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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 11, 1912)
niE 310RNIXG OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1912. PORTLAND, ORJRGOX. Entered at Portland. Oreon. Postofflee Subscription Rat Invariably In Advance. (BT MAIL.) Dallr. Snndar Included, on year "-S2 aliy, Bandar Included, six months... 4-lje Dallr, Sunday Included, tnr month. . 3.25 Dallr, Sunday Included, on month. ... .70 Dallr. without Sunday, on year S.O0 Dally, without Sunday, six months.... Dally, without Sucdar. three months... 1.75 Iaily, without Sunday, on month...... .SO Weekly, on year J-W Sunday, on year X-w Sunday and Weekly, on rear..... (BT CARRIER.) Dallr. Sunday included, en year...... Dally. Sunday included, one month..... How to Remit Bend Postofflee money or der, exprecs order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency ar at the sender's risk. Olv postofflee address in xuii, inciuaing- county ana iw Pasta- Bates 10 to 14 paxes, 1 oent: 16 o to pages, A cents; ou to tu ph"! 9 wuw, o to 60 paxea. cents. Foreian postax. aouoie rat. Eautrrw Rnsliuaa Orflrvia Vim Xt Conk- tin New Tork, Brunswick bulldlnx. Chi cago, sterer bulldlnx. San Frmndse Office R. J. BldweU Co, 742 Market street. European Office No. 8 Regent street. 8. v ., Lonaoo. PORTLA5D, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11. U1X. THREE PROGRESSIVES. The Oregonian Is not disposed to deny that the Progressive (Roosevelt) party has within Its ranks many ear' nest men genuinely anxious for better social and industrial conditions or that It Is inspired,- on the part of its rank and file, by a moral Impulse that makes It formidable and entitles it to respectful consideration. But neither the need of a new party, nor the Jus tification for destruction of one of the old parties. Is apparent to The Orego. nlan, and It finds Itself utterly unable to support Colonel Roosevelt In his ambitious political project. All - the .progressiveness of the country is not In the so-called progressive party; all the great work for "social and indus trial Justice" has not been done by the leaders of the new movement; nor ' even the greater part of It. Most of the men who have borne the heat and burden of the tremendous strug gle against the ' reactionary forces within the Republican party remain with the party and deplore the mis take of wrecking and abandoning the old organization when victory Is well In sight. Senator La Follette is a progressive whose record Is familiar to the whole public. He has fought ' for years against the bosses and the railroads and all the forces of privilege and plunder that long had their hold on Ihe government of Wisconsin and the Nation. He was repeatedly repulsed, but he battled on. He even refused to acknowledge that the party had right to disown him and his principles, when the Republican National Con' ventlon of 1904, at which Mr. Roose velt was nominated for President, un. seated his delegation, and sent him back home with the brand of irregu Jarity and repudiation upon his brow. He supported the Republican nomi nee, and Wisconsin gave a large ma jority for Colonel Roosevelt. In 1908 Senator La Follette a candidate for President, but his as pirations did not seriously impress the Republican party and the National convention gave him very few votes. He accepted defeat with a grim de termination to try again, and threw his great influence to Taft, who car ried Wisconsin. In 1912 he again sub. mitted his candidacy to the people as a progressive Republican, but was superseded by Colonel Roosevelt, who secured for himself many votes Mr. La Follette might have had, or at least firmly believes he might have had. Mr. Taft was again nominated by the National convention. Colonel Roose velt refused to abide by the result, but left the Republican party and formed a new party. Mr. La Follette declined once more to bolt. On July 27 he minted over his signature) on the front page of La Follette's Magazine In no partisan spirit I repeat that the progressive movement began with the Re publican party. It rapidly advanced Its control, shaping- the policies of state ad ministrations and stamping its impression uoon National legislation aa a distinctly progressv Republican movement, and upon this fact In recent political history I appeal to progressive Republicans everywhere to maintain their organisation within the Re publican party. To maintain auch an or ganization, blind allegiance to every party nomination and to very party declaration Im not essential. Mr. La Follette does not say ex plicitly that he will support Mr. Taft; but he refuses to go with Colonel Roosevelt. Two great figures at'tha June con test ia Chicago, leading the forces in behalf of Colonel Roosevelt, and de manding his nomination from the Re publican convention, were Senator Borah, of Idaho, and Governor Had' ley, of Missouri. Senator Borah was the) leader of the Roosevelt minority In the contests before the National Republican committee, and knows as iwell as any other person the merits of the cases of the disputed delegates. Yet he think the so-called frauds, resulting In the defeat of Colonel Roosevelt, do not Justify a new party. He has said in an interview: I do not think It necessary to leave the Renubllean party to fight for these reforms. Others may differ from me. But I will say this, to talk or leaving tne KepuDiican party because of Its bosses Is asinine. There are bosses In the new party and there will be in every party. "Leaders" Is a gentler term. But whether leaders or bosses, we have them always with us. What would any party be without aggressive and skillful leadership? Governor- Hadley was the floor leader of the progressives in the Re pubUcan convention, and made a bril liant fight for his candidate. His dig nity, calmness, force and eloquence made such an impression on the con vention -that he was more seriously considered than any other as a com promise candidate. Now Governor Hadley. who saw everything at Chi cago, remains with the Republican party. In a recent statement he said in part: While I was an active supporter of Colo nel Roosevelt In the Chicago convention. I have not deemed It advisable to join with him in his effort to form a third party. . . . 