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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (May 12, 1913)
0 THE MORNING OREGONIAN. MONDAY, MAT 12, 1913. G ; PORTLAND. OREGON. : Entered at Portland. Oregon. Poetofflea as eecond-clasa matter. Subscription Katej Invariably tn Advance: BT MAIL) Dally. Sunday Included, on year '-'? Pally. Sunday Included, six months.... Daily. Sunday Included, three montha. Dally. Sunday Included, one month... Daily, without Sunday, one year Pally, without Sunday, six months.... pally, without Sunday, three months.. Paity. without Sunoay, on month.... Weekly, on year - Funday. one year ..... Sunday and Weekly, on year. ....... 4.26 i.js . o i.Ol 1.15 1 76 .60 !. 1 60 S.&0 (BT CARRIER) Da!lv. Sundae Included, on year... 1.00 Pally, Sunday Included, one month..... . ' How te Kemlt Send postofrice money or der, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or curreu.j. sender's ruL lilve postomc full. Includlna county ajtd Stat. In Pnauea luiis Ten to 14 Dares, 1 cent ii ... . s rMnia: sv to w paces. canta: 40 to 60 panes. 4 Cents. iorelsn postasre. doubl rates. Euan Rnilaiai Orfirea Verre A Conk' lln New York. Brunswick building. Chl- ca(o. Steser bulldlng- Ran FVaarbaro Office R. J. BldweU Co. T4i Market street. Earaneis Office No. t Recent (treat & W.. London. PORTLAND. MONDAY. MA V li, 113- JOKERS IN THE TARIFF. If we close our ears to the loud Democratic acclaim of the Under- wood tariff as a boon to the poor, as a deadlv blow at Drlvllege and as a source of revenue to the Government only, and If we examine its provisions, we shall And that it takes away pro tection from industries which are prin clpally conducted In the North and "West and gives it to those which are followed chiefly in the South. We have been told that the Dingley and Payne-Aldrich tariffs were full of Jok ers. but so is the Underwood tariff. ; Look at the notorious schedule K. for example. We have been led to suppose that all iniquities have been wiped out and that ft is washed whiter than snow. Then why is the hair of the Angora goat subjected to a duty of 50 per cent "while wool is free? it may be purely a coincidence, but of the 2,900.000 .goats in the United States 2,350.000 are in eighteen South ern states and more than a million of these are In Texas. The goat in dustry is particularly strong in the Texas district represented by John Is. Garner, and the duty is the result of his manful fight in the ways ana means committee. He evidently be- . lieves with Hancock that the tariff Is a local Issue. The goat Is so useful that its propa gation would pay well without duty. It not only grows hair for manufac ture Into plush, dress goods and lin ings, but it eats the brush off the land. Instead of going to work with a brush, hook and mattock to clear land, the farmer need only turn a herd of goats loose. They will do the work without expense and yield a plentiful crop of hair into the bargain. But Mr. Gar ner argued that, as half of the mohair manufactured in this country is im ported, competitive conditions already exist in the goat industry. As two fifths of our consumption of wool is imported, the same might be said of the wool Industry. But Underwood protection does not follow mohair to the finished product, for mohair is manufactured mostly in New England, not In the 8outh. Cloth and dress fabrics made of mo hair are subjected to the same duties as those made of wool, though the manufacturer must pay a duty on mo hair and will get wool duty-free. One manufacturer, who has mills both in Rhode Island and England, has an nounced that the duty will compel him to close his plant in this country and do his manufacturing in England. The Democrats have some beautiful tariff principles, but each principle has a proviso. The tariff must be for rev enue only, but must be so imposed as to protect the South. Raw material must be free, unless the South Is the prin cipal producer. Necessaries of ife must be free,, except that the farmer must have protection, for the Demo crats need his vote. We can readily see why the Demo crats abandoned the plan of revision by schedules, which they purloined without credit from President Taft's programme of scientific revision. They wished to log-roll a few favors for their pet industries.- They could do this In a general revision bill, but the searchlight would have been turned so fiercely on each one of a series of schedule bills that the at tempt would have been dangerous. After all. those incorrigible sinners, the Republicans, are the only people who would dare permit close in spection of every detail. They would revise the tariff schedule by schedule. CHICAGO REMEDIES FOR VICE. The vice committee of the Chicago City Council gives third place to what may in the long run prove the most effective weapon against the social evil. This is "education of parents in the primary facts of sex life necessary to instruct their children." If parents are thus instructed and if they convey what they learn to their children, many a boy and girl will be saved from entering upon a vicious career. Ignorance Is the chief breeder of vice and with Ignorance must be classed knowledge wrongly imparted. The committee truly traces much vice to lack of parental authority and training. Children derive their Ideals from their parents, and where virtue la lightly esteemed by the latter it will be held in as low esteem by the younger generation. But parents are handicapped in rightly training their children, when all the surroundings counteract their teaching. Hence the recommendation that provision be made for better housing, either by the fclty or by philanthropists, assumes much importance. Requirement of several days public notice before issue Of a marriage certificate, which is also proposed, would be beneficial, for it