THE "MORNING- OKEGONTAN, SATURDAY, JTJIiY 13, 1912.
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. SATURDAY. JULY 13. 1913
PORTLAND
T,rv. FASJB OF WASHINGTON
Colonel Roosevelt repeats in the
current number of the Outlook the
ii,, ,hre that "President
Taft's nomination was stolen for him
from the .American, people." He
means, of course, to say that h tte
National Republican committee ana
the National Republican
tn the fraud, and It is
to be assumed also that every citizen
who votes for Mr. Taft, either delib-
...w r traorantly, countenances
and indorses the great conspiracy
.....t r-nlltlcs and (food govern.
ment- The Colonel demonstrates that,
' v. .n the "four confessedly
Indefensible cases of California, Ari
zona, Washington and lexas
been decided his way. he would easily
.Jiave controlled thJ convention and
jrot the nomination. Undoubtedly he
would have. But he did not get the
nomination. He was steam rollered
out of it. It was a demonstration or
the power and efficiency of practical
political management paralleled only
by the equally successful manipula
tion in 1908 when under the able di
rection of Colonel Roosevelt, an m
Contests brought by the allies were
thrown out. and the Taft delegates
were in almost every instance seated.
Insuring complete control of the con
vention and the nomination of the
Colonel's hand-picked candidate.
Colonel Roosevelt makes it clear
again that he purposes to press his
own candidacy principally on the en
tirely new and more or less relevant
Issue of the Integrity of Mr. Taft's
nomination. He has said repeatedly,
and he will say a thousand times
' ligaln. that the nomination was stolen.
and that the men wno stoie ii wcic
thieves. He made the same charges
at Chicago and they were made for
Mm again and again by Governor
Johnson, Bill Fllnn. Francis Heney
and other men equally immoderate In
language and equally solicitous of
Inoderatlon In others.
Yet it is doubtful if the men who
"stole" the nomination for Mr. Taft
will agree with Colonel Roosevelt's
' surprising declaration that the decid
ing states of California, Arizona,
Washington and Texas presented
"four confessedly Indefensible cases."
The side of the Taft delegates in each
of these states was taken by a large
1 majority of the ivanonai committee,
land they vigorously defended their
faction and presented it to the conven
tion with able and detailed arguments
fas to its merits. It would appear that
the sweeping assertion of Colonel
I Roosevelt that the committee and the
Convention perpetrated a grave crime
ty unblushingly deciding for MT. Tart
"confessedly indefensible" cases Is a
Roosevelt euphemism and must be
accredited to romantic fancy.
Let us take the case of the Wash
ington delegation and review it
briefly to see if there may not be a
plausible and even a reasonable argu
ment for the Taft cause there, and if
the merits of the two contesting claims
may not be more or less evenly dis
tributed. The Oregonlan will say at
the outset that it has not the slightest
doubt that Mr. Roosevelt would have
carried Washington by a large vote in
a statewlde primary. But It Is not a
question of what Mr. Roosevelt might
have done. The controversy has
arisen solely over what was done and
now and why It was done.
Washington has no Presidential
preference primary law. But un
der the law the counties through
their respective political com
mittees are empowered to hold
primaries to name delegates to
a state convention, or, in the absence
of primary or convention, themselves
to select the delegates. Delegates so
selected are, of course, "hand picked,"
bnt It Is a process that In the early
V tapes of the contest both sides vigor
ously pursued. The demand for county
(primaries was made by the Roosevelt
faction, and in a number or cases tney
were held, with victory for the most
,part on the Roosevelt side. But in
King County (Seattle) there was a
bitter controversy over control of the
committee between the two factions,
and it terminated In a triumph for
the Roosevelt side, through diligent
and merciless use of the steam roller
by an energetic political boss, Mr. Mur
phlne. The commltte. under the ac
complished direction of Mr. Murphine,
called a primary to elect delegates to
the state (Aberdeen) convention over
the protest of the Taft forces, and it
was held. The Taft leaders called
upon their followers to remain out of
the primary, and they did. The total
number of votes cast was about 6500
out of a registration of 73,000. and
the result was seven to one for Roose
velt. The Taft members of the com
mittee then selected other delegates
and gave them their credentials.
When the Aberdeen convention met
a condition almost exactly identical
with the pre-conventlon situation
later developed at Chicago was pre
sented. These were two ' factions
Wry nearly equally divided. The Taft
Jnen controlled the state committee,
which made up the temporary roll or
the convention; but the Roosevelt
men, under the Indefatigable inspira
tion of Mr. Murphine, had instituted
a large number of contests, so that
Arery. nearly one-half the delegates
found their seats contested, n me
remaining 50 per cent alone had been
permitted. In accordance with the
contention of the Roosevelt manage
ment, to determine the credentials of
the contested 50 per cent, it would
have been perfectly clear sailing for
Jlir. Roosevelt's ship. But tne con
tests were In some instances, probably
a majority, either spurious or with
ery little merit, ana tne oemanas oi
Ihe Roosevelt forces as to the manner
'of settlement of the contests were
.trongly resisted. Tne committee at
ts meeting seated the large Roosevelt
delegations irom .fierce voumy uuu,
i t.
