TTTTC JTOKXTTVO OKEGOyTAX TUESDAY, AFRTL 30, 1913.
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A WHECKDD nui:ruir.
Whatever may be the political out
come of the present controversy be
tween Taft and Roosevelt, no man of
healthy mind can help regretting that
It haa aundered a friendship between
two strong men which It waa a delight
to contemplate. When they were pull
ing together In harness prior to Taffa
election to the Presidency, they were
aa closely bound by the ties of friend
ship as were David and Jonathan, Da
mon and Pythian. Roosevelt, with his
exhaustless energy, hla boundless en
thusiasm, his love of action; Taft. with
his calm. Judicial temper, with his
wide experience on the bench and in
public administration each seemed
the complement of the other. The
delicate tasks of the Administration
were confided to Taft the pacifica
tion of Cuba, adjustment of affairs on
the Isthmus, a tour of the world to
smooth out all the wrinkles in our
foreign relations by personal contact
with the rulers. And when he re
turned, he was always greeted by his
chief with generous praise.
But the beginning of coolness dates
almost from Taffs election. The first
sign of It came when Taft gave the
chief credit f'r his election to his
brother. Charles, and to Roosevelt,
putting Roosevelt second when he ex
pected first place. Then came ru
mored quaireui over Taffa refusal to
put Loeb in the Cabinet and to make
Kellogg Attorney-General. A long sep
aration followed, during which Roose
velt was In Africa, the Balllnger-Pin-chot
controversy broke out and Pln
chot waa removed. Plnchot went to
Italy, smarting under a sense of sup
posed Injury, told his story first and
poured the poison Into the Colonel's
ear.
Since then the trouble-makera have
been busy disparaging and mis
representing Taffa every act. studious,
ly fostering in Roosevelt's mind the
Idea that the country needs a savior
and that he alone can save It. Roose
velt's egotism has done the rest. He
has been tempted to dim the glory of
his many great achievements, to split
the Republican party Into factions, to
rend apart the bonds which had grown
up through many years of close per
sonal and official Intercourse. This
has been done by a band of men with
a "grouch." who can see no good in
any public work unless they have a
hand In It.
These men have much to answer
for to the country, to their party.
They also have much to answer for
to Taft and Roosevelt as men, for
they have wrecked friendship and
left a poisoned wound In Its place in
the breast of each. When the strug
gle Is ended and both look back calm
ly at Its small beginnings and how
they have been magnified and exag
gerated. Roosevelt, no less than Taft.
may well curse the whole pernicious
breed of mischief-makers.
TAFT"" MEXICAN POLICY.
President Taft Is cautiously travel
ing along the road towards Interven
tion in Mexico. He realizes that In
tervention would be the signal for
anti-foreign frenxy In Mexico which
would cost many American lives and
for an outbreak of denunciation from
South America, where It would be re
garded as confirmation of suspicion
that we have aggressive designs. This
would come. Mo, at a time w hen Sec
retary Knox has been paying a per
sonal visit to the republics bordering
on the Caribbean Sea and assuring
them that our policy Is only to aid
them In meeting their obligations and
in keeping out of trouble.
But the foreign mining Interests of
Northern Mexlcrr have appealed to Taft
for relief and their appeals have been
backed by the British. French and
German Ambassadors. French and
Kngll.ih papers complain of our Inac
tion. France Is said to have obtained
Taffs consent to a naval demonstra
tion off the Mexican Coast, but Brit
ain and Germany are said to prefer
a Joint demonstration, followed by the
landing of a small force, purely for
police work. The Kuropean press- ar
gues that the course suggested would
convince Mexico that the United States
Is not the foe to be dreaded and might
cause the factions to rally around
Madero In a patriotic spirit.
It Is possible that Taft Is so shaping
events as to cause the European pow
ers to go Just far enough towards in
tervention to convince Mexico of her
imminent danger and to canse her to
Invite American Intervention as the
lesser of two evils. By thus sending our
troops In response to Mexico's appeal
Instead of on his rwn volition, he
would figure as a deliverer rather than
as an invader. The edge would then
be taken off Mexican hostility to
Americans and our expedition would
he able to rescue American residents
In Mexico alive. If we went as In
vaders or were so regarded, our forces
could probably render no better serv
ice to American residents than to bury
them and chastise their murderers.
There Is every evidence that Taft Is
preparing to act, but he Is reserving
action until circumstances are pro
pitious for the attainment of his end.
which Is relief of Americana alive, not
dead.
Perkins supported Taft. as Roose
velt's nominee. In 190. He support
ed SUmson. as Roosevelt's oomlpee. In
1910. He began to nppose Taft when
the latter had entered suit against
the steel trust and was threatening
suit against the Harvester trust. The
natural Inference is that he Is actuated
by resentment that Taft should not be
Influenced by gratitude for his cam
paign contributions to grant Immunity
to the trusts In which Perkins was
"interested." He pretends that reor
ganization of the oil and tobacco com
panies In a lawful manner has so en
hanced the value of their stocks that
other trusts would naturally welcome
suits and compulsory organization.
