Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, October 21, 1912, Image 6

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Morning Oregonian., October 21, 1912, Page 6, Image 6

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Newspaper Page Text6 PORTLAND, OREGON. Entered at Portland. Oracon. Postofflca aa frecona;iaaa Matter. Subscription Ratta Invariably Is Adranca (BY KAIL.) Dally, Bandar Included, out year. . ....S-0 Daily. Sunday included. alx montha.... 4-25 Dally. Sunday Included, three montha.. 2.ZJ Daily. Sunday Included, ona montli.... -JO Daily, without Sunday, one year 8.00 uauy. wunout ssunaay, six uiuui".- " Daily, without Sunday, three montha... !-' uauy. wunout Dunaay, ona uiuuiu-. . ri vveeaiy. ona year....... euauay. one year.... ---- Sunday and Weekly, ona year (BT CARRIER.) Dally. 6undsy included, ona year uany, Bunaay jiciuuso, nat uwu. How to Remit Send Postofflca money or- aer, express oraer or pereonai -no. - -local Lank. Stamps, coin or c"rrencf.r? at tna leaaeri risa. viive wun. u lull, uEiuumi Lg.ui . Poetace Ratea 10 to 14 pases, 1 nt: to M pages, a cents; aw to w - to to Su pases. 4 cants. Foraln postase, double rate. tartrra Boelness Offices Veera C?XT lln New York. Brunswick buildina -u-cags. Sieger building. San Francisco Oftioo R- J. BldwaU Co 742 .Market street. European Office No. t Regent street. & TV., London. PORTLAND. MONDAY, OCTOBER XI, ! WHAT THERE IS IX IT FOB THE TRUSTS? . Three millionaires, all largely Inter ested In trusts, gave more than half a million dollars the Roosevelt pri mary campaign. Why did they do It? The possession of millions argues care as to how every dollar la spent, that it may be reasonaby sure to bring in more money, or the millions could not have been accumulated or re tained. Then these three men cannot be presumed to have invested such large sums in the Roosevelt campaign unless they had reasonable expectation of a return of some kind. What re turn do they expect? They cannot have given the money in order to help the cause of passing prosperity around. That would be inconsistent with the means of their enrichment, which were the gathering of prosperity into the hands of a few trust magnates and allowing as little as possible of it to leak into other hands. The answer is to be found in Roose velt's policy of regulating, instead of dissolving, the trusts. The Colonel, doubtless with entire honesty, has come to the conclusion that trusts are a necessary result of economic devel opment and that, in attempting to de stroy them, we fight against an in vincible natural law. Therefore, he would give them legal recognition un der Government regulation. That is precisely what the trusts want. They are at' present In an equivocal position. Some have been dissolved already and others are fight ing for their existence against the prosecutions begun by President Taft They have affected to ridicule the oil and tobacco dissolution decrees and to exult over the advance in the price of oil stocks which followed dissolu tion. But they know that, in the light of that experience, the Attorney-General and the courts will make each dissolution decree an Improvement on the last and will take precautions against a repetition of those effects which have provoked so much glee in trustdom. So long as the. shadow of illegality hangs ovef the trusts, the price of their stocks must be adversely affected and their ability to sell bonds must be Impaired. With the law regulating, and therefore protecting, them Instead of threatening them, all uncertainty would be removed, stocks would boom, bonds could be ' sold, underwriting syndicates would organize new trusts and float more securities and every thing would be lovely in Wall street. Prosperity would be passed around In Wall street. But, the devotee of the Bull Moose may remind us, the trusts would be strictly regulated as well as legalized; they would not be allowed to issue watered stock, to crush competition or to charge any price they pleased for -their products. All that sounds very pretty, but think again. The magnates have been able to convince the Colonel, whom they once regarded as their greatest foe, that his fight was in vain, and the Colonel has been able to bring a large number of his fellow citizens around to the same opinion. If the magnates can thus delude the Colonel and his many followers and if they should be able to bamboozle the American people into making Roose velt President again on such a plat form, cannot they repeat the opera tion? Cannot they so influence Con gress always supposing the improb able event of the Roosevelt party's se curing control of that body that fur ther trust legislation will give a cer tificate of good conduct to existing trusts? Cannot they bring about the appointment of men of their choice to do the regulating, so that in effect the trusts will regulate themselves? Is that beyond the hopes of men 'who have the high ambition, the superla tive audacity, to attempt to convince us that trusts are a natural growth, though we all know that they are an artificial product of exorbitant tariff duties, of loose corporation laws and of negligence and blindness on the part of the officials who owe their places to the secret alliance between big business and Government Let us make no mistake. The trusts are fighting for life in this campaign. From Taft they have nothing to hope but relentless war. From Wilson they can hope for little better, though he soothes them with talk of adjust ment. From Roosevelt they expect regulation, which means recognition, an end of doubt and strife and an era wherein they can harvest their profits under the protecting shield of the Government. PROGRESS TOWARD UNIFORM LAW. , Practical obliteration of state lines has followed Introduction of Improved means of communication, and increase of migration from state to state has welded the Nation into, one community. Hence the diversity