1
THE MORNING OREGOXIAX. WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 29, 1913.
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PORTLAJTD. WrU)-ESDAY, JAN. t. ltO.
WILSON'S ANTI-TKCST BELLS.
Governor Wilson's measures for
tiffins; from New Jersey the reproach
of being; the mother of trusts are of
unusual Importance, both because oi
the hints they give of the policy he
will pursue aa President and because
they mark the abandonment or tne
"wide-open" policy towards corpora-
tions by the state which first adopted
that policy. But we are warned by
Wilson himself not to over-estimate
the bearing- which these bills have on
his policy as President, for, when
questioned on that point, he said:
They (the proposed laws) embody my
Meas of the way New Jersey should deal
with i ths question. National legislation
might aar to be different.
Wilson is committed, both by his
speeches and his platform, to the prln
ciplo of state rights, to treatment of
Federal legislation against trusts as
supplementary to state legislation.
Nevertheless his seven bills give valu
able hints of the lines on which he
will ask Congress to legislate. He has
hitherto talked generally on this sub
ject; he has now put his policy In def
inite form with the aid of the two lead
ing legal authorities In his state.
He places foremost the principle
that guilt is personal by providing that
directors of corporations be held per
sonally guilty. He has adopted Bryan's
slogan, "send them to jail, by pro
viding for either fine or imprisonment
or both as the penalty for offenders.
The Sherman law Includes similar
penalties, but the difficulty has been
to Induce Juries to convict or, when
they convict, to induce Judges to im
pose prison sentences. It remains to
be seen, should these bills become law,
whether New Jersey Judges and Juries
will be more stern than those of other
states.
One of the bills attempts a more ex
act definition of restraint of trade in
order to gratify those who complain
that the Sherman law Is so vague that
they cannot know whether certain acts
are lawful or unlawful. The pen
alty is fine or imprisonment for guilty
individuals or revocation of the com
pany's charter.
This is the definition:
Any combination or agreement between
two or more corporations, firms or persona,
to create restrictions In trade, limit produc
tion. Increase prices, prevent competition In
manufacturing, transporting or selling any
commodity, to fix prices to the publlo, to
make any agreement directly or indirectly
precluding a free and unrestricted competi
tion, to make any secret oral agreement or
arrive at an understanding without express
agreement whereby the same thing Is ac
complished.
Watering of stock is forbidden and
exactly defined by a provision which
would prevent such operations as that
by which John W. Gates transmuted
$24,000,000 of stock in a corporation
he controlled into $90,000,000 of stock
In a new corporation, of which $26,
000,000 mysteriously disappeared.
Mergers are to be allowed, but new
stock Issued In payment must not ex
ceed in value the property acquired,
which also must be cognate In char
acter and must be used by the pur
chasing corporation "In the direct con
duct of Its own proper business."
Certificates of such purchases must
be filed with the Secretary of State
and false statements expose the guilty
persons to punishment. Purchase by
one corporation of property or stock
of another corporation "for the pur
pose of restraining trade or acquiring
a monopoly" is made a misdemeanor.
Corporations may merge only with the
approval of the Board of Public Utili
ties Commissioners, but one corpora
tion may not hold another's stock.
Holding companies, which are a pe
culiar product of New Jersey, are for
bidden, but this bill applies only to
future corporations. It does not dis
turb existing companies, though It pre
vents them from extending their hold
ings. One of the bills makes it a misde
meanor to organize a corporation with
Intent to promote or conduct any un
lawful object or intended to restrain
trade or acquire a monopoly. Another
bill forbids discrimination In price be
tween sections, communities or cities
with intent to secure a monopoly or
to drive out a competitor.
These bills are received with ap
proval in most unexpected quarters.
The New Tork Sun, for example, says:
Generally speaking, the proposals of the
seven bills will strike the Impartial mind
a meritorious. They are in the line of
progress by the proper road.
Opposed to the Eagle's view Is that
of the New Tork Glob, which, while
praising the New Jersey bills, though
doubting whether the prison penal
ties will be enforced, says:
As to the chief difficulties surrounding
trust organisation and control, the bills, of
course, contribute nothing. The trust prob
lem Is a National one and the states can
not aolv It. Even though forty-eight states
could be brought to enact similar laws and
they cannot be) there would be differences
In enforcement and Interpretation that would
make a common policy Impossible. Soon
or late there must in some form be Na
tional Incorporation.
The Boston Transcript says that if
Wilson's attack on the trusts suc
ceeds, it will "take from her (New
Jersey) a fruitful source of revenue,
but it will very appreciably enhance
her respectability" and the whole
country will be the gainer.
The Globe puts Its finger on the
weakness of the state right's policy
when It says that, even though the
forty-eight states should agree on a
common policy; some form of National
incorporation would still be necessary.
