12
THE MORXIXG OREGONIAN, FRIDAY. OCTOBER 25, 1912.
rOBTUSD, UBEOON.
Entered at Portland. Oregon. PoatofOoe
econd-Claaa Matter.
abacrtpUon Ratte Invariably la Advance.
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T) a i 1 v without Rnnilir &m r 0.
Dally, without Sunday, alx montha.... S.2S
Dally, without Bunday. threa montha... 1.7a
Dally, without Sunday, one month..... ."J
Weekly, ona year...... J-JJ
Bunday, ona yaar. .......... ....... S-6
Sunday and Waaklr. ana yaar......... B.S0
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Daily, Bunday Included, ona month
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oouDie rata.
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PORTLAND, FKIDAY, OCTOBEB tS, Mil
TRYTSQ TO TAJTMAXYIZB rORTLAJiD
Presentation of the local publlo
ntilltlea bill heretofore voted down by
the people because of Its defects, Its
extravagance, its limited scope and its
provision for the care and sustenance
of run-down politicians, la at this time
an open affront to the voters and
piece of impudence that deserves
' sound rebuke. If there were not
cloud of charter amendments to be
voted on November 2, a swarm of Ini
tiative measures to be considered on
November 5 and .176 candidates for
office on the general election ballot,
the imposition would not be quite so
reprehensible, for it would then be
subject to proper consideration and
easy defeat, but In the light of all tti
circumstances the honest intent of
those actually behind this measure Is
open to serious question.
There are provisions in the measure
that savor of a well-conceived plan to
Tammanyize Portland to create
political machine and to cut a big
melon for the benefit of the chiefs
and hangers-on of the political clique
that has deprived Portland and other
cities of Oregon for eighteen months
of the advantages of an honestly con
celved and adequately empowered
public service commission.
The public service bill that Is on
the city ballot for consideration at the
special election November 2 and num
bered 1S4 Tea, 135 No, Is the same bill,
with a few minor changes, that the
people of Portland rejected at the
polls in June, 1911. Some of the most
glaringly silly provisions or the orlgl
nal bill have been eliminated, but the
revised draft still puts the City of
Portland in the position of seeking to
direct the Supreme Court In pro
cedure on appeals, amend the state
laws and Impose duties upon county
officers over whom the City of Port
land has no control whatever. But
this assumption of power which the
city does not possess is not the chief
evil in the bill. Nor is the fact that
the latest thought and experience of
accepted authorities on the subject of
regulation of publio utility rates and
services are In favor of state as op
posed to local regulation the main
objection to this measure. Its great-
eat danger is In the high-handed and
unlimited power It would confer upon
three men to give out Jobs, fix salaries
and impose Indebtedness upon the
city.
The local bill creates three new of
fices paying 15000 each. It permits
the commission to increase the sal
ary of the City Attorney. It author
izes the commission to employ a sec
retary and fix his salary. It empow
era the commission to "employ such
clerks, Inspectors, experts, attorneys
and counsellors at law and other as
slstance as it may deem necessary.'
The compensation of these persons is
to be fixed by the commission. In
addition thereto the commission, un
der the terms of the bill, "shall have
the power and authority to incur such
other expenses and disbursements as
it may deem necessary.
Not a single restraining influence
on the power of the commission to
expend the taxpayers money is pro
vided. Neither Mayor nor City Coun
cil to to have the power to veto or cur
tail the money-spending orgy that
would be provided for the faithful
Even the charter limitation on the tax
levy, placed therein as a safeguard
against municipal extravagance, is
specifically withdrawn for the benefit
of the proposed commission, for one
section of the bill makes it the "duty"
of the Council "to Include in the an
nual tax levy or other tax levies for
municipal purposes a sufficient sum
to defray all expenses and disburse
ments provided for, or authorized," by
the commission, "notwithstanding any
limitation contained in the charter of
the City of Portland."
Three days after the voters of Port
land pass upon this impudent propo
sal, the people of the state at large
will vote on the Malarkey state-wide
public utilities act. The only mate
rial opposition directed against the
Malarkey bill exists in Portland
Throughout the state it is looked upon
with favor. In addition, the same
reason that will Impel many to vote
No on numerous bills and rebuke
misuse of the initiative power will
Impel such persons to vote Yes on
the Malarkey bill and rebuke abuse
of the referendum. The state-wide
bill will be adopted. What will be the
effect if the local measure is also
approved T
The result will be this: The state
law will be supreme wherever a con
flict of Jurisdiction exists. The Rail
road Commission will have authority
and power to supersede the rulings
of the local commission. The latter
will be a high-salaried and useless
appendage of the city government.
The act will provide fat Jobs for nu
merous politicians, but give them
nothing to do. It will create a body
with power to expend unlimited funds
for useless purposes and permit the
organization of a political maohlne
oiled with all the grease that a wide
open city treasury can give It.
Economy, oommon decency, good
government, preservation of the prop
er spirit in direct legislation all de
mand that this bill be not overlooked
and that the vote be 135 No.