Then why Is he so angry at the prose
cution of his two pet trusts? His ac
tions belle his words.
THE IRRIGATED HOMESTF.AP BILL
The provision of the Borah Irrigat
ed homestead bill are so reasonable
and fair, both to the Government and
the settler, that there should be no
obstacle to its passage. The bill places
the Government Hen for the cost of
reclamation on the same footing as
the city places a lien on a lot for the
cost of street improvements. The dif
ference consists In the fact that the
Government is the owner of the Irri
gated land, while an Individual owns
the city lot.
By providing that patent shall not
be given the settler until he has paid
40 per cent of the charge for building
Irrigation works nor until the settler
has put half the land under cultiva
tion, the bill gives the Government
ample security for the remaining 60
per cent. This consists not only In
the settler's equity represented by the
40 per cent he has paid, but In the In
creased value of the land due to build
ings and cultivation. At the same time
the settler is enabled to borrow money
on mortgage, subject to the Govern
ment Hen. with which to complete his
Improvements and buy Implements for
economical farming. The Investment
of this borrowed money adds further
value to the farm and proportionately
Increases the Government's security,
at the same time adding to the set
tler's means of payment.
The passage of this bill, together
with that of the three-year homestead
bill, should do much to increase the
number of settlers coming to the West
and divert the flood of settlers which
Is being attracted to Canada by tho
liberal land laws of that country. Pro
moting the full settlement of land Ir
rigated by the Government will also
Increase the sums returned annually
to the reclamation fund and will thus
provide funds for further irrigation
projects.
CRIME AI ANARCHISM.
The crime of the French autoipo
blle bandits and the great force re
quired to capture them. Impress upon
us that modern Invention multiplies
the effectiveness of criminals as well
as of honest men. Riding in an auto
mobile at a speed which shows no re
gard for legal limits, armed with au
tomatic pistols. repeating rifles,
skilled In the use of explosives, re
sourceful, daring and indifferent to
the lives of others as to their own
death. Bonnot and Dubois committed
crime after crime marked by un
equaled audacity, dashed away at In
credible speed, evaded capture by the
celerity and secrecy of their move
ments and by the aid of their many
confederates, and were finally brought
down only by a small army.
The fact that their final stand was
made In a garage owned by Kromen
tln, the millionaire anarchist. In the
heart of the "Red Nest" founded by
him. Implies a close connection be
tween crime and anarchism. It Is but
natural that the two crime and an
archism should blend. Crime is a
practical denial of the right of or
ganized society to exist. Anarchism
Is the philosophical basts for such a
denial. Anarchism declares war on
society: crime carries on the war and
takes from society the money with
which to buy weapons. What more
natural than that the criminal should,
accept the. teachings of anarchism as
furnishing a moral ground for his con
duct? Or what more natural than
that the anarchist should welcome the
aid of the criminal In putting his the
ories In practice?
Just as the most vicious despotism
can find plausible excuses for Its ex
istence, so the most ruthless criminal
can find a political theory to excuse
his crimes, or even as a basis for the
pretense of noble motives. The con
duct of the Paris robber-anarchists
is the most convincing argument for
laws against anarchism, not only ac
tive but philosophical. What the
philosophical anarchist, who would
never throw a bomb himself, teaches
today, the active anarchist will put in
practice tomorrow. There is but one
course for every nation to pursue:
treat the teachi. of anarchism Just aa
It treats the anarchist who argues
with dynamite and lead.
ITALY AND THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE.
Will the triple alliance of Germany.
Austria and Italy, which expires this
year, be renewed? This Is the ques
tion which now occupies the minds of
observers of European politics. There
is such community of interest" between
Germany and Austria that there can
be little doubt of their remaining al
lies, but the motives which induced
Italy to Join them have passed away.
Italy Joined the alliance In 18S3.
when her relations with France had
become strained by the French occu
pation of Tunis, only 100 miles from
the coast of Sicily, and by the erection
In that country of an arsenal and for
tifications at Blzerta, threatening Italy.
These events were followed by the
downfall of the Italian cabinet, the In
crease of Italy's army and navy and a
custom war with France. Italv then
threw herself Into the arms of Ger
many, the hereditary enemy of France.
The building up of a counter alli
ance by France and reconciliation with
Italy was the work of Delcasse. the
French Foreign Minister. He reached
an understanding with Italy regarding
Crete In 189.. made a treaty recogniz
ing Italy's prior claim to Tripoli, ended
the customs war and removed all cause
for Italy's adherence to the triple alli
ance, so far aa France was concerned.
He formed an alliance with Russia and
reached an agreement with Britain In
1904 by which British support of
French claims on .Morocco was
pledged. The Anglo-Russian agree
ment of 1907 removed all danger that
France might be called upon to choose
between her two allies. King Edward
also cultivated the friendship of Italy
and relations of the latter country with
Russia have lately become closer. Thus
the tie which binds Italy to her allies
has been perceptibly weakened, while
those which bind her to the rival com
bination have been equally strength
ened. There Is now more cause of conflict
of Interests between Italy and Austria
than between Italy and any of the
three powers against which the triple
alliance waa formed as a defense. The
two nations are rivals for control of
the Adriatic Sea. Trieste and the sur
rounding country are mainly Inhab
ited by Italians, though under Austrian
rule. Italian patriots have given to
that district the name "unredeemed
Italy," and at times clamor for its an
nexation. The ambitions of the two
nations in the Balkan peninsula also
make them rivals.