New Jersey set the example by offer
ing corporations unlimited powers in
exchange for enormous fees. Other
states, greedy for fees, followed her
example In a competition for the Issue
of letters of marque to corporate pri
vateers. The evil they have done can
not be undone, for the Wilson bills are
not to be retroactive. The best that
can be done now Is to stop the evil
by amendment of the laws of each I
state on the lines laid down by Wilson. 1
It is hopeless to expect that every state
will do this. So long as one state re
mains wide open to trust organizers,
state action will be powerless as a
remedy. Federal incorporation would
encounter such general opposition
from the states, hungry for fees, that
Its adoption is not possible. The al
ternative is a Federal license to state
corporations engaged in interstate
commerce. This would - allow the
states to keep their fees, but would in
effect nullify the laws of those states
which bid for trust organization.
HARMONY.
Mr. Davey sends from Burns a loud
call for the Republican party to get
together on a platform of progressive
ness and reform and of explicit and
unquestioning adherence to the Oregon
system. We would not discourage Mr.
Davey in his laudable purpose; but, if
the Legislature is to be used as the
basis of the new harmony movement,
it would seem to be plain that the
Republican majority is doing a first-
rate Job of getting together and stay-
in together. The Governor did it
with his little ax; the Governor's po
litical newspaper marionettes are help
ing it along mightily by their sneers
and Jibes and slanders of the Legisla
tures; the Governor's Democratic jan
issaries are demonstrating its clear
benefits by their whining uneasiness
and discomfiture. For Republican lack
of harmony, long a Jest in Democratic
mouths. Is nevertheless the Democratic
opportunity.
There are no Progressives (with a
capital P) In the Legislature; though
there are two or three pseudo progres
sives elected as Republicans and work
ing their own little game. But for the
present they hardly count. Later they
will undoubtedly seek to explain to the
people that the old standpat Republi
can machine has been in control, and
that the people have been betrayed
and robbed at every turn, and that the
wlll-o'-the-wisps and Jack-o'-lanterns
they have created out of a fertile im
agination as beacons of legislative and
social reform are yet the real thing.
How long will the really wide-awake
supporters of Colonel Roosevelt follow
the blind and seinsn leaaersnin or nis
local lieutenants?
The Davey platform Is all right. The
Republican party in Oregon stands
there now. But the problem is to get
the stray sheep (the Progressives)
back into the fold.
MR. SHEEP ANT) HIS F1UEND9.
The woolen manufacturers are
in
tears before Congress over the pro
posed reduction of the wool tariff. The
industry will be ruined. If you touch
one brick or stick or straw of the
sacred tariff edifice, they say. All we
want is to be let alone with our cheap
foreign labor and our easy profits.
But if you've got to reduce something,
reduce the tariff on raw wool. That is
what Bryan says ought to be done, and
so It Is sound Democratic doctrine.
Incidentally, the cheaper the wool the
more profits for the manufacturer; but
surely the Western woolgrower ought
to be satisfied to make a further sac
rifice for the benefit of the Massachu
setts men who buy his wool, and pay
him sometimes almost as much as it is
worth.
We guess the woolgrowers of Oregon
now understand that tne eastern
manufacturers believe in a wool tariff
on the manufactured product for their
own benefit and on free wool, also for
their own benefit- - It Is strange that
their only protection is a Democratic
house which proposes a 20 per cent
tariff; but It is not strange that the
same Democratic house through Its
leader, Mr. Underwood, has Intimated
that ultimately we must entirely re
move the tariff.
The wicked schedule K is now the
only real solace of the sheepman: but
It will soon be only a more or less fra
grant memory.
WOM EX A3 JURORS.
The philosophic mind is moved to
melancholy reflection by one of the ob
jections made to women Jurors In the
Colorado Legislature. A bill came up
In that sublime assemblage the other
day aiming to bestow this inestimable
Tivilege on the fair sex and a mem
ber voiced his opposition to it In this
way: "I should hate to see the time
come when my wife or my daughter
would be chosen for Jury service and
be locked In a room with several men
urora one night or for several nights."
It can hardly be denied that his ar
gument has weight. Such an experi
ence as he describes would be terribly
disagreeable for a woman of refine
ment. To be locked up all night in a
close room is not pleasant for anybody.
We are nut convinced that men enjoy
It. Still we do not believe that the
anger of temporary imprisonment un
der disagreeable conditions ought to
prevent women from serving on
uries. It ought rather to stimulate
them to join In a demand for better
treatment of those who have to per
form this wearisome and thankless
public service. ,
The customary treatment of juries
Is a relic of feudal barbarism. We In
herit It from the days when it was as
sumed as a matter of course that
every man not of aristocratic connec
tions was a liar, a perjurer and eager
to sell himself to the first bidder.
Juries were formed from the men of
low degree living in the neighborhood
where the suit on trial originated, and,
their character being base because
their birth was ignoble, they- were
treated about as cruelly as the accused
himself. The judge berated them and
even imprisoned them If they did not
bring in the verdict he wished. If they
were Inclined to debate over the evi-
ence they were locked up and starved
In order to bring them to terms. They
were not permitted to discuss the case
with anybody for fear their infantile
minds would be perverted. They had
listened to the unadulterated truth
trom the opposing lawyers and that
was enough. It Is time that these fe
rocious practices were done away with
and the fact recognized that jurors are
fully as intelligent and often more
honest than some other wheels In the
machinery of Justice. There Is no more
reason for locking them up than there
s for imprisoning the judge over night.
and so far as bribery is concerned, the
average Juror will stand the test.wlth
good many lawyers.