Clallam County, but gave the creden
tials to the machine-made Taft dele
gation from King. This action seemea
to assure control of the convention by
the Taft men and the Roosevelt dele-
s-ates went off and held their own con.
vention. leaving the Taft delegates in
undisturbed possession of the conven
tion hall and the party machinery.
It appears to be clear that the Taft
element in Washington was in moat
instances, though not ' all,, averse to
any primary and that it relied upon
old methods and established party
practices to furnish a Taft delegation
at Chicago. ,It appears also to be
clear that the Roosevelt rorces were
under the direction of men well versed
In practical politics,, and that they
hand-pickeJ :he delegates in counties
where primaries were not held, pre
cisely as the Taft bosses did. It ap
pears, too, that negotiations for a
compromise at Aberdeen failed, partly
through misunderstanding and partly
through design of men who wantea
no amicable adjustment. It appears
further that under the usual plan of
district representation no solid Roose
velt delegation could have been sent
to Chicago, even with Roosevelt men
dominating- at Aberdeen. It appears,
Anally, that the whole campaign prior
to the convention was carried forward
by leaders on both sides who used
what means were at their command
to win and who displayed exactly the
same disregard for the rights or de
sires of the opposite side when they
had a chance to win. -
The Taft steam roller at Aberdeen
disabled and wrecked ( the Roosevelt
steam roller. vThat the Roosevelt
steam roller was propelled largely by
popular Impulse, guided by men who
knew their business, did not save it
in a collision with a steam roller en
gineered by. old-line politicians who
also knew their business. The soap
box primary and the hand-picked
delegate figured on the one side
against the local machine and ' the
hand-Dicked delegate on the other. It
is difficult for the candid mind to de-
termine all the real merits of the con
troversy. How can Colonel Roosevelt
say that all the men on one side are
thieves and all the men on the other
side angels? '
OREGON AND ' THE PIXHOT VIEW.
Th Democratic press of Oregon has
broken out in frothy paeans for the
Democratic platform. "It promises to
reduce the high cost of Hying," says
one. "It will bring immediate revision
downward of extortionate tariff rates,
and the criminal trusts will be prose
cuted" is further glowing testimony.
Not a flaw is to be found in the per
fect document produced by the pure
patriots at Baltimore; not a word or
syllable too much or a phrase or sen
tence too little.
But somehow the eulogistic Demo
cratic papers overlook that blunt and
telling conservation plank. It happens
that conservation Is a subject In which
Oregon is deeply interested. It hap
pens also that Oregon has been a
heavy sufferer from the paralysis of
a mistaken system or conservation
otherwise known as Plnchotism. It
happens also that these same Demo
cratic newspapers, which one and all
approve the Democratic platform.
have been the noisiest advocates of
the Pinchot policy. It is plain that the
conservation resolution in the Demo
cratic platform is a straightforward
indictment of the present Federal pol
icies of conservation as administered
by zealous disciples of Pinchot.
The Democratic platform finely and
forcefully voices the Oregon view of
conservation as opposed to the Pin
chot view. But we shall never learn
It from the Democratic papers which
have favored the Pinchot view as op
posed to the Oregon view and the real
Interests of Oregon.
"THE BEST PEOPLE OX EARTH."
If the Elks go away- from Portland
feeling half as friendly toward our
people and our city as we feel toward
them, then Indeed they have a very
high regard for us. It is hardly pos
sible that a better looking or better
behaved lot of people ever before
went upon a visit for business or
pleasure than the thousands who
dwelt with us this week. It gives
every Portlander, every Oregonlan
among the visitors, the greatest of
pleasure to say this, for it, is - no
greater praise tha i our guests
deserve.
We can say to our visitors that we
have tried to do our duties as hosts
to the best of our abilities. Almost
literally we turned our city over to
them, and they did not abuse the con
fidence we bestowed upon them. In
effect we told them at the beginning
of the arrivals to "go as far as they
liked," and they did it only in good
cheer, good fellowship, Joy, Jollity and
mirth.
It is a duty of great pleasure to set
down these facts, and our sole regret
Is that we could not have done more,
that we' could not have done better
what we have done. In very truth we
believe our visitors to be "the best
people on earth." and if we have so
conducted ourselves as hosts as to win
even a half of the regard from them
that we feel for them, then Indeed will
they depart for their homes singing
the highest praise our city has ever
received.
Goodbye, Bill; goodbye, Jfrs. Bill;
goodbye. Miss Bill. Sister Bill, Sweet
heart Bill and all the other Bills, good
bye. May you receive in your yearly
visits hereafter to other fortunate
cities the treatment you deserve, the
treatment you have a right to expect.
We shall never forget you; shall ever
sing your praises; we hope your mem
ories and songs will ever Include Port
land and her people. .
, Goodbye and may5 peace go with
you.
A USELESS QUARREL.
By Its persistence in adhering to the
fetish of special favors as a means of
reviving the American merchant ma
rine. Congress has involved us in a
serious diplomatic controversy with
the British government and has exi
posed us to at least a good prima facie
charge of treaty-breaking. The Demo
cratic party, which professes to 'be the
special foe of special - privilege, has
Joined the Republican party ia an at
tempt to discriminate in the .levying
of tolte on the Panama Canal.
