8 TIIE MORXIXG OREGOXIAX, TUESDAY, MAT 7, 1912. PORTLAXD. OBMOV Entered at Portland. Oregon. Poet office as toiid-c.m Matter. JbeorlpUou Katae Invariably la Adnm (BT MAIL.) IT. Sanaa rocluaed. on year. .....I."' &eily. Sunday included, etx monltii..,. 4.25 tei.y. tvmdey Included, three nonttti.. 2.23 Dally. SunUer Inoiuded. one nootb.... .S r.ly. without Sunday, one year....... f Dally, without Sunday, eta months..... 4.33 &ei:y. without Sunday, thro months... 1.73 r-ai.v without bund, ana month .AO Weekly, on year 1-JJ Sunday. 6t jwr ..............-.. . 5? Sunday and Weekly, en year.. -4 (BT CARRIER.) DeMr. un1y included, on year ." Erelly. Sunday Included, on month 73 Maw ta Keenlt aand Poetofriee money or der. eapresa order or personal checa on your local tank. Stamps, coin or currency aro at the feadefe rls. Olee peetofflce adareae la fun. Including county and etate. Poeiaae Rale 10 t 14 rate. 1 cent: 10 ta IS naa. g well, SO to 4" pasea. S cents; 4 to v patea, 4 cents. Koreisn poatase. 4itiM rata. kaeterm Raetaeea Offleee Verre Conk tin .N.w Yora. h.rur.awica building. Chi cago, S:ir hur.dtr.4T. Karopraa Office .No. Regent (treat. B. VV.. London. PORTLAND. TUESDAY. MAT 7. Itlt. C.U5M OK THE Ql AKKtU An essential part of the Insurgent poae Is the assumption that President Taft's estrangement from Roosevelt Is the result of acts of Ingratitude, of disregard of tacit agreements and of a policy which outrages the Colonel's most sincere) convictions. This view of the quarrel between the two former friends Is exploited by men o close to Roosevelt and so lorlg in timate with him and contains so many statements of fact obtainable from no ether source that the conclusion is forced upon us that It came In the first Instance from the Colonel him self. Of this nature is an article in the American Magazine by William Allen White, entitled. "Should Old Ac quaintance Be Forgot?" This article contains abundant internal evidence of having been based on Intimate per sonal conversation with Roosevelt, with whom White is on the closest terms of friendship. It Conveys so dis torted and so grossly unjust a view, both of Tsft's public acts and of his relations with Roosevelt, that It re volts the editor of the American him self, staunch admirer of Roosevelt though he be. and moves him to say in footnote that he "rinds It Impossi ble to follow his friend and collab orator White) In all Ms Interpreta tions of personal fact. and to add: Wo ar admirer of Mr Roeeve!t. Yet wa fe-l that Mr. Tart has appeared the more dignified figure la eome of the event allude! In. And. ma apmpoe aa It may be. wa take occasion to ay that neltbei nu rl-arlr to understand that the pol (lea and attitude of a considerable body of their party are mainly due ta the work of certain other men, especially ecnator La foli. tie. White's article dwells particularly on the difference in temperament be tween Taft and Roosevelt, but he ex aggerates Taft'e shortcomings and Roosevelt's strong points, while dwell ing not at all on Taft's strong points and Roosevelt's shortcomings. Tet what White has overlooked can be read between the lines or Is known to any man who has kept ordinarily well informed on current events. Roosevelt la depicted by his friend, who probably wrote while the Impres sion of the Colonel's recital of his grievances was still fresh In hie mind as mortified because he was made to play second fiddle to Taft's brother Charles a maker of Taft a political fortunes. The Colonel's vanity wss hurt. His extreme egotism is here brought Into strong relief. White assumes that, in Inheriting Roosevelt's polices. Taft also should have Inherited Roosevelt's Cabinet. Without directly saying so, he Implies that Taft promised as much, for he says that Roosevelt's assurances . to Garfield and others that they would be retained "could have come only from a definitely expressed request from Mr. Taft." Could these assur ances not as well have come from the Colonel's own exaggerated Idea of the obligation under which he had placed Tart? The President Is described as easy-goicg and therefore yielding to the standpatters, who began to sur round him. If he was easy-going, would he not have been more apt to become an echo of Roosevelt, as many of his critic predicted? Would he not have more readily yielded to the forceful man who had placed him under such obligations? The more reasonable conclusion is that Taft determined to carry on the Roosevelt policies with Instruments of his own choice. He made some ex ceptions, for he retained Wilson at the head of the Agricultural Depart ment, transferred Meyer from the Fostofflee to the Navy, and recalled Ballinger. who had been Roosevelt's Land Commissioner, to be head of the Interior Department. Meyer has made good, but Wilson has been a source of weakness and, false as have been the attacks on Ballinger. It would certainly have been better for Taft had he allowed that gentleman to re main In Seattle. It la possible, too. that the freedom with which Roosevelt predicted that Taft would retain cer tain of his officials prompted the President to assert his Independence by dropping men he might otherwise have retained. But we are told that he selected a Cabinet of corporation lawyers. Well, how have the corporations liked it? Were the railroads pleased when the rate advance was enjoined, or the trusts when they were dragged Into court with an Impartiality beyond precedent? Has there been any Joy In Wall street over his policy? During the Interval between his election and his Inauguration Taft is accused of having been "hand in glove with the members of Congress who were doing alt In their power to in suit and discredit Roosevelt" and of having gone to Georgia, "as far away from Roosevelt