The Louisville Courier-Journal, ar
guing for the emancipation of the ne
gro voter from bondage to the Repub
lican party, maintains that his inter
ests are with the Democratic party,
because everything he buys is protect
ed, while the products of his labor are
sold in the world's markets. It quotes
a negro paper as recommending Its
readers to vote for Wilson. One of
the novelties of this anomalous polit
ical year may be a division of the ne
gro vote to such an extent that the
Democrats mav overcome their vio
lent objection to allowing the blacks
to vote at all.
WHEBK THE PEOPUE RCIJ5.
The sample ballot for the state
election of 1912 is a dark, yellow
broadside, thirty-four inches long and
eighteen Inches wide, and it therefore
contains 612 square Inches, or about
four and one-half square feet. It
nearly as large as two ordinary news
paper pages, and contains the names
of 176 candidates for office and the
titles of forty separate measures sub
mltted under the initiative and ref
erendum.
On November 2, three days before
the general election, the Portland
public will at a special election pass
on the new city charter and the vari
ous charter amendments. There are
two proposed charters and twenty
charter amendments. The ballot is
no such barn-door affair as the state
ballot, but it doe fairly well In size
and variety.
Here, then, is a total of sixty-two
measures the electorate must study
under the referendum, and 176 can
didates whose merits it must consider,
The grand total for tho Inspection and
determination of the intelligent voter
is therefore 238 separate and distinct
items.
Yet there are people who think the
tendency of the times is toward the
short ballot and simplification of
Issues.
ELECT MB. SINN'OTT.
Mr. N. J. Sinnott, Republican can
didate for Congress in the Second Ore-
ron District, is likely to be elected
It will be fortunate for the state, and
especially for Eastern Oregon, If he is,
for he is a man of force, intelligence
and integrity, and besides he has
decided aptitude for public affairs and
the requisite understanding as to the
best way to get results.
Mr. Sinnott has long been a resident
of Eastern Oregon, coming from
prominent family and having a wide
knowledge of the needs and conditions
of every section of the state. He will
be impartial and he will be diligent at
Washington. If there is an opportu
nity, for example, to reclaim any part
of the millions lost to the state by
their diversion to reclamation proj
ects in other states, it is certain to be
seized by Mr. Sinnott. In any event,
the people may be sure that he will
press hard for more diligent attention
by the Reclamation Service to the
many deserts of Oregon.
Mr. Sinnott knows all about public
lands and the hardships Imposed upon
the settler and the homesteader by
the Government's hard policy. He will
be heard from on that subject. All
in all, Mr. Sinnott will be a useful man
in Congress. Having now for the
first time a Congressman of its own
Eastern Oregon will do well to elect
Mr. Sinnott as the first Representa
tive of the Second District.
PRINCIPLE OB PORK BARREL?
Little more than half a year ago
Senator Bourne wrote a piece about
himself. It was for the official pri
mary pamphlet. Theretofore he had
written a number of pieces about the
Oregon system, and this being an in
teresting topic and as he had some
prestige as a United States Senator,
his observations found ready publica
tion. The effect of his literary success
was disclosed in the piece he wrote for
the pamphlet.
He told the people that the people
owed him more than he owed them
that they were on trial, not he; that
his defeat would be their loss, not
his In effect, that he was a great man
whom the state could not afford to
lose. He " chose to stand on his
record as a supporter of the principles
enunciated in the Oregon system
which Includes the direct primary
Casually, and casually only, he men
tioned his efforts In behalf of appro
priations for Oregon. But that was
not to be a cause for his return to the
Senate. Dear, no. He confided in the
voters of Oregon as follows:
AnnroDrlations. however. I deem of minor
Importance, a a would conaiacr my service m
failure If I aecured large appropriation at
the sacrifice of the principle upon which 1
was elected. To my mind, principles are far
mora important than the porn oarrei.
Today Senator Bourne has discarded
the principles on which he was elected,
He Is demanding return to the Senate
upon a pork barrel platform. Three
daily newspapers In Portland yester
day carried his appeal for votes. This
appeal told the voters that their hope
for big appropriations of Government
money for Oregon use, for a bursting
oDen of the pork barrel, rested In
Bourne.
What do the Chamber of Commerce and
the Roard of Trade In everv cltv and town
of Oregon pass resolution tor whenever they
hold a congress T Appropriation.
Appropriation can only be secured In suf
ficient sum by having someone in warning.
ton who can present the needs In a manner
to bring results. It can only be accomplished
by a man Influential on committers and on
Influential committee. Jonathan Bourne Is
on the appropriation committee.
So reads the advertisement.
Senator Bourne has pre-condemned
his own campaign. He has said that
he would consider his service a fail
ure if he secured large appropriations
at the sacrifice of the principles upon
which he was elected. Senator Bourne
owes his present seat in the Senate to
the direct primary, which he has em
bodied in his principles and which he
would now sacrifice for the pork bar
rel. Did Senator Bourne mean it when
he said "Principles are far more im
portant than the pork barrel" ? Is his
word, or his promise, or his platform,
worth a continental If later It Inter
feres In any way with Bourne?
AM INSTRUCTIVE EXPERIMENT.