As regards American coastwise ship
ping, it is difficult to 'conceive how
Great Britain can maintain her protest
against the bill now before Congress.
As our laws already exclude foreign
ships from our coastwise trade, there
can be no discrimination in the exemp
tion from tolls of our vessels engaged
In that trade between United States
ports exclusively. Were we to at
tempt to extend this discrimination to
our vessels which call at foreign ports
in their coastwise voyages for exam-
pie. vessels which call at Mexican.
Central American and Canadian ports
a good case of violation of the treaty
might be made.
If the provision excluding from the
canal railroad-owned ships trading be
tween torta of the two Americas,
whether of the United States or of
other nations. Is to be applied to ships
of other countries as well as of our
own, It Is clearly a discrimination be
tween two' classes of ships of foreign
countries and therefore is a violation
of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty.' 'It the
provision has this broad application,
the purpose was doubtless to block Ca
nadian and Mexican steamship lines
owned by railroads of those countries
In anv nlan to poach on American
commerce, as outlined in a recent arti
cle in the Vancouver Province. But,
laudable as the purpose may have
been, we have no right to distinguish
between two classes of British and
Mexican ships, for the treaty binds us
not to discriminate between citizens of
various nations.
The controversy with Great Britain
only serves to convince us of the folly
of attempting to build up a merchant
marine by means of., discriminatory
laws. The extent of the proposed dis.
crimination is admittedly inadequate,
absurdly so, to offset the advantage
enioved bv foreign ship-owners. It
cannot effect our purpose, but it has
already caused us to be accused of a
breach of International good faith
Were the proposed discrimination ade
quate to gain our end and were no
other means available, it might be
worth while to put the British charge
of treaty-breaking to the test by arbi
tratlon at The Hague. But It is not
adequate, and other means, abundant
ly adequate, are available.
Allow Americans to buy foreign
ships, admit them to American regis
ter and we shall quickly revive, our
merchant marine. Then we can
cheerfully engage in competition with
the whole world, confident that we
can hold our own without asking or
granting favors for our own ships.
. - THE ORANGE FOR 1913.
The Oregonlan Is unfailingly glad to
receive Its copy of "The Orange," the
annual Issued by the Corvallis stu
dents. This year It comes with Presi
dent Kerr's compliments and It is en
couraging to see what a big book it
makes. The annual keeps pace with
the college. The striking feature seems
to be the long series of portraits which
it contains. The faculty, the senior
students, the various committees and
so on are all depicted for the benefit
of the publiq. President Kerr appears
at the head of the faculty in three dir
ferent aspects, taken, no doubt, to cor
respond with the varying points of
view of the student. At the top of the
page he is clean shaven and terrible.
In the middle he wears his habitual
"knightly, growth." with a mild and
gentle smile. . At the bottom he . is
scared. Perhaps the prospect of see
ing the forthcoming annual frightened
him. .
The book opens with a dedication
to President Kerr which strikes us
as rather pretty. It speaks of him
"the energetic, conscientious exec
utive who weighs all things In an even
balance; the indefatigable worker
whose tireless efforts to advance and
dignify the industries have found
hearty support and co-operation from
every thinking citizen of Oregon; the
true friend .and fatherly adviser of
every student of whatever grade or
station." Dr. Kerr has earned such
praise as this and we are glad the stu
dents realize it.
The Orange exhibits some variety
this year In the way of free speech
which is appropriate and pleasing,
though -we differ from its point' of
view. One of the students has ex
pressed his ideas on the subject of mil
itary drills in vigorous terms. He does
not like them. Later in life he may
alter his opinion a little. There is
nothing better for the moral stamina
and physical development of a boy
than the drill of a soldier when it can
be separated from the vain glorifica
tion of war. ' There is nothing insidi
ous and Jesuitical about the exercises
at the Agricultural College. The Gov
ernment requires them as part of the
National defense and as long as war is
a possibility there Is nothing reason
able to be said against them.
THE MERRV ELKS.
.The Elks never have been ambitious
to earn a reputation for puritanical
solemnity. We do not imagine, there
fore, that the resolution gassed by the
grand lodge forbidding "horse play"
is Intended to extinguish seasonable
mirth. There is a time to laugh and
we dare say the Elks are as keen for
it as anybody else, but there is also a
time "to keep silence and to build up."
In almost every lodge members are
found who want little else but hilarity.
The more important affairs of the
order concern them very slightly. If
they can tumble about, play rough
Jokes upon one another and especially
bedevil new initiates, they are so well
satisfied that they forget the higher
purpose of the order. The distinction
between kindly merriment and "horse
play" is plain enough. The grand
lodge has not forbidden members to
smile when anything amusing occurs.
It has put no ban on wit and humor.
Its purpose, one may -reasonably sup
pose, is to banish from the gatherings
of the Elks a tendency to hoodlumism
which arises from the high spirits of
the younger members.; The Oddfel
lows have had to deal with the same
problem and even the Masons, staid
as they are, have been worried by it
more or less. It is said that even to
this day rough practices prevail in the
French lodges which would not be tol
erated In the United States.