of laws and Insti tutions, which was a natural result of former conditions, has now become a mere survival of times when there was no more intercourse between adjoining counties than there now is between ad Joining states. Formerly each state clung to its peculiar laws and customs.. This diversity has now come to be re garded as a nuisance, as an obstacle to business and social relations. Hence we And an increasing disposition to bring about uniformity in the laws of states and to secure like enactments from Congress on the same subjects, so far as they fall under Federal power. The working of this tendency is helped along by the conference of com missioners on uniform laws, members of which have been appointed by the several states.. Five of the eleven State Legislatures which have held regular sessions this year have passed uniform laws on some subject, drafted by the conference. In all or nearly all the eleven states efforts were made to pass such laws, and in New York a bill providing for uniformity of stock transfers was passed a second time and vetoed a second time. The courts are co-operating by following each other's decisions on cases arising under uni form laws, thus securing uniform in terpretation in the several states. Uniform laws have been passed by many states dealing with negotiable instruments, warehouse receipts, sales and bills of lading, laying the founda tion for a single code of commercial law, and there are good prospects of the adoption by Congress of the uni form bills of lading act. Many states have the same law governing deser tion of families. Efforts are now bent to securing at least some degree of uniformity in divorce laws. A model act, patterned after that of Pennsyl vania, has been passed by Ohio, Mis souri and Kentucky to secure vital sta tistics, and bills are proposed dealing with boiler inspection and other sub jects. Lawyers recognize that prevalent criticism of the courts is, at least to some extent, due to the confusion and doubt arising from the existence of forty-eight different laws on each sub ject and to variety of interpretation. The more progressive lawyers are striving to remove this evil, but they meet with opposition from those who object to change because it would force them to throw away old knowl edge and learn anew. 190s AND 1912. All the public knows, or has aKnnt s.nninr Bourne and S . known, Standard Oil came from President Roosevelt : and i. ntjilnpr1 in the 1908 letters. We urne .,nnnaA tnr Rpnator Bou LA U 11 1.1 L Okll'J" could have Informed the President ent of that h was the confidential agent Standard Oil, even If it were so; lntemretatlon of the le et , let- ters Is that Roosevelt looked upon Mr. m., aa tvia intermediary or emis sary of the oil trust. No fair reading of the letters can permit any otner conclusion. - Now Colonel Roosevelt four years later writes a letter to Mr. Bourne in which he exonerates the Oregon Sena tor from any suspicion or implication that he was improperly employed In the service of Standard Oil. vot-t- won Rut nroducing a Roose velt letter In 1912 to dispute Roosevelt letters of 1908 has not even me cnarm of novelty. HOW TO TOTE ON 8 BELLS. The Oree-onain will impart to Mr. Cummings, and incidentally to the public, a bit of its own confidence when it says. In reply to his heartfelt onnaoi tnflav that it does not under stand thoroughly all the initiative measures on the November Dauoi, ana that it intends to follow Its own advice .n vnt. nr when in doubt Some of the bills it might and would be in clined to approve with proper amenu ment; others it unhesitatingly declares o-a imnmnpriT on the ballot, and should be rejected; others it will vote for on DrinclDle. and stm otners it win vote against on principle. There is no difficulty aDOUi sucn eie mAntnl nronosals as woman suffrage and the single tax; but who can say thnt irRcn'a new constitution is all good or all bad? Yet It must be ac cepted as a whole, or rejectea in us entirety. The Oregonian will, of course, vote no In this latter instance. Mr. Cummings Is doubtless a scru pulous and patriotic citizen, for he has tiouslv to inform him self on all the 38 measures, and he Is at sea. So he would leave it an to i ne Oregonian. But it is a responsibility that is not lightly to be assumed. In due time, however. The Oregonian will indicate , , v. a nvil t iiirlement as to the proper disposition of the measures. Meanwhile, the voter wno is uncertain or who may not be satisfied that he has been advised correctly should prepare to vote no when In doubt, and also when not in doubt, if he thinks gnv fortain hill is not a suitable sub ject of legislation through the initia tive. rtitr nrivlra now to Mr. Cummings, th.r.rn a to note NO on every bill or constitutional amendment which he does not clearly and surely approve. It Is the only safe way. WHAT IS ITf CMiI onnlVinr rAvislon of Mr. r-rirlG-R's theorv as to the effect of the single tax amendment, so far as we have noted the public expressions pi his ideas, Is printed herewith. Mr. Cridge first joined with his fellow em th Fela Fund and produced long arrays of figures showing what the specific graduated tax, regulated according to the bigness of land hold ings, would produce in revenues. Next he asserted that the graduated tax would- break up big land holdings, anrl thu statement carried out to its only conclusion meant that there would be no big land holdings from vhth n d.rlvp thA prpfl f revenues promised by the arrays of figures. Now Mr. cringe says me graa.uu.ieu tax will do one thing or the other. It Is an alternative measure. Itwill either nrndiiA rAvpmiA or it will break UP the big land holdings. We infer from the latter part of his letter that he does not care much which effect it would have, although in that connec tion hA unm to ramble and certainly becomes unintelligible. The communi. cation follows: , PORTLANTJ, Or.. Oct 18. (To the Edi tion I occupy