THE MORNING OREGONIAN. THURSDAY, JANTJART 30, 1913.
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WRANGLING OVER SPOILS.
By their filibuster against confirm
tlon of President Taffs appointments,
Democratic Senators - are imperiling
the success of the Incoming Adminis
tration. They cannot complain if the
Republicans, angered by their stub
bornness, should resort to the same
tactics in order to block connrmauon
of Wilson's appointments. The Demo
cratic majority will be so small (it
may even depend on the casting vote
of the Vice-President) that the Re
publicans will be in a position to
make no end of trouble. Only con
stant vigilance on the part of the
Democrats can prevent their oppo
nents from occasionally gaining vic
tory on a snap vote. This danger can
be warded off on'y by an alliance with
the Progressives, who will surely de
mand a price which can only be paid
at the expense of those principles
which the Democrats have promised
to put in practice.
The people have not put the Demo
crate In power to fight about patron.
age. The large measure of progressive
support which gave the Presidency
and Congress to the Democrats is due
to a desire for legislation which the
country urgently needs. The turning
over of the offices to the Democrats is
a mere incident. The general public
does not care one cent whether the
Federal officials are Republicans or
Democrats, provided they are rea
sonably honest and competent. Should
the passage of the progressive laws
for which the people look to tne new
Administration be prevented by a sor
did wrangle for the spoils, the Demo
crats may look for severe punishment
at the election of 1914 and their ma
jority may fade away.
President Taft had an undoubted
right to fill every office falling vacant
during his term and it is the equally
undoubted duty of the Senate to con
firm his appointments unless there
are other than partisan reasons or
reasons growing out of personal an
tagonism why they should not be con
. firmed. If a Republican President
and a Republican Senate should be
elected In 1916, Wilson would have an
equal right to fill all offices then va
cant and it would equally be the duty
of the Senate to confirm them, even
though it should be under Republican
control.
This whole controversy about offices
proves the wisdom of President Taft's
recommendation that all subordinate
officers all except heads of depart
ments and of important bureaus hav
ing in charge the execution of admin
istrative policies shall be put under
civil service rules. The objection that
this would entrench in office an army
of men of the party which happened
to be in power at the time when the
change was made is redolent of the
narrowest partisanship. If the meas
ure has merit 'in itself, aside from its
partisan results, now is the time to
pass It, for at whatever time it be
passed it will have that effect; hence
to postpone it to a time when it win
not have such effect is to postpone it
forever.
That Taft's civil service reform pol
icy is in the highest degree for the
public good is obvious. The spectacle
of the man to whom the people are
looking for initiation of reforms vastly
important to their welfare frittering
away his time in considering whether
Bill Jones or Tom Smith shall be
United States Marshal of some judi
cial district would be laughable If it
were not so serious. The same may
be said of the Senate passing hours
in executive session for the considera
tion of these petty questions, when
that time should be spent in consider
ing constructive legislation for which
the people are Impatient.
The progressive movement in all
parties alms to raise politics above the
plane of a quarrel for spoils to the
higher plane of rivalry in service to
the people. Men who cannot see that
this is the lesson of recent political
events are so blind as to lack the first
essential of progresslveness.
THE NORTHWEST PCLLS TOGETHER.
The spirit which animated the
members of the Joint commission of
Oregon and Washington legislators on
the Columbia River bridge goes far
to assure its construction. When men
from every section of both states are
so completely of one mind in favor of
so great a project, small differences of
opinion will disappear in the anxiety
to promote the main purpose, and suc
cess Is assured in advance.
The bridge will do more than unite
the cities of Portland and Vancouver;
It will do more than unite Multnomah
and Clark Counties. It will unite two
whole states in a bond of common in
terest. It will mark the passing of
sectionalism. We shall hear less of
the Willamette Valley, the southwest
counties of Washington and the north
west counties of Oregon, the Puget
Sound country and the Big Bend coun
try. We shall hear more of the Pa
cific Northwest as a united whole, of
the Pacific Coast as bound together
by unity of interest and sentiment.
The building of the bridge will be fol
lowed in natural sequence by the con
struction of the Pacific Highway from
our northern to our southern border
and of numerous branch highways to
east and west. That done, no visitor
to any part of the Pacific Coast will
consider his tour complete until he
has traversed Its whole length and has
viewed all Its wealth, all Its resources,
all Its thriving, ambitious, expanding
cities. The bridge Is the first neces
sary link in the great highway the
tourist will travel.
The unanimity of the Joint commit
tee places two great measures in the
first rank of importance before the
Oregon Legislature. One of these is
the interstate bridge bill. The other
Is a good roads bill. We have delayed
long enough to deliberate, how we,
shall go about the work of road-building.
Out of the multiplicity of bills
now before the Legislature, that body
should be able to mold One or more
which will give due consideration to
state, county and local Interests. With
out such a measure we cannot have'
good roads on the scale needed and
without good roads we cannot derive
full benefit from the bridge.
