australia, New Zealand, Isle of Man,
Iceland and Finland have full woman
suffrage.
Women may vote for all officers ex
cept Members of Parliament in Great
Britain.
Women have municipal suffrage In
Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Quebec,
British Columbia and Northwest Terri
tory. No National Holidays.
INDEPENDENCE. Or., Jan. 27. (To
the Editor.) Will you please settle the
disputed question whether the fourth
day of July Is a National holiday -or
not? Also, what constitutes a legal
holiday. JUiKt, uuwi.
There Is no National holiday, that Is,
holiday fixed by act of Congress. A
legal holiday Is a day specified by act
of the Legislature on which business
shall be suspended wholly or in part in
that state.
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonlan of January 80, 1862.
Olympia, Jan. 8. The Rev. Mr. Evans,
chaplain, opened the Council with
prayer, and, having given (he mem
bers of that body some salutary ad
vice, Mr. Hubbs suggested that in
electing him chaplain, he did not re
quire the rights of a member, and on
his motion Mr. Evans' further services
as chaplain were dispensed with.
Snow covers the ground to the depth
of 20 inches to two feet and it is now
freezing. We have had no mail south
of Monticello this week.
From Olympia On the 16th, in the
House, a bill for the construction of a
bridge across Salmon River passed.
Bill for ferry across Lewis and Snake
River passed.
Mr. A. J. Cain, in company with Mr.
H. S. Nlles, arrived in this city yes
terday at noon, bringing Tracy & Co.'s
express, to whom we are indebted for
a copy of the Mountaineer. These gen
tlemen left The Dalles on Saturday last
and reached the Cascades on snow
shoes, and thence on the Ice of the
Columbia to Sandy, and from there by
land to this city. (Mr. Mies Is direct
from the Salmon R'ive-- mines. He re
ports no suffering there among the
miners for want of provisions; also
plenty of food at Walla Walla and The
Dalles.
From the Mountaineer extra of Jan
uary 20: On Monday last, about noon.
John James, Esq., in charge of Tracy
& Co.'s express, arrived at The Dalles,
bringing with him 300 pounds of treas
ure and a large number of letters.
From Mr. James we le-rn many par
ticulars of the Ul-starred trip in which
Jagger, Allphin and Davis Inst 'their
lives and so many others suffered un
told horrors. " On Saturday, January 4,
at 8 A. M. the stage left Walla Walla
for The Dalles, having the following
passenger list: John D. James, Tracy
& Co.'s express. Walla Walla; I. E.
Jagger, Portland; W. A. Mood-, James
Gay, H. S. Niles, Eugene City; T. S.
Jeffries, Bethel, Polk County; Charles
Wilson, Salem; R. Bolton. Sailors' Dig
gings, Cal., and H. Wellington, destina
tion unknown. After suffering many
Inconveniences and delays they reached
John Days River on vVrdnesday. Jan
uary 8. The stages at The Dalles end
of the route failed to connect at this
point, and accordingly the passengers
had to prepare for a detention that
might last several weeks. On Friday
night, January 10, a stranger came to
the house and left early the next morn
ing on his way to The Dalles. The
man has not been heard of since and
the probability is that he perished in
the snow. On Sunday morning, Janu
ary 12, Messrs. James Gay, W. H.
Moody, F. M. Allphin and Pat Davis
started out to reach the Deschutes on
foot. After Incredible suffering the
first two succeeded in reaching their
destination. The party had not made
more than four miles from the John
Day when Mr. Allphin gave out and
lay down by the side of the trail. Mr.
Davis proceeded probably a mile
further, when he became exhausted and
turned back. Neither of these men
have since been heard from and the
probabilities are that they died that
night.
Qn Wednesday, January 15, Messrs.
J. Mulkey, T. S. Jeffries, H. Welling
ton, William Riddle, Dougal McDon
ald, J. E. Glover, C. Nichols. H. S. Nlles
and I. E. Jagger left John Days for
the Deschutes. They were out two
days and two nights. Jagger was the
first one of his party that gave out.
He was left on the road, about 15 miles
from the Deschutes, and. though not
frozen, was utterly exhausted. Mr.
Wellington, the last man, left him at
daybreak on the 16th. Of this party
Niles is the only one that escaped un
injured. Messrs. Riddle and Jeffries
are frozen all over, and the balance
suffered greatly In their hands, feet
and ears. Jaeger, without doubt, has
perished.
Messrs. R. E. Miller and A. J. Kane
started out from the Deschutes on Sat
urday morning to search for Jagger's
body. Not having been heard from
up till Sunday noon, fears are enter
tained for their safety. A party con
sisting of John Irvine, O'Brien and
Frank Shelton were about to start out
In search of Miller and Kane.
When the news of the death of Mr.
I. E. Jagger reached the city, the flags
of tho different engine-houses were
displayed at half nia.t, he being a
member of Multnomah- No. 2. Mr. Jag
ger was an old resident of Portland
and was well known throughout the
country as a very estimable and prom
ising young man.
Wet and Dry Air.
FERXHILL, Or., Jan. 24. (To the
Editor.) When Is air the lighter, when
it is raining or fine? Pleaso give rea- j
son for your answer. SLBsCKIIifc.it.