OBSTINACY AXD WAR.
Two great concourses of people, each
with Its own unalterable viewpoint.
cannot be brought to modify their atti
tude. One set insists upon possession
of a city that is not essential to its
welfare or happiness, but Is held as a
ripe token of superior military prow-
The other set does not need the
city, but is unwilling to give It up be
cause of fond traditions and rich re
ligious sentiments. ' The city is Adrl-
nople, the differing peoples those of
Turkey and the Balkan allies.
After several weeks spent in discuss
ing the divergent viewpoints of these
two great sets of people no modifica-
tion of the ideas of either side has
been secured. It is an unhappy side
light on human nature and present-
day civilization that the two sets now
plan to proceed to settle their differ
ences of opinion through the medium
of horrible slaughter upon each other.
Steel-Jacketed projectiles, destructive
explosive shells and keen-bladed Day-
onets will be employed to supplement
logic. Each side contends it is right.
and so might must decide. Eventually
one side or the other, weakened,
wounded, humiliated, devastated, will
reluctantly yield. But even tben the
Question will be settled only tentative
ly. Forever after bitter racial and
sectional feeling will follow.
We are far enough off to be clear
of the little antagonisms which form
the underlying current in the Bar
kans affair. Hence we are able to
view the matter with a cool, calm per.
spective. In the light of that perspec
tive it is with Infinite pity that we
see the triumph in the Balkans of
shallow obstinacy which only serves
to unleash the monstrous dogs of war.
It is only when people and nations
learn to yield and step free of provin
cial fetters that the dove of peace can
hope to propagate its kind unhindered.
POOR JOHN' BITA.
There is no need for England to
"seek the woman" at the bottom of her
troubles, as the French proverb ad
vised, for woman is at the top, middle
and bottom of the island's woes In
these days. England need not seek
her, for she rides on the crest of the
wave of disturbance. She splits Cab
inets, parties, skulls and shop windows
with Impartiality, and glories ln the
devastation she creates. Although the
Speaker declares that male suffrage
cannot be extended and woman suf
frage granted by the same bill, she
snaps her fingers at him and vows that
male franchise shall not be extended
unless woman is granted the ballot at
the same time. Woman in a rage is
above all laws and parliamentary
rules; she scorns them.
We do things better in America. In
some states we gracefully surrender
to the woman voter and heap honors
and duties upon her. In other states
we allow her to block the streets while
she orates on her rights, and we stand
and admire while the fairest of women
lead their less prepossessing sisters in
suffrage parades. We take the edge
off her temper, the angry shrillness out
of her voice, either by giving her what
she asks or by our good-humored pas
sive resistance.
John Bull does not know how to
manage woman. He is too sot in nis
ways," too stiff-necked. He has ig
nored her demands until she has
worked herself up Into the frenzy of
a virago and him into a state of sad
bewilderment. Poor John wrings , his
hands, mops his brow, looks askance
at his raiment tattered in the last en
counter with the suffragettes and won
ders what the country is coming to.
You would better let woman have her
way, John, You will have no peace
until you do.
AJf AMERICAS ACADEMY.
Congress has been asked to Incor
porate "The American Academy" with
the following list of members, all of
whom are supposed to be immortal:
Woodrow Wilson, William Dean
Howells, Henry James, Henry Adams,
Thomas R. Lounsbury, Theodore
Roosevelt, John S. Sargent, Alfred
Thayer, Mahan, Daniel Chester
French, John Burroughs, James Ford
Rhodes, Horatio W. Parker, William
Milligan Sloane, R. Underwood John
son. George W. Cable, Andrew D.
White. Henry Van Dyke, William C
Brownell, Basil L. Gilderslceve, Arthur
T. Hadley, Henry Cabot Lodge, F,
Hopklnson Smith, Edwin H. Blash-
fleld, Owen Wister, Augustus Thomas,
William M. Chase, Thomas Hastings,
Hamilton Wright Mabie, Brander
Matthews, Thomas Nelson Page, EHhu
Vedder, George Edward Woodberry,
Kenyon Cox, George Whltefield Chad
wick, Abbott H. Thayer, John Muir,
Charles Francis Adams, Henry Mills
Alden, George de' Forest Brush, Will
lam Rutherford Mead, John W. Alex
ander, Bliss Perry, Abbott Lawrence
Lowell, James Whltcomb Riley, Nicho
las Murray Butler, Paul Wayland Bart
lett. George Browne Post.