GOVERNOR'S RECALL POWERS.
The Invincible prejudice of the Leg
islature toward Governor West and all
his works is likely to bring about the
defeat of the highly meritorious Mc
Colloch bill to confer upon .the Gov
ernor the power of recall over all
Sheriffs, Constables and Prosecuting
Attorneys. It is unfortunate. The
prerogatives of the Governor in this
vastly important matter ought to be
equal to the power of the people. That
is all he asks; and he wants to hold it
for only ninety days.
The objection that the Governor, in
asking that he have the right of sus
pension and of substituting special
officers in the olaces of men who
do not please him is seeking to under
mine the Oregon system is hardly
worthy of notice. The Governor
wouldn't think of such a thing. He
is the undying champion of the Ore
gon system, and woe to him or to her
who touches a hair on that fair
head. Tet of course .there are time
when the people cannot or will not re
call a public official; and, since tne
recall is a fundamental principle of
the Oregon system, and somebody
should occasionally be recalled, the
Governor will undertake to do it
himself.
It is all right, we think. The Gov
ernor ought to have the power to sus
pend a public official who fails or re
fuses to do his duty. Here and there
we have a Governor who is not im
plicitly trusted by the people, but nev
ertheless responsibility and control
ought to attach to that high office,
and, if we have an unfit Governor, we
have the recall and can or should
get another.
EXPOSING FAMILY CONCERNS.
Senator Ragsdale has a little bill at
Salem ostensibly designed to protect
so-called innocent purchasers, but ac
tually certain to work vast hardship
and real humiliation upon large num
bers of people. It ought to be labeled
a "bill to expose the intimate affairs
and private concerns of all families in
Oregon who buy household articles on
the Installment plan." The legal title
is Senate bill 100, "providing for the
recording and foreclosure of all con
ditional notes and contracts for the
sale of personal property, and declar
ing the same void unless so recorded."
Let ua see what effect upon the
personal and domestic business of
thousands of citizens enactment of this
measure will have. Under modern
conditions much furniture, for exam
ple, is sold on the installment plan;
and so are stoves, books, , carpets, pi
anos, musical instruments of all kinds,
household utensils and the like. It is
undeniable that the installment plan is
a source of comfort and convenience
to the poor man as well as to many
not poor. If it is necessary that his
negotiation with any business house
be publicly recorded, the result will be
that great notoriety will be given to a
transaction that is entirely proper and
commendable, but Is in its very nature
a family matter, and nothing else.
Who wants the world to know whether
his household furnishings are paid for
In cash or on credit? What right has
the world to know? What will be the
consequence, except annoyance, gos
sip and general nuisance?
No hardship Is worked by any repu
table concern on any honest purchaser
by installment. It is said that 98 per
cent of all Installment purchases in
Portland are paid for promptly, and
without recourse -to summary action
of any kind. Which means that peo
ple in this city both desire to meet
their obligations and are able to meet
them.
If. on the other hand, furniture in
any house may be mortgaged or sold,
without regard to the rights or equi
ties of the original owner, the loan
shark will be in his glory. It will be
an open invitation to collusion with
money sharpers and with dishonest
buyers of articles having a question
able title.
What innocent purchaser ever goes
to any one's house and buys its con
tents without inquiry as to their actual
status? Is he entitled to be regarded
as an Innocent purchaser when he
asks no questions and deliberately
takes "a chance?
ill advised. But the -stalking horse,
the self-advertiser, the freak and the
inefficient are not hampered in the
least by the petition plan in aspiring
to office. They are ever with us.
The bill at Salem presents but one
question: Who is better entitled to
the candidate's money, the profes
sional name-getter or the taxpayers
on whom every candidacy for office is
an expense?
AN IMPORTANT ARMY ORDER.
Grim and cruel Is an order just is
sued to the United States Army. It
makes the harsh provision that Cap
tains and Lieutenants must spend at
least two years out of every six with
troops. All of which means an end
to the delightful lot of those social
and political favorites of the Army
who long have basked uninterrupted
in the warm glow of detached service
sinecures.
Naturally, a mighty volume of pro
test has gone up from that portion of
Washington which, since Roosevelt
infected the Army with the germs of
favoritism, has been wont to harbor
and reward military pets for distin
guished conduct in the ballroom or
on the golf links. But the War De
partment is firm. Congress is firm;
hence the military careers of scores
of gallant Army officers may here
after lead them from the perfumed
confines of tea rooms to the pungent
areas of Philippine bamboo jungles.
All the while that these Washington
military pets are agog with hot but
futile indignation, what must be the
feelings of those hundreds of misguid
ed officers who have been devoting
their whole attention to military sci
ence rather than to the cultivation of
political pulls? What thinks the man
In the Army who isn't related to the
relative of some friend of a Congress
man's, brother-in-law? It is a sad
blow, to be sure, to the type of
premature Brigadier-General whose
father-in-law is a member of the mili
tary affairs committee in the Senate.
