10 mm PORTLAND, OREGON. Entered at Portland, Oreson, Poatoffloa as Mcond-olaM matter, . . Subscription Ratea InTarlably la Advance. (BT KAIL) Sunday Included, on year. Dally Sunday Incinded. six months. ..... .- 2.25 Lai y. wimoui duuwj, ---- . Dally, without Sunday. on month Weekly, one year J"60 Sunday, one year.. ....... - teuaday and Weekly, one year (BY CARRIER) Dally. Sunday Included, one year.- Daily Sunday Included, one month 1 How to Remit Send poitofflce money or derT e'p-order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at end" Yi.k. Give postofflc. address In lull, including county and state. Poataaa Ratea Ten to 14 pages, 1 cent. 1. VpaTeaTT cent.; 80 to . page., t "nu; .0 to 0 pages. . cents. Foreign postage, doubla rates. nfnMv,rrM A Conk- . . V....W nrnnnlck bulldlnc. Chi- cago, Steger building. San Francisco Office B. J. BtdweU Co, 742 Market street. European Office No. 1 Regent street 8. W., London. . PORTLAND. TBUBSDAY. MAY , 191S. LESSONS IX PREFERENTIAL TOTEfO. To those who do not understand it and also to those who are seeking; a means of joining; some advantage by manipulation, a review of the provi sions of the preferential system estab lished In Portland by the new charter may be profitable. ' Owing- to the large number of names on the ballot, casting; of first, second and third choice votes will be permit ted In electing; candidates to each of fice. For the office of Mayor each voter may vote for three men, but it Is not compulsory that he do so. There will be three columns on the ballot. In the- first column the voter will des ignate the man he deems best fitted to be Mayor. In the second column he will designate the candidate he deems next best fitted. In the third column he will vote for the candidate next in line in his esteem. He is not permit ted to vote more than one choice for one individual. There are four Commissioners to elect, and each voter will be given three choices, which therefore will call for crosses before the names of twelve men. , , XC tne voter win uul ... hnt all he Is asked to do under the new plan is to vote first for the best man, next for the second oest man u third for thf. third best man he will ,,.. difficulty with his ballot and the system will likely produce capable officials if there be any in the list of candidates. n,A honest-minded voter, the man who Intends to register each choice in accordance with his convictions, need not concern himself materially about the other provisions of the charter rel in nrefprential voting. These nthr provisions consist of lnstruc fto in the election officials. They provide. In substantial effect, that If any candidate receives the first choice votes of a majority of the electors vot ing; he shall be elected: otherwise, first and second choice votes are to be added together and If any candidate then has a total equivalent to a major ity of the voters voting; he shall be elected; if by adding; first and second choice votes no candidate has a ma inwrv then first, second and third fhnicpn are to be added and the can- dldate having; the highest number of votes in this total shall be elected. Several schemes have been devised for gaining- some advantage from the new system for particular canaiaates. Some have an Idea that first place on the ballot will draw the votes of those who vote In the dark. It is supposed that the know-nothings will vote for the man whose name first catches their eye, and as the voter naturally begins reading at the top these emi nent citizens will vote for the first man on the ballot. It is unfortunately true that first place is an advantage on the old-style ballot, but it has been aemonsiratea .n other localities that under tne preier ential system first place is better than other places only for first-choice votes. The men low on the ballot are more likelv to get the Ignorant vote on sec ond and third choice. If a count of third-choice votes Is necessary to de termine the result the candidates mid way on the ballot or near the foot have a better vote-getting location than the head of the ticket, for second and third-choice votes are as good as first and there are twice as many of them. In order that the system may regis ter a majority choice for each office, the voter must remember these things: Failure to vote other than first choice is partial self-disenfranchise ment and may result in leaving elec tion of candidates almost wholly to others. "Single-shotting" of first-choice votes on Commissioner that is. voting for but one Commissioner when there are four to be elected will reduce the legal majority and may thereby favor other candidates. For example, if 10.000 voters all vote for four Com missioners the legal majority will be 6001. But if S00O of the 10,000 vote for only- one Commissioner, the legal majority is reduced to 4151. If some candidate other than the one who has been "single shot" receives 4251 votes he will have been elected and the 2000 electors who did not vote for him will have made him a present of 7o0 votes, although, they may have been wholly opposed to him. Failure to vote first choice, but reg. Uttering of second and third choice. votes, will have a similar errect. it will reduce the legal majority and give those who have received first choice votes from others a distinct advantage, finsA attention must therefore be sriven the column headings. It Is possible that one or more office. seekers will endeavor to Induce their