Fear that Italy may throw In her
lot with France. Russia and Britain
and desert the triple alliance there
fore haunts the two Teutonic powers
of Central Europe. This fear may ex
plain the hesitation of Germany to
give Turkey diplomatic aid against
Italy during the Tripoiitan War, much
as the Kaiser desires to cultivate
Turkish friendship with an eye to the
extension of German enterprises in
Asia Minor. Italy Is In fine position
to cry. "hands off to all Europe, while
she fights the Turks.
MAN'S KM; ITT TO RTT.
A story comes from Walla Walla,
Wash., of an Irate physician who, be
coming distracted at piano practice
at unseemly hours In the room above
his sleeping apartment, rushed up
stairs and laid violent hands upon the
young woman who "was pounding out
the "Maiden's Prayer" with improved
variations at an hour when all well
regulated persons are supposed to be
asleep.
We recall a similar case of distrac
tion years ago, when cows still had
the privilege of roaming and browsing
upon East Side streets. An old Ger
man, who wished to be able to locate
his cow at milking time without un
due effort, strapped an old-fashioned
bell to her neck. Every Summer
morning about 4 o'clock the creature.
In nibbling the short grass by the
roadside, found her way to the locality
In which this long-suffering, hard
working woman lived, and the blng
bang. blng-bang of the cow's bell, as
the animal busied herself in biting
closer the short, green grass, made
sleep In the house hardby Impossible.
Finally one morning the monoton
ous, unmusical sound became unbear
able and the woman rushed forth in
her night-robe and slippers and seiz
ing a garden rake t hand, burled the
teeth In the animal's flank. A lawsuit
followed In which a sympathetic Jury
found for the defendant.
A Jury, if called upon, would doubt
less find for the Walla Walla physi
cian on the same basis, viz: That
no one haa a right to rob a ncighbos
of sleep by discordant and untimely
noises.
f HA MFM.AINK TERCENTENARY.
A delegation of distinguished
Frenchmen landed In New York the
other day to commemorate by a visit
to the United States the tercentenary
of Samuel De Champlain. Aa a token
of the traditional good will which ex
ists between France and this country,
the delegation brings the bust of "La
France" by Rodin, the greatest of liv
ing sculptors, to present to America,
At the head of the visiting French
men is M. Gabriel Hanotaux. Member
of the Academy, who was formerly the
Minister of Foreign Affairs. The
Premier of France, M. Poincare, Is
personally represented by Le Vlcemte
de Chambrun. The other members of
the delegation are distinguished and
Interesting. Among them one notices
the name of M. Bleriot. the aviator
who was the first to fly across the
Straits of Dover; M. Fernand Cormon.
president of the Academy of Fine Arts,
and the Comte de Rochambeau, whose
historic name is familiar to all Amer
icans. Many pleasant entertainments
are meeting the visitors In the course
of their trip through the eastern part
of the United States. On Monday they
dined with President Taft at Washing
ton. Today Columbia University gives
them a reception. On Wednesday they
will visit Independence Hall' at Phila
delphia. Leaving for Canada they will
pass by Tlconderoga, on the banks of
Lake Champlain, and go to Niagara by
way of Montreal. They expect to sail
for France from New York on May 9.
The bust will be presented at Crown
Point.
Samuel de Champlain was the
greatest of those French pioneers and
explorers who laid the foundation of
an empire in the American forest.
The son of a ship captain, he began
his career in the army, but when he
was 32 years old. In 1599, he was ap
pointed to the command of the ship
St. Julien, by King Henry IV. and
sailed for Spanish America. The re
port of this voyage was not published
until 1870, but the manuscript was
read by the King, whose favor waa
won by the bold spirit of the narrator.
He gave Champlain a "pension and
made him an untitled noble. Some
what dazzled, perhaps, by the royal
favor. Champlain dangled for a time
around the Louvre showing his grati
tude for past favors by a lively expec
tation of fresh ones, after the accepted
manner of courtiers, but this phase of
his career did not last a great while.
Every adventurous soul in France at
that time was fascinated by the stories
of fame, power and fortune to be won
in the Canadian forests. Jacques
Cartier had led the way in 1534 and
from that time till the capture of
Quebec by Wolfe and the final fall of
the French power in America, bold
spirits, like Champlain, were eager to
follow and emulate him. In 1603
Amyar de Chastes, a man who had
been loyal to Henry of Navarre In his
darkest hours and was now enjoying
the felicity of hla triumph over his
enemies. 'suggested to the King that it
would be a fine thing to plant the
banner of the Cross In the Canadian
wilds and requested permission to un
dertake the noble work with a monop
oly of the fur trade for his earthly re.
ward. Henry granted the monopoly
and De Chastes made an exploring ex
pedition in which Champlain had a
place. The King commissioned him
to bring back a "true report of what
should befall" the adventurers. This
duty naturally fell to him because of
Henry's liking for his account of the
voyage to Spanish America.
