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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (April 18, 1913)
lO THE MORXIXG OREGONIAN, FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 1913. rORTLAXD. OKKGOX. Entered at Portland. Oregon, poatofftc as wcond-elm matter. atufeacrtBUoa italee Invariably In Advance (BT MAIL) Datlr. Sundae Included, ona ar ...... M-01 Ii;j. Sunday Included. Us month ... 4.3 Iai;y, Sunday losiuded. threa months.. aj.y, Sunday Jnoluded. ono month .TS Lal.y. without Sunday, ono year ...... t-uf Xai.jr. atlthout 8unaay. six month ... Zaliy. without feundaT. thrca month ...1.75 Xally. without Sunday, en month .... -AO Weealy. on year 1-J Sunday. a year -3 Sunday and w'aekly. on year.. ........ (BT CARRIER) Pally, tmlif included, on year...... S.JJ al;jr. Sunday Included, on month. 7 How to Remit Mod poetoa.ea money or der, eipreaa order or personal check an your ieaj tana, mampa. coin or currency mrm - toe aendere ruk. Ol poatofflc eddreaa la euii. iDci)Min( covmy ana neia Pta Kale Ten to 1 pace, t mat IS to 2A naaea. X cental SO to 40 oelta cetite; eO to SO page, s cants, i'orslsa poetair. doubl rat. EAAferA Hmln.n OeTV-ea VeiTea at Con Ha. kie Hoik. UrunaerloJt bull dine Cbl- caxo. bteter bulldln(. can Iranciaca UAic R. J. Bldwnll Cav. T42 Market tlrwL . Earonru OffLrw No. a Recent e treat a. W., Leadon. I FOBTU.ND, FRIDAY. APRIL IS, IMS. irn&owa EW METHODS. Congress has worked longer and harder In the last few years than In former times and President Wilson has mapped out so extensive a pro gramme of legislation that, if the Democrats should retain control of the House after the election of 1914. it will work as hard, if not harder, in the next four years. The President is said now to entertain hopes of dispos ing of the currency question as well as the tariff at the present session. For the regular session beginning next December he is said to have prepared a potpourri composed of efficiency and economy, workmen's compensa tion, harmonizing of court decisions, condition of Jails and Inquiry Into con tract labor. Nothing is said here of matters of such first magnitude as amplification of anti-trust laws, conservation in all Its many ramifications or Alaskan allroads. These subjects cannot be pushed into the background and may be given attention it the next session in preference to some of those already mentioned. The President's methods In dealing with the tariff are an Index to his plan for completion of this ambitious programme. As leader of his party he proposes to insure that all differ ences of opinion within the party on any Important measure shall be set tled before it is introduced In either Senate or House. Then the party will present an unbroken front to its op ponents and will not leave opportunity .for them to play off a divided Democ racy in the Senate against a ' united party la the House, or vice versa, or to use the President to nullify the work of both. The House leaders will assure themselves before Introducing a bill that it is such as the House and Senate majorities will pass and as the President will approve. Compromises between Senate and House are to be made in party caucus, not in Joint con ference after the bill is passed. Corn promises between President and Con tress are to be arranged before the caucus meets, not after the bill goes to conference arlth conflicting provi sions adopted by the two houses. This plan has the merit of promot lng efficiency In getting results and economy of time. It secures for the party in power credit for good work and leaves no opening to escape re sponsibility for bad work. But it has serious draw-backs. It renders debate on the floor of Congress a sham battle, the result of every detail of which Is a foregone conclusion. It practically destroys the usefulness of the minority party for criticism and for removal of unsuspected blemishes. A keen critic will point out serious defects or suggest obvious Improvements which the majority leaders would be In clined to remove or accept. But he dare not do either until he has ob tained the consent of the other house and of the President, lest he break the party phalanx and throw the whole work Into confusion. Under the guidance of a man of Mr. "Wilson's temperament his plan may be used without evil results, but there have been and may be again Presidents and Congressional leaders who would use the party phalanx for the purpose of driving through vicious legislation and of smothering debate, A remedy could then be applied only at the polls and. were the minority party victorious, it would be tempted to follow the evil precedent. have, as William Hanley pungently ex. presses It, "Used their'n and now re fuse to let us have our'n." In the set tlement of all the country east of the Rockies the public domain was really a public domain. It was for the bene fit of those who had occasion to use Its products and resources the near by settlers. But nowT Now such set tlers are not only denied the products, but are denied the privilege of acqulr. lng title, and must pay for the grass if they turn their cattle upon It. Had such conditions prevailed dur ing the last century where would we stand as a Nation today? Does any body suppose if the timber lands of Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana of all the Middle West had been "con served" In the early years of the set tlement of those sections that we would now have over 90,000,000 peo ple In this country? It would have been a poverty-breed ing policy then, and so it Is now, ex cept theoretically and for those who know nothing about .Western condi tions. Those are the only people who see any profit or