1913.
3
.rrvTivxvr nurr-nvTiV TTTT'ST)AT. SEPTEMBER 10,
. " " " " " ' ' ' " - 1 ' ! ' . :
t (DiTiTontnn
PORTLAND, ORF.GON.
Entered at Portland. Oregon. Postoffles
sesond-CIass Matter. ,
Subscription Rates Invariably In Advanca.
IBT HAIL.)
Dally. Sunday Included, ona year $8-
Daily. Sunday included, six months......
Dail3'. Sunday Included, tnree moatlu.. -"
Daily. Sunday Included, ona month
Dally, without Sunday, one year .uo
Dally, without Sunday, six months.....
Daily, without Sunday, three months... J-"5
Dally, without Sunday, ona month... ... -ojf
Weekly, ona year J-j
Sunday, one year -?V
Etudav and Weekly, ona year a5"
. (BY CARRIER.)
Dallv 'Oii.il.. Inclnriri nnM VM- $.00
Daily.' Sunday included, one month..... -lb
Hoa to Kjmit Send Postoffice money or
der, express order or personal check on your
jocat Dank. stamps, com or gutiww -
at the sender's risk. Olva postofflcs address
in full, Including county and state.
Postage Bates 10 to 14 paces, 1 cent: 10
to 25 pages. 2 cents; 30 to 40 paces, a cent-.
40 to 6u paxes. 4 cents. Foreign postage,
doub!e rate. .
Eastern Business Offices Verre -onk-lln
New York, Brunswick building. cm
caro. Steger building.
San Francisco Office R. J. BldweU Co
742 Market street.
Enropesn Office No. B Regent street, a-W-,
London.
PORTLAND, TtTESDAY. SEPT. 10. 191.
THE BURDEN GROWS.
The state pamphlet containing the
Initiative and referendum measures
and arguments thereon comes to the
voters this year under unfavorable aus.
pices unfavorable In that there will
be more than, one inducement felt by
the average elector to neglect the task
of thoroughly studying it with the view
to reaching some conclusion for or
against every measure. Interest in an
unusually lively and uncertain Presi
dential campaign will tend to distract
attention from dull and tedious legis
lative duties. Business activity, too, is
awakening, and there are personal and
everyday matters sufficient to occupy
the attention of those who are indus
trious. Moreover, the task imposed
this year on the voter is far greater
than ever before. Widespread perse
verance in the performance of an im
portant obligation, and considerable
sacrifice of Individual preferences as
to how one shall spend his spare mo
ments, are essential if we are to have
a fair expression of the people upon
the thirty-eight measures that come
before theim.
It is undoubtedly true that two years
ago thousands of voters waited until
the last day or two before election be
fore turning to the state pamphlet for
information and guidance at the polls.
Tet, It Is doubtful if there was a single
man in Oregon so thoroughly versed in
law, political economy, state geog
raphy, community conditions and edu
cational needs, that he could gain a.
comprehensive idea of the Issues in
volved by a week's study of it. Then
there were thirty-two measures. This
year there are thirty-eight Then the
pamphlet embraced 208 printed pages
with index. This year it contains 256.
Two years ago there were numerous
measures that the ordinary voter could
pass up as hopeless without regret.
There were eight county division bills
the merits of which the voter could
not hope to ascertain, with the possi
ble exception of the one involving a
district in which he might happen, to
live. There was a local fishing con
troversy from Southern Oregon and a
proposal to increase the salary" of an
Eastern Oregon Judge, both of which
were in the same category of local
issues, and both were unsolvable prob
lems for the voters who desired to de
ride issues on their merits and not
upon prejudice.
This year there is but one local issue
presented. t Thirty-seven of tho meas
ures have more or less bearing upon
the interests of the whole state. Some
are presented without affirmative or
negative argument. Some are in
Indorsed or condemned with dema
gogic statements that are not argu
ments, but valueless, unsupported as
sertions. The information contained
in the pamphlet on numerous meas
ures is not sufficiently adequate to
guide the voter. He must seek knowl
edge in reference works or public doc
uments. Some voters are in isolated
communities where such guidance is
unobtainable, except at a cost that in
most instances would be prohibitive.
Thwe, the only feasible course is to
read and study the pamphlet and di
gest the current newspaper discussions.
That voting In an election is a pa
triotic duty that no man should neg
lect has long been urged upon the
electorate. But there is even stronger
reason why the people should vote on
direct legislation. Election to office
Is a contest between two or more can
didates. The voter who stays away
from the polls divides his vote equally
among the several candidates. Oregon
state and county elections have devel
oped largely into a popularity test be
tween personalities. The office will be
filled and the business of the Govern
ment carried on in spite of widespread
dereliction in the exercise of the fran
chise. An initiative measure or one
subjected to the referendum, on the
other hand, is an issue in itself. We
either adopt it or reject it. We either
accept its virtues or its evils or we de
prive ourselves wholly of them. Fail
ure of many to vote leaves the control
of Governmental affairs, in sometimes
unsuspected Instances, to a compact
group or class that Is actually in the
minority. Indifference of the major
ity, or Its failure to discern the signifi
cance of a proposed law, may wreak
disaster upon the majority or give the
minority special advantages or privi
leges to which it is not entitled.
