TTTE 3IORXIXO OREGOXIAX. WEDXESDAY. FEBRUARY 14. 1912.
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l-OaVTLAXD, WEDVWDAT. TTA 1. -
chtxa a ErrrBUc:
e t., v.. man hereafter deny orlginal-
i l:y to the Chlneee. They hare onsoov-
ered an eminently new and divined
manner of getting rid of a monarch,
t The Encllsh and french. who boast
j vf more advanced civilisation, disposed
I or their king by decapitation: the
I Rral!lan put their Emperor on board
ship and deportea ram,
of Portugal only saved hl royal akin
by fllrh- The Chlneae make a treaty
with their Emperor, by which he Is
allowed to retain all the trarptngs of a
sovereign with none of the power.
They then allow him to. save bla face
hy tawuina edict keeping up the pre
trnse that the act Is voluntary.
Considering the else, population and
primitive means of communication
the Chinese revolution has achieved
tuccesa more rapidly than any other
In modem history. Nearly seven years
passed from the outbreak of civil war
In little England until King Charles'
head dropped under the ax. Between
the outbreak of the first French revo
lution and the execution of King Louis
oer four yeare passed. The Portu
iiiim resolution was the work of a
few davi. but any province of China is
s large aa several Portugal. China
i. .h.- ..nnl ! rriwt emDlre In the
I orld In contiguous iumwj uu ..
largest In population, tut only five
J month have passed since the first aa.
raault on tne imperial a-riM..... ;
the republican.
The moderation shown In the terms
arith'the Emperor and the or
derly manner In which these terms
have been arranged augur well for the
success of the new form of x"Trn
ment. Felf-retralnt Is the first essen
tia t- the euccese ef a republic, and
the Chinese republican leaders have
ihowa thl quality to a marked degree.
The democratising or t. nir is me
I fruit of Increased intercourse with the
itVeatero world, particularly with the
I'nlted State. The hundred of thou
sands of Chinese who have resided for
yaars in the Cr.ited States and have
'. been educated In this country and Eu-
rope, could not fall to contrast the
l bteinr of self-government enjoyed
' hv Western natlona with the archaic
! despotism which cursed their country,
j They set a leaven of discontent to work
i ' hich haa permeated the whole mass
of the population and has caued a
1 volcanic eruption by which the Im
perial a-OTerament ha been shaken
Into ruins. It la significant that Sun
-Tat Sen. president of the new republic.
Is an American cltlxen and was educat
ed In this) country, and Wi Ting Fang.
"1r Minister of Justice, wa educated at
sn English school In Hongkong and In
England, and also saw the workings of
democratic Institutions during Ma
years ef service aa minister to thl
jountry.
Democratic Idea thus spread with
reiHstlesa fore until they will In time
rule the world, and all the power of
autocracy can only delay, but cannot
prevent, their triumph.
a WAjtxrso to Jarrx no.
Governor Oonxales grandiloquent
appeal to Mexicans to take up arms
against the United State la probably a
shrewd political move to divert atten
tion from Internal dissension by arous
ing the dormant hostility to the United
States. The oppressor whose hand Is
"pressing on the brow" of Mexico Is
not the United States, but the Incapac
ity of the Mexicans to carry on a re
publican government. Every battle
fousjht by tne factiora Is a vindication
of the policy or Diaz In holding down
the country with a strong hand. The
only danger of enslavement by this
country or any other foreign power
arise from their own Inability to settle
"their Internal dispute at the ballot box
Instead of by arma. .
The United State ha no desire to
undertake the forcible pacification of
Mexico. If we should send an army
Into the revolution-ridden republic, we
shall do so most unwillingly a the
only alternative to intervention by
. an me European power. We have be
come responsible to the world for the
rood conduct of other American na
tions. In order that Europe may make
no excuse to Interfere In their affair
or Invade their territory. Foreign In
restments In Mexico attained such
maa-nttiide nndee the rule of Dlax and
foreign residents In that country have
become so numerous that foreign na
tion will not alt Idly by and aee these
Investment destroyed or their value
Impaired, or the Mvee of the resident
taken or imperiled, by the promiscu
ous shooting scrapes which Mexican
Signify with the title "revolution."
Aside from our International obliga
tion under the Monroe doctrine, we
shall endure thl condition with the
.m patience because our lnvestmenta
are larger and our cltlsens resident In
Mexico are more numerous than those
of any ether nation.
Mexico may aa well make up her
mind that, unles she very soon restorea
order within her borders, some other
nation will. If the United States should
neglect to do so. the task will be un
dertaken by some European nation.
History tell us. that the nations of
Europe always exact payment. In the
;?ape of territory, trade concession or
" Indemnity or all combined, as compen
SHtlon for the work of pacification. If
Mexico unable to restore order un
aMed and even rf the United States
Vera anwllllng to undertake the work.
It would be to the Interest of Mexico
to Invite. Indeed to urge, us to under
ake it. We are the only nation which
drove the oppressor out of a rebelliou
country, stood ruard while that coun
try founded a republic, then departed
tUhout asking- a dollar of Indemnity
and sent the young nation on its way
Jtooldr.. We are th only nation
I-eilv. Suaaa lnclusei. nr r
l-ailr. Selav Inel.ded. ' I?
