(DitjTwmit roKTUtri. oaxaoit. Entered at Portland, OnU. Post office s eutacripliaa aia Isa nMr ta 4iM BT MAIU) r-al:y. Suae taeludad. aoe " M, I l.r;a? IRcluoaO. sis BWIM ... r. (aafar lr.c.dJ. tfiraa "'" ;? l-a.:r tuaay ir.c.uad. eaa ssosia. ... 1J !... without tirdiT. ra yr . M rl vlfbouf fuacay, eis mooiba TZ I: r. without Sunday, toraa in"ntM... - i..t. wi:aat iuui, ana aaoats. - 7, w !. ana yaar iw S3r-dr. aria 7 r ....-- - a-tilaj an Waakly. (BT CARRlgR- Sunday laciuSad. ona yesr...... J I; a. r. Sunday Inc.ud.d. oca moots ... Hm t Hamlt ..n4 p.tof fir . mr"T r a?r.aa ardr or firlonil chck Kxal eaaa. '.,'.7- VJdraaa at tf! aaolr-a run. Ois r""',l la full. mcludias county atata, 4 to k. paa. 4 cat, Fora. poetasa, 4oubi rat. , ta taMra aa rncaa Varra Con. cuo. ntaaar bul.aia. a.miin.an Utt W . l.or.doa. f-lKTl.AM. Tt ,! V. M!"-' 1' The Nsw York World ha takn the pain to gather from the vsrlous state holding- Presidential preference pri maries the detailed total, of the entire vote In both parties. The purpose U to how that, d'splte the acuteness and Importance of the Issues, the pubtlc Interest after all wu languid. nd that approximately per cent only of the total wot wu represented at the pri maries The figure are a follows: mmana. E:act!n. KapuMtoan far?'.an.1 ......... M !tcba lunula N,lraka Srin tata Waoachusaits jtrfOlt ..........a Hnl I'tt'l Prnnrylvanta ...... lwli. 4U'4. Ill .Ml ;t t-it !- 1.4 4I.W T41.TT" 4.S4 ITi A Sw.;ia -- 67 14T.7'-' 7l.rt 4SS.ft.V7 T,.i, i..iv.T rs.' Th lmncratlf primary vota In ha aama .a. a. '"ll"-'-,d.,1., ...rttlal ImTatlc - KiriuM VI ii'Onaln ....... I: '.n'.la .. ..... XohrAaka ........ North Paaota .... 4aa;huaatta l'-'n F.'r:a O'-'rBi' Pennsylvania i Ml -J lt.V!"" 4.u.7.'3 ISl.l'W 1..0..V4.I a.4 31. I'M 2.413 14.li . ::iT .M 4.' . lT.rM Sl.l"l 1.1.4 12 Ul.14 Totala M- 1.S43.204 n. World-, flanre. era ,h rr.ct total of ll.twu tapproxlmately) ! bThe'V"tte!i which have for aeveral years had the direct primary had a fairly full ote; the atatea where there was a eoap-bojr. or volunteer primary made a poor ehowtn. But the most striking- and illuminating- fact dis closed by these valuable flgTire ap peara In the Oregon return. The only state In the entire list where the Republican total exceeded the 1 vote for Taft wa in Oregon. Kverybody voted at the Republican primary except a few thousand faith ful Democrats who remained at home. Th,v hraltated at perjury. The same phenomenon appara In North Da kota, where the Democrats almost in a body abandoned their own flag. The flKtires tell the story. In Oregon all parde vote a Repub lican ticket except at the regular election. M.r-R TEKM FOB rRKMOKNT. The movement for direct control of the Government and party machinery, which has culminated in submission to the state of an amendment ftr direct election of Senator. Is to be carried further. It Is to be expanded into a movement for a six-year term fr the President, who Is to be Ineligi ble for re-election. Thl t a natural outcome of the ferment of political activitv which cause us to examine critically each part of our Institution and to cast off that seml-euperstltlou reverence for the work of the father which regarded any tampering with that work as sacrilege. The present dissension in the Re publican party, caused by the attempt of one candidate to set aside a century-old tradition and by the charge mad against his rival of ustng Fed eral patronage to secure renomlnutlon. doubtlee had much Influence In de ciding the Senate Judiciary committee to report favorably the Works resolution submitting a constitutional . . -.i..K vtndi t h a Presl- uit-i.iii. ... - - - - dentlal term to six years and restricts each President to one terra, iiaa mis . .4 . .. n t Km n In effect, neither Roosevelt nor Taft would now have been a candidate and there would hae .,r-i. for the highest official of the Republic Jo descend Into the mire of personal controversy The framers of the Constitution de bated Jong whether the President should have a short term and be eli gible for re-election or a long term nl be Ineligible. Kxperlence ha proved that, however wise may have been the choice for the early year of the Republic. It was not wise for these days. Though tradition forbade a third term, the country has been per turbed for the second time; within a generation by an attempt t et aside the prohibition. It ha bac.ane the custom for a President to M'cr' ond term on the pretext leaifur I tiwi ihnn a ttmf i V cam through his policies and thatVe de sire approval of his conduct ,Lirlng hi first term. Prom thra custoVfhav grown up those of ualng patrotrjre to aecur re-election. cf servility j Con gress and of playtr.g poittV Jt the administration of his office. , "U ef fect 1 pernicious on the Preidr.t, on all his subordinates, on Congress, and therefore on the w hole public service. The argument for a longer term I conceded on all hands to be sound. Kxperlence ha proved that In four years there Is barely time enough for a President to settle down In ham, to get hts policies started and his ad ministrative machinery working smoothly. He should be given time to show result. Deprived of the op portunity of a a' ond term, he will have no excuse for allowing any con siderations oth-r than that of the highest duty to Influence him. Know, Ing that history will Judge him by his performance In that one term and that he has no opportunity to repair any shortcoming by securing a sec ond, he wll do his utmost to make a creditable showlrg The Nation cannot