regarding; the effect of the graduated tax and exemption amendment, or graduated single tax. It Is that it will either produce revenue and thereby reduce taxes to the users of land; or tnat It will oreaa. up me wb Idle land holdings in the country and the valuable Idle holdings in the city, thereby greatly Increasing the population and capi tal invested in useful enterprises and aecur Ing the development of the great resources of the state. As the very large and valuable holdings are assessed at a very much lower rate than farm ana noma property, mo gi,uu.icu tax would not bear on them more heavily tnan on mc .iia6 - - ....... - figures published in The Oregonian of Sep tember 22 there are strong Indications that some large Interests are assessed less than 4 per cent on their actual land values and others very nearly nothing on their actual millions of values In natural gifts, such as water power. -ine gniuuic proposed will not Jump and Jerk the own ers Into disposing of or developing their vast holdings, but gently and firmly guide them upon the path of righteousness and recogni tion of. their other interests. Meanwhile these owners would be contributing gen . ...ii- till nf thA eommunity- erousiy m vnw .... - made values they now so thoughtlessly ab sorb with so meager recusu".- C,nee v. - nnnmA amendment. 864. re- ESnOUlU ua f . u (. .. - suit in the reduction of land holdings to less than 10,000 in value in any wu-i, supporters of the measure have no fear of the effect on the land owners remaining where Improvements are exempt and users of land will pay less than we are taxed. In contrast between counties on this line Is welcomed by us and feared by the oppo sition Nor should It be forgotten that pub lic franchises cannot be separated to any advantage. ALFRED D. CRIDGE. t .it... snriii thA assistant secre- 1 11 llLlll-l tary of the Graduated Tax League as THE MORXIXG serts that the league's measure is either a tax measure or It Is an act to destroy land speculation he does not know which. But W. G. Eggleston, writing for the same organization, states specifically and without qualifi cation that the measure "will reduce tax. levies and tax rates," and he of fers figures to prove his assertion. If Mr. Cridge's theory that the graduated tax may be a destroyer of land speculation and not a revenue producer Is correct, Mr. Eggleston's figures, which do not take Into ac count the breaking up of large land holdings, are all wrong, insofar as they present a guide as to the per manent workings of the amendment. If Mr. Eggleston holds the same view as Mr. Cridge he has perpetrated an injustice on the taxpayers, to whom he has offered by name specific sav ings in taxes- if they will but carry his measure through to approval. Mr. Eggleston has named hundreds of taxpayers. He has told them they would save specific amounts In taxes if the graduated measure carried. These persons are now informed that one Graduated Tax League officer is not certain that such will be the sav ings, but that at all events if the tax payers do not save they will have the gratification of seeing the country built up. If they do not benefit themselves they will see somebody else get land at a lower price than it can be purchased for at present. The Eggleston figures were guess work in the first place. They had no authentic basis, for there was and is no existing tax roll that could supply them. Now Mr. Eggleston's associate, in effect, admits that even aa guess work they may not be good guesses There is not much consolation in the statement that the "supporters of the measure have no fear of its effect." Mayhap they care little what may be the result of Its adoption. With the chief supporters it seems to be a mat ter of making good with Fels, and of cleaning out the warchest. PEOPLE'S KCLE BT PETITION. TTT.T.AMoritr or.. Oct. 18. (To the Ed! tor.) As a believer hi Statement No. 1, I J voted for Jonathan Bourne for united states Senator. Under the same circumstances I voted for Ben Selling at the recent primary Now. with many others of The Oregonlan's readers, I should like to know how I can consistently vote for Mr: Bourne at the coming election against Mr. Selling, who was nominated under the same conditions as Mr. Bourre. WM. H. HOSKINS. Mr. Hoskins is not progressive enough. Mr. Bourne has advanced far beyond the Oregon system, the direct primary and Statement One, which were good enough for him in 1906, but are now discarded solely because they are good enough for others. The voice of the people, according to the Bourne view, is really expressed through pe titions signed by passersby on the streets under the persuasions of paid hawkers. A direct primary partici pated in by 70,000 voters may thus be superseded by procured petitions adorned with 15,000 or 16,000 chance names. If 16,000 solicited signatures on an Inspired petition may be adequate to set aside the verdict of 70,000 voters in a primary, how many names on a petition does Mr. Hoskins think It will take to vitiate Statement No. 1? Does Mr. Hoskins think does any one think that a candidate for the Senate has a right to repudiate for his own benefit the direct primary and at the same time require others to fulfill an obligation that rewards and exalts the repudlator? If one party to a contract with the people breaks It, may the other party be required to observe it? Will the people by their decision in November through the election of Mr. Bourne rule that the Oregon system is not worth saving? COLONEL EDWARD D. BAKER. The Battle of Ball's Bluff, in which the gallant Colonel Edward D. Baker met his death, was fought on Sunday, October 20, 1861. Apart from the fact that it terminated Colonel Ba ker's extraordinary career the action has little importance. He fought in it as a subordinate to Brigadier-General Charles P. Stone, and, fortunate ly for his fame, had no part in plan ning it. The movements of the Union troops were