would prevent many hasty marriages. These recommendations are placed first in order here, though not by the Chicago commission, because they are preventive. The other measures rec ommended are merely repressive. These are elimination of segregated districts, constant repression of the oleal evil, closing of flats and apart ments used for vicious purposes, study f the relation of the wage question to vice, protection of girls by their employers. So long as boys and girls are turned out into the world, either Ignorant of facts essential to their guidance or with knowledge so tainted that it leads them to vice, the supply of fallen women and morally and phys ically corupted men will continue. Remedial measures can but rescue them after the harm is done: preven tive measures can save them from the first stain. Like the reports from Portland and Philadelphia, the Chicago rcjvort is noteworthy for its frank, courageous grappling with an ever-present prob lem which our people have hitherto shunned as too repulsive. Our best men and women having succeeded in Inducing state and municipal govern ments to seek the remedy, there is good cause to hope that an earnest and persistent effort will be made to apply It. A LFSO" FROM SPOKANE. Sound, straightforward advice, based on observation of the preferential vot ing system in connection with com mission government, is presented on this page today in a letter from a citi zen -of Spokane. The writer of the letter is not a politician or disappoint ed office-seeker. He has had no ax that he desired the city government to grind, and he speaks only as a well- meaning resident of that community who has a wide acquaintance and an unusual opportunity for observation of city officials and municipal affairs. His testimony bears out what The Oregonlan has been endeavoring to impress upon the voters of Portland The preferential voting system calls for a concentration of effort by all lov ers of good government. The inde pendent efforts of a group of citizens in behalf of a particular candidate for Commissioner to the neglect of candi dates for the other three places will result in practically a lottery choice. In Spokane the voting system differs only slightly from that prescribed in the Portland charter. There the voter may express choices In addition to the first, second and third, unless the num ber of candidates names on the bal lot restricts him. The method of de termininir results is practically the same. Spokane's experience is therefore a good guide for Portland. If we would elect a good set of officials, par tisanship, be It that of politics, relig ious creed, friendship, the seeret or der, honorable occupation or any other, must be submerged and busi ness ability and private character taken as the true test of fitness. Ex perienca In Spokane demonstrates that the old political methods are not efrec tlve under the preferential systm. Th plan la good only If it be used in an honest endeavor to obtain a full quota of the proper kind of Commissioners. Efforts at manipulation are likely to be disastrous to those who seek ad vantage in that way. NO EXCI SE FOR CARELESSNESS. 1 There is evidence that many people are Dlacinir arreat reliance on the re call In considering the availability of the numerous candidates for city of flee. The recall is a valuable safe guard, but it is an expensive one to use. Because of its novelty its invoic ing awakens interest throughout the country. Its frequent application ana threatened use in the Puget Sound cit ies have there awakened alarm lest reputation and financial stability be weakened. Moreover, there is doubt as to whether Portland now Dossesses a workable recall. The new charter con tains no reference to it and by some lawyers 4t Is maintained that the re call section of the constitution is not self-operative. An effort has but re cently been started by one who was a stanch supporter of the commission charter to secure the enactment of a recall ordinance. It need hardly be pointed out that if the men who are elected Commis sioners of Portland feel in their hearts a fear of the recall they will notpro vide recall machinery, while such ma. chinery could not be provided by di rect election, without the consent of the Council, before the date of the succeeding election, two years hence. The wise course Is to select officials with such care that the-recall, if we have It, shall not be needed. The sensible man does not court danger mply because h is well armed. ON TICKLISH OROCXD. It is to be hoped, for the peace of mind of all concerned, that Senator Poindexter has ascertained whether Judge Chadwick has changed his mind on the referendum. Senator Poindex ter protests against the appointment of Judge Chadwick " to the Federal bench because he spoke slightingly of direct legislation as long ago as last Summer. This protest, it should be remem bered,- goes to a President who has fully reversed his own views on the Fame phase of what we are pleased to term the "peoples rule." There ougut to be a bond of sympathy between two wise men who have altered their opinions on the same 'subject and we fancy it would lacerate the feelings of the one in office to be told that the once-expressed ideas of the other un fitted him for political preferment. .. Of course Judge Chadwick may not be disposed to reverse himself on this momentous issue. Still is opposition to direct legislation a fair excuse for denvina- office to a Democrat? The Baltimore platform gracefully side steps the Initiative and referendum. Still Mr. Poindexter holds a strong card in his fight against the appoint ment of Judge Chadwick as Federal Judge. It has been announced that he will vote for the tariff bill and his vote would be peculiarly welcome, for with the sure defection of the Louis iana Senators and the possible defec tion