THE MORNING OREGONIAN, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1912.
10
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SATURDAY, OCT. ft, Ml
rOHTLAJiD,
! JT.HO K GATENS ON TICK.
Judge Gatens speaks from a wide
experience upon the subject of youth-
' fu'l delinquency and "the social evil."
As judge of the Juvenile Court he has
been confronted with these and kin-
. dred evils in their most shocking
forms. It lo impossible that a man
of his Intelligence should not have re.
fleeted upon them deeply and the
hearty applause which greeted his
remarks at the Progressive Business
Men's Club on Thursday was as much
a tribute te the gravity of his thought
as to the soundness of his convictions.
We must all agree with him that mod
ern society is suffering from a deadly
disease growing out of misdirected
sex feeling and that the only cure for
It must be sought In-the home.
"The fault lies primarily among
ourselves, In our homes," said Judge
Gatens, "and the remedy must come
from the fathers and mothers of the
community." This is so obviously
true that it admits of no comment.
Were every home what it should be
nd lost women would haunt the
streets and no contaminated young
men would disseminate the poison
they have acquired by vice among
innocent wives and children. What
change shall be made in the rules of
the home in order to end this fright
ful tragedy? Judge Gatens advises
stricter regulation of our boys and
girls." He told the Progressive Busi
ness Men that he was In favor of the
old-fashioned mother, the kind that
maintained absolute control over her
young. "Some people tell me," he
continued, "that they rule their chil
dren with love. Love! Rot! Take a
clhb."
It is needless to remind the reader
that the "club" has already been tried
without any particularly encouraging
results. Many social students believe
that the laxity of this generation is the
inevitable reaction from the severe re
strictions of our predecessors. No
doubt there are instances where "a
good, sound flogging" has proved to
be the moral salvation of a boy or
even a girl, but we can hardly hope.
as a general practice, to nog virtue
Into our young' people. The "club"
Indiscriminately applied is far more
likely to cultivate a crop of revolt and
hatred.
Experience does not warrant any
, expectation that the morals of the
world can be materially bettered by
brute force. Watchfulness over the
goings and comings of the young,
"stricter regulation," as Judge Gatens
puts it, is a more promising expedient,
and yet It cannot be overlooked that
this has been fully tried out, too, with
out solving the problem. France edu
cates her girls in convents under eyes
whose vigilance never sleeps and the
law of that country makes parental
authority absolute In many directions.
But for all that the "social evil" In
France is as virulent as in the United
States. Vigilance and "the club" must
play a part In the solution, very likely,
but by themselves they will "not suf
fice. Thus much experience infallibly
teaches and what other guide have
weT
In our opinion Judge Gatens speaks
somewhat too disparagingly of "love"
as a factor In the prevention and cure
of bad habits. We dare say he has
been justly exasperated by the slushy
twaddle pf sentimentalists who do not
know the difference between love and
foolish indulgence. Love, in spite of
' all the idiots who misuse the word, lies
at the root of Justice and without Jus
tice the young cannot be redeemed, as
Judge Gatens himself well knows. But
mere is reaavii iu ucucm w.ci. . ,
unabashed knowledge is as badly
needed as anything else in this fearful
burlness.
The prudery which has tried to keep
the young ignorant of the laws of life
has delivered them over to destruc
tion. The knowledge which their par
ents would not Impart they have ac
quired from vile companions. Facts
which in themselves are innocent
come tinged -with wickedness from
wicked lips. American "purity" has
actually made Heaven's highest law a
thing of shame. The great miracle of
nature, the transmission of life, must
only be mentioned in evil dens with
obscene comment. With the intelli
gence of a whole Nation thus funda
mentally perverted, is it any wonder
that passion runs to sin? From the
time he begins to understand language
everybody assures the child that pas
sion is sin. and the organs connected
with it are shameful, if net wicked.
He' cannot escape the onset of na
ture's Imperious will, and. Ignorant of
the, nobility of her purpose, he sinks
into disease and filth.
Never was light more needed than
upon this subject of the transmission
of life. Many will sin against the
light, of course, and for them other
measures, even harsh ones, may be
needed, but first of all every child
should be taught the truth about his
body and the consequences of abusing
It- After that has been thoroughly
done, perhaps we shall find the club
still useful, but without the light of
knowledge It will surely fall. There
Is no good reason why society should
give up trying to solve the social prob
lem and lapse back In despair to "the
restricted district." There is some
thing incongruous In preaching Chris
tianity in, the churches while at the
same time we complacently dwell be
side a tophet which Jeeringly pro
claims Christianity a failure.
If water transportation is valuable
as a regulator when we simply have a
navigable channel and water termi
nals without any steamers to churn
the waters or to tie up at the wharves,
It is many times as valuable when
steamers ply the waters and use the
wharves in constant, active competi
tion with railroads. An. oft-repeated
but never-executed threat of water
competition gradually loses Its force
uhtll It provokes only a smile on the
face of a railroad man. When car
ried Into practice. It spurs the railroad
man to meet an actual, present dan
ger to his business. If the railroad is
prompted to make concessions by a
mere threat. It will make still greater
concessions when action replaces the
threat. '
THE CALIFORNIA WAT.
