TTTT. MOTTXTXO OREGOXIAX. MONDAY. MAY 2Q, 1912.
f)e(Dmrimtn;n
. Dn-nv
gnt..i at r. ud. or. go". pn "
S or d :. Hettae. -
Safecrlpuon k.. Invariably "
,BT MiII-1
Pii:,. l-aeiuoerf. Tr .....
r. SiUr Ircud-d. tir ""'"
L...r. lr.c.ua.4. om montli .
I,.! ... .i'h. f.nd.r. sis --- -?
1-ei.y. without Sato.,. thre montia...
I..t. :tnut ulr. moots..... .
1A.... on ! iH
t Ull'I. BT. T -r ,
k.cu.i u4 Waaler. year
fOI'T. !BT Uelwd. Tar......
Vm. T. Sur.4.. ln:J-dL " il
li. I. .--"' Vlt,T o TOUT
local Lank. c"TJ?"J7driiI
m lociudins county aal - ,
to to , vmm. post,
sous: rata.
saiem Swine OfrW-TT C ,!
lln .N.w Tor.. HrouwK "" cal
case. bundias. . .. ,
w l.o r. d on.
roRTLIMI. MONDAV. '':
BALLIX.ru KXWntIT MAN.
Were Colonel Roosevelt a roan of
leas facility in fighting inconvenient
facts he would be continually embar
rassed by the tact that criticism of
Taft's irtlon In almort every instance
Is criticism of himself, but In his
blind antagonism to his former friend
he brushes aside a" '"fh constdera
tlon and cuts and shiAhc at Taft.
though in so doing he aU- strikes at
himself. The latest example t his at.
tack on Balllnger and on Taft's
oneraUon of that rout h-dt ucd offi-
C'UIllncer first entered the Federal
service as Oeneral Land roramlMloner
at Roosevelt's personal solicitation. He
had only recently completed a success
ful term as Mayor of Seattle, had de
clined a renomlnatlon for that office
and was entering upon the practice of
law when C.arfield. his old college
classmate, who had been appointed
Secretary of the Interior. asked him to
take the office. He declined, and then
received a personal appeal from Km.se.
velt to help him to put the Land Office
In order. He accepted and complete
ly reorganized Land Office methods,
cutting out much red tape and knock
Ins off many barnacle. After some
what over a year in office he restmed.
returned tn Seattle and resumed law
practice. He co-operated with Koose.
elt In securing the support of Wash
ington for Taft tn 1.
When Taft bocamo President, he
needed a man for Secretary of the In
terior In place of Garfield, who had
not Impressed him while they were
striving together In Roosevelt's Cabi
net. He called upon Kalltnger. who
accepted, a Cabinet position having at
tractions' not afforded by the chlefahlp
of a bureau. He was Roosevelt's man.
discovered by. and with a good record
under. Rooecvelt. No crltt. lm of his
appointment was made by Roosevelt,
frr. contrary to prevalent supposition,
the breach between the Colonel and
Taft was due. not to Taft's failure to
reappoint Garfield but to his refusal
to appoint Kclk-ss Attorney-General.
The rvason for Taft'f decision In the
latter particular was that he believed
Kellogg would do better work in
court, carrying- the irreat anti-trust
suits to completion, than as the head
of the legal department. That he has
won eoual glory with Wlckersham
there can be no doubt.
Halllnger was originally Roosevelt's
rr.an and was promoted by Taft only
after he had : en service under Roose
velt and had "made god." If his ap
olntment was a blunder. Roosevelt
mut share the responsibility with
Taft.
Roosevelt's statement that every
one knew the Cunningham claims to
be fraudulent 1 a glaring exagcera
tJon. Kastem people, whose Judgment
Is warped by muckrakers and who
have been bitten by the Plnchot con
servation bug. may believe them to he
fraudulent. Western people. who
know Cunntngham and know Alaska,
know the exact opposite to be the
fact. Cunningham discovered the
Herlr.g river coalficlJ a discovery in
Itself of the first Importance not only
to Alaska but to the whole Pacific
Coast. He located claims upon them
In accord a nee with the then existing
law. So careful was he that he con
sulted the Land Office attornes In
Washington and compiled with the law
as they Interpreted It. Thnt the Land
Office finally rejected his claims is
not surprising. In view of the hullaba
loo that had been raised about them,
and far from being conclusive that
they were fraudulent.
As to the Law lor letter In regard to
the Glavts charges. It. has been proved
that that letter was a draft of what
the President wished to say In reply
to Palltnger. He rewrote It entirely
with the exception of a few para
graphs, and therefore made It his own.
He obtained the Attorney-General's
verbal opinion a'ler the latter had
read the letter. Several months later
Wlckersham elaborated this opinion
Into the form of a brief and dated It
back to the day of the Lawlnr letter.
There was nothing reprehensible In
Taft's action In causing Lawlor to
draft his letter and withholding the
draft from CongTess. There Is some
excuse for giving Wlckersham'a brief
the date of his verbal opinion, but he
would have acted more wisely If he
had given It the date of Its actual
preparation. Tet he did nothing
which Justifies making a campaign
Issue of the fact.