chaotic. Their field com mander had no definite purpose of his own or any knowledge of the enemy's movements. He stood blind ly and accepted whatever fate chose to send. The natural consequence was one of those terrible disasters, so frequent In the first years of the Civil War, which tried Lincoln's indomita ble "heart to the breaking point and drove the country almost to despair. Baker fell with five bullets in his body. The story ran at first that they were all fired from the same pistol "by a tall rebel horseman," but this may have been a romantic invention. The career and figure of the soldier states man combined to tempt the fancy of the story-teller. He was as handsome a man as ever lived, with a singularly melodious voice which charmed his audiences wherever he spoke. Per haps it was the exquisite music of his oratory as much as hi3 logic which enabled Baker to hold both California and Oregon loyal to the Union in the perilous months at the outbreak of the war. His gifts, marvelous as they were, came entirely from Nature. He owed nothing to the schools. Born In Eng land, he emigrated to the United States in his boyhood with his father's family. They settled first in Indiana, then moved to Illinois, where Edward took, up the study of law with an in tellectual - equipment as slender as Lincoln's. But his native powers were great and his eloquence went farther in those days to cover academic defi ciencies than It would now. Baker was by the choice of his heart a soldier. He said himself that he was born to command men. Next to war he loved politics. The law formed a bad third in his affections, but he could not complain of any want of success at the bar. By the time when his friends persuaded him, in 1852, to move to California, he had become known throughout the country both by his activity In the Mexican War and by his patriotic speeches in Congress. Baker at once came to the front In San, Francisco. He had many Impor tant cases and won a fair share of them, depending fully as much on golden speech as on legal lore for his success. One of "the judges told Baker with some point after listening to his charming lecture on "Books," "Baker, you know everything about all books except law books." But technical learning Is only one means of winning suits. Baker won a heavy verdict in a mining case by a eulogy on "Water." As time drew on toward Lincoln's campaign secessionist sentiment showed itself powerful both in Cali fornia and Oregon. Each of these states had many settlers of Southern birth and feeling. Slaves were held in Oregon at an early date and there was violent prejudice against aboli OREGONIAX, MONDAY, OCTOBER 21. 1912. tion. Southern California was espe cially pro-slavery. The traitorous Knights of the Golden Circle were ac tive all along the Coast- Oregon was Democratic by a decisive majority, and Floyd, Buchanan's Secretary of War, had put Albert Sidney Johnston In command of the Federal troops in these parts. The prospect was excel lent that if the slave states seceded upon Lincoln's election California and Oregon would follow them. That this calamity did not happen is due more to Colonel Baker than to any other man. It seems an incredible thing in these days of ineffectual oratory, but still we must believe the fact that his speeches throughout California in the Fall of 1859 turned hundreds of votes to Lincoln though the Democrats carried the state and defeated him for Congress. In September, soon after the Cali fornia election, a committee of Repub licans from Oregon invited him to move to that state. They promised to send him to the Senate if he could elect a Republican Legislature by his speeches. He accepted their offer, moved to Salem, stumped the state and was triumphantly chosen United States Senator. Lincoln, the friend of his youth, received, him gladly at Washington and made him one of his confidants. The untimely death of this remarkable man cut off at the be ginning one of the greatest careers in our history. TIME TO TAKE TO THE SEA AGAIN. Are we building the Panama Canal primarily to promote American com merce or to promote that of other na tions? - Within eighteen montha the canal will be open. If we are to get the benefit of it, we must awake and seize the markets opened by It before other nations take possession. American merchants and manufac turers, confident In the possession of their home market, are doing practi cally nothing to reach out into for eign markets. Yet our- productive power has already far surpassed our consuming ability. We must either sell our surplus abroad or slacken production. We neglect the world's markets "except for the products that almost sell themselves," as the New York Sun observes. The way has been opened to us by the free-ship law to buy ships In the world's markets and to operate them in competition with the greatest maritime nations. The time has come when we must burst the bonds of our own bound aries, within which we have been ex panding for half a century. We must take to the water again, and let our commerce carry the flag into ports where it was formerly a familiar sight but to which it has long been a stranger. By the time Woodrow Wilson has been heckled by - a few more Maude Malones he may be in the mood to send telegrams of sympathy to Pre mier Asquith, Winston. Churchill, Lloyd-George and other British states men who have been assaulted by the suffragettes. He may also become less blandly polite and may be badgered Into saying something "real mean." The pleasure which he now says he finds In the campaign will then have its alloy and the Joy of meeting the people will be appreciably lessened. He may even exclaim: "Oh, for the peaceful shades of Princeton!" If "the contest In Washington Coun ty has simmered into a question of good roads, there should be litlte time spent in- decision, . for Washington County needs them probably more than any other political division . of