any sense in fine' spun "conservation." Solicitor McCabe, but it did not show us the men behind them. OOVTTR.VOR HAD LET'S JTECKT1ES. It is a commonplace of history that no man who wears gaudy neckties ever rises to enduring fame. Some, like Mr. Roosevelt, who revel In green ones with white polka dots, do attain to notoriety after a fashion, but it is a transient bubble which whirls a mo ment or two on the surging stream and then, as the schoolboy said. It busts. Governor Hadley's penchant for gor geous ties had the double weakness of being Impolitic in itself and also of. being a mere imitation. It Is bad enough to imitate the virtues of the great, but deliver us from a man who patterns after their follies. Governor Hadley, It appears, really preferred a blue tie with pink polka dots, but, learning that Mr. Roosevelt sported green with white dots, he switched to the latter variety. 'As the necktie so is the soul,' were the' words of a wise Swami whose . name is too sacred to be written down. Governor Hadley's ad. ventures in ties clearly indicate that fatal vacillation which makes it im possible for him ever to become truly great. The flaming hues he loves in dicate a state of spiritual pride "which It is feared by those who understand such matters will also prevent him from being truly good. IMPROVIDENT COXSERTATIOX. In a memorial to Congress from the State Legislature of Colorado rel ative to Federal operations in that state, attention is called to a phase of the forestry question which is often overlooked. That is the loss of reve nue to a state through the inability te collect taxes from lands in the re serves. As to the Injustice of this state of affairs, the memorial says: Tha older states have had, and still bare, tli benefit artalnr from prlvat acquisition of all the public land within their boun daries, receiving- revenu therefrom through taxation and otherwise,, and It 1 therefor a great Injustice that they should now seek to Impose upon tha Western state obstruc tion and burden with which tbey did not say to come no. It was for a century supposed that the public lands really belonged to the Government, but the use of them was for the benefit of the people of the state in which they were located and, since the passage of the home stead law at least, these lands were simply held in trust by the Govern raent until such time as they should be claimed as homes. As soon as this change came about, and the home builder received title, the state derived a benefit through taxation. The theory now is that the Govern ment' is to retain title indefinitely to such portion of the public domain as theorLts assert is not suitable for homes, to those portions so covered with timber as to be of alleged use as water sheds, and also to stone and mineral lands and selections for pub lic parks. Through' . these various sources the public domain In certain sections will forever be so preponder ant as seriously to hamper alt and every sort of enterprise from farming to manufacturing. Take Curry Coun ty, in this state, as an example. About 50 per cent of that county will, if the present "conservation" rulings con tinue, forever be a source of outlay to the citizens of the state with no revenue from taxation to offset this expense. In other words, the Gov ernment not only refuses to let our people get title to the lands so that we can collect taxes from the owners, but charges a high rate for the grass that grows on them. Theoretically the forestry and al lied "conservation" plans are very, very fine. But It takes a man from Boston or some section where nothing is known of Western conditions really to believe In them. These men DANGER IN ITNIVERSITr REFERENDUM. The special election in November, If it be held, will cost probably in excess of 1100,000. Apparently only two bills are the subjects of organized attack. One affects the licensing of dentists; the other appropriates $175,000 for much-needed buildings at the State University. The Legislature consld ered these bills fully and fairly and they were passed with almost a unani mous vote. A significant feature is that In some Instances the same name solici tors are circulating the two sets of petitions. Apparently neither party wishes to take full responsibility of calling an expensive election and each is trying to hide behind the other. If either one of these referendums were dropped the other would go with it and so also would the various other little referendum movements here and there mentioned throughout the state. If these petitions gain enough sig natures we shall be a spectacle before the Nation next November. There are no elections of Importance elsewhere in the country at that time, and Ore gon will feature as a state using all its vast election machinery and calling to the polls all Its voting population to refer a bill regulating dentistry and a bill providing a moderate amount for new buildings at the State University. Many a town puts more than S175.000 fnto a high school building. We shall not be pleasantly commented on. Referring measures is not a light thing, and should not be treated light ly. The argument of "putting it up to the people" is often a fallacious one. If there is an abuse of such serious nature as to demand "putting It up to the people," well and good; but It is an abuse of direct legislation to force reference of measures which have been honestly passed by the Leg islature and with which there is no general discontent. Have the supporters of the univer sity referendum thought of the effect repeated attacks upon the university through the medium of the referendum may have upon the minds of the future citizens who are now students