But think of the long-deferred hope it
must raise In the breast of the serious
minded officer who has been content
to make himself efficient rather than
popular. And it Is this last-named
type that predominates in the service.
The new order will go a long way
towards restoring an Army morale
that was beginning to disintegrate un
der the taint of prolonged favoritism.
WHO OUGHT TO GET THE MONEY?
In the State of Washington the
privilege of running for office is open
to every citizen who has the price, and
the price is the fee charged by the
county, city or state for the filing of a
certificate of nomination. No petition
is required. It is related that in one
election a man whom nobody outside
of his own village had ever heard of
before paid the Secretary of State J60
and became a candidate for Governor.
When asked why he was a candidate,
he replied, in effect:
'The direct primary Is all wrong.
I am giving a practical demonstration
of how it permits a hair-brained
freak to run for office."
The demonstration was Instructive
as to the ease of getting on the ticket,
but the unknown did not run' very far
or very fast. The people gave consid
eration only to the leading candidates
on the ticket.
It seems that those who are
opposing in Oregon a change to
the Washington method are possessed
of the Idea that such demonstrations
are now impossible in this state
Theoretically they are not, but practi
cally they are. Petition backing for a
would-be candidate is pure farce. The
man who desires to run for office
hands a petition-hawker a stated sum
and thinks no more about it. The petition-hawker
gets the required num
ber of names. The ordinary voter
signs without giving thought as to the
qualifications of the candidate or to
his intent to vote or not to vote for
him.
Nor have we heard that the profes
sional name-chaser makes any differ
ence In his charges for securing names
for unknown and the well-known can
didates. Occasionally friends of some
prominent citizen circulate his petitioa
out of admiration or respect and with,
out charge. But most candidates must
now resort to the ready workers for a
price, who haunt the Courthouse at
the time nomination declarations are
being Sled.
The chief argument for dispensing
with the petition and charging a legal
fee for nomination filings is a sound
one. It is that the money that would
otherwise go to perpetrate a farce and
moral fraud is devoted to a good pur
pose. If nominations of any material
proportion of candidates cam from
the people, the substitution of the fee
ystem for the petition plan would be
AN IMPULSE TO PSYCHICAL RESEARCH.
Psychical research Is looking up in
the world. If its foes and despisers
do not look to their outworks it is in
a fair way to storm them and become
respectable. Harvard University, staid
and conservative in all that pertains
to ghosts, has accepted an endowment
of ilO.000 to promote occult Investiga
tion and who knows when other col
leges may follow its alluring example?
Professors are as deeply interested In
spirits and the problem of the future
life as anybody else and no doubt as
soon as they can pluck up the courage
to do so they will begin to teach psy
chic science in their class rooms as
they do electricity and Greek. The
new branch of knowledge has had to
fight Its way in the world against bit
ter opposition, but that is true of all
the sciences. The early astronomers
n-ere baled before the Inquisition, and,
if all reports are true, some of them
were tortured for their discoveries.
When Galileo announced that he had
discovered a moon of Jupiter the edu
cational lights of his day peeked into
their Aristotle to see if the sage men
tioned that Jupiter had moons. Find
ing he did not, they declared that Gal
ileo must be a liar as well as a heretic,
That Is' about the attitude which
orthodox science has maintained
toward psychical research up to the
present time. If the researchers
learned anything new they were ridi
culed for their credulity. If they
found nothing their temporary fall
ure was taken as proof positive that
there was nothing to be found. More
bigotry has been exhibited in regard
to occult Investigation than in all
other subjects together. A man of
science who ventured to inspect the
facts offered by the mediums and their
disciples might as well die at once, for
the learned world would nave notn
Ing more to do with him. To be sure,
Sir Oliver Lodge and Alfred Russell
Wallace were tolerated by their Col
leagues after they had decided that
psychic phenomena were not all hum
bug, but the toleration was barely
civil. Reactionary savants lost no op
portunity to sneer at them and stead
fastly refused to inquire Into the truth
of the matter. This attitude cannot
persist a great while longer now that
Harvard has accepted a fund to be
used for psychical research. The dem
onstrated facts in this sphere will soon
be admitted to the same standing as
any other facts and little by little the
truth will come to light. Those who
fear that the occult will always re
main obscured by charlatanism and
deception ought to remember that as
tronomy was once the same thing as
astrology, while chemistry began as
alchemy. Both astrology and alchemy,
though they are stjll practiced by
Bwindlers and believed In by block
heads, are far greater frauds than the
worst brand of medlumship.