UKArr MUMIITIOMI SOT IS .u.
ttsmLsal of the graft indictments
against Kuef and m.st of those ae.
cused !th him may create the Impres
sion that the prosecution were without
practical reeu'l except the conviction
of Ruef and imprisonment of Kuef on
one of the many charges. But the re
sults of such an upheaval as that
which was brought about In San Fran
cisco by the revelations of wholesale
brlNery are not to be measured by the
number and Importance of the men
convicted and Imprisoned. Ther are
to be measured by the standard of in
tegrity In the public service which
exNts after the revelation is made.
When public service l so generally
and notoriously corrupt as It was dur
ing the time when Kuef and S-hmttx
ruled San Francisco, It I practically
Impossible to convict any but a few of
the guilty. The habit of condoning
such crimes haa grown upon the peo
ple and become so general that a great
body of thera revolt against enforcing
a law which has been practically sus
pended by common, tacit consent.
The guilty have been allowed to rise
to high positions in the community,
where they are generally looked op to.
and the moral senslhllltles of others,
who would have scouted the Idea of
bribery had a healthy pub!!.- opinion
frankly condemned It as a crime, have
become so dulled that they have be
come partners In the guilt. Where
the verdict must be rendered by a Jury
drawn from a community thus habit
uated to condone the crime alleged,
conviction is practically Impossible.
The best that can be hoped from
such prosecutions I to awaken public
opinion to the fact that bribery Is a
crime, that It results rn the robbery of
the community. The guilty public of
ficials will then be branded with in
famv. the bribers will be deprived of
political Influence, and the character
of the men who seek office will be
more searrhlrigly scrutinized and the
acts of those who obtain office will
be more carefully watched. These
good results have come from the graft
prosecutions.
The battle between graft and hon
esty In public office had to be fought
out at the polls. Heney's work was
Instrumental In setting in motion the
r,m-rM!v element In California. It
brought about the political overturn
of the last election, by which the rail- I
road machine was deprived or comm.
of railroad and ' other corporations.
the direct primary and direct legisla
tion are established. It has cleansed
the political atmosphere of the state
and restored true democratic govern
ment. The graft prosecutions have not
been In vain.
MtlMH.RS BY INITIATIVE.
The stlnsing rebuke administered to
the Fels war chest beneficiaries by the
State Grange in resolutions opposing
single tax were doubly Justified. In the
first place, those who compose tho
membership of the Grange would be
mnn the erentest sufferers from sln-
cle tax. In the second place. throiiKh
and the progressive lea o , hM f(j raveJ 40 me t(J ppach port
Johnson were placed at the helm. It , Town!U.nu thoutn he liVes within f.fty
has borne fruit In the great bojiy or ( th(U he Korestrv
new laws, by which state regulation .... hl,httn nand on
the chicaner- of the Fels brigade the j several fruitful prairies, devoid or
Grange two years ago was falsely I timber. But the man who goes upon
placed In tho light of approving the them to locate a homestead finds him
polltax ambush of the voters. No i self isolated from the world and from
wonder the Grange did not mince Its markets, forced lo paCTs his supplies
words this year in dealing with pro- . on his back, and harried by rangers
poeed single tax measure.
The anti-poll tax measure presented
In 1910 was adopted as the result of a
double swindle. It Is now thoroughly
known how single tax machinery was
concealed by the wording of the meas
ure. It may also be recalled by those
familiar with the subject that the Im
pression was Insidiously conveyed by
the Fels warriors that the Grange in
dorsed the amendment. As a matter
of fact, when It was presented before
the State Grange in Slay. 1 91 o. a pre
ponderance of sentiment was against
It. Brother C'Ren. however, prolonged
the discussion until the final hour of
the session had almost arrived and
then induced the tired members to
adopt a skilfully-worded compromise
resolution which left "the question
with the people for their study and
consideration."
The effect of this resolution, after It
had been used In slnsle tax literature
as a semi-Indorsement of the measure
by the Grange, was undoubtedly favor
able to the amendment. This fact he
came so plain after election that The
Oregonian was requested by repre
sentatives of the Grange to puh"sh the
real attitude of the order on the nues.
lion that it might be relieved of the
odium that had unjustly attached to
the organization.
There can be no misconstruction of
the attitude of the Grange this year.
It roundly condemns single tax and
vehemently denounces the "duplicity."
"delusions" and "snares" contained In
the single tax measure now In circula
tion. The words as well as the an
tagonistic attitude are Justified. The
single tax measure la very plainly an
other attempt at ambush. Single tax
Is concealed beneath a graduated spe
cial tax Imposed on large land 6wncrs.
Single tax is to be accomplished by a
twisting of the phraseology of the no
torious county-tax option or anti-poll
tax amendment. Whereas, the amend
ment now permits any county to adopt
single tax if the people desire so to
afflict themselves, the new measure
imposes single tax on all counties, but
gives each county the power to throw
it o'jlat a subsequent election. To the
unwW.-y it "would arppear that the coun
ty tax option was simply being re
enacted. It requires close study to find
the Jokers in the Fels measures. Such
attempts to turn against the people the
legislative power granted to the people
deserve and will this year receive thor
ough exposure.