at that Institution? College loyalty is strong In the heart of every student, and he is at an impression able age. If we mistake not, this would be the fifth referendum affect ing the State University. If invoked without ample cause and not in ac cordance with at least a moderate de mand from the people. Is there not danger that the college youth will im blbe from such movements a distrust of direct legislation? Murder Is an ordinary Incident in the schemes of these men. MOORE AND FCRE FOOD. The Agricultural Department prom Ises to be the storm center of the present, as it was of the past. Admin istration. It was forced into the light by the Balllnger-Plnchot Inquiry and by the attacks on Dr. Wiley. Now it is to the fore again through the dis missal of Willis L. Moore as chief of the Weather Bureau, who threatens to involve the Chemistry Bureau having charge of pure food Inquiries. Only public ' inquiry of the most searching character can decide , the rights and wrongs of the controversy between President Wilson and Profes sor Moore. No man can question the right of the latter to seek promotion to the head of the department, but, if he used his official position and au thority to coerce his subordinates into aiding htm and if he misused Govern ment funds for that purpose, dismissal Is the lightest penalty that should be Imposed. On the other hand, if his deposition was due to the secret instl gallon of the men who finally drove Dr. Wiley from office, the fact should be brought out and the identity of the men responsible should be made known. Professor Moore's statement gives plausible grounds for the charge he makes and it should be either proved or disproved. Suspicion has been growing into conviction that occult Influences have made the pure food law, practically a dead letter by paralyzing the energies of or driving from office those en trusted with its enforcement. The benzoate of soda decision, the defini tion of whisky, the creation of the Remsen Board of Review and the cru sade against Dr. Wiley all tend to con firm this suspicion. But we have never been able to drag into the light the men who prompted all these sin- later movements. The investigation of Dr. Wiley showed us Dr. Duniap and MOTHERS PENSIONS. In past years there has been abun dant talk about the value of the home to the individual and to society, but against some of the forces which have tended to destroy the home there has been very little positive action. The talk has begun and ended In the air. Drunken fathers who wasted their wages in the saloon, to the ruin of their wives and children were fined and Imprisoned without a thought that this punishment produced still more misery at their homes. Hus bands and fathers were sentenced to the penitentiary with ruthless disre gard of the crying need of their fam ilies for support. Often while they were in prison their earnings were turned over to contractors, while their wives and children fell into destitution and their homes were permanently broken up. In the last year or two an encouraging change has been going on in the conduct of the public toward the home. It is no longer satisfied with merely talking about the beauty and value of a united family. Practi cal measures have been taken In sev- eral states to keep mother and chil dren under the same roof when their natural breadwinner proves recreant or improvident. By the old way when a husband de serted his family or was sent to prison or died and his wife and children be came destitute the family - was dis persed. The little ones were sent to Institutions of one sort and another, where the state or county paid for their maintenance. The mother, de prived of her children, was left to fight her mournful battle sorrowing and alone. This was not only cruel, it was wasteful both of human energy and of money. It gave the children bread and shelter after a fashion, no doubt, but It deprived them of a mother's love in the years when they needed it most and it struck at the very founda tion of society by systematically pre ferring public Institutions to the home. The experience of Illinois, which is the pioneer state in pensioning mothers, shows that it is actually cheaper for the taxpayer Jo keep the family to gether under the mother's care when the father forsakes his charge than It is to maintain them in asylums and orphanages. More than 1200 children are now being cared for under the Illinois mothers' pension law and it Is found that the cost per month for each one is $5.76. Under the institu tion system the monthly cost per child was 111. Thus the mothers' pension act not only keeps the family from being dispersed, but it saves money to the taxpayer. That it saves the self- respect of the mother and her brood Is another point worth thinking of, but, most Important of all. It keeps the children under their mother's love and-nurturo in the plastic years of their early youth. No institution, not the best one ever built on earth, can replace a mother's smile. A baby can not lay its head In the lap of an In stitution and say its prayers, nor can an institution kiss away its sorrows or share Its Joys. The mother's pension acts compose one of the most practical and effective bulwarks for the home which society has ever erected. This is the ytew of theoretical students who have thought and written upon social questions for years, but not of them alone. It is also the-vlew of a steadily Increasing number of State Legislatures. The Ohio Legislature has Just passed a bill to provide for mothers' pensions and since it was promised in the platform on which Governor Cox was elected he will naturally sign it. In one par. tlcular the Ohio law