It is to the credit of the Elks that
they have taken a decided stand
against the Irrational gloom of Puri
tanism. We need real gaiety In this
country more than almost anything
else. How sadly we lack It anyone
can see for himself who takes the
trouble te watch the pathetically- fu
tile efforts of -people on our holidays
to do something amusing. It was re
marked long ago that men of our race
take their pleasure sadly." The un
deniable truth is that they are prone
to take it brutally. As a Nation we
do not yet know how to be merry
without being swinish or lumpish. The
best effort some of our boys and young
men can make toward mirthfulness Is
to toot on a tin horn or drag a bunch
of cowbells along the pavement Aim
less yells express the desire of the soul
to be glad, but the) express It primi
tively. It can be done much better.
No Coubt the time will come when we
shall see gay dances on the streets and
hear lovely folk songs Instead of wild
shrieks, but it has not come yet. ' The
Elks are helping effectually to bring it
nearer. On Wednesday night in the
soft glow of the electric lights on Sixth
street one could see what looked like
the beginnings of genuine popular
mirth without hoodlumism. As one of
the Jolly bands of music passed by
boys followed it dancln and pretty
girls singing songs. The songs were
not a hundredth part as pretty as the
girls; but they will Improve with time.
Folk music takes centuries to reacn
its perfect development. Perhaps we
mie-ht never have had any at all In
this country if the Elks had not helped
us break the detestable chains of pu
ritanical taciturnity.
But fraternal societies like the Elks
do not exist wholly for the sake of a
"good time." The ljdges have a seri
ous purpose with which untimely hi
larity ' would interfere. Benevolence
forms an Important part of their work
and In order to do good wisely It is
necessary to provide for grave debate
and careful deliberation. The young
members may not see the full necessity
for this now, but they will when the
responsibility for the good of the order
rpsts on their own shoulders. It is
particularly injurious to an organiza
tion to permit horse play to intrude
into the Initiation ceremonies. Of
course when it is known to everybody
that an order exists only for sport can
didates have fair warning and they
cannot complain if they are roughly
handled, but that is not the case with
the Elks. Merry as the members often
are the lodge has a high and com
mendably serious purpose - to fulfill.
The Initiation ceremonies of nearly
every order depend upon the dramatic
instinct for their attraction. Some se
lect a story from the Bible for this use.
Others make a different choice, but In
almost every case there Is a stirring
appeal to our deep-seated love of the
dramatic. A lodge whose Initiation
ceremonies constitute a good play is
sure to attract and hold a desirable
membership If it is worthy in other
ways.
. Rousrh Jokes detract from the nat
ural charm of a good Initiation ritual.
They mar the dramatic effect which Is
so fundamentally important, while at
the same time they wholly pervert
those moral lessons which every
worthy society takes pains to empha
size. One could readily name half a
dozen fraternal orders whose princi
ples, if they were dutifully practiced
would make a man's conduct perfect
and the Elks would stand near the
head of the list. But pX the same time
each order has its individual claim
to some peculiar merit. The mission
chosen by the Elks, apart from their
exemrjlarv benevolence, seems to be
to dispel the gloom of puritanism from
our National life. In doing this most
commendable work some excesses nat
urally occur. There are many young
men in the order and youth will have
its fling, now and then too much of a
fling, but time will chasten this excess
of animal spirits. The only fear we
have about the future of the Elks Is
that, like the rest of us, they may by
and by yield to the hereditary solem
nity of our breed and degenerate into
staid and mirthless images of proprl
ety. No greater misfortune could be
fall the country.
fin Inne. na Rnaln remains a DlOll-
orchy, Its territory will be used as
a base of operations for filibustering
operations against the Portuguese Re
public. The very existence of a re
public on its borders is an offense
tA a mnnnrr-Viv riftinur a Ktandim? in
vitation to Its subjects to go and do
likewise. The weakness of Portugal
Inspires Spain with confidence in im
munity from retaliation, but Portugal
can retaliate secretly by affording
shelter to conspiring Spanish repub
licans. Were Spain not full of rev
olutionary sentiment,, her government
might attempt to remove the peril by
forcible annexation of Portugal, but
the Spanish rulers know that a large
part of their army would be reluctant
to fight in a war to extinguish a re
public and that any such movement
would be the slenal for revolt In
Barcelona- and other centers of repub
licanism. . In short a war. against
Pnrtmral would nrobablv develop Into
civil war in both Portugal and Spain,
and the Spanish throne Is not so se
cure that the government dare take
the risk. .
Both a delight to the lover of na
ture's grandeur and a service to the
City of Portland and the whole Co
lumbia River country Is 'The Guar
dians of the Columbia," by John H.
Williams, author of "The Mountain
that was God." It is elaborately and
copiously illustrated with half-tone
engravings, whlcU are a triumph of
the engravers' art. The literary work
is of as high order as the illustrations
and shows not only thorough s'.udy of
the geology, mythology, flora and
fauna of the Columbia River region,
but an enthusiastic love of the subject
which has found expression In de
scriptive writing that forbids the
reader to lay down th - book. The
subject presents unexampled oppor
tunities, and Mr. Williams has availed
himself of them to the full..
Of all men now living in the North
west, Ezra Meeker deserves well to be
commemorated by a memorial tablet.