as possible." and of having "conspicuously smiled while Congress baited and humiliated Roose velt." Then it was Taft's duty to Inherit not only Roosevelt's policies, but Roosevelt's quarrels! That would have been a brilliant opening for his Administration! White says: 'Tan's idea of Con gressional leadership was found in Cannon and Aid rich." as though Con gress allowed the President to choose Its leaders and as though Roosevelt had not advised him to get together with Cannon. Representative Gard ner, of Massachusetts, one of the in surgent leaders who fought Cannon. Is authority for this statement and says: "I have seen the original corre spondence." Taft Is accused of having shirked pioneer work In legislation. Was there no pioneer work in forcing the incor poration of the corporation tax and the Tariff Board provisions In the j Payne bUl? Or In the fight for Cav nadlan reciprocity? Or in his plan of schedule revision of the tariff, which Democrats and insurgents eagerly snapped up? Or In his Alas kan coal and railroad policy, which even Plnchot could not criticise? Aloofness towards Roosevelt after his return from Africa is another of Taft's offenses. White makes it evi dent that the Colonel expected the President to go to New York to wel come him home and was "huffed" when Taft did not go. He waited for an Invitation to the White House, which did not come, and again he was "huffed." It Is related that on one occasion, while Taft was Secretary of War and Roosevelt was President, hej was so angered at certain criticisms that he tendered his resignation. Roosevelt wrote In reply at the foot of the letter: "Dear Will: Fiddle-de-dee." On reading of the petty, boyish "grouch." which White's article be trays, one is disposed to exclaim: "Fiddle-de-dee." and to wUh that Roosevelt had continued o De nnl- mated by the same spirit which prompted him to make that laconic reply to Taft. Perusal of White's article leaves the Impression that the difference be tween the two men has grown from small misunderstandings, studiously magnified by Taft's enemies, rather than from any dlagreement in policy. But the personal differences have ren. dered easy the work of these same enemies in swelling the small politics difference until they grew to the first magnitude. co.xk to thk (nur-Hur. It is a surprise to find the following paragraph In a newspaper so Intelli gent and careful as the Jefferson Review: Weet's l40.OoO.Ann roa4 bill should be de. feated. and will be. unless It le carried by non-taxpa era. who ahouU! not ha permitted to rote on the Question at all. There something not Just ncht In a custom that ailowa a mas to vote a heavy burden on hi neighbor, while he eerapes any part thereof. uch a sum as aeked for In th road bill la beond the bounds of reason. To Incur such a debt would not only pre Tent homeeeeker coming to suf state, but would drive out many of those now here. A debt of that magnitude la not to ba lightly aaaumed. The t40.000.000 road bills have been consigned to the waste-baskPt- Our Jefferson friend will not be trou bled more about them. Nor, we fear. will his deep aspiration that none but taxpayers be permitted to vote on any tax-creating measures be realized. The good old days when your property owner only held In his hands the des tlnles of the Nation have also gone never to return. Big Business Is not so very popular nowadays. It sowed the wind and the ensuing whirlwind Is stilt blowing away. Things will be calmer after awhile, but Big Business will have Just a voice in affairs not the whole voice. That's all. Let our friend of the Review read the compromise road bills. He may like them better than the original propo sals. They offer a much smaller sum for roads. They secognlze the princi ple of local control. They carefully provide against the one-man power of the Oovernor. They arrange for a re. markably fair distribution of funds. They authorize bonds not to exceed 1 1.000,000 per year for ten'years. They define all around a comprehensive plan of state and county construction with emphasis on the latter. We want good roads for the benefit of the present generation, as well as for future generations. The time to build them Is now. .) TO BETTER ROADS). Representative Shackleford, of Mis souri, has offered an amendment to the Postoffice appropriation bill now pending in the lower house of Con gress, providing for payment by the oovernment for the use of certain roads over which the rural free deliv. ery routes run. Under this measure these roads are classified as follows: Claae A shall embrace roads of not loea than one mile In length, upon which no srade ahall be steeper than la reasonably and practically neceaeary 10 view of the natural tonography of the locality, well drained, with a read track not leee than nine feet wide, composed Of ahella. vitrified brick, or macadam graded, crowned, com pacted, and maintained In euoh manner that It shall have continuously a firm, smooth surface, and all ether roads having road track not less than nine feet wide of a eonetructlnn equally smooth, firm, durable. and expensive, and continuously kept In proper repair. C'laaa B shall embrace reads of not Ires than one mile In length, upon which no grade shall ba steeper than Is reasonably and practically neceaaary In view of the natural topography of the locality, wail drained, with a road track not lees than nine feet wide. compfleM of burnt clay, gravel or proper combination af sand and clay, aand and gravel, or rock and gravel, constructed and maintained In such manner as to have continuously a firm, smooth eurfare. Claaa C shell embrace roade of not lasa than one mhe In length, upon which no grade ahall be steeper than Is reasonably and practicably neceeaary Is view ot the natural toporraphy of the locality, with ample side ditches, ao constructed and crowned as to shed water quickly Into the side ditches, continuously kept well com pacted and with a firm, smooth surface by dragging or other adequate means, so that It shall be reasonably paaaabla tor wheeled. vehlclea at ail time The bill fixes the annual sum to be paid for the use of such roads as fol lows: Class A. 125; class B. 120. and class C. $15. For the use of ordinary dirt-roads there will be. under this measure, no payment. The classifica tion will be under the direction of the Department of Agriculture, and the director of that department estimates that under the bill the payments would be about as follows: B floo miles at 12.1 ner mile .1 1 4S.VOA0 llT.Soo mllea at !