Medicine is today as respectable as
a science can be, for It is not many
years since it was pure deception. Up
to very modern times Galen served
the whole profession as a book of
magic from which incantations and
spells were taken for the cure of dis
eases. As late as tne puDiicauun oi
Gil Bias medicine was mere charlatan
ry, at least in practice. The theory
had developed a little, but those who
taught advanced ideas were looked
upon very much as psychical research
ers are now by the worshipers of ig
norance. In the long run truth al
ways comes to its own, and If the In
vestigators of the occult have anything
of value to offer, the world will In due
time receive it gladly. But have they
anything to offer? It cannot be de
nied that they have a little and what
Its value may ultimately be nobody
can tell. The fact that a bit of amber
when rubbed with silk would attract a
straw lay dormant for 2000 years. It
was amusing but worthless. Then
Franklin and Faraday took hold of It
and made it a foundation wall of civil
ization. It is not wise to despise even
an apparently trifling fact. It may be
a geni In disguise. Psychical research
has found that at the moment of death
the' image of the dying person may
appear to a friend on the other side
of the world. Is the image his spirit
or Is it merely a sort of photograph
transmitted by telepathy? Nobody
knows. And yet the fact is as firmly
established as that mystic property of
amber which was the germ of electri
cal science. When It is explained, as
it will be some time, very likely we
shall have a whole world of new
knowledge opened up and all our
Ideas and ways of thinking will change
to correspond with it.
The current fashion is to deny the
truth of pretty nearly all "supernor
mal" phenomena and account for the
rest of them by telepathy. This word
means thought transmission without
speech, sign or gesture. Some say the
thought goes through the ether by
vibrations like light and heat. -Per
haps it does. What Is thought? Par-
menides said it was the only reality
in the universe. George Eliot said H
was the friction of the living machine.
As the machine grows more perfect,
she believed, it will think less and lesi
until it finally runs without con
sciousness. We dare say Parmenides
was nearer right about it than the il
lustrious precursor of Mrs. Humphrey
Ward. Thought or consciousness,
which Is the same thing, may be a
form of vibration in the ether or in
something else. There is a belief held
kby many that every thought we have
sets the universal medium shaking
and is thus preserved to ail eternity
so that the Almfghty can refer to it
as often as he wishes. Unpleasant as
this may be to a certain species of
doubters, it may still be true, and if It
is true why may not one brain be so
much in tune with another as to be a
receiver for its thought? And if con
sciousness is a mode of vibration, all
we require for immortality is that the
source of the waves shall keep up its
supply of energy in some way. Thus
the problem of the spirit world re
duces to one of pure mechanics and
may ultimately be solved by the
calculus.
That the steel trust was tightening
Its grip on the steel Industry by freez
ing out independent miners of iron ore
when the Government's suit fright
ened It Into canceling the Hill ore
leases is shown by the testimony at the
hearing of the steel trust suit In New
York. By preventing the Independents,
from securing a supply of ore, It
forced them to sell out. The power
which controls the supply of raw ma
terial for any industry controls that
Industry, no matter how small a share
of the finished product it may manu
facture. Wilson probably had this in
mind when he spoke of the manner in
which the natural resources of the
country are exploited.
When the farmers' representatives
told the House committee on currency
reform that "farmers need long term
loans In order that they may become
owners instead of tenants," they
pointed to the remedy for an ominous
fact shown by the census. That fact
is the Increase in the number of ten
ant farmers. The strength of this
Nation consists largely in the owner
ship of farms by the men who culti
vate them and of homes in the cities
by the men who occupy them. Legis
lation should aim to discourage the
acquisition of large tracts of land by
few men, who rent it to tenants, for
that is a step towards foundation of
an aristocracy.
Stars and Starmakers
By Leoss Cass Bacr.
Out of 7388 National banks in the
United States, no more than eight
failed last year. This was a trifle
more than one in a thousand. The
record is admirable. It speaks vol
umes for the perfection of the system
of public control under which the Na
tional banks exist and seems to war
rant its extension to some other forms
of business. But there Is another
thought In the same connection which
is not quite so pleasant. The people
who lost their money In the eight un
fortunate banks no doubt feel Just as
sorrowful as if the whole system had
collapsed. Misery Is always Individual.
Portland school elections are too
farcical to be taken seriously if they
did not entail such serious conse
quences. It is preposterous to think
of voting bonds for 11.000,000 in a
little chamber accessible to a few peo
ple only at an election which, like a
pink tea, lasts from 1 to 1 in the af
ternoon. The affair partakes too much
of the excluslveness of a social func
Hon given by a member of the 400 to
the chosen few.
Would the Democrats give votes to
the Moros, whose conception of gov
ernment Is displayed by their habitual
brigandage? The medicine General
Pershing has been administering to
them seems a better remedy for their
complaint than the self-government
which the Democrats offer.
A press dispatch says Chrlstobel
Pankhurst is the brains of the London
militant suffragettes. The secret is
out. The identity of the wonderful
strategist who Is so successfully direct
ing that campaign is disclosed.
The lawyers will revel In the nice
points involved In the question
whether the Milwaukee saloonkeeper
who was frightened to death by a
shot which did not touch him was
murdered.