The first thought that comes into
one's mind on reading the list through
Is that no woman can ever expect to
become immortal. The names are all
men's, even in those departments where
women have done Just as good or bet
ter work. No doubt, in thus discrimi
nating ngainst women, the self-chosen
Immortals of this list have followed
the Illustrious example of the French
Academy, which declined to admit
Madame Curie for no other ostensible
reason than because she was not a
man. No doubt envy played a part In
her exclusion, for none of the male
scientists in the Academy had achieved
anything like her fame, but of course
they kept that to themselves.
Henry Van Dyke, Brander Matthews
and H. W. Mabie are very respectable
minor essayists and critics. Van Dyke
has even written, a good deal of what
some people call poetryi but not one of
this estimable trio has done literary
work which can be compared with
Edith Wharton's and she will be re
membered when they are forgotten.
There are a dozen women novelists in
the country who are doing better work
than Thomas Nelson Page, who is dis
tinctly Inferior in merit to the require
ments of an "Academy." The short
story writers fare badly in this selec
tion. Not one of them appears, al
though their literary art is more truly
American than any other. Some might
perhaps call Owen Wister a short story
writer, since his "Virginian" first ap
peared in that form, but we imagine
he was allowed to shine on this Olym
pus because of his novels. One natur
ally assumes that the reason for con
demning the short story to outer dark
ness is because those who have culti
vated it most successfully of late years
are women whom it would never do to
admit to this exalted assemblage. The
parasitic side of literature, as It has
been somewhat severely called, is mar.
velously well represented. Critics and
writers about writers are more numer
ous than any other brand of authors.
Henry Adams, Lounsbury, R. TJ. John
eon, Brownell, Mabie, Matthews,
Woodberry and Thomas Mills Alden
have all earned muoh of their glory
in this manner, though some of them
are editors and others have done a
little poetry in a small way.
The scholastic spirit pervades and
just about destroys the value of the
selection. College professors of all de
grees abound In it. It may be that one
of them, Gildersleeve, will be remem
bered a few years after he is dead, but
the others are there simply because it
was supposed that their names would
sound Imposing even though nobody
knew or cared who they were. - It is
one essential of an "Academy"-of this
sort that most of Its members should
be nonentities. This gives the stars of
the first magnitude a better chance to
shine. And besides that. It always
seems as if the college Influence ought
to predominate in any body which goes
by the name of "Academy." The
scholastic feeling is exemplified by the
three college presidents who adorn the
roll of immortals, Hadley, Lowell and
Butler. Not one of these men is really
distinguished as an educator In the
same way as Dr. Charles W. Eliot.
Hadley is an economist, Lowell a
writer of some eminence on interna
tional politics and it would be a little
difficult to say just how Dr. Butler
has made himself immortal, but as
thinkers and doers In the educational
field Van Hise of Wisconsin and Jor
dan of Stanford are miles ahead of
them.
Lowell was made president of Har.
vard because it was thought best to
put in a steady-going conservative to
check the radical impetus Dr. Eliot
had given the institution. Hadley was
elected at Yale because ,his father
wrote an excellent Greek grammar, and
Butler at Columbia because he under
stood the fine art of pulling wires. Not
a solitary educational leader of note
as such appears in the list. Evidently
the Academy does not intend to pollute
itself with new ideas any more than
It intends to permit the brilliancy of
its few really eminent members to be
obscured by too many rivals. Science
seems to stand about on the same level
as women in the estimation of those
who chose these Immortals. America
has some scientific men of great dis
tinction, but they are not worthy to
be listed beside Thomas Nelson Page
and EHhu .Vedder. We dare say the
astronomer Lowell is. quite as likely to
be remembered by posterity as the
college president of the same name.
but he Is omitted. Nor are any of
our famous inventors included, though
mechanical invention is the field in
which this country has shown most
brilliantly. The drama is condescend
ingly patronized by admitting Augus
tus Thomas, the author of "Arizona,"
and some other trifles, but Percy Mac-
kaye, who has wTitten powerful plays,
as well as poetry, far ahead of the
academic verses produced by Henry
Van Dyke, is shut out. Perhaps he is
not old enough for an honor so dis
tinguished. He was born in 1875,
while most of the chosen hail from
the early sixties or even farther back.
We might add indefinitely to these
strictures, but no doubt enough has
been said to make our point clear. It
is this. When any half dozen or dozen
gentlemen, no matter how eminent, set
about writing themselves and their
chosen friends down as Immortals, it
is pretty certain that they are actuated
by vanity and they will give free reign
to their prejudices. Nobody will be
truly famous in their eyes who does
not belong to their clique and share
their views of men and things. The
makers of this list live east of the Alle
ghanies and are therefore unaware
that there is a country or population
across the mountains. They people
their Olympus from New York and
Boston and lock the gates on all the
rest of the Nation as placidly as if
their contemptuous ignorance had an
nihilated it.
It is a queer question, but the oppo
nents of the death penalty now stand
as the firm friends of hanging; for
they object to tha expenditure of any
amount to install a new electrocution
apparatus at the State Penitentiary.
