TIIE MORNIXO OREGONIAN. MONDAY. AfRIT. 29, 1912. 8 (Drrjtrtmhm I'ORTLtNP. 0ri!. EntrM at rrttand. Oro. Poofftc orH.t:il Matter. . ,m kjt..crtptio Kate InTariaMy In Adranc. I!T MAIL) t'stiy. Parf Ineloovd. cm t " .7? Imllr. sur.'la lr.r!u11. mm mlM.-.. I'aur Sltl'l.T tr,-"i1. thr m"ttl.. Lia-.lv' tftmitav InrlcM. on" rontb.... I..;r! wi"-"t sr,tT. r It:v. wnnt K'inlv, m moot n . . Iai!y. wt.hiot Sundv. tor mntha... !- I i:t. milthoot (.undajr. W montn J weehij. out yr Sualar. orv year - Sunda and W.kly. on rf (BT 1'ARR1KB.( r::y -jnl Inrlarted. rar.. 2Q Ii;y Snnrtar lorlejrfed. n moat. Maw RrmH .- M-ll1" mr. r d.r. tirri. or.1r or fron.t ch.-k "n J""' l.x-al tk. Mmy. cmn or rnmntr ar at tri a.!- run. r,i pt " addreaa In full. tnel.Kll; eottily and atal. riw Hat m I i- '? to a p. 2 r. to .. ... to pa. ceata. Kor..ga poalaa. doubt rat. " I am In 11 '1 " 1 OfDe Vr- A Cnnt lin Nw T"rk. Hrnnlc bMtldlna. t hl ramo. 'tr tutldinic. EmnoMm Offlc .No. 1 Rr.t strt. a. W.. m. FOrTOAXD. MOXDAY. A POT I. t. T1IK OXLY WAV OIT. The fart that we are lHn excluded trom foreign commerce and that our flag ha made stranger In for eign porta by our restrictive navigo tlon laws ha bn lmprci1 upnn 101 American tourists ns to convince them that only by throwing open the American market . to forelgn-bullt i-hlp can we hope to secure our proper place among commercial na tions. These. 101 comprised all except five of the men peaeengers on the Heamehip Bluecher on a voyage around suth America, and before tho vovag. ended they signed the follow ing atatement of the conclusion to which their observation had led all of them: W eltlaen nf th t'nlted Htata. F-aa-.naera on th. st.mhlp niuh-r to tha numb-r of H1. hv- now H-d trom N-w Tom ar.mnd f".ith mrt inj return, cov.rlna --'. """. ,w vlatlad mw ..r.n portm. InH.irtln Buf r.o. A'r. lth a comm.-rr- mnnrt ""'. '" Vow Trk In th W im llmlpher . d Janrlro tha bautlfiil. ilont-vljeo. H raralmo. Canto all irrval and to b rr"""'- But at all p'arra and at all tlma w. h.r look.d In vain for a mer man ara val rarryln th fl of th I nliad t"tat- What t th rriwnT It ap pear to b th provlatona of our law. hlrh pTnt th acflUlMtlon of forrlan bullt rala for AnwrUin r. alwry In !r ltn trad. Thi law. enacted for the up building of Amerlran .hlpvarda haa "" '- ulte.1 in th bulldinn of American mhlpa for forln trad. Th coat of Amrlran bullt amp, in comparison with tno or forlim build, la prohiMilv. Ther hav not been built, and In rona-o.uenc our Il naa practically diapparcd from th himh - Nnthlnc la mor. condticW to aconaintanc btwn nation and mtcrcourm and frlena mhlp btw-w thir cltlmena than the cm- tant ataht of their reicctlv f.amm. Moat of th- I.MO American people nd h-r are ao immmhk) of them ar frtentlty. They ar a-r to deal with u: but we permtat In remaining rnr At preaent. to mch Nw Trk comfortably, an ' tlnlan uaually aoe, t" -noa or l.lrerpool. Naturally, h rarely eomlnuea to Sea rl l.ndon and Pari. Kndand and t ranr. hi acqnalntancea and friend, aupplr all " Thia la the meaaaa we would ronvy to our frlnda and epccllly to thoae who ahan th policl of our country: Kmay thl prohibition upon th Amri ran rltratlon of foricn-built ahlpa for form trad. lt ua buy rheap hlpa abroad. 11 them h. of-rd by American cltlm-n.. and let thra carry our f to the people who want to ua. and who ar ready and r-r to know and trad with u. By thl. urn pi procema w hall tak nolhlnc from our hlpyarda that they now en (or. lnc thy do not build ahlpa for f.w.-ln trad; w ahall add to our merchant matin and our forlrn and domtlc trade; w mhail lay th foundation of a naval ora.-tnlma-tlon r th. m''-x valu. W caaa of war Klttl fortn nation; and wa mba.l eatabllull a real bond between the America of th Wrtrn lemlphr that will b of vamt. mutual and permanent benefit. Tb arly openln of the Panama canal makea thl ub)ct of tranx-endent Inipor l.nc, at Ihla tlm On board atammhlp Bluechcr. April. 1"'- The caste for free ship in here stat ed In ma brief, concise, telling form a. ponsible. Our present policy was adopted for the purpose of em-oura-Ing the building of ships In the United States. It has failed of that purpose, but has prevented us from enftaRlnw In forelfrn trade except on a scale be low Norway In number of ships and only silently above her In tonnage. Judjtina; bv comparison of figures for the year 110. More than 51 per cent of the world's commerce In that year was carried In foreign ships. In the last forty-one years the value of American shipping has decreased 44 per cent, while that of foreign ships has Increased 104 per cent. Despite the free admission of shipbuilding materials. American shipbuilders say It costs 40 per cent more to build a ship In the I'nlted States than abroad. Then the choice for us Jat between free ship and practically no ships. With no merchant marine we are shut off from commercial Intercourse with our South American neighbors, m ho are eager to trade with us. and we are handicapped In foreign trade gen erally. Our present policy does not In duce men to build ships, but it does cramp our development in every other field of Industry by preventing the ex pansion of our market abroad when w are ready to overflow the. home market. The only alternative Is to adopt the policy recommended by the Bluecher's passengers grant Ameri can register to foreign-built ships owned and officered by Americans and engaged In foreign trade. Ey so do ing we shall not deprive our shipbuild ers of one lota of business they now have, for they will still retain a mo nopoly of coastwise trade. We shall resume our place as a maritime na tion and shall establish a valuable auxiliary to our Nary. A MKAVT IXVn William Vincent Axtor. scarcely 21 years