X .1 . wi-nout Sander. m yr. '
leiiv. oitneut Seixlev. et meatus..... j j
I vrknl Sender, ihrea month.. -
l'eir. wtlaoat Sunssjr. rasol...-.. ?T
Weeklv. sea year
4 mrfAT. en year .............- 1
S.ia4a SB a WeeKlr. ees
which again set such a republic on lt
feet when It wss tottering and again
withdrew without asking payment for
our trouble.
For these reason Mexico had better
aet her houae In order. She had better
make up her mind that. If he cannot.
Intervention will come from aome
quarter and that It will be better for
her own Interest that It come from
the United State. If we ahould in
terTene. we ahould be more Inclined
to deal rently with her If no more auch
manifestoes aa that of Gonzales were
issued.
or-max power arm s-n.eoe.oos.
The Ore-onlan hopes that the people
of Oregon are already familiar with
the West t40.000.000 highway bills.
The subject ha attracted ide and
deserved attention, which I gratifying
t-. - nnmnlin. as It ouaht to be
to the Governor" commission. There
are two provisions on which we desire
now to lay special emphasis. Section S,
of the first bill, reads:
N-a road. hlhwr. nubile amy r brlie,
IMld far hU. aa la e-t rt of n":
be armed, plsamed. pnirrii-A. fef raeted,
maalnUlaeS mitnrf " "'
approval by the Blb. Commla
aioser. The State Highway Commissioner 1
to be appointed by the Governor, with
out the advice and consent of the
State Senate, or any atate board or any
organization, or anybody. He may be
removed by the Governor "for cause"
that is to ay. for any cause satisfac
tory to the Oovernor. Section 7 ha
among other things thl provision:.
All eeatracts fw the eenatmrtloa er 1m-
C.remMit at pnhlle hllhv ma. I be made
lh same at Ihe ata4e af Oro". approved
by the liarernar. sisvrd by the Mate Illsb
V twiMairr aat aaprd a 'f7
ar iTality by Uie Attorny-0Tmi or him
deputy.
The Governor of Oregon, by outright
action, or through hi highway com
missioner. 1 thus vested with the pow
er to direct and control the expendi
ture of the entire 140.000.000 road
money. But more. He alone desig
nate the roads to be built and main
tained through state aid and he alone
approves the contract for road-building
with money furnished by the coun
ties. How do the counties like that?
The Governor build road when and
where he pleases, and pays for them
with the public moneys; and $40,000.
000 la appropriated $10,000,000 out
right, $20,000,000 conditionally for
that purpose.
This Is one-man power elevated
to the highest and most dangerous
extreme.
THE BRKAKOOfrTX OF LA FOIXETTB.
La Toilette's physical and nervou
breakdown and th collapse of his
Presidential boom are made the occa
sion by tho Eastern newspaper of an
unsparing dissection of his character
and explanation of hi failure. He 1
discussed with th less mercy because
of his furious outburst of abuse of the
newspapers at the Philadelphia ban
quet, whereby he alienated some per
son who had previously been hi
friends.
Th Brooklyn Eaarle decide that
the Senator's cause broke down Just
a he did. both being the victims of
too much Iteration. It savs he under
took to say too much and said It: that
he confounds the fact that be like to
hear himself with the Impression that
people equally like to hear him. It
denies that he In a reformer or revolu
tionist, a he thinks he Is. but call
him a political barbarian. It further
savs:
go far sa the people ef the I'nlted atatas
ara con-ard. Mr. I Foll-tta is rrr1d
aa a man who knowa wa should hava re
lprrlty with Canada and mho knowa that
Praaldat Taf I a pranl tariff raforra
analtloa Is rlsht. bat who eppaaaa bath far
h' mtaroata and asalntt Ms ronvlrtlons.
This Is roaklns man tha iudra of othrrs than
th.ma.lTva. axd mav ba wrons. but It Is
bad on Mr. La F"'lrttoa ravaraal on these
ut-jarta of th ronrlttatrms he sdvan'-aa on
rosnate atib!ets by whirh vo-iaa fn Wiscon
sin ara rot nff'-td. Th ropla of the
t'nlld Statrs so far ss ran ba datarmlnad
ara pruadd that the Senator ballaras ona
a ay and votaa and talka tha athar. No man
SB to whom that la ballarad haa ever ban
alrtrd FraaMrnt of tha t'nltad Staiaa.
whatnar peniocrat or Republican, and nons
s-rar sushi to ba or probably aver will ba.
La. Fnllette Is given full credit by
the Brtston Transcript for hi success
ful war on corporation domination In
Wisconsin, but says It has made Mm
the exponent of one Idea and haa In
clined him to reward the United States
as one great Wisconsin. He tried to
apply Wisconsin remedies to New Torlt
and New England, but failed, and the
desertion of many of his followers to
Roosevelt .ensued. The East does not
understand La Follette any better than
he understands the East. It say, and
pronounces Cummin better fitted to
build up a balance of power aggrega
tion, but It says Cummin came Into
the race too late to command anything
but a local following. It concludes:
The halt ef tha La Toilette mTimt
ta ona of rnsny arents which. If not Infal
llMa indications, tin point toward Iha drift
of Republican opinion as favoring the ra
Bomlnatlon of Prasldent Taft.