of some Senators from the wool states, the Democrats will have a very narrow margin. The Poindexter vote will loom large In the eyes of the Administration. WRONG DONE TO LANDLESS POOR. Senator Borah's letter to Samuel Friedman brings home to the people of the East the wrong being done them by the reservation policy which now rules the Land Office. We have been Inclined to assume that the people of the West are the only sufferers by the obstruction placed In the way of set tlers, but Mr. Borah's letter shows that Eastern people also feel the sting. The doctrinaires who follow Mr. Plnchot have been taken as speaking for the East, ' but there are thousands for whom -they do not speak the people who live in the congested districts of the cities and who would be only too glad of an opportunity to make a home for themselves in the West where there is room to breathe, to become Independent and to raise children without packing them into a tenement. But these people are poor, and have little beyond their strong arms and their willingness to work, and, as Mr. Borah says, "it requires men of wealth to get a home on the public domain under the present administration of public land laws." The homestead law was passed to enable the poor to secure homes. Under Its provisions the Middle West was populated and many thousands found homes west of the Rockies. But it Is now so con strued as to defeat its own purpose. A rich man can more easily pass through the needle's eye than can poor man comply'with the homestead law as now construed. "The thousands who pine for escape from the congested districts of the cit ies Include many who 'came from farms In this country or in Europe and would soon make themselves at home again In the West. f It is not a fight of the western people aione. it is fight of the landless poor the country over for that which the law offers them, but which the Land Office de nies them. WILSON'S APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE. President Wilson continues his practice of breaking precedents. He is the first among Presidents to go to his own state and appeal directly to the people on a purely state issue. Other Presidents have taken A spe cial interest In the affairs of their own states, but they have concerned themselves chiefly with elections and appointments. If they have desired to Influence legislation, they have done so through trusted agents. Mr. Wil son contemns all disguise. As a citl zen of New Jersey he addresses public meetings of his fellow-citizens on be- half of a measure to which he was pledged as Governor and which the state leaders of his party oppose. H,e takes with him all the weight of his prestige as President and he speaks as leader of his party in the Nation. Active and open participation of the President in the . affairs of his state may expose him to the charge of being a dictator, and, if often re peated, may justify that charge and become a source of danger. But If participation ever was Justified, it was In the cause for which Mr. Wilson spoke. The Jury system in New Jer sey places the drawing of juries in the hands of Sheriffs who are creatures of the political bosses. Thus pol- itics poisons the fount of Justice. Mr. Wilson proposed, when Governor, that the drawing of juries be entrust ed to commissioners appointed by the Supreme Court. The bosses fight for retention of power. The President fights for honest juries. The issue is fundamental, lying back of all parties. Everyone who desires Justice unpol luted will support the President and hone.e he will win. Mr. Wilson's frank admission In his speeches that the Democracy won no victory last November, but gained power simply through division among its opponents is an evidence that he is conscious of the necessity of mak ing good with tile people by wise use of power. He warns his party that it is on probation. Holding office by such tenure, it is far less apt to abuse its opportunity than it would be had an overwhelming popular majority given it a mandate. But the Democ racy needs to bo frequently reminded of the fact. BRYAN SHOWS ALARM. Secretary Bryan is evidently alarmed lest the Republicans should get to gether again. He quotes in the Com moner Senator Townsend's recent speech Inviting the Progressives to be come reconciled to the Republican party and treats it as an intimation that the quarrel was merely personal between two leaders. This, he avers, is adding insult to injury. He says that neither Republicans nor Progressives can make this admission if they were fighting for principle. Then comes the usual assumption that all true pro- gressiveness is lodged in Democratic breasts and that the demand for har mony comes only from alarmed plu tocracy. It would certainly be unpleasant for Mr. Bryan and his friends were the Republicans to get together under pro gressive leadership, for Democratic victory was won only by Republican division. He may "well say that there is no room for two progressive par ties. That is what the people are apt to say when they are offered the op portunity of intrusting the Govern ment to a rejuvenated Republican party, led by such men as Senators Cummins, La Follette and Borah. If men are to be judged by the enemies they have made, these are no friends of the plutocracy and none knows this better than Mr. Bryan himself. Because he knows the people will recognize that the Republican is the true progressive party, as proved by its record of progressive legislation and administration, and that, -when united, that party Is invincible, Mr. Bryan cunningly tries to keep dissen sion alive. But his motive Is so plain that his design wlll fail. A NTT FOR WILSON TO CRACK. President Wilson is said to be dis posed to defer action on the question of Philippine independence until- he has more light on the subject, but two elements