He. was a pioneer not only In crossing
the plains, but in developing the hop
Industry, and to his efforts will be due
the marking of the Oregon trail as an
everlasting memorial to those who
made Oregon American territory by
the toilsome Journey which ended In
American settlement. The best thing
that can be said of Meeker is that he
has done well for his country.
The little country bank in Oregon
in a. nrosoerous. Institution. Collect
ively It has increased its deposits more
than six millions m tne past nscai
year. The National bank in city or
town acquires the . business of the
lars-n concerns.- but the state bank is
close to the hearts and. purses of the
common people.
Torimer. In his desperation, replies
to the charge, of bribery by saying to
the Chicago newspapers: "You're
tax-dodgers." Even if he speak truth,
he is not cleared of the bribery charge
by speaking 'it, for two blacks never
did and never can make a white.
7 '
One by one the havens of refuge for
American defaulters are being closed
by treaty, Honduras being the last.
Coffee and banana plantations will
cease to attract that class of investors.
Cissy Loftus Is put to a great deal
of trouble by her inability to discover
whether she loves a man until after
she has married him.
Several carloads of Nebraska hogs
got Into the Portland yards yesterday.
The corn-fed product will be a change
from alfalfa pork.
The warm spell is coming and the
Oregon delegation to Chicago may Just
as well put its troubles on Ice. '
The case of La FoVette vs. : Roose
velt is assuming distressinc propor
tions, -the progressives.
A shower or two on going-home day
will wash away the regrets.
Au revoir. Bill!.
-: exphbss asd. PARCELS POST.
Acqalaltton of Company Property Advo
cated by Postal Progress Officer.
PACIFIC GROVE. Cal., July 9.-r-(To
the Editor.) I have recently received,
through the courtesy of Congressman
Needham. a copy of report 597 of the
House . of Representatives, entitled
?' Postal Express."
' It is a favorable report from the com
mittee on interstate and foreign com
merce on the bill (HR. 23,713) to pro
vide for the acquisition of the express
companies property so far as engaged
in the express or parcel-post business.
and the utilization thereof by the post
ai Department. "It was on April 25th
committed to the committee of tne
whole House on the state . of the
Union," with a recommendation that it
pass.
After reciting"' the failure of the ex
Dress comnanles' method properly to
render a service, (a) sufficiently exten
sive, (b) sufficiently economical, (c)
sufficiently efficient, (d) failing to
reach the farm and move "vital neces
saries" at first cost from producer to
consumer, the bill recommends tne
condemnation, after proper appraise
ment, of the equipment and express
railway contracts of all express com
panies, and provides ways and means
for the annexinsr of the business to
the Postofflce DeDartment It also di
lates on the "nowers of Congress," the
"necessities for action," "prohibitive
express rates." "oauolty of traffic,
"reduction of rates," "cost of acqui
sition," "advantages of express," "rail
road contracts," "purchasing the ex
press companies," "the parcels-pos
regulation," and "rate-making," wind
insr uo with these "conclusions":
(11 The express companies constitute.
in fact, the "parcel post" of the United
States, but s
(2) Because of their prohibitive rates
and non-extension to rural points their
service is inadeauate.
(3) The service is a natural part of
the postal function and should De
merged In the postal organization.
(4) The contracts and equipment of
such companies are essential to an
economical and efficient service by the
postal department.
(5) That the extension of such serv
ice to the country-will operate to re
duce substantially the prevailing high
prices of the vital necessaries.
(6) The rates should be administra
tively, not legislatively, made in or
der to move the potential traffic and
nrotact the Treasury.
(7) This measure offers a full solu
tion of the small shipment problem and
allays. In place of exciting, the appre
hensions of the retail merchants of
the country.
. As Congress is yet in session a very
forcible expression or pumic opinion
may yet cause that ponderous body to
"get a move on" ana pass tne diii
before adjournment. The new plat
forms of both partieB profess to re
gard parcel-post with favor. Deeds
speak louder than words! Let action be
taken now.
EDWARD BERNICK,
President Postal Progress Leagues of
California.
Women Not Decadent.
PORTLAND, July 12. (To the Edl
In. Tt- 4a rap-rnrtn hi A that women al
iaw tliamaalvM tn run Into print with
av-OTimanfa that nfRVA thair lFICOniDfl-
tency to matte caim, quiet esumaieo i
serious conditions, remaps airs. jh.
. I . V. ....... ...nnnslhl, fllf ttlA
opicei, "in, wan . . .'i'..... - -
contribution in The Oregonlan. on "Ef
fect or Ballot on woman, nuuiu
ha, nUL'Tl STJinfl HUM SUB
nlrrA that tinlrtnrl a-nrt fLh.qnlutelV UH-
just paragrapn on tne women wno were
on board the Titanic ene was mu
thmiaon milas ftWAV t f h H VP
known that neither the men nor the
women were allowed a choice in tne
matter; that the men who went back to
wit fnr a Intfir hnn t Baa no more iaea
that they were going to their death
than had the women rrom wcuui uej
were separated by force.
T . Cnfru, hoi I AVPS "thfl-t thA WOmeil
of today are decadent why does she not
study the history or tne iin ana
centuries of every cnuntry and if she
knows the real women of today she will
realize what splendid, Interesting speci
mens they really are.