La Follette's failure to capture the
East Is likened by the New York Her
ald to that of Bryan and la contrasted
with the success of Lincoln, w-hose Coo
per Union speech electrified hi hearer
and brought tbout his nomination for
the Presidency. It comments:
L.lnro!Ti'i speech was short. Tha speeches
ef all thoe other Veatarn wondera ware
Ions-winded, declamatory and d-nurlstory.
What heied Lincoln was the obvloua la
menl ef sincerity and tha raasonabla assump
tion of flxad purposa.
The collapse of La Follette's move
ment is compared by the Herald to the
"much more tremendous collapse" of
the' efforts of the muckraking maga
zine to sway public opinion, and It
concludes: "The monotony of denun
ciation appears to have run Its course."
Commenting on the Senator's denun
ciation of the newspapers, the New
York Tribune condemns him more for
it Interminable length than for Its
Invective and says:
Mr Ij Follette didn't temfy anybody:
be didn't angar anybody; but lie bored every
body nearly to death.
Discreditable Is the term applied
by the Baltimore American to the
Philadelphia speech and It says:
Pea left, ansrulene. daflsnt and finally
offensive. Mr. La Follette raa tha (Smut of
unrrsclouscess and even Ma friends and
pa trace left Ike rovm humiliated and In
dignant. It refuses to accept his friend plea
of Ill-health and overwork, calls his
boom "a sickly thing" and say:
Rather It is true thkt Mr La Follette
recognises that bla ambitions ara futile,
and that the tide haa turned so atrongly In
favor of tha rsnnmiaatloa of president Taft
that ill other 111'.:, boomlets Ilka that of
Mr I-a Follette are swept Mte;eeaiy and
frsver out of rrht. Hi sddreaa was sot
the swsn song at a gollsnt warrior yield
trig to dignity to an adverse fata, but the
r.arowe eroak of tha raven. Ill-omened bird
ot despair.
La Follette's breakdown Is attribut
ed by the Louisville Courier-Journal to
the rebuke which Dan C. Selu gave
him at Philadelphia, and It says "about
th only effect of hla break will be hi
J own personal humiliation." It unkind
ly gives him thl rinisning mow:
There la every reason to believe, as well
aa to hope- tbst Mr. La Follette will soon
recover Me health. Aa to loet ground. he
Seeator wasn't mech af a real estate bolder
In the campaign anyway.
tv,- Torli Globa aaaumea thai
4
the Senator became a candidate for
President only as a spokesman and
rallying point of the "progressives." It
say of the display he made of himself
at Phi adelohla:
The defect of the le Fellstt polltl
a. . w . f-A In a hlld a
leal
J
def.rt ta the tendency to deepalr of tha re
public and with suspicions end almoet
paranoiac fear to aee conspiracy against th
publlo everywhere.
It charitably attribute hla abuse of
the newspaper to loss Of the sense of
proportion in consequence of hla hav
ing been "set on and abused and pur
sued with the most energetlo malig
nancy." 1
Lauding; La Follette as "a man of
great force, of brilliant ability, of nerv
oua Intensity of temperament, and of
very firm and patriotic purpose," tho
w York Mail pronounce hi with
drawal definite and ask If It doe not
i .. . . dmhiKII.ii vinmtnatlon for
JiUl 111. ..
the Presidency very definitely Into the
hands of Colonel Theodore ooseeu.
Saying that the Senator effectually
killed bte boom by his Philadelphia
speech, the Indlanapolla Star remarks:
w . .im ta of little
. n.l na . J - mwu r -
ronsequence, but a man with no more sump
tion man to mane - " , v.. r.
time ef sight does set know bow te keep
a boom alire.
La Follette withdrawal l tasen Dy
the Baltimore Evening Sun as causing
tvie. t awina- Roosevelt' way and
comment that. If nominated, Roose
velt "must go berore tne peopie oa a,
platform actually, if not verbally, con
demning the four year of Republican
administration Just closing."
Tw.rtinn f Follette for Roose
velt by th so-called "progressives" 1
condemned by tn new 10m xvciwe.
Pest, which says the Senator has don
nothing- disgraceful, and adds:
One would think that Ihoas who have
been acclaiming him as their great leader
and the hope of the country n"thtw,I
allowed a decent Interval to pose before
they dropped hi. as of no further ac
count, a inns f the nowsnaners. the Chi
cago Tribune has unqualified praise for
. . . . . i i 1 1
La Follette. It says nis repumuun w.n
not auffer and of his career It says:
Though It were ended here. Robert M. La
Follette would go down t posterity as one
of tho ablest and unset enlightened publlo
men of his time one of America's construct
ive statesmen. .
1-ROHIBITIOX PARTY OCT OF DATE.