but rroflt mate rially from the change hn wrought In the position of the President. Rut It will profit vastly more by having frequent Prealdentlal election. Politic so vitally affects business In the United States that uncertainty as to the result of a Presidential election t-a'ises the whole Nation to pause until It Is over. FCnterpris and business await the election returns. Men's mmds aro naturally diverted from business by political excitement, but when political issues are such matters a the tariff, trusts, the monetary ss tem. railroad, shipping laws, the ef fect Is almost paralyzing. In a six year term a PreMent would have bet ter opportunity to secure final settle r ent of some of these problems and thus to take buines out of politics. In any case, there would be a distinct gain In making our periodical political convulsion lei-s frequent. The Works amendment has a much to recommend tt a the amendment for direct election of Senators. The latter Is practlcaPy assured of ratifi cation by the Spring of 1914. The Works amendment should be ratified at the same time. We should then be able to elect the President In llfor six year, to serve with the first Sen ate cornpwi. partly of directly-elected members. With the backing of a pop ular vote at a Presidential primary, with Senators backed In like manner by the ballot, the President elected In that year should be able to Inaugurate a new era In our history. MR. t.RAV PROMOTION. Oregon has known Carl Gray for a short year: but In that brief time he ha made an indelible Impression upon the state and the Pacific Northwest. He Is an admirable exponent of the new spirit and new attitude of the railroads. He sees the people and knows them. He learns their needs, their desire and their sentiment. He regards a railroad as something more a great deal more than a private enterprise and Its patron as having something more than ordinary deserts. The business of the railroad 1 to serve the public. Mr. Gray", cardinal policy Is that It should realixe that prime function. Mr. Gray has done much for Oregon and much for the Great Northern and North Bank roads In the Northwest. All here note his departure with re aret: but they are nevertheless pleased with his promotion to be the titular head of the vast Great Nortnern Jtau road system. It Is a fitting recogni tion of proven capacity and tested character. It Is all the more signifi cant, indeed, as a tribute to his worth, since It come from the greatest rail road man In the world and means that he has been chosen to carry forward the mighty work of Mr". Hill. Mr. Gray like Oregon and the Northwest. It Is pleasing to know and feel that he will have the same inter est always In Northwest affairs that he has heretofore had. In his depar ture we may have lost a neighbor, but we keep a stout friend. riNf-HOT-S VrXDETTA. The hanging ud of the Borah-Jone homestead bill In conference Is due to the vendetta of Plnchot and hi fellow-conservation crank against any man who does not submit to their dictation.' Plnchot boasts that he "got" Balllnger. If Secretary Fisher were not of one mind with him on the sub ject of conservation, he would try to terrorize that official by trying to "get" him. Plnchot has promoted the Roosevelt candidacy In an effort to "get" Taft. But Fisher ha proved an enthuslu. tltc ally of Plnchot In an effort to "get" any Senator or Representative on the conference committee who votes to reject the amendments on which Fisher Insists and which would defeat the whole purpose of the bill. He has induced the conferees to delay action and has used the time thus gained 1ft starting a backfire In Senate and House, for the purpose of securing rejection of the conference report. In case It should not meet with his approval. As usual with fanatics, Plnchot and Fisher are manifestly unfair In their methods of opposition. The man who has been able to comply with the re quirement of five years' continuous residence Is a poor Judge of the case of the man who. for lack of title, can not raise money on mortgage to im prove hi claim fully and who, for lack of money, has not been able to make it produce a living for him and must therefore eke out a living by working elsewhere. If Fisher desires to form an unbiased opinion, let him obtain the statement of the latter class of of men. Let him send to Alberta and Saskatchewan and obtain the state ments of some of the American settlers a to why they went to Canada Instead of taking homesteads In the United State. Let him distinguish between the settler on the pralrU. who can put a large part of his claim under culti vation the first year, and the settler in the Umbered country west of ths Cascades, where the first two years are occupied In getting ready to culti vate a small patch of ground. Senator Borah has shown himself to be a good, persistent fighter. He and hi associates In Senate and House should Insist on a report from the con ference committee, hammer away till they get a vote and then carry the right to the White Houe. Their great eat difficulty will come in that quar ter, for President Taft Is naturally re luctant to turn down a member of his Cabinet, but he Is open to reason and may even act contrary to Fisher's ad vice when Borah show him the better reason. -MVE ACRES) WILL IK.