Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, February 13, 1912, Image 8

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Morning Oregonian., February 13, 1912, Page 8, Image 8

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Newspaper Page TextTIIE MORNING OREGOXIAN. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1912. 1 (Drcrjmrinn fOBIXAXD. OHEGOX. Ent.r.4 at rartTand, Ortn. roetofflea M ; ad-c.aie Hi:ui. ,. j;crtioa hai.e Invariably l ,,M (BY MAIL. rr:r. rue., Inrlanxl. one year J? t t:r. Funds? lnclu.1-i. e's mnnlM. ... -j I'.ly. gun!r Ini.ud"!. t.iree morn&s.. I-.J !:. F in.! lrclu l'4. ne raolUh.... .J I , y. w:iBout Surdar. M Tr IT l e :r. Wltnout SunOif. mon'bl..... J J I a..r. aritheut s.r.jr. ttir montM. . - !.;. without Huu!i). m monia -JJ w:r. eae iii f uadir. on yar.... Sunday and Weekly, tn year BY CAKRIER- PaHe. enn4ar ln-!n14. Ter !...: r. (undo lnelul. month Hew I Keeall PoatorTlr. r. iprM eru-r or per.on.il check local eans. Plimi roln or fjr... at in. Mrt r r.um paatofr.-a aJdreae la fu:l. in I.idlna coanty a-.ate. : p.e. J can -.a. to 4 pa. S r.n. .) te .. pa.a. 4 cenia. rereiga poeiae, aetiMe ra:e. , . I..lera KnilaM ogleee Verre C""V Ha Nw Yora. Bruuawlca kuudin. tBl- tur.pii Offtre So. S Reseat etreet. a tV.. LoBd.'O. , rtiRTUNO. ti rsu.w. im. is. wifute rEn's finch. The strange feature of extravagant per-slon legislation 1 that It should be enacted by Congress deplte the fact that It b not approved by the rePl of the United States, who must foot the bills. There Is no favorable word anywhere for the Sherwood ,1-a-day bill, except among the pen-Monera and other beneficiaries, and among the politician. Not an Important newspa per anywhere, ao far a The Oregonian r.e obserred. Justifies the sweeping Sherwood measure: not any body of rttlzens or any rganlxatlon. or cl. or interest, or rroup. except the men who hae their own reasons for open ing wide the doors of the Treasury. The United States S-rate committee rejects the Sherwood bill, which will add from I50.000.00O to 175.000.000 annually to the treat pension burden; but It faror the Smoot bill, approprl at'nr about $::.000.000 annually. Pen sions now aggregate 1182.000.000 an nually: but U ia Inevitable that the pressure wtll force neater auma than ever from the people. A Democratic House possess hastily : and without apology the Sherwood bill; but it then becomes panic stricken In a paroxysm of economy and ' proposes to retrench by limiting; the appropriations for rivers and harbors, and public building. ' Millions, millions and more millions for pensions, but not a cent for pub lic buildings, or new river or harbor projects. That Is the Democratio programme. No $1,000,000 for a new 1 Portland poetofflce; none for Astoria. or Biker, or The Dalles, or any of I the Oregon cities. No money for Tillamook, and little for Coos Bay. (Jrays Harbor, and Wlllapa Harbor. We are a generous Nation, but there ! i. a time when generosity is Impru dence, stagnation andatarvation. HOW TO "AVK T.75e.eo. The purpose of this article la to show how Multnomah County could aid Us Immediately tributary country in road building; to the same extent that Governor West's hljrh finance scheme would help that territory and yet save the taxpayers of Multnomah County I7.7S0.000. By Portlands Im mediate territory we mean a aistnct extending; to Seaside on the west. Hood River ef the east, and Salem on. the sbuth. The suggestion will not be of fers" as a substitute for the West bills, but wholly as an illustration of their injustice. A very fair statement of what the West bills provide was that prepared by C. T. Prall. president of the Ore gon Association for Highway Improve ' ment. and published In The Oregonian Monday. We do not dispute his state ment of facts, but we do question the worth of his conclusions. Indeed, we are prone to believe that President "Prall never calculated the erpenditurre and receipts of the Willamette Valley counties, else he would not have used the argument he did to uphold the apportionment scheme provided ia the highway fund bill. To refresh the memory of the reader, we quote what he says on this subject: Aa lram.ni amount of ertttctam haa dir-t-tad lo thla maaaur oa account ef tha lrnooad division ef tha fund among tha ta'ioua count:- It haa boon pointed out that cartaia eparwly ettled and mora or !aa povrtr-atr:ckn countiee will bnrl( at ih axpene of tho hlca ara wa!lhlr and mora ful.T developed. It la tllTd ibit th:a cntlr:m procwda froaa a nanoa -mtndad vtaw of tha altuatlonu So raurtf In tna Mat of Oraaon la a aeparata anttty. and no rfluntf cu ataad inn. aat lnd.r.nd.c t ! y. Tha City of Port land and Kultnomah County ara vary laraaly. clrpvadant upon tha surrountltna eouotiaa. I'iidIio hifhwaya ara aaaantially Intar-county aTalra If aymama f pe-rmanent hlhaa r. conatruct.d tn Waanlniton. Clirktmai. Vamhlll. C at.p, rnlumtia. Hood Btvrr and Marion countlna. whlcb ara but cuntlnuatlona f Mulmornan county hirhwaya. who ahall M that Tort'and and Unltnomah County wilt n.t ba d.rr-clly and laraaly benfttad th.rahy? If th:a statam.nt b trua. Jlul'.no mah'a roatfibutlnn to tha hlaharay fund, while :nt tn other counil-a in part, will rartanly ba a direct contribution lO t&e uiuu..u.ng of Multnomah County. Nobody will dispute the statement that Portland and Multnomah County will directly benefit by road building in the surrounding counties, but if thst is the main