-'' rer mile 1 :144.I SJiJ.oO mllee at 413 per mile 1.:u7.3o4 Total !., oO miles lidioo As the rural routes now cover 1.17;. 171 miles of road this would leave 175.871 miles of roads for the use of which nothing Is to he raid. Should this amendment be adopted it would be the opening wedge for the expenditure of vast sums by the Gov ernment in the near future. The amounts fixed by the bill are Insignifi cant when the cost or good roads is considered. It Is estimated that class A roads cannot be constructed for less than $11,000 per mile, and their up-keep amounts to over $300 per mile per annum. The cost of the gravel roads varies according to the nearness of the material used in their construction, but the sums to be an nually paid for their use Is far below the cost of their maintenance. It Is safe to say that as soon as the precedent should be established to pay for the use of roada there, would bo tremendous pressure brought to bear for the payment of sufficient sums at least to keep the roads In repair: so the $1. 000. 000 would soon swell to three or four times that sum. Whether this would be good legislation or not depends upon the way. we look at it. The Postoffice Department now costs us nearly $150,000,000 per year. We all wish to see postage reduced from cents to 1 cent for letters, which could not be safely done if the use of the roads was to he paid for. The rural route, bow coat $17,000,000 year, and all of the mall collected on ... ... ... them reaches only a trifle over $14, 000.000. On the other hand, if the Government were once started in the way of general assistance to our high ways it might go a long way towards Improving our roads and bringing them up to such a point as not to make of them a National disgrace, as they axe at present. Of the leading civilized nations on earth our roads are the poorest, and some steps should be taken by our people to better their condition. MAKE TUB TERM LONGER. As regularly as elections come around, discussion of the drawbacks or short terms of office is revived. Opposition to Roosevelt on the ground of the anti-third term tradition has brought the subject to the front. Vol untary retirement of members of the House because biennial elections hamper their usefulness and Impose upon them an Intolerable burden of expense fastens attention on the sub- Ject. The custom of parties in renominat- . DMefifanfa nf ,V.nli mrn faith urift Ing Presidents of their own faith who have made good Is a tacit admission that a four-year term Is not suffi cient time for the working out of a definite line or policy. The anti-third term tradition Is a precaution against perpetuity in office, which might in time transform the republic into a monarchy. President Taft has pro posed to meet both difficulties by ex tending the term to six years and lim iting any man to a single term. We should then make an end of the charge that Presidents use their of ficial power to secure re-election. We should end all. danger that any Presi dent might secure re-election indef initely. We should give each Presi dent reasonable time to show the re sult of his policies and we should es cape the quadrennial political and business disturbance of elections. It Is surely sufficient to change our Government at six-year Intervals. France elects the President for seven years and does not re-elect him. Surely a popular verdict on the Important is. sues of the day should be decisive enough to stand for seven, or at least six years. In electing Representatives for only two. years we have gone to the oppo site extreme from the six-year term of Senators. In giving Senators six year terms and In electing them indi rectly we have placed them out of touch with the people. In electing Representatives for only two years we have not given them a term long enough to work out results. Since their terms do not begin until four teen months after election, unless they are called together in extra session they no sooner begin work of legisla tion than they have to lay plans for re-election. This necessity often in fluences their legislation and makes them moral cowards. If Senators and Presidents are elect. ei for six years It would seem wise to retain the lower House membership under a condition responsive to the people's will. New Issues are almost certain to arise within a period of six years on which an expression by the people Is desirable. The short term may be hard on the Representa tlveei but many of its drawbacks may be avoided by providing that the first session of the House elected In .No vember shall begin in the following March. The responsiveness of the Senate could be Improved In the mean time by adoption of the long-hoped-for amendment providing for direct elec tion of its members. KUi.NO IN THK rotXET.R. Following up a very common and most commendable practice In our colleges and high schools, the Univer sity of Kansas has made a collection Of slang phrases which It urges the students