They explored the Gulf of St. Law
rence and sailed up the St. Lawrence
River as far as Lachlne Rapids and
some 30 miles up the Saguenay.
Champlaln's account of this voyage
was publishes in 1604 with the King's
approval. It Is especially useful to
historians because It gives a full and
accurate account of the Canadian In
dians. De Chastes died before the ex
pedition returned to France, but he
was succeeded by De Monts, in whose
interest Champlain made four distinct
voyages In the course of the next three
years and explored the Bay of Fundy
and the New England coast as far as
Vineyard Sound. In 1608 he was ap
pointed Lieutenant-Governor of New
France and on July 3 of that year be
gan the foundations of Quebec. It
was Champlaln's policy to unite the
various Canadian Indian tribes In an
alliance with France against the Iro
quois. The confederacy of the Iro
quois, or Five Nations, was almost the
sole attempt of which we have any
account on the part of the American
Indians to establish a well-organized
government. Primitive as their fed
eral union was. It nevertheless so far
surpassed the wild savagery of the
surrounding tribes in military effi
ciency, that the Iroquois were well on
the way toward extending their power
over the whole of America east of the
Mississippi and North of the Ohio.
This, of course, was not at all to the
liking of the French and they sought
to prevent it by enlisting the other
tribes on their side.
In the year 1609, while Champlain
was leading a band of allied Indians
against the Mohawks, he incidentally
discovered the lake which bear his
name. We quote a few sentences from
his description of It: "The lake Is of
great extent, say eighty or a hundred
leagues long, where I saw four fine
islands, ten, twelve and fifteen leagues
long. There are also many rivers
falling Into the lake, bordered by
many fine trees of the same kinds as
those we have, in France, with many
vines finer than any I have ever seen
in any other place. Also there are
many chestnut trees on the borders
of the lake, which I had not seen be
fore. There Is also a great abundance
of fish of many varieties." In the
course of this trip with the Indians
Champlain witnessed the perform
ances of a medicine man. whom he
calls a Pllotols. The Pllotols Invoked
the devil, he says, and got a promise
of victory over their enemies by "lying
prostrate on the ground,, motionless,
only speaking with the devil. On a
sudden he rises to his feet, talking
and tormenting himself so vigorously
that although naked he Is all of a
perspiration." The medicine man made
the tent shake In the orthodox fashion
and the savages told Champlain that
the devil did it. but unfortunately for
his faith he happened to see the
"rogue Inside" do It himself with his
hand on the center pole.
It would be agreeable If some other
travelers were as vigilant and skep
tical. Parkman. who is the best of
Judges, says that Champlaln's name
"stands foremost on the list of the
pioneers of the North American for
ests. It was he who struck the deep
est and boldest strokes into the heart
of their pristine barbarism."
Humane sentiment applauds the
appropriation of 11,500,000 by Con
gress to repair the Mississippi levees
but It is fairly certain that the work
will do no permanent good. It Is a
universal experience that floods grow
worse and worse In rivers which are
bordered by levees. The bed of the
stream rises gradually by the deposit
of silt and it becomes ever more diffi
cult to retain the water. The Po flows
for miles above the level of Its plain.
Ultimately perhaps, some system of
agriculture will be adopted In the
lower Mississippi which will utilize
the overflow and the effort to prevent
It may then be abandoned.
The unlucky' experiences of the
babies who were placed in Mrs. I. E.
Miller's "home" seem -to Indicate that
an enterprise of that sort ought to be
licensed and regularly inspected. We
have passed by that stage of civiliza
tion when it Is deemed proper to
starve and poison human infants in
order to save the expense of rearing
them. Life is somewhat more valu
able In this country than It was for
merly and society sems likely to as
sume the task of protecting the lives
of babies before a great while.
The leisurely processes of American
Justice which were so much admired
In the beef trust case are equally con
spicuous in the prosecution of the
Harvester trust. Five years of inves
tigation were required before begin
ning the suit. To try It will naturally
require 10 or 15. The appeals and
retrials will carry us well on Into the
latter half of the century. Our grand
children may. If they are lucky, see
the end of It.
Presence of women as delegates at
the Republican convention of "Clark
County. Washington, will restrain the
brethren from repeating the scenes
which marked the state conventions
of Michigan and Missouri. Decorum
In conventions will be a welcome In
novation, though some may complain
that it makes them Insufferably dull.
Those who have assumed that the
adoption of woman suffrage will be
quickly followed, as a logical sequence,
by adoption of prohibition will be
undeceived by the vote which made
Sacramento's annexed district "wet."
There is as much difference of opin
ion on prohibition among women as
among men.
This Is Raisin day and to give the
event a proper touch of local color,
Portlanders should devour an extra
ration for that sterling old Oregonlan,
Mr. Joe Levlnson, who Is editing and
owning a daily paper at Fresno, where
they make the best kind in all the
world.