Inducement for Port land taxpayers to support the bills, lot us calculate what It means. The total sum apportioned from the 'i t20.000.000 bond proceeds to Multno mah. Washington. Clatsop. Columbia, Hood River. Clackamas, Yamhill and Marion counties would be IJ.8S4.758. Multnomah alone could issue 30-year, 5 per cent bonds for that sum, spend it all in the eight counties named and be more than f 7.7SO.OOO ahead in comparison with the West high finance scheme. Not one of the other counties would have to con- - tribute a dollar. Each would get the t sajne state-built road mileage as un ' der the Wejt bills. Multnomah coulj pay for it all and save S7.7SO.000, tn ) principal and interest. But, as here j tofore stated, we are not proposing this plan as a substitute, but simply to 11- lustrate how Multnomah Is to be load. J ed with a tremendous burden by the ' West bills and receive no correspond- ing benefit. 9 In this connection we beg to assure I .Roaring Bill Bristol that, as hereto ' fore, we have reckoned both appor- tionments of the JIO.OOO.OOO. The sum t of IS. 000.000 divided equally among "34 counties gives 1441. 17 to each, , and the eight counties would receive a total of tI.529.40S. These eight counties comprise a trifle less than T .one-fifteenth of the state's area, and t out of the other 35.000.000 would get I38S.350. The full apportionment. ' jherefore. wouM be the sum of the two. or t3.894.7SS. This sum at 5 per cent for thirty years becomes t'.?3. 895. or what it would cost Multnomah in principal and interest to provide for Itself and neighbors. Multnomah now pays about 35 per cent of the state's taxes. It would contribute toward the 150.000.000 bond principal and interest involved In the state-wide road scheme the sum of tl7.500,00O. To be exact, it may be stated that the difference la $7,745,105. Let the reader not Infer, however, that each of the eight counties would profit by the state bond issue. Wash ington. Clackamas and Marlon would pay more to the state than they would receive, while Clackamas would pay in principal almost its exact apportion ment from the fund. The only three counties in Portlands Immediate ter ritory that would get outside help un der frenzied finance would be Yamhill, Hood River and Columbia. The Oregonlan would not object to Multnomah County giving a reasonable amount of aid to the Valley counties In road building, but are Hood River, Yamhill and Columbia any more en titled to Multnomah'a aid than Wash ington. Clatsop, Clackamas and Marlon? Ia there any Justice In re quiring Washington County to help pay for roads in neighboring Yamhill County or to give Hood River County 3500.000 for road building aqd at the same time charge against Clackamas 3445.000 for roads in other countiesT Isn't it about time the road bill advo cates came back to earth? TIIK LAW AND TIIK POOR MAS. Governor West tells the Portland Labor Council that he opposes capital punishment because in its practical operation the poor man la hanged and the rich man Is not hanged. The mo tive of the Governor in making this astounding argument In the manner and in the place K was made needs no special Illumination. But it is sugges tive to find in this same connection the following from the Salem Capital Journal, printed at the seat of the State Penitentiary: Tha wealthy banker should net pa roled, but ahould b mad to eer hla full l.rni In th Mtnte Prleon. along with to poor and unfortunate. , The aot-nch-quiok banker and embeiiiar comre l Salem In hie own autamni-lle. t..ps at the finest hotel, and enters prlaoa like a erentleman. . . ,. He la allowed to so to Portland and llye by tha month at fine hoteie. and every ef fort la made to put ao badge of degrada tion on hla peraon. , . The poor man la brousht to Balem nann euffod and attended by ohorifTe and deputise, and l thxowa Into the Btate Frlaon under "UH1is rarbed In prleon clothes, eat to work to earn money for the ataie. and. lr he toes anywhere wltnaea. he soea in hrfd hogoea out to build roada or perform hard labor In any part of tha state he goes ith the bailee of conulct. and his aragee are mulcted. , . The reople will arrror of humane treat ment oT prisoners up to the Una where that treatment caaaea to be punishment In any form. . . But tha people will never eondons the re leaee of men like Cooper Morrle on tech nirallttea euch aa ara being reeorted to In the Wild and Home eaeea. The rich murderer is not executed; therefore nobody should be executed. The poor man is made to go to prison for his crimes, while the rich man In prison Is treated with favoritism and Indulgence; therefore nobody should go to prison. Because the law la poorly enforced, the remedy I no law, and no-law enforcement. Whm miserable sycophancy, pitiful sentlmentallsm! But let us see what the Governor, rho is so sorrowful about the poor man on the gallows, does later for the only banker now in an Oregon prison. HAXDL1NO MEXICO. ' In his handling of the Mexican situ ation. President Taft haa displayed firmness, laudable patlonce- and hu manltarianlsm. His attitude has epit omized the truly Amerlcaln spirit of broad Justice and fair play. What other nation would have passed over such opportunities for exploitation of a country abounding in actual and potential wealth? Because of the Monroe Doctrine it falls to us to keep the hot-blooded primitive peoples to our south within bounds. The surest, swiftest way in the Mexican difficulty would