are pressing for action. One comprises advocates of immediate in dependence, to which Secretary Bryan Is inclined. The other is the business interests, which desire to know where they would stand before they Viake in vestments in the islands. Strongly op posed to Independence is Secretary Redfleld, the only member of the Cab inet besides Mr. Bryan who has visited the Philippines. Against the Jones bill granting independence at the end of eight years is Senator O'Gorman, who appears to have more Influence with the President than any other Senator. Secretary of War Garrison, under whose Jurisdiction the islands come, has no definite opinions and will carry out any policy dictated by Mr. Wilson. Several ways have been proposed to enable the President to decide on a policy. One is to send a. commission to the Philippines to inquire into con ditions. Another Is to send a new Governor and 'trust him to ascertain and report the facts after two or three years' residence. This is likely to be done as part of the change in the whole Philippine Commission. It in volves postponement of decision to the end of the Administration. But the agitators for Immediate or early Independence will not be willing to wait. Representative Jones may be expected to demand consideration of his bill at the next regular session of Congress. The Filipino Commission ers will be heard from frequently. Mr. Bryan's speeches will be quoted to spur him into action. The Baltimore platform, condemning "a policy of im perialism and colonial exploitation" and favoring "Independence as soon as a stable government can be estab lished." will be kept before the minds of the President and his advisers. Men who have made or are disposed to make investments in the Islands will wish to know under what government they are to live. . Greatly as the Islands have pros pered under American rule, their de velopment has been retarded by con tinual uncertainty as to whether that rule would continue or would be sup planted by an oligarchy composed of the small proportion of educated Fili pinos. Some business men who have had experience with similar oligarch ies in the Imitation republics of South America would as readily deal with such an oligarchy as with American rulers. The Democrats who have been care lessly judging the fitness of the Philip pines for self-government by taking the Tagalogs of Luzon as representa tives of the ewhole population must now act -with all the fact3 in mind. They must take into consideration the barbarous Moros, Negritos and Igor rotes. They have judged by the most educated part of the population. Now they must open their eyes to the fact that only a small proportion Is edu cated. They have classed all' Ameri can Investors as trusts and exploiters. They must now. recognize that capital is necessary to development and- that capital will go only where government is stable and Investment safe from spo liation. The Democrats are discover ing that to talk beautiful platitudes about the principles of the Declaration of Independence is one thing; to apply those principles without injury to the intended beneficiaries is quite another. TARIFF FOR POLITICS ONLY. The Democratic platform declares a tariff for any other purpose than rev enue unconstitutional. Then is not the Underwood tariff unconstitutional? We have shown how it protects the woolen manufacturer, on a lower scale than the present tariff. It is true, but still protects him and compensates him for the measure of protection of which he ls deprived by relieving him from payment of duties on raw mate rial. It protects the grower of cattle and sheep with a 10 per cent duty while putting the meat of those ani mals on the free list. It frankly Im poses a revenue duty of la per cent on silk, but protects manufacturers of silk with duties ranging as high as 60 per cent. It taxes cotton manufac turers all the way up to 45 per cent. These duties are too high to be mere sources of revenue. Had rev enue been 'the only consideration in fixing them, they would have been much lower. The duties were made so high in order still to afford a meas ure of protection, when the country is crying out against the high price and growing scarcity of meat, cattle and sheep might well have been placed on the free list and the revenue thus sacrificed might have been raised by a somewhat lower scale of duties on silk and cotton, which would have in creased receipts by swelling the vol ume of imports. That would have been consistent with the revenue only theory. But certain sections had to be con ciliated. Texas, Colorado ana mod tana are Democratic states and are also growers, of cattle and sheep, there fore they are favored. The south At lantic states, as well as New England make cotton cloth, so the cotton sched ule was shown mercy. New Jersey has many silk mills, so has New Eng land, hence it must be treated with consideration. The dutcry against the trusts ex plains free steel rails and the whole sale slashing of other steel and Iron duties to a practically revenue basis. It also explains placing on the free list baling iron, nails, barb wire, cash registers, type-setting machines, sew ing machines, typewriters, lumber. The farmers are to be gratified with free imports of what they consume, urban dwellers with free trust products re gardless of the consequences to the trusts' competitors and everybody is promised a free market basket to re duce . the cost of living. The manu facturers are to be mollified with free raw- material, that their complaint against loss of protection may be stilled. The Underwood -tariff- Is not a rev enue tariff, it simply redistributes protection, while reducing the amount of protection given those who are still favored. It cuts duties to the bone where its framers think this can safely be done, but it , Jeaves them