not to use. Among them are one or two of the really bright bits of slang which appear now and then. such as "you can search me," and never again," At the basis of these expressions there Is a sound psychol ogy and an Interesting human experi ence. "You can search me," is a fig urative way of pleading not guilty. Go to the bottom of all the individual's pockets and examine the abysses of his mind and you shall not discover that of which you have been accusing him. A piece of slang which can stand analysis as well as this one cer tainly haa something to sa for itself. While it may hot become an integtal part Of the language, still It is hot like. ly to perish immediately In spite of the rather pedantic opposition of col lege faculties. Much the same Is true of "never again." It expresses a re pentant mood with poetical fervor and Intensity. Having erred once and ex perienced the consequences the re morseful sinner sadly shakes his head and exclaims "never again." quite like Poe's Raven with his "Nevermore." The only objection to bright and poetical slang of this sort was stated by Poe In the Raven as well as the college faculties can state it and probably better. The trouble was not that "Nevermore" was not good Eng lish or that it violated the proprieties or that it shocked somebody. The only fault to be found with it lay in Its damnable Iteration by the Raven. It was the only word he knew. He tried to pour out the whole burden of his soul in that one word, and naturally he strained It to the bursting point. It takes more than a single word to con vey all the emotions and purposes of human soul. The accusation which we bring against the slang-users Is the same as Poe brought against the Ra ven. They forget or Ignore the rich and copiously expressive English vo cabulary and limit themselves to a meager set of phrases which may be very well in themselves, or may not. but which are far too exiguous to serve the purposes of language In these ex pansive days. Human brain power has developed step by step along with hu man speech. When there were few words known to man he thought but little. As his vocabulary grew larger his mind acted more widely and gen erously. Language is in fact the instrument of thought. The persons who use but rew words, making a poor and mean vocabulary serve all their purposes, are likely to have but few thoughts and those far from elevated. The dls. rlmlnatlng reader will not confuse th use of a copious vocabulary with "th gift of gab." Many speakers who are fluent to the last extreme use only a few words and do not use those few correctly. This is the case with most pellblndera and some lawyers. Put ting aside people of that undesirable tamp, we may say with sufficient as- u ranee of truth that men of large in tellectual power use a great many dlf rerent words. They do not try to make on word substitute for six or seven. Each vocable has its peculiar alnllic&nc corresponding to some dis-c&a I tinct turn of thought and they apply ' - - - . . . - . W n Tk It to that use and to no other. The greatest intelligences of the race have employed the most extensive vocabu laries. Shakespeare, who was no doubt the brightest of all men, used more words than any other writer. Burke had a rich command of language, and so had Plato. The simple truth is that the slang habit doee not indicate wit or shrewd ness, hut the opposite. The person who seeks to express all his thoughts by a few elang, or cant, phrases has but few thoughts to express in any man ner and those few are apt to be blurred ana confused. If his mind worked clearly he would not rest until he had found a corresponding clarity and di versity of speech. The prevalence of 8an in our colleges shows not so much that the students despise the beauties of their mother tongue as that they have lost the fine art of thinking. There are other Indications of the same lamentable loos. The preference of football over study may be men tioned as an instance. That we are not amiss in saying that the disease Is widespread may be inferred from the a,mogt mnIUne0ut)y wltn 1 . . the University of Kansas, Wellesley College in the East has begun a war fare upon slang. At Wellesley stu dents who speak slang are to be fined. Since many of the girls who attend that Institution are rich, this rule will probably result In making the use of slang an aristocratic privilege. Those who can afford to pay the fines will speak nothing else and glory in it, while the poor girls will refrain be cause of their poverty and bewail the sad restriction. Th new rule will ex alt slang instead of silencing it. The use of slang, cant, argot, and so on, is characteristic of persons whose minds run In a single channel. Re ligious sects In the fervor Of their early zeal are apt to develop a set of slang expressions peculiar to themselves. These few phrases, constantly on their tongues, acquire an exact technical value. They express the meager think, ing of the sectarians with mathemat ical precision, and. furthermore, they provide a means by which the mem bers can recognize each other. It is the same way with thieves argot. To the initiated It Is highly expressive, and it also serves in place of signs, grips and passwords. We thus perceive two reasons for the hold which slang has on the affections of the college student. For one thing. Its saves him the trou ble of thinking. If he tried to use many words he would be forced to find thoughts to fit them which would be a sad exertion. Again, hla slang stamps him as a member of a Certain "set." The cant phrase, with the accompany, ing giggle or wink, signifies that the miss or youth belongs to the elite of their little world, a clique which no more dares to have an original Idea than x sheep