Were these facts more generally rec
ognized and a greater interest mani
fested In the obligations the people
have placed upon themselves, there
would have been no argument possible
In favor of the proposal to make suc
cess of an initiative measure contin
gent upon its receiving the affirma
tive votes of a majority of those who
vote in the election. Without express
ing an opinion at this time on the wis
dom of that amendment, it may be
said that, if "Big Business," as
charged in the negative argument, is
back of this amendment, indifference
or neglect of duty by a large percent
age of the electorate has supplied "Big
Business'" with plausible ground for its
effort. If the amendment is the prod
uct of men who have the welfare of
the state at heart, it is a safeguard
that at least ought not to be needed.
The Oregonian U not advising every
voter to spend weeks of constant study
and worry over the initiative pamphlet
and the direct legislation issues. It
does, however, urge that a reasonable
effort be made to decide each issue on
Its merits. If reasonable effort to un
derstand a law or amendment fails to
enlighten the voter, then his proper
recourse is to vote "no." A measure
that rannot be understood without
prolonged study and arduous research
ought to be defeated. It is out of place
on the ballot. If one understands the
purport of a measure, and still remains
uncertain as to whether the change it
offers would ? improve existing condi
tions, the latter should be given the
benefit of the doubt.
HUMILIATION" FOB A STATE.
Sheriff ."Bob" Hodge for Governor
of the great" State of. Washington? It
is hardly thinkable. Tet that is the
danger that threatens a self-respecting
commonwealth unless the drift
toward Bull Moosedom is arrested and
the people come to their senses. We
wonder how J. C. Lawrence and W. H.
Paulhamus, both first-rate men, are
going to explain to their own con
sciences their folly In submitting their
candidacies to a primary where such
a man as Hodge was a formidable
competitor? He is unfit to be Gov
ernnr of Washinerton or of any state.
They know it now, they knew it then.
Yet they cave contrmutea to mat
possible, even probable, result by join
ing the wild rush to get under the
flag of the Bull Moose, and inciden
tally becoming candidates for the
Governorship. '
A severe test awaits the Bull Moose
rtortv whifh maara In ronventlon at
Seattle today. It will select candi
dates, the primary Saturday having
heon mprriv advisorv. Will the SO-
called ' Progressives stand by Hodge?
If they do, they will bid farewell to
all. hope of support or sanction by
tha mnHoraiA element of their party
and the Bull Moose movement will go
into a rapid and deserved decline.
Hodge in-Washington for Governor!
Lafferty in Oregon for Congress! ' Tet
the people rule.
SILENCE ABOUT MB. MORGAN.
The Oregonian believes In printing
the news," remarks the Pilot Rock
Record, but it has searched in vain
the columns of this paper to find any
ention of the fact that "J. P. Mor
gan has decided to support Taft" and
that "Morgan's right hand "man, Mr.
Ryan, and Mr. Jacob H. Schlff, an
other Wall-street man and lifelong
Republican, are going to throw their
strength and money into the cam
paign for Wilson."
The Oregonian can only plead in
extenuation that it had not heard
the great news about Morgan. We
hasten now to give out the startling
tidings that reaches a waiting world
via the Pilot Rock grapevine. We do
not wish, of course, to say that it is
not true, or that we doubt it, for we
know nothing' about it. Mr. Morgan
has not been much in the limelight
lately- Last we heard of him he was
over In Italy trying to persuade the
government to let him put up the
money to complete the Job of excavat
ing the ruins of ancient Herculaneum.
One might suppose that he was not
worrying much about American
politics.
But Mr. Morgan's late partner, air.
Perkins, can scarcely complain that
he has been neglected by the press.
He is out in the open for the Bull
Moose, and the papers have faithfully
reported that fact. Let Mr. Morgan
return and get on some Presidential
candidate's executive committee. We
rather think the American newspapers
would let the public know all about it.
KELLAUKK B GREAT DISCOVERY.
Hnvlnir discovered, so he thinks.
that certain nubile service corpora
tions do not object to the enactment
of the. Malarkey public utilities bill,
Mr. Dan Kellaher suspects tnai mere
Is something wrong with the bill. With
riiiA ninmnitv he cives us in his argu
ment in the state pamphlet the highly
definite information tnat tne oui aoes
not include sections 5, 74, 1797-m-78,
i7o.7-m-o.fi th Wisconsin act which
was used as a model. Public service
corporations, he seems to hold, should
lated unless they object to
regulation. The omission, too, of any
thing so cabalistic as "o, 4, usi-m-78,
1797-m-96" would have a sinister'
Influence on public welfare. . There
fore he would kill the bill.
Tho nrt in rmestlon was adopted by
the 1911 Legislature. It was read by
one or more members of the Wiscon
sin Public Service Commission and
given written approval. It has been
innraeri hv Governor West and by
the members of the Oregon Railroad
Commission. Mr. Kellaher lnvouea
the referendum against it. Later he
arranged for circulation o'f petitions
for an initiative measure giving Port
land and . Portland alone a public
service commission. The . Kellaher
municipal act was so puerile and in
.f fctivo in terms that its impractica
bility was plain to the most ordinary
nhanT-ver It was defeated. Mr. KeN
laher now continues his fight against
regulation of public utilities Dy Duymg
ipace in the state pampniet ror a neg
ative argument.
If the Malarkey bill had been per
mitted to become effective immediate
ly, after it artontion the faults in the
bill, if there were any, would by this
timo have become openly apparent.
if it. era vp undue favor to the public
service corporations that favor would
not be irrevocable. . It would now re
easy and practicable, if the people
Hoiirp, it tn amend the law and
counteract the terrifying omission of
sections "5, 74. 1797-m-78, 173 (-m-
96." The money expended Dy pur.