1 have been unwilling to concede that the RepubUcan party has ceased to be a useful agency of good government. 1 believe a large majority of the Republican voters be lieve In progressive policies and principles of government, and that those voters can make their opinions effective through the existing party machinery. And 1 believe that the success of progresses principles can be more promptly and effectively ac complished through the Republican party than by the organisation of a third party. Assuming the truth of all that has been chirred against the National committee, such an abuse of authority has not occurred before, and the fact that It occurred this year does not mean that It will occur again. At all events, the acts of a few men In un fairly using party authority for the accom plishment of political results can hardly be said to b a Just basis for the destruction of a party organisation. Similar acts of unfairness have occurred before In county. Congressional and state conventions, and yet the value and effectiveness of the party. as , whole, have continued to grow from vear to vear Those who are thus Justify ing their action in leaving the Republican party and joining in the formation of a new party must of necessity realize that the same conditions of which they complain j la tha Republican party may arise in any party that is organised. ... I readily concede that Tf It should ltecome In any party an accustomed experience for men m positions of authority to aDuse tnaL authority, either to perpetuate themselves in power or to defeat candidates represent ing certain principles or policies, there would Then exist full justification for party bolt. But I believe that In four years from now primary-election laws in the va rlous states will prevent the reoccurrence of conditions such as existed In the Chicago convention. And I cannot but believe that it is no more difficult to drive men who would resort to unfair methods out of the positions of authority in the Republlca: nartv than to keen them out of a new party. At all events, I prefer to make the effort before abandoning a party which has sucn a splendid record of public service to its credit. Why are not these three men, who were heretofore good enough pro. gressives for the Republican party and all the people, good enough progres. slves now? THE RESULT IN MAINE. If the Republican party should or could be united, it would be invincible in the coming Presidential election. Division, dissension, and dlsorganiza- tion are the hope and the opportunity of the Democracy. Tha result in Maine is encouraging for Republicans to the extent that the Democrats made no gains, but actual losses over two years ago. The Re publican majority is exceedingly small yet it is a majority and a victory, in the face of discouraging conditions and the general expectation of defeat. It Is to be borne in mind that the nominations were made prior to the Chicago convention, and the Repub lican factions, having a mutual inter est in the success of their ticket. Joined in Its support. The outright gain for the) Republicans has been- one member of Congress, making three out of four Representatives from Maine, and Republican Senator to succeed a Dem ocrat. If the Republican party In Maine should have a single candidate for President, undoubtedly the state would go Republican in November But ap parently there is very little prospect of harmony or agreement on that sub. Ject. MAKING A MAN OF THE MONKEY Extended laboratory experiment, so it Is announced, is to be made at Johns Hopkins University, In order to note what degree of intelligence may be developed In a young simian. A mon key of exceptionally fine type, born In captivity of parents having unusual monkey culture, has been selected. It is to be given special courses of train. ing In order to ascertain how near an approach to human intelligence can ba effected. It is further announced that the experience Is designed as a test of the Darwinian theory, so- called. There is no doubt but that unusual traits will be developed in the simian provided it survives an unnatural en' vironment during the period of train' ing. It can be taught to eat at a table In conventional manner and In many ways to ape mankind. When the ex pert trainer finishes with the simian of good type the results are .often startling. Perhaps results more star tling than any heretofore noted will grow out of the latest experiment in ape culture. But as testing the Darwinian theory, or as doing anything more tnan throwing tha merest sidelight on the subject of evolution, such experiments can have no value. When the simple elementary mental faculties of the highest types of lower animals are developed to the highest plane, there still remains the same baffling, un- bridgable chasm between the finished product of the trainer and man, with his mental, moral and spiritual na ture. Experimentation serves to de' velop certain faculties for aping the actions of man, but the power of idea tion, which separates man from his remote forebears, continues a totally minus quantity. Evolution contemplates thousands of centuries in its scheme and tenets. Science has not yet discovered the graduating form between man and his supposed nearest of kin among the lower animals. Any endeavor to re produce, or even approximate, such a graduating form in a single laboratory experiment, or series of experiments, can bring little more than a number of highly diverting and somewhat