Oregon,. Popular opinion Is that at the time of the Creation all the rock had been used before the region of the Tualatin was laid out and nothing but rich dirt was on hand. Jocularly speaking, that may be the reason why candidates out there throw mud at each other there is no other kind of missile. Ruef s preventive of bribery annul ment of franchises would work very well but for one thing. There would be temptation to hold up corporations with threats to expose bribery which never existed. The same kind of men who have hitherto taken bribes for granting franchises would then black mail corporations under threat to cause loss of their franchises and would cook up fake cases of bribery. Ruef has proposed no remedy, 'for the disease would appear with new symp toms or in a new form. President Taft gives the welcome news that Nature is fighting on the oidA of the overburdened consumer by increasing the supply of food and bear ing the market. Now that Nature has done her part, let us hope that man n-ni not r-hAr-kmate her bv letting po tatoes rot In the ground; by putting the surplus output of meat, butter and eggs in cold storage in hope or a snortage next year; by holding over a large pert of the wheat supply in a gamble on a short crop and higher prices. - A New York man who formerly pushed a cart has sold a lot in that city for $1,000,000. Portland is full nf m ATi who formerlv Dushed pens, saws and other tools who have sold lots for small fortunes.- There are so many of them that they scarcely attract attention. A genius has discovered that feeding strong coffee to hens will stimulate laying and add delicious flavor to the eggs. Genius is not necessary to stim ulate the poultryman; market quota tions are sufficient hint. Let us hope that nobody shocked the bishops at the Los Angeles ball game by making dlsrespectrui remarKs to the umpire. It would be a shame to discourage the right reverend fans. Occasionally a case of calf-love ends In a happy marriage. Let us hope that the eloping couple of Spokane High School students will prove one of the exceptions, but we have our doubts. Steam, when confined, is not In it with whisky. Seven policemen were required to handle a Spokane man who Is "gentle as a lamb when sober." There Is but one thing busier that the politician these days and that is the hotel 'bus at Eugene that meets all the trains. ' Jack Johnson now knows that he ex cites the admiration of white men as a pugilist only, not as a Lothario. With a little training, Johann John son might become the white hope for defeat of his black namesake. Picking the winners in Multnomah is easy, with 61,744 voters registered. In a contest with a talking machine, Brother Paget 19 a safe bet. SINGLE TAX MEANS CONFISCATION Orearon Measure Would Aeeompllab Henry George Idea. . 1 KLAMATH FALLS, Or., Oct 19. (To the Editor.) Observing that wherever the question Is raised as to whether or not the Fels, fund single-tax movement in Oregon means the Introduction of the Henry George theory; the paid propagandists-answer that it does not go that far, the writer hopes that this ambiguous but misleading statement's to where the Oregon proposal ends and the Henry George theory begins may no't deceive voters. The ultimate pur pose of. the Henry George plan was Government ownership of the land, and whatever may be the claims of the Fels fund people, the workings of the pro posed amendment, if adopted, would in evitably result in the same way. - Most of the leading arguments in fa vor of the specific graduated tax are fallacious. For Instance, great stress Is laid upon the tremendously Increased tax to be levied upon railroad rights of way. When It is taken into considera tion that taxes are fixed charges of the railroads that must be paid out of earn ings, increased taxation can only mean increased traffic charges to meet the higher taxes, and the poor man pays his share of freight charges in biB dally expenses. Likewise, the argument that the sin gle tax would compel the owner of va cant town or city lots to improve with buildings la misleading. The owner of vacant property in a town where there Is no occupancy for more buildings would not -be justified in improving If possessed of the capital necessary to build. If not possessed of the capital to Improve, the tax would inevitably lead to confiscation, for under condi tions not creating a profitable occu pancy of new buildings the owner of a lot could not find -a capitalist or bank that would loan money to erect a struc ture. There are evils in the present sys tem, recognized by all persons who have given the subject thought, but nothing so destructive and far-reaching In bringing ruin to the small owner of realty as Is threatened by the enact ment proposed by the Fels fund propa gandists. In the very nature of things the owner of large holdings may find methods to make his property self-sustaining, should the law be adopted, whereas the small holder, with limited resources at command, must meet heav ier burdens of taxation before any chance of realizing returns on property is presented, or else suffer the experi ence of having his property confiscated by the state for excessive taxes. The voters of Oregon should not for get that those who are trying to foist this law upon the taxpayers are the same who two years ago deceived the voters with the measure that consti tuted the "entering wedge" for tax tinkering. Unless checked in their course an endless amount of trouble is In store for citizens of the State of Oregon, to say nothing of high tax levies made necessary as in some of the towns of Alberta. After having made an effort to as similate the Information contained in the pamphlet Issued by the Secretary of State, finding various measures therein hazy and capable of concealing various jokers, and other too complex for satis factory analysis, the writer has decided the only safe course Is to vote against those regarded as doubtful, or