differs from the one passed last Winter by the Oregon Legislature. Our law turns over to the counties .the duty of raising funds to pension destitute mothers. Ohio will provide the necessary means by a state tax of one-tenth of a mill, which It is estimated will yield $700,000 an nually. This large sum will be admin istered, as it ought to be, by the Ju venile courts. New Jersey has also distinguished itself by passing an ad mirable mothers pension bill. Under this act a dependent mother with one child of school age receives $9 a month. For a second child the pen sion la Increased by $ a month, and for each additional child $4, so that a destitute mother in New Jersey may, if she has five children of suitable age, receive $30 monthly from the Btate. The Ohio law would give her $43, which is, of course, better, since it would enable her to devote more time and energy to the nurture of her chil dren. Besides Oregon, Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Utah, Missouri and Washington have lately enacted moth ers' pension laws. A proposal of the same nature is before the Legislature of New York, and it is said that Gov ernor Sulzer Tavors it, but New York Is proverbially slow to adopt measures which are not prompted by powerful interests and the fate of the bill seems to be rather dubious. Not waiting for the tardy action of the Legislature, a New York society, "The Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor," has undertaken to provide for mothers' pensions from private char ity. Such a scheme is, of course, a mere makeshift and not altogether desirable from any point of view. For one thing, it can only ben efit the lucky mothers who hap pen to be selected, leaving a far greater number to toll and starve In hopeless misery. Worse still, it makes a charity of what ought to be looked upon as a right. The mother who brings children into the world for the benefit of the country should not be delivered over to charity for their nurture when her own resources fail. She has conferred a favor upon the state and the state should recog nize it frankly. All the mothers' pen. slon laws thus far passed admit of im nrovement. They pay too little atten tlon to the mother's necessities before the infant is born and immediately after it has come into the world. It is then, oftentimes, that her need is the sorest, but the . New Jersey law, for Instance, does not take this fact Into account at all. The pension Is grant ed only when the -children aie of school age. Thus the obligation of so ciety to the woman who has borne a child is only partially recognized. Dartmouth College offers a new course which may look a little giddy to some of its gray-headed alumni. It is nothing less portentous than a course in dancing, and, though it is offered only at the Summer school, that hardly neutralizes the taint. The Dartmouth dancing course is given to train leaders for "folk and esthetic dances" at school'festivals. These ex hibits are becoming nationally popu lar. " Sensible teachers regard them as beautiful and Instructive, and sensible parents believe that they are good for their children. Dartmouth's new course meets a real and wide demand The belief of an esteemed content porary that eugenics "was practiced and failed" at ancient Sparta does not agree with that of the best Judges. The great Greek thinkers almost unan imously regarded Sparta as a model state. This was Plato's opinion, and Xenophon and Thucydldes say the same. Moreover, pretty nearly every eminent modern writer on Greek his tory lauds the constitution and career of Sparta as Aristotle did in his day. They are Justified by the fact that, al though the city was small, it defeated all foes for 800 years. Just about a year ago the Titanic went down, and the ice patrol has given warning of the proximity of Ice bergs to the Atlantic ocean lanes. But it was only two weeks after the disas ter that passengers on an ocean liner complained that the deck was so crowded with life-rafts that there was no room to play shuffle board. We would rather risk our lives to amuse ourselves than be both safe and bored, Governor Sulzer has pushed his fight on Tammany to the point of demand lng from -the New York Legislature honest direct primary and short ballot laws. As Tammany controls the Leg islature, the only chance of the Gov ernor's success lies in the pressure of public opinion. If, then, the legislat ors should yield, they would slip in a few Jokers while nobody was watch ing. By means of a hunger strike Mrs. Pankhurst got out of Jail In nine days. Three imprisoned Zionists secured their liberty by the same means in three days. That is the measure of the Briton's hardness of heart or the Zion police chiefs softness of heart. Or perhaps the disturbance made by the Zionists was three times as un endurable as that of the suffragette. John D. Rockefeller completed a chilling plant at his house at Pocan tico Hills, which manufactures Ice at a cost of $2 a ton. Just as the mild Winter caused the price to Jump from 40 to 70 cents per 100 pounds. The old gentleman has second sight in money matters. Senator Works' bill to forbid publi cation of news of crimes, accidents and tragedies, would limit the district papers to accounts of prizefights, tea parties and politics and other delect able stuff; but It is not likely to pass. Ex-Senator Aldrich, who is on his way to Egypt, is quoted as saying: President Wilson has soma admirable qualities, but I do not believe that he quite knows what await him In the political organization. Nor did Mr. Aldrich until 1910. Striking employes of one rope com pany at Auburn have returned to work on the employers' terms, and It is