Floods In the Mississippi Valley and
tornadoes In the. -Middle West and
Southwest make us refrain from
grumbling at our Spring showers and
thank God we live In Oregon.
If little Roosevelt Sahn and little
Taft Sahn should quarrel as furiously
as the famous men after whom they
are named, there will not be" much
peace In the Sahn family.
A big party of Eastern millionaires
will visit Portland this week and It
Is a safe venture to say each will Jingle
less money in his pockets than the av
erage salaried man.
Lafayette agrees with Puddln'head
Wilson to put all the eggs Into one
basket and watch the basket. The
town grants license to one saloon at
a fee of $1500.
These April showers are special en
tertainment for Bill Hanley, who lives
in a region where the natives stay out
In the joccaslonal rain for the pleasure
of getting wet.
Greece regards the Aegean Archi
pelago as her future heritage. The
capture of some of yi Islands by Italy
will make the PanhellenlsU boll.
Apple bloom is not enough advanced
to be injured by the showers, and the
early fruit Is set. So the rains are
welcome for the good they will do.
Taft answers the Colonel and the
Colonel replies to Taft. so Is. formed
each link of the chain that will gall
where It binds.
Warships of all nations are to feel
of Mexico at long distance, it seems.
Make a memorandum to buy that
straw hat today; also an umbrella.
ftlESTIONS ASKED ARE NOT FAIR
Mode of ftenate Inquiry Into Titanic
Disaster Criticised.
. INDEPENDENCE. Or.. April 28. (To
the Editor.) I have followed closely
si ....nun,- nf the TltsntC
disaster. You are to be congratulated
on the thoroughness ana at in
time the conservatlvness of the ac
counts you have rurnlsneo me puui".
I note that the British press and pub
lic are beginning to protest at the man
ner in which the Senatorial committee
is conducting its investigation. What
ma i that thev have not
entered an emphatic protest ere this.
Our brothers across the sea are rather
touchy as regards the Brltlsn seaman
i hi. .uhi, with verv few ex
ceptions, the accounts so far given by
the survivors or the disaster nave u..i
talned notnlng but praise for the offi
cers and crew of the Titanic Apparent
ly "quarter deck" and "forecastle" lived
up to the best traditions of Anglo
Saxon seamen.
Why then should not the British
...uni.t.. n.fito ,t sn i n vpR ti erat Ion or
at least questions asked British sea
men that are not only unfair and
biased, but frequently more than in
sulting and in themselves for the most
part absurd and ridiculous and founded
on absolute ignorance of the subject
In question? Is there any good rea
son why these seamen should not be
investigated"" by naval men or at
least men who have some knowledge of
the sea? Although Senator Smith may
have the best intentions in the world,
he is too good a politician not to
realize the effectiveness of the "spot
light" and he is going to hold the
public attention as long as possible.
Yet I doubt if he would know a belay
ing pin from a bob-stay or a spar
buoy from an anchor-light. If he was
told that bilge water was served only
at the captains table he would be in
dignant that the passengers should
be so overlooked. His profound knowl
edge of matters pertaining to the sea
and ships is shown in the early part
of the "investigation," where he asked
a Junior officer "If it were not pos
sible that many would have been saved
if they had entered the water-tight
compartments." These may not be his
exact words, but they are the gist of
them. How would any seafaring man
In Portland harbor or any other harbor
like to have a man capable of asking
a question like that, sit in Judgment on
him? His questions time after time
have not only shown his unfitness for
the work In hand, but made him the
laughing stock of any man who has
seen a piece of water larger than a
duck pond.
The crew of a liner are not seamen,
they are deckhands, or laborers, or
roustabouts. Under the circumstances
they showed themselves to be made of
the right kind of stuff. Any skipper
can pick out a better boat crew along
Portland's waterfront than can be found
on the average liner. It is so easy
from the seats of the mighty to Insult
by insinuating questions men of more
lowly estate. Do the Senators of the
committee know in their hearts that
they would have been above reproach
if they had been placed as the officers
and seamen were placed? Is not a sea
T..an's life as dear to him as a Sena
tor's? Is not the law of self-preservation
Just as strong? Are not a sea
man's wife and children Just as precious
to him?
Where can you find greater chapters
of heroism and loyalty and self-sacrifice
than are stored forever in the bosom
of the deep? The public have already
forgotten the true history ot the burn
ing of the General Slocum and the in
vestigation that followed. It was
shown that the so-called crew was
made up of the riff-raff of the docks.
United States inspectors had been
bribed to O. K. life preservers (?) that
in many cases wouldn't even float,
her boats seams were parted, practi
cally none of the regulations covering
steamers of her class were lived up
to. And why? Simply because her
owners wanted the last pound of flesh
and they got it In the practical mur
der of over 1000 women and children.
And who paid the piper? Not the
greedy owners, but the captain. All
he had was years of faithful serv
ice behind him. old age in front of
him and a wife and family to support.
He was given ten years for "Bad Judg
ment" and recently released, a wreck
of a man. I was in New York at the
time. I never heard of any owner
paying the price of his greed.
