Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, February 01, 1912, Image 10

Morning Oregonian., February 01, 1912, Page 10, Image 10

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Newspaper Page TextrOTLAD. OslCGOM. Iiun4 at pertlaad. Oregon. PMtstfle aa bcuK-ctua Matter. iaMcfuw Haisa rerarlaMr ta Adtnaee. . (BY MAIL.) fml'.r. Sm4tT Include, ana year (uli larluae. sis saeathe .... . r. fcunj.y Included, tbre months.. l.J 1 a.iy. fcuaay Included, ont in la . . . . . I'ft;:y. tthout Suaaay. eee year........ Jaiiy. vkinuut buauay. sis month.. ... 1.-S L-:y. without Sunday, tare moaias... I witaom Sunday, aaa eaoaLb. .. . "-!. one , !. rjaday. an year tuadaj ul WeeAly. aaa year - CBT CAltRJCH.) pally. onT Included, aaa rear. ...... Iliy. ttuaday Included, ana month. ... .. Haw ( stesntl Bend Postofflea meoey or er. titrxa orlr or personal check oa yoar local binii. btamps, coin or eurreocy ara at tha sender's risk. OIe poatoftlee ailsissa &a full. incliMllcf county aod atata. raatava Kate 19 to 14 pases. 1 raatt 1 ta II n(,a. I eeata; to it pages. I aaota: ta ti paaaa. 4 casta, Fora-an postage, sable rata. Etrrn fteatacae Offleaa Tarra 0s fln .vw York. BruaawlcA bulidlag. Chi cago. Stager building. tares.. a Ulrica Mai. Regent strees. S. W London. PORTLAND, THVX4DAT. 1H. 1. Wt. raimn roa women. JLJ Klsewbere la The Oregonian today I -n be found a list of question touch- in; upon various political subject, it hu been prepared by the National Council of Women Vetera and sent out broadcast. We do not believe ihere Is any expectation that women in funeral will be able to answer all the questions. Indeed, the purpose of the list, as It Is frankly announced. Is to "encourage practical preparation for citizenship" among those who )iave Just been enfranchised and those -who hope that they soon will be. There Is no need of saying- that most men would make a bad business of answering this list of question Not one male roter la a hundred could do :t correctly. The difference between men and women so far as this matter a concerned Is that the women will vork hard to prepare themselves for their political duties by studying the fubject, while too many men never have done anything of the sort and there is little encouragement to hope .hat they ever will. Many men get their political knowl edge, or what passes for knowledge, by : die talk In the back rooms 01 saiooua. y fatuous gossip on street comers nd by listening to the Imbecile oratory f stump speakers at election time. They never dream of sitting down and rtodying politic systematically as a business. It Is a business, however, and the most Important with which we have to deal. More and more we are coming to depend upon politics) for decent food, for protection from dis ease, for fair treatment by the rail-roa-ls. for the regulation of prices and Ttny other things of fundamental Importance. One would think, there fore, that It would be made a subject of careful study by men everywhere, but we see very few signs of anything of that kind happening. No doubt women must set the example here and their husbands and eons will follow after them with reluctant and lagging step. Much has been said by scien tists ta praise and blame of the femi nine mind, but It has one marked trslt which most of them have over looked. That trait Is the love of pre cUlon. order and exact detail. Wher ever woman finds standing room she Immediately goea to work to make thlsgs look "respectable" according to .""V hr standards. Now men never have cared much for 'respectability" In the domains which they claim as peculiarly their own. Barns, pigpens and city streets give a very fair Idea of their feeling In this particular. To estimate the wide difference between the feminine and the masculine mind so far as or der and decency are concerned, we need only compare a drawing-room with a Jail or courtroom. Women have made the parlor with Its pic tures. Its shining furniture and Its rug. Men have made the courtroom with It spittoons. Its dirty windows and Its foul air. What must we ex pect of women when they invade the realm of politics? Can we believe that thy will let the spittoons, filth and poisonous air remain undisturbed In courthouse and Jail? Is It concelv. able that they will be satisfied to see c.ity streets the things of abomination that they now are 7 .ot by any man ner of means. Woman In politics will proceed to do exactly what she has done In the home. She will begin a desperate battle for order, decency and respectability and In the long run she will win It- Man has fought for the right to spit on the parlor carpet for ten thousand years, but he has been defeated, and the time Is at hand when be wl'J not dare to spit oa the street. What woman's moat womanly In stinct Is driving her to do Is to turn the whole world Into what the T. M. C. A. calls "a Christian home." She wants to make It all clean, safe and peaceable and she will succeed. She will succeed because she Is the prin cipal factor In evolution. Man kindles the flame of life, but woman supplies the fuel. In the long her Ideals and her desires are bound to be the de sires and Ideals of the human race. Woman has discovered that In order to make the world what she wants It to be she must take a hand In politics. As long as religion was the most im portant factor In evolution woman was profoundly religious. She made her soul the soal of Christianity and throned