Not far from San Diego, Cal., In the
San Ysidro Valley, an experiment is
going on whose progress concerns
everybody that feels an Interest In
country life and its possibilities. A
colony has been founded at this place
which Is attaining enviable success. It
has no socialistic features, according
to the accounts, but Is based entirely
on Individual ownership. It goes by
the name of 'The Llttlelanders."
Each colonist has an acre of land,
no more, no less, from which he is ex
pected to produce enough to support
himself and his family. The signifi
cant part of the story is that the Llt
tlelanders are succeeding. They are
all prosperous and some of them are
laying up money from the crops on
one acre. One man is mentioned who
could not make both ends meet in
Chicago on 625 a week. In the col
ony he does better. Not only does he
support his family by raising poultry,
but he has an annual surplus of some
6300. The Industries pursued in the
colony are various, as one might ex
pect from the success of the project.
An Important factor which has
worked for the prosperity of the Llt
tlelanders is the proximity of a city
market. Whatever surplus produce
they raise is sold at once In San Diego.
It Is useless to think of founding a col.
ony of this sort .unless there is a de -
pendable market not far away. In
deed, farming cannot prosper lh any
circumstances unless markets are am
ple and accessible: The great agricul
tural question of the day Is not so
much how to increase the produce of
the farms as to sell wisely what is cur
rently raised. When the latter prob
lem is solved the former will become
comparatively simple.
Another element In-the success of
the Llttlelanders has been their in
comparable climate, which permits
crops to grow the year round. This
enables them to live on less land than
they could elsewhere. In Oregon it
would require three or four acres to
produce as much as is obtained from
one in Southern California, but, mak
ing allowance for that difference,
there seems to be no good reason why
we should not have successful colonies
on the Littleland plan In this state.
The experiment ought to be tried.-
THE FIASCO AT VERA CRUZ.
The Diaz movement in Mexico
seems to have died as suddenly as it
was born. Unlike the Orozco and Za
pata rebellions, which sprang from the
masses, this revolt appears to have
had its origin among the soldiery,
upon whom the name' Diaz was ex
pected to work like a magic spell, and
among the Clentiflcos, who hunger for
the fat pickings they enjoyed under
Diaz rule.
But the name of Diaz could not
work Its spell In the absence of the
man who for thirty years held sway
over Mexico. The soldiers who mutl
nied to Join his kinsman lost heart
when cornered by Madero s troops;
The expected mutiny In Beltran
army came not, and surrender
death was the only choice.
The death penalty which hangs over
the mutinous officers and one-tenth
of their troops accords with the bloody
code of Latin-American "warfare,
which sanctions murder of the wound.
ed in battle. The promptness with
which Madero decided upon It reveals
a stern determination to crush revolt
which bodes 111 for the followers of
Orozco and Zapata, Though they are
in a different class from the mu
tlneers and may expect milder treat
ment in case of capture, the stern
measures adopted at Vera Cruz may
deter others from Joining in the revolt,
but may move the men already under
arms to more desperate resistance.
SAVING THE TOCNO.
Some of the most profitable discus
sions at the W. C. T. U. convention
have touched upon the question of
saving the young from vicious habits
Naturally the women who have spoken
at the convention look upon the liquor
traffic as the source of this evil, as of
every other, and they declare plainly
that if the saloon could be abolished
most bad habits would vanish with it.
This may or may not be true. Others
who have given much thought to the
subject come to a conclusion directly
opposite. As they see It, the saloon
with many other evil outgrowths of
civilization, is the fruit of poverty,
Abolish poverty," they assure us,
and everything else that perverts and
degrades mankind will go with it,
Thus the doctors differ. No doubt
they are ail honest, and, in part at
least, all are right. It will not be de
nied by any unprejudiced student of
social affairs that the BOloons are
fruitful cause of poverty and vice; nor
will it be denied either that poverty
often induces the drink habit, with all
that follows from it. The simple truth
is that evil reacts upon evil and all its
various forms strengthen one another,
A person must be very optimistically
Inclined If he can believe that vice Is
decreasing in our American cities, or
even in the country districts. There
are" observers who maintain that it Is
even more prevalent in the country
than In town, and they cite many. In
stances of depravity in rural communi
ties which seem to sustain their view,
It is certain that some of the agencies
which were formerly supposed to up
hold morality among the country pop
ulation have sadly decayed in recent
years, we have in mina particularly
the country church, which is aamntea
by all to be decadent, and also activi
ties such as the lyceum, singing school,
and so on, which once afforded Inno
cent amusement, but have now been
replaced by dubious picture shows and
questionable dances. It may fairly be
deduced from all these facts that in
proportion to the population there are
as many divorce cases in the country
as in town and fully as many girls lea
astray. Indeed there is some ground
to believe that "sexual vice" is even
more common in rural districts than
in the cities. It is a curious and high-
ly significant fact in this connection
that the more remote and inaccessible
a neighborhood Is the more money it
spends proportionally for drink, the
more family troubles it has ana tne
more colored by vice is the life its
people lead.
It Is a serious error to look upon
any form of evil as peouliar to cities.