- The Evening Record, of Marshficld. Or, of a recent data ha an article answering the queries of several as to how rmich land would be necessary in that section, for a chicken ranch on which a family could make a living and perhara save some money. The Record saysr On flva ar ot land a man who kns somrlMnc of tha poutry buinaa and u lnil'lsn.a and laiiuairy can raally mak a Mvlna tur hlmea.f and family and aiao claar ama mopry beeid-a a-n y.ar. This la aaauming that good JuJsm.nt la eaarolaad In tha choice of tha land Moreovar. It doea not raqulta tha moat aipmla bottom landi of rooa Pay for a chiraan farm. Tha hill iasrfa offancs cralnaa axa t be beat and in many c. " 1" buh.; at a vary raaopaoie i;aur. land, whi.h can ha acur.d at a low "sura- ill In many caaaa. If proparly banc! make a Itrat-ciaae ehlckaa ranch. Fire arm aeTotad to a home ardo ana a chl.kra ranch la al.out all ona man wt.l care to hand.e If h is making a apacialty of that Ilr.a. Unless a person wished to engage In the poultry business on a very large scale, which would require consider able capital, five acres is perhaps enough land upon which to prosecute the poultry business on a paying bast. For the person of small mean there are splendid openings In all part of Oregon f.r establishing such enter prise. The land needed can be pur chased at a low figure, for. a the Rec ord ay. It need not be the expensive bottom land. Cut-over lands can be had In various parts of Western Ore gon that are Ideal for this business close to markets, possessing a superb climate, and there the poultryman can raise all of the vegetables th family TTTT; MORNING lOREGOMA. TUESDAY. MAY will need with a surplus to sell, if the man Is of the right sort. One of the fallacies entertained by many who embark in the poultry busi ness Is that tt U a vocation of ea.-e and idleness, the hens doing all the work. Thousands of people are ruined by such a view. As a matter of fact, there U no business requiring closer attention to details than the raising of poultry and the production of eggs. The eight or ten-hour man or woman will surely fall at the business. The labor a a rule Is not nam. out ono : must be on. or at least close to, the Job 2 4 hours a day. Women generally are more success- ful In raising poultry than men. They seem to "take" to the business better, j pay closer attention to details, get In j closer touch with the fowls, watch the young chicks In a motherly way get I the best results all around. There are j hundreds, perhaps thousands, of worn- en now employed In menial capacities j In the cities of Oregon who would do j much better In every way on a little , poultry ranch. The capital required ; n .tart mm- ha vp rv amall. The lano .... h t. i nn innr time with a vezv small cash payment, a tent will answer In place of a house ror many monmis and there will be money coming In almost from the nrst aay oi mo atari. d.. . v. whn anereed must live with the strictest economy and devote every moment to the business. in return i .m .4 a Ufa of health and lndepender.ee. Most of their time will be spent out of door, so that even those In poor health can afford to take to the business witn a certainty or hMtrinr their condition in every way. Indeed, for the seml-lnvalld one who can get around to do the light work the poultry business In Oregon offers the best inducements or any occupa tion open to the person of small means. A LlMOS IN QrAXJTY VS. QIAXTITT. So bountiful Is Nature In her largess and so Improvident, looking to per fection If unaided In the product of the orchards of Hood River that It will be necessary for orchardlst of that re gion to thin the apples that have set on the trees by at least one-half. Otherwise quality will be sacrificed to quantity and that without Increase In the bulk of fruit at picking time. There Is a lesson of undue prodi gality of production In this that Is by no means confined to the orchards of the Pacific Northwest. Erstwhile we were taught by a maxim saying: "Na ture, as a mistress, is gentle and holy: to obey her 1 to live." We know bet ter now. having learned that Nature, as a mistress. If unrestrained and not subjected to human reason. Is hard, even cruel, and given to excess, and that to obey her Implicitly and unques tlonlngly at all time Is to make seri ous wreck of things material to the happiness and prosperity of the Indi vidual, the Nation and the race. The lesson is a valuable one whether learned from orchard trees and their fruitage or from vital and economic statistics that relate to the progress of the human race. NEW YOKK'K ANTKjrK It BUI KCHIHI1A Under the general direction of Pro fessor Paul H. Hanus, New York has been making a thorough Investigation of Its antiquated public schools. Pro fessor Hanus Is the head of the peda gogy department In Harvard Univer sity and his stricture upon the condi tion of the New York schools show that he Is fairly well up with the times, though no doubt he might learn a few things if he would visit the progressive West. The Superintendent of New York's public schools Is Dr. William H. Maxwell, who has held his position for a long time and is not commonly believed to care much for what Is go ing on In educational circles outside the metropolis. Like the Yale secret societies. Dr. Maxwell concludes that because a thing has "always been so" It ought always to continue so, hence the public schools do not welcome new Ideas very warmly under his headship. He Is solidified and ap plauded In his fixity by a board of di rectors more antiquated if possible than he Is himself. It consists of forty-six members who receive no ostensible pay for their services, but Tammany finds many of them useful In various ways and sees to it that they do not go entirely without