They say that the expenditure is un
justified, since the people may abolish
the death penalty at next election. A
sufficient answer is that the people at
the recent election, by a large major
ity, declined to abolish capital punish
ment. What right has the Legislature
to assume that the people do not know
their own minds? Yet the clamor for
the Legislature to pay no attention to
a popular mandate comes from the
same mouths that habitually repre
hend the Legislature for Its failure to
respond automatically to the public
will.
People do not eat enough apples.
That is one reason the market rules
low. The apple is better than patent
medicine, and tastes better, but its
trivial cost in comparison is against
It. People with a "misery" love to
spend money on it.
The woolen trust threatens to pass
on tariff reduction to its workmen,
ignoring the fact that their wages are
already on a low tariff basis, for the
trust has been convicted of importing
labor.
A San Francisco preacher resigned
to become an undertaker, with the
Idea of dispelling customary gloom at
funerals. Evidently he will be aB much
out of place' on the new Job as he was
on the old.
Senator Warren's re-election means
that Wyoming's graft on the Army ap
propriations is unbroken. He will see
that as many dollars are appropriated
for Army posts as there are sheep In
his state.
The man who voted for Jackson and
let his hair grow until Cleveland was
elected has offspring due for a trim
ming when Wilson takes office. Many
Democrats are consistent in their ob
stinacy. English tourists now understand
that only gunmen and their police pro
tectors are allowed to carry firearms
in New York. The good citizen's safety
lies in giving up on demand.
The man who beats the mother of
his eleven-day-old child should be
tried before a Jury of women. It is
libel on some excellent animals to call
him a brute.
But of course the new International
Harvester Company has wisely incor
porated before Wilson's new anti
trust bills made New Jersey inhospit
able soil.
Why should a city employe have a
free ride, while the man beside him,
who must dig up the money for the
employe's salary, pays for his own
ride?
Testimony regarding the steel rail
pool would seem to suggest that the
essence of a gentleman's agreement is
that no gentleman lives up to it
Those Britons toting guns in New
York thought they were doing the way
they should, don't y know.
If one-tenth of the proposed laws
are passed, the next ballot will be a
record-breaker.
Perhaps the Arizona messenger had
too much in the Jackpot at Chicago
to Jar loose.
Economic waste continues in the un
filled Federal jobs.
Warren has Wyoming well in hand, j
LET REPUBLICANS GET TOGETHER
Harmony Call I Sounded From Bum
by Mr. Davey.
BURNS. Or., Jan. 23. (To the Edl
tor.) I do not believe that party poll
ticai success should be a paramount
consideration under all circumstances,
but I do believe that the best govern
mental service in a Nation of such ex
tent and diversity of industry as the
United States can be achieved through
the agency of political organization,
and I believe, too, that the Republican
party in its basic designs and principles
is the best for the country's welfare
and prosperity that was ever conceived.
Believing thus, I hold it to be the
duty of its best and most unselfish
minds to interest themselves as soon as
possible for the reuniting of the party's
forces upon the broad and patriotic
principles which underlie its aims ana
purposes, and to fortify these with the
true progressive ideas demanded by
modern conditions.
If the effort be considered worth
while the period of the legislative ses
sion is a good time to set it going.
Strong, Influential citizens from all
parts of the state are numerous in
Salem and Portland at this time, and
they should be brought together in one
or more meetings, either at the capital
or the metropolis, for "earnest and
oraverful action" toward an organiza
tion for an aggressive campaign of
education in every precinct in Oregon,
which will ultimately Testore the party
to public confidence and consequent
numerical supremacy.
I believe it Is only necessary at the
outset for all elements of the party
leaders to impress the public with the
fact that the Oregon system tne pri
mary law, the initiative, the referen
dum. Statement No. 1. etc. is the ac
cepted system of Government in Its
best sense and purity, and that any
attempt to change or amend it must
proceed only from a desire to
strengthen and perpetuate It. with
such an understanding, all xuture at
tempts at the change of such laws can
be considered on their merits and not
In the way they have been so far dis
cussed. There must be no reserva
tions In the sweeping declaration on
this subject to be issued as a fir3t pro
nouncement of such a gathering. The
Republican party was founded upon
liberty for the oppressed; its earliest
efforts vera in the interest of the
masses; even the greatest mistakes
charged to it along the lines of high
tariff were founded upon a desire to
provide the means of good compensa
tion for the industrious worker in the
ranks: It is the natural abiding place
of the home-builder, the family man.
the orderiv citizen and promoter ot
good moral life, hence It must have
no barriers against the common herd; It
must take them all into its confidence,
sympathize with their ambitions and
labor for their elevation. It must
pledge respect for and protection to
the rights and privileges the people
have of late years secured to them
selves in law-making and choice of
officials, and in every way proclaim
Its fidelity to the common cause.
The voters of the state gave a
plurality to the Democratic candidate
for the Presidency last tall, DUt it
was not a sincere expression. Demo
cratic candidates for United States
Senator have carried the state twice
in succession, but neither of these
verdicts was truly representative o
the majority feeling. We all know
this. The great interests of Oregon
do not desire legislation according to
Democratic policy and will not trust
themselves to that party If given a
fair show to vote otherwise.