The spectacle of Eugene W. Chafln,
the Prohibitionist candidate for Presi
dent, perambulating th country re
minds us that there 1 a Prohibition
nartw Th. attenuated frame of that
once formidable organization offer an
instructive object for coniempisuon,
but no longer play much of a part In
the living world.
naairahle aa the oromotlon of tem
perance 1. the American voter has
pretty well convinced htmaelf that pro
hibitory legal enactments do not help
a great deal to that ena. i ne moou
maw ha closed In one form, but It re
appears In some worse one before a
great while, ana tne iw itsnai puti
1 KeVtee. Itfl Illicit door.
p.nhihlrlnnlm nresents about the
flimsiest imaginable foundation for a
National political party, ins iaea
which It seeks to exploit has no pres--ni
atandin in nhilanthroDlc circles.
Modern sociologists do not believe In
trying to promote morality ny nega-
tlv. mathnrla. Th "ThoU Shalt not"
formula has been In vogue for a good
many centuries, nut u nas not accom
plished anything very startling. Now
wa bava ceased to depend upon "Thou
halt hot" and have begun to try the
afflcacv of "Thou Bhalt." In other
wnrda rwfnrmera have abandoned neg
atlve theories and are building on the
positive. They no longer expect iw
make a man virtuous ny depriving nim
.f tha annnrtunltv to sin. The new
way I to replace bad impulses by good
ones. The saloon Is to b closed by In
MnHnr an Innocent resort to take Us
place. The craving for liquor 1 to be
neutralized by providing nuinuoua
food and proper recreation in pure air.
fv .octal biins-ee which finds satisfac
tion In vicious dena 1 to be directed to
places where mirth and companionship
exist without depravity. eiorm nas
become constructive.
rrjMORALr7.r"rt txrr.it- tth k
What Is demoralising literature?
The auctlon Is pertinent Just now be
cause a formidable movement has
started in England to have the censor
shln on book and plays tightened. A
delegation of tern moralists appeared
before the Home Secretary, who has
charge of such subjects In London, and
asked Mm to see that more prosecu
tlons were brought hereafter against
the writers of "corrupting, demoralis
ing and poisonous" book. The Home
Secretary politely Informed Ms visitors
that "they were rendering a great pub
lic service," so that one may naturally
suppose there Is trouble ahead In Eng
land for author of a certain stamp
Just what stamp la threatened cannot
be pointed out definitely, however, un
til somebody does the public the favor
to describe "demoralizing" literature
with more precision than It ha ever
been described aa yet. The usual ac
ceptation of the term la, of course.
perfectly well known, but It lacks
something of sclenUflo accuracy, de
moralizing literature or drama or art
is the kind which any particular critic
does not happen to like. The kind
which he doe like la always pure and
elevating to an incredible degree.
Thl definition, as we have said. Is
widely accepted, but It lock scientific
rigor. It would be well if we could
light upon something a little less un
dulating. To certain fanatical religious
sects all books are demoralizing except
the Bible and those dismal works with
which their own leaders have afflicted
the world. We have known men who
lumped all novels together Indiscrimi
nately a "Ilea" and declared that any
body who read such book Imperiled
hU soul. An elderly professor at the
State University was once heard to say
sadly that the singing of Handel' great
alf "I Know That My Redeemer Llv
eth" by a rharralng soprano brought
the student body perceptibly nearer to
perdition, not, of course, because the
sentiment of tne word was immoral,
but because there was a certain devil
ish n ess In everything beautiful. If
Handel had set the word to a cheap
melody or If the soprano who sang
them had had a bad cold, hla fear
would not have been excited.
There 1 a type of mind which In
Unctlvely look for sin In all art. The
statuary which wa placed upon the
buildings at the Chicago Worlds Fair
stood around upon the pavements for
a while before It wa put In position.
Nothing could have been more Inno
cent. It represented cattle, horse and
similar harmless creatures. Including
men and women, but the loungers who
gased upon it did not fail to find
lnlouity In the nude figures.
If we were to attempt a definition of
demoralizing literature we should be
disposed to say that It la the kind
which make vice attractive or trie
to do so. Since the natural passions of
mankind are not necessarily vicious
there Is nothing; essentiaJly depraving
In the effort to depict them either In
books, music or pictures. Some pas
sion may bo disagreeable, other ter
rible, while aome are naturally pleas
ing to contemplate. But the Almighty
created them all and gave them to us
for some purpose of his own which
fce are obliged to assume was a good'
purpose. Such a novel as "Tom
Jones," which desrrlbes a young man
of defective education in all his naked
ness of mind and body, could not be
called an Immoral book by a person
of good sense. While It describes
scenes of vice. It doe not make them
attractive. On the contrary by leading
us on to their miserable consequences
It teaches a noble lesson of virtue. Still
there are a great many people who
aver that Fielding' Immortal novel is
demoralising.
There is danger in our times mat
some persons may confuse morality
with the concealment of truth. Truth
told Is wicked. Truth concealed Is the
acme of piety even If the concealment
Issues by and by In a social ulcer. This
Is precisely what has happened with
reirard to our monstrous prudery on
question of sex. We cannot bear to
see them gravely discussed in books or
plays, but some people are not dis
turbed at all by the prevalence of
the "red plague," which is the direct
consequence of this unpardonable
obscurantism.
