TJTF, MORNING OREGON"! AX, TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1912.
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PORTION D. Tirn.V. MARCH 1. WIS.
7 roo-ka r.t-m BAmKM.
. v lt us see who re promoting Colo-
net Roosevelt's candidacy with cash
and personal service. Men do not
contribute campaign funds of 1300.000
? and personal service without the ex-
l pectatlon of some- return.
! First In George W. Perkins, million.
aire and director of the steel and har-
venter trusts, who retired from the.
firm of J. P. Morgan Co. In order
. ' to devote his time to "economic re-
form." The nature of those reform
mv be Judged by his speeches, which
dilate upon the beautien and virtues of
the tru.l and call competition ruth
' IfM and cut-throat. Hi for
economic reform" han been much
warmer i-lnce President Taft brought
Milt to dlolve the ateel trut and
threatened almllar proceedlnir aKHlnj-t
the teel tritxt. Ilia desire to make
Kooevelt Preldent la Inspired by
jtratltude. which In hii c may be
defined aa a lively aen of favors to
c0lne poxelbly of the. eame nature aa
favor pa?t.
Lvmm Abbott ha aalned much
fame and circulation Tor the Outlook
through havlnir the ex-Preeldent a a
contributing editor and -would gain
Mill more from that connection, even
tiiouah Roonevelf election nhould
compel It eeverance. ICe can eee hla
way to the making of a good return
on hU $15,000 Investment In the
Hoosevrlt candidacy.
cafford Plnchot and brother Amen
have the mixed motive of revenge for
t;ifford" Imagined wrong and of de
votion to art Ideal of conservation of
our natural resource which would
eacriflte the Interest of the preaent
generation to thoee of unborn future
generation.
Charles It. Crane, of Chicago, can
Jr.ot forgive the wound to hla pride
-rawed by his auddrn recall from the
'flilnese ml.elon.
Alexander H. Kevell Is a Chicago
merchant and a devotee of movements
iia the. auppoeed intereet of reform.
Dan II. Hanna has suffered In that
rVrniatlve spot, the pocket. through
'prosecution of the steel trust.
Frank A. Mansey la publisher of
fseveral magaalnes of the class which
'm flooserelt onee described as muck-
"rakers and Is vitally Interested In the
! ontroversy over second-class postage
- Ti(ef which has been caused by Pres
JJenl Taft.
fc ie. ar Straus is one of the few ex--.
members of Roosevelt's Cabinet who
rumaln faithful to him. He la a rich
- Importer Imbued with political ambi
tion and may hope to hold higher of
lire If Roosevelt should have opportu-
r nlty to form another Cabinet.
i officials of the harvester trust and
' of the ihne machinery trust have the
v.ime motives for contributing as have
I'erklna and Hanna Injuries suffered
' .from Taft and hope that their trusts
'fill be classified as good trusts by
Hooeevelt.
,,tedill McCormick. who deserted
ijm Follette for Roosevelt and who not
-wiily contributed liberally himself but
wlievLs Jli.OOO among his friends, is
a son of R. S. McCormick. one of the
i4mlly which organlied the harvester
irtist. now threatened wltlt prosecution,
tad a brother-in-law of Dan Hanna. on
hose corns Taft has ruthlesslly trod
d4n by prosecuting the steel trust. Ills
newspaper, the Chicago Tribune, has
been a warm adherent of the Colonel
And a severe critic of Taft. llti family
connections may furnish the explana
tion. VLast comes James R. Garfield, mem
ber of Roosevelt's Cabinet and of the
ifjinis Cabinet, whom Taft slighted by
rjft reappointing. Not being wealthy.
He gives no cash, but makes up for it
vijih personal service.
Thus the trusts are the main contri
butions to the Colonel's 1300.000
.barrel." They supply the cash and
tfie people, captivated by the slogan
Xet the people rule." are expected to
supply the votes. But If by some
chance the Colonel should be elected
and the people should demand prose
cution of the trusts, ho would gain
hW favor?
THK TRCSTtV ONLY HO PIC
Although President Taft Is de
aotinced by the Insurgents as not pro
gressive enough for them, the finan
cial Interests of the East are turn
Vnr to the Democrats for deliverance
from his radicalism. The commercial
and financial chronicle, an organ of
that element, says Taft and Roosevelt
are both radicals and that Roosevelt's
entrance Into the f.ght "seems to com.
mil the Republican party for the
present ear irretrievably to radical
?llcle." It predicts that Taft 111
pnt forth tremendous efforts to con
ciliate the radical wing of the party.
It therefore warns the Democrats that
they cannot hope to outdo the Repub
llcars In radicalism and that "no pros,
j peet of success lies open to the Demo
- rrmts except by appeal to that large
tnass of the voting population which la
fXlll convinced that the beet Interests
of the country demand adherence to
be principles embodied In the Conatl-
- tatlon."