amusing topics for tha writers of pop ular special articles. The development of mental faculties In a simian must neoessarlly be limited by its physiolog ical aspects. It is accepted as a fun damental principle In the theory of evolution that, while there is great ca pacity for variation of the mental fac ultles, yet there is a marked corre spondence in physical changes. Man has been fused out of tne strusrtrle of countless centuries. He Is tha product of time, experience and conditions which may not be repro' duced. Nature. It is contended, after long periods of experimentation with brute force; found that with the devel opment of instincts into ideation, an animal was produced that effected far- better adjustment to the world. This thinking animal gradually mastered environment, the elements and finally self until at length there has occurred. In the present highest form of life, an elimination of savage and destructive Instincts that grew out of early condi tlons of existence. Nature appears to have left the obsolete types In the lurch and they have continued to re produce In obedience to natural laws but not to share in the stimulus that evolved man out of monkey. Man can amuse himself with monkeys, but he can hardly hope to help them up through the centuries to anything approaching his own exalted mental plane. " LEGISLATING AGAINST DEATH. Far be .it from us to smile at Madame Sarah Bernhardt for drop ping a year from her age. In doing so she evinces a commendable dispo sition to triumph over time. Instead of meeting death half way, she re treats and compels the grisly monster to pursue her. Perhaps next year she will drop farther back toward her lost youth and if she repeats tha process with each revolution of tha seasons, who knows but she may elude the King of Terrors altogether? The maxim of our day Is that "we are as old as we think we are." If a lad of 0 imagines himself to be tottering on the edge of the grave of course he will be. If a woman of 90 waves the banner of defiance at death the chances are that she will frighten him off for ten years more. The grim reaper Is a coward ana attacks omy those who are afraid of him. The other day we had the rare felicity of perusing a newspaper published some- here In Tennessee wmcn nas lor its platform the abolition of death. This inspiring publication believes that the art of Immortality needs only a little perfecting to become universally ap plicable. "Bodily Immortality" Is the titla it has nailed to its masthead. The Idea of making war upon death sort of political principle to be ad- vocated in a platform and carried out by votes In Congress is original, but it need- not be despised for that, rea son. Why should not a- good, rousing law, making it a felony to die, fright en death out of the country? It Is not mora obdurate than the trusts, and,' as some believe, those hideous specters have been exorcised by the Sherman act. Long ago Herbert Spen cer predicted that it would by and by become disrespectable to be ilL The next step after becoming disrespect able is to become Illegal. Thus we see clearly what Is to happen to disease before a great while. It is to go out like a candle, to vanish into nothing ness like a tale that is told. When we cease to ba sick for good and all, pray what will there be to make us die? "Life" printed a dialogue tne other day between a married couple who had applied Metchnikoffs sour milk panacea and made themselves immortal. They found It a disappoint ing experience. The trouble was that thev erew tired of everything. ' As Emerson puts It. the repetitio of old experiences grew stale. There was nothing new for them to look for ward to. They had tried everything so often that the thought of trying it aeuin was nauseating. Swift tells tha same tale In "Gulliver's Travels." Per haps after all it Is better not to pass a law ' against dying. GOAT MEAT AND MUTTON. Oregon stands well up to tha top If. the Angora goat industry. We pro duce the finest mohair that is clipped in the country, and some of our choic, est animals are annually sold at the very highest prices paid for goats in this country. We have successful breeders and large flocks of fine ani mals, but the goat continues to be used principally as a clearer of land. This Is shown by the fact that the mohair territory is constantly shift ing, except in Polk and portions of Marion and contiguous counties, where the persistent goat fanciers continue to reside and carry on their business. In other sections the goats keep marching on as the brush lands are cleared up, the ordinary farmer not bothering" with them after they have eaten off the brush and got his land in good condition for agriculture. The reason for this Is plain; the goat Is not a very profitable animal for his fleece alone, and there is no sale for goat meat. In other parts of the world the young kids are sought by epicures and pronounced the finest of eating. The older animals are bought at prices on a parity with mut ton. But nobody here eats goat meat under Its true name, although some of It is sold on the Portland market under the guise of mutton. If soma way could be devised to get our , people to try undisguised goat meat, and also taste the kid meat un der its true name, there undoubtedly would spring up a demand for such meats at a fair price. Then we would see a mighty boom In the Angora bus! ness, a boom that would soon put us on an equal footing with the best Angora districts of the world. But it seems Impossible to get a . start, at least an organized start. Everyone who tries the meat finds it equal if not superior , to mutton, but there seems to be something In the name which makes It obnoxious. It is un fortunate that this is true, for it holds back an industry that would mean great deal to Oregon. . EDISON AND ELECTRIC LIGHTING The fifth annual convention of the Northwest