The unforgivable sin In literature or
art of any sort Is mendacity. As long
as a book or picture tells the whole
truth and nothing but the truth, It Is
not dangerous. But when there Is Il
licit concealment of fart of the truth
then the reader or spectator Is liable
to be depraved. The danger arises not
so much from what he reads or sees
as from what Is kept out of sight.
Ibsen's plays and those of Bernard
Shaw have been denounced by shallow
critic aa demoralizing, but nothing
oould be more foolish. The salient
quality of these writers is their unspar
ing frankness. They are the enfants
terrible of literature;' but their minds
are perfectly childlike. Though they
describe sin with scientific accuracy
they are without sin themselves and
they never make it fascinating to their
readers. Who would be attracted to
low Indulgence by reading "Ghosts" t
The trouble with those persons who
shriek at the Immorality of modern
art is a confusion of Ideas. When
plays, pictures and books treat vice as
a subject for witticism and laughter
these critics are not disturbed at all.
It Is only when sin Is handled serious
ly and its consequences truthfully de
picted that their consciences are
aroused. What sort of consciences do
auch persons possess?
Once upon a time, when the beaute
ous Countess of Salisbury was dancing
with Klnr Edward III. her blue garter
slipped off and the King gallantly re-
r.loA4 It Tria r?nnrt1era snickered
and Edward exclaimed, in his vexation:
"Honl solt qui mai y pense, aaaing
that he would make them all eager to
wear the blue garter, xnus arose tne
mmI fnmmia nrrloe nf fhIvAlrv In the
world, to which Sir Edward Grey has
just Deen aamiuea. any rate, inns
the tory runs. Some dyspeptic his
torian deny It, but such men would
deny the reality of Mrs, Harris.
The transfer of ornamental plumage
from the hats to the shoes of fashion
able women Is a move toward putting
things in proper relations. The feet of
such a "society flame" are of vastly
more consequence than her head, since
they are useful for dancing, while she
ha no possible occasion for brains. It
la, seemly to Indicate this pedal pre
eminence by depriving the hat of those
ornaments which have lent the head
a deceptive appearance of Importance
and attaching them to the shoes.
With the adoption by China of the
corrected calendar, Russia remains the
only Important country which reckons
time by an antiquated and misleading
method. The Russian calendar, which
is wrong by twelve days, is part of the
creed of the Greek church. To admit
that one part of the sacred creed
needs correction would shake the In
fallibility of the whole of It. So Rus
sia clings to her theological calendar
while China steps toward the head of
the procession. -
The muckrakers of the House will
not gain much by proclaiming that
President Taft saved from public dis
grace a woman whose misdeeds with
Major Ray had been condoned by her
husband. The time has gone by when
votes could be turned against a man
simply because he refused to aid In
besmirching a woman.
Elimination of Folk by Clark as a
Presidential candidate In Missouri nar
rows the Democratic fight down to
four leaders Wilson, Harmon, Clark
and Underwood, with a scattering of
favorite sons and with Bryan hovering
over the battlefield, ready to snatch
up a fourth nomination if the combat
proves undecisive.
There Is sound reason In Germany's
prohibition of mixed marriage in
Samoa. The result 1 rather to debase
the civilized than to uplift the barbar
ian and the Issue of such marriages is
well described by Kipling in the phrase
"half devil, half child." The Mexicans
are a warning to the world against
such mixture.
If any man doubts that President
Taft can deal hard blows In the polit
ical arena, let htm read the President's
speech to the New York Republican
Club. "Emotionalist and neurotic" Is
as stinging an epithet as could be flung
at the insurgents, the more so because
of Its truth.
Dr. Roland D. Grant la rather severe
In calling Roosevelt a faker. In the
sense that a faker la one who fakes.
If he had said fakir, meaning on who
makes big medicine, he would have
hit the mark. But Dr. Grant often
shoots before he aim.
Increased demand for Pacific Coast
shingles In Kentucky and Tennessee
has stiffened the market, but the limit
will not be reached until Arkansas be
gin patching the roof.
Upton Sinclair's wife, having dis
carded the Kansas poet, is writing a
book, which she might call "The Jan
gle" and continue Upton's line of nau
sea. Patrons of husbandry, better than
all others, understand the good roads
problem, practical and financial.
The man who make the weather
waa two months early yesterday.
Spring fever is trying to the nerve
of a trusty.
OXE-MAX CONTROL IS OPPOSED
Fanner County Officwr See Several
Dana-era In Road Bills.
SAT.trM. Or.. Feb. 1J. (To the Editor.)
Having served four years as a mem
ber of the County Court or one ot tne
coast counties, I feel a keen interest in
the discussion on the West road bills.
I cannot support the bills for various
reasons.
First I would oppose them because
they would put s20.000.000 In the hands
of one man to be spent in roau woi . ,
as he thought best, regardless of tlie
wishes of the people who furnished the
money.
Second They would create a large
company of fat-salaried officials to be
appointed by him, whose salaries would
greatly reduce the working capital.
Third They would make him abso
lute czar over all road work In the
state, and no road could be construct
ed or repaired, and no bridge built or
rebuilt without the consent of the
Hlsrhway Commissioner or his deputy.
Fourth Each county would have to
pay its proportion of taxes, and then
be barred from any state aid until it.
had spent out of its county funds a
sum equal to Its proportion of state
aid.