be by force of arms. But to have the strength of the lion and not to use it is a hu msne attribute that is largely charac teristic of the American people. Presi dent Taft's policy in the Mexican situ ation proves him the embodiment of what is biggest and best in our Na tional makeup. With our Army and its reserves in leash and ready, the Mexican people, having none of our subtler attributes, can only conclude that we are about to take on the role of conqueror. Hence the flood of incendiary mani festoes in Chihuahua warning the pop ulace against us. As a matter of fact, our whole attitude la merely one of warning, and the slncerest National hope la that the warning will suf fice. We are the ratlent task-master who haa reached for the switch, which we healtate to apply to the schoolroom cutup. But there must be discipline in civlllratlon'a schoolroom in the end and If we cannot, or do not, maintain It within the reaches of the Monroe doctrine, then v.e must renounce that doctrine and leave the taming of the bad boy to hands that may not prove so patient and merciful. Twice, now. the bad boy has been shown the switch. Will It have to be applied before he quits hla disgraceful capers ? A CHIMERICAL BCHrntB. An unique scheme for Government control of all the railroads has been put forward by W. W. Cook, general counsel of the Mackay companies. He proposes that Congress charter a hold ing company with 3:5.000.000,000 capital, which shall Issue 3 per cent stock guaranteed by the Government, and with the proceeds of its sale buy up the railroads by degrees. He pro poses that the company be managed by 15 directors named by Congress. It is difficult to imagine the struggle of such a board to satisfy all the con flicting sectional and corporate Inter ests which would clamor for favors. The Incentive to economy and ef ficiency would le withdrawn, and po litical influence would continually be exerted to have roads built where traf fic did not Justify it and to have wages adjusted according to political exigen cies of those avho sought the railroad vote. We have seen France and Italy compelled to resort to extreme meas ures for the operation of state-owned railroads when the employes struck. Do we wish to face a similar emer gency? If Government ownership of rail roads should ever come In this country. It will be as the lesser of two evils. At present It would be a far greater evil than existing conditions, under which the friction between the rail roads and the people is yearly dimin ishing. The railroads are submitting to Federal and state regulation, as they find that it does not mean con fiscation. The people are becoming less exacting In their demands for regulation, as they realize that their , prosperity Is Inextricably bound up with that of the railroads and that the extensions which they need can only be secured by making railroad investments attractive to capital. Gov ernment ownership of railroads ia get ting farther away instead of nearer. OUR WRETCHED SCHOOL. After perualng what The Oregonlan had to say about lta Jeremiad against the public schools, the Medford Mail Tribune grows more tearful than ever. Worse still. It loses Its temper and ac tually calls us "an old tory of Journal Ism." Having thus relieved Its mind, the Mali-Tribune returns to the assault on the schools. "Few of the Orego nlans of today were in Oregon twenty years ago," It tells us, "and so they cannot compare the school of today with those of that period. But they can compare the school system of Ore gon today with the systems In vogue elsewhere, and the comparison Is not favorable to Oregon. . . . What ever may have been the output of Ore gon schools twenty years ago, the pres. ent output averages poorly when com pared with the output of Eastern schools twenty years ago. The Issue is not how perfect the schools are today when compared "jrlth what they were twenty years ago, but how imperfect they are When compared with the schools of other states." This Is the way our contemporary argues the question, and we must say that it Is a bad way. Not that the argument itself Is alto gether disreputable. It has some merit. The difficulty Is that our esteemed con temporary ha resorted to a pettifog ger's trick, which Is entirely unworthy of a newspaper published In a section where they grow euch delicious apples. In the article which we dared to criti cise the Medford newspaper compared the Oregon schools of today with the Oregon schools of twenty years ago and bewailed their sad decadence. "Alas and alack a day," sobbed the Mail-Tribune, "see how much Oregon boy and girl used -to learn In school twenty years ago i "id see how miser ably little they learn now." Out of pure kindness to the Mall-Tribune we recalled the actual conditions of Ore gon schools twenty years ago and showed that pupils could not have learned a great deal In them. Espe cially they could not have prepared themselves anywhere nearly so well for entrance to "high school" as our con temporary said they did. This wa the subject of our urbane remarks. Now comes our bewildering contem porary and declares that "few of the Oregonlan of today were In Oregon twenty years ago, and so they cannot compare the schools of today with those of that period." Tut, tut. That is precisely what the Mail-Tribune un dertook to do and what we gently re buked It for doing incorrectly. We hope we shall not find occasion to re buke It for dislngenuousness