California fortunately has the recall.
Judicial and otherwise, and the Su
preme Court may be ejected by the
offended Bull Moosers. The Roose
velt faction won a tainted legal victory
In Its battle over the electoral ticket,
but the Supreme Court had the un
speakably bad taste to say that the
primary law Is a "very bad law" and
to admit that by Its decision It had
virtually disfranchised a third of the
citizens of the state. An admitted
wrong committed under the forms of
law and in the name of Justice makes
It not the less intolerable.
The California ballot will have a
Roosevelt ticket under the label "Re
publican" and there will be no elec
tors for Mr. Taft. The virtuous John
son and the Impeccable Heney and
their blind followers who went to Chi
cago and made the welkin ring with
their furious denunciation of the
wrongs California suffered there, have
got even by disfranchising a hundred
thousand voters at home. They have
usurped the name and place of the
Republican electors on the ballot,' and
for the purpose of perpetrating this
gross infamy they are willing to mas
querade as Republicans, though they
have proclaimed everywhere their in
dependence of the Republican party
and have set out to wreck it.
What sympathy can the California
Bull Moosers expect for the injustice
they say they endured at Chicago in
face of the vastly greater Injustice and
oppression they impose in California?
WISE CUSTOM.
The most pertinent comment to be
made upon the persuasive communi
cation of Mr. Peddicord may be found
in the following words of Theodore
Roosevelt:
The wl diatom which limits the Presi
dent to two terma regards the substance and
not the form, and under no circumstances
will I he a candidate for or accept another
nomination.
One may quibble and evade, twist
and double twist all he pleases over
the exact meaning of these plain
words, but there is no ambiguity about
them and there Is no uncertainty
about what Colonel Roosevelt Intended
they should mean.
The Oregonlan said that the no-third-term
precedent Is a sound princi
ple of our unwritten law. Mr. Roose
velt himself says it is a "wise custom."
It Is not a formal precept of any writ
ten constitution. It is a traditional
sentiment. Imbedded in tha minds and
consciousness of the American people,
and based on a certain knowledge
of the fallibility of human nature and
human institutions and on the disas
trous lessons of all human experience.
If it were merely a constitutional In
hibition, It might be changed in
these days of facile law-making. But
being a safe and sound rule of Na
tional conduct. It cannot with impu
nity be modified or disobeyed.
We iwould remind Mr. Peddicord
that the country refused General
Grant a third term, notwithstanding
the eloquent appeal of his friend, Sen
ator Conkling; and we think the peo
ple now regard It as an eminently
wise decision. Why make Roosevelt
the Great Exception? The govern
ment that cannot get along without
the services of any man is In a bad
way.
ROOSEVELT ON CAMPAIGN FUNDS.
The difficulty Colonel Roosevelt
encountered and failed to overcome In
testifying before the Clapp committee
was in showing that eight years ago
he was awake to what the public now
considers bold improprieties in accu
mulating campaign funds and then
looked upon with lightly expressed
resentment.
Public sentiment against admitted
or implied political obligation to con
centrated capital has grown and
spread in the eight years. It has
seemed a popular key at which to
pitch the political bugle. So the Pro
gressive party candidate has sounded
it from Atlantic to Pacific Colonel
Roosevelt individually has given un
measurable impetus to resentment
against trust dictation of National
policies. That his own campaign
eight years back received aid from
the large corporations calls for more
adroit explanation than if it had been
disclosed in that of any other candi
date. That Colonel Roosevelt asked no
man to contribute, made no promise
as a return for any contribution and
had never been asked, "by anyone
having authority," to guide his course
in a particular way because any con
tribution had been made, may be given
ready credence. He has put a quali
fication in his leading answer suffi
cient even to cover the representations
of Morgan's friendliness made to him
when he licensed the absorption of the
Tennessee Iron by the Steel Trust.
But does the statement wholly cover
the ease? Has It ever been customary
for a President or a National commit
tee to make specific promises in re
turn for financial aid? Is there not an
Implied agreement in the acceptance
of large sums from men whose for
tunes may be marred or enhanced by
the National policy? Did the tariff
protected interests or the Immunized
monopolies never contribute to Presi
dential campaigns prior to 190 with
out specific promise and profit there?
by? Would Mr. Morgan, Mr. Arch
bold or Mr. Harriman put vast sums
into the committee treasury because
of mere philanthropic desire that the
people might hear the eloquence of
campaign orators?
It may be profitable, moreover, to
contrast the deeds of the Roosevelt
administration with what was said
or left unsaid when the corporations
contributed to his 1904 campaign.
Did Roosevelt ever cause the criminal
prosecution of any individual offender
against the Sherman law? Did he not
forbid the prosecution of the Harves
ter trust? Did he not give the Morgan
interests a practical monopoly of the
steel business by permitting the Steel
trust to absorb Its chief competitor?