old. staggers under the weight of an Inheritance of 1100.000.000 and the headship of the Astor family in America. Were he a sturdy youth, one who had been brought up to self dependence and who had been Invest ed with responsibility as with a gar ment from his childhood up. the great weight that I- " suddenly fallen upon him would be-serious. As It Is. it mut be little less than appalling since he was born to luxury and has been cradled in the lap of fortune all of his brief years, never havln learned to stand, still less to -walk, alone. He la withal a delicate youth 1.1 a physical sense, a hothouse plant, propagated and bred in a New York home of wealth and arrogance, and. alas, of dissension. The mistake that American parents of wealth make In brlng'ng up their ions without moral or financial re mponsibintr has been too often wit nessed. Harry Thaw, murderer, de bauchee, spendthrift, has spent a large fortune and what should hnve been the most forceful years of a vlgoroi young manhood, of the type which made his father a substantial and honored member nf a great manufac turing convmuriKr, la vala attempt, to convince a court of lunacy that he is In hi right mind and entitled to his freedom. His case u " extreme, one, showing the demoralizing Influence of wealth without moral sense and per sonal responsibility. That of Vincent Astor. as showing an ttnpreparednesa for his responsibility and station In life, presents a young- man. aa little knowing how to turn or Itow to sup port the great weight that has fallen upon him as does the miner's widow the mother of six or ten who kneela at the prt'a mouth after a disaster that has entombed her husband, wringing her hands and walling "What shall I do? What shall I do?" The load that has fallen upon young Astor is a heavy one. becaus he haa not been trained to carry It." IT TO THK OIJJ TRK-K. Success with the poll tax fraud in the last election may have convinced the warriors paid from the Fels sin gle tax war chest that the Oregon voter can be fooled all the time, but we doubt that the votera will like to be told by the warriors of thte opinion, even br implication. The "graduated land tax" presented by Mr. U'Ren and others for signature of the voters is a single tax measure under a, less no torious and alarming name. In It the single tax feature Is subordinated. Although the most Important para graph in the bill It is Inserted in the body of the art and phrased as though Inconsequential, while the In troductory remarks "feature." to use a newspaper term, the graduated tax on large land holdings. , Presumably the paid Fela bureau believes a bill featuring a specific tax on land barons will carry almost any thing with It because of that feature' popularity. Just as the poll tax inhibi tion carried through the county option single tax deception. So they repeat the old scheme. The subordinated section of the proposed amendment reverses the county option amendment that was added to the constitution by trickery In 1910. Now no county may have single tax unless) it rotes affirm atively to impose it. The "Joker" In the new bill would Impose single tax throughout the state but permit any county that desired so to do. to go back to the general property tax by so voting at a special or repular election. If the voters were to adopt the meas ure they would catch the land barons for a specific tax and also put single tax upon the small home-owner. This would be accomplished by the nearly concealed provision exempting person al property and Improvements from taxation designated as paragraph ("I") of the amendment. . If single tax is a good thing it may b reasonably Inquired why it is neces sary to ambush it about with catchy provision. Why not come out boldly with the measure? Why not aay this Is the single tax amendment we have been promising to present? Why not put the vital featnre of the meaeure to the fore and Invite a fair and square vote on it? The answer is that the Fels employes know single tax of it self cannot carry. They have their salaries to earn and must make a showing. Tet their second attempt at such trickery after the exposure of the poll tax fraud is an Insult to Ore gon Intelligence. if ;raham mtori.n be chairman. The prospect of Graham at the head of the public lands commtttee in case the Democrats have a majority in the next House Is not pleasant for the West to contemplate. He does not know the West; he is Ignorant of pub lic land affairs; he Is a mere tool of PInchot. whose policy of conserving our natural resources in cold storage he would embody In legislation. But, worst of all. in practice he is not a proponent of the "square deal." His conduct In handling the Controller Bay fiasco proves that. A man who will attempt to fasten upon public of ficials charges of wrongdoing founded on forgery, and who will stop inquiry when the forgery is proved and the next step In an impartial Inquiry Is to find the forger, cannot be expected to give the West ,a square deal In han dling land legislation. With Graham at the head of the land committee, with the Democratic caucus backing up hut every move and with Pinchot pulling the strings which move Graham, the West would have a sorry outlook in a Democratic Con gress. The homesteader on reclama tion projects need hope for no relief. If delay In turning water on his land should prevent his raising a crop; he might be required to meet every re. quirement of the law. impossible though It would be. The man who settles on a tract of agricultural land In a forest reserve may expect to have it grabbed as a range station. The locator of, a power-site may expect to be burdened with rental and restric tions which would block all attempts to finance Its