- This Is a cruel reflection on the
Insurgents, who have beeai preaching
that the people's only hope of salva
'. lion from the predatory rich la to de
feat Taft. and to the Democrat, whose
sole stock In trade Is the cry that the
Republican are bound body and soul
. ,to the Interests and that In Democracy
- - .atone Is refuge to be found.
But there la much truth in this es
' i", uniate of political conditions. What
J- -tiare the Interests to hope for from
Taft? He has abundantly proved his
purpose to prosecute the trusts with
out flinching, to hammer away at Con
gress until It pa.-wes legislation for
such regulation of corporations as will
not concede the possibility that a trut
ran be gotd. lie baa laid down a
line of action on the tariff which,
when carried out. will subject the'r
swollen protlts to continual scrutiny J
by an Impartial board and will stead
ily whittle down those pnnts to a
fair margin under such conditions
that the protected interests cannot
combine on prices in defense of
their grafts. He la committed to a
policy of conservation which will al
low the financiers to acquire no more
of the public domain for a song, but
will require them to become mere
lessees of the government. He Is back
ing a scheme of monetary reform
which will turn the tide Of capital from
Wall street stock Jobbing Into the
channels of legitimate trade.
The Democrats, on the contrary,
have always been long on threats
acainst the Interests hut bnlk at ex-
edition of those threats. They are
great Investigators, but they go no
further. They threaten to slash the
tariff, but the trusts have put their
affairs in order, that they may be
able to live without protection, for
they reallxe that It cannot last much
longer. The Interests depend upon t'.io
Senate to block any radical measures
which may get through the House In
case Democratic divisions should fall
to avert action. They see the reaction
ary Democrats in control of the
National committee and the present
House, rebuffing Bryan whenever he
attempts to deal a blow at their
friends. Murphy. Taggart, Guffey and
others.
Why should not the Interests turn to
the Democrats for help when Taft.
with no flourish of trumpets but quiet
ly and persistently, is smashing away
at their outposts and approaching
their citadel?
INTKRrjcTINO !.! AUK.
The Countess of Warwick has a
philosophy which Is not unlike Oliver
Wendell Holmes'. When that hale old
sage reached his 70th birthday he an
nounced to his friends that he was
"seventy years young." In the main
he lived up to his theory and grew
more youthful up to the day of his
death. His body yielded somewhat to
the arts of the beeiejter hut his spirit
resisted to the last. "Man doth not
yield himself unto the angels nor
unto death utterly save only through
the weakness of his feeble will." So
wrote Joseph Glanvll long ago and
Poe composed one of his marvelous
stories to Illustrate the truth of the
precept.
Perhaps the Countess of Warwick
thinks that If. we had wills sufficient
ly resolute we need never die. At any
rate she Is convinced that as long as
human being do live they may grow
more and more Interesting to them
selves and others, too. She says she
Is far more Interesting at 50 than she
was at 30 and believes that most wo
men have the same experience. Of
course that depends a good deal upon
what-one means by "Interesting." To
a young man In search of a sweetheart
we do not Imagine a woman of 50
would make a very effective appeal.
To one who desired an Intellectual
companion, "a good, loyal comrade."
as Kilert Lovborg put It to Hedda
Gablcr. she might present all that
could be wished.
There are a great many people In
the world w ho do not 'want to die and
yet they are not afraid of death. Life
continually offers new attractions to
them as the rears pass. They find
the march of progress ever 'more In
teresting. They wish to live long
enough to know how .the "election Is
going to turn out. how the Panama
Canal will change the conditions of the
world, how the parcels post will oper
ate when once we get It. If we ever
do. Life to them is like an endless
show which grows more exciting with
every scene. They cannot bear to
leave the theater because the curtain
niver drops on the drama. The world
beyond the grave has no terrors for
them except the one possible terror of
utter forgetfulness. "The sound of
that forgetful shore" appals them.
They pray to put off the voyage to the
last moment, not because they dread
.hat may follow the landing but be
cause they suspect In their secret
hearts that nothing will follow It.
MK IAI4STS AND PATRIOTISM.
A Socialist writes to The Oregonian
decrying patriotism as based on the
assumption that "one mun Is better
han another' because their places of
birth were separated by Imaginary
boundaries." Webster defines patriot
ism as: "Love of country; devotion
to the welfare of one's country; the
virtues and actions of a patriot; the
passion Inspiring one to serve one's
country."
Then what is "one's country"? It
is the community of men who are
bound together by a common govern
ment, common Interests. The govern,
ment lacks the support of the people
when It Is founded on brute force, not
on the popular will, and Is used for
purposes of oppression and against
the common Interests, as 1s the case
In Russia. Then It is the part of the
patriot to destroy the government and
Join the majority of his fellow-countrymen
in creating a new one, sup
ported by the people and serving the
common Interest. The Government of
the I'nlted States and of each Individ
ual state was created by the majority
of the people and can be changed by
the means which they themselves have
provided. When Its officer displease
the people they are displaced and oth
ers are chosen. When the people de
sire to change Its form, they can do so
by electing men to Congress pledged
to submit a constitutional amendment
to the State Legislatures. In the
states they can change the con
stitution by electing Legislatures
pledged to submit amendments to the
vote of the people. In Oregon and
some other states they can amend the
constitution by direct vote, without the
Intervention of the Legislature, pro
vided enough voters desire the change
to Justify calling for a vote upon It.