K-piinner or his financial backers and
associates, in applying the referendum,
initiating a local measure andv buying
space in the pamphlet, would certain
ly have paid the cost of initiating the
amendments needed to make the law
adequate, if any were needed. JHis
course, as professed guardian of the
people, was plain. Obviously it would
have been followed nao ne oeen
sincere.
FRATS AND SORORITIES.
The young gentlemen who gaily
nnrt frnternitv Dins and boldly avow
their membership in school "frats"
are, it may be supposed, ignorant oi
the fact that the laws of Oregon Drana
thm aa lawbreakers. On page 1604,
Lord's Oregon Laws, volume' II, ap
pears the following:
acter. including fraternities and sororities,
so-called, which may now or hereafter exist
among the pupils of any of the public
schools of this state, including high schools.
either local or county, are noreu
lawful.
cnhnni hoards are Riven by the
statute authority to suppress fraterni
ties and sororities by suspension or
nnision of all students who engage
"in the organization or maintenance
of
such societies." That is explicit
enough. The Portland School Board
has done little about it, and fraterni
ip. nnri anrnritles flourish under the
noses of the school officials without
.-nrper fprtainlv without penalty of
any kind. If the school authorities
have had the slightest doubt about the
existence of these societies, they may
no longer be in. ignorance wnen tneir
existence is proclaimed, and their
nrnnp defended, in letters from
their members, printed by The Ore
gonian.
The purpose of the fraternities and
sororities is to organize -within the
public schools selected bodies of stu-
riant mrhn frnnklv and even Insolent
ly draw the social dead-line against
other students. Whether they reduce
the average of scholarship, encourage
Insubordination and look leniently
upon certain more or less serious ex
cesses, need not now be discussed. But
that they cultivate a- spirit of exclu
siveness and a habit of snobbishness
is hardly to be denied. - Their influ
ence on the schools as a whole is bad,
and upon their own members is not
good. They have no place in the pub
lic schools. .
Why does the School Board tolerate
them? '
A MODERN INSTANCE.
The picturesquely varied answers
which an afternoon paper is receiving
tn n cum in nercentage which it has
set for its readers to work Illustrate
the value of what passes for education
in the schools. The sum is about as
simple as one could compose in per
centage. A man wishes to mark his
goods so that he can make 10 per cent
on them after deducting 22 per cent
"for the cost of selling.".
Presumably every person who sends
in on onewai- tn this Derfectly simple
question has spent from eight to
twedve years studying aritnmeisv.
t v,po hppn the central object
of his intellectual toil. ' And yet pretty
nearly every different person gets
irPT-pn onwr. Profit is always reck
oned on the cost price. If it were not
it would have no meaning. A man
nnnr nnasihlv make a profit on his
selling price. That sum must always
include the profit, unless it mviuuc-
i cmii wp find numerous high
i i nii nr nossiblv college
alumni, gravely arguing that the man
in question must nave computer wo
nrnflt nn his selling price.
If they could have studied arithmetic
ten years longer, peirhaps they might
have recovered from this error and
perhaps not.
The periodicals wntcn muc -t
! h. itoifam nf the country
in t 1,1 . " V. w -.
are publishing articles nowadays
which advocate mrauinuw r.,. ...
the country schools. It is sa.d by one
current writer that "the ordinary
country school la a bad imitation of a
bad city school." Neither the country
it .nhnnii rpallv teach even
what thev pretend to, let alone teach-
in what tney ougni ,w. c
i ua t thev si.H teach it any
good would result, but the simple fact
is that they do not. ine vC.B
-..--.I vnntii "mitts school" unable to
speak the English language with any
thing like correctness. xxt ui
makes vulgar blunders, but, what Is
far worse, he does not know that he
makes them. The youth spends the
greater part of his school years, both
f Miintrv. on arithmetic.
and emerges ignorant of the element
ary principle that pront mini u
hp r.n nf sroods. not on
their selling price. What possible
standard except tne cost, is mwo
estimating the sum which has been
gained or lost?
COLONEL WATTERSON ON WOMAN
SLtt ttAliC
j o enrt nf clad frenzy by
inuvcu c ew. o
the failure of woman suffrage In Ohio,
Colonel Henry Watterson has pub
lished a long article on the subject
in the esteemed Louisville Courier
Journal. His outpouring is divided
into two parts. The first is a melan
choly but highly excited reminiscence
of. a woman's meeting which was held
at Louisville "year or two ago.
It seems, according to ma cmuu.v.
account of the affair, .- that, while
Colonel Watterson did not approve of
.t nil he "dignified the
proceedings with the fullest and fair
est reports," only to oe . rcpa.u
.i ni4 onntnmelv. Such an
reviiciiici.i.
experience was enough to make a
saint mad, and we do not wonder that
the gallant Colonel, forgetting ms
lantry for the moment, not only ex
poses the "mannishness" of the worn-
pviiiv entreated him-in
all Its hldeousness, but actually goes
to the increaiDie lengtn v;"""
them "a veritable assortment of Don
Quixotes in petticoats." They must
have been a sad lot of monsters to
have made Colonel Watterson forget
his wonted chivalry in this fashion.
. a mrt nf the editorial for-
sakes, or tries to for9ake. the dire
remembrance of his personal snev-
40f tho pv and undertakes
to a.rgue the question of suffrage
calmly and philosopmcaiiy.