In Its fu ture references to thla little difference of opinion. A FEW VISIONS- nsriTLI-KD. Tho. Oregonlan' forecast of the re sult of the Presidential election, based on the political complexion of the states, not only In 1910, but In prior elections. Is displeasing to the Olympla Standard, but that Is not surprising. The Standard Is one of those ever hopeful Democratic sheets which base predictions of the result of a Presiden tial election on results of state elec tion in an off year. Their visions of victory are always dispelled on elec tion day, but they angrily resent any attempt to disillusionize them at any earlier date. Almost every normally Republican state which elected a Democratic Gov ernor In 1310 has done the same in former off years, but hag returned to the Republican column in the succeed ing election. That the election of a Governor Is considered by thousands of voters as having no bearing on that of a President Is proved by the action of Ohio in electing Harmon, a Democrat, Governor In 1908 on the same day that It voted by a Jarge majority for Taft for President. Harmon's re-election is no more evidence of Ohio's attitude on the Presidency than was his elec tion in 1908. Chamberlain's election as Governor of Oregon in 1906 would, in the Standard's estimation, have Jus. tlfled the conclusion that Bryan would carry the state In 1908, though the election of two Republican Represen tatives at the same time might have suggested caution. But we all know how Taft swept Oregon in 1908, and the election of West, therefore, does not cause Republican any anxiety as to the result in 1912. New York did not even wait till the Presidential year to demonstrate that her wandering from the Democratic fold In 1910 was but temporary, for the Republicans were again put in control of the Legislature- In 1911. New Jersey did like wise. If the Standard chooses to nourish hopes that the other normally Republican states which elected Demo cratic Governor In 1910 will remain Lemocratic, it is welcome to do so, but we venture to disagree with it, even at the risk of being called an audacious dlnsombler. Any man of ordinary perception who haa watched political events knows that the voters simply revel in their Independence In off years, but re. turn to their political faith in Presi dential elections when the principles of their party are really at stake. They are growing more independent at all tl-ies. but are far' more disposed to keep in line when the Presidency I at issue than In other years. - It I painful to dispel illusions, but when attempt Is made by the man who harbor them to communicate them to others, we are constrained to turn on the searchlight of truth. TIIB IJfSUltGENT PARTY. The Insurgent in Congress wish to enjoy all the privileges of membership In the Republican party without in curring any of its responsibilities or obligations. They wish to eat their cake and have It; to dance without paying the fiddler. They have put themselves so unreasonably In the wrong that they exposed themselves to rebuke by the only Socialist in the House. Being a party all by himself. Representative Berger wag in the best possible position to administer the rebuke. The death of Representative Madi son left a vacancy on the committee on rules, which Mann, the Republican leader filled by nominating a regular Republican. The insurgents contend ed that, as Madison was an insurgent, his successor should-have been of the same piebald hue. They told their troubles to tho Democratic leaders, who Informed them that, so long as they claimed membership In the Re publican organization, the Republican leader must be recognized as their leader; that, if they desired recogni tion apart from the Republicans, they must organize a party of their own. Berger stated the situation to them with cruel frankness when he told them that, if they were not satisfied with the Republican party and repre sented other ideas, "they should do as the Socialists have done start a party of their own." He challenged them. If they stand for anything at all, "If they are either fish, flesh or good, red herring," to-"come out into the open and say so." He continued: If they really stand for eomethln differ, ent than the Democrats, they ought to have tha Independence, the course, the strength of character to go out snd build up a party organization of their own to fiirht for their principles. Then they would have the re spect of everybody. . The Insurgents were defeated by an overwhelming majority of both par ties, as they deserved to be. But they persist in claiming to be a party within a party, both in Senate and House. They refuse to vote for Senator Gal llnger, the choice of the Republican caucus, for president pro tern., and force their purty to submit to the Ig nominy of conceding that position at times to a Democrat, though they are nominally in a majority. But when one of their leaders, Sen ator Brlstow, 1 asked by the New 'York World to define "Progressive" principles, he replies with this mean ingless string of generalities: A Progressive Is one who believe that the lawa of a country should be made to apply to praent condiUona; that our polit ical Instltutlone ahould ba changad to meet the requlrementa of modern ttmaa; that tha great buelneaa lntereata which have - been the outgrowth of modern conditions should be restrained tn their efforta to eelflsnly control the affairs of business as well aa of politics. Any