Laws are made - by men chosen for
the purpose by the people; in Oregon,
they mar be made by the people di
rectly. Cnder such a stem the govern
ment la made by the people. If It does
not serve the common good, the res
son la that the majority do not de
sire It to do so, or do not care to
exert themselves to make It do so, or
are so blind as to mistake Injury to
their Interests for promotion of their
Interests. The government Is what
the people make It. reflecting their
virtues and vices, their wisdom and
folly. In close proportion to the pre
dominance of each of those qualities.
Our correspondent assumes that
patriotism has no other outward evi
dence than fighting 'against other na
tions. Webster's definition Justifies
no such assumption. If our corre
spondent sincerely believes that so
cialism is the bet principle of gov
ernment and strives to bring about Its
adoption, he is a patriot, much as he
scorns the word. But until the ma
jority has come around to his opinion
and acts upon that conviction, patri
otism dictates that he support the
Government as It Is. for the majority
must rule. It rules In the Socialist
party, as In the Government and In
other parties. The American people
will not tolerate withdrawal of alle
giance to their Government by any
minority of people within their bor
ders. A minority In the Socialist par-
! ty may withdraw and organize a new
party, but a minority in the Lnited
States cannot withdraw and organixe
a new nation within our boundaries,
for the majority will not permit it.
If the Socialists believe the work-
, Ing class Is being exploited by the
' capitalist class, let them convince the
I majority of that fact and the laws and
I Constitution will be so changed as to
stop the exploitation. But they can
only convince the majority by reason,
not by abuse. Least of all can they
convince It by refusing support to the
Government which the majority has
created.
"When this truth seeps a little
deeper Into the gray matter" of the
Socialists, their patriotism will be re
vived. When the Socialists cease their
abuse of the American flag, a far more
ready hearing will be given to their
arguments. Their attacks on that
flag and what it signifies close the
ears of thousands to their arguments.
A HALT ON lyOAN ROBBERS.
One of the definitions given by a
standard dictionary of the word shark
is "a petty thief, a swindler." The
loan robbers are usually designated as
loan sharks, but the term does not
aptly ft), for In no sense of the word
are they "petty" thieves. They us
ually get all the victim has. There is
nothing of the petty order about that.
In Oregon as well as In all other
states there Is a law against usury. In
this state the maximum legal rate,
when fixed by contract, is ten per cent,
and without contract six per cent. But
all over the land these rascals have
fattened on their victims from time
Immemorial by charging anywhere
from fifty to 500 per cent, the exces
sive amount being collected for com
missions, renewals, notary fees and
through all sorts of subterfuges.
Heretofore It has been almost im
possible to call the rascals to account
for the reason that a close construc
tion of the laws seemed to leave a
loophole for their escape, but now.
thanks to a common-sense Judge In
New York, there seems to be an
awakening that means relief from
these exorbitant charges. This Judge
held that the taking of tolls in the
way of commissions and renewal fees,
and such like ways of evading the laws
against usury, came under the ordi
nary laws of fraud. The decision has
been upheld by the appellate court of
that state. This decision will no doubt
be quickly followed In other courts,
and It begins to look like the Skwees
ums and Pynchums and other so
called "bankers" will be called to ac
count and an end put to their ne
farious business.
This Is saying nothing against the
honest money lenders or honest brok
ers, nothing against the individuals or
corporations that loan money on col
lateral or any other security so long
ss they do it legally. The honest
vendor of money Is just as necessary
as. any other business man and has
nothing to fear. Indeed, these have
everything to gain by having the
thieves parading as bankers driven
out of business.
There Is a case in point in this city,
recently published, where a young
man borrowed ten dollars. He really
got but seven dollars. To pay that
sum he has already given the loan rob
ber seventy dollars and still owes the
original ten! The entire transaction
has taken less than two years! The
law says the maximum rate of Inter
est Is ten per cent; what rate was
thus collected? The New York Sun
once answered a similar inquiry by
saying "there Is a point where Inter
est becomes robbery."
AN ANTI-MIIJTARY DREAM.
Let us disband the Army and dis
mantle the Navy. Let's muster out
the militia and discontinue our cadet
corps.. These things merely contribute
to that baleful survival of ancient and
medieval barbarism militarism. And
If our boys Join the Boy Scouts or any
organization having a flavor of the
military, why. let us hasten to stop It.
It Is with consummate horror that we
reflect upon the mere possibility of
fostering In rising generations capaci
ties for warfare.