IK1 fOlHM RESTRICT mi.EDOVIT
So much Is being made of the exer
cise by the courts of the power to an
nul acts of Congress or of State Legis
latures that it is actually contended
that the American Republic is le free
than the constitutional monarchies of
Europe. Reference is made particu
larly to the British constitution by S.
S. McClure In an article in McClure's
Mag.izine. entitled "Our Government
by Courts."
Such writer Ignore one dlfferepce
between the American and British
constitutions. If our Constitution as
Interpreted by the courts does not suit
us, we can amend It by resort to means
provided In the Constitution Itself. The
British constitution Is whatever King.
Lords and Commons choose to make It
by agreeing on a certain law, but In
practice no material change can be
made without a civil war or a period
cf prolonged agitation.
Our Constitution being written. In
stead of being a series of tacitly sc
repted precedents established after
lor.g and bitter struggle, as In Britain.
It Is necessary to place somewhere the
power of Interpretation. Congress and
the State Legislatures have recognized
that this is a purely Judicial function,
and that- therefore, this function Is
best exercised by the courts. This
power Is limited by the Federal Con
stitution, for article 3. section I. after
conferring on the Supreme Court orig
inal Jurisdiction In certain cases,
reads:
Is alt tho ofhor eases befnro merit lent'd.
tho s-jprra Court shall hsve appoilato
Jurisdiction, both as t. law anl fact, with
urh oscoptlABo and nndr such refutations
as tho Cosgrvea shall anako.
Congress went so far as to make an
exception during reconstruction days
by forbidding the Supreme Court to
decide an appeal in a famous case, and
the Supreme Court obeyed.
Though the state constitution do
not generally place any such limita
tion on the power of the courts, this
reserved power could be so exercised
by Congress as to forbid annulment of
state laws by Federal Courts.
Owing to the facility with which we
can amend our state constitutions, the
power of Interpreting them and of an
nulling laws as unconstitutional is no
real restriction on our liberty. Should
the Supreme Court of Oregon annul a
law demanded by the great weight of
public opinion, we can within two
years so amend our Constitution that
that law will be valid. Older atates
have more rl.iJ provisions as to
amendment, though even so conserva
tive a state as Pennsylvania has sev
eral times amended Its constitution,
and in Id. J adopted an entirely new
one.
Thus, when public opinion, as ex
pressed in a new law. comes In con
flict with the constitution, the courts
so declare and w-e 'can. and often do.
reverse the decision by amending the
Constitution and re-enacting- the law.
In Great Britain, when public opinion
demands a new law which is in con
flict wiih that series of precedents es
tablished by fierce controversy on the
battlefield or forum, which la called
te constitution. Lords and Commons
lock horns until the weaker yields,
and a new precedent equivalent to
our constitutional amendment is es
tablished. Restriction of the power of
the House of Lords probably has taken
as long to establish as direct election
of Senators will take in this country,
and has caused more friction.
THK rMn HAM) OF CON'SERVAnoX.
,-ason whv Herbert Hultine
the Olympic peninsula. It blocks set
tlement and development and prevents
the construction of roads. The coun
ty, deriving no revenue from taxes on
land Included in the reserve, which
has little population besides trees, wild
beasts and rangers, is not Justified In
building roads. The Forestry Bureau
has no funds for building anything
but occasional trails, for use of the
rangers. If It had. its policy is not
to build roads, for It alms to keep the
country Inaccessible, not to render It
accessible.
There are in the Olympic peninsula
rich valleys, more valuable for agri-
culture than for timber
There are
who covet his land for ranger station
Therefore the man who goes to live
In that country' must prepare himself
to live as do the natives in the Jungle
of the upper Amazon and to wait
rr.any weary years until the dead hand
is lifted.
A lineT WORTHY ENTERI-RISK.
The Portland Woman's Union, a
nonscctarlan organization, which con
trols a home for working girls In this
city. Is the pioneer, and In fact
the only organization of Its kind,
purpose and scope in Portland or.
Indeed. In this state. Its purpose is
to approach young working women
and girls. In a self-hclpful spirit, first
by providing a home for them In the
attractive. comfortable, protective
sense of that word, at a price which
their moderate wages will permit
them to pay, and again by placing
within their reach such educational
help and social pleasures as they care
to accept. In pursuance of this pur
pose the boarding home of the Union
has been from the first now thirty
years or more ago a cheerful, restful,
quiet place for young women who,
without homes In this city, are In
tegers in its business and industrial
life. n
So worthy has this effort proven and
so unostentatious and prudent has
been Its management under the board
of control chosen annually under the
constitution of the organization, that
It has been popular from the first to
the Class to whom It appeals, viz., self
respecting young women In the Indus
trial and business life of the city, that
Its capacity has been constantly over
taxed and there has been and now Is a
long .waiting list of applicants for
room and board upon Its books. Its
managers as well as Its membership
list have long desired to remove this
serious handicap from the work of the
home as expressed in an old building,
built piecemeal, so to speak, and the
wholly Inadequate number of rooms
and table space to accommodate Its
many applicants. Building plans have
long been discussed, hut it was not
until Inst year that they promised to
materialize by the generous donation
of a site for a new and suitable build
ing by a practical woman philanthro
pist of this city. This gave courage
and impetus to the work of providing
the long-needed building, construction
of which will be begun as soon as the
plans now In progress have matured.