T.. v.r nhiinRnnhicallv it la ar-
JUOl f
gued may be Judged from this quota-
tion: Tne universal v
v.ia.v,pnT nf . women, in our
opinion, would bring upon the people
and Government a revu.u.,
hurtful than was brought by the en
franchisement' of the blacks forty
. nr. rtnHr whv? : The
years ago. c ..u....... ;---- -
blacks who were enfranchised forty
vears ago" consisted oi some nuuiu..
. .t.N nori hppn ked In dense
ignorance for several generatibns.
They were without ideals, aspirations,
morals or intelligence. It is strange
that Co'onel Watterson can find it in
his heart to compare tne avera.se
, ...trh them nr believe
American womou -
that her enfranchisement would pro
duce the same effect upon public af
fairs as it did to give the vote to
negroes. Those effects were du .
6 ... t
many rrBrcwi . . - ...
amount to a "revolution," or anything
like a revolution. rero enirancinc-
. n nf the consequences of
II 1 11 L WPB u..w - -
a revolution, not one of the causes. In
his excitement the coionei naa iura
the - sequence of events . squarely
around. " .
Whether votes for women would
produce a revolution or not is a ques
tion wnlcn neea uui
. cr,.pea There are plenty
mans mcic n - - -
of facts to decide by. Women haye
voted in Wyoming ror many u
.i ..in had the ballot
Loioraau wicj - -
some seventeen years. There has been
no revolution in Wyoming, tnausu
.mp prnnnts one is badly
coramg tu -
needed there. In Colorado the com
plaint Is that women a
. tnn oinwl v and conserva-
Deen, cjin
tivelv The opponents of suffrage go
, ehp hps
so far as. to u'-' " ,, .
exerted no effect at all on public af
fairs In that state. Has anybody seen
signs of impending revolutions in Cali
fornia and Washington where suffrage
has been newly granted? Colonel
Watterson, no doubt foreseeing that
the truth of his prediction would be
brought to tne test oi i
. . fnrpfl bv nleading
tries to evrtuc - - -
that conditions are ."bucolic oa the
Coast. Farther Kast, wntre L..n.p
tion is- older and politics more cor
rupt the consequences of suffrage
would be something too terrible to
contemplate.
Incidentally, if there were time. It
would be instructive to inquire who
has made Eastern, politics so corrupt.
If the men are guilty of it, might it
pot help matters a little to introduce
a new factor which has not yet been
contaminated ? But, not to forget our
text, there are plenty of places in the
world where women vote under civili
zations far older than any we see In
the Eastern part of the United States.
Norway, for example, is such a coun
try. Women vote in that ancient state
and no revolution ensuen upon the
grant of the franchise to them. They
vote.ln Finland, which has one of the
oldest civilizations in Europe and
they have not disturbed the settled
polity of the government in the least.
In fact they are welcomed in the Fin
nish parliament as a conservative and
highly constructive element. The no
tion that votes for women would bring
about a revolution has not a Jot of
foundation in experience. It is sim
ply one of those wild fancies with
which prejudice bolsters itself up for
lack of something more solid. This is
the only argument against woman
suffrage which we have been able to
fish out of Colonel Watterson's whirl
ing maelstrom of words, but he makes
two other points that ought to be no
ticed. One Is the respectable old evasion
that the' question of suffrage ought
to be left to the women themselves to
decide. That is precisely what every
suffragist under heaven asks. She
wants to decide for herself. Just as men
do, and vote or not, according to her
own preference. Naturally she does not
want to let ignorant and indifferent
women decide for her. Exactly as Colo
nel Watterson advises, she asks the
privilege of deciding for herself. What
man would consent to have a mob of
ignoramuses and simpletons settle his
right to vote? Why should Intelligent
women be required to submit to any
such tribunal? All they ask is to' "de
cide for themselves." Colonel Watter
son's other point is that votes for
women would not effect what tne
women desire. They would be disap
pointed with the results. No doubt.
Votes for men have not effected all
that was hoped for, but still men Jteep
on voting and every year they are con
triving means to make the ballot more
effectual. The song that "the ballot
is of no use" is a very old one. The
siren began to sing it as soon as she
discovered that suffrage for men
could not be put off any longer by
tyranny and force. "Very well," they
were told. "Take the ballot, if you
must have it. but mind my word, it
won't do you any good." They took it
In spite of this kindly warning and the
fact is significant that, once having it,
they have never given it up again.
The best way to find out whether the
ballot will benefit women or not is to
let them have it and watch the con
sequences. Benefits of co-operation, in farming
are both social and financial. Life in
communities where co-operative pro
duction and marketing are practiced
is on a much higher( plane than In
districts where every man walks by
himself. There are better schools,
more civic spirit and more innocont
enjoyment. The roads are improved.
The schools are advanced. The
churches are prosperous. This alone
would be enough to make out a case
for co-operation, but it is only half
the story. The only really prosperous
small farmers, outside of the city
truck farming section, are those who
belong to co-operative associations.
Men who attempt to do business in
isolation are exploited in so many dif
ferent ways by so many different
agencies that their work pays them
next to nothing. The association de
fends the rights of its members. The
larger it Is the more effectually it
performs this service. The many
schemes of humbug co-operation
which have been framed to rob the
confiding ought of course to be piti
lessly exposed. But we must be care
ful not to throw out the baby with
the bath. "
In building up a big navy the Rus
sian autocracy run a risk wh,ich might
deter them if they had duly consid
ered. All the world over naval power
has from time immemorial been as
sociated with liberty. The maritime
countries never have submitted to tyr
anny until they lost their fleets. The
lesson for the Czar is obvious. But
perhaps through his desire for a fleet
Providence means to work out the
problem of freedom for his people.