Military activities' The mere term
brings a shudder of righteous horror
Into the esthetic mind. Let us all Join
with that considerable class of our clt.
Izens and near-citizens which is for
ever declaiming against the mainten
ance of armed force. The whole fiend
ish practice of man-klll-man in war
fare la horrible, revolting, ghastly. The
whole military propaganda brings a
sense of nausea to our sentimental,
peace-loving soul.
And we thought Mr. Taft. great,
wise man that he Is, was unfaltering
champion of precious peace. Why
then do we find him favoring more
dreadnoughts for our Navy? We
thought he loved peace beyond all
things. So our disappointment Is Im
measurable. We are sick of war,
sick of soldiers, sick of maneuvers and
practice cruises. In common with a
local contemporary, we feel that all
these activities should not be. Hence,
once again, let's disband the Army and
dismantle the Navy and adopt the
palm branch for our National emblem.
- But, on second thought, perhaps we
best not do those things. Reflecting
further on the. topic, the suspicion
rises that we have been afloat on the
wings of unrestrained theory. The
thought of ending warfare was so de
lightfully tranquillizing and so beauti
fully Inspiring that It swept us along
for the moment In the trail of Its evan
escent witchery. But now the cruel
world of reality Interposes Itself and
the lovely vision pales Into nothingness
before the pitiless light of fact. Such
an awakening, perhaps. Is one of the
penalties attached to having a balance
wheel to one's mentality. Those nu
merous ones whose minds are not so
Impeded may go on forever frolicking
about In the seductive realms of pure
fancy.
Banishment of the pretty dream
brings with it grim realization that the
country at large must make Its adjust,
mrnta In the world at large even aa
Individuals must make their adjust
ments within these .National units.
Unhappily, the world Is dominated by
the armies and navies of these powers
and International Intrigues continue to
operate. Community brigandage has
been eliminated for the most part,
while National brigandage has only
become more subtle in application.
We are a great, wealthy Nation and
we have world-wide Interests. Greedy
eyes look from Bast and West upon
the rare treasure bags that are piled
high and In tempting array over the
whole American continent, north and
south. All that can prevent greedy
hands from following greedy eyes Is
our own contrivance of force, for there
Is no International police force to look
after us. So, if we would not be over
run by alien hordes, robbed, humbled,
dominated, subjugated, why then let
us postpone the making real of our
anti-military dreams until that ex
quisite adjustment can be made in
safety.
In choosing a President the people
can be guided only by their Judgment
of a man's ability to fill the office, by
the promises he utters as to the use
he will make of his power and by the
probability that he will keep his prom
ises. How can they put faith In the
promises of a man whose seeking of
the office Is evidence that he has
broken a promise, voluntarily made
and frequently repeated? What place
haa such a man at the head of a move
ment toward supremacy of the moral
law In jjubllc life, which can succeed
only by the keeping, not the breaking,
of pledges? He may protest ever so
loudly and vehemently that he will
faithfully serve the people If he gains
the orfice, but the pledge he tramples
In seeking the office destroys faith in
all his protestations.
Asserting that a large proportion of
the men who talk anarchy on the
streets are unnaturalized Immigrants
who came to this country in evasion
of the law which excludes anarchists,
the San Diego Union recommends
that they be deported. The law pro
vides for deportation at any time
within three years after their ar
rival. If they have come In violation
of law. As they were probably an
archists when they arrived the Union
contends that this law can be applied
to them and suggests that the mere
announcement of a purpose so to apply
It would have a quieting effect, since
some of these men have good reasons
for keeping away from their own
countries. This is a valuable hint to
the Immigration officers.
The heartiness with which men of
all nationalities Joined In the celebra
tion of St. Patrick's day is a symptom
of the breaking down of National prej
udice and the growth of a kindly
spirit which prompts all to Join in such
festivities. As the American National
holiday is honored in all lands, as
all rejoice with the French In the
fall of the Bastille, with the Scotch in
paying honor to the memory of Rob
ert Burns, with the Italians In cele
brating Italian unity, so all Join with
the Irish in observing the day which
commemorates Ireland's ancient
glories and makes their hearts bound
with aspiration for revival of their
National existence. We are drawing
nearer to that federation of the world,
of w hich Tennyson sang.
The new league for social order may
find that in opposing woman suffrage
It Is opposing one of the best means
of accomplishing Its other aims
abatement of the divorce evil and com
bating of socialism. Were women
given votes they would become a
power in removing some of the great
est causes of divorce. The league rec
ognizes that the spread of socialism Is
largely due to the evils growing out
of our industrial system. Women
with votes ought to be quick to put
their fingers on these evils, one of the
worst of which Is child labor, and to
force application of the remedy.
Ill and blind In her old age Clara
Morris has experienced most of the
vicissitudes of human fortune. At one
time she was the most popular actress
on the stage In "tearful" parts. Then
a terrible disease subjected her to tor
ture for a long time. When she could
no longer act she turned to literature
and wrote much for the magazines. It
is not commonly understood that she
Is well provided for, though the at
tention of friends no doubt assures
her of all necessary comforts.