Republican, any Democrat, any Socialist, could conscientiously sub scribe to this platform. If this is all that distinguishes Insurgents, who seek to monopolize the title "progressive," then are we all Insurgents and there remains nobody to "Insurgo" against. They might as well have adopted the ten commandments as a platform. The' insurgents have no platform except personal antagonism to Presi dent Taft. Their leaders are men whom he has dismissed from office or has refused to appoint to office or whom he has offended in some way. They geek to Justify their unjust claim tq the title "progressive" by proposing something more radical than he pro poses, regardless of the merits of the case. They ara men with a "grouch." In its reorganization the Pullman Company has, by some Inadvertence, overlooked the subject of paying its hired men. It still leaves this little ceremony to be attended to by the pub lic There never was a more astonish ing Instance In history of the success of brazen Impudence than the Pull man company has achieved. To com pel a man to pay two prices for a poor bed and then compel him to pay a negro for permission to use It ia a feat which commands admiration. It is gall raised to the nth power. The Social Hygiene Society of Port land now has 217 members. Its ex ecutive committee meets weekly to plan for" the campaign against the deadly sin of ignorance.' Instructive circulars have been published for dis tribution and many lectures delivered. Naturally this work costs something. The society has received some money, but It needs more. The Lord loveth a cheerful giver. Remittances may be addressed to the secretary at the Y. M. C. A. Building. China is now a republic so far as the name goes, but probably not much far ther. The transformation of 400, 0Q0,. 000 meek slaves into self-governing units cafinot be done In a few months. England has partially attained self, government after a thousand years of effort. We are gradually approaching it. China cannot go much faster than the English-speaking nations, but it has taken the first step, and that Is the one which costs. Woman Is now reaching after Judge ships and Trill soon reach after Sen atorshlps and the Presidency. How would this sound: "Mrs. Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Belva A. Lockwood." And what a clearlng out there would be in some committee rooms of the Capitol when the ladles began transforming them into bou doirs. Rah, "rah. 'rah! The Societe d'Acclamatlon gives the gold medal to the Colonel, who Is "skillful to depict the habits of the animal he Is stalk, ing." Elephant or donkey which? Your uncle MJlt Miller, having reached the age of Indiscretion, would go to the United States Senate under the slogan: "Friend of the masses," a mighty doubtful dependence. Signatures to Roosevelt petitions ap pear to be hard to get If Colonel Ho. fer were a big eagle rather than a stormy petrel, near-politicians would rally rather than scatter. , Senator Knox tour of Central America Is notice that we do not-intend to allow any "ructions" In the neighborhood of our big Investment on the isthmus. The King County youth who killed his father In protecting mother and sister from brutality Is not to be Judged harshly. He acted according to his best light. ' That Inventor who can make every thing from waste material Is Invited to assay the relics at Chicago and Balti more next Summer. The church militant and the church vigilant were at work whefi Mrs. Allen detected a burglar and the congrega tion captured him. Delay in arresting the "forty or more" indicted for dynamiting Is real kindness, as it allows more time for ball hunting. There is no element of fraud In cranberry promotion, for the berry cannot grow on the aide of a moun tain. The people who have made a re public of China may be expected to make her ambitious as a world-whlp-per. Champ Is the only Democrat who can get Into a marching refrain. Why not a woman for the Federal bench of Western Washington ? Chihuahua' Governor Is merely a hot tamale. Old Mr. Bullfrog is tuning hi, larynx. CALLS, RECALLS AND THE LIKE Hoer to Read Voice of People Pussies Correspondent la Salem. SALEM. Or., Feb. 1L (To the Editor.) I have long had aspirations for pub lic office and dreams of power, and last night I dreamed that I heard the great voice of the great American peo ple calling and calling to me to be President of the United States. The voice seemed to grow louder and loud er until suddenly I awoke and found that the noise I heard was my dog howling. I went out to see what was the mat ter, but all was dark and I could see nothing. As the dog was making a horrible noise, I gave him a kick and told him to be quiet. But this morning I saw by the tracks that a coyote had been ' in my henhouse and gotten 14 chickens. I wish someone would prescribe a formula telling the difference between the howling of his dog at night and the call from the public to be Presi dent. I never heard what tho latter was like and if I ever do hear it, I don't want to miss it. It occurs to me, also, that along about election time a great confusion of calls arises, and it must be very hard for each obliging, public-spirited politician to tell Just which office it is that the public insists on his tak ing. He may think he is called to be United Statea Senator, and after elec tion find out that he had mistaken the call that it was reany the office of dog-catcher In which