This building and this work repre
sent a most notable and worthy effort
They represent charity only In the
higher sense of that term the char
ity that enables reputable. Industrious
and capable young gif ' and women to
help themselves In the truest, most
vital sense that of securing, at mod
erate rates, the comforts of home from
the proceeds of this endeavor. It rec
ognizes and proceeds upon the fact,
as expressed by Will Carlcton In the
quaint vernacular of the unlettered. In
his story In verse entitled, "Betsy and
I Are Out." viz.:
Mn can thnvo and roam,
But women aro akeery crlttor
I'nir-os they htvt a home. '
In supplying this need of a home
that Is keenly felt by working women
In a strange city, the Woman's Union
has been of Incalculable advantage to
the class that It serves. In this view,
whatever appeal may be made to the
public for the furtherance of the
plans of the building committee of the
Union should be promptly and gener
ously met.
OREGON'S INVEfTMEXT IX AUTOS.
The number of motor vehicles In
use in Oregon last year was 7338. as
shown by the licenses Issued by the
Secretary' of State, and the number
of licensed chauffeurs was 1671. The
present law went Into effect In August,
lM..and the above licenses were Is
sued between that date and January
1. 1912. Up to and Including May
14 of this year there have been 75 1
vehicle licenses and 1147 chauffeur
licenses Issued, the discrepancy be
tween the chauffeur licenses last year
and this year being accounted for in
' a misunderstanding of the law when
It first went into force, many owners
and private drivers taking out
licenses, whereas only those operating
mnchlnes used for hire are required
to pay the fee. The vehicles now un
der license are divided as follows: 704
motorecle. 311 truck. 14 delivery
wagons nnd 40 electric runabouts,
leaving S3 15 pleasure cars of various
models and descriptions.
The license on vehicles varies with
the size or horsepower from three to
ten dollars, the average this year be
ing a trifle under five dollars. A
chaffeur's license costs two dollars. So
there has b'en paid Into the State
Treasury thus far this year something
less than 340.000 for these licenses.
The number that will be issued be
tween now- and January 1 is. of courre
problematical, but the applications be-
Ing filed run about twenty per day.
The number from May 7 to 13 Inclu
sive, was lzs. The revenue from these
licenses goes Into the general fund,
and It is the consensus of feeling
among the auto owners that this Is
wrong. They think that it should In
some way be used to the benefit of the
roads of the state. Perhaps there
will be an effort made to have such a
law passed, either by Initiative or by
the Assembly next Winter.
There la another feature of the law
which the dealers in machines think
should be changed, and that la the
licensing of those unsold. As the law
is now a dealer cannot take a ma
rhino nn ih street or highway to
show It to a customer unless it bears j
a license tag or. a placard snowing
that the license has been applied for.
The dealers think they should be en
abled to take out a general license to
use on machines which they are en
deavoring -to sell and in which they
are making demonstration trips. Such
licenses would bring In considerable
revenue to the state and would greatly
benefit the dealers.
If the licenses during the balance of
the year anywhere near keep up to
the present average we will have in
the neighborhood of 10.000 motor
vehicles in the state by the first of
r.oxt year, representing an Investment
of well up to $10,000,000. Some esti
mate the val-ie from one to two mil
lion more, and say that those at pres
ent In use are worth, or have cost
their owners, approximately 39,375,
000. Considering the immense amount
of mcney thus already invested, and
remembering that the better the roads
the more machines we will have. It
seems that the plea of the owners for
the license fee to be diverted from
the general fund to the bettering of
the roads Is not unreasonable.
In attempting a private adjustment
of their rate suit with the railroads
the Spokane shippers overlooked the
fact that rate-making Is a public mat
ter Involving the interests of other
communities besides Spokane and ca
pable of adjustment only by the In
terstate Commerce Commission. The
time has gone by when rates could be
fixed at a private conference between
a few shippers and freight agents.
Continued patrol of the English
coast under fancied menace from the
German fleet seems absurd at this dis
tance. Germany seeks not war with
Great Britain other than for commer
cial supremacy. If the mother coun
try becomes involved with another na
tion, the Teuton will profit by becom
ing the great seller. Any teeming
menace Is pure bluff.
The Commercial Club excursion to
Tillamook will bring back first-hand
Information about a rich section which
was remote from Portland until the
railroad penetrated to It. By means
of railroads we are fast binding tor
gether the scattered fragments of
Oregon and learning the extent of
their wealth.
Patriotism which nets 24 per cent
will not Inspire much admiration.
Hetty Green would become a patriot
at that price. The coffee valorization
scheme look- more like a combination
of New York bankers and Brazilian
planters to cinch the American con
sumer. Denounced by Socialists and labor
unions, the I. W. W. Is set down as
what it is an anarchist organization
second only In viclousness to the
French auto bandits, who committed
robbery and murder ostensibly to
serve the cause of the anarchist creed.