high enough In all conscience where votes are at stake. It is political In purpose and effect and Is as grossly unjust in one way as the present tariff is In another. In giving up his seat in Congress because he believes his opponent was elected and counted out, Young of Michigan puts himself on record as A high-minded and conscientious gen tleman, altogether too good to be mixed in the politics of this day and generation. Of a certainty, however, his people will see that the next time he runs he will get enough votes to cinch" the Job. The bill in the Russian Parliament giving greater freedom to Poland seems., from the debate, to be the .re sult of the recent danger of war with Austria. Russia sees at last that an oppressed people on her frontier, only watching for an opportunity to rebel, Is a source of "weakness where strength is most needed. A loyal Poland might help Russia in time of trouble, but loyalty is not instilled with'the lash. What do these numerous candidates for Commissioner think of .the man running at Palo Alto for town trustee who has withdrawn because he drinks beer at his meals? How would a man with a conscience like that fit into the local situation? Were the Secretary of the Treasury empowered to fix Import value of goods as a basis for levying duties, he would practically have power raise or reduce duties. That is rather ex tensive power to confide .to one official. ' Charges of immorality against Lieu tenant-Governor O'Hara, of Illinois, shows that a vice investigator must walk circumspectly and be watchful of associates. The vice syndicate is al ways ready to trap him. Governors of fourteen states are to attend a good roads meeting in Boise next month, which Is gratifying news, although Governors have seldom built good roads. That is a function of the people, sadly neglected. Invasion of this Coast by Australian meatjnen will bring little scare. This region has become accustomed1 to meat wars in fact, thrives on them. As yesterday was the seventh rainy Sunday following Easter, the supersti tion has worked out, and pleasant weather is in order. . . t- cA.r,tirv ef fifntA .Tordajl of f!siT if ornia, a Progressive? In -which di- encouraged. Take, for Instance, the norma, ,ievery-day marketing. Butchers, gro rectlon does he progress ' : . .... . If Bat Nelson shall become a local celebrity, all the advertising "will not have been In vain. There is yet a deficiency of more than seven inches in rainfall, so the worst is to come. "The best man for the place" "would better watch the clock this afterntion. HOW TO GET GOOD COMMISSIONERS Spokane's Errors Told That Portland May Avoid Them. SPOKANE. May 9. (To the Editor.) When Spokane embarked upon the campaign of selecting five patriots to take complete charge of the city's af fairs, hopes ran high that the voters would rise to the occasion and frown upon the efforts of special labor, cap italistic and political interests to get their men in,to office. Bear . In mind that no pr-imary system exists here. If you desire to be a candidate lor City Commissioner, all you need is the sig nature of a score or more of your friends and your name is placed on the ballot. The result in Spokane was that nearly 90 gentlemen with an eye to the 15000 salary were in the race and the voter was at sea in weighing the qualifications of more than eight or ten of the candidates. He knew these be came they had been given much news paper publicity in their official po sitions as acting city officials, promi nence in the Chamber of Commerce or leadership in political or anti-saloon organizations. Only one candidate re ceived a majority of first-choice votes in the election. All the pthers were elected by the combination of first, second and third-choice votes. I am certain that mistakes were made in the election of four of the five successful candidates. Every man in the race brought to bear all the pressure he could exert. Fitness for the position became a minor consideration. Affiliation with frater nal organizations, membership in labor unions, position in the Chamber of Commerce, activity as a temperance worker and other vote-getting quali ties were quoted by the workers for the 90 candidates, all of whom had bri gades of friends who expected minor offices should their favorites be elect ed. The race degenerated into an old time partlzan political contest M3n who have studied the situation are convinced that upon the newspapers depends in large part the selection of good timber for Commlsslonerships. Once thoroughly satisfied that a can didate is unfit for the big Job (it calls for a big man), the newspapers must ignore him and concentrate upon the candidates who have the required cali ber. Although I am Democratic in every sense, I fear the selection of Commissioners who wield the immense power our City Commissioner! wield. cannot be left to voters who are swayed by prejudices, -friendships or any con sideration other than that of regard for -the general welfare. If a steering committee of a hundred or two hun dred of Portland's solid citizens could be welded together and, after ex haustive investigation of the qualifi cations of candidates, stamp withap proval those fit to be Commissioners, Portland might hope to get the right men in office. If the choice is left to the ordinary, uninformed citizen, he probably will make the same mistake that all of us make in the selection of a carpenter to do repairs on the woodshed. The selection of these men requires subtle finesse, because the rank and file cannot be offended by the sug gestion that it knows little or noth ing of the work before it and because the ordinary voter resents being "bossed," as he calls it, in these days of the initiative, referendum and di rect ballot. These City Commissioners are in reality president, cabinet and congress rolled