her representative beside the deity himself. Now religion Is not practically so potent as politics. New times demand new weapons and wom an reaches out for the best ones that man has fashioned. He Invents. She applies. Senator Bailey, of Texas, the purest sample of the dead regression 1st we have in public life, said the other day In the Senate that "the more a woman knows about the things she ought to know the leas she knows about the things we are doing here." He was speaking of the child arelfare bureau, and. naturally, oppos ing it. Women are Interested In that bureau because they are Interested In children and Senator Bailey simply exposed his own atavistic Ignorance of his time and Its tendencies by what he said. Pray what Is It that women "ought to know- If not the laws upon which the welfare of children depend? Men made rather a bad mess of those laws before women began to Interfere with their sacred activities. Like Oxford University, the United States Senate Is a sort of cesspool filled with dead IJeals. We msy always expect to see men like Senator Bal'.ey worshiping the clay gods which everybody else has rejected and weeping because he cannot persuade the world that they j are pure gold. Women will learn the things they "ought to know" without any aid from men like Mr. Bailey, and we may feel perfectly sure that they will make their own selection of sub jects for study. No doubt the United States Senate will be one of those sub jects, and as the light Is turned on we shall probably hear many more shrieks of dismay from beings who love darkness and fear the sun. PERHAPS. Let us be calm, if we can. about consideration of stiose Justly celebrat ed good roads measures, fathered by Governor West, or fathered by the state-wide commission fathered by Governor West. It makes no differ ence. Nor does It matter greatly rnat The Oregonian, having ventured to Indicate one or two objectionable fea tures of the series of West road bills. Is accused of enmity towards good roads. What does the State Orange. which has ideas and a measure or two of its own on the roads subject, think of that? What does every other or ganization or citizen or Interest that may have offered a suggestion as to roads In Oregon think of that? If you do not approve the West commis sion bills you are a dastard, a traitor, a horsethlef and bought with British gold. Humph! The bills speak for themselves. The whole good roads movement In Ore gon, so far as state aid goes. Is placed with the Governor. He does the whole business. He directs the expenditure of the money, which may reach $3,- 000,000 per annum, and he appoints, or approves, every commissioner, every clerk, every workman, every under strapper of whatsoever kind who may have to do with state-aided roads. Why this enormous power with the Governor alone? Governor West may be able to re sist the temptation thus to build up a great political machine. But It Is not a question that concerns Governor West any more than the Governors to follow him. Not all may be so virtu ous, so disinterested and so broad minded as he. Why not a 8tate Board? Why Is the appointment of a high-priced commissioner placed solely In the Governor's hands without even the formality of confirmation by the State Senate? There are six road bills to be con sidered and passed under the initia tive. The Legislature cannot be trust ed. Nobody but the Governor and the high-minded commission he has ap pointed. No suggestion, or proposal, or amendment, or change, or modifi cation from any other source what soever Is to be accepted. It Is these bills or nothing. Well, perhaps. XAX-ASHAMED-Or-iaS-raUX"D VTtL 0OX. Dr. Wilson apologises to Editor George Harvey, acknowledges his er ror, says he Is very much ashamed of himself, declares his gratitude for all Harvey has said of him and done for him, and announces that he was "far from desiring that you (Harvey) should cease your support of me (Wilson) In the Weekly." All this appears from the tearful correspondence between the polite Harvey and the repentant Wilson, fol lowing the Manhattan Club Incident, but prior to the lowering of the Wil son flag from the columns of Har per's Weekly. Colonel Harvey for gives the sorrowing professor, heaps more coals of fire on his head, but Ig nores his plain appeal for continued laudation, and quits. He knows the professor didn't mean It, but he quits. He has had enough. Colonel Watterson retiree la good order, showering a fusillade of de fiance and reproach on all" hands. It looks as If the Colonel was left hold ing the bag. What Colonel Bryan Is saying to himself just now would hardly be fit to print. Just think of heaping all that wealth of commendation on Pro fessor Wilson for making the heroic sacrifice of a useless friend that the professor says now he never Intended to make, and regrets having made. If be did make It. CArst or AasAtXTs or adxtxistba- TIOIC. The general assumption Is that op position to the renomlnatlon of Pres ident Taft emanates solely from the self-styled "progressive" wing of the Republican party. In order to ascer tain who are his real opponents, we must see whom he has offended by his course during his present term. In surveying the varied field of his activ ities, we find that he has been most active In prosecuting the trusts and has been more successful In this work than any of his predecessors. Their officials, then, are the men who have most cause