development. The tide of settlement now setting towards Ore gon would turn aside to Canada, where the glad hand of welcome is extended to him. The supremacy of Graham and Pinchot would mean stagnation In the West. A RAILROAD rOR ALASKA. There Is a good prospect that it Congre can turn Its attention from politics for a few days, a bill may pass at this session authorizing construc tion of a Government railroad. In Alaska. Such a bill has been report ed by the House committee on terri tories, and. being in line with the rec ommendations of President Taft, is likely to receive his approval If It can get through the Senate. Only in exceptional cases is the Gov ernment Justified in engaging in the railroad business, but Alaska is one of these cases. It Is an Isolated terri tory, where construction and mainte nance are unusually expensive and where revenue will not equal expenses and Interest for several years, that is. until the coal and copper mines are sufficiently developed to produce traf fic. Were the" owner of these mines left at the mercy of a private railroad corporation, that corporation would soon own the mines. The experience of the anthracite region of Pennsyl vania teaches thl. As Alaska has the largrst and best available coal supply on the Pacific Coast, the President has recommended the development of mines in that territory- for the supply of the Navy. It is by all means ad visable that these mines should not be dependent on a prlrate corporation for transportation. It may. however, be bettef for the Government, after building the road, to lease It to a prl rate corporation under conditions pro viding that the Government resume control In case discrimination or mis management renders that course necea sarv. The Government railroad project for Alaska has awakened the fear of the New Tork Times that we may em bark on a wasteful enterprise. It cites the high rats charged on the Panama Railroad aa ground for thia fear. But the Panama Railroad was bought and is being operated only aa an adjunct to the construction of the canal, and it is. therefore, not policy for the Govern ment to invite general traffic. Our success in building the canal haa proved the ability of Army engineers to do such work when given a free hand and ample funds. There is no reason why they should not have equal success In Alaska, A large part of the plant now on the Isthmus could be transferred to Alaska and used in railroad construction. We are already equipped with the men and the ma chinery. Alaska cries for develop ment, which can be obtained by build ing a railroad. Then why keep its Im mense resources of coal and copper longer in cold storage? Tint NATIOJtAi. CASH. The great National game is baseball, and why it has become our National sport Is "no difficult to understand. It Is a sport that calls for quick action not only of the muscular powers, but of the brain. I'nless one la not fleet of foot, quick- of action, steady of nerve and of good mentality, he can never succeed as a ballplayer. But what ha given the game Its present high stand ing Is its cleanness, Its fairness. Its exemption from gambling and also from all forms of cheating. We never hear of games being "thrown." al though in the great contests of the major leagues It might often happen that a player could make a large sum of money by fumbling the ball once or twice during a game, or making a wild throw, thereby letting In a run or two. Such things never happen, and that they do . not Is of the greatest credit to the people of the whole conn to', and of the greatest benefit to the game, for the average individual likes clean and fair sport. How fair the game Is was well dem onstrated In our own league last year. The Beavers were in the lead by a close margin. the Vernon team crowding them closely. The throwing of one or two games to the Vernons would have given Vernon the pennant, and many people in this city were fearful that one of the California clubs would "lay down" and let the Vernons win. Nothing of the kind happened; nothing of the kind ever does happen in baseball. Every club in every game, whether at the head of the percentage column or at the foot, tries to win. And it Is this keen and consistent rU valry that gives the game the stand ing It has. Taking a look at our own major team this year, many people wonder why it la Mr. McCredie has not a win ning team. They forget that there are six teams in the league, that each pays the same salary, that each has the same chances and the same diffi culties in getting players, that five other astute managers are striving Just as hard as Mr. McCredie Is to be at the top of the column. Hence there is a large element of what may be termed luck in harlng a winning team. In the regular course of events we should only win a pennant every sixth year. We have done much better than that. We won it last year. Would it not be rather too much to expect it again this year? We may hope for It Indeed we may win It. for the sea sen Is young and long. Fortuitous cir cumstances may land it for tin again. as we hope they will. Nobody hopes stronger for this, nobody is losing as much sleep over the matter, nobody Is trying harder to have the Beavers play winning ball than the owners and managers. Perhaps it may make a difference of from $15,000 to 125. 