followers to vote only first choice. The other voters have it in their power to rebuke such an effort. Any candi date who attempts to "work" the sys tem and scheme his way Into office is unworthy of place. Knowledge that he is seeking improper advantage should cause every right-minded citi zen to vote for some other man and carefully refrain from giving the un. worthy place-hunter either first, sec ond or third-choice votes. One of our contemporaries makes art resDonsible for .the current rash lnna In women's wear. If the charge is true we pity art when It gets its deserts, and it Is probably true. Re cent painting shows much the same love of oddity that we see displayed In rowns and bonnets. It eschews harmony for the sake of startling or chocking the observer. Just as some women have abandoned beautiful lines in their attire In order to appear eccentric. MERGES ALREADY rNMTR WAT. One by one the Progressive leaders are lowering tne stanaarus hlch they battled at Amageddon for the Lord and are sending white flags to the leaders of the "hosts of evil." Frank Munsey was the first, then came Controller Prendergast, and now comes Dan Hanna. He declares for mersrer. be in alarmed by what he calls "the familiar signs of danger and incompetency in the party in power in Washington." Mr. Hanna's overtures come ratner late. They come after the local elec tions in New York counties. Chicago and St. Louis and the state election in Michigan have been shown, tne merger to be well under way. The rank and file of the Progressive party are already merging with the Repub licans without waiting for the word from their leaders. If the movement continues as it has begun, the leaders will soon have only a corporal's guard for a following. Mr. Hanna s move for reconciliation has rather the ap pearance of an effort to preserve sem blance of being for a fast disintegrat ing party. Only a little longer delay would render negotiations for a mer- r urMrfluous. for in neither politics nor war does any man negotiate with general who has no army. We be to disagree with Mr. Hanna as to the Incompetency of the party In power. So far it has shown sur prising competency in putting through its tariff programme. This must do admitted in all candor, much as we condemn the programme. Recogni tion of this fact by the great roay oi intm who left the Republican party last Fall, and of, the further fact that that party stands for the ume-nonorea policy of protection stripped of the ATtrnnn of standnattlsm, is causing them to flock back to Its standard. XLMJB FOB ACTlOy IS AT HAND. . A Committee "of One Hundred has been named to consider the present political crisis and to devise a plan for the election in June of a fit Mayor and four fit Commissioners. ine committee has in its membership many of the leading men and women of Portland. There is Imposed upon them a large responsibility and a grave duty. Their paramount obligation is to consider the welfare of the city, in the present crisis, with eyes single to the general interest. We shall not presume to tell the committee what it ought to do or how its work may best be done. It, un derstands perfectly the weight of Its own duties and the limits of its func tions. It must devise and advise. It can do no more. It should do no less. The committee will find the public mind in much perplexity and confusion over the new situation presented through adoption of the commission charter. The destinies of a great city are to be placed In the hands of five men. Each will have much power. All will be equally accountable to the public for the discharge of a large trust. The Mayor and the Commission will execute the laws and make new laws; they will define the municipal policies; they will expend the public moneys; they will control the police. firemen and a great army of employes they will deal with the public service corporations; they will be altogether in a position of extraordinary influ ence and authority. It is not surpris ing that the people view uneasily the chance that they may not be able to select the right men for these large duties. In the hurly-burly of strange politi cal conditions, and the apprehensions growing out of the ambitions and de sires of many unsuitable candidates, it Is clear that the committee is called upon to perform a task of exceptional Importance and difficulty. Yet it should be faced with a determination to strive to find a programme upon which all may agree. No member of the committee should decline to heed the call upon him for a real public service. The fact that any man or woman among them may have ac quired a position of Influence in i community Implies a reciprocal obli gation carrying greater responsibility to city or state than another citizen may have. The public wants guidance, liirht. action. The committee is in position to furnish all of them. WHY eCFTRAGE WAS DEFEATED. John Bull refuses to be driven by the suffragettes. That seems to oe the explanation of the adverse vote in the House of Commons. In for mer rears bills and resolutions In fa vor of woman suffrage have received majorities in the House, but have failed of final passage, Decause tne Government refused to afford time for their consideration. Nevertheless the cause was gradually gaining and women had been granted the suffrage in looal elections and had been made eligible for office in borough and county councils. The suffragette outbreaks aim to compel the