If Lillian Nordlca and Mary Garden
would but -take the stump and sing
for and against woman suffrage it
would be an agreeable variation from
the Taft-Roosevelt campaign of re
crimination. Politics and society have become
tangled In Texas, and the Taft-Roosevelt
quarrel is being taken up by the
daughters of the politicians, even by
those who are still in short dresses.
Portlanders place too much confi
dence in humanity away from home.
One has Just been frisked In a Chi
cago streetcar. That city of thieves
knows Its prey at sight.
There is little wonder the demand
for seats at Chicago is greater than at
any convention Of the party. The per
formance by the all-star aggregation
will eclipse history.
In spite of his preoccupation with
politics. President Taft still finds time
to prosecute a trust every few days,
nor does he make exceptions of the
Colonel's friends.
Dr. Keeney Is entitled to all the
honors for wrecking his machine
rather than run down a small child.
He did some quick as well as excel
lent work.
There must be undiscovered mil
lions In the Junkshops of the land,
since a Callfornlan has bought for
$100 a masterpiece said to be worth
$20,000.
The man who kills a predatory cat
may be guilty of inhumane conduct,
but he simply gives way to a passion
that comes at some time to all men.
When Seattle Is not occupied with
the election of a Mayor It amuses
itself with considering whether to re
call the one It has Just elected.
The prune crop may be short and
the rice crop is away below normal.
Is there any other calamity In sight
for the boarder? v
The Oregon Democratic dove of
peace will be named The Messen
ger, suitable cognomen for a Champ
Clark organ.
Loan sharks depend much upon the
Innate courtesy of the male sex in
using women to conduct their busi
ness. There will be no scarcity of flowers
for Memorial day, for every Portland
yard Is coming Into bloom.
The agony of Richeson's last hours
ought to be enough to deter any man
from similar crime.
There is no uncertain sound to the
Oregon State Grange's denunciation
of single tax.
The hot sands of Portland have re
sumed their normsl temperature.
More fuel will be added to the Re
publican conflagration this week.
THE BBAUT1KICATIOX OF A CITY
Bolldlas; . Mora Vreteatioan Homes
br Mem of 'Wealth Trsje4.
PORTLAND, May 18. (To the Edi
tor.) Tfaa Oregonian, in an editorial
early in 1904, made the statement al
most In the spirit of boaatfulnesa that
there was not a liveried servant In the
City of Portland and that a coach and
team driven by a coachman In private
employ was unknown. The democratic
character and Spartan simplicity of our
citizens, even among those of vast
wealth and financial and business Im
portance, are as true today as they were
eight years ago. This entire absence
of mere ostentatious display of wealth
Is commendable, but when carried to
the length of the entire disuse of
wealth it is hardly a matter for civic
congratulation or even public felicita
tion. Before the writer is a pretentious
volume of some hundreds of pages pub
lished by the newspaper syndicate, con.
talninir photogravures of the best of
Portland s residences. There are many
pretty homes shown, but there Is none
that could be. called handsome resi
dences in the s-ns we call them auch
in the East. Except a few that were
built over 20 years ago, there Is none
that could have cost In .excess of $20.
000. We have many citizens reputed to
be worth in the hundreds of thousands;
quite a number are possibly million
aires. Where do they live? Where
are their homesT '
What is the prospect for the ulti
mate realization of the Bennett plans
with such conditions confronting us? We
have not a single avenue at this time
that would Indicate it to be the abode
of wealth, nor cny locality particularly
noted as such. If our men of wealth
will not occupy homes commensurate
with their station in life and build
residences that will be a credit to them
selves and their city, and Impress the
visitor with the outward manifestation
of our prosperity as a community, all
the plana that a genius could formulate
would be abortive and productive of
no result.
This is a matter that has Its serious
aspects as regards the future of our
city. That we are growing apace is
true. .With 30 to 60 permits Issued
dally for homes, Portland's limits will
have to be expanded. It is, however,
equally true that but one In 20 of these
permits Is for a home In excess of
$3000 In value.
In the East a man worth $10. 0M will
be found living In a $10,000 home. If
he has but a salary that will bear It.
h lives in such a home. Sheer extra
vagance probably, like instances of
which we can find in our own city.
But there, a man of wealth has his
city home $30,000 to $100,000 is a com
mon value and, besides, he haa a coun
try residence and. mayhap, a seashore
house, either of which may have cost
an equal sum. Does his wealth exceed
that of our own citizen or his Income
outmeasure the tatter's revenue?
Magnificent homes make a magnifi
cent city; plans alone accomplish noth
ing. Suppose our men of wealth were
to awaken to their opportunity and
erect homea well within their means,
costing say $50,000, $75,000 or even
$100,000. would we not be nearer re
alizing the desired city beautiful than
by anv plan of street widening or re
habilitation of civic bad lands?
The chap who can build only a $1000
or $5000 home is doing his full duty.
When will the man of wealth do his?
A. H. FABER.
Meaning of Red Flag.
PORTLAND. May 19. (To the Edi
tor.) In The Oregonian. May 16. ap
pears a letter from T. J. Clifford, on the
I. W. W.'s and the red flag, after which,
in a note, the editor says the writer of
the article does not know what the
reH flas- stands for.