likely the I. H. C. will not call In the moving van to start for Germany. MINER CO.XDESI.IS BLUE-SKY LAW Ears "Hobby" Will Do Much to Keep Back Mining; Industry. EUGENE, Or April 14. fTo the Edi tor.) I am somewhat surprised at an editorial I read in The Oregonian with reference to wildcat mining companies. In the first place, the majority of the mining Is done in Portland by a few young mining engineers and a few col lege professors, in our state schools. They were the originators of the "blue sky laws." These men are not prac tical mining men and know nothing about the mining game, and conse quently wished to get into prominence. So they organize a mining bureau and talk on how to lift the State of Oregon out of the depths of mire and put it on a clean footing, and point to the State of Kansas, where they have lust sucn a clean law, not realizing that Kansas has no mines, excepting In a little cor ner of the southeastern portion, called the Joplin-Galena district. Now, then. If they will look to Colo rado, Montana, the Dakotas, California, Idaho or Washington, they will not find these pure laws, which do not Increase the mining, but tend to kill all pros pecting. Again, you state that It requires laoo worth of work shall be done upon each claim or $500 In cash paid for it. This is a mistake. We are not in Canada, or any foreign country. In the United States we can locate a claim and do our location work. Then every year for five years we are compelled to do $1000 worth of work. If we do ""$200 in a year, only one counts, consequently we have to do five years' assessment work, and at the end of five years we can ask for a patent and then we have to buy that land, if placer, at $2.50 per acre; if quartz, at $5 per acre. So you can readily see that $500 is only the work done for development, and this Is always done. Your mining men. who have no stock to sell, like myself and hundreds of others, look upon the whole thing as a big joke. very little money was ever asked lor by Oregon mines, in Oregon. When real mining men -wanted money for Oregon mines, they went East for it. But 1 know of $200,000 that was raised in Portland last Winter on mines in Alas ka, Idaho and Washington, but do not know of a dollar that went to any Ore gon properties. Miners now in Oregon win incorpo rate In some other state and sell their stock in the East, the same as usual, the state losing the revenue. No one is afraid of the laws, but min ers -do not think it just that the state appoint a few college boys to look over their property and pass upon It, wheth er it is a mine or a prospect- All mines have to be a prospect first, and all prospects have to be developed, and It takes money. No man can look Into the ground and tell whether a pros pect is going to make a good mine or a poor one. It takes development worn to show this, and is takes money to de veloo a mine. In concluding. I wish to say that no tate has or has had better Indication of good mines than the State of Oregon. have mined In Missouri, Colorado, Art zona, Montana, California and Oregon and wish to say that tor live years l have made a careful investigation of tha mining In this state, and do no find' the conditions bad, but 100 per cent better than I have found in other mln ng states, from a Btock-selling stand point W. H. SlIAKVtJN, Paris modistes can at' least console themselves with the reflection that the tube skirt is old enough to be new again, since it has been out of fashion about 3600 years. The Daughters of. the American Revolution Inherit the warlike spirit of their ancestors and have the stay ing qualities that win that is, some of them. Alone among the millionaires, An drew Carnegie welcomes the income tax. It will help him to rid himself of his burden before death overtakes him. Since Governor Hadley has become an opponent of some of Colonel Roosevelt's pet theories, his love of blue polka dot ties may have cooled. In expelling a member for political trickery, the New Hampshire House is setting an example that will be fol lowed by other states to advantage. Ex-Senator Beveridge is said to have predicted that he will be the next President. Does he, too, class Colonel Roosevelt as a has-been? Mrs. Pankhurst hasn't figured in the prints for two days and Rosalie Jones is still strangely missing. We trust the ladles are well. To what desperate expedients the New York police grafters will resort In order to escape the law is illustrat ed by the story told by George A. Sipp, one of the witnesses against them. Sipp says the grafters offered him $1000 and $100 a week If he would go to a place In North Carolina and stay there. They also proposed that, while there, he would undergo a sur gical operation by a surgeon whom he did not know. Sipp knew, his men, for he told their agent he preferred his own doctor. He explained that he feared the operation in North Carolina might not be successful and that he might be "carried home la a box." Vancouver will not rest until that bridge is built. Governor Lister's veto has put the hustling city across the Columbia on its mettle. A former millionaire died in Los Angeles with only $431 to his credit. But would he be any better off with as many millions? Seventy per cent of Illinois Is now dry territory, but the rest of the state Is wet enough to keep distillers and brewers busy. Morgan & Co.'s publicity bureau should be able to give the public the "right steer," with a $25,000 man at the head. How many of the Cabinet members repaired to the sideboard after return lng from President Wilson's "dry" dinner Smuggling opium is a disease as insidious as smoking the stuff and catches the best of them. That must be a Japanese