Those who Include Immorality among
exclusively municipal diseases simply
do not know the facts. Of course de
pravity gathers in larger groups where
population is dense and displays itself
more audaciously, but It is no more
destructive on asphalt pavements than
In arreen lanes, if we compare tne
number of its victims with the whole
population. When these incontestable
truths are properly appreciated, some
Interesting considerations follow. We
are driven to conclude, for one thing,
that vice is a direct outgrowth of pov.
erty of life. We do not mean merely
the poverty which implies lack of
money, for vice is as prevalent among
the rich as among the poor, probably
more prevalent. But there are other
kinds of poverty. Lives may be as
miserably starved for want of mental
as physical food. More are ruined for
want of wholesome amusement man
from any other cause except defective
home training.
This brings us to the point we have
been approaching. Why do remote
and Inaccessible country districts take
to vicious habits? Evidently because
the people have nothing better to do.
They have no roads, or next to none.
Their churches, if they have any, are
wretched simulacra of Christian bod
ies, hungry. Ineffectual, ghastly. Their
schools are dead or dying. There Is
no community life, no innocent mirth,
nothing to relieve toll bjat dull vicious
ness. Passing to the city, we find con
ditions not essentially different. Out
wardly there -rseema to be plenty of
public mirthfulness and gayety, but
how much of it is disconnected with
vice? It is all commercialized and the
trail of pretty nearly every commercial
scheme for amusement leads directly
to immorality. It is moderate to say
that the city provides as badly for
wholesome diversion- as the country
does. The truth is that neither city
nor country attends to the matter at
all.
One of the delegations at the W. C.
U. convention displayed the motto,
- "Drive out evil with good." Is it not
true that the greater number by far of
the young people who go wrong begin
their wicked courses in seeking merely
for amusement? If amusement had
been provided which led upward in
stead of downward, they would have
been saved. It ought to be as easy to
make pleasure conduct to the church
and home as to the house or Ul-rame,
but ,the way to do it seems not yet to
have been discovered. We may
well admit that so long as the pleas
ures offered the young are commer
cialized they will end In destruction
While the end is money, everything
will be done which brings in profit,
and since experience has proved that
vice always pays heavily, it will be the
controlling factor until considerations
of oroflt are eliminated. We are con
strained to believe that the astounding
Immorality of the modern world is
largely a consequence of the kind of
amusement it offers to the young
Until a radical change has been effect
ed in this particular we may lecture
and exhort as much as we like, but
nothing will come of it. Youth will
have Treasure of some sort. Life
would be unendurable to them with
out it. The dull gray clouds of toil
must have color to brighten them or
the race will perish at the fountain
head. The only question is whether
the color shall be supplied from the
foul corruption in the morasses of
vice or from the sunshine on the fields
of innocence.
It is a fair question to ask whether
a typical modern city would gain or
lose financially by boldly seizing the
bull by the horns and providing
amusement for Its young people when
the home fails, without expectation of
making money from It.- If the cur
rent expenses of vice and Its conse
quences were taken Into account, how
would the balance stand? Suppose we
should abolish the grillroom and the
dancehall without providing adequate
substitutes, does any rational person
believe that matters would be bettered
an iota? The world cannot be re
formed bv negative measures. As the
W. C. T. U. motto so wisely says, "We
must drive out evil with good,
Revisions of the Bible appear rap
ldlv in recent years. No sooner has
one become familiar with its correc
tions of the text and what pass for
improvements than another is project-
ed. A newest revision Is on the
stocks in England now, but Noncon
formist divines are reluctant to hasten
its publication. Scholarship has ad
vanced so swiftly in our time and pro,
duced so many startling modifications
In Biblical lore that it might be as well
to let things settle down a little be
fore stewing everything together in a
translation. It may turn out that
some of the Ingredients are adulter
ated,
Lovers of roses will be delighted to
learn that an Irish grower has pro
duced a new white one of surpassing
beauty. It is said to outshine even the
lovely Frau Karl Druschki, which has
heen thought lust about perfect, 'ine
new rose has a delicate green tea per
fume, which is perhaps its crowning
charm. Coming from Ireland, It is
likely enough to thrive in the climate
of Oregon, which is similar to wnat
the Emerald Isle enjoys. The name
of this perfect rose is British Queen
Another "fraud" has been perpe
trated on the Roosevelt Progressives.
They have been refused the right to
masquerade as Republicans in re
braska. According to the Bull Moose
code, there is no Justice for them ex
cept In Kansas and California, where
the Republicans are juaiciauy aisrran
chised. If the rule to be followed in Penn
sylvania, of prosecuting an embezzler
even after he has made restitution.
were followed generally, not so many
detected thieves would be turned loose
to commit more crimes of the same
kind.
Manufacture and consumption of
peanut butter are increasing rapidly,
though not fast enough to alarm the
dairymen. This is one of the very
few Items of food substitutes that are
'Just as good." .
November 21 will be "Made in Ore
gon" day, and with a little coaxing
Colonel Hofer, prophet of home manu
factures, might be induced to give his
photograph to every boy born that
day.