government to make the woman suffrage bill a government measure, for In Parliament no bill has any chance unless Introduced by the government or given time lor consia eratlon by It. But both v parties are hotielessly divided on thtf question and, were Premier Asquith to father a suffrage bill, his party and his Cab inet would split. The suffragettes have therefore been attempting the politically impossible trying to force a nartv to unite In favor of a bill on which "it is divided. The vicious acts of destruction and turbulence of which the militants have been guilty have alienated many friends of their cause and have made the opposition active and aggressive, The Premier's heart is set on carrying the Irish home rule bill, which has the support of all three parties com- nasinsr the Liberal coalition, and he will not be turned from his purpose, The Irish Nationalists naturally stand by him and the labor party remains loyal to him on that Issue, though it Is Dledged to woman suffrage. Had the militants been content to wait until home rule was out of the wav. they might have begun the fight in Parliament with better chance of success. But they were impatient and tried to force the issue by violence, Their latest defeat and the vigorous measures taken to suppress them have evidently provoked them to more des Derate crimes. But John Bull has now set his back to the wall and their Im patience will probably causa them to wait much longer than If they had THE MORNING OREGONIAN, THURSDAY. been content .with, milder methods of gitatlon. THB MOST SEFCL AMERICAN. fr. Tndnrjendent has been taking a poll of its readers to find out who is the "most useful American." Candi dates for the distinction were fairly numerous, though not no abundant as prospective Commissioners In Portland. There were only 10,000. Thomas A. Fdinon headed the poll with ess votes. His name appeared on eighty-seven nr rant of all the ballots cast, xnia Indicates an astonishing appreciation of his genius, it almost believe, that he 13 the best-known per son In Ihe country. Certainly his girts ave won that reward in popular re nown wnicn nas oreu uc.c.v.v., . served for generals and statesmen. Of the ten highest canaiaates on. the Independent's list not a solitary one is a military man. unless we give that title to George W. Goethals. who hH the seventh place. However that may be, he did not get his votes on account of his warlike qualities. He is commended by his adherents as 'a broad-minded executive, pre-eminent in the sphere of public worn, a living nrnnf that TJncle Sam can prouute some men who promptly and efficient ly accomplish a world-ramous unaer tftidnr " Not the most belligerent ad vocates of peace can complain of the reason set down for calling mr. goe thals useful. Those for honoring Mr. liaison are no less excellent. One voter says or him that he has "turned inventive genius to a nobler and better purpose than money making. -anotner warmly. "There Is no one like him. Millions of people all over the world uthl asset of our Nation." Of what' politician, can we say the same 7 nss ot Edison won a liner rewara mere self seeking can give? Suppose omebodv should try to do In politics a wik like his In mechanical invention, would not the people sing his praises? Perhaps. But politics is different from anvthine else, Jane Addams stands second in tne noli. Next to Mr. Edison, tne inae pendent's readers think that she Is the most useful person in the United States. "She has revealed a human method of helping God's poor." says one voter. Why God's poorT Shall we blame the Deity for their conditions Another says. "She has roused a now onscience." All agree that she nas lnn a beautiful ana nome worn., whose usefulness can hardly be ex pressed in words. OVB HTTNDRED YEARS OF PEACE. The Treaty of Ghent which termi nated the War of 1813 between the United States and Great Britain was signed December 24, 1814. Next year a century will have eiapsea since umi date and during the entire period there has been peace between the two countries. So long an interval, of amity hetween two great nations is rare In the history of the world and perhaps amltv" Is not the right word to ae- scribe our relations with Great Britain durlne the whole of the century, uick- erings have ansen wnicn someum differed little from open wariare. out by one expedient and another they were smoothed over before it was too lot inii formal if not actual peace maintained. The Treaty oi Ghent settled none of the questions which had brought on the war. 'rne rignts and wroncs of neutral vessels re mained exactly as they were. The Americans obtained no security that thlr norts would not again De diock aded In time of peace and the British still claimed the right to search-our vessels and impress their subjects if any were found on board. Captured torrltorv was restored on both sides and the British gave up their project f wtlnr a neutral province in tne West for their Indian allies. f him It mirht seem as If the- war of 1812 had been fought In vain ana thaj all its cost In life and money was sheer waste. But this would De nara- ly correct. The American naval vic tories, which were numerous and lm- nortant. exalted the spirit or tne coun- trv and Jackson's success at New Or leans showed that our troops were well able to fight when they had compe tent leader. Such feelings Increasea the pride of Americans in their coun try and the fact that troops irom