to oppose him. Men who Join In the efforts of the Insurgent to prevent his renomlnatlon and re election are helping the trusts to get rid of their most relentless enemy. Is that the consummation desired? Though real activity against the trusts began with the Roosevelt Ad ministration, the greatest results have been secured by Taft. Roosevelt broke up the Northern Securities merger and trusts dealing In salt, paper, licorice paste, elevators, retail drugs, church and school furniture, umbrella frames and several small local combinations. Hi lost suits to dissolve and punish trusts dealing In wholesale groceries In the South, fertlllsere In the South, plumbers supplies In the South, the anthracite coal combine, the New Ha ven railroad merger. He practically failed to dissolve the packers' trust, though he secured . an Injunction against it, for the decree against It was violated and Indictments against its members were quashed. He began proceedings against the trusts dealing in naval stores, oil, tobacco and ex plosives, which have been carried to a successful termination by Mr. Taft, but the naval stores decision I still pending on appeal. Butts begun by him are also pending against the St. Louts bridge combination and the American Ice Company. The suit to dissolve the Harrtman railroad mer ger in the lower court was lost during the Taft Administration and Is pend ing on appeal. Unquestionably the greatest feat yet accomplished In dealing with the trusts Is the dissolution of the oil and tobacco trusts, which was achieved by Mr. Taft as the result of proceedings begun by Mr. Roosevelt Not only has he carried to a successful conclu sion these and other suits enumerated as begun by his predecessor, but he has broken up trusts controlling to bacco production and sale In Kentucky and Tennessee, window glass, paper board, groceries In the South, meat in New England, Incandescent lamps. wire rope and cables, kindling wood In New York, and a number of local combinations. He has on trial the meat packers and has suits and crim inal charges pending against the sugar, lake towage, butter and eggs, cotton pool, bathtub, paving brick, ocean steamship, lumber dealers. New England milk dealers' Magazine, wall paper, shoe machinery and steel trust and officials. The insurrection against Taft Is be ing carried on, therefore, not only by the Insurgents who professed dire en mity to the trusts until they changed their tack at the Chicago conference, but also by the trusts themselves, which are supposed to have the regu lar Republicans for champions. He Is carrying out the Roosevelt policies with greater vigor than even Roose velt himself displayed; he Is keeping the pledges of the platform on which he was elected. For this the people who are groaning for deliverance from trust domination are asked to punish him. LEGIStATTOX BY SPASMS. Legislation by the Democracy Is legislation by spasms. Seized by a spasm of economy on gaining control of the House, they abolished a few clerkships. Moved by a spasm of generosity to the old soldier, they vote him I7S.000.000 a year in pensions without Inquiring whether the money will be In the Treasury to pay out. Alarmed at their own extravagance. they decide to starve the Navy and vote no money for public buildings. Their methods of handling finance are childish In tholr simplicity. They call to mind the plea of a certain Irishman against being required to make an Itemized report of hi elec tion expenses. He said he counted his money when he sallied forth in the morning and again when he returned at night, and put down the difference as "spent." The Democrats vote money for pensions without a thought of the necessary expenses of carrying on the Government or of the amount available to meet them. Then, hastily taking stock of their cash, they say: "We must build no battleships, erect no public buildings." They follow one of the precepts of the spendthrift by economizing on the necessaries in or der to enjoy the luxuries. Their happy-go-lucky way of han dling the National finances Is in sharp contrast with the systematic methods of President Taft. He would take a leaf out of the book of every well conducted European government by preparing an annual budget. He would have a budget committee care fully estimate the necessary expenses and the available revenue. If expenses threaten to exceed revenue, he would either cut expenses or Impose more taxes to balance accounts. If revenue promises to exceed expenses, he would either reduce taxes or spend the sur plus on some such new undertaking as the parcels post, rivers and har bors or buildings. KKFECTS OF PERSIA'S SUBJECTION. Persia has fallen victim to the larger policies of the British govern ment. The necessity of maintaining the triple entente with Russia and Prance as a precaution against Ger man aggressive designs, real or suspected, drove the British govern ment to assent to Russian dictation In Persia and to accept control of Southern Persia as partial compensa tion. But for German Interference in Morocco, Britain might have with stood Russian demands. Persia main tained her Independence and Shuster remained to rehabilitate her finances. Thus the effect of Germany's game of bluff Is felt clear from the Atlantic Coast of Africa to the interior of Asia. The agitation In England on be half of Persia, which gains force through Shuster's speeches, may have serious effects on the fate