It is a great pity that the ministers
whose prayers have brought on this
spell of pleasant weather did not be
stir themselves sooner. Why did they
wait until wheat had sprouted in the
stacks, tomatoes rotted on the vines
and potatoes blighted in the hill? V)f
course everybody is grateful for their
intervention, belated as It is, but it is
disheartening to think of the loss they
might have averted had their prayers
been more timely.
The slaughter of half a dozen more
spectators at a motorcycle race meet
ing again emphasizes the need of strict
regulations for this dangerous projec
tile it ought not to be called a ve
hicle. Among all the perils of the
street the motorcycle is the worst, and,
to cap the evil climax, it la often rid
den by young fellows who care little
for their own lives and nothing for
other people's.
Epizootic seems to be affecting
horses in a twenty-year cycle, worse
now because of greater numbers." The
Western prairie states, however, are
rich enough now to buy automobiles.
England - is practicing repulsion " of
a German invasion, the Kaiser, the
while, keeping his powder dry.
Arrangements must be made, with
the visiting geographers next Sunday
to put Portland on the map.
Haywood is threatening a general
strike, - but Haywood's clans show ef
fects of disintegration.
If Brother McPherson can stop the
rain, a little more fervency might pre
vent untimely frost.
With his appendix removed, James
B. McNamara is assured of longevity,
with all it implies.
Portland set the pace for opening
on time and San Francisco will follow
to the least item.
More electric transportation lines
will help hereafter on that state fair
deficit.
The Colonel has the bit In his teeth
and goes to "Vancouver despite Dr.
Coe.
Queen Mary Is learning golf and
she is Just the one to use the proper
language.
These early fairs are missing much,
for the prize exhibits are still growing.
Light frost last night. Did you feel
the football in the air?.
As Mr. Beals would eay: Possible
sunshine the Jimit.
OUTCOME OF VERMONT ELECTIOX
Coasenuraa of Newspaper I'olnta to a
Wilson Victory November.
Chicago Record-Herald. Rep.
To -judge by previous contests, there
are not likely to be changes of crit
ical importance in Vermont between
now and November, but the election
may be used as a sign of what is to
happen elsewhere In a bewildering
variety of calculations.
Favorable to the Democrats.
Chicago Inter-Ocean, Rep.
If the Democrats of the Nation
could maintain the enormous per
centage of increase shown in Vermont,
and -the Republicans suffered every
where the percentage of loss they
suffered there, Wilson would have the
unanimous vote of the electoral col
lege for President of the United States
except for the four votes of Vermont.
Mr. Wilson First In November.
New York Sun, Rep.
Looking at it from, every side it
points to the election of Woodrow
Wilson as President of the United
States. The Vermont returns indicate
that Mr. Wilson will run nrst, Mr. Taft
will run second and Mr. Roosevelt will
run third. There may be districts in
which Mr. Roosevelt will poll a larger
vote than Mr. Taft, such as California,
Minnesota and Kansas, but it is fair
to assume that in the majority of cases
Mr. Taft will run second in Republican
states.
Hint of Coming Wilson Victory.
New York Post, Ind.
All those who are friends of solid
progress, political sanity, and genuine
reform, and who are convinced that
Woodrow Wilson represents the best
hopes of the American people at this
critical time, are entitled to derive
from the Vermont result redoubled as
surance of a great victory in Novem
ber; but let them remember the Crom
wellian maxim which enjoins us to
trust in God, but keep our powder dry.
T. It. Made No Break: In Democrats.
Indianapolis News, Ind.-Rep.
The Democrats are naturally greatly
encouraged by the showing made in
Vermont. Their candidate for Gov
ernor received 20,350 votes. This is
the largest Democratic vote, with one
exception, in 40 years. In 1908 the
vote for Governor was 15,953; and in
1910 it was 17,425. This year it is
20,350. It is, therefore, clear that the
Roosevelt movement made no break in
the Democratic line.
Probable Victory for Mr. Wilson.
New York Tribune, Rep.
It is clear from these returns that
Mr. Roosevelt has organized a move
ment encouraging to the Democrats,
but one quite incapable of placing him
in the White House. If in other states
the Democrats can hold their vote to
gether as well as they have done in
Vermont, and If the Progressives can
divide the opposition in the same pro
portion, they will probably give the
victory to Mr. Wilson. That is the
most they can do.
As Goes Vermont.
Brooklyn (N. Y.) Eagle, Dem.
For the first time since there was a
Republican party, Vermont has failed
to elect a Republican Governor. For
almost 60 years Vermont has been 'the
straw that showed which way the Na
tional wind was blowing. When Ver
mont has gone Republican in Septem
ber by less than 25,000, the country has
gone Democratic in' November. What,
then, can be expected In a year when
Vermont fails to show any Republican
majority, and its Republican candidate
for Governor draws only a plurality of
7000 and will have to appeal to the
Legislature to secure his seat?
Wilson by an Overwhelming Majority.
Baltimore Evening Sun, Dem.
Four -years ago in the Gubernatorial
election the Republican candidate re
ceived 45,598 votes and the Democratic
candidate 15,953 votes. This year the
combined Republican and Bull Moose,
vote was 41,900. while the Democratic
vote was 20,100. In other words, the
Republican vote has fallen off more
than 3500, while the Democratic vote
has increased 4500. If Vermont main
tains its character of the Barometer
state, Wilson, will be elected by an
overwhelming majority this Fall.
It Means Mr. Wilson to a Certainty.