Merely to show what water will do
in Malheur County when ditches are
built, an Ontario man is reported to
have picked ighty-three boxes of ap
ples .off two trees.
It Is divulged that John D. once
worked for $15 a week. Bet he'd be
irlad to work for half that right now
if a sound stomach went with tne jod.
Acting Indian Commissioner Abbott
Is zealous over keeping liquor from
the redman, a problem as easy of so
lution as ridding a dog of fleas.
,
Sterling silverware is advancing as
the holiday season nears. Plated ware,
however, makes a fine display and
cheats the burglar.
Tragic deaths of aviators now pass
under small headlines. Eventually
their passings will be noted in the sta
tistical column.
Directors of the harvester trust seem
to have been as short-lived as a house
fly. They voted to put through a deal,
then resigned.
With chilly weather and high cost
of fuel, those pamphlets doubtless are
being appreciated by many voters.
Theft of Gertrude Hoffman's Jewels
is reported. We thought the original
press agent died years ago.
Jack Johnson Is now being sued for
alienation of affection. Nat Goodwin
better look to his laurels.
The mob of 2000 women who pil
laged a Berlin butcher shop must
have picked the bones clean.
No less a feat than finding a needle
in a haystack was the discovery of an
error In the ballot-
Berlin women started a riot over
meat. Burglars will soon be cracking.
safes for It.
Not hampered by unnecessary cloth
ing, the Greek Is able to put up a good
fight.
Many a man's desire to be a "j'lner"
makes him a "sucker."
Poor Wilhelmina has Indeed a cross
to bear.
LETTER FROM MRS. DnVIWAY.
Makes Reply to Leaflet Distributed by
Antl-Soltraslst.
PORTLAND, Oct. 23. (TO the Ed
itor.) In The Oregonlan October 11,
1912. appeared a letter signed Margaret
N. Scott, who is my beloved and hon
ored sister-in-law, in which it was as.
serted that my deceased and lamented
brother. H. W. Scott, had always op
posed equal suffrage. I had decided to
pay no attention to the letter, but copies
thereof in the form of a leaflet having
now been used as a campaign document
bv Mrs. Francis J. Bailey, president of
about a score of wealthy antl-sunra
gists, who claim to be the majority of
the women of Oregon, and want to in
fluence or dictate to the voters of the
state. It now seems proper to submit
a few facts of earlier years with which
my brother's family is unacquainted.
From 1871 until after the Fall of
188S. as can readily be proven by refer,
ence to the flies of The Oregonlan, H.
W. Scott was a pronounced advocate of
equal suffrage. He did not, for family
reasons, burden his colmuns with It
regularly, but was a friend, and so con
tinued until the advent of the active
prohibition movement, which caused
him to become an opponent. In the
year 1900, when the Oregon equal suf
frage amendment had become so pop
ular as to achieve within 1 1-9 per cent
of a majority vote. The Oregonlan
fought the movement for reasons of
publio policy, as Mr. Scott thought wo
men would be Induced to turn to pop
ulism and free silver. I do not presume
to say that he would or would not now
advocate equal suffrage. But I do
know that he had given up active op
position to the movement.
During the year 1883, and previously,
there was a most active movement for
woman suffrage In the territory ot
Washington. The Oregonlan at this
period, under Mr. Scott's editorship,
contained much luminous discussion of
the issue In all its phases. All who are
Interested may find by reference to the.
flies of The Oregonlan during that pe
riod ample confirmation of my state
ment that Mr. Scott was publicly sup
porting the disfranchised women in
their effort to get their rights. The is
sue of The Oregonian of November 30.
1883, contains an especially strong ar
gument for suffrage from the pen of
Mr. Scott. A single paragraph there
from will disclose the essence of the
entire article:
"The whole sum of the matter Is that
woman is capable of exerting an Influ
ence in publio affairs which the state
needs, and this Influence can be made
effective only through the suffrage.
Prejudice may for a while longer pre
vent it, but no argument can stand for
a moment in its way."
There were similar articles on No
vember 4, 1883, and November 26, 1883,
and on other dates.
There Is no family dissension over
this or any other question. My love
for my brother's memory Increases with
the passing years, and my regard for
his surviving family can never be ob
literated.
ABIGAIL SCOTT DTJNIWAY.
P. S. I see by the papers that Dr.
Francis J. Bailey, husband of the pres
ident of the score of "it" i
aforesaid, has purchased the handsom
est residence in 'i'a.cuu.a, .
Bailey will soon reside. Women vote
In the state of Washington. The lady
has my sympathy. A. S. D.
PAMPHLET STATEMENT MISLEADS
Issue Taken 'With Claim That Failure
to Vote Aids Measures.
PORTLAND, Oct. 22. (To the Edi
tor.) In the official voters' pamphlet
there is a statement made by the Ma
jorlty Rule League that is incorrect
and misleading. In their argumen
favoring the proposed amendment to
the initiative they assert that every
person not voting on a measure In ef
feet votes In favor of it under ou
present law. This appears in capital
letters at the top of page 86 and Is era
phasized in italics about the middle
of the page. If this were true, with
100,000 votes cast for a candidate at an
election and 20,000 falling to vote on
certain measure, then 80,001 voting In
favor of it and 49,999 against it would
carry it and 60,001 would be required
against 29,999 in favor to defeat It,
But this is not true of our present law
and such a statement is very mislead
ing.