I believe, then, the leading Republi
cans of the state, in the Legislature
and visiting it. should get together In
public meeting and invite a union of
all the voters upon some sucn piatiorm
as the following:
Complete loyalty to the Oregon
system-
Strict economy and honesty in all
deDartments and institutions.
Regulation of hours of labor and
establishment of a minimum wage
scale, also compensation for injuries.
.Strengthening the code provisions for
the suppression of vice.
Remodeling the system of court prae
tlce so as to facilitate the settlement
of litigation.
Of course, the fertile brains of the
men who would take an Interest in the
matter would have no trouble in pro
ducing several other items of advisable
state policy and then - the following
could be laid down twitn otners mat
will suggest themselves as safe Na
tlonal policies:
Protection for productive industries.
Low tariff or free trade for all manu
factured goods shipped to foreign
markets and sold there cheaper than
at home.
No nrotectlve tariff unless It Is clear
ly shown that labor employed in th
industry affected obtains the benefit
of it.
Stringent laws against "cornering"
or speculating in any of the necessities
of life.
Making the term of President six
vears and no re-election.
Reforming the currency system to
make artificial financial panics impos
sible.
Conservation of National resources In
such a way as to encourage their
practical use and prevent their waste
or their absorption Dy monopolies.
Wiping out the "special agent"
avstnm in the land department aa now
understood and substituting a corps of
agricultural instructors, advisers and
helpers.
In suggesting this movement I have
no Incentive except party patriotism
born of the beliefs expressed in the
first paragraph. I have been a worker
in the narty ranks nearly 40 years and
I know there Is every reason that the
nartv should live. I am a pioneer In
unselfish adherence to the doctrine of
the rule of the people, lor there were
few advocates of It when I stood out
as Its almost solitary champion ten
vears aero now, therefore the most
radical of those calling themselves
progressive cannot question the sin
cerity of my motives in the present
advocacy.
I sincerely hope The Oregonlan, the
Salem Statesman and other leading
papers of the state will take up this
subject editorially, forget the obscurity
of the writer. Ignore the many weak
nesses of his details and work out the
general intention with the Improve
ments which they are well able to sug.
gest. FRANK DAVEY.
AUDITORIUM FLOOR SHOULD DIP
Arrangement of Public Building; Held
Matter of Special Importance.
PORTLAND, Jan. 27. (To the Ed
itor.) Now the Auditorium Commis
sioners have determined to build the
new auditorium on the Market block,
perhaps it is right for those who pay
the bills to put in a word.
It was first intimated that the floor
will be perfectly level so as to accom
modate expositions. It is all right to
havo such exhibits in the building, but,
I understand, in other places they do
not have the right of way and make
the building unfitted for its primary
purpose of an auditorium. The floors
elsewhere are inclined toward the
stage, and, in spite of this, dances and
expositions are held Just the same. We
can never have grand opera or any
great spectacular shows here at popu
lar prices because the seating capacity
of the theaters will not guarantee the
expenses except at greatly Increased
prices of seats. If this new auditorium
Is really to be for the benefit and com
fort of the people, now is the time to
Insist that Its stage shall be designed
for large affairs, and the floor shall be
on a suitable Incline for general com
fort, and convenience. Our theater
people can then rent it when they have
something big to give us, and accom
modate people who are generally barred
out of such affairs because they can
not stand the prices.
I would like to hear some public ex
pression on this Important matter be
fore it is too late.
ROBERT C. WRIGHT.
MORALS ANTEDATE CIVILIZATION
Eves the Early Savages Bad Their
Codes) of Morals.
PORTLAND, Jan. 27. (To the Edi
tor.) One may be pardoned, I hope,
for expressing surprise at the letter
of Mr. Cronise demanding the suppres
sion of street speaking, after profes
sing himself a believer In Jesus Christ,
who is credited with saying: VBless
them that curse you, and do good unto
them that despitefully use you."
There are several other surprising
things in Mr. Cronlse's letter. For in
stance, he claims that "morals are a
product of civilization." That state
ment Is certainly not borne out by the
conclusions of scientific research. We
have the word of Professor William
G. Sumner, of Yale, that morals are
"folkways;" that is, the customary
ways of doing things. The etymology
of the word "morals'" Itself gives a
good hint as to the origin of morality.
Savagery has its own morals Just as
surely as that stage of social develop
ment we call civilization. Society fur
nishes its own sanctions for certain
kinds of conduct in each social stage.
in accordance with what is conceived
to be best in the Interests of individual
and social security. According to this
principle, the greatest single factor
making for genuine morality is knowl
edge, meaning thereby an unaerstana
ing of the true qualities and relations
of things: in other words, science.
Mr. Cronise says: "The morals of
America and Europe are the product of
a civilization based on Christianity.'
If this is true, is it not strange that
the virtues and moral precepts now
said to be distinctly Christian, were
ail taught and practiced thousands of
years before the present era? More
over, thev are practiced by human be
lngs who have never come into contact
with Christianity.
If "civilization has always been
based on religion of some sort," as Mr.