A few years ago I saw tm excursion
steamers in New York harbor, deck
stanchions where the dryrot could be
picked out with a finger nail, yet on
the decks there was "standing room
only." Conditions may be better now.
but I doubt it, and when the catas
trophe comes and one is about due.
around whose neck will the rope go.
and who will be hung from the yard
arm of public opinion? It will again
be the man who to make a living "goes
to the sea in ships.
One's heart goes out to the widows
and orphans, whether they are of the
family of millionaires or stokers, but
before we hold up our fellow-man in
scorn, or charge him with cowardice,
let us be cVrtain that we have not some
little mote in our own eye. Put your
self in his place. I personally feel
that many of the questions asked by
the committee are not only cowardly,
but brutal. They are accomplishing
nothing but the ruin of. the lives and
careers of Innocent men. There Is not
an intelligent man in the country that
does not Know where the trouble lies,
and in those matters where technical
training or knowJedge Is desired it
can be obtained. The public demands
luxury, speed, sensation, excitement.
The sea simply took her toll. Let the
public Insist on saneness and they
will get it. But sanity would make
life too prosaic. I am not especially
pro-British, seeing that I and ' num
erous of my paternal ancestors had
tnelr being pretty close to the land of
the wooden nutmegs, but I from train
ing like to see matters "ship shape
and Bristol like" and the present in
vestigation is hardly that
SAMUEL PECK.
VNIVF.RSITY STCDENTS ADVISED.
Correspondent Urges Them to Seek
Knowledge, Not Approprlntlona.
WESTPORT, Or, April 25. (To the
Editor.) The appropriation of $500,000,
plus a $250,000 biennial appropriation,
is too much money to put into our
State University, whose enrollment at
Eugene does not exceed 600 students.
It is too much at one time. We should
encourage our schools, but here is a
case where a vast fortune is expended
upon some 600 students, and is the
state, the taxpayer, repaid?
It was stated in The Oregonlan that
the loyal students this Fall would go
and stump the stats in the interest of
their school. We would ask the boys
to stay on the campus and turn their
attention to bettering conditions about
the university. The large sums of
money netted by the many athletic or
ganizations, the big salaries paid
coaches and trainers, whose express
duty is to teach the husky how to buck
the line, could all be saved and paid
to those who teach knowledge and not
sport.
The spending of nearly $1,000,000 by
the public upon a school which permits
Its social life to be dominated by secret
societies is another item which the tax
payer should think of. A free public
institution should be free from such.
The cry of more costly buildings, ap
paratus and more athletic room. Is in
nine cases out of 10, begun by a few
students who are at college at the ex
pense of "dad," and know not the value
of money. The student body is next
heard from and then the faculty and
friends, till the Legislature Is asked to
make an appropriation and the tax
payer stands good. Let us hope for
education which gives better results
and coata leas. JAMES GROVE H.
INCREASE IN RATES DEFENDED
Modern Woodman Combats Criticisms
Made by Correspondent.
PORTLAND, April 28. (To the Edi
tor.) In The Oregonlan, April 27, I
find an unsigned article from Eugene,
Or., concerning the new rates recently
adopted by the Modern Woodmen of
America.
I would not ask space to reply to any
unsigned article were it not for the fact
that the society mentioned has over
10,000 members in Oregon, many of
whom are readers of The Oregonlan
and the future welfare of whose bene
ficiaries is in many cases largely de
pendent on the protection carried in the
society. Furthermore, the society has
over 1.000.000 members, with insurance
in force aggregating $1,800,000,000. and
it may be truly said that In a large
measure the future of our society will,
to a large extent. afTect the entire fra-
ii . a 1 Inaiipanit, wnrlri In which at
this time, practically 40,000.000 of the
American people are Interested.
T llr All v.fnnAAv rotAnal lneiitfln-A
UIAO A, l (iiuurci .... vv. i ........ ...
...Iniin. h a Xlnepn WnndmAn WAR
organized by men who had little knowl
edge of the fundamental principles of
lire insurance or me taws oi muridiuj,
but who undertook to furnish protec
tion t each other on the mutual "cur
rent cost" plan.
Experience has taught that this can
be done very cheaply for a few years
while the members are all young, but
In the course of time, when any great
percentage of the mebmers pass into
the higher" ages, the death rate nat
urally becomes higher and the cost
must inevitably increase in proportion,
and this can only be met by levying ad
ditional assessments on the member
ship, or Increasing the rates of con
tribution. It has been the history of every so
ciety that ever passed through this
experience that whenever it becomes
necessary to call a "double-header"
(two assessments In one month), the
young and healthy members will leave
the society and secure cheaper insur
ance elsewhere, thus leaving the old
and Impaired risks to meet their own
death losses, which eventually become
so high that they' oannot be borne, in
which ecent the "old members" lose
thoir protection entirely.