Did not unlawful business combina
tions Increase from. 149 In number to
10,020 during his administration? Did
he not decline to prosecute E. H. Har
riman on a charge of looting the Alton
railroad? Did he ever recommend
downward revision of the tariff?
In Oregon we have gained the im
pression, apparently, that a corpora
tion Is a hard-headed, money-grubbing
concern, without a spark of senti
ment or patriotism. We have made
it unlawful for a corporation to aid
with money even money spent other
wise lawfully the fortunes of any
candidate for office or nomination. A
potent recommendation for the direct
primary Is the freedom of its can
didates from the implied obligation
that rests upon those chosen by corporation-controlled
conventions. The
same argument is now a favorite with
advocates of the Presidential primary.
The aim in giving the people greater
political power, if this argument is
sincere. Is as much to rid public offi
cers of implied obligations as it Is to
make specific compacts of corrupt
character Impossible.
But Colonel Roosevelt, while Indors
ing the Presidential primary4 nay, de
manding it gives us to understand
that even the money of trusts may be
accepted with propriety under certain
conditions. Notification to one's com
mittee that no promises, express or
implied, are to be made as to receipt
of funds absolves the candidate. Con
tributions ought to be returned If the
donor asks for something in return.
Money ought not to be accepted from
a trust under Inquisitorial Are. These
are the set rules we might frame from
the Colonel's testimony. But we also
must Infer therefrom that a contribu
tion silently offered and mutely ac
cepted calls for no return and that he
he who expects It Is a crook or a fool.
These ideas ought to cause a revi
sion of plana among those who are
now looking forward to everlasting
fame as authors of National corrupt
practices acts and Presidential prefer
ence lawB.
PERILS OF LATJOHTEB.
If there Is any lesson to be drawn
from Wilma Wade's experience It
would seem to be that laughter Is
dangerous. While she was Indulging
in a hearty outburst the other day she
sucked a safety pin down Into her
bronchial tubes. The surgeons suc
ceeded in removing it, fortunately,
but the operation required apparatus
with terrific names and an amount of
deftness which It appals one to try to
conceive it. If Miss Wade had been
taught not to laugh, but only to smile,
she never would have found herself
in this perilous dilemma.
Preceptresses of young ladles'
boarding schools are agreed upon the
precept that laughter is vulgar. They
permit nothing more strenuous than a
smile and even that must be managed
with infinite discretion. It should be
worked upon cautiously by enunciat
ing "Papa, potatoes, prunes,, prisms,
peonies" slowly and softly. By this
process the lips are elegantly persuad
ed to assume the aspect cf a ladylike
smie.
Laughter Is not only nnlady-like,
but It Is cruel. At any rate Its origin
is' cruel. Philosophers are a unit in
telling us that it began in racial his
tory with that stretch of the lips and
show of teeth which a warrior exhib
its when he smites a. foe. If the foe
falls the warrior emits a brutal cackle
in harmony with the expression of his
features. We are most inclined to
laugh when we witness the misfor
tunes of our neighbors. A fat man
who slips on a banana peel causes
laughter in all the bystanders. The
less of a stovepipe hat in a gust of
wind invariably brings forth guffaws.
We never laugh at a humorous story
because humor is pervaded with the
milk of human kindness, but a witty
anecdote, particularly if the wit Is
bold and obvious, makes one crow
like chanticleer.
BALKAN WAR CLOUDS.
The threatened war of the four
small states which surround Turkey
in Europe against the Ottoman Em
pire Is more important because of its
possible than because of Its immediate
consequences. Should Bulgaria, Ser
vla, Greeoe and Montenegro combine
in an attack on Turkey and should
they succeed In their announced pur
pose of liberating Macedonia from
Turkish rule, a quarrel among them
selves for the conquered territory
would almost certainly ensue; but
even more momentous would be the
attitude of the great powers.
Austria long has had a covetous eye
on Macedonia, her ambition being to
secure an outlet to the sea at Salonica.
Russia desires Constantinople with
control of the Dardanelles and the
Bosphorus and the consequent ability
to send her navy from the Black Sea
to the Mediterranean without restraint
from other powers. Great Britain is
traditionally opposed to the realization
of the Russian ambition and, in case
of a decisive move on Russia's part,
would find her newly formed bond of
friendship with the Muscovite severely
strained. Germany has acquired great
influence at Constantinople, which she
has used to secure concessions for
German investors in the Turkish Em
pire, and has shown her gratitude by
diplomatic endeavors to ward off dan
ger from the Sublime Porte, so far as
this can be done without offense to
Austria and Italy. France is particu
larly Interested In averting a crisis,
lest she be forced to take sides in a
quarrel between her two allies, Eng
land and Russia, and thus to lose the
friendship of one or the other. Italy,
being at war with Turkey, may be ex
pected to take advantage of that coun
try's new troubles to raise the price of
peace, but she will not welcome a
struggle wherein others would share
with her the spoils of war.