The county funda also must be spent
under the direction of this Commission
er. This arangement forces the coun
ties to spend a sum equal to the state
fund. or. In other words. $40,000,000 Is
to be spent under the absolute dictator
ship of one man. and not a yard of road
can be built or repaired without his
consent. ,
This law would not be practical for
the reason that constant emergencies
demand attention. In the coast covm
.i ...iBii whArA the lonft: rainy
season softens the mountain sides they
are continually sliding Into the roads
and blockading tnem vim tun,
j ii-i,,, on4 tn keen traffic and
mall routes' open the Supervisor, must
be on hand witn nis men i
wait and make his requeBt to the Com
missioner at Salem, or probably in
some distant part of the state, and have
him come or send a man to inspect the
trouble and give direction would be
folly.
Some one may say this is an excep
tional case. It Is not exceptional, but
so common that in places all the avail
able road funds have Been used to
keep the roads open, and then the set
tlers would donate weeks of work to
help out.
The best feature of the bills is op
posed by the Multnomah County Court
That is the division plan. Their atti
tude Is selfish and one-sided. If Port
land is to be supported by the pro
ducers of the country and grow rich
from the supplies she furnishes, she
should help to build roads over which
these things are to be hauled.
C. M. BROWN.
Mr. Brown probably misinterprets the
view of the Multnomah County Court.
Multnomah may very properly help
build roads In other counties, but it
should not bo made the goat. Multno
mah, under the distribution, would
spend about .600.000 in other coun
ties and less than $500,000 for Its own
roads, not taking account of interest
on the bonds. How about Marion
County? Does Mr. Brown believe
Marlon should enter Into a bonding
scheme which would give it $500,000
worth of roads for $900,000? In other
words, should Marlon tax itself for
roads and give nearly half the money
It raises to other counties? These in
justices are proposed under the division
plan of the bills.
HEAD TAX OS FOREIGX LABORERS.
Writer Would Protect Home Worker
From Cheap Competition.
EUGENE. Or, Feb. 12. (To the Ed
itor ) In the New Tork World of Feb
ruary 6. is an editorial which, to say
the least, contain food for thought.
In this article. Chairman Gary, of
the Steel Trust, is quoted as saying
"Employes prefer 12 hours per day work
In order to receive a larger compensa
tion." The article in question further
states that the wages varying from
12V4 cents to 17 cents an hour, which
at 12 hours per day would produce a
maximum wage of $2.16. with the great
majority working for much less.
It Is further stated that steel rails
are produced at a labor cost of $1-16
per ton. and the fact la cited that after
paying this princely sum to the laborer,
the trust must be content with the
measly profit of $9.20 per ton. Every
school child is taught that there are
two objects of the Government in main
taining a tariff on Imported goods, one
of which is revenue to meet necessary
Government expenses, and the other to
protect home Industries.
It has long been the slogan of the
ultra protectionist that only by means
of the protective tariff could American
labor be protected from the cheap
alien labor of Europe, but this Is only
a subterfuge, as these same protection
beneficiaries are importing . the cheap
foreign labor and are thereby placing
90 per cent of the tariff to the credit
side of their ledger to be divided among
opulent stockholders.
It is very evident from this that.
(1) The Government Is losing its rev
enue, since the rate being prohibitive,
foreign Importations are small, there
fore, little duty 1s collected; (2) that
we are protecting no one but the al
ready opulent steel baron, as he re
fuses to grant to labor Its Just pro
portion of the duty; (3) that the peo
ple are standing in their own light by
voting to maintain prices so high that
railroad companies are deterred from
building new and much-needed roads
on account of the prohibitive prices of
material.
I am of the opinion that the proper
way to protect th American laborer
is to put a head tax on these cheap for
eigners who come here only to usurp
the work which we should give to our
own citizens, making it practically pro
hibitive, unless the candidate for ad
mission shows unmistakable evidence
of his desire to become an American
citizen and not a leeoh. preying on la
bor, expecting to return to his own
country when he has acquired a com
petence, only to send two others in his
place. E. R. PARKER.
Labor Letter tn Sooth.
ALBUQUERQUE. N. M.. Feb. . (To
the Editor.) I am inclosing a clipping
from the Albuquerque Mining Journal.
I am sure this is a great mistake and
an injustice to the city of Portland and
the state of Oregon In general. I Just
left Portland a few weeks ago, and no
.uch condition, .t.
The clipping Inclosed contains the
Central Labor Council letter in full, un
der the following introduction:
nectarine- that tha stats of Oregon has
b.?n ths ?lctfm of "un.crupulous explolts
?Sn and that ths legitimate development
of that state s vast resources Is threatened
br ths conditions that now prevail, tha
Central Labor Council of Portland and vicln
Itv has sent out a red letter to the Governor
o? ever, Western ststs. wsrnin the publlo
aa-alnst alce hot air. It Is understood
Oovernor McLmnald has received one of
these caustic productions.
Postal Card Ha 033 Written Word.
Baltimore American.
Mrs. M. W. Thomas, of North Adams,
has received from her mother. Mrs. T.