Those who use an emblem should
know its signification. I quote tne loi
lowing from J. M. Work, one of the
foremost exponents or modern social
ism:
The rod flag signifies that all men are
brothers. It is tho International banner of
the working class. It has been the banner
of ths working- class tor mousanas oi
r. ih atr.Dl for llbertv myriads of he-
role worklngmen havo fought and died
beneath Its folds. Is It any wonder we
love ltt Old Glory Is a National banner.
I do not know of any valid reason why a
Socialist should not appreciate those who
fought the battles of their generations, the
battles which had to be fought In the evo
lution of the race toward Socialism. For
my part, I do appreciate them, and 1 love
the banner they fought under, the 6tars
and Stripes. Capitalism Is trailing the flag
In the dut. Socialism will rescue it.
Will The Oregonian kindly give the
origin of the red flag. Its significance
with authorities; oiudi...i.
Historically a red flag has been a
revolutionary and terroristic emblem.
Webster's New International Diction
ary.
Fence at Columbia Park.
ST. JOHNS, Or., May 17. (To the Ed
itor.) Will the management of the
Columbia Park, near St. Johns, ex
plain the object of the high, heavy iron
fences surrounding the different play
grounds
Take a Dartv composed of parents,
nnd children of different ages. There
are playgrounds for one age and other
playgrounds lor anotner age; me m
ti and biar senarated. and by a high
solldly-bullt Iron picket fence. To
watch the children of different ages
of this Darty. the parents are com
pel led to walk long distances to gates
placed at rare intervals, cross over a
narrow lane, Dounoeo wns wifi'i
picket fence, and Into the next in
closure. The fence gives an air of desolation
a prison-like effect that is anything but
h.rmlne. to an otherwise beautiful
spot. ENQUIRER.
Woman Jailer at San Angelo, Texas.
DalHmn,, ImaHl-lll
Not to be outdone by Switzerland,
which haa one woman Jailer, San An
gelo, Tex., claims the only woman Jail-
i .... I .- Qtat.a she is Mrs. Pat
Conway, and, besides being the keeper
of the -town jail, sne is siso jetiuij
Sheriff. Mrs. Conway is said to be an
. v.xp.Anrnman and so DrOficint
with the revolver that she can hit a
bird in flight every time sne tries.
Ise of Explosives.
iSROW. Or.. May 14. (To the Ed
ltor.) Kindly let me know how to
handle, mix and fire nltro-glycertne.
with full directions. I wish to shoot
handnned artesian well, with hope
of starting a flow, said well 415 feet
deep with 400 feet of water in it.
. CHAS. STANGLAND.
The Oregonian will not undertake
to glvei advice on the handling or ex
plosives.
Conference Reports Appreciated.
. . . vr.v 17 t To the Edi
ASluniA, vt-, -"-j - ,
t0I. ) u would be unfair to let pass
. . . n anr.recin.tion vour
wiinoui a. .
very satisfactory reports of the general
conference ana your u.o. -
torlals. i ou uuu-.--- --
things and are keeping In that region.
I aDDreclate, and my people do. and we
thank you. H. J- VAX FOSSEX.
Pastor First Methodist Episcopal
Church.
fsaaa with a Fnaa-Maker.
"Brown is too fussy ever to make
good motor cars-
"Yes. he even puts his cigar down
when he's filling tne tana wnn iu
line." .
SSOO Feet.
... t" r .v-r. f a v 19. I To the Ed
itor )How high 1 Butte. Mont., above
sea level? au
SOCIALIST APPROVES t'REX PLAN
M. Bines Calls for Favorable Conald-
PORTLAND. May 17. (To the Edi
tor.) Since Mr. U'Ren delivered his
recent address to the l-pciaiisis oi
Branch 4 (local), Portland, there haa
been more or less comment from botn
the press and individuals relative to the
merits and demerits of this new meas
ure, proposed for the revision of the
state constitution. We venture to give
out these few comments and sugges
tions. The measure presented by the
"People's Power League" (Dr. U'Ren)
Is deserving of more than passing
comment. In an amended form It will
be presented to the citizens tor their
consideration at the coming election,
and as such should be understood.
While we would not attempt, at tnis
time, any special comment upon the
easure. we do suggest that this letter.
will call forth criticism from both the
Socialists and the non-Socialists. Some
of the former will criticise it as a
capitalist measure, .and the latter will
criticise It because some Socialists are
taking an interest in it.
Let us state, to torestaii a wrong
Impression, that farther than its ten
dency to Install a freer and fuller
democracy, for Intelligent voting and
better government, there is nothing of
the Socialist programme about it.
farther, however, than that, all prog
ress tends toward Socialism. As a
Socialist, we could criticise severely;
while on the other hand we declare
t to be the most democratic provision
for the management of our affairs of
any yet presented.
In it are embodied provisions ior ao-
minlstratlve economy; complete, Intel
ligent and comprehensive selection of
our representatives: the overthrow of
false registration and fraudulent pri
mary activities; while it gives to the
electors the possibility of the most di
rect voice In the Legislative AssemDiy.
The plan of proportional representa
tion is feasible. Just and reasonable.