dares to forsake the lead of the bellwether. We hope the colleges will Wage re lentless warfare upon slang, but, for a different reason from the one they commonly assign. There Is not the slightest danger that the talk of col lege boys and girls will corrupt the Kngllsh language, but there Is some danger that they will graduate with minds so empty and flaccid that they will be nuisances to the end of their days. If they are compelled to learn and speak an extensive vocabulary it will help prevent this dire Calamity. Nobody cares who comes out ahead In the Democratlo primaries. . The first question Is always about the Re. publican candidates. Then as an after, thought there Is a tepid Inquiry about the Democrats. . "Wilson gets it? Really, you don't say. Terribly rainy this Spring, Isn't it?" This may mean that any Democrat can he elected and it may mean that the country expects the Democratic party to make a fool of Itself and takes the news that it has done so as a matter of course. The Emersonian law of compensa tion may be seen at work In the conse quences of the Titanic wreck. Colonel Astor's death restores the elder and legitimate Mrs. Astor to her place on the throne of New York society and exiles his second wife, who was Miss Force. The divorced Mrs. Astor has returned from Europe to claim her own. Much as she must lament her former husband's death, no doubt she can discern something providential in It. Mr. H. J. Heinz is the man who has made millions by preparing and sell ing food products which are strictly hygienic. He asks for no favorable "Interpretations" of the Federal pure food law. or any Other law. Dr. Wiley never had any terrors for him, because all his goods are honest. If he erects a plant in Portland he will stimulate the production of tomatoes and beans and at the same time stiffen our mor als. The weak and oppressed of all the earth look to the United States as a haven, and the country will suffer little by allowing terrified Chinese In Mexico to cross the border to safety. At the same time, the Mexicans need to be taught a lesson. It must be all in the "knowvhow," for a man fell eighty feet off the new bridge to his slight damage yesterday, while a window washer dropped only thirty feet and will die. The cucumber flourishes in Oregon and th grower who takes a "flyer" In It this season stands a chance of put ting "57 varieties" of profits In his coffers. By all means, let this ctiy see a pa rade of the First Infantry ere it em barks. There are thousands of men who want to lift their hats to the col ors. Those Mormons in Chihuahua are showing the proper fighting stuff. All Mexico needs Is a brigade of them and th trouble will cease. The spirit of Dowle still hovers over Zlon. Not being present In person to cause contention, his picture does duty in his stead. The men handling the Job of de pressing the butter market found the article too slippery and the price is restored. The waves Of oratory will roll high In Ohio during the next two weeks and the Ananias Club will receive recruits. The man who neglects his home gets the contempt that is the due of the veriest of "common scrubs." Ridicule of the tea is as sure a cause of hostilities In Los Angeles as in Fez. This is a Hprina; witn wnicn nobody find fault. AMENDMENT TO BORAH BILL BAD. Compliance With Cultivation Reqnlre inrlt Impoaaible In Timbered Section, ROSEBCRQ. Or.. May 6. (To the Editor.) Published press dispatches from Washington say that the Borah Jones homestead bill as finally agreed upon in conference committee requires that one-sixteenth of the area be in cultivation the first two years, and one-eighth of the area be In cultiva tion at the end of three years from date of settlement, 10 and 20 acres of the lf acres. If this amendment Is retained In the bill and It becomes a law. It will practically cut out all set tlement under the homestead laws In the timbered regions of Western Ore gon and the coast counties. If cultiva tion mean that the land be cleared of stumps the beat Timber Jack In Ore gon could not, with ax, shovel and grubblng-hoe, clear, burn and remove the logs and stumps from 20 acres of land in 10 years if he worked every working day In the year, unless it be along the river bottoms where there is no large timber, and this kind of land has long since been taken. By the common method of clearing lands in the Umbered regions of Ore gon, which Is to slash, burn and re move the small stumps under six to eight Inches in diameter, the average homesteader does not in 10 years as rule get more than from five to acres of his 180 In actual cultivation But, added to this he usually has from 10 to 20 acres cleared from the brus and logs, the small stumps cut low an the big stumps left from two to fou feet high, and this land Is seeded to hay, and the homesteader cuts this hay among the stumps with a scythe until such time as the stumps rot out when a mower may be used. This can be verified by any otle who has ever lived In the timbered portion of Western Oregon or the coast Counties. I consider the Borah bill the bes ever Introduced in Congress for the actual bona fide homesteader before this amendment wis attached to it- Its enactment in Its present reported con ditlon would mean that lands in Ore gon and other Western states would not be settled under the homestead laws. make this statement after having- lived In the timbered portion of W estern Oregon and the coast counties for 43 years and having homesteaded and ac tually lived upon and cleared and im proved this Class of lands. It must also be remembered that th settler Is now very much handicapped by very strict fire laws which do not permit him to burn his slashings In the dry season of the year as th homesteader could