every state had had some share in the successes of the war gave sub stance to the growing concept of na tionality. It took the American people a long time to come to the belief that they formed a nation insteaa oi a mere group or inaepenueiiieuvcicisuiic and the War of 1813 played an lm oortant part in developing the con Momness of unity. The Federalists who had oeen the party of secession during the war and had almost per suaded New England to withdraw from the Union began to fade away as soon as peace was concluded. By tne year 1820 thoy no longer cast a soli tary electoral vote. The National psy. chology had been so cnangea oy tne events of the war tnat mere was no longer room in the country ror a sep aratist oolltical party. uut or tne wreck of the Federalists the "Repub lican" uarty of that day was devel oped. No more talk of secession was heard until the South, began to feel that Its Interests were threatened by the tariff. The development of the protective tariff may be traced back to the War of 1812. Up to the outbreak or tnat trouble our carrying trade naa been fabulously profitable because th- eu ropean nations were obliged to employ our bottoms and pay our prices for the service. Their own vessels had either been impressed into navies in the Napoleonic wars or had been de stroyed by privateers. But when the War of 1812 broke out our ocean commerce suffered as severely as that of other nations from British ravages and American capital turned to manu factures for safer investments. Tn field was an open one. There was no hindrance to developing it Indefinite iv excent our scant population ana th high wages which must do paia De cause hands were few. Forcing its way into the nw enterprise, capital demanded a protective tariff to make competition possible with cheap Euro pean labor, and thus arose the Issue which has vexed the country for a century and promises to vex it for all rime to come. The growth of manu factures, the problem of internal im lmprovements and the exploitation of our natural resources now withdrew the attention of Americans from Eu ropean affairs and for many years our freedom from "foreign entanglements" almost realized Washington's Ideal. The state of European affairs was such that nothing was likely to occur to disturb our provincial serenity. The greater nations were occupied in sup pressing the spirit of progress in the smaller ones and this task was per formed so effectually that bold spirits seemed paralyzed up to 1848. Then there was a grand European outbreak of which the principal effect, as far America was concerned, was an enviable German Immigration. Tt was not until 185S that the unitea States began to feel the attractive In fluence of European politics again. During this interval our people hated England with a lively hatred and would have gone to war once or twice without much real cause if wise heads had not restrained them. There was Intense sympathy in this country with the South American states ana Mexico when they revolted from Spain and some burning patriots would have liked to fight the European tyrant, but it turned out that there was no occasion for war. The rebels were abundantly able to help themselves. Greece and Hungary also claimed our republican sympathies now and then, but upon the whole the United States was withdrawn from foreign Influ ences during the period from 1814 to 1850. Our only aerious dirncuity witn Rntrland arose over the Oregon boun dary and even that yielded to pacific mrnrM after maklns: Polk President. The two nations felt no love for each othr. but inasmuch as they haa notn- lng in particular to fight over they managed to keep peace. The British ripanised u and condescended now and then to ridicule us in tneir piepnonuuo way. The Americans quietly nursed their revenge. In the Civil War the British, anstoc racy hfclleved their time had come to fnla tr tnA flOWniail OI WIS lnathfid ReDubllc. They sympathized with the South and gave the slave olig archy all the help they could witnoui actually tolne to war. BUI wnen wo Rohpllion was over and our power naa tMn demonstrated to the world they were ouite ready to eat humble pie ana sue for our . friendship. since men the relations between this country and -Ens-land have been growing ever more mii-ahlB. Old traditional natreas have been dying out and something like a genuine national irienasmp 6eems to be developing which in the course of another century may mane war as Impossible between them in fact as it now is in after-dinner speeches. Love lauehs at the parallels of lati tude as scornfully as at bolts and bars. The passion that drove Claude Mel- notte to forsake his rude sports ana consecrate himself to midnight mus ings o'er the dreams of sages inspirea Paul Patkotak to exile himself from Alaska and go to school In Seattle a whole year. This he did to win nis love, who despised his umetterea state as an Eskimo laa in me AiasK.au wilds. .We hope she. will rewara nis devotion. A year in Seattle deserves the best any woman cap bestow upon her swain. After all there is no book like the Bible. If we study it attentively we should find It full of political, as well as religious instruction. What bet ter way could we adopt to sift the good candidates from the bad than me one used by Gideon of old to find fit warriors to fight the Lord's battles? Gideon made -his soldiers drink at a brook and the ones who lapped like faithful dogs were chosen. Is