into one, and their powers are unlimited. They can plunge a municipality into debt, op press the taxpayer with burdens too heavy to bear, stifle efforts for econ omy, in fact, do anything possible un der an oligarchy, and it seems impos sible to concentrate opposition, once they are in the saddle, sufficiently to order a recall. It is the task, therefore, of the lead ers in finance, in business, in honest labor and other vital circles, to see to it that only the fit are permitted to have a chance in the election. In my opinion, the only hope of these lead ers Is in the press of Portland, and I believe . the Portland papers have at heart more than any other agency the uplift and prosperity of the commu nity. Manifestly, it is impossible for the press to delve into the business ability and private character of a hun dred or more candidates. It must have help, and must look to an advisory committee for that aid. I do not mean that only men engaged In big business be the advisors. It must be selected from all classes, and I believe it will not be difficult to eliminate the dema gogues. I hope Portland will not make the same mistake Spokane made in its selection of candidates. Here, instead of selecting a list of twice as many men as were to be elected, different organizations concentrated upon one man. The Chamber of Commerce -con centrated upon its candidate. The So cialists directed their efforts toward the election of their man. Anti-saloon people fought only for the election of tneir favorite candidate, and so on. The result was a hodlje-podge. Votes were traded, the spirit of the second and third-choice voting was totally disregarded and " the minority vote. when welded together, defeated the will of the majority. ROBERT A. GLEN. MISTAKES IN AIDING SUFFERERS Method That Would Prevent Diversion "of Contributions Proposed. PORTLAND," May 11. (To the Edi tor.) Reports about the potatoes sent from the States of Oregon and Wash ington to the sufferers in the Dayton district, which were sold in Cincinnati at reduced price, proved that, there is something radically wrong in the way the public help those in need. To give even in full measurement is not enough. One must also be sure that his contri bution reaches those in need of help. In fact, to give In the way the San Francisco sufferers and those in Ohio were aided does more harm than good, as it not only encourages dishonesty but also puts suspicion upon people who never thought to withhold "the widow's share." It is a temptation to anyone, man or woman, to have large sums in trust which are not subject to investigation. Even if their hands are clean they would be open for suspicion, which in Itself is an inducement to dis honesty. ' Just how to remedy this, trouble Is a problem. It seems, though, that a better and safer way would be for each state to select, say two men or women to distribute the contributions, and that those worthy people, when their work was finished, be required to give full account of It in one of the daily papers. In this country aisnonesty is much cers or merchants of any kind are, most of them, suspected of giving imperfect measurement, and the public is at fault. In homes a scale is rarely seen. If a housewife would insist on getting full value for her money that fact would soon be known and the temptation as well as the suspicion would fall away. It is a great wrong to the present as well as to the coming generations to encourage such slack conditions. It breaks down the moral standard and cultivates an unreliable race. ' B. B. SEINE FISHING AT OREGON CITY Salmon Canner Wonld Protect Royal Chinook at Falls. PORTLAND. May 10. (To the Ed itor.) Recently the writer went a-fish ing for Salmon at Oregon City and had the time of his life. While spending the day on the Willamette at that point, the thought came home to me, that by allowing commercial fishing with nets in this stream at- or near the falls, we are perpetrating one of the greatest of crimes 'against conservation. In the Willamette River very early' In the Spring, the Chinook salmon gather in their efforts to surmount the falls and gain their spawning beds on the upper reaches of the river and its tributaries. There is at the falls a fishway by the use of which a good many fish sur mount the obstruction. However, a very great many fail to find this fish way, else are' no ready further to as cend the stream and in the swift water and In the pools beneath the falls there soon gather many thousands of royal Chinook salmon. These fish are the very cream of the cream of salmon. They are the earliest run of this royal fish. If eggs are de sired from which the hatcheries may propagate salmon it is from these fish they should be taken. The first salmon that come in from the ocean are al ways the best. The eggs from "early run" chlnook salmon have for many years been scarce. In July and August, especially in the latter month, there is often a good-sized run of chlnooks but they are frequently paler In color, less firm of flesh, and from these fish come a very large percentage of the eggs which fill the hatching troughs, vl hen the open season for trout fishing be gins anglers gather at the falls and in the swift reaches below in their efforts to fasten a salmon. Four or five years did the writer visit 'this locality, but until last April 29 of this year his ef forts were in vain. I was fortunate enough to land two fine fish, one of 11V4 pounds and the other a fine one of 20 pounds. There were a great many anglers as my companions, but besides my catch, I saw but four fish taken during the day. I am told that fre quently there are a hundred and some. times more, anglers at this point in a single day. When one lands a fish it is a red-letter day with him. One good sportsman told me while I was there that that present was his