he was needed. It Is also strange how few politi cians hear rightly when the public Is calling on them to retire or keep out at election time. They always think the call la meant for some one else. In regard to distinguishing which of fice you are called to, wouldn't it be a good Idea to amend the constitution so as to allow every candidate to run for as many offices at once as he wanted to; If elected to any, to take his choice. If two or more candidates got the same office, they could draw straws to see which got it. As to the call to retirement, I don't know of any way a man can know it except by experience. Perhaps some one can give some advice on that point. Z. M. CHASE. Bl'TTEniXE IS NOT TJNHEALTHFVL Writer I'pholds Use of Manufactured Article at Aaylura. GRANTS PASS. Or., Feb. 11. (To the Editor.) In their agitation against the use of butterine at the State In sane Hospital the dairymen are wholly unreasonable. If there -as an overproduction of butter, or even a sufficient produc tion, in our state, than It might Intel ligently bo argued that the use of but terine was destroying the butter mar ket in part, but when Oregon's butter is absurdly inadequate In quantity, so much so tbat almost tralnloads are said to be imported from other states, wherein lies the injury to our dairy men through use of a substitute at Salem? The statement of an official of the Oregon Creamery Company that but terine is not suitable for the insane because the Insane are 111 Is ridiculous. True, the Insane are mentally 111, but only a small percentage are physically weakened, and the large majority of all Insane are hearty, vigorous eaters. Butterine is used in almost all in sane hospitals In the East, and to date is not known to have been an Inciting cause of either Insanity or Invalidism. It Is an animal product, but so la but ter, and I will venture to assert that butterine is cleaner, purer and manu factured under far better conditions than most creamery butter. I know the oreamery business and have seen the butter substitute manufactured, though having wo interest In either line at present J. A. ROGERS. Pharlaee In Politics. PORTLAND, Feb. 12. (To the Edi tor.) Modesty seems to be entirely overshadowed by the self -laudation of the egotistlo ofneeseekers of the pres ent day. It Is really nauseating to read the platforms of the self-seeking candi date following his announcement of purpose to be a candidate in response to the urgent request of many fellow citizens. Promise to be good illy befits many and Is ludicrous in all. What a man has done and his capacity to do, as gauged by those who have known him in the past, is the best evidence of merit The tendency of the times seems to be a breaking away from permanent forms of government, founded upon experience and abstract principles of right to the unstable and whimsical excitement of the rabble led by soap-box orators and curbstone philosophers. Most candidates announce themselves as Republicans, and then with the blare of trumpets enunciate as the platform Statement No. 1, initiative, referendum, innuendo and recall, and call It progresslveness. There are two modes of progress; the common craw fish practice both, sometimes forward but generally backward. The proper definition of progressive in Oregon is one who falsely registers as a Repub lican and votes the Democratic ticket. This -whole progressive outcry is an appeal to the prejudices and passions of the populace, with an ear to the ground listening to the walls of the "L W. W.," "Indolent, Wordy Wind jammers." going backward like the crawfish to the time when the rabble cried out before Pilate, "Crucify him. crucify him," and Pilate, fearing a re call before Caesar, made the order after saying, "I find no fault In him." Yours for stability oi government. EN AMI Great Newspaper From Great Country. HOLLAND, Ohio. Feb. 7. (To the Editor.) A. B. Thomas, of Forest Grove, has sent me a copy of The Ore gonlan, dated February 4, 1911. of 128 pages, that weighed two pounds. That beats any paper in the world for size and amount of magnificent cuts of cities, farms, cattle, chicken ranches and fruit-raising of all kinds. Oregon beats the world In everything that Is good. It has the best climate, the best water; yes. and the best of everything that humartUy. needs for comfort and health. The farmer gets good prices for what he takes to market. It is no paradise lost, but it is the land of op portunities, the haven of rest for the weary and heavy laden. After travel ing extensively for many years, I have never found a spot of earth so well calculated for the comfort of man as Oregon, and I have been In every nook and corner of the United States and think I ought to know what humanity needs. S. W. CLARK. Oil on the Waters. PORTLAND, Feb. 10. (To tho Edi tor.) Does oil, poured on storm, waves, have any appreciable effect n making them less boisterous? If so, how? L. H. LEE. OH poured on the water prevents the waves from "breaking." Instead of the waves breaking. on board a vessel the tendency Is then for the vessel to ride over them. Stature of Small Hen. PORTLAND, Feb. 12. (To the Edi tor.) Please give the heights of Napo leon the Great and E. H. Harrlman, In their stocking' feet, also the heighta of other great men who are small. BOYS' CLUB, Y. M. C. A. Information desired has appeared, from time to time, in newspaper Items, of which no record haa been kept. There Is no literature on the subject. Half a Century Ago From The Oregonlan of February 13. 