recompense. Most of the directors know a great deal more about ward politics and paving contract than they do about schools. Under such influences the public schools of New York have naturally run up to Latin, examinations. Inter minable written reports and various other varieties of useless seed. They are highly nutritious to Dr. Maxwell and the ruling caste of politicians, but the children get comparatively little out of them. The recommendations for reform which Professor Hanus make no doubt raised goose pimples all over the bodies of those In author ity. What he said about Dr. Maxwell Is discreetly suppressed, but we can make a shrewd guess at It without much difficulty. A city superintend ent who ha fed side by side with Tammany for a generation and never raised a row presents a fair mark for an Investigator who really wishes to Improve the schools. So far as the multitudinous board of directors I concerned, no Westerner needs to be told what Professor Hanus recommended. He wants It cut down to reasonable proportions. Five direc tors are enough for any city in the world. Very likely three would be better than five, and perhaps one would be preferable to three. With a small board responsibility Is fixed and efficiency is obtainable, as of course It never can be with a mob of forty-six to wrangle over every proposition. The Interest which some of these di rectors take In the schools is said to be "languid." Their Incomes are so large that they can send their own children to private Institutions. Hence the public schools sit very lightly on their consciences. The same phenom enon has been observed In other cities not so large as New Tork. Professor Hanus Is of the opinion that the schools try to teach too much, but he happily escaped the quagmire of rail ing at "fads and frills." Like a wise man. he directed his thunder at the really useless elements of the school curriculum, like "higher arithmetic." most of which Is neither very high nor very good arithmetic and utterly silly a mental pabulum for school chil dren. Professor Hanus also speaks with refreshing frankness against the fool ish practice of "analyzing" literary masterpieces In school. This unblest process neither conveys any knowledge of literature nor fosters the love of reading. It simply sterilizes the child's Intelligence. In place of It. Professor Minna like a man of sense, want more reading. Let the boys and girl take "Robinson Crusoe" and read it, he counsels, and do not bother them with questions about the sources of the story, the style and the grammar. By taking up a dozen masterpieces in this way, the pupils will begin to find what literature Is and perhaps get some taste for reading, which they certainly never do get a things are managed under the old system of lit erary dissection. Under the Maxwell regime It Is im possible to overestimate the fetich worship which Latin enjoys. The su perstition is that no school course can have any value whatever without an Infusion of this magical tongue. Hence it is taught with reverent assid. ulty even in the manual training schools. The boys and girls may never learn anything about chisel and planes, but if they know how to de cline mensa their future Is supposed to be assured. Naturally Professor Hanus desires to change this arrange ment. He approves of the modern languages, the . fads and fripperies such as mechanical drawing and do mestic science, and has not a word to say against music which is sometime denounced as the worst of all the frills. Somewhere In his report, of which we have not seen a complete copy, there must be a recommendation for the use of the schoolhouses as social centers. New York ha 600 of these buildings, which, like those of Port land, stand vacant for the greater part of every day In the year and for a large portion of the year are never opened. The modern doctrine of effi ciency counsels that Bchajolhouse be used for all sorts of public meetings and civic diversions. Whatevar Inter est the decent public is a proper occu pant of the public school buildings. Some cities are enlightened enough to permit parents and children to dance within the w alls so long consecrated to arid learning and dull stupidity. Prin cipal A. F. Hershner, of . Lents, has caught the social center Idea, as we discern from an address which he made last Friday. "These plants should be utilized during the Summer months." he said, meaning the school buildings. Like Professor Hanus, Mr. Hershner favors all the frills and fan. cles, such as manual training and school gardens. We are not sure that he approve of picnic and dances within the hallowed precinct of Mi nerva as yet, but he is headed in the right direction, and It is only a ques tion of time when he will arrive. The numerous friends and profes sional associates of Miss Eva S. Rice, who has for many years been engaged In teaching in the public schools of this city, will learn with deep concern and regret of the serious accident which befel her through an automo bile accident last Sunday. Miss Rice has been active In the promotion of the Teachers' Retirement Fund. Her long term of service for the district will make her one of the early benefi ciaries or annuitants of the fund and It is hoped that she will live a goodly number of years to enjoy the rest and annuity to which her faithful services entitle her Bv August Strindberg death the world lose one of its foremost literary men. His life was unhappy and his character by no means amiable, but his contribution to Swedish