By it the constituent, be he ever in
so great a minority, has opportunity
to challenge his wrongs eitner real or
fancied. This feature permits the most
progressive expression of ideas on a
practical basis of analysis. It is the
beginning of the end of civil strife, that
has their ending In wars and whole
sale destruction, by a direct appeal for
Justice in state and National affairs.
Oregon Is the leading state in moae
of modern legislation, in this measure
ara eliminated the known defects dis
covered in previous legislation. The
basis of all government is found In tne
sovereignty of the intelligent citizen
voter.
We have arrived at a stage of ac
tion when the people must intelligently
do their own thinking, to retuse to
do so brings upon us increased retri
bution, growing directly out oi our
Improved methods of making our liv
ing. The recent letter from an ex
nominee, at the late primary, who ran
on a platform opposed to the initia
tive and referendum, and the right of
the neople to govern themselves, Justly
deserves contempt from free-born citi
zens who have come up out or rran-
chise slavery. We cannot, we must
not. snirk the .responsibility thus fall
ing upon us and hope to escape the
chastisement that will rouow n we re
fuse to advance along the path of true
civilization.
Every citizen voter should fully In
form himself regarding this measure.
While we nersonally stand uncomprom
isingly for the fullest measure of the
Socialist programme, for the future
society, we do not hesitate to accept
any progressive legislation or legisla
tive possibilities that come the way of
the people.
C. W. BARZEE.
A GLANCE INTO THE FUTCRE
President Roosevelt, In 11)20, Puts Man
Temporarily In Charge.
Washington Star.
Scene, the White House. Time, the
early Spring of 1920. Dramatis per
sonae. President Roosevelt and the
Honorable Mr. X.
-X, I want a substitute."
"Why. Mr. President, you are cer
tainly not tired?"
"Yes, I am. I want a rest and I want
you to hold down the Job."
"I feel flattered, Mr. President, but
I'm sure the country would prefer you."
"Probably. I could by a word or sign
secure another term, but I've decided
to put you In my place."
"Of course you are not influenced by
that old third-term hugaboo?"
"In a way, yes. That is, the third
consecutive term. I'll again pander to
popular prejudices "On that score. I did,
you know. In 1908."
"Well, Mr. President, If you put me
temporarily In charge I'll do my best
to meet your wishes."
"Now, that's the point. I thought
we'd have an understanding as to what
my wishes are and what it will be nec
essary for you to do to meet them."
"With all -my heart, Mr. President.
I recognize the fact that the office is
yours and that you are at liberty to
prescribe the course of any man you
may call to fill it."
"Now. that's business. We shall get
along on that basis. . If Will Taft had
taken that line I should not have
turned him down. But, as you know,
he set up for himself, seemed to feel
that he owed more to the country than
to me, and so left me nothing to do
but oust him and take the Job back
for myself."
"Shall I be left, as he was. to stum
ble along for a year without your
guildlng hand?"
"Just as he was, and for about the
same length of time."
"Another trip to Africa?"
"No. I shall visit the Arctic. Peary
and the others have really done little
there, and I think I'll try my hand.
Some hunting, some exploration, Bome
mapping. Oh. I'll find enough to do.
Meanwhile, you will have an oppor
tunity to show how near you can come
to running my line. If you are shrew d
you can do it so as to appear to be
running a line of your own."
"May I ask a favor?"
"Certainly."
"Don't allow Gifford Pinchot, or
Jimmy Garfield, or Ormsby McHarg, or
George W. Perkins to meet you In
Labrador on your way back and Inter
pret my performances to you. I'm not
intimating that either of them would
try to injure me with you, but I should
prefer to make the first report to you
myself. I shall want to render an ac
count of -my stewardship in person."
"You shall have the chance. You
accept, then?"
"Most humbly and thankfully, Mr.
President, and my fervent hope is to
measure, at least In part, up to your
gracious expectations."
Now vou're shouting! Be governed
by that feeling, old man, and all will
be well with me, with you and with
the country."
Introducing His Successor.
Saturday Evening Post.
An old beggar, who called on Herb
Meyer at his office In New York every
week for his quarter of a dollar, came
In last week with another man.
"What do you mean?" asked Meyer.
"Isn't It enough to give you something
each week without bringing in an
other?" "Well, Mr. Meyer," answered the beg-a-ar,
"i 'thought I would bring him in
and Introduce him as I Just sold him
my route." -
An Aristocrat Turns Worker.
London Standard.
Viscount Newry, eldest son and heir
of the Earl of Kllmorey. has struck out
in what is a new line of business for
the more or less impoverished aristoc
racy of Greet Britain and Ireland. He
has Joined the Irish herring fleet.
Half a Century Ago
"From The Oregonian of May 20. 1862
The late message of President Lin-
coin, relative to the manumission of
slave property In the border states, was
received in England witn muon iaor
and has unquestionably wrought a fa
vorable jliange in the minds of many
who were disposed to regard his Ad
ministration as favoring the ultra
views of abolitionism.
The Bulletin gives an account of the
robbing of the banking funds of a
gambling saloon In San Francisco to
the amount of JiO.OOO by a clerk named
Bundy.