' So well aware are all the powers of
the probability that any seizure of
Turkish territory by another power
would embroil all Europe In war that
they may be trusted to exert them
selves to the utmost to avert a crisis.
Russia and Austria, having most defi
nite designs on Turkish territory, may
prove to be exceptions. While ostensi
bly joining the other powers in efforts
to preserve the peace, they may be se
cretly intriguing to grab the plunder
just when the Balkan allies have it in
their ' grasp, in case the four little
states should prove victorious. Austria,
fearing that the aggrandizement of
Servla would block her outlet to the
Aegean, is credited with a purpose to
occupy that kingdom and to prevent
its participation In the war. Her al
liance with Italy may prevent her
making such a move until Italy and
Turkey have ended the Tripolitan war,
and, if she should make the move, she
would exact compensation In the
shape of a slice of territory which
would advance her ambition another
step towards its goal. Russia may be
behind Bulgaria, ready to seize Con
stantinople in case Turkish armies
should be defeated.
As usual, Turkey will play for an
other lease of life by skilfully exciting
the mutual Jealousies of her enemies.
Opportunity to do this exists no less
among the BtJkan states than among
the great powers. She may first make
the best, terms possible with Italy in
order that the sea may be open for
the transporting of troops from Asia
and Africa and that she may be able
to withdraw her forces from Tripoli.
Turkey's total war strength ia stated
to be 725,000 men, against 350,000 for
Bulgaria? 175,000 for Servla, 60,000
for Greece and 36,000 for Montenegro,
a total for the allies of 611,000. To
these must be added the revolted Al
banian, , tribes, which are no mean
fighters, as the Turks have once more
been reminded recently. Turkey has
the advantage of numbers and of
splendid fighting blood, fired by re
ligious zeal, but many of her troops
must be gathered from remote prov
inces. The allies have all their forces
close to the scene of hostilities and
can close In on the Turks from north,
south and west.
A power which will fight for Tur
key is the conflicting claims of the
allies to any territory they may con
quer, which will inevitably breed dis
cord before war has long continued.
Servia dreams of restoration of the
Servian empire as It was ruled by
Stephen Dushan in the middle ages,
extending from the Danube to the
Aegean Sea and from the Black to
the Adriatic Sea. Bulgaria hopes to
found an empire covering the same
territory. Greece dreams of a re
stored Greek empire, which would add
all the territory south of the Balkan
Mountains, including Constantinople
and the Aegean archipelago, to the
present kingdom. Montenegro pines
to expand from her sterile mountains
over the rich neighboring valley.
When the allies nourish such Ir
reconcilable ambitions, victory over
the Turks would almost inevitably be
the signal for war among themselves,
which would reach a climax in the
seizure of the spoils of war by Austria
or Russia, or both of those powers, as
the monkey devoured the cheese when
called upon to divide It between the
quarreling mice.
TRUSTS AND LABOR UNIONS.
Louis D. Brandels, of Boston, gives
his support to Wilson principally be
cause he holds the Democratic candi
date's policy with regard to the trusts
to mean "Justice with liberty," while
he holds Roosevelt's policy to be an
effort "to get justice without liberty."
His objection to the Roosevelt policy
of regulated monopoly Is based chiefly
on the hostility of the trusts to labor
unions and he cites the easy triumph
of the steel trust over the unions as
proof that legalized trusts would crush
the unions. In an address before the
Massachusetts branch of the American
Federation of Labor, Brandels said
that "until the Federal Constitution is
so amended neither Congress nor the
interstate trade commission can pre
vent their discharging employes for
Joining trade unions." He continued:
It seems to me very unwise, particularly
fnr labor, to surrender industrial liberty
and to rely wholly upon legislation and a
commission. Legislation and commissions
like God help only "him who neips Him
self'; and a social programme which ac
cepts these things as a substitute for In
rfimrrlfLl llbertv. Instead of using them as
means of securing Industrial liberty. Is
fundamentally unsound, xou anow pence-.-,
ly well that no legislation, even when sus-tain-H
tw ttiA court and no commission.
though able and honest will effectually
protect labor, unless tne worKingmou auu
public opinion ara behind them.
A trust is In a much better position
to overpower the unions than Is an ln
dividual'manufacturer, for It can close
union mills and transfer work to non
union mills until the strikers are
starved Into submission. The steel
trust won Its victory over the unions
in this manner and has established a
pension system which Mr. Brandels de
scribes as a form of peonage, since the
pension is the reward of twenty years'
uninterrupted service and would be
forfeited by striking.
Driven to make a reluctant state
ment of contributions to Roosevelt's
pre-conventlon campaign. Senator
Dixon says:
Outside of the money contributed by local
leaders in Ohio, Pennsylvanla,?IUtnole and
Massachusetts for the primary campaign In
these four states, the entire reconvention
campaign cost less than 160,000. I think
1155,000 would be a better figure.