Springfield (Mass.) Republican, Ind.
Governor Woodrow Wilson will be
the next President of the United States
such is the message from the voters
of Vermont. Vermont alone, of course,
speaks thus, but in so far as the state
speaks at all to the other states of
the Union, a Democratic victory in the
country at large in November has been
forecast. With the Vermont Demo
crats showing this power to stand
firm, and even to gain in strength, un
der the present extraordinary politi
cal conditions, there is every reason to
believe that the Democrats in every
other state will do the same.
A Wilson Landslide in November.
New York World, Dem.
' If the Vermont verdict means any
thing, it means a Wilson landslide in
November. The Democrats have more
than held their own, and when they
can do this in Vermont, they can do
it in every state in the Union. As for
Mr. Roosevelt's- Progressive party, on
the basis of its Vermont showing, it
will not poll enough votes to make it
a formidable factor in the election, but
it will poll enough votes to overwhelm
the regular Republican party in dis
aster. The Vermont returns spell
Woodrow Wilson's triumphant election
to the Presidency, with William H.
Taft and Theodore Roosevelt stoutly
contesting for the honor of finishing
third.
DAN'l WEBSTER'S PROPHETIC EYE
Looking Forward, He Saw. Conditions
aa They Exist Today.
PORTLAND, Sept. 9. (To the Edi
tor.) Seventy-five years ago Daniel
nr.hat., " In his famous SDeechr deliv
ered at Niblo's Garden, in alluding to
the vaulting ambition oi certain men
existing politicians, described them in
the following words:
flood Intentions will always be pleaded for
every assumption of power; but they cannot
Justify it, even if we were sure that they
existed. It Is hardly too strons to say that
the constitution -was made to auard the peo
ple against the dangers of good intention,
real or pretended, when bad Intentions are
boldly avowed, the people will promptly take
care of themselves. On ths other hand, they
will always be asked why they should resist
or question that exercise of power which is
so fair in its oblect, so plauBible and patri
otic in appearance, and which has the public
rood alone confessedly In view? Human
beings, we may be assured, will generally
exercise power when they can get it; and
they will exercise it, most undoubtedly, in
popular governments under pretenses of pub
lic safety or high public interest. It may be
very possible that good intentions do really
sometimes exist when constitutional re
straints are disregarded. There are men. In
all agea, who mean to exercise power use
fully; but who mean to exercise it. They
mean to govern well, but they mean to gov
ern They promise to be kind masters, but
they mean to be masters. They think there
need be but little restraint upon themselves.
Their notion of the public interest is apt to
be Quite closely connected with their own
exercise of authority. They may not. Indeed,
always understand their own motives. The
love of power may sink too deep In their
hearts even for their own security, and may
pass with themselves for mere patriotism
and benevolence.
Jl character has been drawn of a very
eminent citizen of Massachusetts, of the last
age, which, though I think it does not en
tirely belong to him, yet very well describes
a certain class of public men. It was said of
this distinguished son of Massachusetts that
In matters of politics and government he
cherished the most kind and benevolent feel
incs toward the whole earth. He earnestly
desired to see air nations well roverned; and
to bring about this happy result, he wished
that the United States might govern the rest
of the world- that Massachusetts might gov
ern the United States; that Boston might
govern Massachusetts; and as for himself,
his own humble ambition would be satisfied
br governing the little town of Boston.
What man in National politics does
the foregoing description fit? I await
light- . JOHN F. LOGAN.
EASTERN AND WESTERN APPLES
Visitor is Oregon Extols Flavor of
Atlantic Coast Product.
DALLAS, Or., Sept. 8. To the Edi
tor.) As a rank outsider traveling and
visiting in your state, I was much in
terested in The Oregonian's editorial
under the title, "Eastern Against West
ern Apples." I am not a fruit-grower
and never have - been, but believe I
have a discriminating tooth wherever
the flavor of a fruit is in question.
Therefore, I believe I may claim to be
without prejudice as to apple districts
and as I have lived continuously in
either Utah, Idaho or Montana since
J896, have no reason to be pro
Eastern. Your Oregon apple, as far as beauty
is concerned, is hard to excel, and as
an advertised product is unexcelled.
But I will venture to say that you
won't find one farmer In ten in Ore
gon who does not depend on apple
raisin? as a livelihood and who has
an intimate acquaintance with apples
raised In Michigan or New York or
any other Atlantic- seaboard state but
will maintain that when it comes to
flavor and meat that the Eastern prod
uct has the Western product out
classed. As a matter of fact, you can
find apples raised in Idaho (when
they are fortunate enough to escape a
killing frost) that would make the
Oregon grower hunt up his polishing
rags.
I admit that It is generally believed
that Oregon apples top all markets.
It Is true that where the carefully
selected, packed and advertised Oregon
product comes in contact with the
general run of Eastern apples It will
"top" tliem, but where all things are
equal as) to scientific management of
orchards and handling in the market
the far Eastern apple will more than
hold its own.
Where are the modern commercial
orchards that can be purchased from
$40 to $100 per acre? It Is true that
Eastern farm land can be purchased for
the prices mentioned and even less. It
may be news that there are New York,
Connecticut and Massachusetts or
chards that are held as high and even
higher than your famed Rogue River
and Hood River districts. In addition,
there is not the speculative or ficti
tious value to land there aa is so fre
quently true of land in the highly ad
vertised Irrigated section of parts of
the inter-mountain country ' and the
fruit land of the Pacific Coait.