literature was of the first importance. Some of hts radical plays have been translated into English and are for sale at the book stores. "Countess Julia" 1 a good one to begin with. An old-timer well known to the pub. lie Is In the habit of saying that Ore gon never has settled Summer weather until the "high water" in the Colum bia Is over. Circumstance seem to suDDort his view this year. Just as the river reaches flood stage the rains begin. The coincidence Is interesting, to say the least. By the time the San Farncisco Fair Commissioners finish their round of banquets in Europe, their digestive omns will need repair. But a san Franciscan Is so loyal to hla city that he does not grudge ruining his diges tion in it service. If most people would use all of the five senses with which nature has en dowed them, they would not need to borrow a sixth from the lower animals In order to guard human life. The loss of the Titanic wa due to failure to use the five senses. An Idea that should develop Into re ality is the proposed rest place and nursery for weary mothers and chil dren during the Rose Festival. A tern. r.Ara rv reatinir-rtlace where needed at tention can be extended is proper part of the fiesta. A man who lacked resolution to for- sake habits of Inebriety, even for love of a woman, could summon up resolu tion to take his own life after deliber ate Dreparatlon. Human nature is full of such paradoxes If the Ty Cobb case puts a stop to offensive remarks from spectators, the Incident will have value; but It will not. That Is a matter for local man agement and police. When a widower of '0 prays for a second wife and gets one of one-third hi age. It is demonstrated that ybung rren of this day are shockingly slow or lacking In piety. The heroism of the priests who have devoted their live to the lepers will always make the dreaded name . of Molokal shine brightly. Carrying out Hiram Maxim's idea. If white mice protect the submarines, the big liners need something the size of a white elephant. i whit man who nlavs China lot . l..a aa fia miiat In aurh a game. Is deserving of pity for hi lack of acumen. Berrv growers are sending out their perennial call for help, but the crowds about the employment omces ao not diminish. Newton Johns, the Seattle bootblack and llfesaver, has the modesty peculiar to the brave. . The gardens and pasture needed the showers, dui me loiiage on iicuu gear suffered. Abdul Baba Is all right in sizing up this country a all right. The Western Reserve is again the , battleground today. 21. 1912. PROVISIOXS OF SEW PENSION ACT. New Law Bases Farsseats Age and Length of Service la Civil War. CHEHALIS, Wash, May 19. (To the Editor.) Please state the provisions of the pension bill Just passed. I served four years in the Civil War. L. W. SANDERSON. The new pension measure is a gen eral service act payment of pensions, under its provisions being progressive according to age and service. Appar ently those entitled to increased pen sions do receive ths same automatical ly, as proof Is required, according to rules and regulation, to be fixed by , the Secretary of the Interior. It is provided that any person who served 90 days or mors in the military or naval service of the United States during the late Civil War, who has been honorably discharged therefrom, and who has reached tb age of 63 years or over, shall, upon making proof i of such facts, according to such rules ! and regulations a the Secretary of the Interior may provide, be placed upon the pension roll and be entitled to re ceive a pension as follows: In case such person has reached the age of 63 years and served 90 days, 113 per month: six months. $13.50 per month; on year, $14 per month: Hi years, $14.60 per month: two years, $15 per month; $H years, $15.60 per month; three years or over, $10 per month. In case such person has reached the age of 66 years and served 90 days, $16 per month; six months, $15.50 per month; one year, $16 per month: years, $16.50 per month; two years, $17 per month; JV4 years, $18 per month; three years or over, $19 per month. In case such person has reached the age of 70 years and served 90 days. $18 per month: six months. $19 per month; one year, $20 per month; 1 H years. $21.60 per month; two years, $23 per month; years, $24 per month. three years or over, $25 per month. In case such person has reached the age of 75 years and served 90 days, $21 per month; six months, $22.60 per month; one year, fH per month: Hi years, $27 per month; two years or over, $30 per month. The act contains the further provis ion: Any person who served In the military or naval service of tha United States during tha Civil War and received an honorable discharge, and who was wounded in battle or in line of duty and is now unfit for manual labor by ' reaaon thereof, or who from disease or other cauaea incurred in line of duty resulting in hla disability la now unable to perform manual labor, snau do paid tha maximum pension under this act, to wit. $30 per month, without regard to length ot aervico or age. HOW FLOODS ARE AVERTED Impossibility of Recurrence of June Overflow 1st River Explained. PORTLAND, May 20. (To the Edi tor.) In thnse warm dayii one bears tourists, ani some Portlanders, ex pressing them lelves in regard to the "annual flood" in the Columbia, and they have the idea that each year Portland either suffers, or is likely to suffer, from excessively high water. Probably It would be well for Port- landers to make an effort to remove this impression, and all of us