dirigible working toward California to scare the Legislature. Knockout Brown will now kindly change .his name to Knocked-out Brown. The name of the man who got "Un cle Joe" Cannon's scalp Is O'Hair. Baseball and fine weather. more could mortal wish! Jim McNamara took the mailt" and feels better. What "treat- Keep an eye on the Colts as well as tha Beavers. AUSTRIAN HELD PEACE LOVING. Countryman Make Defense tn Reply to Criticism of Montenegrin. PENDLETON, Or., April 14. (To the Editor.) If I understood the gentle man from Montenegro rightly. In his letter last Saturday to The Oregonian, he claims to be some authorized barker for a roval r,lnhe&d of EuroDe. who rules over a country nearly ' as large as Umatilla County and with a popula tion less than that of Portland. Now, don't blame him for being a native of the most Insignificant kingdom on earth, nor Is- it his fault modern cut ture has not reached as far as the mountains of Montenegro. I, too, was born in a small country of Europe. I, too, made the mistake of not having selected the United States of America as my country before I was born. But I do blame Mr. Sargentioh for showing in such arrogant spirit hatred towards people who committed no other crime than that of having been born In Aus tria, a country he dislikes. "Gemuthlich" is the German word for sociable, peace-loving. The Austrian, particularly of Vienna, Is noted for this at home and abroad. I never had the opportunity to observe and study- the Montenegrin national or Individual characteristics, but I am informed they are great rowdies and bullies, always ready to fight a sick Turk, providing they have also the assistance of a Servian, a Bulgar and a Greek. Not one Montenegrin had the courage to raise his voice against this wholesale murder, otherwise called the Balkan war. Mr. Sargenticn probably never heard of the war demonstrations In Vienna and Budapesth. He never heard that over 1,000,000 Austrian toilers were ready to call the general strike and stop every wheel of industry and commerce out of respect for peace and good-will towards all men. It was the Austrian proletariat who Instigated and called together the great peace congress last Summer, where 10,000, 000 workers gave notice to kings and commercial buccaneers: "If you 'want to fight, go ahead; we will not do it any more for you. If we do any more fighting. It won't be out of national arrogance or for reli gious spooks. We have ourselves a grand Ideal and worthy cause to fight for, if fight we must-" No, Mr. Sargentlch, thinking people of our days have no thought or sym pathy to waste on barbarous hordes of seml-clvllized people who Invade other countries. CARL WITTMAN. NO NEED OF LARGER NAVY SEEN "Correspondent Insists That Agitation for More' Battleships Is Needless. PORTLAND, April 15. (To the Edl tor.) In your editorial entitled "Rea sons for a Navy," you advance three rea sons, not for a Navy," but for a larger Navy. First, to uphold the Monroe doctrine; second, to maintain the open door in China, and, third, to back up our Asiatic exclusion policy. I take that these are the only valid reasons for Increase in the size of our Navy otherwise you would have mentioned the others. We know that in 1823 th Monroe doctrine succeeded admirably, with the backing of England, in pre venting Russia from grabbing the Pa clfic Coast and Spain from subvert inir the constitutions of the L,atin American republics and reannexin them. But nobody seems to know exactly what It means today. When President Cleveland, in 1895, invoked the doctrine anent the question of the Venezuelan boundary, England yielded to our demands. vVas this because sue was afraid of our Navy? We really had little Navy at that time. Do we need to build an Indefinite number of ad Idltional battleships at $13,000,000 per In order to maintain a doctrine, not policy, that is repudiated by the very nations that it was originally Intended to benefit and that cannot possibly do us any good? Moreover, at the risk of being called unpatriotic, I will venture to as whether it would not be better for all concerned if the administration of th government of Mexico were in the hands of England or Germany. As to the open door in China, Is It not already wide open and Is it not th policy of the new China to keep it open? Has it not been a concert ot the powers that has kept It open? Even If it were our exclusive duty to keep it open, would it require a larger Navy than we have today to bulldoze the Chinese? Finally, does the "Japanese menace' justify the building of more dread noughts? For some years we have maintained friendly relations with our trans-Pacific neighbors through court eous dimplomacy and not because of threats. In your Washington dispatch of April 11, I read that the Preslden explained that the Japanese Ambassa dor. In the matter . of the California anti-Japanese- legislation, had acted "in a most proper and delightful manner. treating the United States as a friend of Japan, who would wisR to see the present relations prevailing. Even it we should so far forget ourselves as to act in an ungentlemanly manner to ward Japan, she has neither the will nor the ability to make war upon us over so trivial a matter. Poor Japan Is so burdened with debt on account ol her last war that a war of aggression is quite out of the question. HERBERT B. AUGUR. NATURE IS A HEARTLESS JADE So Says Rainier Man Who Preaches i Harsh Creed. RAINIER, Or., April 15. (To the Edl tor.) Referring to recent letters of Mr. Kendall and B. G. M., in The Ore gonian, both speak the truth about nature's laws and yet leave some things unsaid,, which is a common falling with all of us. The terms "fit" and "unfit" are, to my mind, not precise. For nature cares not whether or no her creatures are one or the other, for nature works with a methodic madness along the lines of least resistance and she never ceases to looK lor ana at tack the weakest spots in us and the rest of her creatures. So has she brought Goliath in contact with David who was strong in intellect but not In brawn. And after all it was mostly a matter of who got there first; it being Ooliath s over-conndence that kept him from gretting David first. So the stoutest of us, physically, will at some time or other expose our weakest spot to the "meaBly tubercle" (to borrow a sufferer's expression) and It is the power of vitality that will prove us fit or unfit. Nature works blindly and working along lines of least resistance she picks her. victims whenever they get in her way. She is constantly at it. She keeps creating, building, crowding shifting and in some places sometime or other she finds things overcrowded. congested and obstructed and knowing no stop the thing that finds itself In the way of naturemust give way to her. And so we have earthquakes, avalanches, floods, epidemics, wars. decline and rise of nations. The fittest to my mind, Is not neces sarily the best and noblest, but the most apt to survive for nature knows neither erood nor evil. She only knows to procreate and to move, end when things get too many she coolly proceeds to make a rift for herself no matter who or -what's in the way for she knows no Buffering either. And Bloody Mary did not survive be cause she was good, but because she was given the power and she used it to destroy. The same Is true or gov ernments, as for Instance, the Russian, and her time will come as sure as the time comes for everything else. Neither Booth nor Barabbas survived because thev were trood. It Is the unguarded and the weak, good or bad, who succumb Yes, man Is made thick and fast and the thicker he is made the weaker also, and then be is easy picking and that the law. There is nothing to stop it. DREAMER. Twenty-five Years Ago From Th Oregonian of April 18, 18S8. Washington. April 17. At 1 o'clock the House went into committee of the whole. Springer of Illinois In the chair, for consideration of the tariff bill. Mills made his speech on the bill. Kelley of Pennsylvania took the floor in opposi tion. New York. April 18. Roscoe Conkllng died at 1:30 A M. Philadelphia, April 17. William Cramp & Sons, ship and engine builders, have nearly completed a dynamite cruiser gunboat called the Yorktown, designed 'for the United States Navy. E. R. Skipworth, Democratic presi dential elector, will open the campaign in Eastern Oregon in a few days. The will of the7ate General John Adair was admitted to probate In the Clatsop County Court Monday. The estate consists of real property valued at about $50,000. The will bequeaths all of the property to his wife. Mary Ann Adair, for the term of her natural life, after which it goes to Betty Adair Brenham, widow of C. J. Brenham. Ellen Adair Mendell, Kate Adair Welch. Mary Adair Jordan, Mary R. Adair, wife of S. D. Adair. Messrs. Pacquet & Smith have two large and one small scows and a force of men engaged in raising the sunken steamer Bentley below Lincoln. The new Evanc-elical Church at St Johns was opened a few days ago with appropriate exercises and preaching by Rev. L. S. Fisher. The new Hayes hook and ladder truck for the Portland Fire Department has been finished by the manufacturers at Oakland. CaL The Portland Rowing Association are rearranging their house in order to ac commodate new pleasure and racing Doats ordered ror the season. The Junior crew this year Is as follows: E. w. Moore, Clarence Gllsan. J. McLane and Henderson Deady. A double Bcull race between Coffee and Bevan against McAlpin and Quackenbush is promised. Half a Century Ago From The Oregonian of April 18, 1863. It is surprising, when the office holders on this coast, are so em barrassed by the depreciation of cur rency, that not one of them has been compelled, to resign. Walla Walla, April 11. We are con stantly learning of thieving movements of the Snake Indians. They have been very successful this Spring in running off horses and cattle. They have run off some 80 head from a drove which started from Southern Oregon for Boise. United States Income Tax. The law contemplates that every one shall pay on all net profits (less $600) derived from any source whatever. A person Is allowed to deduct all legally as sessed National, state and county taxes, hired help, rents, drayage, etc. necessary to carry on his business, but no farmer, merchant, mechanic or any person has a right to deduct his own labor as so much expense from his in come. Thomas Frazar, United States Assessor for Oregon. COMMISSION CHARTER DISCUSSED Proposed Measure Viewed With Sus picion by Mr. Verateeg. PORTLAND, April 17. (To the Edi tor.) As the charter campaign draws to a close and the talk feast is nearly over thoughtful people stand amazed at the furious contention of the factions with their charges and counter charges. ,ach candidate of Importance is pre sented in a double role as a good patriotic citizen and as a corruptionlst and a foe to honest government. But while this great game of politics may amuse the politlcans. It does not appeal to the moral sense of the plain people. Under our present charter the ma- hinery of government la clogged by the Innumerable and conflicting boards and commissions. The Mayor being the tentative head or our city, is powerless to bring about much needed and legiti mate reforms. Centralization of power is the lead ing argument presented by the friends of the commission form. The