C. Phelps, of Vergennes, Vt, a postal
oard containing 632 words, written by
the latter In a very fin but perfectly
legible hand. Mrs. Phelps Is 7$ years
old and without the aid of eyeglasses,
wrote th words.
David's Stick and It Load.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
David had slain Goliath and the ad
miring throngs wondered that a small
Sling should have felled a giant.
"It was easy," explained David. "You
see X didn't knew it was loaded."
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonlan of Feb. 14, 1862.
Sumter Avenged Sealing of Charles
ton Harbor by the Stone Fleet The
New Tork Herald of January 1 con
tains correspondence from Port Royal
to December 1. The following is an
account of the operations of the stone
fleet before Charleston:
"At half past 4 this afternoon, the
tide being nearly full, we crossed the
bar and ran a hawser to the bark
Theodosta, of New London, which was
to be the first victim and towed her
across the bar to the upper boat, on
the left hand side of the channel. The
hawser was let go and In again on our
deck in the twinkling of an eye. The
trembling old bark, being under Bome
headway, moved slowly on to the exact
spot we wished her and then struck,
the bottom. The plug had been
knocked out as the anchor dropped
and the water rushed madly and wild
ly in. In a moment the whaleboats
were lowered and alongside, and the
dunnage of the officers and crew rap
Idly passed over the bulwarks and into
them. We hurried out to tow in an
other before dark. The first ship
touched bottom and the plug was
drawn as the sun went down. The
Rebecca Slmms was towed in and
anchored at the other side of the chan
nel and the water soon, filled her hold.
Captain Davis requested the Pocahon
tas and Ottawa to tow in and sink all
the ships they could, after 'the moon
had risen high enough to afford us
light to see. We towed in and sunk
four more before the low water made
it Impossible for the loaded ships to
be placed in position. The Pocahontas
towed in two during the evening." ,
Extracts from European papers in
dicate that England and France are
inclined to meddle In our affairs. It
t- malA that remnnAtrAnce is to be
made against the sealing of the harbor
of Charleston. That' work is done and
no remonstrance will affect it. As an
Independent power, we have a right
to open and close our ports to ioreign
trade at pleasure.
The division of Washington Terri
tory is under discussion in the papers
of that territory.
Colonel Thornton Grumley, a seces
sionist of St. Louis, was assessed $300
en. . V. - aunnnrr nf TTnlon exiles. He
was bo excited as to the matter that
he went into a fit and died.
. 1 . -e n nA mill.. WArA brOUht
Liniiu r l i u ...iu " ...
to this city yesterday by Mr. Hey ward.
who has Deen traveling in lo
lamette Valley for several weeks for
. 1 ..-nnBA nt nunthQAlnir srnod ones.
L It a pui jvj-jvj v. f . -
and he has succeeded. They are the
property of the Oregon oieain i-.a.vJSo.-T.
s. -arm h. iirpcI tn rack
11UI1 uuif.uj, "
freight on the portage between The
Dalles and Descnuiea,
We learn that the Ice in the Colum
I yi,rr.r ahnva tho mouth of the Wll
lamette is Just as firm as it was a
month ago.
, .v.-. aff.. tha first Of
V e Ifarii iu.
.t.-ii i. n i.- a linn nf weekly
Karen we - . -
steamers from San Francisco to this
port. We also learn xnai me "
Moses Taylor will run between the
two ports.
We understand that the proprietors
of the insane asylum, wnicn is l" "
..- ...i hmii of the Wil-
lamette, opposite this city, have made
contracts with Messrs. St. Johns and
Williamson to do the work, which is
to be completed Dy tne nrsi ui
t i.i.mrA of Washington Terri
tory have made provision by law for
the support or moano v.
sons in asylums provmeu .
patients.
Word-Portrait of Jefferson Davis.
... T-.-nn in "ThA Lone Roll.'
...i.ht on tall. thin, with a
clear-cut, clean-shaven, distinguished
face, with a look half military man.
half student, with a demeanor to all of
perfect if somewhat chilling courtesy.
By temperament a theorist, able with
l 1 1 1 1 .. e .tA floiH marshal or the
IIIO HUH' I-j " ,
scholar in the study, not with that of
the reader ana master ui men,
. -I. . rievntpfl. honorable.
esi oi """""i " ., .
single-minded, a figure on which a
t . v. .. iiAa.An A man not Der-
feet, nor always Just, bound in the
trials Of hlS OWn peraunamj,
able man wno sunerea uu e.-
. .. -j vi..if ami In his cause
oeiievea m nnno.., . -- -
and to the height of his power labored
for It flay ana nigui. ouv."
Jefferson Davis. .
:
Kails and Handshaking.
Manchester Guardian.
William Ewart Gladstone, the British
statesman, is said to have found the
Inverness cape In which he made his
Midlothian campaign of immense as
sistance, and not alone in keeping oft
the cold. Once, at a railway station,
he stood at the carriage door, osten
sibly shaking hands with his admirers.
But the hands of Mr. Gladstone, were
snugly hidden beneath the cape, while
an obliging porter knelt behind and
thrust out his hand to the Gladstonlan
worshipers. "A hard hand has Glad
stone." said one of them as he walked
away aDd his companion replied, with
tears' In his voice: "But man, did ye
notice his nails?"
