TIIE MORNIXO OREGONIAN. MONDAY. AfRIT. 29, 1912.
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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
!:.