that are positively bad like the single-tax pro posal. A majority of the measures merit a negative vote. FRANK IRA- WHITE. PILING IT ON THE LITTLE FELLOW Increased Taxes on Public Utllltlea Axe Paid by the Consumers. PORTLAND," Oct. 19. (To the Ed itor.) Taxing publlo utilities and pub lic service corporations and timber, as well as vacant property, as proposed by freak legislation which comes up for consideration at the coming election, has objections that any serious mind should comprehend with a moment's thought on the subject. Tax of public utilities, Intending to saddle on them the burden of revenue, can have no other effect than an In creasing taxation on the poor, who, by virtue of the very nature of the service of such corporation, are forced to patronize them. Advanced taxation of streetcar and railroad rights of way can have no other effect than increas ing railway and streetcar tariffs. The same is true of water powers developed to supply the needs of the people. Someone, and, in this Instance, the en tire body of consumers, must foot the bill where Increased taxation is placed on any public service utility. These services are usually managed with the intention of earning for the investors 10 per cent dividends or better. It Is, therefore, up to the superintendents or managers of such corporations to make them yield adequate dividends. The in vestments are withdrawn and projects abandoned where such dividends can not be procured. The writer would gladly favor re ductions In the 6ost of such service, but voters should not be misled In the belief that by Increasing the expense of operating a public service corpora tion they can induce lower tariffs to consumers. And who will attempt to say that Increased taxation on timber lands lying dormant in our country will have a tendency to lighten the burdens of the common people? Of necessity the price of stumpage will advance in price, carrying with It an increased cost of finished products, such as fuel, shingles, lumber and all manufactured wooden products. The very people who are led to be lieve that through sucll legislation their burdens are tn be lightened are largely those who have little else but large families or are those whose homes are In the plazas and public squares of the city, and are the people who will be hardest hit by the opera tion of the graduated tax. It is use less to argue against stubborn facts. Look the issues squarely in the face. You are a consumer. What's the use for you to kick on your little taxation, when by the proposed system of gradu ated taxation. If Inaugurated, you would have to pay a "graduated In crease" of the cost of living all along the line. A little more thinking on the part of the consumers and a wider berth of the street haranguers who are constantly harping on a subject on which they are almost totally Ignorant will result in 'Intelligent ballots at the election. The "last man to bat" pays the taxes. CHARLES E. HICKS. NOTHING TAKES PLACE OF LOVE Motherhood and True Companionship Needed to Complete Woman's Life. PORTLAND, Or., Oct 20. (To the Editor.) I read with great interest each letter In your paper In reference to the Old Maid. You may care for the opinion of a bachelor girl of 35 years of age, who, after 20 years of battling with- the public, has made the financial success she set out to ac complish. I have taken care of a deur mother, sister and niece, never denying them a thing that would bring happiness, and I muBt say I have been more for tunate than the average bachelor girl. Still I say that my life is desolate, void and unsatisfactory. It lacks that sweet companionship of a good and true hus band, and is cheated of the greatest blessing the world contains, to teach a little helpless being to lisp the word "mother," which means so much to all of us. That is the place God meant for woman, and I who have battled each day for this world's goods1 know only too well what I have lost. A rose is not beautiful without its foliage and life is not complete with out its soul mate, nothing takes the place of love, the greatest thing on earth, "HOPE." WORLD GROWS BETTER" DAILY But" Human Nature Cant be Changed By Economic Revolution. PORTLAND, Oct. 20. (To the Edi tor.) The Oregonlan's editorial on Wil liam Butts' letter should and will meet with commendation from every man who believes in common fairness and simple justice. The time is rife with social problems and the world is jos tled by social reformers; the old order no longerv satisfies, and perhaps with reason. But while honesty and phllanthrophy conduct the efforts of some, too many of these would-be teachers are prompt ed by motives that are anything but noble or disinterested. The editorial breathes a wholesome ,and logical tone against the whole spirit ana xaiiacious, cuuksuuio -matlc statements of Mr. Butts. He, like so many prejudiced, biased minds, attempts to Justify crime and wrong by comparison. Every right thinking man knows that great Inequalities and wrong exist In our common country; but at the same time every man who permits himself a little right thinking knows that we as a people on the whole be lieve in the absolute and eternal right to govern ourselves In our own good way and time. We believe In the sovereign power of the majority when expressed by an in telligent ballot We know that our Nation Is the bud and blossom of all history; that in large measure It Is the realization of the dreams which have lingered like angels of hope around the hearthstones of the past There Is something wrong with the man who does not believe that all In all we are not the Joint owners of our coun try's greatness Joint owners of what Its toll, thought and liberty had and will give humanity. The honest radicalism of this coun try should be encouraged; the truth ful revolutionary spirit which revolts against dishonesty Is given the widest opportunity in this land of ours. The student of political