, This is a parallel to the case of a
man who, when asked how much he
spent yearly on clothes, should say:
"Outside of what I paid for my suits,
hats, shoes, shirts and underwear, I
spent so much." Omitting Ohio omitp
Dan Hanna; omitting Pennsylvania
i-n.,n- triinn flnd the, 5 a head he
uuv . -
distributed in Pittsburg; by excluding
Illinois he excludes what was given
by McCormick, and so on through a
long list of wealthy "angels" of the
Progressive party. Then Dixon .caps
the "Umax of his shallow attempt at
We didn't get a single dollar for this
fund from any oorpomuuu, ........ -
were from Individuals.
Of course, they didn't. But they
got money from the individuals who
control corporations. Such a state
ment is an insult to the intelligence of
the people to whom It is made.
A. H. Lea, .who failed to secure the
Republican nomination for State Dairy
Commissioner, but whose name was
written enough times on Democratic
ballots to make him the ehoice of that
party, has heeded the call. In the
meantime, J. D. Mickle, the Republi
can nominee, is announcing a sale of
his blood cows and other animals and
farm paraphernalia In Washington
County, preliminary to removal to Sa
lem, and the political skies seem to
make him a good forecaster.
Chicago has a pew magazine of po
etry whose life ia fairly certain to last
five years, since it has been endowed
for that period. What may happen to
it later is pure, though not difficult,
conjecture. Americans do not love
poetry well enough to support a maga
zine which publishes nothing else.
The editor, Harriet Monroe, herself
wooes the muses with some skill, and
it is her ambition to attach the best
American poets to her roll of contrib
utors. The effort of the Consumers'
League to establish a minimum wage
scale of $9 a week for women Is meri
torious, but will fail just as long as
the ranks of workers are crowded by
young women who are not obliged to
labor, but do so that they may spend
more money on dress.
Demolition of four Pullman cars
and loss of life In that Connecticut
wreck dislodge long belief in the
safety of the end of the train.
Production of clover seed is a great
source of profit, but many a farmer
cheats the soil by burning the
threshed hay.
A half-hqllday can well be spent
today at the Multnomah County Fair,
which 6hould not be slighted because
it Is outside the city limits.
The powers and their money lend
ers will let the trouble rage In the
Balkans Just long enough to produce
more securities. "
-The dog without his muzzle looks
askance at the man with the straw
hat.
DANGERS SEES IN SINGLE
TAX
Mr. Lowell Points Out Damns That
Oregon Wonld Rea-
PENDLETON, Or Oct. 8. (To the
Editor.) May I venture a few sugges
tions upon tha single tax menace which
confronts the commonwealth at this
time? The atmosphere is charged with
theories, some of them born of the
vision of Henry George and some of
them of the gold of Joseph Fela. But
there are a few hard facts grounded
on experience which ought to control
both thought and vote upon a, question
like this.
First Every single tax apostle ad
mits that tha process of education to
ward his ideal is a slow one. It ought,
then, to be remembered that Oregon
is still a state of magnificent propor
tions and of few people. We axe in
viting settlers from all portions of the
world, urging men and women to come
here to establish homes and assist in
the Btate'a development. We have less
than 1,000,000 people within our bor
ders and can easily support zu.ooo.uuu.
Assuredly, the adoption of the single
tax will not serve to swell the popuia
tion here, for whether sentiment is cor
rect or not, the fact remains that most
men look upon the single tax as
dream of visionaries, and fear it. They
will not settle in a Btate threatened
by It.
Second Like every new and unde
veloped state. Oregon now needs, and
for another half century win need, out
aide capital for its material develop
ment. Its natural resources will never
develop themselves. It must be patent
to every citizen, whether favorable to
the sinele tax Dropaganda or other
wise, that the adoption of the amend
ment will halt capital at our Doraera,
turn it to other states and arrest our
prosrress for a generation. 1 Whether
risrht or wrong, it is a fact demon
strated over and over again in finan
cial history, that money always avoids
exDeriments.
Third The majority of farms have
been developed, the majority of homes
have been built, in Oregon as else
where throughout the West through
borrowed money, secured by mortgages
UDon the real estate upon which tne
money is expended. Assuredly, it is
not expected by the protagonists of
the sinnle tax that the cold-blooded
mortgage companies and hard-beaded
Eastern farmers, from' whom the most
of this money has come, will continue
in the field under single tax conditions.
They may be mistaken, but they do not
believe in either the justice or tno
theory of making lands bear all the
Dublic burdens. If the. single tax
amendment is adopted our home build
ing will be crippled and our farm de
velopment hamstrung.
Fourth It is reported that the labor
unions are inclined to support the sin
gle tax. but I am not ready to believe
that such is the case. Theoretically,
some of their membership may believe
it correct, as many believe that the
theory of free trade is correct, but as
a rule. I have found the men arniiatea
with labor unions remarkably clear
thinkers, and they must now realize,
as every considerate man realizes, that.
with the adoption of this amendment.
there is grave danger that immigra
tion to Oreiron will practically cease,
that our transportation companies will
suffer, that our established industries
will languish and that the inevitable
result will be limited employment and
low wasrea.