As the law now stands, 40,001
in
favor and 39,999 against will carry
measure and 40,001 against, with 39,999
in favor will defeat it. .
Now, under the amendment which
the people who make the above mis
leading statement propose, 80,001 against
the measure, with 49,999 in favor would
defeat it and 50,001 In favor, with 29,
999 against would be required to carry
It. I would like the voters to com
pare these figures with those for the
present law and see which comes near
est to being majority rule. I am not
blind to the fact that our law, as it is,
has faults, nor do I believe that
cannot be improved, but I would not
cripple it by placing it within the power
of corporations who could Influence a
small minority vote, to block all pro
gresslve legislation. It would mean
the killing of the initiative as far as
ts main purpose is concerned.
The Majority Rule League misrepre
sents our present law, making It out
much worse than it is; then they pro
pose killing it by doctoring it up with
an amendment that cuts out essential
features.
If I went to a physician for some
minor ailment and he told me that my
heart beat was 100 -per minute when 1
could tell by actual count that it was
but 80, there would be suspicions
aroused in my mind and if he insist
ed that the only- way to cure me would
be to remove this organ which was
beating too fast, my suspicions would
become so strong that I should feel
Justified in dispensing with his serv
ices. E. K. BUSH.
V. HOLMAJT NOT FOR SUFFRAGE
Admirer of Mrs. Dunlwir Says He Does
Not Agree With Her on that Isaac
PORTLAND, Oct. 23. (To the Edi-
or.) In the report in The Oregonian
this morning of the meeting held last
lerht in honor of Mrs. Dunlway,
statement Is made giving the lmpres-
lon that I am In favor of woman suf
frage and advocated its adoption at
this meeting. This statement is erron
eous. I said nothing in my address in
favor. I recognize that it Is one
of the great political questions of the
day, but I am not in favor of its
adoption.
When I was honored by being In
vited to make an address at this
meeting, I accepted with a full un
derstanding by the officers of the
State Equal Suffrage League that
am not in accord with tnera on tnis
question, but that I should be pleased
to speak at the meeting In honor of
Mrs. Dunlway, as an Oregon Pioneer,
and of her ability and high character,
and of her courage and steadfastness
of purpose In advocating woman suf
frage during so many years. Of
course It would have been Improper
and unseemly for me to speak against
woman suffrage at such a time and
place. I was greatly pleased by the
invitation, and I endeavored to make
my address in accordance with the
occasion.
In a slmiliar way I was Invited by
the Republican committee in charge
to speak In eulogy of Judge George H.
Williams at the last banquet given to
him a few days before his death. While
I did not agree with Judge Williams
on many great political questions, I
had a high regard for him personally,
and I accepted the Invitation and
spoke in his praise with pleasure.
FREDERICK V. HOLMAN.
Yea.
FOREST GROVE, Or., Oct. 22. (To
the Editor.) I would like to know
if a man born in the United States
and his parents not citizens,- is a full-
Pledged citizen, JOHN TAYLOR'
DAKGER IS SEEK IK CTREN BILL
Vetera Waned ef Measure That Would
Disfranchise Them.
PORTLAND, Oct- 23. (To the Edi
tor.) The Oregonian today gives cer
tain reasons for voting no on Mr.
ITRen's Bill 362, giving Oregon a new
plan of government. I do not questio
the sufficiency of the reasons set forth
for opposing the bill, but because of the
pretense that many reputable citizen
of Oregon indorse the measure, is it
not well to call special attention to
few of the tricks embodied in the
amendment?"
Mr. U'Ren, In designating the design
of his amendment as it will appear on
the ballot, pretends to abolish the State
senate when as a matter ol tact ne
effectually abolishes the present plan
of assembly also. He establishes or
Dretends to substitute a new creation.
which he chooses to name "Assembly
nothing like the present Assembly.
His new plan disfranchises the ma
joritv of voters, making it impossible
for any party to select a harmonlou
body of legislators, even though a ma
Jority of the voters of every district
desire so to' do. He provides that no
district shall have less than two As
semblymen and further forbids any
elector from votins; for more than one,
so that If a party is not thoroughly
and systematically organised, it would
require more than a two-thirds vote to
prevent a minority from naming one
of two Assemblymen. If three are to
be elected in a district, three-fourth
of the voters can not elect a solid
delegation without adopting ring rule
methods, such as are so bitterly ce
nounced aa "boss-ridden."
He further provides that In district
inar the state no county may De oi
vided. Such provision will give Mult
nomah County about 20 of the 60 as
semblymen to be selected, and each
voter will enjoy the privilege of one
twentieth of a vote in naming the
countv delegation. By resorting to
the protective features of a thorough
Iv organized secret order, it would re
autre over 98 per cent of the voters
to secure a delegation such as a ma
Jorlty is entitled to under a republican
form of srovernment.