Electric Light and Power Association, which meats in Portland today, is almost coincident with the thirtieth anniversary of the installa tion of Edison's first incandescent light plant. This event occurred on September 4, 1882, after the great in ventor had spent seven years in re searches upon the problems involved Although it was known almost imme diately after the Invention of the vol talc pile in 1800 that the galvanic current imported heat to the wire which carried It and would produce light If made powerful enough, still it was a long time after the perfection of the arc light before the Incandes cent method became workable. Vol ta's original "pile" was built up with successive couples of zinc and copper discs separated by cloths soaked in acid. It gave sufficient current to actuate the fundamental experiments In sralvanlc electricity, but the "pile was not suitable for development and It was soon supplanted by the "cell. In 1808 Sir Humphrey Davy, the great English physicist, had a battery of 2000 cells in his laboratory with which he produced a brilliant arc light, .using carbon points for poles. Since he had no way of advancing the points stead ily, the light lasted only a short time, but no doubt his experiment was the first to suggest the possibilities which lay in electric lighting: The galvanic cell was improved in 1836 by Grove, who thus made it pos sible to produce stronger currents at less expense. His work, with Bun- sen's, advanced the art of street light ing with batteries so much that in 1844 some sections of Paris were mu minated by arcs,, but of course not economically. Tha difficulties in the way of the general municipal use of electricity could not be overcome until the dynamo had been brought to per fection. It costs twenty times as much to produce a current of given strength with a battery as with a generator of modern form. The celebrated natural nhilosopher. Michael Faraday, lighted up the straits of Dover with arcs in 1858. but he had already learned now to use the magneto-electric generator to produce his current. By the time the Centennial Exposition was held at Philadelphia, in 1876, arc lamps had almost ceased to be a novelty. At any rate they were used for practical Illu mination at that mammoth show. The Incandescent lamp progressed far less rapidly than the arc at first. It began perhaps with the experiments of J. W. Starr in 1844. Starr was a young man dwelling In Cincinnati, but his patents were British. He invented two forms of Incandescent lamps, one using a platinum filament and the other carbon, but naturally his devices were crude. Had he lived he might have anticipated the triumphs of Edi son, but unfortunately he died at 25 with his work unfinished: Between Starr's untimely death In 1845 and the ear 1875, when Edison began his ex- neriments upon the Incandescent light. very little progress was made. The early Investigators had discovered two of the difficulties which hindered the successful use of Incandescent lamps. The first was the tendency- of carbon filaments to waste away as tha current missed. The other was the curious crumbling of metals, such as platinum under the same Influence, until some method had been found to prevent the dissipation of the carbon filament and to cause metals to retain their tenac ity when Incandescent in the lamp there was no hope of making the new light commercially valuable. Edison , attacked these problems In his labora- j tory, beginning his astonishing series of experiments about the year 1875 He solved them both. To prevent the carbon filament from wasting away he devised means for exhausting the air from a glass bulb far more com pletely than had ever before been pos sible. In the all but perfect vacuum which he obtained carbon does not perish with the passing current, or at any rate it lasts for a long time. Thus one form of the electric lamp became practicable and comparatively cheap. As for the platinum filament, Edison discovered that it would re tain Its tenacity under incandescence if he raised it to a high temperature while the ,air was being exhausted. This seemed to drive away the "oc cluded" air molecules which were re sponsible for the decay of tne metal and made It permanently reliable In the lamp. But there was still another problem to solve before Edison's task was fin ished. This was the "subdivision" of the electric current so that each lamp should receive Its proper share and no more. It was also necessary In order to cause each lamp to stand on Its own feet, as It were, and permit it to shine or go out without Interfering with the others. Before Edison at tacked the problem of subdivision physicists had united In saying that It could not be done. Just as they proved that a steamship could not cross the Atlantic and that an aero plane could not fly, they showed by elaborate demonstrations that there was no possibility of apportioning a fraction of the current to each lamp separately, leaving the others unaf fected by its fate. Edison, however, found, in spite of their equations, that It could be done very easily. When the lamps are arranged in series, which was the only way the philoso phers had ever dreamed of, there is trouble without end. To get to any lamp the current must go through all the rest, so that if anything happens to one all are ruined. What Edison did was to place his lamps not in series, but in multiple arc. The lamps hang between two long wires and each has a little bridge of Its own con necting them. Through this bridge It gets Its part of the current, and if it is broken or burned' out nothing happens to the rest. Thus the inven tion of the Incandescent lamp as an article of dairy household .use is due to Edison. Since he made the first public exhibition of his new devices In 1882 the lamp has been greatly altered and perfected, but .the fundamental problems which he solved