I admit that the offense of putting
rosy cheeked apples on top and the
culls in the middle has its habitat only
in the East, but some of these days,
when you chance to be in the straw
berry districts' of Oregon, ask some of
the youthful berrypickers if they ever
had any instructions about "facing"
berry boxes. A. K. TODD.
Probably the contention that the
Eastern apple is better flavored than
the Western product is founded largely
on unconscious mental attitude. The
superiority in shape, size and color of
the Western apples cause the consumer
to expect as marked a superiority in
flavor. On the other band, when an
uninviting looking Eastern apple is
found to be really toothsome, the un
expected flavor is unconsciously ex
aggerated .by the partaker. Taste is
a more subtle sensation than is sight
and is more readily affected by emo
tion. The fact remains that the apple
of the Pacific Northwest has the high
est standard In the world's markets.
If Eastern orchardists succeed in at
taining the same market considera
tions, doubtless the wildcat orchard
land speculator will not be missing in
that locality.
GIVE DOGS A REST, SAYS WOMAN
Woman Quotes Ruskin In Reply to Dr.
Rrousher and T. R. .
SHERWOOD, Or:,-" Sept. 7. (To the
Editor.) Apropos of Rev. Brottgher's
recent dictum concerning women who
have dogs and who' do not have chil
dren, permit a' mere woman to "have
her say." I know at least one woman
who loves' little children, and dogs, and
chickens, and all living things. She
loves little children so much that she
would consider suicide scarcely less a
crime than to thrust a helpless human
creature into a condition where, in all
probability. It would have to undergo
the same suffering and limitations that
she herself has experienced. And be
cause she feels that she cannot give a
"square deal" to a child, she gets what
consolation she can out of dogs and
chickens. Would the reverend gentle
man deny her that consolation?
Doubtless Mr. Brougher would think
she ought to be willing to trust Provi
dence to provide for her child. Did Mr.
Brougher ever stop to think just why
the belief has taken Buch a strong hold
upon society that it is a shame and a
crime to become the parent of an
illegitimate child?' Surely it Is pri
marily because such a child does not
have a fair chance in life.
Of course it does not require luxury
to bring up a child normally, but it
does require sufficient food, decent
clothing, schoolbooks and these with
out the child having to know that
others are having to sacrifice similar
necessities for its sake. Such a sense
of limitation is dwarfing, and often
tends to criminality. Many men are
indifferent to their responsibility as
parents, others are inefficient or mere
ly unlucky. Any parents who "take
a chance" triat they will be able to
provide for their child after it comes,
when they haven't been able to do so
before, are taking a criminal chance,
almost as great as the parents of an
illegitimate child.
Oh yes, I know about Abraham Lin
coln and I know about William the
Conqueror and other great men who
have risen out of the black darkness
of poverty and shame; but the sin of
Lincoln's shiftless father, or of the
pretty peasant girl and the erring
monarch are not thereby atoned, nor
do they constitute a precedent for
careless parentage or bastardy.
I suspect the women of the country
are a bit tired of having Mr. Brougher
and the all-wise Teddy telling them
what they ought to do In this matter.
If the noted divine and the roaring
Colonel will devote their didactic ener
gies to ' Improving the character and
efficiency of the possible daddies and
the economic condition of the country,
they may safely trust all thoughtful
women to have all the children they
ought to have. No other kind of a
woman ought to have a child. Till
then wouldn't it be just as well to
keep still about the dogs?
And, if we can, let us stop in the
midst of the roaring and exhortipg and
listen to the still, small voice of John
Ruskin, "It is not more people we
need; it is a better breed of people."
A MERE WOMAN.
New Bridge Needs Splash Board.
" PORTLAND. Sept. 9. (To the Edi
tor.) The new railroad bridge, which
has Just been completed is a fine, sub
stantial structure, and a great improve
ment over the old Steel bridge in every
way, with possibly the exception of one
thing, and that is the sidewalk, which
is but very little wider than that of
the old bridge. During the rainy sea
son there is bound to be more or less
mud and water on the bridge, and as
the drive-way for teams comes In close
proximity to the sidewalk, which is
rather narrow, mud will be thrown on
to the walk and upon people by pass
ing teams and automobiles unless some
provision Is made to prevent It- There
fore, I would suggest that a splash
board be put up, say two feet high, or
higher if necessary, and a light rail
ing or balustrade a suitable distance
above that. This would make the walk
seem a little more private and save
pedestrians from being spattered with
mud and dirty water while crossing
the bridge. D. MILLER,
418 Chamber of Commerce building.
Writing and Speaking
By Dean Collins. .
Woodrow twanged his luring .lyre, r'
Raising tuneful ululation;
Voicing his unchecked desire
For a flood of immigration.
"Hither dark-eyed Pericles,
Shiner of the boot and sandal;
Hither J. Moscowskivitch,
From the kingdom of the Vandalj
Hither A. Muhammad, come
From the axure-brlght Bosphorus.
Hither Giovanni; list
While I sing a welcome, chorus.
"You, who shook your fatherland.
trie it e er so lair and sweet, it
Cannot touch your new found home).
lou did wisely whe vou beat it-
Proud am I, and proud are we,
That old Europe, stern and oranky.
vouto. not noio you. out you usq.
Hither bound, to be a Yankee.
i
"Coming from the distant lands
On the tide of immigration.
Bringing new blood, to Infuse .
In the arteries of our Nation,
Welcome, dark-eyed Pericles;
Welcome Giovanni; truly
A. Muhammad, when you come
We extend you greeting duly.