It was to prevent Just such an un
fortunate condition as this and to pre
serve the protection for the present
"old member" as well aa the younger
ones that the recent head camp, or law
making body very wisely provided a
safe and scientific rate for the future,
which will guarantee to every mem
ber of the society, whether young or
old. that his benefit certificate will be
paid in full at maturity, with not to
exceed 12 assessments per year.t
These rates will still furnish pro
tection to our members at "cost," therj
being no possible element of "gain," as
not a dollar of the benefit fund (or
assessment) can be used for any pur
pose except for the payment of death
benefits all expense being paid from a
per capita tax of $1.20 per year on each
member.
The facts are that the Modern "Wood
men recognized Its Imperfections of
the past and have now courageously
established the society on a sound and
enduring basis, on rates based on a
mortality table that Is now recognized
and In use by the United States Govern
ment. , ,
The whole tenor of this article seems
to be that the "old member" has been
unfairly dealt with. For the benefit
of our own membership, as well as fra
ternallsts in general, permit me to say
that the present "old men" In the so
ciety, while paying all that was re
quired of them by our laws In the past
have really had more than they paid
for (because their rates were never
high enough to pay even the "current
cost" at their respective ages), but
assuming that in the past they have
paid for all they have received and that
it is now an "even break," up to the
present time what does the society
offer to the "old man" In the future?
Under the new table of rates, the
younger men will pay Just about one
third of the actual cost of insurance
for him. and in addition thereto if ho
so desires, the society will lend him
one-third the money with which to pay
the balance, at 4 per cent interest (a
lower rate of Interest than he can ob
tain in Oregon) and deduct this amount
only from the face of his certificate at
death. .
Instead of "raising the old man out
of the society" the recent head camp
took measures to perpetuate the so
ciety, so that when the "old man s cer
tificate matures by death, it will be
paid in full and his contributions of
years- duration will not have been in
Valn" J. W. SIMMONS,
State Deputy M. W. of A.
PLEA MADE FOR I1 KITED PARTY
Writer Decries Talk of Bolt From
Roosevelt, If Nominee.
MEDFORD, Or., April 25. (To the
Editor.) If the combined vote of
Roosevelt and La Follette anywhere
near represents the progressive senti
ment of the Republican party in Ore
gon, then "Mr. Taffs followers should
accept gracefully the result and not
threaten to stay at home or bolt the
t'eket if Mr. Roosevelt is the nominee
at Chicago. Mr. Roosevelt. number
of years ago, when he was badly beat
en in the New York Legislature, was
asked why he did not bolt the ticket
Ho said that he believed in staying In
and continuing the battle for what he
believed to be the right things until
the majority would be convinced that it
was the right way. too. So he staid in
and finally became President and lead
er of the greatest party and country in
the world. Many who have followed
him in his career believe him to be a
the most capable man to lead the big
battle that now Is soon to engage the
great nations of the world the battle
of the rights of the common PPle
against the big minority and handful
of rich men who now have control or
the leading banks and big corporations
and trusts of the leading nations of the
world v
It Is not only the big things in our
own United States that are soon coming
up for adjudication, but many world
wide matters, in which the United
States as a Nation has got to take an
active part in the final settlement.
Many men In our different states to
day honestly believe Mr. Roosevelt has
the highest respect of other nations of
the world, for his education, sincerity
and courage to carry out the will of
the majority of tho people to be ex
pressed at tho polls this coming No
vember. All Mr. Roosevelt has asked
Is for the people to be given an oppor
tunity to express their choice in the
different states. If Mr. Taft is that
choice, then support him: if Mr. La
Follette is the choice, then support him,
but If the majority wish Mr. Roosevelt
again to take the reins and do the driv
ing, then let's don't talk bolt or stay
at home. Accept the result and try
again if defeated. A. K. WARE.
Bulkheads WeTe Weak.
PORTLAND, April ?9. (To the Edi
tor.) My theory of the sinking of the
Titanic is that the bulkheads, or air
tight compartments, were not made
strong enough. It is not theoretically
reasonable to suppose '.hat any boilers
exploded. They certainly did not If the
sea water got to them first. I have
not seen the plan of the airtight com
partments, but assuming that they
were 60 feet high and 200 tee long,
and that the end was lowered, and that
the water was leaking in ftom the
lower end and the upper end was tight,
the pressure may have been a ton or
more to the square foot, wh4ch may
have blown up the deck and caused
superficial observers to believe the
boilers had exploded, ard that, the ship
had been broken In two.
. W, BRITTS.
Half a Century Ago
From The Oreponlan of April SO, 1982.
The steamship Julia, which arrived
last night, brought down Wells-Fargo
& Co.'s express from the Salmon River
mines and $75,000 .in gold dust. The
steamer Tenino has made a successful
trip to Lewiston, bringing back to Wal
lula some 30 passengers, who had in
their possession over $50,000, making In
all about $125,000 which came down last
night.
Lieutenant Mullan has received orders
to suspend work on the Fort Benton
military road and to return to Walla
Walla Immediately. The road is nearly
finished and in passable traveling con
dition to Fort Benton.
A new stage line has been started
between Walla Walla and Lewiston.
We are permitted to publish the fol
lowing letter written to S. N. Arrigoni.
of this city: "Lewiston, April 23, 1862.