of the As qulth Cabinet and on the legislation which depends on Its continuance In office. A large proportion of the Lib eral party is ready to turn against Its leaders In behalf of any nation like Persia, which Is struggling for lib erty, and may combine with the Tories to condemn the agreement with Russia. The same element is largely made up of Protestant noncon formists, whose religious prejudice may awaken their sympathies with the Ulster Orangemen's fight against Irish home rule. Stranger things have happened than the blighting of Ire land's hope by the subjugation of Persia. There are already, in Tory success at bye-elections, signs of a re action against the Liberals. THE REPfBIJCS TRTCMTH tX CHINA. Abdication by the Chinese Emperor and withdrawal of the Manchus from the government means the final tri umph of the republic. The test of the capacity of the republican lead ers to establish a stable government now begins. The precedent of revolu tions In other countries teaches that triumph Is usually followed be divi sions and renewed civil strife. As the abdication is directly due to the effort of Yuan Shi Kal, he may be expected to claim a strong voice in the new government, but he may find powerful rivals in Sun Yat Sen, Wu Ting Fang and the rebel gen eral. On the willingness of some of these leaders to accept subordinate positions hangs the future of the new republic. If the general should at tempt to gain supreme power, the outcome may be a military dictator ship like those of Cromwell and Na poleon, but Oriental nations and con dition differ so greatly from those of the Occident that these precedents may not apply. Certain it Is that the triumph of the republic will be followed by a rapid modernizing of China, with re sults as revolutionary In the rest of the world as in the Celestial land it self. We may look for an Invasion of China by foreign capital, which will cover the country with railroads, develop the mines, dredge the rivers, end the floods, reforest the moun tains, Improve the harbors and estab lish great Industries. Such a trans formation will have Incalculable ef fects on business the world over. LAWK EXEatTES ARB TATTS EVEMTES. Mark fny words, tba bona and atnaw of tha opposition tha Republican party this year m-lil ba found la tba offloaa of tba man who bava felt tha weight of tha axecutlva arm a( tha Government In enforcing tha law. This telling point against the de tractors of President Taft was made by Senator Brown, of Nebraska, In a speech to the Republican editors of Indiana, reviewing the work of the present Administration. It followed the statement that In two years and nine months Mr. Taft has brought thirty-seven prosecutions under the anti-trust law. The enemies of the Taft Administration are the enemies of the law, whom he I bringing to justice and whom lie is forcing to tremble before a law they heretofore contemned. Let those who have been lured Into opposition to Mr. Taft by that faction which has assumed the title "pro gressive" and which professes to em body all that Is progressive in the Republican party bear in mind this other saying of Mr. Brown: The average Republican la progressive; but tha true progressive Is not a factlonlst. A man's progresslveness is not de termined by his adherence to the self styled progressive faction, but by the character of his deeds. Apply this test to Mr. Taffs Administration and every step he has taken will be found progressive. The Oregonian prints the brief of H. J. Parklson in the university referendum case almost In full. Indicating that It Is In sym pathy with forged referendum lists, and la willing to aid the cause of a man who makes a buslneas of manufacturing petitions to order for ao much a yard. It la to be hoped that Oregon will before long have a newspaper of general state circulation stand ing for law and decency, and with enough honest fearlessnesa to denounce fraud and corruption wherever H may be found instead of aiding and abetting It. as Tha Oregonian does. Eugene Guard. This is the latest petty Invention of the Inveterate and incurable prevari cator who snarls and whines his dally grievances through the columns of tho Eugene paper. It Is a great re proach to Journalism that such little minds and littler souls appear to thrive in lta pursuit. The Oregonian printed a summary of the very exten sive Parklson brief because it was deemed of public Interest. Are the people of Oregon, Eugene Included, entitled to know what is going on in the important University of Oregon case? We think so. The brief for the university will be given precisely the same consideration no more, no less. It may be mentioned Incidental ly that in the same Issue of The Ore gonian containing the news report of the Parklson brief was a complete and adequate account of the admirable addrese of Professor Schafer, before the University of Oregon, vith ex tended and appreciative editorial com ment thereon. The result of the National Civic Federation's canvass of leading men In every walk of life on the subject of trust Is an overwhelming Indorse ment of President Taft's policy. He opposes repeal of the Sherman law; so do 80 per cent of those whose opin ion is given. He proposes Federal in corporation, and 80 per cent favor either that measure or Federal license with an Interstate commission to reg ulate corporations. He has not only proposed the measures which to him seem best, but ha