were the ones which contained the secret of success. - It would seem that we have small cause to grumble at our weather. Things are gooC or bad largely by; comparison, and looking at the matter from that standpoint Tve may still reel deep-rooted satisfaction in the weath er dispensations that we receive here abouts. When we had a long period of rain, other sections had similar periods of distressing weather, marked in many places by destructive storms. Crops in Oregon suffered to no great extent. It now appears, whereas re' ports of heavy losses in other states are still being reported. And now, while we are having delightfully mild weather, while the tang of crisp Sep' tember air puts new life and vigor and imparts a new sense of the Joy of liv ing, we learn of hot waves, that are withering both crops and human life in the Middle West. After all, we have email cause to complain at the occasional vagaries of the elements, for it would seem that when the weather goes on a rampage hereabouts It goes on a worse one in other sec tions. ' Clarence Darrow's wisdom may be eauged very well by two of his aphor isms. "Suffrage will do no good" is the first. "Strikes are indispensably necessary" is the second. Being in- temreted. these sayings mean that Mr. Darrow believes In "direct action' and not in the ballot as the remedy for the Ills of the time. "Direct ac- tion" was in use among our savage ancestors. As men grew Intelligent they thought voting was the better way. Now some of us want to return to primitive conditions and settle our differences by fighting. Bo the woria wags. The trouble between Turkey and Italy has finally ended, if reports are true, without the predicted holy war appearing on the scene. When fight- ine besran in Tripoli we were assured that all the Mohammedans on eartn would rush to the support of the Turkish Sultan because he Is, in a way. the successor of the Prophet But time passed and no "rush"? devel oped. As a matter of fact, Moham medans, like other people, are not apt to fight unless they have something to gain by it. An artist such as Louis Raymore, of Chicago, who can paint skillfully enough to make a counterfeit $10 bill by hand might certainly earn an hon est living with his brush. It must re quire as much time and toil to paint a false bill as a portrait. The ordi nary burglar labors harder at his pro fession and earns less, upon the whole than an honest workman. No doubt it is the excitement of crime, more than tha returns in money, which fas cinates now and .then a man of good ability. ' After a week of desperate fighting along the border, during which charges and counter charges have been of daily occurrence and the roar of artillery has Joined in the clatter of small arms fusillades, the rebels have torn two boards off the front gate at Nogales and are retreating to mobilize in force for another tense campaign. The boy who would leave the farm will note the Navy Is 6000 short of men. After a term aboard he may find there Is no place, after all, like home and mother's cooking. The Governor's vice crusade con tinues in deadly earnest. One bar tender has been convicted already. i Maine Republicans fought the com mon enemy and won, thereby setting a good example. Let no enthusiast on the side lines embarrass the Colonel with foolish questions. In a battle of typewriters the Gov ernor will have nothing on Mr. Henry. The divine Sarah can drop more than one year and never miss them. Pearls have advanced 25 per cent- Chew your oysters well. Unofficial forecast for today: Warm and windy. Bully! Dee-lighted! TRAGIC DEATH COLONEL WEBSTER Incident of Great Battle Recalled by Judge Egbert. SOUTH BEND, Wash., Sept. 9. (To the Editor.) The Oregonlan's recent lucid editorial on the "Battle of Manassas Gap" serves to recall an In cident happening there, that may prove of Interest to you. In which figured Fletcher Webster, only son of the great commoner, Daniel Webster, then Colo nel of the Twelfth Massachusetts In fantry. The happening was on the evening before the historic fight. We had retreated from the Rapidan and our regiment was marching toward the now-famous Bull Run to take position for the night. Near the road. In small swale, I noticed what afterward proved to be an excellent spring. With the aid of a few rails a path was hastily improvised, and, filling my can teen, i was soon again in the road. where I was met by a well-mounted and well-built officer who hailed me, saying: "Sergeant, how's the water?" "Fine," said I. I d thank you for a taste." said he. After a seemingly satisfactory draught, he said: "Suppose we trade," handing me his empty canteen, which was by far the better of the two, and adding graciously: "Would you mind a drop of cold coffee?" "Not at all." I replied, and at once he passed me a leather-covered flask, which I soon ascertained held a quan tity of fine brandy. Recognizing his rank, I begged him to tell me who he was. Then I was made aware that I stood before the only son of our country's greatest orator. Riirht there. on that boggy Virginia road, on that sultry August day, on the eve of a bloody battle, he grave me the otmor tunlty to tell him how much I admired nis father's attainments and rever enced his memory. This undoubtedlv pleased him, for, smilingly, he gave me ms nana, saying: "Qoodby, comrade: maybe we 11 meet again." Just at that moment a cannon ball struck the rim of one of the wheels of an artillery caisson as it was crossing the upper reaches of the creek, and but a few rods from where we were, sundering the tire and ripping a portion off with sucn force as to disembowel the artil leryman seated thereon, who fell into the stream. We looked over intently to the scene of the tragedy, when the Colonel said: "God help us, but -It's part of the game." Soon thereafter he passed from view, taking the direction or tne firing along the