Kxhtblt In Family Cutlery.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
"I call 'em the cutlery family.'
"Why so?"
"Well, the daughter spoons, tne
father forks out the money and the
mother knifes the other guests."
A Race In Dollnra and Cents.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
Blnka What's the trouble old man?
Tou look worried.
JinksI am. I can't keep up with
my running expenses
Medicine From Stags' Horns.
Indianapolis News.
In China stags are raised for their
horns, which latter are cut when soft
and used In the manufacture of medicine.
There Are Many Real Estate Bar
gains Advertised Exclusively in The
Oregonian Classified Columns.
Real estate offerings that are advertised in no other
section of the paper. These small ads are inexpensive.
There are a great many people who consult the classified
section every day looking for real estate bargains. And
they find them.
You will find offerings of vacant lots, improved prop
erty, acreage, business sites and all other forms of realty
investments advertised for sale at bargains in the classified
columns. These columns are a sort of a market place.
Some come in with things to sell. Others come only
to buy.
The Favorite Valentine
By Dean Collins.
This is the season of the year
When beating nearis ieciare m
na.sinn
In tender, missives, full of warmth.
Dished up In fine poetic fashion;
fit Valentine, wise saint, presides
- O'er the emotions that excite us.
And lead to sundry antic stunts
More seemly to tne gooa bl viiub.
Or, if our feelings turn to scorn.
To those whose ways we cannot
stomach.
We pass the vitriol-pointed blade
ExemDlif ied within tne "comic.
On every side, in every place.
Resounds the Duraenea postman a
whistle.
And poisoned shafts, or Cupid's darts
Spring thick as thorns upon a tnisiie.
Ah. what might be the list of things
Containing holiday etrusion.
If the mad spirit of the day
Were carried to its full conclusion?
Woodrow from Bryan might receive
A comic tip to rise and beat It;
A cocked hat marked "Return with
care."
"Aocept this Valentine and eat it."
Or Roosevelt, aroused to speech.
Might cry aloud, full frank and
hearty,
'I'll gladly be your Valentine,
If it will save you. Grand Old Party.
And might receive again, these words:
"Mush on! For I am not empowered
To be your loving Valentine
My heart is pledged to William
Howard."
And here at home, the Candidate-
How zealous would he be In quoting
The sugared phrases, couched to win
The hearts of those who do the vot
ing. Sooth, the Composite Voting Man
Would rank up foremost in the bet
ting. If one should Judge Importance by
The Valentines that had be getting.
What dainty miss, with witching grace.
Counts half the suitors who are bow
ing Before the People, shoving out
Their picture cards, with deep kow
towing? From Senator to Constable,
A thousand candidates are pining.
And the Composite Voter reigns
First in the season's valentining.
Dean Collins, Portland, Feb. 13.
Country Town Sayings by Ed Howe
We are all appreciated at our true
worth, finally; I suppose we must ad
mit that. But how slow and deliberate
appreciation usually Is.
Scattered over the world are a few
people who admire your ways. It is
up to you to find them, if you hope to
become famous.
Rivalry between undertakers seems
a little more objectionable than any
other.
Don't you know several people you
would like to "call down?" And don't
you hate to do it? Do you hate to talk
plainly to people because you dislike
to hurt their feelings, or because you
are afraid?
What we need in this country is
everybody to behave better; reform In
a few spots won't help much.
If a boy Is as good as I was when
a child. I don't believe in hurting his
feelings by saying: "Tou are a bad
boy."
Old people have a mean way of
sneering about love that reminds me of
a man's talk of a Christmas present
after he has had It two or three years.
If a man Is more practical than a
woman, it is because people talk
plainer to him.
There is at least enough In love to
keep everybody hopeful about it.
Newspapers at San Diego, Cal.
TAFT, Or Feb. 12. (To the Editor.)
What Republican newspapers are
printed or published in San Diego, CaU?
AN OLD 6UBSCRIBER.
The American Newspaper Annual and
Directory for 1911 mentions three Re
publican newspapers in San Diego, Cal.:
Evening Tribune, daily except Sunday;
Progress, issued Saturdays; Union, daily.
Losing; n Prospective Husband.
New Tork Satire.
"I am sure," she said eagerly, "that
I can cook Just like your mother."
"Well, in that case." said the young .
man, who had suffered with dyspepsia
all his days, "we will call the engage
ment off."
Age of Miracles Not Past.
Philadelphia Record.
Hubbubs So you don't agree that
the age of miracles is past, eh?
Subbubs Not on your life. There's
a man out my way who has had tho
same cook for nearly a year.
Explanation of an Appetite.
Christian Intelligencer.
"Tommy," said his brother, "you're
a regular little glutton. How can
you eat so much?
"Don't know; it's Just good luck," re
plied the youngster.
Ringing In the Lawyer.
Philadelphia Record.
judge Prisoner, have you anything
further to add to your defense?
Prisoner All that I ask you to con
sider, my lord, is the extreme youth of
my counsel.
A Boardlng-Honse Barometer.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
"That new boarder is acting in a
rather peculiar manner."
"Yes," said the landlady. "He is
either going to pay up or propose."
e