correctly read public opinion. In the death of James Gleason Portland loses one of the most lova ble, brotherly men among Its citl gena Having resided here since child hood and passed his fiftieth year, he was known to every old citizen for many years back and had an endless fund of good stories of the early days of the city. His amiable disposition, upright character and ability as a lawyer had won him the affection and respect of the thousands who knew him and who mourn his sud den demise. The Inscrutable Illness of which Edward Throckmorton I dying in Texas seems to have been caught from a pair of detectives. He was a wit ness In a lawsuit and his testimony might have proved Inconvenient to the other side. The detectives and the mysterious disease ensued. Provi dence has often Intervened in this striking way to direct the course of events. Sometimes its agency comes In so patly that it looks almost human. The L W. W. orators who spout so vociferously on the street decry what ever has been done by others, but they have no remedy of their own to propose for our manifold ills. When a man comes to believe that he him self Is the only person in the world whose motives are good he la Insane and there is not much profit In per mitting the Insane to rave in public. Still free speech Is so essential that we must bear with Its evils. It Is sweet to learn that the dove of peace has perched on Colonel Har vey's lofty brow. He and Governor Wilson have exchanged forgiveness. But in Colonel Watterson's sanctum the harsh-voiced raven continues to croak of battle and bloody death. The Democrats sadly need a, Mrs. Wlnslow to prepare a soothing syrup for their Colonels. President Taft's Columbus speech indicates that his fighting blood Is up. He Is stirred by Uie campaign of con demnation and denunciation to strike bock and to compare the progress ac tually made during his Administration with the chimerical schemes of his critics. He has no cause to shrink from the comparison. It may be only a coincidence that the sad story of the diminished earn ings of the steel trust was told on the day after the bill reducing the steel tariff passed the House. But In spite of dull times and the open market, the trust was still able to pay 5 per cent on Its common stock, which Is all water. "Direct action" by means of bombs is the accepted practice of strikers in Portugal, but they show more nerve than the McNamaraa. They do not set their bombs to go off when an alarm unwinds, then flee; they throw their bombs. Their action is more di rect than that of the Times dyna miters. Wilson Is forgiven by Bryan and Harvey and Is likened by the former to the great apostle of the Gentiles, but the fiery Colonel Watterson, Is im placable. 'Tls sad that some men are blind to the essential goodness of their penitent brethren. If report be true that the State De partment ha blocked a Japanese scheme to acquire fishing rights off Mexico, the war party in this country will see In the Incident confirmation of it fears. The alleged smallpox among the Qulnlaults turn out to be rash pro duced by bad whisky. The disease would have been a lighter affliction. Estimates of grain production In the Southern Hemisphere show large gains over last year, but are not in excess of normal consumption. Yesterday had the "feel" of Spring, but It Is well to await tomorrow's sun shine or lack of It. Old Mr. Ground hog will be on the Job. MR. BARZEB PRIMARILY SOCIALIST. Slagle Tax Takea I'p as Mesas te aa Bad, He Says. PORTLAND, Jan. 80. (To the Edi tor.) Be it known to ' all Interested that we did not vote for or against tba single tax amendment. Our rela tion to It Is that of a convert since the enactment. We are a Socialist pure and simple simple though we be. We are, however, not opposed to the using of a means to an end, though it be single tax legislation. Since having been given an oppor tunity to investigate the possibilities of single tax, as applied to land monop oly, we are convinced that such legis lation will bring results. That the control, by the people, of this greatest monopoly will hasten the possibilities of Socialism, Is doubted by. many Socialists, especially those of the direct action type, their conten tion being that the whole structure of : capitalism will fall the sooner If it i be left alone and does not receive re , form props to support It, The less radi , cal type are looking to the possibill j ties of the outcome, were a wholesale ; overthrow to take place, without a par tial reconstruction, such as will be bullded about the single tsx system. There is one thing which will result from such reform legislation, 1. e.. a general awakening among the average citizens of the final and complete over throw of the profit system or Social lam. To mellow up his grey matter to a consideration of greater things now is and always has been the greatest task of the greatest minds. If for no other reason we would support this measure. It is a medium of advancing civilization. Now go back to our first proposition and statement. There has been no ac tual wrong committed by the kidnaped enforced consideration of single tax by this state. The citizens of Oregon are either capable of self-government or they are incompetent and need a guardian In the form of representative legislators. The "dirty hands" do not enter into the merits and demerits of single tax any more than did the kid naping of the McNamaraa