ought t know why there 1b small chance or no chance that the city will ever be visited by another "June flood." Two factors are working in Port land's Interest to avert floods from the Columbia River. The first is that very large quantities of water are now di verted annually in May and June lor irrigation of lands along all the trib utaries of the Columbia and Snake rivers. All through Eastern Oregon, Eastern Washington, the State of Idaho, parts of Montana, Nevada and Wyoming, as well as in the British possessions to ,he north, this diver sion and consumption of water go on at a time to decrease the flood that used to come down from the melting snows of the mountains during the hot days of May and June. Possibly 10 times as much water is now ai- verted as during the year of our last back-water flood from the Columbia. The Becond factor that operates to nrevent the Summer flood is the great deepening of the channel of the Colum bia between Portland ana tne sea, oy reason of the woric done by the Port of Portland Commission. The dredging has been done, of course, at the very places that formerly clogged and hin dered the flow of the flood waters. The deepening of the channel, witn its consequent Increased drainage, is proo ably more important in the matter of avoiding Summer floods from "back water" than the increased diversions for Irrigation along the tributaries of the great river. Of course. In these days, wnen an 'unslnkable ship." like the Titanic roaa to tha bottom of the sea, It is wen not to prophesy with too much posi- tivaneaa but nevertneiess it appears certain that Portland will never again suffer recurrence or tne great June floods of 1$76 and 1894. WILLIS S. DUNIWAY. Votlag Qualifications. MEDTORD, Or., May 17. To the Editor.) (1) In which states are there more negroes than there axe whites In the United States? If so, which ones are they, and the relative population of such states? (2) What Is the voting age In Finland. In New Zealand and In Australia? Are property rights re quired In all of them? RALPH CLARK. 1. The 1900 census shows: South Carolina, whites. 657.807; negroes, 782, 811. Mississippi, whites. 641.200: ne groes, 907.630. Figures for 1910 census are not available. 2. The Australia laws are mad by the separate states. New South Wales and New Zealand have universal male and female suffrage for citizens over 21. Tasmania has universal male and fe male suffrage for the House of Assem bly, but a property qualification for the Legislative Council applicable to both sexes. Queensland ha a property qual ification for male suffrage. South Aus tralia and West Australia have a prop erty qualification for both men and women. Victoria has a property qualifi cation for men of little education; pro fessional men are freed from that. Fin land has universal male and female suffrage for citizens 24- years old. See "Australian Year Book." page 962. Lobs Hatpins In Germ amy. PORTLAND, May 20. (To the Edi tor.) Apropos of the recent letters in The Orea-onlan relative to the dangerous hatpin, I would suggest the plan In vogue In "certain cities in Ger many. The streetcar conductors are provided with nippers, and snip off Vie ends of all protuberant hatpins worn by passengers. A most excellent and precautious measure for the protection of eyesight. Hatpin shields for the point are likewise for sale in all jewelry shops. And may I make one other suggestion on a widely-different subject- Why do not our candy-sbop proprietors provide small scoops or tongs for the handling of candy. What Is more unsanitary or repeilant to a dainty person than to have the candy you have selected, clutched In the soiled band of the clerk and the hand must of necessity be soiled from the frequent handling of boxes, scales, etc and sometimes from the caressing of a fluffy pompadour. Often when tempted by the attractive window displays to purchase, I as often turn away at the thought of the manner In which It will surely be dealt out. A MOTHER. HOW TO KEEP TP TO DATE. How best can the Constitution be kept up to date be kept in harmony with the popular will of the time? That is the question brought up for discussion by Roosevelt's plan for re call of decisions annulling acts of the Legislature on constitutional grounds. The constitution of a state is the for mal declaration of the will of the peo ple of that state that their government shall be organized In a certain manner and of the principles by which It shall be guided. Those principles are neces sarily general. The Legislature has no power to enact laws which do not con form to those principles. Some au thority must decide whether laws do so conform, when their validity is questioned. The courts have been by constitutional provision or by common consent adopted as this authority. Every constitution contains pro visions for its amendment by a cer- taln process n tne older states by submission of amendments by tne Legislature to the people and their adoption by the people; in Oregon and other Western states by that method or by submission of amendments un der the initiative. XTnder such pro visions a Judicial decision which inter, prets the constitution as being at vari ance with the popular will as expressed in a legislative act can be reversed by adoption of an amendment which brings the constitution Into harmony with that act. By this process not only Is that particular decision reversed, but all others of like tenor, and the ren dering of any other such decisions is forestalled. This is done by a change In