The recent elections in Connecticut
have resulted in an overwhelming Re
publican victory, electing a Governor
by nearly 9000 majority, every mem
ber of the Senate and a large majority
of the House.
The ship Daphne was seized by the
United States Marshal at San Francisco
.. UK..1 F Ht-ini-inar t n that nort
a larger number of Chinese passengers
tnan is anowea py law.
Fendal Sutherlln, nominated on the
Secesh ticket in Douglas County for
the Legislature, refuses to be a can
didate. Nick Henke, on the I4th took from
his claim on Jackson Creek. Rogue
River, a slug worth J280.
The Salemites celebrated the victory
at Yorktown with a salute and music
by the band.
As soon as it was known among the
Washington politicians that Lincoln
had appointed Edwin M. Stanton Sec
retary of War a tremendous delegation
called upon him and protested in the
strongest terms against the appoint
ment of a Democrat to so Important a
position. "Old Abe" listened to all
their arguments in silence and. after
they were through, terminated the In
terview with the following: "Gentle
men, I have been considering the ques
tion for some time whether I would
have four Democrats and five Repub
licans in my Cabinet, or five .Democrats
and four Republicans. If I could find
four more Democrats just like Stan
ton, I would appoint them. Good-day,
gentlemen." This bayonet charge of
"Old Abe ", cleared the coast.
H. L. Preston, of Josephine County,
and E. L. Applegate. of Eugene City,
will address our citizens this evening
at the theater.
It Is reported that the sloop Fanny,
from the Siletz Indian reservation, is
in the river coming up, having on
board some very rich prospects of gold
lately discovered in that country.
A new steam scow built lately at
Mllwaukie, named the Adelaide, and the
St. Clair have started an opposition
line to The Dalles, crossing the port
age on the Washington Territory side
of the river. We understand an engine
for a boat to run from the Cascades
to The Dalles has been taken up.
C G. St. Clair, professor of music,
has' laid upon our table a new pleceof
his own composition, entitled. ":
Song of the American Volunteu.
words by T. G. Spear, and arranged for
the piano. Our musical edition says
that it is a beautitui song.
Nearly everything of value a man
knows was demonstrated with a lesson
In which there was humiliation.
A boy's idea of tough luck Is to be
unable to attend a circus on a bright
afternoon, and then have a rainstorm
come up at night. And it is tough luck
for a man. too.
If you are not your own friend, what
can you expect from others? In order
. l ...... AnTn ln.4 .... must havA
L(J Ut JUUl " 'cuui J v
a good job, a good reputation, and good
friends. .
Get a doctor In a corner, and he will
admit that nature does the healing.
A man should be as polite all , the
time as a candidate for office.
Farmers are not the only ones who
do It; we all put our big apples on top
of the basket.
If you are willing to work, can do
something well, and are reliable, none
of the attempts to keep you down will
succeed.
Do you prefer your prejudices to the
facts?
Every brave man, when he makes a
bluff, hopes his bluff will win peace
ably; no one really enjoys risk of a
bullet, a knife, or a black eye.
An old lady who was criticising the
men, said: "They're all alike; I never
knew one) who was different."
Meaning of Tax Exemption.
COTTAGE GROVE. Or., May 18. (To
the Editor.) Attached Is a bill to
amend the constitution of Oregon,
which has been circulated In this vi
cinity. In your judgment, what is the
meaning of the following words: "Ex
cept that personal property"? I can
not understand them.
JAMES C. PORTER.
Be It enacted by the people of the State
0tA?tic?en IX of the constitution of the
State of Oregon shall be and hereby is
amended by Inserting after section la and
before section 2. the following section, and
It shall be designated as section lb or
Article IX. ARTICLE IX.
Section lb. The principle of single tax
or- tax on lssd only shall never be adopted.
Taxation of property for state, county and
municipal purposes and all classifications of
property for taxation shall be by general
laws operating uniformly throughout the
state1 and no law shall ever be adopted
exempting or relieving from Its Juet share
of taxes property of any kind whatsoever,
except that personal property or property
held for municipal, educational, literary,
scientific, religious or charitable Purposes
may be specially exempted by general laws.
The exception noted would make pos
sible the adoption of a law by the Leg
islature or people exempting personal
property from taxation. The amend
ment Itself would not exempt personal
property. Laws passed under It might
exempt farm machinery, or household
nr livestock, or any or all
personal property
London's Pokln Fan at t.
London Cor. N. Y. Times.
The diverting Ignorance of Senator
Smith on sea matters is quaintly bit
off in a cartoon published tn the Daily
Dispatch. The title is "First Lessons
for Senators." The following are some
lessons: , . .
"No, the windlass is not kept for
winding up the dog watch
- "No. it would not be possible to con
struct a raft out of the ship's log.
"No, ocean currents do not grow on
No, the banks of Newfoundland do
not close on Saturday afternoon.
"No. the tonnage of a ship is not
found by weighing the anchor."
Fiction In Social Reform.'
Literary Digest
Samuel Merwin, lately ranked by Ar
nold Bennett as one of tho three.
American novelists of most promise,
has written a new novel, "The Citadel,"
dealing In romance form with revolu
tionary social and political conditions
of the day.
As "Ed" Howe Sees Life