We are all anxiously awaiting the ar
rival of the first steamer, as provisions
are scarce and bacon readily commands
75 cents per pound, and has been as
high as $1 per pound, consequently
living costs about $2 per day and cook
yourself. In the Salmon River mines
flour sells at $2 per pound, or .uu per
barrel; coffee, $2.50. Dried apples.
sugar, candles, gum boots, shovels,
picks, etc, are very scarce, and little
or no bacon, which readily commands
$5 per pound. I understand that the
river diggings along the bank will
readily pay $10 and $20 per day to the
hand."
Chicago, April 18. A letter received
from Cairo this morning says that Fort
Wright (on the Mississippi) has been
captured.
Fort Monroe. April 18. A eorre-
Siuiiucii, vfc ..o
says at intervals last night and this
morning heavy ccnnonaaing wua unuu
In the direction of Yorktown. Forty
deserters who came into our lines re
port that Jeff Davis had arrived at the
rebel camp and it was understood he
would take command in the approach
ing battle. Constant skirmishing is
,,,.ii nn nv thn riflemen. Occasion
ally Bhot and shell are thrown. A dis
patch from McClellans neaaquariers
says that near midnight the enemy
attacked General Smith's position and
attempted to carry his guns. They
were handsomely repulsed. Yorktown
has been shelled by our gunboats, but
without effect.
Washington. April 18. The select
committee to investigate the loss of
the Norfolk Navy-yard and Harper's
Ferry reported the total value of the
property taken at Norfolk at $974,000.
The number of guns seized by the
rebels was 200, The committee, after
a long review of the matter, censure
the Buchanan Administration for gross
neglect of duty, and say that Lincoln s
Administration cannot be held blame
less, for 37 days elapsed without any
effort to defend the yard.
Washington. April 18. General
Shield's division occupied Mount Jack
son yesterday morning. At 7 o clock
the enemy appeared -In fores In front
of Rude's Hill. They resisted our ad
vance with energy, in order to obtain
time to burn the bridges, locomotives
and cars which would accumulate at
the terminus of the railroad Our
movements were so sudden that, we
were able to save the bridges, two loco
motives and several cars.
We are glad to announce that the
difficulties in regard to the PuW
school have been removed, and that it
will be reopened this morning. The
certificates so wrongly withheld by Mr.
Pennoyer were yesterday given to Mr..
Frambes and other teachers.
Yesterday was the warmest day we
have had this year. At 8 o'clock P. M.
The mercury was up to 84 in the shade.
As "Ed" Howe Sees Life
Men everywhere seem to think their
vote is a thing with which to get
even" with those who have in any re
mote way incurred tholr displeasure.
It will finally be unconstitutional for
any man not a lawyer to be a member
of Congress. Lawyers stand together
better than any other class; that is the
secret of their power.
You may get whaTis not fairly com
ing to you: but It will make you more
trouble than it is worth.
Ever notice that Fate sometimes pur
sues you with relentless fury, but. Just
before getting you in Jail, seems to be
come ashamed of Itself, and lets up a
little?
As a rule, society people keep out of
the society columns of tho newspapers.
The old phrenologists used to say a
good deal about the bump of imagina
tion. I have It, but it has fooled me so
often that I am becoming more con
servative. We speak of new evils, whereas evils
are almost without exception, old. But
many remedies for old evils are new,
and modern men deserve the credit.
As a general rule, the man who be
haves himself doesn't do much howl
ing because he doesn't get Justice.
A girl doesn't mind working for a
living, if she gets married to do it.
Every man flatters himself that he
will finally whip his enemy, and that
he will give him a good one when he
gets at him.
WIFE OF POHCEMAS PROTESTS.
Administration Charged With Failure
to Keep Pledges to Department.
PORTLAND, April 26. (To the Edi
tor.) At the regular session of the
City Council held on Wednesday, when
the resolution giving policemen two
days off duty each month was brought
up for action, one of the members of
that body is reported to have said,
"this matter under consideration has
been dragging along for nine months."
to which the Mayor replied, "It ought
to drag for nine months more."
If I mistake not, during the Mayor s
campaign previous to his election to
his present position, this matter of
giving policemen two days oft each
month was one of the foremost election
promises given. Since that time the
police department has been a target
for the administration. The men have
been held up to the world and branded
as a set of bandits. Their every act
has been criticised in the most scath
ing terms and humiliation has been tha
lot of the men that have worked hon
estly and faithfully for years. I say
"honestly," for I believe that today
there are as honest men to be found
In this branch of the service as in any
other calling of men. .
Most of the officers are men of famil
ies, who have provided homes for them
selves, thus becoming taxpayers and
contributors to the general fund that
keeps the machinery of this big city in
operation. They take a pride in im
proving and keeping up these homes,
and what spare time is given them will
be Industriously employed in doing
their share toward making their sur
roundings more beautiful.
At the time of the election, a year
ago, at least 95 per cent of the men in
this department supported our present
Mayor, and let me ask here. .What has
he given in return? Abuse, unadulter
ated. A POLICE OFFICER'S WIFE.
4