do In the past Therefore It Is an utter impossibility for the settler with his own two hand to clear the amount ot land and put it Into cultivation that is required by this amendment. It is true that a man who has the money to employ help to clear end improve the land could com ply with the law, but this class of men do not take homesteads or Improve land. It Is cheaper to buy and he has no hardships to contend wlth.lf some or the Eastern and prairie state Sen stors and Representatives would not investigate the condition of the poo homesteader while In hi richly fur nished office in Washington, but would come out to the timbered portions of Washington, Idaho and Oregon and Jus spend one month In carrying a 50- pound pack on their backs wading mountain streams and traveling a foot trail for from one to 20 miles he would be willing to pass laws In the Interest of the homesteader. Not all of the homesteaders have to pack their supplies in to their claims on their backs over a root-trail, but there is not one claim in a hundred now left on or adjoining a wagon road. The most of the settlers must cut foot and horse trails to their land from one to 10 miles and it Is often years be fore they have a wagon road. This is largely the case where land grants have been made to railroads and by reason of the fact that the Northern Pacific Railroad Company and other big concerns have scripped many thou sands of acres of land. Thus the home steader is surrounded by land that is not being Improved and where there are no roads and schools, official re ports show that more lands have' been conceded to railroads by state and Na tional land grants than have been taken by homesteaders since the first homestead laws were enacted. As a rule old laws Under new condi tions are amended or new laws enacted to meet the conditions of modern de velopments, but the homestead laws have remained on the statutes prac tlcally the same for over 50 years, and the law now applied to the homesteader In the timbered regions just as it did In the old days In the prairie states. where a settler could plow and seed more land In one day than he can clear and seed In a yeaf of actual hard labor On the class of land now left for the settler. The Oregonlan during the past three months has made a splendid fight In the Interests of the Borah bill which means so much to the West, and should receive the thanks of the settler as well as all the people who want to see Oregon's wild lands settled and Im proved. Every commercial club in Ore gon ought to urge our delegation in Congress to defeat this amendment. B. F. JONES. A STRONG MAN'S OlEKP. WEAKNESS John Arbnckle, Who Fought the Sugar Truat, Afraid t Make a Will. Wall Street Journal. In one of Thackeray's best-known poems on what he calls "the old, old text of folly, fortune, glory, ruin," he draws the reflection: How very weak the very wise. How very small the very great are. There is something In the death of John Arbuukle which recalls those lines. He died a lonely and disappointed man. He never really recovered from the humiliation or paying a huge fine to the Government for importing sugar under conditions which amounted to or ganized smuggling, with the corruption of minor officials which it involved. Arbuckle was a strong man. He fought what was perhaps the most powerful Industrial corporation In the United States, after the Standard Oil Company, and held his own. The Amer ican Sugar Company, under the presi dency of H. O. Havemeyer, with power ful protection at Washington, was a formidable adversary for any single man, but that dour old Scotchman fought it in the open market and beat It, many a time. It might be be lieved that there was little Imagina tion In his character, except that which enabled him to foresee the great move ments of markets, and to base his operations accordingly. But he had one weakness extraordinary In such a man. He was curiously superstitious. It was not In any twisted religious sense; It was the peasant superstition of the country in -which he was born. All his family had it. He died without making a will; and so also did his brother Charles and his sister, both of them having much to leave and strong opinions about the use of their money. John Arbuckle was afraid to make a will. The desire to do so would have seemed to Indicate to his mind that he was what his Highland fellow country men call "ley," or under a warning of death. He was a man of large benevolence, measured by the amount of his gifts In his lifetime; and he would doubtless have taken the warmest Interest in providing for those Intelligent philan thropies with which he was associated. To the melancholy ot bis last years was added this curious, unreasoning, haunting fear, not merely of death. Jj3u.t ft the premonition of At, SAFETY APPLIANCES NOT COSTLY Doors and Mattresses Capable of Con version Into Harts at Sen. PORTLAND, May 5. (To the Edi tor.) The sinking of the Titanic with Its attendant loss of life suggests the necessity for Improving th lire-saving devices that should be carried by each passenger-boat. I have had some experience In travel by sea and at such times It has frequently occurred to my mind that with slight attention to de tail, the door, the mattress and the bunk rail of each stateroom can be so constructed as to be easily and quick ly converted Into a life raft suf ficiently strong and buoyant to bear up two or more persons for many hours. The door can be quickly detached by withdrawing the hinare bolts and will form a substantial framework for the raft. One or more bunk mattresses placed upon the door and lashed or otherwise fastened to It complete the raft. If the mattresses happen to be filled with air or of the type known as air