Oceana Thomas Turner Is not a bad
name for a little girl, though there
1s some doubt about the way she will
be nicknamed. Will she be called
Tommy or Shanny? Either would do
very well for a boy, but for a little
girl they are not so seemly. Oceana
has much to be thankful for. Her
mother might have named her Theo
sophaline Jane as happened in one
wretched family we have heard of.
Then the breach between Roosevelt
and La Follette came when big
business called Roosevelt Into the Tight
against Taft progresslvelsm and La
Follette radicalism. The fight is. af
ter all. between progress and reaction,
but Taft now appears In his true light
as the champion of progress.
Roosevelt's forgetfulness In regard
to the pledges of support sent to La
Follette may be explained by the
thought lying behind his letter to Mr.
Miles. When opinions privately ex
pressed arc made public, he feels free
to repudiate them.
Sending Eastern magazines by fast
freight has its disadvantages, as shown
by the burning of a carload In Illi
nois. The villain in the installment
story "must continue to pursue her"
until the publishers make up the loss.
There were three Governors of
other states In Portland yesterday,
and If they made the customary re
marks to each other It were Just as
well the day was Monday or the time
would have been longer.
The policemen who raided a poker
game Sunday night just as one of the
players opened the pot with four aces
were long on righteousness but
mighty short on patriotic sport.
The Countess of Warwick believes in
the recrudescence of the elderly wo
man and half the women of the world
will agree with her.
It's a long time until May 1, Mr.
McCrcdle.
Visit the stock show.
"Wappy" loses an appeal and must
make Jute bags at Walla Walla.
OPPOSES STREET MEETINGS.
Socialist Ssys They Should Be Dene
An'ay With.
PORTLAND, March 15. (To the Edi
tor.) Kindly allow space for follow
ing lines: I am a Socialist; have been
such for more than 30 years, and am
proud of It. But I do not believe in
Socialism as a class struggle, but rath
er In a scientific evolution from com
petition to co-operation. Do not think
all employers and capitalists bad and
all Socialists good; far from It. I am
a worklngman, and have been work
ing in mills, mines, factories, etc., for
more than 40 years: hard work, at 2
and 13 per day. I have a family and
no money laid up or no property. Still,
am in good health, regarding both soul
and bodv. I do not complain. I do not
believe In militarism of any kind, but
do not like the way in which Ueneral
Baden-Powell was treated. If we want
free speech ourselves, we must grant
the same privileges to others. And I
also believe In that kind of "militar
ism." spoken of by a writer in The
Oregonian. to fight liquor, tobacco and
other bad habits. Indeed, we need a
much higher standard in morals before
our cause can advance as It should.
And I do not believe in street speak
ing neither by 'industrials." Social
ists. Salvation Army, Holy Rollers,
Jumpers, etc. They should all be
driven from the streets, as all of them
are a real nuisance, and the streets are
not made for that purpose. I also be
lieve in arresting all street fakers sell
ing their wares or "demonstrating" in
store windows, as all such humbug
draws crowds and interrupts traffic.
But I do not believe in driving Social
ists off the street and leaving the reli
gious fanatics tkere. Such would be
unjust and cannot be done according to
law. Neither do I wish to see military
"veterans" or real estate dealers un
dertake the Job of driving speakers off
the street. If such loafers make an at
tempt there will surely be trouble. But
don't leave anybody on the streets or
in the windows to draw a crowd Drive
them all from such places where
crowds gather and every law-abiding
citizen will have no good reason for
complaint.
Wishing to kill two birds with one
stone, will you kindly permit me to
say a word about your editorial com
menting upon the withdrawal from the
Modern Woodmen of America by some
camps of said order in Kansas. The
recent Increase In rates were so unjust
and discriminating that I consider it a
credit to tho Kansas people that they
had so much red blood in their veins
that they did not stand for such abuse.
I am a member of that order since
twenty-five years back, but I will
never pay the new rates. I cannot,
even if 1 would, so I and thousands
of others will withdraw when the new
rates go Into effect. Some of the mem
bers who have been longest in the
order, paid in most money and worked
hardest for It. had their rates increased
more than 200 per cent, when others,
younger members, just joining, had an
increase of 50 per cent. The order can
run 15 years at its present rates, and
with a uniform increase of 25 per cent
could last about 50 years before an
other increase at all would he needed.
The running expenses are about $400,
0O0 per month, about one-third of all
assessments, that one man in the order
may be paid $10,000 per year. A paper
that is of no use to the society costs a
large sum yearly. Clerks, deputies, etc.,
in large numbers are squandering our
money. It Is no wonder there Is great
dissatisfaction. I think "fraternity." in
this case, is a poor thing. Why pay
camp dues, use passwords, spend our
evenings at meetings, teams drilling,
etc., when we have to pay almost as
much and in some cases more than in
old-line life Insurance companies? And
then no guaranty that the rates will
not be increased again at any time
when the officials want more money
to squander. Because the Increased
rates were for the officials, to keep
them and their relations In office, etc.,
but it was not for the Rood of the order.