confirm their guilt or Innocence. It Is a matter of trying out the case, though the oppor tunity to do so has been kidnaped and presented to the citizens of Oregon by a detective of advanced civilization. It is now up to The Oregonian to declare for or against kidnaping under its own heading and discuss single tax on its merits. C. W. BARZEB. Later: Since having written the above we read the "Pardon Our Ego tism" note presented by a probable Oregonian stool pigeon. We ask no favors further than a privilege to re ply fairly and honorably to all criti cisms. We have, without the aid of The Ore gonian. been placed on the "eligible" Fels war chest list, through a 'phone call from a single-tax manager, asking for a monthly contribution to the single tax fund, from us. This came as an Introduction, and was prompted by our letter on tax swindles in a former issue. C. W. B. Mr. Barsee Is mistaken In his as sumption. The Oregonian has no stoolpigeons. The man to whom Mr. Barsee sent single tax material says be Is "only a loose-Jointed farmer, and consequently wrote a very 'loose' let ter." He gave no explanation for for warding the letter Mr. Barsee asked him to suppress. Possibly he did not "pardon the egotism." Through inadvertence, Mr, Barxee'a letter was omitted from The Orego nian when editorial comment thereon was published. TKACHi:G CrriZEJfSHIP TO WOMEN Natlomal Council ef Womrs Vetera Prepares List of Qaoetlon. The following are questions prepared by the National Council of Women Voters and destrlbuted in the State of Washington to "encourage practical preparation for citizenship" among wo men: Explain tha difference between real and personal property. What Is the status of tba eight-hour law In Washington t What Is tba child labor law in Washing ton . What la the initiative and referendum amendment? What la the legal procedure of a widow In settling up her husband's estate? What provisions have beon made by the United States Government regarding postal savings banks? Explain the advantages of a parcels post system In thla country. How many and what are tha departments of the city government, and how many members in each department t What are the different steps In creating an ordinance of the City Council? From what sourcea la the state's Income derived? What ara tha powara and duties of tha Mayor? What are the distinguishing featurea of the Australian ballot? What Is meant by the short ballot? Is property Inherited from another state than the one In which the legatees reside governed by the law of that state? Tell of municipal government in Great Britain and Europe. What Is tha present law of taxation In Washington ? What la direct taxation? What Is the single tax? What is direct legislation? What la tha relation of Federal, state and municipal laws? Do they correlate or operate against each other? Should public utilities be owned and con trolled by the people? Give record of Budapest's municipal bakery. In place of property-holders being as sessed for street Improvements, would not a general fund for such Improvements bring relief and be more equitable for tho home-makers? How does the law Interpret tha word householder? What are tha departmenta In our state government? What Is the law regarding the naturali sation of children born In foreign lands of foreign parentage If the father Is natural ized? What Is the status of his wife? Real and Imaginary Cannons. PORTLAND, Jan. 81. (To the Edi tor.) I tell you, I am right. If a man were to Jump from the rear of the train at the rate of 60 miles per hour while the train would be going at the same speed, the train would do all the traveling, because the power which the man would have used was taken away as fast as he could apply It. But, a cannon having the power within it self, the train's speed would affect a very small fraction of its momentum. If you were to discharge a cannon from a light car on a level rail, the bullet would be further from the cannon than It the car was held stationary. The recoiling of a gun has very little to do with distance that the ball would travel. Hence, If the taking of a gun backward aa fast as the bullet travels would affect Its whole speed, the re coiling of a 30.30 rlfie would kill the man that pulls tha trigger. Nevertheless, if you. by throwing a stone with all your strength can reach no farther than I by merely dropping one, I shall also drop this matter and be even with you. E. Z. SATIERFED. The trouble is that Mr. Satierfed is discussing a real cannon. The Ore gonian answered a hypothetical and lm. practicable question. A cannon ball does not travel at a sustained speed of (0 miles, as The Oregonian heretofore stated. No cannon will throw a ball which will leave the cannon mouth at a rate of 60 miles an hour and sustain that speed In flight for one hour. As the cannon of the person who pro pounded the question was wholly Imag inary, theories over the action of con fined explosives have nothing to do with the case. The propounder of the question asked The Oreg-onian how much was 60 plus nothing and The Ore gonian answered. The fact that the correspondent chose to Illustrate "nothing" with a preposterous cannon did not affect the answer. Half a Century Ago From Tha Oregonian, February 1, 1862. We presume that no well - Informed person will pretend that the secret In stitution known as the Knights of the Golden Circle was not got up for the purpose of assisting in