the declaration of the general prin ciple involved. The weak point about the Roosevelt plan, from the standpoint of the man who seeks the same end, as Roosevelt, 1 that it does not strike at the root of the evil. It acts like a man who mere ly cut off the stalks of the weeds in stead of rooting them up. Thus recall of the New York decision, of which Roosevelt made an example, would only effect a change in the constitu tional provision" on which it was based, so far as that provision related to that particular case and others closely parallel to It. The constitu tional provision would remain in full force with regard to all otner cases w which It might apply. "We should, therefore, have a restricted, piecemeal amendment of that provision. If the recall of decisions were used to the ex tent to which the initiative is exercised In Oregon, we should have a constitu tion the letter of which would be to tally misleading as to what was actu ally the fundamental law of the state. We should not know what the consti tution really was until wo had made footnotes to each clause, giving tne substance of each decision which had been recalled. In order to attain the end Roosevelt seeks, therefore, and to keep our con stitution free from doubt and confu sion, we shou'd amend the constitu tion and embody in it a new principle when Judicial interpretation shows it to be out of harmony with the popu lar will. The new declaration of prin ciple, being broad and general In its terms, would cover every case coming under the same general head and would be a clear guide to the courts. It would dig up the weeds hy the roots. Instead of merely cutting off their heads, as would the Roosevelt plan. THE ELECTION MURDER AT BULLY Pioneer Corrects Some of Statements Made About Old Incident. VALE, Or, May 17. (To the Edi tnr i in The Oreeonian May 14 you say "the ' County Court of Malheur County would do a good deed by clos ing the saloon at Westfall," which statement is probably true, as might also be said of saloons almost any where, owing to the point of view of thA onA ennflinerinor tne Question, uui referring to the Humberd murder you av the Bailev brothers were "filled with Phil Cammann's whisky." Per mit me to say that P. A. Cammann never sold any whisky, nor did he run a saloon, but did conduct a general merchandising establishment and was the first Postmaster at Bully (now Westfall), and held the position until his death. June 14, 1896. No man liv ing in that community ever held more of the esteem and regara m un uo. ar bors or was more sincerely mourned than Phillip A. Cammann. The fact is that at that time no saloon had been established in that precinct, and it was currently reported at that time that the whisky was sent into the precinct that day by a promi nent candidate of the Democratic party for the purpose of controlling the pri mary in his own interest. But be that as it may. It was very easy at that time to send out to other towns in the county and have from one to five gal lons of whisky sent in by stage. It is within the bounds of possibilities that the Bailey brothers and others Jointly ordered in the whisky, as it was a com mon occurrence lor tnis io muiio. especially upon any extra occasion, and a few moments' conversation with any one who was living there at that time would probably lead one to the conclu sion that the sole "mitigating circum stance" was that by a great many peo ple It was believed there were others who were equally guilty with the Bailey brothers. but who escaped punishment. a pIONEER Three Queries Answered. CASTLE ROCK. Wash., May 19. (To the Editor.) Please Inform me as to the location of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad, the names of five noted sing ers of the present time, and some thing about Henry Foster. R. The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was chartered October 24, 1908. It Is intended to extend from Moncton, New Brunswick, via the city of Quebec thence in a direct line to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and through to the Pacific Ocean at Prince Rupert, B. C. Total length of projected line is estimated at 3544 miles, exclusive of branches. Nordics, Schumann-Helnk, Melba, Ca ruso, Bond. Henry Foster (1796-1830) was an English navigator who accompanied the commission on the Northwest boundary between the United States and British Columbia, and made sur veys of the mouth of the Columbia. He later was engaged in important geo graphical and scientific expeditions to the Polar regions and the South Seas. He was drowned in the river Chagres while taking observations on the Isth mus of Panama. Differences la Pension Laws. PORTLAND, May 19.(To the Edi n Kindlv state in which way the pension bill which was recently signed by the President differs from the so called Sherwooa bill, and also how it differs from the law now in iorce. OLD SOLDIER. A synopsis of the new pension law is published elsewhere on this page. The Sherwood dui graniwi ui v to all veterans of the Civil War, irrespective of age and time of service. The bill differs from the pres ent law in that the latter in theory is a disability act, while the new law Is a general service act. Half a Century Ago Prom Tha Oregonian of May 21, 1SK. New Kent, Viu. May 10. The pursuit of the rebels by General Stoneman has. been in every respect successful. His headquarters is now here, 29 miles from Richmond, while his advance is five miles ahead. The rebels are ever In sight but are gradually falling back. Chicago, May 13. A