front. It was but a short time, hardly an iiuur mereaiter, Happened near where four men, bearing an offi cer on a stretcher, and a man leading a norse. were passim? to the rear. The horse and trappings seemed familiar. bo soiaier-iiite, I Inquired of one "Whom have you there?" "Colonel Webster," he replied. More -anxiously I further asked: wounded or dead? "Dead," he said. "Part of the game," said I. MARION D. EGBERT. HELP FALLEN WOMEN TO REFORM state Institution Suggested aa Home for Social Derelict. PORTLAND. Or Sept. 9. (To the Editor.) The house of prostitution, like the modern liquor saloon, is a money-making institution, built upon conditions In our social system. To remove them the conditions upon which they elst must be removed. When you close the "poor man's club," as the saloon is of ttlmes called, what does the public offer in Its place? When you close the house of ill-fame, what do you offer to its inmates? In the first Institution man seeks the society of his fellows amongst miserable condi tions, because he has no better place of amusement to which to go and be among his "birds of a feather," or equals. In the second institution, the most miserable which humanity has been able to devise, the conditions are a trifle different, but permeated by the same general conditions for solution. It has been truly said that a segregated district no more solves the oroblem of the social evil than a penciled circle arouna a cancer is a cure for cancer. A closed district means a tremendous demand for new inmates, with shrewd procuresses rushing In all directions for ignorant, silly girls. When you close the saloon, vou at least offer the man the streets to a reasonable extent, but so far little if anything better. A few more reading- rooms, gymnasiums, etc., might help to solve the saloon problem, might it not? When you close the house of Ill- fame, you offer the woman nothing not even honest labor. Wbo would hire her? But suppose the county or the state. the latter, preferably, would procure an isolated but attractive piece of land and build an Industrial home upon it for these unfortunate women. Put one of our well-educated and fighting suf-' fragists in charge of It one who had her heart in the work. Do not allow its inmates to be placed upon exhibi tion to a gaping, curious public, but make the surroundings as near home like as possible, and furnish enough work to make the Institution fairly self-supporting. Make admission vol untary under proper rules, as well as penal institution for convicted, wo men. Let discharge be made under secrecy by a well-appointed board of women. Then, after all this has been accomplished, punish the men who place tnese women wnere they are. Would this help to solve the problem? Kespectfully, HENRY F. JOSLIN. Woodrow Wilson's Favorite Poem. Opportunity," by Edward Rowland SilL This I beheld or dreamed it in a dream There spread a cloud of dust along the plain. And underneath the cloud, or In It, raged A furious battle, and men yelled, and swords Shocked upon swords and shields. A Prince's banner Wavered, then staggered backward, hemmed by foes. A craven hung along the battle's edge And thought, "Had I a sword of keener steel The blue blade that the King's son bears but this Blunt thing!" he snapped and flung it from his hand. And lowering crept away and left the Held. Then came the King's son wounded. sore bestead And weaponless and saw the broken sword. Hilt buried In the dry and trodden sand. And ran and snatched it, and with bat tle shout . Lifted afresh, he hewed the enemy down. And saved a great cause that heroic day. Mr. Roosevelt's Favorite Poem. "Opportunity," by John J. In galls. Master of human destinies am I, Fame, love and fortune on my foot steps wait; Cities and fields I walk; I penetrate Deserts and seas remote, and passing by Hovel, the mart and palace, soon or late ' I knock unbidden once at every gate. If sleeping, wake If feasting, rise be fore turn away. It Is the hour of fate. And they who follow me reach every state Mortals desire, and conquer every foe Save death; but those who doubt or hesitate. Condemned to failure, penury and woe, Seek me in vain and uselessly implore, I answer not, and I return no more. A, REPLY TO ANTI-STJFFRAGISTS Aruumrnls Show the Fight la for Lost Cause, Says Writer. ONTARIO. Or.. Sept. . (To the Edl tor.) If evidence Is needed that the anti-suffragists are fighting for a lost cause, it can be found In the arguments which they themselves present In the official pamphlet recently Issued by the Secretary of State against tne consti tutional amendment extending the suf frage to women. Among other things, their argument contains the statement that "there is always an active and zealous minority In favor of woman suffraite. and this minority can be trusted to fret out and vote." If such be the case, let us all turn suffragists. The curse of this country ia not the bis: corporations, nor the political bosses, but the apathetic voters. The abuses of the Initiative and other forms of oonular government are due to the fact that the interested minorities are "active and zealous" and can be trusted to get out and vote while the majority, who really are In terested, but do not realise it. fall to vote at all or vote "no" because oi in sufficient understanding of the measures. If we' would only all get out and vote there would be no need for the initiative, referendum or recall. The antis say: "The man at his labor in the street, in the meeting places of men, learns unconsciously, as a rule, the code, the meaning, the need of public affairs as woman learns those of private affairs. If he learns the code, meaning and needs of public affairs at all, the aver age man certainly learns them uncon sciously. The man who works at man ual labor does not have very much leisure time to spend In studying po litical institutions and