the breaking up of this Government and the estab lishment of a Southern Confederacy. Parker H. French was sent as an emis sary of this institution to operate In the North. He soon found his way Into Fort Warren. It Is understood that the secession editors, who were sent to Fort Lafayette, and peregrinating public speakers, who were stirring up sedi tion In the North and followed them Into forced retirement, were also Knights of the Golden Circle. In Ohio, a desperate effort has been made by these knlgnts, under the pre tense of "love of democracy" and their desire to see "the Democratic party" sustained, to create a party movement there which should benefit the rebels of the South. It so occurred that they attempted to corrupt honest Democrats, who exposed them, which resulted In securing their documents; their rituals, and subjected the knights to the pun ishments due treason. The matter was brought Into court at Cleveland, Ohio, and the facts, as we have stated them, were fully sustained. Everv one will notice how exactly the same policy la adopted by the secession editors of Oregon. These secession editors want the Democratic party sus tained Dolph Banna's Democratic party, Metcalf'a Democratio party, young Lane's Democratic party, Jor dan's Democratio party, and Sykes Democratic party. We speak what we believe, that the Knights of the Golden Circle- are or ganized in Oregon and have their secret meetings, in wbjch they concoct treasonable movements and in which they Initiate measures to operate upon Democrats of the Breckenrldge stamp here, with the view of raising a party to oppose the Government. This is be ing attempted in the same way as was done In Ohio. The knights have had their secret meetings in Portland. They have been seen -gathering in the most secret manner possible, the members going Blnirlv. enterlna- their den alone, and coming out In a way to escape observa tion. Mr. WlseT, of Yamhill, is a successful miner. Last Fall, with two others, he purchased a gold claim on the Salmon River, for which the company agreed to pay 16000. They worked the claim two months, and his part of the gains was 812.000. He left the claim with his nerr whn will work it this Winter, if they can, and at any rate keep off trespassers. He estimates that the claim will be wortn to eaon oi mo partners at least $100,000. Secretary Cameron has authorized the establishment of a depot for pris oners of war at Johnson's Island, in the Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie. Seven teen buildings, capable of accommodat ing 1000 prisoners, will be erected. They were to be-finished on the 10th of December. The Confederate loan of $1.000,000 la said to be taken, lacking $10,000,000. A gentleman who left the steamer Brother Jonathan on the 14th of Janu ary,' ice bound In the Columbia River, brought a letter to one of our citizens from one of the passengers on the steamer. We take an extract from It: "We are looking daily for our provi sions to give out, and then we will be put on rations of say three baked ap ples and two ounces of beans per day." He further says that, if he had no In cumbrances he would strike for Port land Immediately. Another extract says: "Ice Is seven inches thick, and we expect to get away some time be tween now and the Fourth of July next. Our coal oil and candles are all gone and we have to go to bed in the dark." Messrs. Seaman and Frenchy, the gentlemen who were to start for Astoria in a small boat to meet the ex press for Cortes, made the attempt yes terday, but failed, too much Ice being in the river. We learn, however, that one of our citizens started an express overland for that point yesterday. According to the auditor's report, the taxable property of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company In Washington Territory, as given in by the Assessors, amounts to $45,000. Sleighing is become a drug in the market. It was worth about $5 an hour three weeks ago, but is now dull at 60 cents. Poor Spelling In Schools. PORTLAND, Jan. 81. (To the Edi tor.) In regard to the article In The Oregonian yesterday, "Pupils Can't Spell": It Is not at all strange that only 53 out of 254 should pass their examina tions when you sum up the superfluous work pupils are required to do in the grammar grades. If the time given to painting, drawing, singing, sewing and other tlme-klllers were given to the essentials of education, the public schools would not be the farce they are. The aim nowadays seems not to be the education of our boys and girls, but to create as many positions as pos sible for teachers. MRS. M. E. HEARN. 270 East Sixteenth street. Tax Statements by Mall. PORTLAND, Jan. 31. (To the Edi tor.) Kindly inform me In the case of persons paying taxes on Portland property and wishing to obtain a tax statement by mall, in what way the ad dress should be written, and oblige. MART E. SMITH. Write the Sheriff, inclosing a full de scription of your property and full name and address and he will mall you statement. The Merchants of Portland Can Deliver Their Store News Into Most Portland Homes Within Six Hours From the Time of Writing Think of the tremendous advantage afforded you by the advertising columns of The Oregonian. There is not another such opportunity in the City of Portland. You want to reach the wives and mothers and heads of homes in the early morning when their minds are re ceptive not fagged by the cares and