Saturated air weighs more than dry
air at an equal temperature for the
same reason that a wet sponge weighs
more than a dry one. But air becomes
lighter with rising temperature, and
as temperature increases air's capac
ity for atyjeous vapor grows rapidly.
Air, on a clear day of even tempera
ture, might weigh more than air on a
rainy day. or it might weigh less.
Clear weather does not necessarily im
ply that there Is no humidity In the
atmosphere. Both temperature and hu
midity would govern.
No Other Portland News
paper Can Offer the Ad
vantages The Oregonian
Affords Its Advertisers.
No other Portland paper has as much circulation;
no other Portland paper reaches as many Portland homes;
no other Portland paper carries the amount of advertising;
no other Portland paper has the prestige; no other Port
land paper has the influence ; The Oregonian stands alone
SUPREME.
Circulation, quantity and quality, together with great
advertising patronage, make The Oregonian the greatest
single-handed sales force in the Pacific Northwest The
advertising columns of The Oregonian carry the messages
of Portland's progressive business houses into more Port
land homes every day than any other Portland newspaper.
The readers of the advertising columns of The Oregonian
are the support of Portland's Retail Business Houses.
The Circulation Manager can show you house by
house, just where every Oregonian goes every morning in
the City of Portland. He can point out these homes on
sectional maps of the entire city. Or he will tell you block
by block. The circulation records of The Oregonian are
open to any advertiser, present or prospective.
Nitts on the Call
By Dean Collins.
Nesclus Nitts, to whose sapient mind
All Punkindorf Station in homage in
clined. Replenished his quid, for he fully de
signed To extinguish a fly that crawled over
the blind;
Then told of political forces aligned.
This mornin' Phil Love, In the paper
he see
An item that roused him up powerfully.
And he come here to Higginses' store
on a lope,
Explainin' to me how he'd doped out
his dope.
"We'll carry the Nation," he says, "I
presume, ,
Away on the crest of a Roosevelt
boom."
"How fer?"I asks Philomel; "I haven't
read
The paper this mornin'." And Philomel
said:
"Wal, down in McAlester. in Oklahoma,
The people has riz from political coma
And launched on political seas, full
and fair,
A boom to bear Roosevelt into the
chair.
"'Come out!' they demands, 'fer the
whole of the West
Is hollerin' until it fair splits Its vest
To have you take charge of the ship of
our state.
The voice of the West is tho shore voice
of Fate
A-ringln' from Keokuk clean to Point
Lonia
It starts from McAlester. in Oklahoma.'
"Now," Phil, he continues, "sence this
boom is started,
It ehorely behooves us to rise, lion
hearted, And Jlne these here ranks of them co
horts that's rlsln'
To boom Theodore, In sech numbers
surprisin'
Let's add to McAlester's bold Invita
tion, The call of the West outen Punkindorf
Station.
"Though Roosevelt vows that he
shorely won't be
Put up anymore fer the Presidency,
How," Philomel says, "can he cling to
that view
When the sons of the West rises up,
bold and true.
And Jest summons him forth with a
ringin' ovation
From McAlester, Okla., and Punkindorf
Station?"
Portland. January 29.
Country Town Sayings by Ed Howe
Boys will be boys, of course; natur
ally they can't be girls, but I often
think they might behave better, and
have an equally good time.
When a man dresses In the morn
ing, he puts on twelve articles of wear
ing apparel, counting his shoes and
stockings. When a woman dresses to
get breakfast, she uses twenty-eight
different articles; when she dresses to
go down town, she adds eleven more.
Some people pretend to be fooled to
see what you will do next.
If a man steals, and says he stole
to buy bread for his starving wife and
children, there is such a rush to get
him out of Jail that no one looks up
the story to see If It Is true.
What a bum lot the heroines In con
tinued stories In magazines are.
Here lately, when a man gets mar
ried, he acts as though he is doing it
for no other reason than that he can't
get out of It.
In their promises, the big political
leaders are as unreliable as the big
promoters who offer 100 per cent In
terest. More men are chased than propose on
their knees.
None of us is very loyal to our lead
ers; a mighty little story will causo
the best of us to go back on a big
man.
Tou can always outrun the devil, un
less you owe him.
Train and Cannon Again.
PORTLAND, Jan. 28. (To the Edi
tor.) Does Tho Oregonlan mean to say
that If a man would drop a stone from
the rear end of the train exactly at the
same time that the ball would leave
the cannon's mouth that they would
fall together or be at the same distance
from the train at tho end of an hour?
There's something wrong1, somewhere.
E. Z. SATIERFED.
A stone dropped rom the rear plat
form of a train running 60 miles an
hour would not drop straight down.
The cannon ball would, because its
momentum would be offset by that of
the train. The stone and the ball would
fall considerable distance apart. If Mr.
Satierfed will attempt to hit a particu
lar tie with a atone the next time he
is on the bafk platform of a rapidly
moving train he will obtain a practical
demonstration of the difficulty In over
coming momentum exerted in a direc
tion opposite from that in which he if
throwing an onjem.
I