May I wander from the subject long
enough to call attention to the fact
that Mr. U'Ren registers as a xtepuo
llcanT
Under this proposed government the
Assemblyman is not to represent him-
salt in the name of and for the people,
but he is to vote the proxy of every
man who supports him at election. If
true to his trust, he must express, not
his own will, but the will or his con
stituents. Votes are secret and no as
semblyman knows who voted for him
unless he received a unanimous vote or
all parties. The proxy idea being im
praotical and the law bestowing one
vote on each Assemblyman tor eacn
vote he receives at the election, one
A RMmhlTRifl.ii is liable to cast ten times
as many votes as his colleague ana
those votes will represent his own de
sire with no element of proxy about It.
Victories will no longer be won at elec
tion, for under the master nana or Mr.
Il'Bon. or Mr. Fels. who employs him,
th fJovernor and the defeated candi
dates for Governor will cast the proxies
of the men who lose their votes on de
feated candidates for the Assembly, bo
that many a defeated candiaate ior
Aoaomhiv will, bv proxy, cast more
votes in the Legislature than others
whn are elected.
New parties and new laws' do not
change dishonest to honest men, and
the Legislatures under a new system
will operate under the same conscience
as the Legislatures or tne past, a hw
legislators holding, many proxies by
combining with each other can do dam
age more easily than under the old
nlan. when all possessed equal power.
Another peculiar feature of the bill is
the power of dead men to enact new
laws for the living. Assemblymen are
to serve four years and cast as many
nroxiea aa thev received votes at eiec
tion. There is no record to show for
what' Assemblyman a deceased elector
voted, hence no way to know whose
power to curtail as electors die. This
Is one of the irremediable obstacles to
the Droxv theorv which Mr. U Ken can
not cure if he were open to a suspi
cion of desirintr honest government.
An aDOlosrv may be due for assum
ing that there is any danger of the
passage of such an amendment, but the
fact that we seem to nave oeen tun
franchiser! already to the extent of be
ing denied a vote on nine out of ten
delegates to our National conventions,
and permitted to vote for only'one out
of five Presidential electors to whom
we are entitled, there is no certainty
that it is not politic to call attention to
the defects of a bill which lacks every
essential of rational legislation.
T. J. FORDING.
FILLING A BOIRNE PETITION
Mhoda of Slsmature Hustlers De
scribed by Mr. ITthoff.
PORTLAND, Oct, 24. (To the Edi
tor.) Here is a conversation in sub
stance between a Bourne-petition cir
culator and a citizen; scene, a down
town office building:
Circulator Good morning. I should
like to have you sign this petition
nominating Bourne for United States
Senator?
Citizen I am a Democrat and have
scruples against signing such a peti
tion. Circulator Oh, that makes no dif
ference. Consider all the good things
Bourne has done for the state. Put
party feeling aside and work for the
man on the strengtn or nis recoro.
Don't you think it a good one?
Citizen Maybe so. But there are
nlenty of capable and loyal citizens of
Oregon who could no doubt have done
the same and who may in tne iuiure
be depended upon to work for the in
terests of the state. You don't mean
to say that Bourne has a monopoly of
all the brains and statesmanship' of
this commonwealth?
Circulator Well, no, I wouldn't say
that. But he's a mighty good man.
Citizen I haven't time to argue tne
point, but I will say that I cannot sign
your petition because I have already
voted for a Democratic candidate at
the PTlmary.
Circulator Now, thars Just where
you make a mistake. Here's the idea.
You si en this petition to nominate
Bourne. In that way you get another
man in the field and help the chances
of your Democratic candidate. Never
mind principle. The main thing is to
be practical.
Citizen You have made tne best
argument against signing your petition
that could be made, uecideaiy no, l
will not put my name to your paper.
Why don't you get bona fide Bourne
men who are willing to avow publicly
that they don't believe In our primary
law to sien your petition? You will
excuse me, please, as I am Ttery busy
this morning.
Circulator (departing) Oh, wen, I'll
sret the petition filled anyway. Thank
madness everybody doesn't take such
a particular and impractical view of
the- case.
Citizen (to himself) I wonder now
many names are on that petition that
were obtained by similar flimsy and
dishonest arguments?
M. u. uraurir.
Cleveland and Wllaon.
G RE SHAM, Or., Oct. 21. (To the Ed
itor.) Did the Democrats cut their
own throats In 1892?
Is Wilson a better man for Presi
dent than was Grover Cleveland? If
so. In what way?
How many laboring men voted for
Cleveland In 1892 that denied it 1894?
A VOTER
. A Trial for Damages.
Puck.
Railroad Attorney You are sure it
was our flier that killed your mule?
What makes you so positive?
Rastus He dun licked ebry other
train on' de road.
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonlan of October 33, 1803.