dispatch from Norfolk, Va.. of May 10, states that General Wool had Just entered the city in company with the Mayor and com mittee of the city government. The last of the rebel troops left that morn ing. The forces arrived at Norfolk after a tiresome march at S o'clock without firing a gun. The Norfolk Navy-Yard was burned. Cairo. May 13. The steamer Meteor has arrived from Pittsburg Landing, bringing news to May 11. It has been definitely ascertained that General Lowell, from Missouri, has arrived at Corinth with 30,000 troops. Instead of the rebels abandoning their entrench ments, innumerable forces of negroes are at work felling trees, forming abatis, strengthening earthworks, etc. The Atlanta Confederacy states that in its Judgment Beauregard is well nigh flanked on both sides. Cairo, May 13. General Butler has issued a proclamation declaring mar tial law in Norfolk and suppressing the collection of taxes, except such as were imposed by the laws of the United States. The circulation of Confederate bonds as evidences of debt was strictly forbidden, but in consequence of the great distress which would ensue among the poorer classes If the circu lation of Confederate bank notes was suppressed, such circulation is per mitted as long as any one may be in considerate enough to receive them, until further orders. The Paris correspondent of the Lon don Herald writes that a strong feel ing is growing up there in favor of intervention In America. The impres sion is so powerful as to cause uneasi ness among the northern party in Parts. It is believed serious overtures have been made by the French Cabinet to Palmerston with a view to joint action to put an end to the war, which, ac cording to otnciai tniormaiion rnceiv is now as far from terminating as ever. Three companies of Oregon cavalry took their departure from Fort Van couver yesterday" bound for Walla Walla. Mr. John Hatches' pack train, consist ing of 31 fine mules, from Siskiyou County, arrived in this city last even ing. It is bound tor tsaimon rtivei. Shortly after the arrival of the Carrie Ladd last evening we noticed iwo miners depositing the sum or u,m in gold dust in the house of Wells, Fargo & Co. The Carrie Ladd brought down $175, 000 gold dust last night from Salmon River. It is said that the snow has nearly all disappeared In the Salmon River mines. Many miners are doing well those who have their claims opened. The remains of three men were found on the 13th inst, by Thomas Newland and Charles Carson 12 miles north of Turner and Newlands' place, at the Pataha. The flesh had all been eaten off the bodies by wolves, and nothing remained but the bones and part of the clothing, together with some old let ters and a memorandum book. On a flyleaf of the book was written: "Jan uary 24, 1862. James B. Shaw. In com pany with Solomon Brodman and Henry Debbena. If you find this, you will please advertise It In the Christian Ad vocate." The party had evidently frozen to death in attempting to cross the ridge from Patana to aif- 1 A "Ed" Howe Sees Life Few men do as well as they could do, to say nothing of doing as well as they should do. The average man is the best type; the great genius is a freak. How stubborn men are in refusing to accept your clear, convincing argu ments'. When a man falls in being wise, he attempts sarcasm; then, lacxing suc cess In that, ne Dscomes a numonsu Business men, as well as working men, are working shorter hours al though we are accomplishing more. It is commendable, but it reduces the op position of the men willing to work ten hours. If a woman makes $16 a week, peo ple say: "Isn't she grand!" But a man must m&so more ina.n ma.t ii hopes to attract general comment. There is nothing more pitiful than the man who has responsibilities he is unable to meet successfully. x Every man like the word "progres sive," although he may not he able to do anything with it beyond the talk- Nature asks nothing of you except that vou hurry along and get out of the way waen you can't hurry along fast enough. It is looking. a woman's duty to be good- The Wonderful Power of Radium New York World. Suppose that the energy of a ton of radium could be utilized in 30 years. Instead of being evolved at its invari able slow rate of 1760 years for half disintegration, it would suffice to propel a ship of 16,000 tons, with en gines of 16,000-horsepower, at the rate of 15 knots an hour for 30 years prac tically the lifetime of the ship. To do this actually requires 1,500,000 tons of coal. A SPECTRE. A ship went down in the wintry sea As slie struck on the grizzled ghost. Where demons were holding revelry And death stood near aa host. Loved ones whispered a fond farewell And clung in a last embrace; E'er they sank to the realm where mermen dwell, A spectre marks the place. A spectre that haunts us through the years And marches the ocean sands. Waiting her chance, as she laughs and sneers. At the strength of our puny hands. And all the wisdom tha years have gave Is crushed in a fitful hour. And, stilled are the hearts of the true, the brave. While we in awe may cower Upon the rocks and whisper prayer As we list to the echoing moan. Of stricken hearts, in the waters there. For they were all our own. Ah, yes, 'tis a spectre bleak and drear Clothed In the shroud of death. That hovers about us ever near To stifle ths human breath. And though we may build our mightiest things And Bcorn impending gloom. She swoops to our very midst and - wrings Our heartB In the hour of doom, G, NORBREY PLEASANTS. rl