labors of the day. Look at the question in this light: Aren't you a better salesman (I am using the word in its broad sense) in the morning than in the afternoon? Then, again: Aren't you influenced more by the requests of others in the morning? Of course, you are. Most men are more cheerful early in the morning before they have been rubbed the wrong way a few times. And so with a newspaper. The morning paper receives a keener and more careful reading by either man or woman than does the evening paper. Ballad of Economy By Dean Collins. I saw an old bill poster go Around about the town. And pause before each board to pull A fancy poster down. On which I read, in. full display: "Men wanted; Navy; U. S. A." My curiosity awoke. And I inquired. "Pray, what's the Joke?" He tore another lithograph . And answered unto me, "I symbolize the opened reign Of new economy. Our Democratic Congress clips Our bills by clipping battleships; Retrenchment can be made with ease 'By simply backing from the seas. "Therefore," he tore another down, "Since we no more shall frame Big fighting ships, these posters are No longer in the game. Henceforth we'll boast our country's might. Keep Monroe's Doctrine well In sight. And boost for it with eager Hps But not in terms of battleships. "Our borders stretch from east to west. Our lands are scattered wide, As far as lie the Philippines Where Malay folk abide; Up In the North our banner flies. And under Panama's blue skies Economy, howe'er, decrees We must not fly It on the seas. "Too long our dignity has been Upheld at great expense By sticking to the policy Of 'millions for defense'; But now, with wise economy, 'Millions for pensions' shall It be; But for defense. It shall be seen That we refuse to spend a bean." Portland. January 31. SUCCESS AT COST OF MAJTT. Writer Likens Rockefeller to Remor leaa General In Bottle. VANCOUVER, Wash.. Jan. 80. (To the Editor.) I should like to ask Brother C. E. Cllne to take a glance at the reverse side of the laudatory pic ture of the Standard Oil and Its presid ing genius. John D. Rockefeller. No one with a spark of Intelligence will deny that John D. Rockefeller and his associates are great men. In their line the greatest the world has ever produced, and herein lies their power for good or 111 over their fellow men. Neither can It be denied that the prod ucts of the Standard Oil Company have become practically necessities in the lives and homes of all, or practically all of the people. To acquire a monopoly of the oil business, these men ' went about the job with the same cool, calculating, re morseless energy that the successful general does upon the field of battle. Opposition was overcome or destroyed by whatever means at hand, without regard to the lives and fortunes of the enemy, and, to carry the analogy still further, the victor Is lauded as a great man and a benefactor to mankind, while the beaten and vanquished, and even those who made possible the suc cess, ere lost in the dust of forgetful ness. Will Brother Cllne maintain that success of one man at such fearful cost tc so many Is ever justifiable In the light of the Golden Rule? Rockefeller and his kind have per formed one great service to mankind. They have demonstrated what or ganized industry can do cheaply to pro duce the common necessities of life. It is a matter of testimony by Standard Oil officials that the cost of producing a gallon of refined oil Is less than 3 cents, not to mention by products. There is real danger that the people may grasp the idea of producing oil for themselves at somewhat near cost price and really dissolve the oil trust in the only practical way. That a man Is a great genius does not prove him e benefactor to mankind. The world's greatest tyrants have al ways had their apologists and worship ers, and it Is a dangerous thing to give any man unlimited power over his fellows either as king, priest or mo nopolist. That J. D. Rockefeller Is a good man. Judged by modern business philo sophy, there can be little doubt. His pastor states that he has the best thumbed Bible in America, and It Is exceedingly doubtful If he ever took an unlawful dollar, and yet, what man In full possession of a sense of Justice would change places with him and as sume all his responsibilities? Brother Cline's Illustration of the flee and the touring car Is real cute but hardly convincing. , D E. LUNSFORD. Measuring Her Wert's Work. Kansas City Star. She had the reputation of being a j -,,ant Vw pmnlovment aeent said, but a stickler for her rights. Work that she considered a part of her legitimate duties she did well; work that propeny Deiunseu iu . -1 .. Ka wmiMn't fin at alL 'And DOUjr cioc .. . quit right," said the new employer. "There will De no impusmuu house. Nobody's duties will overlap,' so she hired the girl. At the end of the first day together the maid was . mniint tha steDladder inauuticu w .- .... , and wind the 14-day clock. "You have to turn the key 14 times to wind it up," said the mistress. "Once for each day the clock runs." The maid turned the key seven times, then stepped down. "Why don't you finish?" her mistress asked. "Because," said the girl. "I am not sure I shall be here longer than one week, and I am not going to do the next girl's work." Jfo. PORTLAND, Jan. 31. (To the Edi tor.) Can a young person be married In the State of Oregon with the con sent of the mother, If the father op noaoa? A READER.