" T r ..A.1. miint S-AnArSLllxA 'Wh? ' &1-
ways draw conclusions from the few
unfortunate which may be regaraeu
the exceptions wnicn go to prove mo
rule? EMILIE FRANCES BAUER.
. Graft Charge Not Intended.
WTOTT.iVn Tnl.. 12 fTrt the Edi
tor.) In the article written by us and
printed in The Oregonlan, JUiy o, com
menting on the useless and unwar
ronta A-rriA-n Ai tnrft nf mihlic m one V for
excavations, fills, concrete walls, etc..
on the hew Falling - School ounaing,
there was no intention on our part of
thA Sohnnl -Directors with
unciaius
graft, and we wish to correct such an
erroneous impression. We do not wisn
to have any member of the board feel
that wr have been a narty to electing
mumhara of the School Board who
wnnlH s-rnsslv betrav their trust, as
such a charge would imply. They have
mt,. .nnfManrA anet WA nOW t&Ke xnis
means of removing anyi injustice that
may have been done to any meraoer oi
the School Board.
C. F. HAYWAK.U,
a PLTMALE.
E. CASHEN,
F. J POLIVKA,
N. H. BIRD.
WM B. JOLLY,
J. K. STANTON,
DANIEL FREY,
JOHN COBB.
The Mystic Honr. '
" fiTj-caTTAur nr . Julv 1L (To the
Editor.) Will you please tell me why
the ciock in tne aisa raureuu pic
tures always point io in
. -r-,-r nr. nni IT ATT,
T7T,-- I. tha I'mtiHn hour" of Elk-
dom, and has an Impressive part In
the lodge work. Its principal signifi
cance Is that at that Hour iua.si
their absent brothers.
Tea, It a Cltlsen.
KAMIHCKE, Wash., July 10. (To
the Editor.) Can a United , States
.ni.li.. nto fn. -pr-AairiAnt In Oreson
that is an enlisted soldier?
THE-POLEETIKAL KRISES.
. - BY JO. HABTMAN, "
ain't a vntln' tp.T Teddv.
An' I ain't a votln" fer Taft
Some naughty reporter's suggisted
La Follette might be a bit daft.
William J. B. ain't a dead one,
T3,,t T Ha minant he's tOO late.
An' Wilson don't strike me as havin
Nun ballast rer. our mp o nuiie; .
rtaho'ii ha uia,n nut tha niTinin'
With the field chuck-a-block of Big
BIS. ' ..
Oh, this here President's office
Is both'rin me head, it shure is!
We might relieve the oppression
In this wise, if youins agree.
An' start the campaign a hummin
With a Suffragette nominee.
a wnmnn a . hfltidsom6 as Helen
Helen that caused such a fight .
As brave as Joan of Arc was,
A woman thefs allays dead right.
One who takes no man's erpinions ;
An' who won't consider the House,
An' little things like the smate,
Not a bit mor"an she wouia a mouse.
We could keep reckonin" fer ever
half the good.
This here female of the species
Must have storea up uiiuer nor uuuu.
ota'ii lint Bond out a most cordial
Invite to the Nation at large.
To locate a she standard bearer
Who can float a poleetiKai oarge
On calm seas, or storm seas, or maybe
Upon the grim rocks of distress!
Let's hear from the Wimmins' Rights
Workers
jAn' be plannin the Prlsident's dress.
FREE DELIVERY AND HIGH PRICES
Way Do Not Farmers Get Goods
Cheaper? Ask Country Woman.
NEWBERG. Or.. July 11. (To the
Editor.) I saw an article written for
The Oregonlan, by Mrs. Sarah A. Evans,
about the causes of high cost of living
and it seems she thinks we Americans
are all lazy. Well, if some people think
we are laxy they are very badly mis
taken, for I think there are Just as
many saving and industrious house
wives in - America as in any of .the
foreign countries.
Now we country people, I will admit,
do not have a chance to be Idle like
the city women. On the farm there Is
always-work and I know I have not
one single lazy neighbor.
Now what I want to know is this:
When we country people go into town
to do our shopping we pay Just the
same price as the people that have
their parcels delivered, but we always
carry our own load. Now why do not
we get our things cheaper, as the
stores have no expense delivering our
goods? I am sure people should not
be ashamed to carry their parcels.
They should thank Ood they have
money to buy the necessaries of life.
MRS. NETTIE YOUNG.
MOST HUMAN OF ALL BIRDS.
Not Only In Talking, bnt Eating, Does
the Chatterlna- Parrot Imitate Man.
Harper's Weekly.
It Is not only In Imitating human
speech that the parrot excels most of
the birds. The parrot is alone among
birds in taking food In its claws. With
these two characteristics it makes more
or less use of that which distinguishes
humanity from the rest of the animal
kingdom the hand and the larynx.
The monkey uses its hands and the
elephant Its trunk in feeding. Various
animals have a habit of pawing their
rood. Rodents have serviceable toes.
Still, the parrot is pre-eminent among
birds In this regard. The secretary bird
Is said to attack reptiles with his
claws, and some observers have said
that owls make partial use of their
remarkably flexible perching toe some
what more than does a hen in scratch
ing for food. However, there is no oth
er bird which, when given a piece of
rood, will accept it in its claws.