California apple growers threaten to
sell direct to the consumers unless San
Francisco middlemen handle their
produce immediately. What, let the
consumer go unplucked?
If those militant suffragettes in Lon
don are not all widows and old maids
there must be something wrong with
their husbands.
Princeton boys are shining shoes to
pay expenses, but doing it with hired
help. One of the benefits of a college
education is ability to boss a Job.
War between the systems that
own" the Pacific Northwest will stim
ulate building of railroads, and that is
what the region needs.
Nebraskans have named a commit
tee to secure publicity for the state.
Is that a deliberate affront to William
Jennings Bryan ?
A Malheur Jury follows time-hon
ored custom of acquitting the man
who first got into action with his ar
tillery. -
With Papa Warren back in the Sen
ate, Son-in-Law Pershing should be
elevated to a Major-Generalship ere
long.
Gaynor says he does not want to be
re-elected Mayor of New York. That
makes it unanimous.
Arizona's electoral messenger has
shown up at Washington and the
country Is saved.
But why don't those English suf
fragettes try the beauty contest route?
The hoboes convention bids fair to
convene in the New Orleans bastile.
Even Chicago, that eats any old
thing, rejects the frostkist oranges. -
Seamless garments are the latest.
They will never seem the same.
0
Distribution of the plum crop may
yet plunge us into Civil War,
- ;1t
Frances Slosson, who is In privato
life Mrs. Franklyn Underwood, is to
have the principal role in a new play
under John Cort. It is a drama en
titled "The Iron Door" and was writ
ten by Allan Davis. It is now ir, re
hearsal. Printers seem to disagree, whether
the name of Thompson Buchanan's
newest comedy is "The Bridal Path" or
"The Bridle Path." Edward J. Bowes,
the Tacoraa husband of Margaret Isl
ington, is to produce it, and Ann Mur
dock is to have the principal role. Miss
Murdock was in Portland last season
as the runaway bride in "Excuse Me."
By the way, "Excuse Me" is coming
back to Portland pretty soon with
Willis P. Sweatman again in his fa
mous role as the negro porter.
Lee Willard, a thespian in small
stock productions on the Pacific Coast,
has taken unto himself a wife. She was
a Miss Something De Forrest, a sou
brette in musical comedy in California
towns. Mr. and Mrs. Willard are In
San Francisco on their honey tour.
.
Victory Bateman, at one time a well
known leading woman, and in the last
half dozen years identified with Pacific
Coast stock. Is en route to Los An
geles from .New York. She- Is coming
on contract with the Thanhouser peo
ple as a lead in their screen dramas.
Miss Bateman formerly held the same
position with the Thanhouser people
In New York, but was shifted to the
Los Angeles studio when their big New
York studios were burned.
s
Poll stock in Washington, D. C,
opens next Monday with A. H. Van
Buren, William Bernard's son-in-law
and Dorothy's husband, as the leading
man. Izetta Jewel is again to be lead
Ing woman with the Poll players, but
was unable to secure her release from
her Los Angeles engagement at Mor-
osco's Burbank Theater in time to open
in Washington for the first week
Hazel May, Izetta's sister, is with the
Poll company.
r
Ida Adair, who was a popular leading
woman last season at the Baker The
ater, has joined the Seattle stock. This
week she Is playing "Way Down East,'
which is to be followed by "Rose of the
Rancho." Since leaving Portland Miss
Adair has played stock engagements
in Bridgeport, Conn., and in New Or
leans. For five weeks she was in
vaudeville in New York with Sidney
Drew.
s
The faculty of the University of Cal
ifornia at Berkeley have made a re
quest to David Belasco that he present
Shylock for a single performance at
their famous Greek Theater, which
holds 8000 people, during his forth
coming visit to the Pacific Coast This
brings the attention of the public to
the fact that Mr. Warfield has for the
past three years been deeply engrossed
in the study of the role of Shylock,
and his definite aim to appear In the
character may be looked forward to
at any time. In case Mr. Warfield ac
cepts the University of California's
suggestion, it will lead to the inter
esting event of David Belasco making
the trip to his old home In California
purposely to produce "The Merchant
of Venice," and in the event the Droti
oslllon of the university is accepted.
Mr. Belasco will send to California spe
cial actors, to interpret the different
roles. ' This, of course, will be a most
extravagant proceeding, but as Mme.
Bernhardt played in the Greek The
ater to over $7000 at a single perform
ance, and Sothern and Marlowe's re
ceipts there were 5000 from one" per
formance of "Macbeth," the under
taking may also have Its commercial
as well as artistic advantages. A- per.
formance of "The Merchant of Venice,'
with David Warfield as Shylock, and
the entire production given under the
tye of David Belasco, should be one of
the most noteworthy and artistic ex
ploits of recent dramatic history.