seventh visit this season and not a single strike had he yet had. Two days after I visited the falls the market fleshermen with their nets were turned loose on this horde of fish the fish of all fish wanted for propagation. Prior thereto on the rocks and even on the walls of the pulp mills were the location numbers for the set nets" which on May 1 would be spread. Through the pools and reaches below the falls would sweep the gill nets. 1 think I can say without fear of contra diction that in one night the nets would take more fish than would all the an glers combined during an entire sea son. In four or five days the larger part of this army of salmon are taken and fishing with angling devices or nets is practically at an end. May 2 the gasoline tender from the canning establishment in which I am owner, gathered at Oregon City over 20,000 pounds of these grand fish but a por tion of the night catch. Yes, my own boat. The fish are being caught and will be sold and I may as well have them, but the taking of any salmon other than with a hook and line, be tween the falls and the Clackamas Rapids Is, to my mind, a crying shame and something that we will all rue some day. I have been told that interests at Oregon City desire that conditions- re main as they are and for years have been. I would think they could see their mistake. Every angler who visits this locality hires a boat (if there are any unengaged) and every one spends a little money in the town. If net fish ing was prohibited, good angling might be expected for several weeks to come. The fame of Oregon City as a point where a royal chinook might be taken with book and line would spread over the entire country and many would come from afar hoping to take a fish. Often one might have to spend several days ere fortune favored him. As result quite a little money would De left by the angler. As 'I quit the stream in the evening 20 or SO boats, many of them filled with working men from the mills, and their families cruised near the bridge trolling for salmon. But a few days prior to my visit a boy In short pants hooked and with help landed a mag nificent 50-pound fish. Business men, professional men, boys, expert anglers and amateurs like myself, ail were en. Joying the sport. Every time a salmon was fastened by one fishing near the paper mills, the windows were filled with excited laces and encouragement shouted to the sportsman. There were those who fish with lines for the market professionals, but the possible limit in a day Is three fish and 1 thlnK 1 am safe in saying that the catch lna dav will not average . za nsn 10 me ivu anarlers. Those interested in the netting of salmon at this point will say. "If you allow no net fishing, do not allow the taking of fish with hook and line, or "if you do not allow fishing with nets, do not allow anglers to dispose of their catch should they be successful." I contend that these arguments are wrong; that but comparatively few fishing here with hook and line will catch a fish and that sale of the com parative few (and only professional anglers will sell their catch) will result in but good. I want to know how Ion;? the people of all of Oregon are goln to stand for this killing of the goose which lays the most golden of all th golden eggs. THOMAS G. FARRELL. WRITER WANTS TICKET INDORSED Doubt Expressed to Effectiveness of Any Other Plan. PORTLAND, May 10. (To the Ed itor.) Will you permit me the privil ege of expressing a few thoughts rela tive to the "Business Men's War on In competents" for city officials? I under stand the sentiment seems to be very strong against the selection of a definite "ticket." What I desire to say at this time is that if this organization hopes to ac complish any real good in the efforts that they are putting forth, the only way to do It is to select a man for the office of Mayor who can and does com mand the support of the people gener ally and secure his consent to make the race for Mayor, circulate, his petition, get his name on the ballot in the regu lar way and show him by their action that he will have the undivided sup port of the business men. The same procedure will be necessary in secur ing candidates to run for Commissioner. This talk about avoiding anything that would look like putting up a definite ticket, by reason of the fact that the people generally might look upon the same as bordering on the old-style convention system is all non sense. In other words, the committee can give all the expression of confi dence in a bunch of men that could be voiced in an entire page of a newspaper and yet, unless there is concerted ac tion and a definite agreement as to whom the association is going to sup port for a certain office, they will ac complish uo good. My idea is to get the consent of some good man to run for the office of Mayor and get behind him and give him the undivided and entire support of this committee. Otherwise, should the association recommend two4 or more citizens to be voted for for Mayor, the race will resolve itself down to" the "survival of the fittest," or, rather, to the survival of the one least fitted to fill the position, provided he has the "ring" behind him. JOHN H. GIBSON. Twenty rfive Years Ago Prom The Oregonlan of May 12, 18S8. Washington, May 11. The bill grant ing to the O. R. & N. Co. right of way through the Nes Perce Indian reserva tion has passed tho Senate. , Albany, Or., May 11. Ex-Senator Slater addressed the citizens this even ing, occupying the time of J. M. Gearln, who could not fill his appointment on account of illness. Slater was followed by G. M. Miller, Prohibition candidate for Congress. The School Board last night con ducted a hearing of testimony on the complaint made by X. J. Blagen against Mrs. S. M. Buck, a teacher at the Park School, of-whathe termed the unjust punishment