000 whether we remain in the cellar or climb to the roof, a difference In the McCredie pockets or out of them. Tea. we all wish to see the Beavers win, but none of us will suffer in the purses If they do not save the owners of the club and the players. We may rest assured that the managers are do. Ing everything In their power to strengthen the club and put it in the lead. MOvrSO PICTt REM IN M'HOOI. Among the throng of new Ideas in Mr. Edison's brain is a projoct for using moving-pictures in the school room. Questions of expense may pre vent the wide adoption of his plan for some time to come, but in the end its eduratlonal' value is almost certain to bring It into use wherever the wel fare of the young Is placed above dol lars and cents. Mr. Edison is espe cially hopeful of the results obtain able by illustrating geography with moving-picture. What a child can ordinarily learn of the various parts of the earth from printed descriptions and cuts Is very little. He does not obtain accurate notlors of cities. The aspect of mountains, how growing crops look, the appearance and habits of men and animals, all remain Ob scure to him. Mr. Edison believes that knowledge of this sort can be Imparted by moving-pictures easily and adequately. In pursuance of his theory he has dispatched an expert maker of films to Africa, as we learn from the Literary Digest, "with In structions to "take everything from the Cape to Cairo." 'When the films are ready for use a pupil can see about as much of the Dark Continent as any traveler. How to teach children the relative sizes of objects la one of the most difficult tasks an Instructor has to meet. City boys and girls sometimes think of a etrw and a cat as animals of about the same size. A little New Tork girl who was once asked how large a p1T was, replied that it was as tall as the Flatlfon building. She had seen a pig on one page of her book drawn to such a scale that It. was of the same height as the Flatlron build ing which appeared on the opposite page. Until objects can be shrrwn in thelf proper relation mistakes of this kind are unavoidable. The child mind is strictly logical and will draw the obvious conclusions from the pic tures which are placed before it. In moving-picture prepared with good sense, every plant, animal and build ing would be shown In such a setting that its true proportions would be tln mlstakable. But geography Is hot the only branch of study which would gain by the use of moving-picture. History could be made alive and interesting by the same process. Mr. Edison says that a film of fhe bottle of Lexing ton ha been prepared which shows to the life the minute men firing their guns, the British seeking shelter and the final retreat. Washington cross ing the Delaware has beer, exhibited in the same way. There Is no reason why all the great scenes of history should not be made actually visible to pupils. Mor would be retained from one rlew of an event passing be fore the eye than from weeks of book study. It Is difficult enough for adult minds to gain information from print. For children, as school results show pretty conclusively, it is almost impossible. Mr. Edison thinks, too, that moving-pictures would be of the great est advantage in laboratories. The time which boys and girls spend In making "experiments" Is commonly wasted. They gain very little knowl edge of scientific principles in this' way and tha experiments are almost always badly performed. The net re Mult Is th intensification of Ignorance rather than scientific attainment. Much better would It be to prepare a neat and elaoorate film of the ex periments and exhibit it to the chil dren. In this manner scientific law might be made an attractive reality to them instead of the hideous spec ter of weariness and confusion which it now too often is. Even the growth of plants and their germination from the seed can be shown with films. Views of the developing rootlet, for example, are taken at intervals of twenty minutes and then passed over the screen "14.000 times faster than reality." Thus treated the rootlet ap pears to move swiftly down into the soil while the seedleaves push upward with plainly perceptible motion. The processes of nature are so magnified that they cannot escape the observa tion of a bright child. The only objection made to moving pictures in school, he-sides their ex pense, is that they render knowledge too attractive. The pupils learn so easily by their aid that "mental dis cipline" is sacrificed. This objection comes, of course, from that class of educational men who value their own private fetishes more highly than the welfare of the pupils. The hideous old ogre named "mental discipline" has done so much harm to school chil dren that some way ought to be found to lay It to rest. The pedagogues of the past were so fearful lest chil dren's minds should not be properly disciplined that they forgot to teach the poor little things any useful knowledge. In the pursuit of a fanci ful hypothesis they missed the real values of education. Their supposi tion was that by teaching mathe matics, for instance, a pupil could be trained to think accurately on other subjects. This has been proved to be a fatal blunder, but the fetish is still worshiped in our schools and colleges. As a matter of fact, the more easily a branch Is learned the more and better it disciplines the mind. The old doctrine that difficult studies are especially Improving is a cruel superstition for which modern psychology affords not an atom of ex cuse. Through moving-pictures, if they can be introduced Into the schools, children will learn more than they possibly can out of books and it will do them Infinitely more good. Just as a man who travels through a country learns more about it than one who reads descriptions of it. so the history, geography and science which are imparted by moving-pictures will make deep, vivid and lasting Impres sions on the memory'- There is so much which the young human being must learn in order to live respectably In the world, that no time ought to be wasted in mastering needless diffi culties. The aim of the best teachers