I have not' dealt In theories, but in
facts demonstrated by human experi
ence. With these before us it is not
Important what a man may theoreti
cally accept. Conditions confront us,
and rainbows will not change them.
Men ought to vote from the standpoint
of practical, everyday affairs, and serve
notice upon Mr. Fels that, wnue we
have no objection to his trying the
single tax experiment in his own State
of Pennsylvania, we decline to drink
the hemlock In Oregon.
STEPHEN A. LOWELL.
OFFICIAL STUDY OF SOCIAL EVILS
Government Department and Admin
istration Is Suggested.
EtJGENE, Or., Oct. 1, (To the
Editor.) Mankind, it seems to . the
undersigned, is beginning to see the re
lation or mutual dependence of the
physical and material realms upon the
mental, or spiritual, or psychical as
never before. One of the faults, or de
fects, In the teaching of past ages was
the omission of this element of fact
from Its curricula of instruction, do
mestic as well as public. The In
creasing recognition of the solidarity
of the race as well as the various in
terests concerned in every-day life is
bound to bring about certain and, per
haps, many changes in the civilization
of the race and the solution of many
vexed problems confronting the peo
ple.
Among these there is none more im
portant or Intricate and Involved than
the social problem sometimes re
ferred to as the Boclal evil, "white
slave." or "race suicide." It is question
able whether in advancing (or
chaneino standards and inventions,
which are coming into use, there will
not be new methods to deal with this
matter. In fact many things point that
way. The new interests and problems
of life are becoming so many that the
habit is to specialize on them. That is
becoming, in fact, almost necessary.
The question of marriage and divorce.
Including the said evils referred to,
will have to be put into a department
by themselves, somewhat In the same
way as the schools are now conducted.
which will involve, as we can see.
separate administration, with special
officials in charge of it. It is, not to
joke a bit, large enough a matter for
a few and the best of such officials. If
the railroads and corporations of the
Nation are deemed worthy of such
treatment, why should not the vastly
more Important matter of social rela
tions, with the incidentals referred to,
resting at the foundation of the
growth and even existence of the race,
be the game?
. This may be considered by many a
too early draw on the future, but they
can be assured that it is not too early
to look ahead sometimes. In fact there
are signs that some such line of policy
will become essential before long, if
we are not to see lnoreasing danger
and decadence in the social order.
F. A, OUEKET,
SPLENDID POEM IS NOT COWBOVS
"The Maverick" Not Written by Jack
Murphy, Montana Indian.
PORTLAND. Oct. 4. (To the Edl
tor.) In The Oregonian September 27
and also in a later issue you published
a splendid poem entitled "The
Maverick." presumably written by one
Jack Murphy, a Montana cowboy, of
Flathead lineage. According to The
Oretconian Jack has a streak of genius.
He has, indeed, a streak-of that genius
which gives one man the courage to
plagiarize the work of another and
brazenly claim credit for that which
ha has not the anility to proauce.
This Bplendrd poem was originally
written by Charles Badger Clark, Jr.,
the only typically Western poet who
has had any claim whatsoever to fame
tor the virility and freshness of his
verse. It first appeared in tne fa
cine Monthly of Octobea, 1911, and it
was deemed so good by the editor of
that estimable magazine that Mr.
Clark received a check of no mean
size for it.
That Jack Murphy or any other
would-be poet should claim credit for
it this early after Its publication
reflects more or less upon the intelli
gence of the lovers of literature and
fair-Dlav. X am sorry to tod jacK
Murphy, the Flathead, of any honors
which might be his due, but there Is
no literary crime so aetestaoie as
Plagiarism. C. E. FISHER.
THIRD TERM IDEA ADVOCATED
Mr.' Peddicord Finds Support In Evolu
tion and Contains? Ssieecn.
PORTLAND. Or. Oct. 4. (To the
Editor.) In an editorial article in The
Sunday Oregonian, entitled "Face to
Face With a Crisis," you said: "The
election of a Presidential candidate for
a third term involves a departure from
the historic policy of the Government,
held inviolable from the beginning and
preserved for more than 100 years as
a Bound principle of our unwritten law.
If we elect Mr. .Roosevelt, we declare
to the world that the apprehensions of
our forefathers were groundless and
the repeated admonitions of our states
men foolish."
I am not going to impeach the wis
dom, the patriotism, devotion and sin
cerity of the founders of our Republic,
nor even call them "foolish;" nor shall
I Impeach the sincerity and patriotism
of the thousands who honestly differ
from me on this or other great issues
before the public today. There is little
doubt in my mind that the fathers
dealt as wisely with the problems of
their day as circumstances . would ad
mit. But you, and other well-informed
persons, know that in addition to the
great questions which naturally arise
with the march of government and the
development of a great nation, the
founders of our Republic, notwith
standing their unquestioned patriotism,
wisdom and learning, passed along
down to us some very difficult prob
lems. To begin with, they recognized
slavery. It is needless to mention what
It cost a later generation, even tills,
to get rid of it. Their method, the
Constitutional method of even today,
of electing United States Senators ha
been subject of attack for many years,
and will, doubtless, soon be discarded.