there not a lesson In this for poor, bedeviled Portland ? There is some prospect that lace making may become a profitable in dustry for American women in their leisure hours. Among the Bohemian colonists in Minnesota It fills the long Winter evenlng3 pleasantly and re muneratively. Perhaps others will adopt the practice before long. Lace maklne Is really a fine an ana n might cultivate the taste of farmers' wives while it replenishes .their purses. - Ex-Governor Hay's experience on the Eastern Washington plains may have made him an able seaman or a prairie schooner, but In the eyes of the skipper of a steamer he Is a mere landlubber. Colonel Goethals may have to shovel away a rew mountains m wucr u complete the Panama Canal, but he has the men and machinery ana knows how to keep them at work. San Franciscans fear a water fam ine during the Exposition, and since other drinks are to be curtallea at th. chnvr. their fears may be well founded. Destruction of food by mercenary middlemen who seek to keep up prices Is made unlawful In California. It should be made a felony. Probably -Los Angeles Is not worse than other cities with many idle rich men. It Is mere matter of being caught with the goods. General Salazar Is reported in action again and without the formality of an announcement of recovery from his most recent death. When politicians in Washington cities find business dull they start a recall petition. Just to liven things up. What is the matter with the colored voters of Portland? Where la their candidate for Commissioner .' When the St. 'Louis comes we shall be ready to reach out ror a areaa nought to visit Portland. What does the wife of a would-be rvr,7Titsisloner think of it? Let us hear from the women. Many candidates, it is to be feared, have learned politics in a correspond ence school. , ' Lincoln would be pleased to know that a Southerner will be orator at Gettysburg. This weather is matchless, the ideal Rnrinir dav known only to Western Oregon. Now let the suffragettes, move on Triand and get a taste of the r'al thing. Having cinched a Job, National Com mltteeman King Is returning' to Ore gon. " But then, if everybody files but you. you will hold the balance or power. Almost every other man can see a next Commissioner In the mirror. Their bluff having been called, the Japs appear to have coolea on. Nothing but an unusually high June flood will quench the ardor. Not one of the 1001 candidates fears the recall. The Beavers crawled out MAY 8, 1913. Stars and Starmakers By Leone Caaa Baer. A fine new company of stock players Is to take the place or tne uei Law rence organization in Vancouver, B. C. None other than William Bernard, now director of the Baiter iStocK, is to direct the company. Clara Beyers, who is well known to Vancouver audiences, will be leading woman. Rhea Mitchell, a Portland girl Just now ingenue with Alcazar stock, will play the ingenues with the new company. John bumner, of the present Baker Stock, and Eliza beth Ross, who Is Mrs. John Sumner in private life, will play the character roles. Other members are William Lloyd, Walter Seymour, J. W. Hauck, Allyn Lewis. Roscoe Kalrns, Walter Kelly and Sidney Isaacs the latter a Portlander who has become well known to Baker patrons from the box-office end of the business. Broderick O'Farrell, for several years with Ye Liberty Players in Oakland, will be In the Vancouver company, and his wife. Myrtle Langford, also. Miss Langford was in the Countiss Stock last Summer, and later appeared on the Orpfaeum circuit as the Indian girl in Sidney Ayers' sketch. Nan Ramsey, who is in private life Mrs. William Bernard, will appear with the new stock. ' Two scenic artists. Carl Schults and Charles Hosfeldt, from the George L. Baker Stock studio,, will be taken along, which in - Itself Is a guarantee that the stage settings and scenery will be of the best. The new company opens on June .80. Mindell Kingston, formerly of World and Kingston, Is- with the musical comedv comDany at Mora Park, the Oakland pleasure resort J. Frank Burke, last season with the Baker folk, this season with Colonial Stock in Salt Lake City, is convalescent after a seige of smallpox. e David Blsuham has sailed for Australia for a concert tour. e - Mr. and Mrs. Robert Conness, the latter known professionally as Helen Strickland, left Portland yesterday for their home on Long Island. En route they will stop at Sioux Falls. S. D.. to visit a sister of Mr' Conness and later stop at Benton Harbor, Mich., for a visit with the sister of Mr. Conness. e Actor and actress with long Pacific Coast records Interspersed with many visits to Portland are: Bert S. Frank and Mra Frank (Anna Jordan) of the "Trapping Santa Claus" company, at the Empress. Frank visited this city for the first time in 1892 as the manager of the Welcher and Temple production "A Chip of the OldJBlook," In which he was also the heavy, playing the part of Robert BuTton. Seven years ago Frank played a stock engagement in Port land at the old Empire with Max Swain, the repertoire of the company including "The World," "Sidewalks of New York" and "Inside Track." Anna Jordan Is a graduate of the Alcazar Stock Company of San Fran Cisco where ten years ago, she was the Ingenue. Later she filled a long en gagement with Nance" O'Neil at the old California Theater In San Francisco, Miss Jordan's first visit to Portland was made 11 years ago, when she came here with Edna Mordaunt and Qla Hunrphrey to appear In stock at the old coraray xneaxer. Franklyn Underwood and Frances Slqsson are In their third week at Ye Liberty Theater in Oakland, and are repeating their last season's successes. Tne Dawn of a Tomorrow" is this .week's bill. Dillon and King have a musical stock at the Columbia Theater In Oak land. . e ' Following the revival of "East Lynne" next week at the Baker, "Mary Jane's Pa" will be presented, with Mayo Methot In the role of Mary Jane and RobeH Wayne as the Pa. e e Raymond Hitchcock and his wife. Flora Labelle, and a company of nearly 100 will present "The Red Widow," at the Hellig , this Summer.