Cronise claims, then he must hold that
religion is really responsible for mor
ality. Now, this is just the opposite
of all the facts disclosed by modern
anthropological and ethnological . re
search. Tylor's "Primitive Culture."
spencer's "Principles of Sociology" and
Morgan's "Ancient Society" contain a
vast array of facts which contradict
Mr. Cronise.
In another thoughtful and encyclo
pedic work, "Morals in Evolution, the
author, L. T. Hobhouse, professor or
sociology in London University, after
reviewing all the various moral sys
tems of the world and of religion in
connection therewith, lays down that.
instead of religion being the basis of
ethics, ethics is the test to whicn re
ligion must conform. Indeed, any
reader of this authoritative work can
not but be struck by tho fact that a
developing ethics frequently finds itB
most powerful opposition in tne pre
vailing religious belief.
Let us not be afraid to face tne facts
of evolution. We shall all be the bet
ter for It. And, above all, let us keep
in mind the words of that wise states
man, Thomas Jefferson, when he said,
Error of opinion may well De toier
ated where reason is left free to com
bat it." H. C. UTHOFF.
JEALOUS OF OREGON'S CLIMATE
California Papers Take Liberties With
the Weather Reports.
PORTLAND, Jan. 26. (To the Ed
itor.) I have Just returned from a trip
throughout the East and the southern
part of the country and Northern Mexi
co, and, in particular Southern Califor
nia, and wish at this time to protest
against the small, mean and Jealously
Inspired methods of the papers in Los
Angeles and San Diego concerning the
weather conditions 1ft Portland. Not
that, our weather here has been all
balmy and sunshiny, but yet it has been
nothing to cause us great worry. Dur-
ing a stay of nearly a month in these
cities not once did an item appear In
any of the papers under a Portland
headline which told good tidings, or
even ordinary news concerning the
city. But let an unusual rain or an
unusual snow appear and . the Item
would immediately appear on the front
page under a Portland headline. Even
then it would not be so bad if they
would only observe the ordinary pro
prieties of the truth. I quote a few
Instances.
On January 6, when California had its
first big frost, which practically de
stroyed the entire citrus output,
amounting to 150,000,000 or $60,000,000
of damages, Portland had a Govern
ment report of 30 degrees above Zero,
while the weather in Los Angeles and
San Diego was as low as 18 degrees
above. However, it was impossible to
find the Portland temperature given
anywhere except at the United States
weather observatory. As soon as th
weather turned cold in Portland, the
Portland temperatures were on the
front pages, but while Portland had
good weather the papers, not daring to
print the correct Portland tempera
tures for fear of putting their own dis
tricts in a bad light, printed a dis
patch, under a Portland headline, stat
ing that there was zero weather east
of the Cascade .Mountains. The same
thing occurred the following day, stat
ing that Halfway, Or., was the coldest
place on the weather map for that day.
It is at once apparent that a statement
of this kind In these papers would at
once identify this cold weather with
Portland, when, as a matter of fact, at
the tlmeB mentioned Portland weather
was far superior to and far balmier
than that of Southern California.
Seattle fared the same as Portland
in this respect, and now that the riv
airy between Seattle and Portland has
been practically eliminated, it would
be a good thing if they would both Join
hands and in some manner appease the
dense Jealousy that the southern cities
have of our climate. C. T. HAAS.
FREE TEXT BOOKS ARB FAVORED
Schools Must Be Kept Up by All
Classes of People.
PORTLAND, Jan. 26. (To the Edi
tor.) In looking through the com
munication of W. Vernon in The Sun
day Oregonlan I find some things
which appear to one as very super
ficial and misleading. In the first
place I cannot see how the "property-
owner" pure and simple can have any
interest except such as he takes volun
tarily in the public school system of
the State of Oregon. It is the heads of
families, property-owners or renters.
whichever they may be. And by the
way, I consider the man who pays rent
just as important as the property
owner, as he pays the taxes, interest
on the money invested and other in
cidentals which the property-owner
charges up to him in the way of rent.
A great may people have studied the
free textbook proposition on purely
economic and patriotic grounds. Under
a free textbook system there is a great
saving in books and stationery, where
the students must practice care and
habits of cleanliness in handling the
materials lent to them by the public.
For Instance, take a book owned by a
student in either the grammar or high
schools in the City of Portland and
compare it with the book lent by the
Public Library, and one can read . a
story without words. Further, is it In
keeping with our American institutions
to ask the children of the indigent poor
to step up to the teacher's desk and
say, "I am a beggar, can I have a fie?
book?" Young Americans seem to have
some feelings of their own, more than
some American adults who, because
they are "property-owners," seem to
think they have some particular cinch
on American institutions. They forget
that the renter carries a pretty big
load himself towards these institu
tions and things in general. Of course,
people who do not have children must
pa school taxes, too. They ought to,
with interest- A RENTER.
The Fan's Rubaiyat
By Dcaa) Collin.