It will simply kill or greatly cripple
our organization. But the officials
were foolish. They killed, the lien that
laid the golden eggs, and they will not
have so much money to "handle" and
run away with in some wav as they
thought. C. F. MILLER.
WOll.D RIV OUT THE AGITATORS.
T. H. Jones Believes the Red Flnar
ShonM Be Supprennrd.
PORTLAND, March 13. (To the Edi
tor.) Are we to have this city held up
before the world as a breeding-place
for the element who are denouncing
every American Institution? In no
other city In America can such anar
chistic sentiments be expressed as are
expressed here on our main thorough
fares by soap-box orators whose only
purpose is to create trouble. These
orators are preaching a doctrine more
rabid and violent than any anarchist
would dare to preach. and have
marched their organization and the I.
W. W. on the streets, with the red
flag. There Is room for but one flag
In America. Let any anarchist come
to this city and dare to take such a
stand, and I am sure .that such an or
ganizer would soon be 'blotted out and
put behind the bars.
It Is now time that the common
sense of the people of this city was
beginning to assert Itself, and de
manding of the Mayor that he do
something, or else find a Mayor who
will. This thing has gone entirely too
far, and we are now confronted with
the problem of getting rid of this ele
ment that will not work, but whose
only motive is to create trouble. A
few wild organizers in the 1. W. W.
have gotten a great class of illiterate
foreigners to follow them, and It
seems that the city authorities have
come pretty near giving them the city.
But the citizens of this clly.. who
have some regard for public decency,
law and order, will not permit this
city to go to the dogs, simply because
the Mayor will take no stand at all.
On the other hand, public indignation
having been aroused, they will do Just
what Seattle. Aberdeen. Los Angeles
and San Francisco have done.
T. II. JONES.
(. A. R. Veteran on Anareblnts.
PORTLAND. Or.. March 18. (To the
Editor.) At a meeting of the Grand
Army of the Republic recently held
in this city, it was decided that the
strongest argument that could be made
in favor of the Boy Scout movement,
was the demonstration made by the I.
W. W. and anarchists, at the time
that General Baden-Powell visited this
city. The followers of the red ratr.
the enemies of Old Glory, do not want
our boys and girls to know anything
of good order and military discipline.
They even denounce the good order
and discipline that is malntaned in our
public schools.
The marching in and out by the
sound of the drum or piano, the sight
of Old Glory flying from the flag
staffs of our schools, excite their
animosity. They say, open the doors
of the rooms, let them run, let them
enjoy themselves, do not place any
restrictions over them; that this is a
free country, every on do as they like;
no form of government is required.
They do not believe in good order or
discipline of any kind.
The comrades of the Grand Army of
the Republic gave, the best years of
their lives in sustaining good order
and discipline In this country, and they
do not propose to see the enemies of
Old Glory trail It In the dust. If
these enemies of our Government are
not satisfied with our laws, let them
go back to their native h II where
they belong. If the police of this city
are afraid to attacf them, remember
the Old Boys of 61 will do their duty.
MAJOR CICERO NEWELL.
WHY FEAR MILITARY TRAIN IX Gf
Lieutenant Sever Sees Reason for
Such an Attitude.
PORTLAND. Or.. March 15. (To the
Editor.) I take the liberty of adding
my humble contribution to the mixed
mass of common sense and drivel which
the visit of General Baden-Powell and
its attendant circumstances has called
forth.
It Is amazing what a terror a num
ber of our good people have of per
mitting the youth of the country to
be taught anything- which may be of
practical benefit to them, to say noth
ing of the wail which goes up when it
is proposed to teach them the ordinary
lessons of patriotism and of National
defense.
Suppose that the Boy Scouts were or
ganized with an object of military in
struction. Is there any nation on earth
which so much needs such instruction
among Its rising generation? We have
a standing Army which is barely nec
essary for police purposes. We have
in the National Guard a reserve force
of 115.000 men in all stapes of effi
ciency and inefficiency. Our people are
no longer a nation of frontiersmen, and
the great majority of our people have
no conception of the first rudiments
of the care of soldiers in the field.
The task of putting an army into the
field which would be able to accom
plish anything against the hichly
trained troops of a first-class power
would be simply appalling.
Are we to suppose that human na
ture has changed in the course of a
single generation? A perusal of any of
our daily papers should dispel this
idea. There is active warfare In prog
ress in three parts of the world. Our
commerce is in active competition with
the commerce of other nations in all
quarters of tho earth, and it is from
commercial rivalry that the causes of
war arise. Besides, we have in our
midst an element without respect for
law, with no ideals but those of force
and terrorism, who, if they continue to
grow in numbers and power, will
eventually cause trouble. If anyone en
tertains doubts on this head, let him
read the account of the outrage at
the Baden-Powell meetinsr, or so to
any of our downtown corners in the
evening and listen to the open sedition
preached from the soapbox rostrums.