measures. If he interests himself in those things he is a notable exception to the rule. The average farmer, laborer, mechanic or artisan is interested in things which concern him more nearly than the pol icies of a great commonwealth. It is wrong that it should be so, but we do not for that reason deprive him of his right to vote. Again they aver: "We protest against the proposal for the following reasons: . . . (4) Be cause the need ot America is not an increased quantity, but an improved quality of the vote, and there is no adequate reaBon for believing that woman suffrage, by doubling the vote, will Improve its quality." Anything can be proved by assertion. Woman suffrage may or may not double the vote I think not but it will certainly alter it in a manner dlf ferent from that which Is Inferred in this "reason." In the first place, not all the women of the United States or of the State of Oregon are married. In the second place, not all who have the privilege win vote, any more than all men who have the prlvlege vote. But the average business woman, the average spinster, the average school teacher is about as Intelligent as the average man, and It should be hei right and duty to cast a ballot which will offset the vote of the bum, the fanatic and the illiterate foreigner. To withhold from her that privilege is to subject her to a government in which she has no voice or representation a government wherein those who are mentally and morally her inferiors are politically her superiors. RALPH W. ECKHARDT. IMPOLITE CARMEN MET WITH Polite Ones Only Should Operate Depot Cars, Says W oman. PORTLAND, Sept. 9. (To the Editor.) Why Is It that uncivil and careless motormen and conductors are allowed to handle the W and J cars running to the Union Depot, coming in contact with the strangers coming in on the various trains? Not over a week ago, in reply to the question asked by lady, a stranger in Portland, if his was the right car for her to take, I heard a- conductor say, in no pleasant man ner: "Take a Chapman car." We Port landers know there Is no car marked 'Chapman street" going to and from the Union Depot, and yet this con ductor left this lady standing in the pouring rain waiting for a Chapman car. An elderly lady, evidently not UBed to traveling alone, perhaps not fa miliar with streetcars, boarded a car at the depot, setting her little hand grip down at the conductor's feet while she fumbled for her fare. She passed on int,o the car, either forgetting the grip or expecting the conductor to look out for it, which he did by giving It a kick. Why is there not some rule or uni formity by which the prospective pas senger can know by which door he will be allowed to enter these cars at ttie depot? I have seen a large crowd of people, just off a train, troop from one end of a car to another, in the rain, trying three different entrances before finding one open, the crew meantime shutting doors on their very toes in absolute indifference and in solence. I have seen so many of these incidents that I am very cautious, and after carefully reconnoitering the sit uation I approached an entrance and stepped on the lower step, when the motorman blocked the way. I paused. waiting for some slen. then requested that he please move and let me in. No movement or reply on the part of the motorman. The lady with me added her pleadings to be admitted out of the rain without avail. After quite two minutes of this the man stepped down out of the car, saying he would let us In when he got good and ready," and repeated it "good and ready." Need less to say by that time we were In a frame of mind to believe anything de rogatory to the street railway com pany and its employes, the reading matter furnished so freely on the backs of our transfers notwithstanding. These scenes with the first public service men they meet are certainly very disgusting to strangers. Portlanders, I fear, have had to get used to them. MISS A B. CAVANA. 334 Fifth street, Portland. SOCIALISTS OPPOSE ROOSEVELT. Denial Made That He Received Their Aid In Primaries. KLAMATH FALLS, Or Sept. 7. (To the Editor.) I am moved to the fol lowing by the letter published in The Oregonian September 5 over the signa ture of S. P. Hutchinson, of Pendleton. Mr. Hutchinson would have us believe that Roosevelt received considerable support from the Socialists in the pri maries. I am not familiar with the primary laws of other states, but under that of Oregon I cannot see how Mr. Roosevelt could have received any So cialist support. Mr. Hutchinson, In common with many other old party members, is not familiar with the po litical code of morals of the Socialist. Tour true Socialist would as soon cut off his right hand as to register as anything but a Socialist. So, as a mat ter of fact, there was no Socialist sup port given to any candidate at the last primary election In this state. There may be men who call them selves Socialists who profess friendli ness toward Mr. Roosevelt, but I very much doubt it. Theodore Roosevelt, of all men In the wide, wide world, Is the one most cordially despised by the rank and file of the Socialist party: Toward Mr. Taft we have no other feeling than good-natured contempt; toward Wilson, La Follette and others of evident sin cerity, the respect we must accord hon orable opponents, but toward Roosevelt our attitude is one of undying enmity. Rest assured, Mr. Hutchinson, that 'Terrible Teddy" will never attain office with the help of Socialist votes. , PEKCIVAii BHOLL. Tact In Refusing Dinner. London Sketch. The Host It's beginning to rain; vou'd better stay to dinner. The Guest Oh, thanks very much; but it's not bad enough for that. N. Nitt on Rain. Nesclus Nitts, sage of Punklndorf Sta tion, Looked out o'er the rain-dripping face of creation. Saw no Insect fly, so he ceased masti cation. And solemnly sised up the whole sit uation. And spoke