1862.. The battle at Somerset, K.y., oc curred Sunday evening, January'19. The rebels were repulsed and hotly pursued by General Thomas to their encampment at Mills Springs, 26 miles from Thomas' position, where they crossed the Cumberland. Our forces followed up close to the enemy's in trenchments on the north bank of the river and lay In front of them all night, expecting to storm them in the morn ing, but in the night the enemy man aged to go across the river in barges and boats. They left everything be hind, including artillery, ammunition, horses, tents, quartermaster's com missary and medical. The Federal troops took possession of the enemy's intrenchments early Monday morning. On the battlefield, after the rebels fled, 200 dead and wounded were picked up and among them General Zollicoffer and Balle Peyton, Jr. General Zolliooffer was found mortally wounded in a wagon. Our loss is not definitely known, though considerable. The Tenth Indiana had 70 killed and wounded. The entire rebel loss was 275 killed. Kentucky and Cumberland Gap are now open for our troops to. march into East Tennessee. Chicago, Jan. IS. The Cincinnati Gaxette has news that on Monday last Humphrey Marshal's troops being cornered by Colonel Garfield's ' forces, laid down their arms and disbanded. They burned everything they had ex cept cannon. Advices from Mexico state that coun try is making Immense preparations to oppose the allied fleet Over 100,000 men will be in the field soon. General Grant and staff embarked on the steamer Chancellor this morning and took the field at Fort Jefferson. General McClernand leads the advance. General Grant says he shall march 30 miles tomorrow. A battle is not far off. Chicago, Jan. If. Edward M. Stanton was yesterday confirmed Secretary of War. New York, Jan. 16. The House com mittee on' commerce has under consid eration a proposition to establish a mall line of steamers from California to Japan, China and the East Indies. General Ward, from the committee, is preparing an elaborate report favorable to it. The forces under Generals Grant and Smith are at Cairo and Paducah. They consist of 19 regiments of infantry, four regiments and two companies of cavalry and several batteries, besides crews of the fleet and four regiments on the way from St. Louis. Chicago, Jan. 17. News from Fort Leavenworth says 40,000 Union Indians in the Cherokee country were attacked on the 6th inst. by superior forces of Texas rangers. The Indians were com pelled to retreat and are now In Kan sas. In the Illinois state convention yes terday resolutions were passed eulogiz ing the late Senator Douglas and rec ommending a suitable monument to his memory. The expedition from Cairo Into seces- Biondom under General Grant is moving rarjldlv towards Columbus, via May field, Ky, intending to attack by a flank movement. News of a battle mav be expected tomorrow. It is understood the contract let out by SecretaryxCameron for over a quarter of a million of rifles and car bines will be ordered annulled by Con gress. , News from Fort Pickens, January 2 says rebel batteries of Pensacalo having repeatedly tired on small ves sels, Pickens opened on the rebels' steamer Times, which was landing stores at the Navy-yard on the 1st. Pickens' last shot set fire to Warring ton. The conflagration continued all night, Chicago, Jan. 18. A dispatch has been received from Minister Adams, an nouncing that the privateer Sumter, after having burned three American vessels, had taken refuge at Cadiz, Spain. The Chicago. Times' Cairo correspond ent says gunboats Lexington and Con- estoga engaged the rebel batteries at Fort Henry, up the Tennessee Kiver, vesterday. The rebels evacuated and the Federal troops under General Smith took the place. Chicago, Jan. 20. Ex-President died at Richmond on Friday night, The movement to Columbus was for the purpose of reconnoiterlng. The President declared today that he appreciates the very great services rendered by General Slgel and that Justice will be done him by creating him General of division. Chicago, Jan. 22. Wilson, lately "ap pointed Senator from Missouri, and Stark of Oregon have poor prospects of being admitted to their seats. The Breckinridgers have had a meet ing at Corvallls. The Knights sat with olosed doors. They have called a con vention to be held a week after the Union convention, at which they will determine whether to bring out a ticket or to go into the campaign under their guerrilla system. Senator Nesmith writes that he shall endeavor to procure appropriations for military defenses at the month of the Columbia and on the Umpqua. After the effective blockade of nearly two months by Ice, our citizens were yesterday morning rejoiced to learn of the arrival of the steamer Cortes with later news from the Atlantic Coast and California The steamer brought the first Installment of California miners, bound for Salmon River, to the num ber of several hundred. Our streets during the whole of the day presented quite a lively appearance, and all the hotels and lodging houses are filled with strangers. President Taft's Religion- CANBY. Or., Feb. 12. (To the Edi tor ) To what church does President Taft belong? Are his parents Protest ants? E. ZOB INGLIS. President Taft Is a Unitarian.