Wake, for the Spring Is fumbling at
the knocker;
Soon Winter furs are destined for th
locker:
Wake, baseball fan, the season speeds
apace
In which men think of basketball and
soccer.
Soon the warm sun, returning on Its
beat.
Will touch the land, in spots, with
Springtime heat;
And heroes of the diamond will
adorn
The pink expanses of the sporting
sheet.
Though still the frost may linger, and
the fall
Of Winter snow may spread without
thy hall,
, Draw out thy dope sheet, limber up
a bit
And gamble on the future of baseball.
For soon to California's land of drouth.
Bound for the Springtime training
camps down South,
The Northern teams will ramble o'er
the rail.
And many rumors fly from mouth to
mouth.
And we shall watch them vanish down
the track,
The diamond artists of the subtle
"Mac,"
Raw from the Winter, and we'll try
to guess
What sort of lineup he will bring us
back.
Of past transactions I remember well.
Which. In the seasons now departed,
fell
Say, does a manager e'er buy a man
One-half so precious as the ones he'll
sell?
Full early 'tis to cast a horoscope.
And - on the Beavers draw a line of
dope;
But It is easy at this time of year
To open up a copious can of hope.
Let, then, the records of past sorrows
die,
Begin to take a new slant at the sky.
And in your visions over Portland's
field
Behold the nineteen thirteen pennant
fly.
Fans, to the glowing future cast your
lamp.
For though the present month be dour
and damp.
Full soon the time is coming when
your soul
Will bang expectant round the training
camp.
For Spring already fumbles at the
knocker:
The season soon will come and none
can block "er
When we must eat and sleep and
talk baseball.
And scorn the feeble Winter sports,
like soccer.
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonlan of January 29. 1863.
The colored population of Victoria
fired an artillery salute from Beacon
Hill on the receipt of the news that
Mr. Lincoln had issued his emancipa
tion proclamation. For this they were
fined, as the hill Is used to fire signal
guns on the arrival of ships, and its use
by the colored people gave a false
signal.
Walla Walla, w7"T-. Jan. 23. Miners
are moving for the mines, especially
for the Boise Valley. There are now,
it is supposed, 2000 there. There are
200 buildings already erected in Placor
ville. The Oregon Steam Navigation Com
pany is going on with giant strides to
connect the river navigation by rail
roads. The Cascade road is nearly
completed. The Deschutes road will
be completed in May or June.
A lot of stray Indians from the Riletz
Agency are hanging about town. There
are also some Spokanes In this vicin
ity, who have been working for citi
zens or making a livelihood by less re
spectable means. Night before last the
members of the two contending
tribes engaged in a free and Indiscrim
inate fight, characterized by a great
deal of ferocity.
The Indians on the Oregon Indian
Reservations appear to be immortal as
the everlasting hills. Since the es
tablishment of the reservations, none
have died and doubtless many have
been born. This appears to arise from
the fact that rations are regularly dis
tributed at the cost of the Government
to these savages. Of course, they
would not die for fear some agent
would draw the cost of the rations the
same as if they were alive.
Canal and Merchant Marine.
VANCOUVER. Wash., Jan. 26. (To
the Editor.) (1) Does the act of Con
gress exempting United States coast
wise vessels from tolls for passage
through the Panama Canal violate th
Hay-Pauncefote treaty?
(2.) Has the United states a mer
chant marine such as Great Britain
and other European governments?
(3) Where could one obtain a copy
of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty?
A. J. MILLS.
1. That is the question In contro
versy between the United States and
Great Britain. The Oregonlan thinks
it does not.
(2.) The United States has a mer
chant marine, but not such as Great
Britain and other European govern
ments. The total tonnage of the Amer.
lean merchant marine is 7,714,183, Out
only 923,225 of this is engaged in for
eign trade. The British tonnage is
19.240,817 and the German 4,326,723,
the great majority of which is In for
eign trade.
8. Write to the State Department,
Washington, D. C.
Playing the Joker.
IRRIGON. Or.. Jan. 27. (To the Edi
tor.) Kindly decide the following:
In playing a "no-trump" hand In the
game of 600, A claims that the joker
may be played at any time regardless
of suit; B, C and D take the opposite
vinw. (21 Has the rule on this point
ever been changed since the game of
500 originated?
The joker may be played only when
suit Is exhausted.
A Family Matter.
Harper's Weekly.
A man who was greatly troubled
wi'h rheumatism bought some red flan
nel underwear recently, which was
guaranteed In every respect, and a cou
ple ot weeks later returned to the store
where he maae nis puronase. -
These flannels are. not what you
claimed them to be," he said to the
clerk.
What is the trouble with them.'
asked the clerk, "have thsy faded or
shrunk?"
Faded! Shrunk!" cried the purchaser
indignantly, "why, when I came down
to breakfast this morning with one of
them on my wife asked me:
"'What are you wearing tne DaDy s
pink coral necklace for?' "
Is the Mode.
She's slender as the graceful reed.
A tight skirt vision rare.
But where are all the petticoats
That Maggie used to wear?
Richmond Times-Dispatch,