Parrots, of course, do not talk, as we
use the word, in their wild state and
are not known to be imitative of neigh
boring sounds nor to possess the reper
tory of the mocking-bird. It is, there
fore, a question whether or not their
use of the claws is largely Imitative
also. The shape of the parrot s beak
would Indicate that some assistance in
eating has always been a part of the
bird s characteristics.
Like man, the parrot makes its ap
pearance in the world naked and help
less.
GREAT SCIENTISTS' FUN AT PLAY
Darwin, Huxley and Others Enjoyed
Politics, Scandal and Excursions.
. Chicago Inter Ocean.
"It is a great mistake for adults, and
especially those who work with their
brains much, to give up sports and
games." said Herbert Spencer. "The
maxim upon which I have acted Is, to
be a boy as long as you can."
The Scientific American gives some
illustrations to show that reallv s-reat
scientists are not dry-as-dust old fogies.
but are full of fun and often of frivol
ity. It cites the famous X Club, of
which such men as Darwin, Tyndall,
Hirst, Spottlswoode, Huxley, Hooker,
Busk, Avebury, Spencer and Frankland
were members. It has no rules, but
such minutes were kept as:
"Talked politics, scandal and the
three classes of witnesses: Liars liars
and experts."
The members used to have excursions
to which they took their wives, as re
corded by the algebraic notations,
"X's plus Y'vs."
Common Law Marriages;
PORTLAND, July 12. (To the Edi
tor.) Will you kindly Inform me
whether in case a man Introduces a
woman as his wife in the State of New
York It is a legal marriage? The case
is this:
A young lawyer and a young girl
were engaged to be married. The man
persuaded the young girl to live vlth
him as his wife, telling her that her
doing so and his acknowledging her as
his wife cover all that was required Dy
the laws of the State of New York to
constitute a legal marriage. He took
her to his home and told his sisters
that she was his wife. She lived with
him 14 weeks. At the end of that time
one of his sisters told her that she was
not the legal wife of the man she was
livine with, although he had said she
was his wife. She refused to live with
him any longer until another marriage
ceremony should be performed.
The man in the case baa not ximsnea
his professional course. They agreed
to wait until he had done so before
they would be remarried. In the mean
time the man was called to a distant
part of the country on business, their
plan belne that upon his return tney
would be married at once. But this
man met with an accident which re
sulted in his death before his friends
could reach him.
, ANXIOUS TO LEARN.
Non-oeremonlal marriages were rec
ognized as valid in New York until
190L In that year a law was passed
requiring that parties to such mar
riages must enter into a written agree
ment in the presence of two witnesses,
the agreement to be acknowledged in
the same manner as conveyances of
real estate.
The Vote In 1908.
AUMSVTLLE, Or.. July 10. (To the
Editor.) Will you please give the
popular" vote for both Republican and
Democratic candidates for President In
Oregon four years ago?
A READER
Republican, 62,530; Democratic
88.049.
SUNDAY FEATURES
Pictures of the Herd Six whole pages of live photos that tell of
the greatest of grand lodge conventions in Portland during the past
week. This is a feature you should get, whether you are an Elk or
not. Your Eastern friends, too, would appreciate a copy.
Apron-String Secrets of Edward VII- In the biography of the
late King, just issued, it is revealed that he was the victim of ,
"sheltered life." A page of wide interest; illustrated.
Weeding Our Real Estate Crooks An account of the most note
worthy crusade ever undertaken by the United States Government.
Woman's Tribute to Brave Men-r-A great memorial arch is being
prepared by the women of the country to the brave men of the
Titanic. The story of the movement is told in a striking, illustrated
article by W. A. Du Puy. .
J. Eufus Wallingford Outdone Swindler of high connections re
duces exploits of famous crooks of fiction to mere child's play.
Is Hydrophobia a Myth? This much-discussed question is taken
up by a trained investigator and sifted to the bottom. , .
Social Leader Go to Work An account of the activity among
England's elect who would escape ennui. '
The Top Price in Baseball Another article by aa expert. Marty
0 Toole gives the inside story of a $22,000 deal.
' Two live Short Stories, Complete.
The Jump-TJps visit Newport. Sambo goes to a powder factory
and all the color comic people put on new acts.
Many Other Features.
ORDER. TODAY FROM YOUR NEWSDEALER.
Half ' a Century Ago
From Th Oregonlan of July 14. 18J.
In the list of post routes established
by the present Congress we find the
following for the mining region of
Washington Territory: From Walla
Walla to Pierce City and Oro Flno via
Lewiston; from Seattle to Snohomish;
from Walla Walla via Lewiston and
Pierce City to Elk City: from Walla
Walla via Antolne Plantes and the
Coeur d'Alene Mission to Hell Gate;
from Lewiston to Florence City.
Washington, July 1. Advices from
McClellan to 2 P. M. Saturday say up
to that time he had successfully car
ried out hU plan to swing the right
wing towards the rear, which Included
all forces north of and half way be
tween Bottom's Bridge and New Bridge,
and at the same time advanced his left
towards James River, opening commu
nication with the gunboats. The en
emy's attack last Thursday In great
force necessitated a strategic move
ment and in falling back, of course to
White House landing, he abandoned the
sick and wounded. McClellan's army,
though greatly exhausted from lack
of food and rest, were still In excel
lent spirits. On Monday night th
army began entrenching. The enemy's
loss in killed and wounded yesterday Is
said to be not less than 8000.