placing of the legislative and executive busi ness in one branch is a radical measure and delegates arbitrary and abnormal powers. Now the question arises which Is the better charter, that under which we now proceed or the one soon to be presented? The ur.instructed and uneducated de sire to secure the best for themselves prlmarly, and secondarily for the public. It is a doubtful matter for decision, requiring much consideration. For one who is in the position of the uninformed, I desire Information on the knotty questions involved. E. VERSTEEG. BRITISH CONDUCT IS DEFENDED Facta In History Noted and Queries of Critic Answered. PORTLAND, April 15. (To the Edi tor.) Michael Kenny, of Clatskanie and Ballynasloe, who Is evidently a member of the Clan-na-Gael League, asks a number of questions In The Ore gonian this morning, and as he Is In very great need of Information, per haps you will permit me to answer a few of his quesles. 1. Were the Britons fair to us during the Civil War? Certainly most fair. They acknowledged the belligerency of the Federals and Confederates (which was a fact patent to all the world), but did not acknowledge the government of the Confederate states, though urged by France to do so. Their generous acceptance of our "amende honorable after our shocking breach of the laws of nations in the Mason-Slidell affair, probably saved us from defeat and ex tinction. 2. Was Britain fair In Venezuelan claim? Michael Kenny should read the award of the Geneva court and he would be triad to run away and hide. Benjamin Harrison assented to this award, being U. S. Commissioner. 3. Were the Britons right In the Alaska boundary contention? They most certainly were, and, know ing this, willingly submitted to arbi trate, and themselves (by the vote of Lord Alverstone) settled the matter in our favor. 4. Were the Boers entitled to the same consideration as Montenegro? There Is no comparison. The Boers were reDeis. -ine.vueen oi fjngiana being their suzerain (see statement of 18S1) upon whom they deliberately made war by invading Natal in 1900. and were Justly chastized by losing their autonomy in 1901. QUINCX GADSDEN, NEW POSTOFFICE ON BROADWAY That Is logical Place for Proposed Structure, Saya Correspondent. PORTLAND, April 15. (To the Edl tor.) It is to be hoped that support will be given the-committee appointed by the Commercial Club which recom mended that Portland's new Postofflce face - on Broadway Instead of Park street. It is argued by the Bennett (so- called) Greater Portland Plans advo cates that the people Indorsed these plans at a recent election. No greater misstatement of tact could be made, as the act distinctly states that plans are to be followed "as far as practica ble and advantageous." The development of Seventh street, now Broadway, was not recommended In the Bennett plans. They advocated the development of the next Btreet west Park street and the condemna tion of blocks between Park and West Park streets now not owned by the city. To purchase this property and develop it bonds would have to be issued for from $7,000,000 to $8,000 000 -which the people of Portland will never sanction. So that feature of the plan may as well now as later be ac knowledged as Impractical. Portland's traffic problem Is not north and south It is east and west. The present devel opment of Broadway conflicts with the Bennett plans, hence the endeavor to belittle same. But It was a practical, inexpensive development of Portland, something that is foreign to these Ben nett plans, but such as can be carried out all over Portland by a little com mon sense. Further, the vacant block west of the Postofflce site is not city, but railroad property, and may soon be used for freight purposes. Is it sane, then, to face our new Postofflce up against these freight sheds? Mo, indeed! The committee that decided that the new Postofflce should face on Broadway was right, and I trust they will have the general support of all who are not carried away by viewing soma fancy sketches. J, WALTER SEABERG. Motorist's Rude Surprise. London Standard. The motorist emerged from beneath the car and struggled foi breath. His helpful friend, holding an oil can, beamed upon him. "I've Just given the cylinder a thorough oiling, Dick, old mam," said the helpful friend. "Cylin der!" said the motorist heatedly. "That wasn't the cylinder; it was my ear!" THE ROOSEVELT AUTOBIOGRAPHY Are. you reading the early chap ters of this remarkable series of articles by Theodore Roosevelt on his own life and experiences T Events of great moment are to be gone into anon. Why did the bat tleship fleet sail around the Horn? What is the truth regarding tha Russo-Japanese peace meeting? Roosevelt is going to tell some big things in his chapters of a possible autobiography. Read the early in stallments in The Sunday Orego nian. What Is Azb to Marry At? A de liehtful feature is built around this question by Rita Reese. You will enjoy it whether you ore mar ried or not. The Surrender A subtle story of love and a woman's struggle to carve out a career, by Mary Heaton Vorse. At Last The Missing Link They've found the bones of the long-sought man-ape in a cave in Southern France. Scaling Mount McKinley A dar- in;r missionary is preparing to con quer the most formidable of moun tain peaks. Profitable Varnish Trees A new idea for enterprising farmers. Weeds Fit to Eat A page worth while on weeds that will increase the menu. Germany Starves Her Army An absorbing illustrated article from a Berlin correspondent, who gives an insight into methods used to keep (own expenses in the enormous German fighting machine. MANY OTHER FEATURES. Order today of your news dealer.