In the past the teachings of patriot
ism and love of country and the duty
of every citizen to defend the Nation
produced a pretty good brand of man
in this country, and despite the so
called humanitarian principles which
are being advanced by our old ladies of
both sexes, they are what is needed
now. if we are to meet the problems
which this country must meet and
solve in the course of the next two
decades. F. S. SEVER.
PROTEST VOICED BY SOCIALIST
Says Anarchists Should Be Put Donn
for Utterances.
PORTLAND, Or.. March 15. (To the
Editor.) The men who are preaching
socialism on the streets at night and
causing all of this trouble are not
Socialists, but Anarchists pure and
simple. I have been a follower of So
cialism myself and I contend that those
soap-box orators are preaching more
anarchy than they are socialism. They
have exceeded the bounds of all that
socialism tries to do. and are denounc
ing the American flas, the National
Guard, the churches, and every institu
tion that is American. I have never
heard this brand of socialism tauKht
before and contend that when it is
taught as it is taught here, even goin?
so far as to urpe and threaten the
destruction of property, it is pure
anarchy. Even more violent are the
utterances of the I. W. W., who openly
contend that they have no respect for
law and erder. but are purely a fight
ing organization. Profanity is openly
used ly these men in shoutintr oufc
their arguments, regardless of women
and children passing on the street.
All other cities on the Coast forbid
this, and have dricn these men out.
It is now time that the people of
this city informed tne Mayor that it
is time for him to wake up and enforce
the laws or else resign in favor of
some one who will do so. Rushlight
Is too weak a man for the job of
Mayor and his weakness is apparent
by the way these municipal questions
are getting away with him.
RUSSELL SIMS.
STREET MEETINGS AX OUTRAGE
Writer Suggest Mayor le Recalled If
Laxity Persists.
MONT A VILLA, Or., March 17. (To
the Editor.) The spectacle of a few I.
W. W. organizers and a few Socialists
who have no interest in the welfare
of this city, taking possession of the
streets which somebody else has paid
for and put down, is a disgrace and
an outrage upon tho respectable and
hard-working citizen of this city. It
is a shame that such high-handed pro
ceedings should be tolerated here,
while in all other progressive cities
this element of soap-box orators and
professional agitators has been kept
off the street. And then, standing on
the streets that have been laid and
paid for by citizens of this city, to
damn the whole Government from be
ginning to end, denounce law and order
and breathe forth a doctrine of anarchy,
and insult the women and children of
this city whose husbands and fathers
pay the taxes and support the schools,
by indulging in profanity that can be
heard a block away! May we not
ask if this city does not need a change
in affairs? and If It Is not time to do
what the other cities have done in re
gard to these professional asitators?
Now that the citizens have taken
a stand tftid have demanded that this
thing stop, let them go ahead with this
movement and if the Mayor and Chief
of Police continue to allow such
laxity, and refuse to meet these issues,
to use the recall against the Mayor.
THOMAS DB LINN.
OFFICE DEALS WITH DAILY LIFE
Election of John U. Mlekle aa Dairy
and Food Commissioner Urged.
PORTLAND, March 18. (To the Edi
tor.) Among the multitudinous num
ber of candidates for public office in
Oregon this year there is one office
which does not seem to command the
interest in the mind of the average
voter that it should. The office of
Food and Dairy Commissioner is of
vastly more lmportanoe than most of
the city voters ordinarily conceive.
This office is. one which comes close
to the home and enters into its daily
life. For upon the quality of the food
consumed in the household depends
largely the state of the health of
the. family.
Among the other candidates for this
office is a young man, John D. Mickle,
whom 1 have known intimately for
more than 25 years since his boyhood.
I have watched his growth and
progress, and he has progressed con
tinually. He has made a good name
for himself by all of his activities. He
was a clean boy and he Is a clean
man. He is honest, courageous and
capable.
He does not know the political game
and the Lord will bless him for that.
But he will make Oregon a good
officer and one that the voters will
want to retain. SENECA C. BEACH.
Philadelphia Record.
Washington wouldn't.
Grant couldn't.
Roosevelt mustn't.
Pastoral Serpentine
. By Dean Collins.
Oh there are many ways, forsooth.
By which a man his monoy makes,
And on." of these, as 1 Iirvp learned.
Is raising herds of rattUsnakos:
Five thousand strong. Connecticut
Can boast the herd of which 1 spoke.
Within a fair 12-acre field
Upon the hills of Schagticnkt.
Oh who would live in citirs drear.
Wifh all their cares, and frauds, and
fakes.
When he niipht pipe o'er grassy nipads
A squirming herd of rattlesnakes:
And hreathe the fresh air of the farm.