Washington, July 8. Dispatches an
nounce the arrival of some of Farra
gut's vessels above Vicksburg. They
passed at 6 on the morning of June 2S
through a severe fire from 64 guns.
The County Commissioners' Court for
Multnomah County granted a ferry li
cense to W. H. Frush to run a ferry
across the Willamette River, opposite
the city, for the term of three years.
The places of landing are at the foot
of Stark street on the city side and at
the bank directly opposite on the east
side.
Tha fino itmmiir Wilson G. Hunt has
been put In complete repairs and it now
ready to commence regular inp ut
tween this city and the Cascades, car
rvinir frAicrht- naaseneers. etc. In con
nection with the Oregon Steam Naviga
tion Company's steamers. She leaves
this morning on ner nrst trip.
MANILA AND FIELD MUSEUM
Exhibit Shipment of Forest Productions
ot Philippine Island.
Manila-American Cable News.
A representative collection of ths
principal timbers and minor forept
products of tne i-niuppine wiiwi i
being made by the Bureau of Forestry
fn ahfnmant tn tha field MURdUm Of
Natural History of Chicago. Such an
exhibit was requested oy xue r ieia mu
seum some months ago, to be placed in
tha .mi naur hnlldlniT erected in Jack
son Park, Chicago, where similar valu
able collections or natural nisiory spec
imens will be exniDiiea irgm u vuun-ti-ia.
a ,ha wArlH Other products of
the archipelago are already shown in
the museum, Dut a compreueuiv
1 I n tha har VADlll ff ttlfl Phll-
leuwvu lj t i-.u . .
lpplnes Is desired for the enlarged for
estry division of the museum.
Dr. Mlllspaugh, the curator of the de
TiartmAnt nf hotanv In the Field Mu
seum, recently visited Manila on a trip
around the world which he Is making
for the purpose of gathering auumuo
..uiku. nnA thA rAftultn of his
ejt.ui Luis. -illi - ---
visit to the islands was the request or
the director or. ioresixy mr um iu
tion of timbers and forest products.
gomniAo nt ftlmftMca and various
other resins, ratans, and barks will be
included In tne shipment, inis mme
...in ..nriAuhtAriiv hA a. permanent
.. .i .tnn1.,nt nr thA r.nmmerclal for
est products of the Philippines, and In
the ineia Museum n wm uo u.v,uS..b
the attention of substantial business
men from all over the United States
who are annually brought to Chicago
. A ,ha la.D-a hmlnMS .exPOSi-
tions and conventions held in that city.
Cause of Discontent.
nn t-t ,vn Tnlv 1 H i Tn thA Edl-
t Ult 1 IJ...-'. , utj - - -
T -A ln.t.l a nf tha tvnA of VOUTS
to which Mr. Uthoff objected and such
as the one or tne m, replying i
bad been numerous enough to enlighten
v.ii nn,a vasra iirn. thera would
lue jjuuhv ovi.w j - - - -
be no reason for discontent, and I most
likely would be no oociaiiai nuw.
. . nAAnia haA hAAn Aducated by such
editorials, our legislators would doubt
less have Deen compeueu, m
at least as much for the Interest of hu
manity as for Mr. H. C. Uthoff's sacred
rights of property. Special privileges
for big Interests, over-capitalization of
corporations and trusts, and the pre
sumption and tyranny of our courts to
thwart the will of the people would
not have been allowed. It is not such
editorials as complained of that breed
discontent. It is bad laws that bring
forth ungodly, voluptuous ww ii ."
one side and unbearable suffering on
the other that produce discontent and
revolution. J. N. HAUER.
Life of Birds, Animals and Trees.
Chicago Tribune.
T. 4 .. -1 haan AAmniltAd that til S
XL UA.O Jilw " " '
day fly lives 24 hours, the May fly six
-- . i v......fli- twA mnnthfi. as.
weeas, i-e wfcfco.j - - -
alas! also does the flea; the fly three
to four months; the ant. the cricket,
and the bee one year each; the hare,
sheep, six to 10 years each; the night-
ingaie, ia years; iuo -
Kirri is to 20 years:
yean, mo v-eai j i -- -
the dog, 15 to 25 years; cattle, S 5 years,
the horse. 25 to 30 years; the eagle, 80
years; the stag, 85 to 40 years; heron.
Hon, ana near, ow i - -
raven, 80 years; elephant, turtle, par
rot, pike and carp, 100 years each.
The ivy OUtllVeS ZUU yearo, mo oil".
UU II auv J ' . .. .
.... il. in.at tr-AA inn ths oak
to 850 years; tne nuueu,
luuu yeaio, mo ., . -
',. tha flr TOO to 1200 years, and
palm tree's, 3000 to 6000 years.
. Waning of the Honeymoon.
Denver Times.
mm Nawedd I think I'll make some
biscuits for lunch today.
Nwedd Don't bother. Let's have
something light.
JCa.