economy must study the patient as well as the dis ease. To hlra the knowledge of "the science of human character" will be es sential to a proper understanding of the science of social economy. With this knowledge, he will discover that the principles that underlie human character and govern human conduct are themselves the cause of human misery; that men will not be saints, and that mankind, therefore, will not be sanctified that no graduated stick can measure all men's statures alike, and that no ready-made patent theory of economic salvation can make all men equally happy. We should know that as long as men are men, wrong will be possible and power used un justly. Men like Warren, who perhaps have suffered personal Injustice, cannot un derstand that all the books and essays and speeches of all the reformers In the world past and present can never make a socialistic Utopia that man himself is the sole reason for man's inhuman ity to man. When God breathed his breath Into chaos, all nature obeyed except the pigmy, man. To him. was given the glorious right of disobedi ence. The God-like gift of free will that makes us little leps than the angels, plunges us at the same time into the necessary strifes' of human na ture. Rob us of the power to be un just and stslfish and we will crawl on the belly of Instinct, Instead of walk ing erect with the defiance of Intelli gence. The world refuses to go to pieces In this century; let us put Its dissolution off for a time at least Men are grow ing sick and weary of fakes and mill ennium makers and Irrational specu lations. The world is growing better every day, and will continue to grow better as the future supplants the past. EMMETT CALLAHAN. DESPAIRING VOTER ASKS ADVICE. Cleveland Hard Times Tausrht Him to Vote For Taftj But How Abont Xhtrty-elght Measures! PENDLETON, Or., Oct 15. I wish that The Oregonian would state clearly and concisely what In its Judgment is the course to pursue in voting on the 38 measures to be submitted to the electors in November. Some folks talk learnedly about the matter, and they also talk about the great amount of brain matter and reas oning powers necessary to arrive at a clear understanding of the question; but even these advisers do not help us to arrive at a sensible determination as to how we should vote on said meas ures. I know that we need some tax legis lation, and that we need It badly. I have read the different tax measures proposed, and also the affirmative and negative arguments, and .honestly I am more confused than when I began read ing. I have brains and reasoning abil ity, but I have not the necessary time to devote to a consideration of even part of these 38 measures. The Oregonian does know how voters should vote Intelligently, and I ask It in all sincerity to tell us. If we would have a correct Interpretation of Intri cate points of law, we go to one who Is well read In law, instead of searching law books for the Information. Where will this initiative business end? How many volumes will It be necessary to provide to contain all the measures to be submitted to voters, with arguments, and how large a bal lot will be required In another decade? My observation is, that all the law mongers who now find these questions of government so simple and easy to understand will be found to be failures in all they undertake. I voted three times for Cleveland for President of the United States, and sank J4500 and four years' hard work under his second administration. I know enough to vote for the re-election of President Taft; and If The Ore gonian will outline in unmistakable terms how to vote on the 38 measures now pending, I shall be grateful. HARRY CUMMINGS. FROM ONE WHO CANT BE DRIVEN Old Republican Sticks to Principles Re gardless of Roosevelt's Assaults. ALBANY, Or., Oct. 19. (To the Ed itor.) Several weeks ago when Theo dore Roosevelt was In Springfield, Mo he asserted in a speech delivered there, that "the man who wore a Taft badge Bhowed that he had a yellow streak in him." Judging from all that he has said about President Taft and his dis honesty, I would infer that he means that the men who advocate or vote for President Taft are also dishonest. I happen to be acquainted with quite a number of old Republicans whom I have known many years. I know them to be honest men, who were doing serv ice in saving and building up this country long before Mr. Roosevelt was known, and these same grand old Re publicans are now wearing Taft badges, and expect on the fifth day of November next to cast their votes for William Howard Taft for next Presi dent of the United States of America. Now, old Republicans, what do you think of a man, after you have ele vated him to the highest place in the Nation, who, because you cannot con sistently support him any longer, turns on you In that ungrateful man ner and slurrlngly asserts that you have a yellow streak and are dishon est? I am an old Republican, and stand today advocating u.e same prin ciples that we did in '61. The Repub lican party has had a great deal to do In making this one of the greatest nations on earth. Today we are a prosperous people, we need no change, and I hope all loyal Republicans will stand by the present Administration and vote for William Howard Taft. W. C. TWEEDALE. Long Ballots and Votes By Dean Collins. "I am progressive in a way And woman suffrage is my hope;" Thus to my friend, a family man, I peddled out my campatun dope. "Vnn'r, nnt. hnwAver " did he cry. "One half so far advanced as I; I would go further yet than you. And give votes to the children, too." "Wherefore?" I said. "Because," said he, "Our politics' complexity Demands a just division of The labor. Sociology Will bear me out in this. I know." I merely answered, "Yep, that's sol" For sociology, you see. Has always been too much for me. Yet I persisted: "Why divide The work of politics, my friend?" "The modern ballot," he replied, "Drives us