- Hitchcock hasn't visited Portland for half a dozen years. . w A peep at the bookings of the Hellig Theater shows attractions coming to that theater until August 20. And then in September's first week the next season opens with the Gilbert-Sulli van Opera Company in a revival of old operas. Including "The Beggar Stu dent." We are to have a dozen splen did attractions before the Summer is ended. e e Tonight arrives Rose Stahl In "Mag gie Pepper," a story of some depart ment store folk. Charles Klein wrote it. In her new character Miss Stahl Is said to be no less human and no less appealing than she was as Patricia O'Brien in "The Chorus Lady." FOREST GROVE IXVITES PIONEERS City Would Join In Entertaining; Early Day Women. FOREST GROVE. May 6. (To the Editor.) We read the editorial in The Oregonlan entitled "Our Women Pio neers" and are In hearty sympatny wjiu the. tribute paid to the noble women of Oregon In that editorial, and are In hearty sympathy wltn tne suggestions made therein that the mothers of Ore gon be given an opportunity of cele brating their part In the early settle ment of this great state. This city and the vicinity Immediately surrounding it hold no small part in the Important development of the state dating back 'to .the early forties, and at least three of our citizen women are pioneers of that time. We have in our midst a tribute to the patriotism and devotion of those women for the betterment of social con ditions and of human kind generally in the Pacific University, established In those early days, and the oldest educa tional institution in the Btate, due largely to the effort of the women "pio neers of Oregon. The Commercial Club of our city de sires to have a part In this day of cele bration and through you desires to ex tend to the early pioneer women of this state an Invitation to celebrate ih.ir first anniversary of that event In this beautiful city. We are favorablyJ located for railroad connections, and centrally located In the district confined to the early settlement of the state and we feel that no one who would take part in the exercises would go away dissatisfied, or disappointed in the choice of location for this event. Any date that is suitable and satis factory to the women would be satis factory to us. We trust you will give this Invitation suitable publicity, and hope that it may be received in the same earnest manner in which it is extended. ' COMMERCIAL CLUB OF FOREST GROVE, OREGON. By Loyal M. Graham, Vice President. RIGHT START FOR NEW CHARTER Plea Is Made oy writer tor aervn- of Good Officials. PORTLAND' May 7. (To the Editor.) We have smashed the political boss and the- corrupt boss and we have en tirely discredited their Instrumentali ties, the nominating committee, the convention and the political assembly, and we are free, very free. In smashing the boss we did well, as he had become an Intolerable nuisance ni th active agent of all of our political and city evils, but did we do as well wnen we aiscreunea o com pletely the nominating committee, toe convention and the assembly? The great mass or tne voters, in cluding the women, desire honesty in their rulers, but they also desire effi ciency, and an honest fool or a set of honest cranks cannot furniss the, effi ciency, nor has the direct primary itself been at all eiriciem in selecting ein cient officers or In promoting effi ciency. It Is quite clearly demonstrat ed that the direct primary Is an im nortant aeency In preventing boss rule and In encouraging democracy, but Just as clearly demonstrated tnat It cannot walk alone it needs assistance in se lecting for efficiency. We have now to elect a Mayor and Commissioners, to whom we have given the direct ana unrestrained control oi our city affairs, and more than this, the control of our private purses as well, for In them is practically lodged the full power of city assessments and taxation, and in tnis way iney nave their hands In eacn oi our pocae.13. Is it safe or prudent uncer sucn cir cumstanoes for us as citizens to say to the entire people, "We nave so mucn work to do. so much skilled engineer ing to accompusn, so many minions oi dollars to expend, now all of you who would like the Job we have to orrer hold up your hands," and then for us to select the hand that is held up high est and is advertised by the loudest vnlc. eettine: probably the neediest and most importunate political Deggar oi the bunch. Would It not be better, through some committee of good citizens, to canvass the field and then invite capable men to stand as candidates for the position to be filled, paying some attention to fitness as well as honesty? It must always be remembered tnat tha nominating convention under the control of the boss was a most effi cient machine; it nearly always accom- nllshed lust what the boss