on the marvelous precipita tion. All over the earth is the people com. plainln' About how the rain keeps a-ralnin' and rain in'. And some has suggested and pinted out where They thinks they can check this here rainfall with prayer. And so they assembles and starts to intone This sort of petitions, sent up to the Throne. , "Omnipotent, omniscient Ruler above, Admittin your wisdom and foresight and love, ' And knowin" your ways are beyond nndin' out. And likewise admittin'. beyond any doubt. That all that Thou doest is proper and good Please slack up the rainfall In this neighborhood. "Admittin' us mortals Is human and err. And often makes serious mistakes, as it were. And say in': 'Not our will, but Thy will be done', And grantin' you handles the rain and the sun Far better than us errin' human folks Please slack up the rainfall in this neighborhood." Which same paradoxical seems like to For after we've made such admissions, why w Ain't got much room left. I should Teckon, to call Upon the omnipotent Ruler ot ail When we have declared all His actions To rain orot rain upon this neigh borhood. OF FRATERNITIES IN DEFENSE Made That They Lead to Snobbishness. Denial Ia PORTLAND. Sept. 10. (To the Edl tor.) Upon reading the editorial page of The Oregonian of September lu t noticed an article written by some res ident of this city, who. It seems to me, possesses a very vidld imagination re garding the conduct and snobbishness ot the members of fraternities as they exist in the public schools of this c ity. Your correspondent seems to think that all of the fraternity men are very aristocratic and because of their pin, snub the other members of the school. In this respect he is mistaken. A member of any fraternity, be'0" be coming such, is warned against this and also given a lecture upon think ing he is better than the man who does not wear a pin. The fraternity man Is also encouraged to do his best in school, to become active in the con duct of school papers and- debating societies and also in school athletics. The school fraternity is simply a club. Its members consist of boys who are wide awake and who are looking forward to a future that is worth WThe writer of the attack in question seems to think that fraternity men are chosen from the wealthy families of this city. In this respect he is also mistaken. Any school boy, whether he possess a fortune or Is of the poorest class, can become a fraternity member if he is liked by his fellows for what he is, not for what he has. In this ...n.t it in nn to the boy to make wnat he can of himself and his fra ternity members are going to do all they can to help him along. A school fraternity is like any other lodge in this city. In a lodge, I am given to understand, the members do not choose a man who has a mean, disagreeable disposition, who is not a good mixer, who has a sneaking nature and thinks he knows It all and is not willing to acknowieage mat. no u"e not. On the contrary, iiiohb p Ing characteristics the very reverse of those just mentioned are the ones most likely to be welcomed Into the lodges. In this respect a fraternity is very similar. Its members do not choose a hnv who has a disagreeable nature anu quarrelsome disposition, just because he happens to belong to a wealthy family. ' . Of course the fraternities, have their social activities, the same as any other inriern or organization In the city. What would any club or society amount to without the social sioe.' Several people seem to be mooring nnrior tha imDresslon that a fraternity retards a boy's progress In his work. If any one would take the trouble to Investigate he wouia una mat buhio of the highest officials In our city and country have belonged to some nigu school or college fraternity in their time. It la taken for granted that those who are opposing the fraternities In this city are the boys ana men wno have never belonged to a fraternity. If this is so. we do not unaerstano. how they can profess to be so thor oughly familiar with all the inside workings and so absolutely sure of "the evil results" which befall every high school fraternity. WENATCHEE MELONS OUTDONE Oregon Farmer Says He Has Them Weighing Over BO Pounds. TALENT, Or., Sept. 8. (To the Edi tor.) I see In The Oregonian tnat Wenatchee, Wash., has beat the world on raising big watermelons, and they claim to have one tnat weigns so pounds, and say that is notning new. I will say that I have two dozen lying out in my watermelon patch that will weigh 55 pounds each. They are right here in plain sight, on the great Pa cific Highway, eight miles soutn of Medford and four miles norm oi Ashland, in the Rogue River Valley. My melons were caught In a hall storm In June, which set them back, and they are nothing like tne crop last year. I weighed four melons last year and they weighed 192 pounds. The Ashland Recorder got one of these four and they said it weighed over 60 pounds. Lots of my melons were three feet long. 1 have four acres in watermelons this year, but the damp, cloudy weather is holding them back and they don't ripen as they should. This is my second season down here In the melon business. I raise them between my 2-year-old pear trees. JAMES FOXALL. He Needed New One. Montreal Star. While on a visit to Dublin a professor of art, noted for his absence of mind, bad occasion to require a cab. Looking around he espied one coming in his di rection, drawn by a miserable specnen of a horse. Hailing the cabman he was about to enter the vehicle, when, look ing at the horse, he appeared dumb founded, then said: "What's this, driver?" "A horse, of course, sir," replied the cabby. A horse, etir said tne professor ao- stractedly. "Well, rub It out and do it again." Tact at the Right Moment. Boston Transcript. Gibbs I admire the man who says the right thing at the right moment. Dlbbs So do I, particularly when I'm thirsty, .