perforce unto that end. How can I spare the time and strength For ballots full nine feet In length? That Is the thing that raises hob Far better divide the Job. "Imagine, then, election day. With my whole family I should stroll Into the booth and start upon ffhe nine-toot ballot's complex roll. I would give all my time, you'll note. Unto the Presidential vote And the state ticket and my wife Should handle all our county strife. "Meanwhile my eldest son would be Voting the city ticket through, Assisted by my eldest girl. The baby should have something, too; He should vote on the whole long slate Of those amendments thirty-eight For voting on them, by the by. He's fully as well read as I. "Thus, by division of the task The Job would speed. I have a hunch. That we might have It done In time To hurry promptly home for lunch. I would go further, friend, than you-- Long ballots do persuade me to." "Yessir!" was all that 1 replied. For he had me plumb mystified. Portland, October 20. Half a Century Ago From Tha Oregonian of Octobar 21. 1362. The boats each day bring down large numbers ' of Immigrants from Tha Dalles, many of whom are entirely des titute of means and are In a suffering condition. We believe it to be the duty of our citizens to look to their present wants and provide them with shelter. Many of these people have been re ferred to our Acting Mayor, Mr. McCoy, and for the last day or two his office has been thronged with sufferers, beg ging for food and clothing. The Snake, Bannock and a portion of the disaffected Nea Perce Indians are now holding a grand council at Fort Hall, ostensibly to consider the pro priety of a war with the Blackfeet, but It is the opinion of many that it Is a combination against the whites. Cairo, Oct 11. A special dispatch to the Mobile Tribune says that place will certainly be attacked by Farra gut's fleet as soon as he gets ready for action. Benefit of Columbian 3s The thea ter was crowded last evening on this occasion. The performance passed off well and was very creditable to Martin, the Wizard and the other volunteer performers. The firemen's torchlight procession last night was a very brilliant affair. BIBLE TELLS IDEAL LIFE SECRET. Harry "Only In the Lord," aa Paul En joined, Says Wife. PORTLAND, Or., Oct 19. (To the Editor.) I have been much Interested In the letters on matrimony which have appeared on the editorial page. My heart aches for those whose experiences have been bitter and disappointing, for they have missed the highest Joys of life. I believe thoroughly it Is better to be a happy "old maid" than an unhappy wife, and "better no marriage than any marriage that is less than best" On the other hand, a perfect union Is the Ideal existence the life God Intended for us, and for which he shaped our na tures and created cravings In our souls. That there are such unions where soul Is knit to soul, where both are glad and happy and full of Joy baoause they are together; that there are men whose hearts are as pure as a little child's, and whose bodies are unsullied and clean, in whose being Is no re sponse to the base and untrue, whose strength, like that of Sin Galahad. Is as the strength of ten because their hearts are pure; men who honor womanhood and who can be trusted In the utter most parts of the earth; men who do not fail in their affection during the stress of trial and sickness and ad versity I affirm. That there are women who, whatever public and Intellectual or social life they may find a place In. find their highest Joy, their keenest satisfaction In the realm of being a woman, a wife, a helpmeet a mother I also know; and I know of such women and such men whose lives together have been years of Joyous walking In the path of love and fellowship. To me the secret of it all Is found in the book whose" precepts are too of tea neglected. "In all thy way acknowl edge Him and He shall direct thy paths." The girl who hands her heart and life over to the control of her Maker, who makes Jesus her Lord and King, who consults His will as to her reading, her friends, her amusements, will, unconsciously, but surely, acquire a high ideal of manhood, and nothing less than this will satisfy or appeal to her- . t If, also, while her heart Is yet her own, she entrusts the matter of a mate to God, asking him to lead across her pathway his choice for her and then hold her affections in check until she Is sure it is of God, she will not be disappointed, for he who made our na tures knows best how to mate our na tures. The Apostle Paul enjoined us that we marry "only in the Lord." Were this Injunction followed more, there would be fewer disappointments, less unhap piness, and a swift receding of unclean liness and divorce. I am a reader of The Oregonian who has had 14 years of the "ideal life." C. F. C. Trouble Often Woman's Making. PORTLAND, Or., Oct 19. (To the Editor.) I have been reading the many letters that have been printed on "Old Maids" and I would like tr have this printed. I believe that any true woman would rather be married and have a nice home and someone to love and be loved. I have been a widow ten years. I have two children and my married life wasn't all sunshine. Still I would rather be married than single, and am not single by choice. But Mr. Right hasn't come along yet Take the most of the married women of today. If they were single they would try It over again and some would not be very particular In choice of a man. I am one that gives thanks that there are some good men In the world. A whole lot of trouble women have is trouble they make themselves. They want to blame the poor men for It. THE WIDOW. , Story of a Mlapiaced "M," Judge. r T - TTilltiftn ay-i fa rf fl.nntnrTlnh. ert M. La Follette, of Wisconsin, tells n n nmmtfv nnrgnf1i(r whlrh In re porting the speech of her celebrated husband, intenaing to ana as comment, "And the masses believed hlra," said Instead, "And them asses believed him."