They gave us the useless, perfunctory
Electoral College, when today it is safe
to say the whole country favors direct
vote of the people. They gave us a
four years Presidential term, which
today is little short of a calamity to
the country, and which the people
would be practically a unit in greatly
lengthening. We have added several
departments ' to the Cabinet of Wash
inKton. Fifteen times that sacred pal
ladlum of our liberties, the Constitu
tion itself, has had to be amended al
ready. We are indulging in a great
deal of direct legislation, wise ana
otherwise, but a necessary check on
the method the founders thought wise
enough in their day. We are getting
rid of the old convention system, so
fraught with methods of thwarting the
will of the people. So we might con
tinue at trreat lentrth.
How would it seem to the founders
of our Republic to behold George and
Martha Washington an 4 their slaves
going to the polls to vote on November
5? Doubtless many of those truly pro
gressive founders of a once great
refuge of the down-trodden would
really be shocked from a purely senti
mental standpoint, and, on regaining
their eauipoise. would soon begin to
sbe nothing but ruin in the great
change. They would forget, as do many
of today, that, farther back still, gov
ernment was on a par with other con
ditions, when men plowed with a stick
and reaped with the hook and threshed
with a flail. And today, although Im
measurably pleased to think we hourly
flash wireless messages over seas and
talk almost as face to face with distant
friends, and travel at "lightning speed"
UDon the land and ride upon the storms.
many seem never to have thought that
all things, including government it
self, must advance to meet the new
conditions, not realizing that the leaven
is necessarily in "the whole lump.
Although I look on the real objec
tion to a third Presidential term as
evanescent, unsubstantial sentiment
and untenable tradition, grounded in
the same apprehensions as the other
great advancements 1 nave nameo.
nevertheless I frankly admit many are
still honestly opposing the third term
idea. But I say to you, with all canaor,
that if Mr. Taft should be re-elected,
and so serve the people that they may
ao fit to nominate him again, I should
be more strongly in favor of him for
a third term than I am opposed to mm
today for a second term, and the Lord
knows that would be strong to the
limit of my being. It was, doubtless,
lust such nominations as Mr. laft re
ceived at Chicago last June at the
hands of the bosses and the interests
that caused the founders of our Jtte
mihlin to onDose a third term. '
Permit me to conclude with the fol
lowing from Senator Roscoe Conkling's
speech In nominating General Grant for
a third term; for, to us wno nave miei
once doubted the sincerity oi mr,
Roosevelt nor the Justice and wisdom
of his nomination, there win seem a
marvelous narallel:
"He is struck at by the whole Demot
emtio nartv. because his nomination
will be the death blow to Democratic
success. He is struck at by others who
find offense and dlsquaiincation in tno
very service he has rendered and the
very experience he has gained. . Show
me a better man. Name one and I am
answered; but do not point, as a dis
mialiflcation. to the very facts which
make this man fit beyond all others. Let
not experience disqualify or excellence
impeach him. There is no third term
in the case, and the pretence will die
with the nolitical dog-days wnicn en
gendered it. Nobody is really worried
about a third term except those hope
lessly longing for a first term and the
dupes they have maae.
"Never having had a 'policy to en
tnrr-m airalnst the will of the people," he
never betrayed a cause or a friend, and
the people will never betray or aeaert
him. Villnea ana revuea, ruiuirani
aspersed by numberless presses, not in
nth lands, but in his own. the as
saults upon him have strengthened and
seasoned his hold upon the public
heart. The ammunition or calumny mis
all been exploded; the powder has all
hen burned: its force is spent; and
General Grant's name will glitter as a
bright and imperishable star in the dia
dem of the Republic when those who
hv tried to tarnish it will have
molded In forgotten graves and their
memories and epitaphs nave vanisneu
utterly." w. J. fn.iji-itjuttu.
OCTOBER.
October comes, a gorgeous knight,
t. nu onH niirnle. richlv dight
Upon his brow en amber light-
There's silver on his nodding plume,
And In his air a hint of doom
For all the things that bud and bloom.
The landscape 'neath his quivering
lance
Seems touched into a mystic trance.
Like realms of fabled old romance.
The river flows as if in sleep,
With dreams for utterance too deep,
And golden tears the willows weep.
There's peace upon the hazy hill;
The roses, blooming bravely still.
Seem sad for some impending ill. '
Faint o'er the fields of fruitage shorn
Seems thinly blown an eerie horn
From far-off "'fairy lands forlorn."
REX LAMPMAN.
Identity of n Chicken Thief.
Puck.
"Mordecai Judson," roared Colonel
White, who had been arpused in the
middle of the night by a suspicious
noise in his poultry-house, "Is that you
in there, you black thief?" "No, sah!"
humblv replied a frightened voice.
"Dis la muh cousin. Ink Judson, dat
looks so much like me and steals
everything he kin lay his dog-gawn
hands on. Ah's at home dls minute,
sab, uh-sleeping de sleep o' de jest."