mattresses, so much more favor able for their buoyancy. With slight modification the bunk rail can be made detachable and would serve a good pur pose as an oar for propelling the raft. These things can be so constructed as to be thus quickly convertible without the additional cost of more than 50 cents to $1.50 to each stateroom and with posted directions for their use In emergency, would provide each stateroom with the means of escape without being forced to depend upon uncertain lifeboats and their stupid crews. In emergencies, there Is noth ing quite so helpful as self-help and if each stateroom were provided with these simple, yet efficient devices, with directions for their assembling and use, there need be little loss of life from fires or Other mishaps at sea. With these provided, each roomer would have a chance for life by help ing himself. In most fatal accidents the heavy loss of life has been caused by failing to get clear of the endangered vessel at an early date. The Slocum fire and the Titanic sinking both illustrate this necessity of getting clear early on something that will float. Wireless gives the call for help, but pending its arrival, passengers must expect to depend upon keeping themselves afloat Independent of the disappearing ship. A raft of this kind can be assembled and launched by one person alone in rrom two to five minutes. If the un fortunate vessel happens safely to launch a sufficient number) of life boats, the floaters on the Improvised raft will be picked up by them; if not, they will have an opportunity to wait for rescue from other sources. GEO. MELVIN MILLER. ( IRE FOR FALSE REGISTERING, Plan Proposed to Keep Democrats Out of Republican Primaries. WARRENTON, Or., May 5, (To the Editor.) The Oregonlan has frequent ly mentioned the fact that many who vote the Democratic ticket at regular elections register as Republicans and participate In Republican primaries. For some time I have endeavored to trace the cause and have learned from several men that their reason Is that the majority of candidates for the various local offices, from Constable or Justice of the Peace to the members of the County Court or Port Commis sioners, are to be found on the Re publican ticket and. Inasmuch as the voters are often more directly inter ested In the offices Immediately affect ing their community, they register as Republicans to assist their friends or to work against candidates that do not meet with their approval. In Multnomah County, the Willam ette Valley and on the Lower Columbia I know many men who advocate the removal of many offices from primary or political strife and suggest that only such offices as are' directly concerned with the continuance of the party prin- ciples should be made a question. -of politics. ... In the recent primaries a few ot the candidates for non-political offices re ceived the majority vote on both tick ets, which shows that voters of oppo site political faith considered the can didates men of merit and wrote their names In on the ballot, thus making the candidates Republican Democratic nominees and doubtless assuring their election In the Fall. Now, we should either dispense with this needless work during the politi cal primaries or allow all candidates for non-political offices to appear on all primary ballots and accept the ver dict of the majority of all votes. Would not some such plan assist In the effort to Induce voters to register their true political party? CLIFFORD BARLOW, MKISCH AND THE WILD DEICES One Reason Why Great Musician Was Willing o Visit li Again. New York Cor. Cincinnati Times-Star. There is a story about a musician and a poker game. Arthur N'kisch ar rived the other day to go on tour as conductor of the London Symphony Or chestra. Years ago he was conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchettra, but returned to Europe because conditions there were more to his liking He had not intended to return to America, but Warren R. Fales, a cotton m-:i owner of New England, who declares himself daft on music, wanted him to make the tour. "I will not," said Nlkisch. "I am my own master. I will not go to America unless you make me and you can't make me. Well, it looked that way. Fa!es could not stir him hy argument, uni one night -he sat In a game of poker with Nlkisch, who learned that garni of skill Boston. Do not sneer at ttoston. The game of poker rises to intellectual heiehts In that city, and Niklsch. Is considered one of the best poker play ers In Europe. Fales won Irom him at the old-fashioned game. It's luck, said IslKi?cn. "rou out- held me." "It was skill," said .tales, "i out- thought you." To prove It he persuadea KiKisch to undertake a round of lackpots in that alluring variation of the straight game known as "wild deuces. He cleaned out the musician. Then he offered to stake his winnings against Xlklsch's promise to make the American tour at the terms offered. ihey played au night and when Niklsch rose he didn t have a chip left. "But I dor t care. said he., "you have Introduced me to a new game and Its master I will gladly go to America, If only for the privilege of playing more of those wild deuces with you. I am going to tame those deuces," Wireless Danger Calls. NASEL. Wash.. May 6. (To the Edi tor.) Kindly print the literal meaning of the wireless call u. w. u. ana mat Other one, S. O. S. ALFRED UAUHLWH. C. Q. D. stands for "Come quick. danger." S. O. S. is an abrevlatlon of Send out succor. Appeal to a Chorus Girl. London Opinion. 