And live a life of ease serene.
Anions bis blithely buzzing florks
That rattle in the meadows green.
True, minor troubles misht intrude;
At times one misht be mixed in
fishts
With neighbors who had been an
noyed By roaming rattlers' playful biles.
Or in the niirlit the nhone micht l ins
"Put blankets on your blank it beasts.
They're rattling so that I cant
sleep!"
But also, on the other hand.
A moral force such farm would he:
Some roaniins rake, immersed in gin.
Would fall asleep, complacently
Upon your farm, and wake next morn
To see the herd among the sedge.
And rising, heat It home and write
His firm John Hancock on the
pledge.
Ah. happy is that mortal's lot
Who from the city's hondaftn breaks,
And goes in for the simple life
Among his flacks of rattlesnakes;
He lives at ease, he has no care.
His life is free from bitter toil.
His snakes bring to his hank account
Five bones a pint for all their oil.
Picture the lovely pastoral:
The plowman homeward plods his
way;
The rattling herds squirm o'er the lea.
While curfew tolls the partins day.
Lucky is he who for the farm
The city's atmosphere forsakes,
And lives in bliss for all his days
Among his gentle rattlesnakes.
Portland. March 18.
Half a Century Ago
From the Oregonian of March If. 182.
The Dalles. March 16. Some arrivals
today from Salmon R'ver. By parties
who left there on the 2".d of February
I learn that the snow was five or six
feet deep at Florence and more falllnc.
Provisions were all bought up by
miners, except a little flour. The. pros
pect is Chat miners will bo obliged
to come out after grub.
Miller & Blackmore's stage left
Walla Walla on the 5th Inst and eam
as far as Upper Umatilla, where the
road was impassable for the stage and
they changed for a light wagon, which
they were also obliged to leave at
John Day's River. The passengers
and mails' were packed through from
the latter place.
Notwithstanding the above facts,
miners are every day starting out
from here, some Willi animals and
some without, splashing through water,
slush, snow and unfathomable mud.
A Virginia correspondent of th
Charleston Courier says that out of
the Fifth South Carolina Regiment,
numbering 800 men. whose term of
service is about expiring, but 170 have
signified willingness to enlist for the
war.
The steamer Julia, which was due
on Monday night, arrived, last (Tues
day) night from the Cascades. Her
detention was caused by. the Idaho,
with which she was to connect at tho
Cascades, running onto a rock in try
ing to dodge a cake of ice about five
miles below The Dalles. She. tried all
day to get oft. hut without success.
At 5 P. M. the Hassalo came to her
relief and took the passengers back
to The Dalles.
This evening the benefit of Mrs.
Forbes will come off at the Willamette
Theater. Tne great play of "Hamlet"
will be performed. Mrs. Forbes will
take the part of Hamlet. Sho will bo
assisted by Mr. Beatty as ghost of
Hamlet's father.
We see some evidences of a design to
clear the dirt, mud and litter from
our planked streets. We hope the
design will not bo relinquished and.
show that neatness is only a spas
modical affair with us.
A schooner is to leave Astoria in a
few days for Tillamook to procure a.
load of potatoes, whore, it is said, is
a surplus of 2000 bushels.
Country Town Sayings by Ed Howe
The hinges of women seem to be
better oiled than the hinges of men.
Anyway, women bow much better than
men.
Many nice people like to drift along,
and not engage In constant turmoil:
but in this life, you can't drift you are
compelled to assert yourself, or con
stantly get the worst of it.
The jokes of people are usually old,
but no more venerable than their talk.
Some day, when you are idle, and in
a good crowd, remain silent and note
the worthlessness of the "talk." Those
around you will be busy talking, and
impolite in talking when it is not their
turn, but you will not hear anything
amusing or instructive. A man is as
sure to say the same things every day
as he is to eat the same things for
breakfast.
As a rule, the places I desire most
to visit are not open to the public; and
a "Keep Out" sign always keeps me
out.
In a country town, boys like to swim
in the water company's reservoir, be
cause it is so strictly prohibited. And
they often do it. But I never knew but
one bov who was caught at it. and
they had to drag the reservoir to catch
him.
Some women have the Dry Good.-:
Trot abnormally developed in hurrying
to and from bargain sales.
You may make a problem of a yjuns
man's future: hut an old man knows
what is coming to him with absolute
certainty.
When the devil is to pay. he won t
take long-time notes, or wait until next
week.
If you dislike a man, you usually dis
like his friends.
A Boost for Bryan.
Weston Leader.
More surprising things have hap
pened than that the Democratic Con
vention should stampede to Bryan as a
compromise candidate. The strong
rivalry among the leading Democrats
who seek the nomination Is not condu
cive to the beautiful but visionary gos
pel that they and their respective fol
lowers should love one another. Un
questionably, despite his several de
feats, he is the most popular man In
the Democratic party today. And he
is perhaps the Nation's most popular
citizen Roosevelt not excepted.