In om!ng years will be, not to dis cipline children's minds by making knowledge hard and unattractive, but to store the mind and cultivate the Intelligence by making It easy and charming. Should Dr. Roswell Parks' theory prove capable of reduction to practice, the composite man may become more than a photograph. A man may be walking about under the name of Smith who is a combination of Smith's torso with Jones' lungs, Robinson's kidneys, Edwards' liver, while Thomp son has contributed a leg and Brown an arm. the original owners of all these organs and limbs being safely tucked underground because their hearts were diseased or their necks broken. What terrific competition there would be for Bryan's lungs, or Bourne's nerve or Mathewson's pitch ing arm, in case of the sudden demise of one of those celebrities! The Titanic may not have been try ing for a record, for her speed at the time, of the disaster was well below that of the Mauretanla and Lusitania, but she was traveling at high enough speed to escape the stigma of being a slow vessel. It was not necessary that Captain Smith should have any direct Instructions from Mr. Ismay to maintain such speed. The mere pres ence of the managing owner on board the ship was enough to spur him to make a good record, even if he had not received explicit Instructions be fore sailing to that effect. It is rea sonable to presume that he did. The Tacoma , Commercial Club is congratulated on completion of a handsome building equal to the great work it is doing. A chain of such clubs in all the Pacific Coast cities, all pulling together for the general development of this whole section, is the motive power of progress. Oregon mohair growers and dealers are a few cents apart, to the advantage of the former- Oregon mohair always is worth more than it will bring, which should be 50 cents at the least. It is as good as, if not better, than the foreign article. Kentucky has 70,000,000 gallons of whisky in excess of the demand. This does not mean an excess of reform on the part of consumers. It is caused by greed of distillers in producing an article in quantity out of reason. The good citizens of Cottage Grove are right in protesting against a cir cus showing on Sunday, though they overlook the humane side of the issue. The animals and performers need one day's rest in seven. Here is food for thought. A brew ery plant occupies the ground where the water committee would lay a main. Compromise of antagonistic elements should be easy In this case. Ther is something strange in an administration victory in Texas over a machine manned by Federal office holders. Lyon must have stolen the steam roller. Tacoma really has a ten-story build ing that cost half a million. Tacoma is to be congratulated, i " Only a candidate with sense of hu mor can itemize the stable bill of a "dead horse." The slngle-taxer is sly and insidious. PROPOSED GRANT IS ANALYZED. GT Lombard Criticise Feature la N. W. Electric Coa Franchise. PORTLAND, April 28. (To the Edi tor.) The Northwestern Electric Com pany, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Washington, has before the City Council of this city for consideration and adoption a franchise giving said corporation a valuable fran chise for the installation and operation of a light, heat and power system in this city, for a term of 25 years. This franchise is to be considered by the street committee of the Council at 2 P. M.. Friday, May 8. 1812. After be ing passed upon by the street commtt tee it will be referred back to the Council and by them to the Executive Board for appraisement and valuation. It will then be returned to the City Council, and by the vot9 of 10 members and the approval of the Mayor will be come a law. It is to the interest of every tax payer In this city most carefully to consider the terms and conditions of this franchise before it is finally granted. We have seen franchises and rights of an estimable value sold for a song; we have been tricked and de luded Into giving valuable franchises with the Idea that competition would result; competition did not result, and emphatically we have to gauge the fu ture by the past and consider and hesi tate most thoroughly before granting a franchise of this nature. Calling at tention to a few vital features of this franchise as introduced, we see: First That the city on its part gives a complete franchise, good throughout the city, for a light, power and heat plant, for a term of 25 years. The monetary consideration for the fran chise can hardly be expected to be ade quate or commensurate with the value of the same. Second That the corporation is only obligated to spend $250,000 on this plant, of which only $50,000 must be spent In this city. The utter impossi bility of constructing a plant which will give good service, as well as the much-desired competition, for any such sum as $250,000, should be apparent to the most casual observer. One million dollars would hardly be sufficient, and the proposed expenditure of only $250, 000 does not look like good faith. Third No provision Is made which will Insure competition. We do not want a repetition of the Mount Hood fiasco, and the restrictions and regula tions to that end should be so strong and well defined that there can be no possibility of any sale to the present monopoly. Fourth That the maximum rates permitted under the proposed franchise would naturally be the minimum rates, and aa the franchise now reads the Council does not retain the right to regulate rates. A comparison of the rates proposed in this franchise with the rates in other Coast cities where the physical conditions are practically similar, shows that the rates in this city are exorbitant. Fifth A