- His parents are said to have been of the same faith. The Want Ad Columns Offer Many an Opportunity. These Little Ads .Contain a Wealth of Information. A great many readers do not realize that the want ad columns are filled with lists of bargains for them. It doesn't matter whether you wish to buy or sell. You will find among those little ads something that will interest you. If you have anything to sell, or exchange, place a litde classified ad in The Oregonian. It will be read by someone looking for the very thing you are offering. And, too, if you are desirous of purchasing something, it will prove to your advantage to study the classified columns. Someone, for some reason or other, may have a reason to sell at a sacrifice. That makes an opportunity for you. Glance over the classified headings. The Happy Season By Dean Collins. Not long until the breath of Spring Will sigh across our greening hills. And poets will burst forth in song To pay their Spring house-cleaning bills; And 'round the merry breakfast board A second time our cups we'll pass. To quaff the pink and tonic Juice Distilled from bark of sassafras; And, as the swallows northward fly, Joy will illume the public glim. To see the baseball players flit To southward camps to get in trim. I would not mock the gridiron game. Nor yet of bowling be a knocker; I would not scoff at basketball, T.- thia man tt- V' n n ' O V at KOrCftn dluiu ... , i- j Still, all these brief and transient sports, Ta man In Wlntor time pnsaeG. Seem but a weary round of dope To fill a solemn sporting pagre; Until the weary months have flown And, when tne merry oi'niis ' The baseball teams come out again And we nave reaiiy someuuus uuiu. So sweet to me will be the time When everywhere the bock sign buds, That certain harbinger of Spring That blossoms o'er the hall of "suds"; Sweet is the time when youthful hopes ' Play hookey, and with balls and bats Pervade the streets and vacant lots. And bruise their finger Joints and slats; For this will mean that soon we'll hear. On every side, the country o'er. A Spring song that is far more sweet Than Mendelssohn's "Say, what's the score?" Country Town Sayings by Ed Howe ' What has become of the old fashioned man who claimed he was poor because compelled years ago to pay a security debt? I prefer a dog that bites, if sufficient ly provoked, to one that barks all night at false alarms. The one thing that may be depended upon in all men all the time is that they will promptly take an interest In reforming other men's morals and business affairs. A rooster crows because he hears other roosters crow. But what starts the first rooster In the morning? When your time comes, a sudden death beats a long siege with a trained nurse, a consultation of doctors, and morphine to give those in the house a little rest It must require a good deal of nerve for a man to decide that he is the most suitable candidate for President of the United States, and that he can get the office. People in this country have a tre mendous amount of liberty. In the towp where I live, a negro woman was at liberty to sue the estate of a white man, 19 years after his death, and urge the claim that she was his common-law wife. When a Jury brings in a verdict of not guilty, people generally say: "I bet he was." If you can do a creditable thing well, people will admit it: they may admit it grudgingly, but they will admit it. Why Kot Jarle Johnson Itlverf ORENCO, Or., Feb. 0. (To the Edi tor.) May I take the liberty of ex pressing concurrence with the views contained in a contribution Msned "Fairplay" in Tho Orcgonian. Febru ary 8. , The article concerns the sentiment in regard to changing the majestic Mount Rainier to the level of a hill by altering the name to "Mount Jim Hill." Let us welcome such a change if only for the sake of euphony. The only objection that I can foresee is, Jim Hills are so numerous that pos terity will wonder whether the regaL mountain was named after Jim Hill, a peanut vender, or Jim Hill, a financier. I would suggest that while we are engaged In finding more mellifluous names for the mountains that we do not neglect the rivers. How much sweeter it would sound to speak of the Bill Smith River in lieu of the Columbia. River? And we would scarcely recognizo the gentle Willamette under the alias of, say, the Jack Johnson River. Our John Day River has already been se'en tifically treated. A WORPHIPPER OF THE GOLDEN CALF. Engineers Not Made by Uw. HUBBARD, Or., Feb. 9. (To the Ed itor.) Under the heading "Boiler Ex plosions and Cause." H. M. Landls, in giving his views In The Oregonlan, Feb ruary 6, says: "For the safety of the public we need a law providing for examination and licensing of engin eers in charge of steam plants." To my mind such a law would only add to an overburdened list of state officials, with meager results. The writer has known men who could give the written answers to every question in the Steam User's Guide who, when it came to a "showdown" were not worth kicking out of the way. In a recent address at a teachers' meeting, Pro fessor Ackerman held out the Idea that our public school teachers should be made by law. I have not had much experience with teachers, but the fact remains that engineers are not made in that way. J. S. YODER. Leap. Years. PORTLAND, Feb. 9. (To the Edi tor.) Does Leap Year occur every four years or does it vary? MRS. L. Y. B. Century years are the exception. They must be divisible by 400 to be leap years. For example, 1900 was not a leap "year, although divisible by four.