wantea. Candidates were discussed, considered, laid aside or selected, and nearly al ways they did the work for which they were selected Just as the boss wanted it done. If the people could control a nomi nating committee it could accomplish the same result ror tne people. Dozens and dozens of candidates, eood. bad and indifferent, are now noisily nominating themselves as our future directors oi tne aitairs at mo City of Portland. If the stockholders of the Portland Railway. Light & Power Company or of any other large corporation should so select Its officers they would be deemed to be individually and collect ively crazy and their corporation would soon be in the bankruptcy courts and they would be out of pocKet tneir in vestment Can a city stand what would ruin any other corporation? Good, responsible business men nat urally hesitate about nominating them- alvs. and then standing up In the market Dlace and brazenly and noisily promoting themselves for office, andr the city should not De compenea io ae lnt its officers only from its most self-art vertisinir citizens. lue new charter ought to have a fair show and be started at least with com petent directors. THOMAS N. STRONG. JAPS WERE LITTLE TOO WILLING California Ranch Owners Paying Pen alty for Displacing White Labor. PORTLAND, May 7. (To the Editor.) The California land and orchard own ers, who say they are threatened by the JaDanese peril, have only themselves to blame. This whole trouble originated years ago as a labor Issue. The native white labor to which I belonged was grad uallv displaced by Japs. Did the ranch and orchard owners worry about that Not a bit. American Institutions were not threatened, and the hirers of Jap anese labor, at the start, did not care a whoop about the religion or moral standard of the Asiatics. They were called excellent workers, willing, in tniiiz-ent. active, capable, and. best o all. cheap. Good Japs! "What would we do without them?" said all the pa triotic California ranchers and orchard iats. Why all this change In sentiment? Just this: Unlike the colored worker in the South, the Jap proved a little too willinsr active and capable. He was nn lntellieent that he saw his oppor tunlty had come when most of the whltB labor was displaced and the ran rhrs and orchardists were depend r,t i,nnn him. The Japs refused to work unless given a lease of the orchard or farm. In other cases iney lorceu suies Once In a neighborhood they were s willing, active and capable that they aroused the hatred of the white land owners by producing more ana unaer uiiimr the market until they got con trol of It Then they Invariably raised tho tit-Iml The whites soon were ready to sell to othe Japs who were eager to buy. Had the Japs been content, like most nf the negroes down soutn, to remain day laborers, working- as hard or harder than the white jaoorer mr iosa muuej. thera would never have been any pro test, at least not from .the ranchers or orchardists. Where the Japs "got in bad" with the California Legislature was In being too ambitious to own land Instead of merely woraing ior- wages. California's concern aboul "maintaining our standard of living B-nn our morality." Personally, as I quit nipping oranges and lugging- raisin trays ior gooa : fur vears aco. I can afford to view th California land owners' predlcamen aulte complaisantly. FORMER BLANKET STIFF. HONORS FOR PIONEER MOTHERS H.THt Home FeaUval Suggested by Philip S. Bates. Portland. May 1. (To the Editor.) t havA been waiting with interest some reply to The Oregonian's editorial. Monday, headea "uur women i-'' r,rt fnr fear the suggestions therel contained have been overlooked, would .7at that an organized effort be i to B-iva the pioneer women of nr.mn a testimonial "bf appreciation i the shape of an appropriate celebration to be held at Forest Grove, Salem or some other valley city around which and In historical associations cling. There are hundreds of women in this state, daughters or tne pioneer wunicu, ehnnld be glad of such an op portunity and united effort could effect a gatnering wmuu ... L..nmini an annual affair. mn the many who could be sug gested to take charge of an organized pffort Is Mrs. C. C Chapman, daughter of Mrs. C. Matbey Kirkwood, of Hope n Mra. Kirkwood came here as i little girl and to sit at her feet and hear the wealth of incident from her nn. relative to the early days is that those who have had th privilege will never forget. .There are hundreds of others to whom an atten tion of this kind would bring, lasting pleasure ana tne accompusnmcui i simple matter once under way. t nnnld be pleased to See such movement take the form of a Harvest Home Festival to the pioneer women of Oregon and would willingly render any assistance possiDie, n urn iusB""'" i. with the approval of those wh should deem It a duty to carry out the Ballad of a Filer By Dean Collins. He heard the sovereign people's call. Or so he said, and with ambition To serve the people, one and all. He flew to file lor tne t-ommission. By squads, platoons and regiments He found his fellow-townsmen swarm ing About the desk. He Joined those gents Boldly the haunts or uarDur aiumi lng. The riot roared; the stampede grew; showers were the petitions tailing. For hundred others like him knew They heard tue sovereign people can ing. Indeed, in looking soberly TInon the crush or iners veering, It seemed the less the salary The keener was tne tuer a nearinc