rate of 2 cents per kilowatt hour is offered to the city for elec tricity to be used in lighting the city. Private consumers in the City of Port land today are receiving from the pres ent monopoly a rate only slightly in excess of 1 cent per kilowatt hour, and this fact shows that the proposed 2 cent rate per kilowatt hour to the city is in no way a partial consideration for the proposed franchise. The foregoing statements would seem to warrant the following deductions: First That no franchise should be granted except under satisfactory guar antees to the effect that the amount guaranteed to be expended In the con struction and Installation of the plant Is entirely adequate to provide a com plete, modern, competitive plant. Any amount under $1,000,000 would surely be Inadequate. Second That the possibility of the sale of the plant or franchise to any competing company at any future time should be absolutelr eliminated. Third That th maximum rates to be charged to the public ba reduced to the level of the rates current in other cities where the physical conditions are similar, and the right specifically to regulate rates be left In the hands of the Council, as is the case in San Fran cisco. Otherwise, why grant a fran chise? Fourth That the company furnish a certain amount of electricity free to the city, charging for any excess at a rate not over 1 cent per kilowatt hour. If the taxpayers of this city show no Interest In this matter, are acquiescent and indifferent, and the franchise is granted essentially In the shape it is now in. then the clear and positive re sult will be that another burden of watered stock and capitalized fran chises will be laid upon the already suffering taxpayers of this city. Grant the proposed franchise and in a short time to come the Portland Railway, Light & Power Company will be issuing bonds and stock against the same, and the dividends thereon will be paid by you and me without any resulting good. OAT LOMBARD. Prm-cdar la Prealdeatlal Elections, i-,.rfl , n 4 n I Anvil 97 ITn I ha nil. A A x tnA an ririimotll In CU1 LUr, ci aiiu i.e.. ' " which A declared that it was possible for an electoral delegate to the Elec- - 1 CAllAna n nail th Vftto nf the lUldl V ' J 1 1 F, V. . " - people to the opposing Presidential can didate, tnereoy securing mo iiotiin i a President not chosen by the people. B contenaea inai inn nicuimiu wc.can was merely a messenger carrying the vote of the people to the College, and that he was not Invested with power or authority to change it. Has there ever been a case of a dele- a. ill hi, vntA n a Presidential election? Who Is right in the above argument? T learn about the pro cedure in Presidential elections? tJAtiU 21 11- J. a Presidential elector Is bound. through custom, by a solemn tacit pledge to express the will of the party to which he owes nis election, mere has been no deviation from this cus tom since 1796, when three Democratic T.hMv.ii.aTi electors voted for Adams. the Federalist candidate. No elector has ever sold his vote. An elector might violate his trust, but If an over throw of the people's will resulted the outcome of the crisis would be prob lematical. UlSCUl-ri Wi yiuvcuuiT) ... the Electoral College are to be found In standard encyclopedias. Treatment ef Steerage Passenger. t TvroonY. Or April 27. (To the Edi tor.) Would you kindly publish Just how the steerage passengers are han dled by the ship's crew In case of dis aster, such as the Titanic? I have seen no account in the papers of what became of them. WILLIAM STAMP. No discrimination was made between steerage women and the women cabin passengers In the wreck of the Titanic The newspapers have published a long list of steerage passengers who were saved. School Election in Jane. PORTLAND, April 28. (To the Edl- will an election be held in Port land this June? If so, for what offices? TEACHER Of jrriJ!.iNSHix'. A school director will be elected on the third Monday in June, County, state and Congressional officers will be elected in November. SYNDICALIST Socialist Writer Condemn Violent Policy of New Movement. PORTLAND, April 27. (To the Edi tor.) An editorial on syndicalism this morning quotes Debs in such a way that the. careless reader will think he favors it. Debs is a socialist, not a syndicalist. Enclosed clipping may be regarded as fairly representing the socialist position regarding I. W. W. and syndicalism. We read your edi torial, please read this one. READER. The clipping to which Reader refers Is too long for complete reproduction, but it confirms the statement of The Oregonian that syndicalism and social ism conflict. Its author, A. M. Simons, says the "new revolutionary organiza tion has played the part of the small boy that runs around spitting in peo ple's faces and then yelling for his big brother to come and do the fighting." the big brother being the socialist party. He expresses willingness that the socialists help the syndicalists when they need help In a fight against capitalism and favors industrial union ism, but thinks the I. W. W. has in adequately filled that field. He says,' however: But there 1 a danger to th socialist movement in that industrlallnin haa hecoma a "blesaed word" with which to rally half baked socialists to tha support ot a clique of would-b officeholders. He expresses readiness to support those who are fighting under the ban ner of Industrial unionism, but ex presses contempt for those "who are building up a machine within the so cialist party to the destruction of that party." Ha directly charges the syndicalists with resort to personal violence, say ing: W are now told that sabotage and direct action does not mean personal violence. This Is plain lying. I have been a regular reader of from three to flv French syndicalist or gans ever since the movement originated, and thorn words are used to describe exactly the sort of tactics that made Hklnny" Mad den. Sam Parka and the McNamara brothers famous. 