John Livingston and his wife, who Is
known professionally as Claire Sin
clair, are with the Bailey Mitchell
stock in Seattle. Last Summer they
were members of the Cathrine Countess
stock at the Heilig.
s
Among the press - agents "In our
midst" is Howard S. Gale, an Ala
baman who always heralds worth while
productions and this season brings
"Broadway Jones." Last year he touted
for "The Three Twins." E. H. Bac'helder
Is another of the illustrious ones. He
Is ahead of "The Rose Maid," with
Alice Lloyd in Its principal role. Last
season he brought us "The Spring
Maid, and the year before "The Choco
late Soldier." Chester Rice, heralding
the Ralney pictures, is here. In the list
also are Mr. and Mrs. Charles F.
Towle. Mr. TowJe is manager with
the company of "Ben Hur." This is
the 13th season he has been with this
spectacular religious drama ever since
it was produced, in fact for Ben Hur
as a stage story. Is just 13 years old.
William (Billy) Dills, always a
favorite locally by reason of his long
time association with Baker stock, is
now 'director of the Princess stock in
Tacoma. Last week critics on one of the
Tacoma papers paid Mr. Dills a mighty
nice tribute in saying "there has been
an attention to detail and finish to the
performances that have put the Little
Princess playhouse in even greater
favor with its patrons than at any
other time since its opening 51 weeks
ago.
a a
Speaking of Tacoma stock, another
Bakeronian a young one, too Nell
McKlnnon, Is playing with the com
pany.
- Jeannie Fletcher, who is called the
Scottish nightingale of Pacific Coast
musical comedy and who has appeared
locally with Keating & Flood organi
zations, soon opens over the Sullivan
& Considine circuit.
a e -
Carleton Chase, who used to be a
familiar figure on the Keating &
Flood rialto. Is with a musical comedy
company in Nagasaki, Japan.
Arrangements have been completed
whereby Pantages vaudeville is to ap
pear in six new towns In Canada. The
annexation means an expenditure of
approximately $750,000. The towns
added to the Pantages circuit are
Regina, Moose Jaw, Lethbridge, Medi
cine Hat, Swift Current and Prince Al
bert. These theaters have been playing
road attractions, but now will be filled
three days a week with consecutive
Pantages bookings. The change will
go Into effect February 6, and will
mean that in the future this circuit
will consist of 22 instead of 1 weeks j
time.
NEED OF HISTORICAL BUILDING
Oregon'! Records and Rellea Kept in
Insufficient ft n art era.
POMEROY. Wash., Jan. 25. (To the
Editor.) Some weeks ago while in
Portland I had occasion to go to th
City Hall and the rooms of the Oregon
Historical Society. As an old Ore
gonian of the 1S52 immigration, I nat
urally feel a deep interest in Oregon
and the .aims and objects of the Ore
gon Historical Society.
At the rooms of the society I met
George H. Hlmes, the man to whom th
people of your city and state owe mori
than to any one else for the col
lectins; and preserving of the historical
data of the country and relics or tn
pioneer times. He has been an assid
uous collector of everything pertaining
to the history of Oregon and the live
of Oregon pioneers. This work of hi
has been patiently and persistently car
ried on by him for 27 years. Every
scrap of history of the country, facts,
incidents, narratives, newspaper and
magazine articles, anything he could
secure pertaining to the discovery,
early settlement, the pioneers, the
progress and development of the coun
try has been collected and saved.
Mr. Himes foresaw, what many are
now only beginning to see, the great
value of these things for coming gen
erations. A great writer has said:
people who have not the pride to record
their history will not long have the
virtue to make history that is worth
recording. And no people who are m
different to their past need hope to
make their future great.
There has been collected material for
7000 bound volumes of newspapers,
each of one inch thickness. It is
matter which should appeal to the pride
of every Oregonian that the firs
newspaper printed west of the Rocky
Mountains was issued February 6, 184b
at Oregon City. What a wonderful
transformation has taken place in the
Oregon Country since that time!
The number of newspapers collected
number about 150,000. Magazines and
pamphlets over 12.000. Letters about
24.000. Photos and pictures of plon
eers, of Indians, buildings and scenic
views number nearly 6000. Brief biog
raphlcal sketches of pioneers 15.000.
Newspaper clippings relating to pion
eer life, industrial and historic sub
jects, over 50.000. The society now has
over 1000 relics of pioneer times, over
UiOO relics pertaining to Indians, and to
articles illustrating pioneer lite in ai
most every phase, which 'if preserved
will be a constant source of pleasure
and instruction for generations to
come, reminders of those who lived
and struggled amid the difficulties and
hardships of early days.
That the people are becoming more
Interested In these things s shown
by the fact that the rjoms of the so
ciety have been visltel by about J J,
000 people during the past year. ItB
work is yet in its infancy, and it is
bound to grow and increase in interest
and value with the country s growtn
and development.