inflicted by Mrs. Buck on his 6-year-oldboy, Clarence. The Board came to a unanimous verdict exonerat ing Mrs. Buck. Articles of Incorporation of the Port land Tannery Company were filed yes terday, the incorporators being Herbert Bradley, George B. Marble, Jr., Joseph Doheny, J. L. Hartman,. Herman Metz ger. Work will commence in the O-street cannery, on the East Side, tomorrow. "Uncle Jimmy" Stephens, called the founder of East Portland, is said to be considerably improved. The Willamette baseball club went to Seattle yesterday. Latest reports from Chief of Police Parrish are of a favorable and very en couraging character. Dr. Mackenzie, the attending physician, states that there Is a general Improvement In the patient's condition. Half a Century Ago From The Oregonlan of May 12, 1S03. V. S. District Court, Judge M. P. Deady presiding Tho grand Jury for the term consists of E. L. yuimDy, T. J. Reed, W. P. Wasson, Alex McComb, David Powell, Joseph Sloan and James Burke. Five hundred liquor kegs are adver tised for sale by Mr. Stephen G. Spear, cooper, who has a shop on corner of Second and B streets. The trade in wool and hides for East ern markets is increasing. M. Hessel burg & Co., 112 Front street, bought yesterday 20 bales of wool and 250 hides for shipment to the Last. The following is from the Salem Statesman of the 11th Inst.: About J o'clock yesterday morning a fire broke out in the rear of Jno. Byrne's saloon on the east side of Commercial street. and in an incredibly short time ex tended to the adjoining buildings, de stroying all on that side from N. Fish's crockery store south to Ferry street and back to the alley. The losses are as follows: Young & Freeman, of the Union Hotel, J7500; P. D. Palmer, $1500; John Bvrne. J5000: Louis Byrne, J5000; John Taylor, 40; Gilbert & Fletcher, J500; N. Cohen, ?10(r0; J. Si. & SO. tiirscn, 600; N. Fish, 400. METHODS OF WARRING ON VICE How Men Mar Better Fit ThemaeWea fur DiHcuaxIne Problem. FORT STEVENS. Or., May 10. (To the Editor.) Kindly permit me to ex press a most sincere appreciation of the splendid editorial, "War on the So cial Evil," which appeared in The Ore gonlan May 9. The responsibility for commercial ized prostitution should undoubtedly rest upon both men and women rather more heavily upon man, however, ber' cause, physiologically, as well as prac tically, he Is the more active element; and also because, up to the present time, man has carefully appropriated to himself the privilege of administer ing the various affairs of human so ciety, even denying to woman a voice, in the regulation of matters of most vital importance to her sex. Many contributors to the current press comment upon the social evil appear to regard prostitution as 9 purely voluntary affair on the part of its participants the simple result of a deliberate and perverse determina tion to do wrong rather than to do right. Few seem to realize that, above and beyond the Ignorance, thoughtless- ness and callous indifference involved, lies the fundamental Instinct which la ever urging the normal male and fe male to unite for the perpetuation of the race. No scheme for the elimina tion of prostitution may ever aspire to successful issue which does not In telligently reckon with this primitive urge toward reproduction. G. D. J.'s "Plea to Young Men," also appearing In The Oregonlan of above date, voices a splendid sentiment. May we not cast a slightly different light upon the same thought by asking each young man seriously and conscientious ly to decido for himself whether or not he is willing that his own sister should become an outcast. When each man has answered that question to his own entire satisfaction, he will be "In a rather better position to suggest a solution for the problems which sur round the other man's sister; and "penalization," "regulation," "segre gation." "examination," etc., wilt scarcely meet with as much popular approval as has been the case in the past. If our present social coda Is impos sible of adaptatln to the primitive In stincts upon which the perpetuation of the human race depends, without the loathsome go-between of sexual vice and there are those who believe, such to be the case then let us subject tra dition and conventionality to a search ing arraignment, and devote our ener gies toward the development of a mora intelligent code of ethics which may be thus adaptable. CHESTER J. STEDMAN, M. D. Alaska's Floating Court. New Orleans Picayune. Not many people are aware that the United States has a floating court which is used in Alaska and which dis penses justice there. Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo has issued instruc tions to the commander of the'revenue cutter Thetis to be prepared to report at Valdez, July 13, to take aboard Judge Overfleld of the Federal district of Alaska, together with his court officials. The Thetis -will touch at many ports, in which the court will hear and adjudicate , both civil and criminal cases. Since the "floating court" was Introduced, statistics show that crime in the far northern posses sions of the United States has material ly decreased. MORGAN. Here lies greatness come to dust. As at length all greatness must. Here lies power; powerless. Impotent to curse or bless; Here, with thought and spirit fled. Lies the huge colossus, dead! Lord of lesser lords of gold. He was ruthless, strong and bold. Yet In some strange measure good. Like a mightier Robin Hood; Great In giving as in greed He was of a Titan breed. Now he lies here, cold and still. Done with earthly good or ill; Vanished all his mastery Even slaves are more than ho. Yet the solemn dirges ring, For he was a kingly king. Buccaneer but royal, too, So we give the dead his due; Knowing all the path he trod Who shall judge htm but his God? Berton Braley. Portland, May 10, 191S 1