'Sabotage" is derived from the word 'sabot," meaning a wooden shoe, and very good English equivalent for it would mean "giving the boots to 'em." The syndicalists have swallowed the whole anarchist philosophy, bag and baggage, with some fancy additions of their own. This In cludes opposition to majority rule, the prop aganda of the deed and group ownership and control of Industry. To all of this the entire socialist movement Is Irrevocably op posed. Debs seems to have given the same kind of encouragement to syndicalism as the writer of the above words gives, but does not so frankly condemn "di rect action." ' O. A. C. IS GREAT ISTITl TION' 1,. Samuel Praises Work and Partleu- ly Domestic Science Department. PORTLAND. April 28. (To the Edi tor.) It is generally admitted that every American woman and every American man, after a return from a pilgrimage to Washington. D. C. is a better and bigger American. It is also safe to admit that every Oregon wo man and every Oregon man will be a bigger and better Oregonian after a visit to the Agricultural College, at Corvallls. Only by personal inspection can anyone have even a conception of the splendid work that is being done at this college. It is a training school to make better women and better men, as well as better farmers, better stock raisers, better engineers, better busi ness men and better housewives. I have made a number of visits to the Oregon Agricultural College, but never before have I had an opportunity to examine its ways and methods so thoroughly as on this trip, and never before have I been so benefited or gained so much general knowledge of things as on this occasion. I am free to admit that It has been the most profitable knowledge-acquiring day of my life. One of the most interesting depart ments is that of domestic science, and the young women of that department have every reason to feel proud of their splendid accomplishments, because, no better meal could be prepared anywhere than the banquet prepared and served by them on Frnday evening. The man ner of serving would be an object les son If a repetition of it could be dem onstrated to the waiters at our best hotels, so that they could learn how these young women do it. Everything appears promptly, neatly, just when wanted, and not a single thing has to be asked for. Everything is at your elbow Just at the right moment as if by magic, without a clatter of plates or noise or confusion of any kind." It would be a good Investment to bring this group of women to Portland on a demonstration excursion so that others could learn from them. - Taken all in all, the Oregon Agricul tural College is an institution of which every citizen may Justly feel proud, because it belones to and is part of Oregon itself. Excursions should be made there from every part of Oregon, not too often, because that might 'n terfere with the studies, but often enougli to acquaint people in every sec tion of the state with the magnificent work done there under the leadership of President W. J. Kerr. L. SAMUEL. The Indicted Ironworkers. WOODBURN. Or., April 27. (To the Editor.) An editorial in The Orego nian on "syndicalism" quotes Debs on the new unionism and also refers to the arrest of 54 union ironworkers some time ago. I fall to see what Debs' remarks on unionism has to do with syndicalism, but that is not the most interesting part of the editorial. , I read your paper closely as well as others and today Is the first time in weeks that a reference is made to the 54 ironworkers' arrest. A few weeks ago the headlines were sensational re garding the McNamaras' case being only the beginning and again the 4 unionists were only a start. Since then you have all been as silent as a phantom. Why Is this case dropped so completely after such great promises of its being pushed to tho limit and all the conspirators punished? HENRY CHAPPELLE. The Indicted Ironworkers are await ing trial in accordance with the usual legal formalities. When there is any news about them it will be published. Parody on Apostles Creed sttocks. PORTLAND. April 28. (To the Edi tor.) Is it possible that no protest was made in our highest legislative body when the Senator from Mississippi made that blasphemous parody on the apostles' creed, a creed that has been the bulwark of Christianity, for which numberless thousands have laid down their lives, and millions now- hold as the expression of their highest faith and hope, made a laughing stock, if any one there could have been debased enough to laugh, before the men elect ed to-i safeguard the welfare of our country? The Senator from Mississippi shows himself lacking in every element . of manliness when he thus wantonly des ecrates what bo many of his fellow citizens hold as the most sacred ar ticle of their faith. M. L. W. K. Straw Hats and Woman Suffrage. WOODLAND. Wash., April 26. (To the Editor.) In The Oregonian today it is stated May 1 is to be "straw hat day." Let me state Washington is ahead ot Oregon there, as straw hats are in fashion since a week ago. I'm an old Oregonian.' but now in Washington, and all honor to both states. Remember the women vote )n this state and poor, dear old Oregon is behind. But "bet ter late than never." OLD SUBSCRIBER TO OREGONIAN. DEBS IS NOT The Merciful Judge By Dean Collins. The Judge looked sternly from his place Upon the shrinking prisoner, "The Jury finds you guilty, as You're charged in the Indictment, sir. Now what have you to say before The prison opes its