During all the years Bince the or
ganization of the Oregon Historical
Society, its work has been carried
along in rented rooms which have be
come so crowded and inconvenient that
the usefulness and efficiency have been
ereatlv hindered. There has been
great lack of proper cases for books,
shelves and drawers and filing cases
for documents, papers, photos, pic
tures and thousands of other articles
that should be filed away so as to be of
readv and easy access. A large num.
ber of very interesting relics of the
past have been exposed to air and dust
so that their proper preservation is
impossible under existing conditions.
Many of the things that have been so
exposed should be in air-tight cases,
where they would be free from dust
and exposure to needless handling.
There has been' such a lack of room
that no proper arrangement, labeling
or filing was possible. The valuable
collection in possession of the society
could not possibly be arranged so as
to make a proper display, or available
for use.
I understand that now a compulsory
change is being made from the City
Hall to the Courthouse. These moves
are exceedingly inconvenient and an
noying, as well as expensive, and are
liable to cause damage and loss of
books, relics and archives. When we
consider that there are nearly 100 tons
of stuff to move, that this has to te
all hauled in trucks and set up again
in order, in other and differently ar
ranged rooms, some idea can be formed
of the immensity of the task. The
work and worry of this moving process
would convince anyone of the great
need of a new and properly equipped
building for the Oregon Historical bo
cietv.
As an old Oregonlan 1 am aeepiy
interested in everything relating to the
Dioneer history, development and ad
vance of the great state or uregon,
and hope it may keep its place in the
front in the march of progress. Oregon
cannot afford to allow neighboring
states to outstrip her in interest in
matters pertaining to the preservation
of the Dioneer history of tne country
Kverv Orearon pioneer, every citizen,
every legislator and public man snouia
feel a deep interest In this matter ana
should insist that a liberal appropria
tfnn of state funds be made to erect
and eouio a building for the btate ills
torical Society such as win oe a crenu
to the state and matter of pride to
every citizen. U- B.
K.
VALUE OF SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Benefits to Young and Old Are Far-
Keacblng.
PORTLAND, Jan. 25. (To the Edi
tor.) The Symphony Orchestra should
be established as a permanent institu
tlon of the City of Portland, legitimate
ly, ably and proudly supported by the
whole people. The excellent results
achieved by the combined efforts of
those 50 or 60 skilled musicians, in in
terpreting so splendidly the best
thoughts of the masters who have
translated through the medium of in
explicable sound the voice of God to
the soul, should cause every loyal
citizen of Portland to become a booster
for the permanent establishment of
the institution.
It is manifestly pure love of ta.nr
art which impels the members of the
orchestra to give so generously of
their time and skill in the rehearsals
necessary to the rendition of their
excellent programmes. Certainly th
monetary remuneration to each mem
ber can be but a mere bagatelle alter
the many standing and incidental ex
penses have been covered by the rev
enues received. The action of the or
chestra in inviting the school children
to enioy their rehearsals free of cost
proved them to be artists who value
their art above and beyond its com
mercial value.- The beneficial results
to young children, along lines of men
tal and moral growtn, oi atienaiiiR
weekly renditions of the marvelous
productions of the' great composers,
would be incalculably great; therefore,
the Symphony Orchestra is as neces
sary, in its sphere, to the education ot
the young, as are the manual training
and trade schools. Such an Institu
tion would doubtless also prove to be
as great a factor in the mental, moral
and spiritual uplift of the adult popu
lation as the churches.
ELIZABETH KANE STEPHENS.
Give Him a Shock.
Harper's.
Miss Dubbkins Marietta " stam
mered Wimpleton. nervously, "er wow
will yuh you mum mum marry
me?'
"Don t you ever ask me a question
like that again, Reginald Wimpleton,"
replied the girl, proudly.
Bub but wnun wny, mum Mari
etta?" stuttered Wimpleton. "I lul lul
love you dud devotedly and "
'Because, the fair girl answered.
firmly, "because It will not be neces
sary for you to subject yourself to the
nervous strain. I will."
A Matter of Methods
By Dean Colllno.
In Oregon today I note.
The while this ditty I am writing:
That women, if they care to, vote
While those In England are still
fighting, v
Oh, muse, let's draw no parallel
'Twixt methods, this or that one
hittin'.
But women here, it seems to me.
Sought votes not as they seek In
Britain.
In their campaign I did not see,
Even when they took to campaign
spielings,
A single action that could hurt
The fiercest "anti's" tender feelings.
Serene, I mailed my billets doux.
And- went my way full calm and
placid;
Because I knew thoy would not drench
The mailbox with sulphuric acid.
I did not fear to roam the street
In Portland, as I might in London
No suffraprlst would club my skull
Until its suture joints came undone.
I saw no valiant ax brigade
Assault the stores, with fury raving.
And smash wax models In the jaw.
And scatter plate glass o'er the
paving.
I saw nobody, with a sledge.
Break off the flooding hydrant's
stopper.
Nor heave a brickbat at the Mayor,
vNor sally forth and bite a copper.