'Glad we met you. Our boy, Stan ley, Insists on marrying that chorus girl. I shall cut him off absolutely, and you can tell him SO." The Family Lawyer l know a better plan that than. I'll tell the girl. The Logic of Experience. Chicago Record-Herald. What will the woman of tomorrow er signed tne pensive person. Oh, a year or two younger than she is today." replied the one who had rea- lsoned such things otU d Nitts on Half Cents. By Dean Collins. Nescius Nitts, Sage of Punkindorf Station. Spied several ants crawling with slow . ambulation. Projected his quid with but slight hesitation. Engulfing the group in complete devastation Then spoke oh half cents In our coin circulation. I seen In the papers, the Government 'tends To add some new styles to the money we spends; For scalloped 3-cent pieces now they declare, (Appropriate change for a 3-cent car fare) And furthermore it is within their intents To start a-comln' a lot of half cents. When I speaks about It in Higginses store. We give our political arguments o'er. And turned our attention to talkin' about Them currency changes that's like to come out; And some of 'em 'lowed Uncle Sam was not wise A-makin" of coins in that sort of odd size. And Jenks, who lives up St the pore farm, sezee; "They'd be too durned bulky, it Just seems to me. Now think what a burden t'would be if us gents Must lug all our money in copper half cents." He borrowed a dime, and he roamed home to bed. And we 'lowed; "That's maybe Some truth, what he said." But Spriggs says, "This here is a schange that I thank." (Spriggs, he's a director In Punktn- dorfs bank.) "Because all my life past, I Jest used to hate To 'tend Sunday school, where they passes the plate; But now 'twill be easier like." And us gents Agrees that there's maybe some good In half cents. Portland, May 6. Half a Century Ago From The Oregonlan of May 7, 1862. A friend has sent us the returns of the Oregon City charter election, held on Monday last. It Is the first election in which the opposing tickets were strictly Union and secesh, and resulted in a glorious victory for the Union party In a town, too, which gave a plurality for Breckenrldge In the Presi dential election. The steamer Ellsa Anderson has com menced running between Victoria and Olympia. For some time there has been no steamer running on the Sound, and the mails have been carried in a small boat. W. W. Page has been appointed Judge for the Fourth Judicial Circuit, vice Aaron E. Wait, resigned. Judge Page has appointed J. H. Mitchell, Esq., Prosecuting Attorney for the Fourth Judicial District, vice Page resigned. Cairo, May 1. The Memphis Ava lanche of April 26th has been received. The conscription law is being rigidly enforced. Union citizens ere secreting themselves or flying to a-oid its opera tions. Memphis is in a high state of excitement, anticipating the arrival of the Yankees. Secession merchants are removing their goods to places of con cealment. Washington, May 1. A letter from a gentleman lh high authority In Tennes see says that so soon as the rebel army is driven from the limits ot that state, Tennessee will stand for the Union by an overwhelming majority. We are glad to notice the feturn of our fellow-cltisen, E. R. Geary, Esq., from a visit to his former home In the Atlantlo States. Tonight will he presented "The Soldier's Daughter" euid "Nature and Philosophy," Mr. and Mrs. Forbes In the leading characters. As "Ed" Howe Sees Life When a woman looks young for her age, there is more talk, about It than if she looks older than she really is. When it Is announced that there are a "few choice seats left" for a lecture or concert. It means that a good many are left. One of the Rights of Man Is the right not to be forced to fight in unnecessary wars for $16 a month, when he might earn very much more in a less danger ous and disagreeable job. If you are a good and capable citi zen, you have not only done your duty to yourself; you have done your duty to society. Every worthy man reduces the public charge for jails and police officers, and reduces the affliction that comes from liars, loafers, disturbers and drunkards. Behave yourself, and you are not only an ornament to society, but a help. I have lived a long time, and know many worthy men and women, but I have never personally known a hero or heroine. Every really good thing will steadily become better, as surely as every bad thing will steadily become worse. To Napoleon the Great, it was easier to beat an enemy than is commonly believed: but to you and to me, it is more difficult than is commonly be lieved. It is better 'to enslave a man as- a workman, at $3 a day, than it is to. enslave him as a soldier, at 50 cents a day. GAME STORY CAVSES CRITICISM Reported Prowess ef Hunters Out et Season Causes Writer to Froteat. SILVERTON, Or., May 5. (To the Editor.) I would like to call attention to an article published in The Orego nlan recently, in which It Is stated George Kelly and several other Port land men are hunting In the Cascade Mountains southeast of Eugene, and according to Mr. Kelly's story are in the habit of killing deer, grouse and pheasants whenever, they want a change of diet. If they had deer meat for Washington's birthday they un doubtedly violated the law. If, as Mr. Kelly says, he presented Chief Deputy Craig with a fine moun tain Hon pelt killed on this same trip that they killed all the deer and birds they could Use, and this being about February 22. I would like to say that if Deputy Craig is that easily Influ enced the hunters In this part of the state would like to contribute a few choice pelts. I want to say that I haven't seen an account In the papers of Chief Deputy Craig or Mr. Finley either making the Slightest effort to prosecute them. Mr. Kelly has just started on another such trip. I would like to ask Mr. Finley If he has sent a deputy to look after them as he un doubtedly would If he knew that Tom, Wick or Harry were violating the lawj w. CALVIN SCli-Lft-DOK,