And as he struggled In the press. TTnto himself he ponaerea tnusiy: The people, when they call, I guess. Must ao it piuuiu ,ivu.i.v... L'ENVOI. Oh, filer, pause. Consider, pray, Before into the turmoil staiain That "people's call" you near tooay May be Just that five tnousana tam ing. Twenty-five Years Ago From The Oregonlan of May 8, 1SSS. Washington. May 7. Prof. H. 8. Thompson, of the geological survey, left last night for the Pacific Blope. Eight field parties have already gone out. He said: "Three parties go to tne goia belt of California under direction or H. N. Wilson, with R. N. McKee ana F. Dunninton as assistants: two to the Cascade Mountains In Southwestern Oregon, under W. T. Grlswold. with Eugene RlcksecKer, ana tnree to jyiun- tana. Salem. May 7. Ex-United States Sen ator Slater addressed a large audience at the opera house tonight on political topics. New York, May 7. The Methodist Episcopal conference voted today against admission of women as dele gates, by 249 to 173. Yesterday the Portland Women's Union held the first annual meeting In the lecture room of the First PresDy terian Church. The meeting was called to order by Mrs. Rosa F. Burrell, presi dent. Reports were presented by Hen rietta E. Falling, recording secretary, and Mra H. J. Corbett, corresponding secretary. Mr. Henry Falling returned yesterday from New York. The Democratic County Committee yesterday nominated Thomas M. Rich ardson for State Senator vice Thomas A. Davis, declined; Andrew Frailer ior Representative vice Joe D. Meyer, de- -clined, and Peter Esser for County Treasurer vice Theodore Wygant, de clined. The committee adopted resolu tions denouncing Thomas N. fatrong. Democratic candidate for the Legisla ture, for defending Chinese labor. An even bet was made that Henry E. Mf.oitin and A -P. DeLin would receive the largest majorities on the Repub lican ticket. Frod T. Merrltt has offered to run Prince Wells of Tacoma a series of five, ten and 20-mile races on the bicycle for $500. Half a Century Ago From The Oregonlan of May 8, 1SBS. New York. May 2. The Tribune an nounces that Hooker's army crossed the Rappahannock at four places. The en emy were confounded and we captured their pickets, reserves, etc. The corps which crossed at Kelly's Ford Is mov ing towards Chancellorvllle, south or Fredericksburg. The list for recejvlng subscriptions for the purpose of assisting to defray the expense of a preliminary survey ot a railroad route between Portland and Yreka is now open for signature The committee for receiving subscriptions are Messrs. A. C. Gibbs, Amory Hol brook, J. H. Mitchell and R. J. Ladd. We are requested by Mr. S. G. Elliott to say to those of our citizens who have geological specimons of any description, inninriinir iron, copper, silver, platina. lead or other valuable ores, fossil re mains, etc, that they win comer a favor, besides contributing materlp.lly to aid the project of a railroad to this city from California by sending such, specimens to this office to be used by him In proof of the mineral wealth of this country. Kev. Thomas Condon will deliver a lecture on the geology of Western Ore gon this evening at the M. E. Church. VOTERS NEED INFORMATION Electoral Advisory Board Can Accom plish Laudable -Work. PORTLAND. May 7. (To the Edi tor) : Tl an old maxim in the school. That flattery'e the food of fools; Yet, now and then, your men o wit Will condescend to take a bit. Your excellent and timely editorial, "What Next?" which appeared In The Oregonlan Tuesday, ought to be. stud ied by every well-meaning voter in this city. Every sentence of It contains solid food for thought. The citizens will need some kind of an electoral ad visory board, composed not of office holders, or office-seekers, but of high minded, public-spirited men, "who will furnish the voters with a short, but reliable and impartial sketch of each candidate for office. The candidate's usual vocation, his character, present or past experience in public life. If any, and last but not least, his or her men tal stability are wanted. Whatever source supplies this information well will perform most laudable work. Your remarks concerning the prefer ential system are very much to the point. At this early date, some poor souls with stunted vision or with sin ister motives are already scheming to defeat the object of preferential vot ing by advocating the registration of first choices only. Candidates, who personally, or through their workers, encourage this, ought to be ignored by all independent voters. The preferential voting gives the In dependent voters a better opportunity to get away from the professional pol itician and chronic place-hunters and elect Independent candidates who pos sess the proper qualifications for pub lic office. INNE RUS. Lizard Finds Drugstore In Dry Town. McMINNVILLE. Or.. May 6. (To the Editor.) Reading divers accounts of live trout being found in water cocks reminds me of a strange find in tha pipe line leading into a drugstore at a Valley town. One Winter morning the water would not run, so we un screwed the cock there to find, head up and with bulging eyes, a very much alive four-inch lizard. The town was dry then, and whether or not the lizard had made its way to the drugstore In Search of a drink hotter than water I cannot say. Men In quest of a Brink, especially In a "dry" town, will crawl through or over any old thing most to get it, so why not a lizard? TOM ROGERS.