In fact I saw no strong arm stuff;
And still, quite soon, it will be noted
That everybody said: "Why, sure!"
And then the women went and voted.
I will not draw a parallel
'Twixt methods, in this song I'm
writing
But women vote in Oregon;
In England they are still out fight
ins. Tortland, January 20, 1913.
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonlan of January SO, lPfi.l.
Baltimore. Jan. 17. The Washington
Intelligencer publishes eight columns
of intercepted rebel dispatches. The,
most Important part of the correspond
ence relates to a movement . of the
French consuls at Galveston and Rich
mond, supposed to have originated in
Paris, to induce Texas to secede from
the Southern Confederacy and establish
an independent government.
Cairo, Jan. 17. The attack by gun
boats on Arkansas Post continued
from Friday evening, .January 9, until
Sunday afternoon, at which time the
land forces stormed the works and the
fort surrendered. We captured six
regiments.
New York, Jan. 19. The Tribune
publishes a letter of one of its cor
respondents with the Army of the
Potomac announcing that another for
ward movement was about to be made.
The noise made at the two cheap
John establishments in this city is
almost intolerable.
The City Marshal and his subordi
nates propose at once to break up thr
nest of savages living on the north
side of the city, whose infernal orgies.
varied by free fights, interfere serious
ly with the peace and dignity of the
city.
Mr. Charles Schuck. of Fort Hoskins,
writes the following account of the at
tack on the store of Messrs. Hodges &
Schuck to the Corvallis Union: "On
Monday evening, January 12, eight
soldiers belonging to Fort HosKins
entered the store of Hodges & Schuck
demanding some beer. But as the men
had been there on the day before (bun-
day) helping themselves and as they
seemed to be under tne influence or
lauor. they were refused by me. Two
of the men attacked me and succeeded
in putting me in the cellar. Then ona
of them set the house on fire and left
only after there was no possibility of
saving the house and its contents.
Mr. Myers, acting as a substitute for
Mr. Hodges, who was held in awe by
the miscreants, having a loaded pistol
held at his head, let me out of the
cellar and so'saved my life."
Mother Helped by Compensation Law.
PORTLAND, Jan. 29. (To the Edi
tor.) I appeal to the mothers of Ore
gon to become interested in the pro
posed workmen's compensation bill.
House bill No. 27, now before the Leg
islature. It is a bill every mother In
Oregon should become Interested In and
understand what it means to hundreds
of mothers and little children when the
father and bread winner Is snatched by
death at his daily labor In logging
camps, sawmills and other Industries
(mind vou. there are nearly au.uuu
men engaged in the lumber Industry
alone In Oregon).
Who can conceive or realize but a
mother, what a dreadful news It Is
when only a few hours before the
father said good-bye to his dear ones
and at noon the terrible news is
brought to her that her husband la
killed; what her thoughts must be
when the little children cling to ner;
what she must suffer to know their
father and provides Js gone. .
Tf this nroDOsed compensation Din
is passed it will provide for the mother
and her little ones, speedily too, no
delay, no cross-questioning in court,
tearing the. terrible wound in the poor
mother's heart ODen. going over the
awful scene of the accident: all that is
done away with. This bill if passed
will be a comfort to tne iamuy, aa
the sooner provision is made for the
family, the better, Instead of waiting
for law suits and ten chances to one,
get no provision at all.
Mothers, let us get busy and help to
get this bill passed at this session; It
our fluty to oe miercBieu in mo
cause, and , think seriously what it
means to a grier-stricKen motner auu
little orphans. I am sure we will neur
regret the little effort we made.
Enforce Preaent Laws.
PORTLAND, Jan. 28. (To the TBdl-
tor.) Law, good or bad, enforced or
not enforced, seems to tie me topiu ui
the hour in Oregon Just now. And to
the mind of this writer, enforcement
of law is of the most importance. In
fact, strict enforcement or law is tne
only test of good government.
On reading over the bills presented
to the present Legislature, we note a
few that simply cover grouna aneauy
covered by existing laws. In fact, we
are deeply impressedl with the need
of more enlightenment as to existing
laws, and from experience we know
that 'it is not an easy matter to get
at existing laws.
Some provision should be made
whereby the voters can get access to
the revised code easier. Not many men
n- women have the code personally.
and only one copy is to be found in
the Public Library, and that in the
reference room.
One measure presented to tne pres
ent session is to proniDit profanity.
That is well; but why not first en
force the present law? We have a good
one. If the existing law seems weak
at any point, strengthen It, but at all
events enforce it.
L. F. ADDITON.
Carnegie Hero Fnnd.
KINGSLEY, Or., Jan. 28. (To the
Editor.) Please publish Information
concerning the Carnegie hero fund
the location and name of officers If any.
F. H. Wllmot, Oliver building, Pitts
burgh, Pa., is secretary and manager
of the fund. Applications should be ad
dressed to him.