"Pause not by the book store's showv
Where my volumes they're display
ing;
This is not a time to read;
Rather list while I am saying
How delightful 'tis to me
That we have you, here collected
In this country of the free
Where all sorrows are corrected,
"Pooh, say I, for what men write.
It is not a sign of breeding.
That when I am singing thus.
You should browse about at readings
Turn you from the laden shelves.
Where my volumes they're display
ing
You will And more to your taste
Not my writing, but my saying."
Thus twanged Woodrow on his lyrsj
Raising tuneful ululation; ' .
Voicing welcome full and free f
To our flood of immigration.
Portland, September 9. ,
Half a Century Ago
Prom Tho Oregonian September 10, 1S3.
The taxable property, real and per-
. . i . , . . ... t 1 . vAar
son&i, in LilUU -"Ul"J u "
1862. amounts to 2,267.349, about $150,
000 less than last year. The poll taa
amounts to $1156.
Oaieill, AUg. O. f ........ -
unusual amount of interest. The con
vening of the Legislature draws-to this
place as a center persons from all
parts of the state, some as seekers of
Legislative office, others who have
favorite measures to press, and
aspirants for the United States Senate
almost without limit.
The organization of both houses was
effected today quietly and promptly.
Washington County is honored by the
election of Dr. W. Bowlby as President
of the Senate, and Yamhill by that of
General Palmer as Speaker of the
r- l . a Clam ncosonta RD
House. The doorkeeper of the senate
D. M. Fields, is from Multnomah. c,
T. Church, the chief clerk of the Hous
is from Linn. The Legislature bids fai
to be a working body and they ar
strong Union men. The sole Breckin
ridge Democrat in the House, J. D. Fa
voted blank In all elections, showing
nluck at least. Conjecture is busy upon
Y, S.nDtnrittl miOKtintl. hut it is tOO
early to predict with any tolerable
probability who will be successful In
the race. The election of General
Palmer is thought by some to be an
index to the proper answer.
The Fastest Trotting. At a raoe on
the Fashion Course. Long Island, on
the 3d of June, two mares, Jilt and
Lady Emma, made the unparalleled
oonsecuttve time of ;2W, 2;29i4, 2:80
and 2:31- to wagon. Neither Flora
Temple nor Geo. M. Patchen ever
made so many, consecutive heats at
the same time. The old Field Marshal
himself, the veteran Hiram Woodruff,
who for the last quarter of a cen
tury is so intimately associated with
the trotting history of Long Island,
who has piloted more horses to victory
than any other driver living, and who
drove the winner of this race declared
he never could have anticipated such
fast consecutive time being made.
REPLY OF "FRAT" MEN CAUSTIC
Issue Is Taken With Foe of School
Fraternities.
PORTLAND, Sept. 7. (To the Edi
tor.) It was with a great deal of
amusement that the writers read the
article appearing in The Oregonian of
September 7, deriding the modern
academic fraternity. Being ourselves
members of one of the fraternities
slandered, we can but voice the sen
timents of our brothers in defense ci
this and similar organizations.
In defense of our ideals made neces
sary by the accusations of "A Student,"
let It be known that we do not assert
that every fraternal organization in
flawless. No more than we believe
that our great American institutions
of government, and of justice, are
without a single fault. We do not
suppose for a moment that each mem
ber of every known brotherhood 1
absolutely without guilt. . We do nf t
doubt tfut that m.momB? Christian
church there is one In the congrega
tion who has sinned. Assumptions of
this kind would be unreasonable In
the extreme. '
"A Student" suggests that we "r
pair the ailment of their presence.
We are now anxious to be enlightenec.
Does this anti-fraternity personage
advocate the abolition of Government,
and of Christianity, because in their
administration they are found to have
shortcomings? We cannot believe this
to be true, even though he might, in
time (if allowed full sway with his
ideas), undermine the foundations of
our nationalism, and overthrow our
religious principles by attacking the
spirit of our academic brotherhoods.
Every fraternity man will maintain
that our need in governmental policies
is not abolition, but reform; in our fra
ternities, not destruction, but resurrec
tion. He will state that we require the
co-operation of all Interested parties
and that in no instances will antag
onistic ideas be a benefit to humanity
as a whole, or to the individual njho
harbors them. !
We would suggest that A Stu
dent," who undoubtedly has the wel
fare of the "unfortunlte" victims of
these social organizations at hiart
(this conclusion was arrived at bt a
glance at the helpful and encouraang
words used in the aforementioned ar
ticle), allow the parents of the yojing
people concerned to decide the Jas
for them. We beseech this person hot
to attempt to bear the burden of Ve
forming "the parasites, (he silly, lnine
and degenerating secret societies, Jlie
injjipid consolidations of profligatjs,
the immoral little snobs, the etc., tie
etc., and the etc." I
In conclusion we ask (again in tie
words of "A Student") that he v
1-
untarlly submit his Identity as I a
means of proving his pretensions to re
spectabillty." F. CLARK LEWIS.
M. a. ulliHj i .
Alllgators Mature at I0O Years.
Indianapolis News.
The difficulty about raising alligator
to supply the demand for the anima
and skins Is that they do not attain fu.
growth for about 100 years. The skfi
of the 8 or T-year-oia animal is aval
able, however, for many practical pui-
poses. There is one on a farm at Palti
Beach which measures is leet In lengti
and is said to be about 900 years ol
There are several of these farms ti
operation at the present time, but ffc
industry win not De reany prontaD
until the wild alligators become scarce
4
1