yawning door And you are sent, ten years, to stay. For swiping hens the other day?" The prisoner turned white, and fell At once upon his knees. Although his joints were stiff and he Could scarcely kneel with ease. "Oh, Judge," he cried," It can't be true That I have got ten years to do. Marching the closelocked prison step! The august judge responded, "Yep." The prisoner burst into tears. And wrung his hands in woe. Then thrust a paper toward the Judge; "Your honor, read! And know The dose you're mixing up for me. For here in this dispatch you'll see That convicts are the favored gents For dentistry experiments. "Oh Judge, read well! It tells you there That when ambitious youth Shall seek a license from the state To fix the human tooth. On convicts' teeth heil prove his art. And if they still exist In part When he is through, then he will be Licensed to practice dentistry. "Consider, then, your sentence, judge Ten years, each day bestead By budding dentists prying round The molars In my head: Ten years, each day a toothful round Of drills that buzz with fretful sound. And gums reduced to tender pulp " The stern Judge gave a tearful gulp. "Oh stop, young man!" he cried at las. "Your forecast wrlngR my heart! For ten long years subject you to The dental students' art? No!" And he gave his desk a bang. "I sentence you Instead to hang!" "Saved!" cried the prisoner In tears Of Joy. The Judge siged, "Gosh! Ten years?" Portland. April 28. Half a Century Ago From Th Oregonian of April 20. 1 Washington. April 12. The Secretary of War has received information that Huntsville. Ala., was occupied yesterday by General Mitchell's division without much resistance. Two hundred prison ers were taken. Baltimore. April 15. The Savan nah. Ga, Republican of the 12th an nounces the unconditional surrender of Fort Pulaski on the previous day at 2 P. M. Colonel Omsted, the rebel com mander, signalled the day previous to the surrender that our fire was so ter rible that no one could stand on the parapet a single moment. Over 1000 of our shells exploded in the fort. St. Louis, April 15. General Halleck arrived at Tittsburg Landing on Fri day. General Grant, in his official re port of the battle, estimates our loss at 1500 killed and 3000 wounded. The loss of the enemy in killed and left on the field is greater than ours. .- inrii The briers Ade laide and Mary' Wright arrived at Liver pool on the 3d. naving run ins uw-.w at Charleston. At Copenhagen on the 2d the Minis ter of Marine stated in Council that he would ask large credits for the con struction of iron plated ships and said no more wooden vessels would be built. The declaration was recetved with great satisfaction. Baltimore. April 16. Secession sym pathizers say the rebels have another steamer equal to the Merrimac, com pleted at Richmond and ready to sail down the James River in a few days. Kansas City. April 16. A mail from Fort Union confirms the news of a bat tle at Apache Pass. Our forces num bered 1800 and the Texans 1300. Our loss is 150. The enemy acknowledges a loss of 340 or 400. The Texans at tacked our battery four times, at the last time coming within 40 feet of our guns, but were repulsed with great loss. Washington. April 17. The War De partment advertises for a proposition for the construction of one or more gunboats, similar in plan to the Ericsson battery, for service on the Mississippi and the Gulf. "Washington. ApTiT 17. The rebels have for several days been building large fortification on the Gloucester side of the York River, about two miles from Yorktowr. and within sight of our gunboats. Yesterday morning the Co bago. heavy 100-pounder rifled gun. at once opened on them with shell, which were so well aimed that they could be seen falling in their midst, exploding with fatal effect In the course of two hours the work was en tirely suspended. Several fine pack trains, destined for Salmon and Powder Rivers, crossed at the ferry yesterday. Our friend George Hoyt. at present the gentlemanly receiving clerk at the Oregon Steam Navigation Companj s wharf, received and measured no less than 120 tons of freight during yes terday From this some idea may be formed of the quantity of merchandise going up the Columbia River. The Julia, from the Columbia River . last evening, brought J60.000 in gold rti.Rt from wens, r - and about 140.000 in the hands pf . pas- Kensrers Snake ruver oim i-; tengers ,,,, . risine rap- rdTyTnTthesteae'r .f.n in. was heard getting wTthin 12 miles of Lewis- ton. . ... I A linlf In Mexico, a. aay . - hour's practice with a pistol or rifle. I have noticed that an old soldier o Heal of real fight- wno naa oti ,.. Ing. and lost an arm. or a leg. or an eye, can usually be convinced that peace is a gooa tning. . j .it o-iri of 15. with fat ancestors, cannot realize what is ahead of her. As a rule if you give a whipping, you must take one. This "Modern Efficiency" you are hearing about is the same old "Work Hard" your grandfather heard about. Don't be a joke on yourself. A man of sense does not require a policeman at his elbow constantly; a sensible man is his own policeman, and knows it doesn't pay to violate the or dinances. When I hear of a quarrel, I know what it means', two men are trying to get the best of It; and the quarrel will be settled when each man takes what he knew he was entitled to in the first place. A country doctor 1b celebrated who was called to see a man very ill with an unknown disease, whereupon the doctor tried to throw his patient into fits, a complaint he claimed to under stand. The people today are trying to throw business Into politics, although we know from long experience that politics is epilepsy, and incurable. I As "Ed" Howe Sees Life !:.