Not a XS18 Model.
Chicago Tribune,
Hose Tou had to give Clarence a
hint before he'd propose, eh?
Lily Y-yes. He didn't seem to be
equipped with a self starter.
WOE IN STORE FOR OLD MAIDS
Women Who Spurn Marriage Will Come
te Certain Grief.
PORTLAND. Oct. 2. (To the Editor.)
Upon reading the letters published In
The Oregonian. one by the "Bachelor
Girl" or "That's Me." September 80th,
and the two in reply today, I wish to
say a few words in praise of the au
thor of the letter signed "One Who
Knows." She takes the correct view of
"That's He's" letter, as every good and
true women should, as woman was not
put in this world by the Great Creator
to flutter through life like a butterfly,
but for a purpose. That purpose, every
good and high-minded woman knows.
Is to love and be loved, and have a
helpmate and to rear children that will
be their pride and the pride of their
fellow-beings. When they are old they
can sit by the fireside with the satis
faction of their duty done, loved and
respected by all.
Let us picture, on the other hand, the
woman that Uvea the butterfly life,
which is no doubt gay while It lasts,
basking in the love of this fickle man
now, and anon to the next. How long
does it last? Only as long as her beau
ties and youthful charms last. When
they shall have disappeared, so shall
the love of "mere man," such as throw
their affections away upon creatures of
that sort. Thore are too many such
women as "That's Me" In America to
day; such women as she are the cause of
the breaking up of many homes, and
filling the courts with divorce cases,
for she will receive the attention! of
any man whether single or married, re
gardless of consequences, and openly
boast of her conquests as a man would
boast of how many fish he had caught
upon this or that fishing trip. It's all
very well and good now, dear little
bachelor, but wait until you are down
in the vale of years; you will ask your
self. Where are my loves of yester
year? Then is the time when you will
be deserted. Sans husband, sans chil
dren, sans friends, sans everything
"last scene of alL" R W F.
RISKS ARB SEEN IN MATRIMONY.
Married Man SisgHti That Even Hna.
banda Get "Stung."
PORTLAND, Oct. 2 (To the Editor.)
I have been reading the letters of
Janet and right here I want to say I
heartily coincide with her, for unless
a woman does get a man who loves
her and Is true to his marriage vows
she is much better off single. I am a
married man and have children of my
own and I have seen so much slavery
and hardships that many good women
are subject to that I entertain fears
for my daughter. Men who drink, men
who gamble, men who lavish their af
fection on other women and atay out
late at night, are a menace. I venture
to say, aa Janet does, that a large ma
jority are sorry they ever married."
They expect to get a man, not a brute.
While my wife has had no reason to
regret our marriage, she would x.ot
be to blame if she had had fears ef
ill treatment and not married me. It
is all a gamble or lottery, anyway. So
let our girls take a warning. Mine
says she sees so much ill treatment
in families that she would not want
to trust another man. Lots of men
think that a woman is their slave. On
the other hand, good husbands get bit,
but they are more able to take their
part. Sure, it is everyone's preroga
tive to marry or stay single, as they
wish. Paul tells us it is better to stay
single if we can. So I glory In the
maids for not being -fools. As Janet
says, it is easy to get married, but not
easy to get free.
W. H. JOSEPH.
FEMALE FLIRTS ARB CONDEMNED
Girls Who Shy nt Marriage Are Not
Normal, Saya Writer.
M'MINNVILLE, Or., Oct. 2. (To the
Editor.) After reading with interest
the many letters printed in The Ore
gonian in reply to "A Young Old Maid,"
"Janet" and others, I have decided to
express my opinion. I am not as old
as "Janet," nor have I had her ex
periences, but I do think that I can
appreciate her feelings more than any
of those who have thus far replied.
Duty is not always the moBt pleasant
course to follow, and when one bravely
does so they Bhould receive only re
spect and honor for it. I know several
"old maids" who are among the most
noble women Of my acquaintance, but
when one deliberately shirks the
duties of married life that they may
be more free to flirt and make love to
every pair of pants that puts in an
appearance, whether married or single,
as "That's Me" appears to do, to my
mind they cannot be too strongly con
demned. If young people would take a more
serious view of marriage, considering
it rather in the light of a divine insti
tution than an experiment. It would be
better for the human race, as well as
for the good of their own souls. So if
"That's Me" has no higher ideals than
those she has expressed, she would do
well, at least, to keep her opinion
strictly private. A MERE GIRL.
Population of Spain.
PORTLAND, Oct. S. (To the Editor.)
On September 25 The Oregonian had
an Item which said "that 12.000,000 of
the 177,000,000 people in Spain can
neither read nor write."
I do not doubt that 12,000,000 of them
are illiterate, but will you kindly In
form your readers if 177.000,000 is the
correct population figure? ' I think it
is somewhat large. G. E. H.
The figures given for Spain's popula
tion should have been 20,000,000. The
illiteracy figures are correct.
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