We have been kindly furnished by
Mr. Aaron Bushwiler with the follow
ing statement of the population of
Portland, compiled from the census re
port he has been completing for a city
directory, viz:
Male. Jl year and upward 1,110
Males over 10 year and under tl year 2-'3
Male of 10 years and under 48S
Female. 18 years and upward 73n
Females from 10 to IS year 21"
Female under 10 years 4S8
Colored male 34
Colored females . 13
Colored male and female under 10
year S
Chinese male ' 86
Chinese females 17
Floating population, estimated from
calculations made from register of
hotel and boarding house. ........ . 700
Total population 4.057
Legal voter ....... 1,141
Thus it will be seen that Portland Is
fast assuming the proportions of a city
of considerable magnitude. When we
reflect that four or five years ago the
town could not muster over 1000 or
1200 Inhabitants and state that two
years ago the city probably did not
contain over 2000, we begin to realize
the rapid progress made in population.
Washington, Oct, 17. Accounta
from other than newspaper aources
show that since the battle of Antletam
there are less indications in Europe
than formerly of a recognition of the
Southern Confederacy.
New York, Oct. 17. The World's
Harpers Ferry correspondent says the
reconnolsance yesterday was most bril
liantly successful. The enemy has been
discovered In force between Bunker Hill
and Winchester.
New York, OctTa. A letter dated
Fayal, Madeira. September 1. says on
the eighth and ninth a rebel steamer,
supposed to be the Alabama, burned
seven whalers and a schooner..
MR. LIGHTNKR'S GOOD RECORD.
Commissioner Has Proved ,Wtchdog,,
of Treasury, gay Mr. Wenune.
PORTLAND, Or.. Oct. 21. (To the
Editor.) I have noticed of late that
there is very little noise being made in
the press regarding the next County
Commissioner. The average taxpayer
and politician pays very little atten
tion on election day to this particular
office, whereas it is one of the most
Important, for the aimple reason the
Commissioner handles and expends a
great deal of our money for various
purposes.
I 'do not believe there is anyone In
the city of Portland who la better able
to Judge the present County Commis
sioner, Mr. Llghtner, than myself. We
have had many rough and tumble fights
together over various projects regard
ing road-building, and he has turned
me down a great many times: but I
always figured that he was entitled to
his own opinion, as he is the "Watch
dog" of the treasury.
Mr. Llghtner has been In office a
long time, haa given his entire time '
and energies to the office, and surely
has had a great deal of experience.
Now get in and help to elect this man.
Do not think that I have any selfish
motive In mind or that I am a special
friend; but I feel in my heart that he
is the right man for this place. The
present administration has road work
and other projects well in hand. If you
had a man in your employ who had
learned and gained his experience at
your expense would you permit him
to resign or discharge him and go all
over the same route in the training of
another man? You certainly would
not. I could write you a ten-page let
ter regarding what Mr. Llghtner has
done and how he is always interested
in the welfare of the taxpayers.
E. HENRY WEMME.
MARRIAGES
NOT ALL LAUDIBLE
Women
go to Altar Sometimes From
Selfish Motlvea.
WOODBURN, Or.. Oct. 15. (To the
Editor.) I have been reading with in
terest the letters in your paper on the
marriage question.
Although happily married, I would
like to aay a few worda in defense of
the old maid. We all know that every
true woman wanta to marry and can
marry If she will, but as we all are
trying to get Just as muoh out of life
as we can, can you blama her for be
ns just a bit careful whom she selects
to play the third and last act with?
Now, I think a great deal or credit is
due the woman who has the oourage
to withstand the cruel criticism of the
world by remaining single. Is sha not
more worthy of respect than the wo
man who marries because she finds it
an easier way of earning her dally
bread or because the man whom she
marries can place her In a home of
ease and luxury? She Is not marrying
because she loves the man whom she
calls "husband, nor from a sense or
duty. If she were, she would bear
children. But aha won't; ahe simply
won't have children. Now, for the lire
of me, I cannot see how a woman who
won't be a mother can make a good
wife. I would call her a coward.
So, bless you, girls, "be old maids.
but don't remain one, "For every Jack
there is a JUL" So keep your eyes
open and don't let him pass you by.
He will be just as willing to be caught
as you are to catch him. A WIFE.
Confeaaloa of an Anther.
London Tit-Bits.
I dream my stories." said Hicks, Jfie
author. "How you must dread going
to bed!" exclaimed Cynlcus.
Special Sunday
Features
War Maps. An illustrated
page account of the system where
by the President keeps in touch
with the whole world and its
troubles.
Axe We Growing Crazier?
Statistics show that insanity is
on the increase and the subject
is discussed interestingly by noted
alienists.
Ten Thousand Deaths Sarah
Bernhardt has met them on the
stage. A record of her marvel
ous death scenes during her long
professional career.
Fighting the Turk An illus
trated half page of the type of
men that are now fighting to
the death with Turkey's troops.
Gentlemen Criminals Faurot,
noted detective, classifies crim
inals and explains the aristocratic
type of plunderers.
A Quiet Election That is what
will be held in France shortly to
select a President. Neither cam
paigning nor public interest marks
the event.
German Critics An illustrated
letter from a Berlin correspond
ent upon the wave of discontent
that these critics have set in
motion.
Cruise of the Wock Second in
stallment of a new page feature,
in colors.
Two short stories, complete.
Many other features. Order to
day from your newsdealer.
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