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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 1913)
lO THE MORNING OREGOXIAX, THURSDAY, ATJCiUST 7. 11)13. mm PORTLAND, OREGON. Entered at Portland Oregon, Postoffice as aecond-cla&s matter. Subscription Kates Invariably In Advance: (BY MAIL) Dally. Sunday Included, one year $ 8.00 liaily, Sunday included, six months ..... 4.23 Dally, Sunday included, three months .. 2.25 Daily, Sunday Included, one month ..... .75 Daily, without Sunday, one year ........ 6.00 Daily, without Sunday, six months ..... 8.25 Daily, without Sunday, three months. .. 1.75 Daily, without Sunday, one month ...... -ou Weekly, one year 1-50 Sunday, one year 2.50 Sunday and weekly, one year .......... 8.50 (BY CARRIER) Dally, Sunday included, one year ....... 9.00 Daily. Sunday Included, one month ..... .75 How to Remit Send postoffice money or der, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk. Give postoffice address in full, including; county and state. Postage Kates 12 to 16 pages, 1 cent; 18 to 32 pages, 2 cents; 84 to 48 pages, 8 cents; 50 to Co pages, 4 cents; 62 to 76 pages, 5 cents; 78 to 92 pages, 6 cents. Foreign post age, double rates. Eastern Business Offices Verree A Conk lin. Mew York, Brunswick building. Chi cago, steger building. San Francisco Office R. J. Bidwell Cc, 742 Market si. European Office No. 2 Regent street 8. W., London. PORTLAND, THURSDAY, AUGUST 7. 1913. DRIFXIXO INTO INTERVENTION. To the responsibility which, the United States has assumed under the Monroe Doctrine has been added the necessity arising from our paramount Interests in the countries around the Caribbean Sea. When we called upon Europe to keep hands off American territory, wo assumed responsibility for the good conduct to other nations of the governments in that territory. Out protectorate overCuba, our an nexation of Porto Rico and finally and above all, our ownership of the Pana ma Canal, have given us a direct In terest, aside from the Monroe Doctrine, In preventing the growth of any hostile power in that region. Not only our general policy but our particular in terests require especial vigilance. President Wilson has announced that he will not countenance changes of government in the republics of Latin AmArlrA Yiv vlnlpnrA. Tn nrnrftnnA with that policy he has refused to recognize Huerta. who climbed to power in Mexico by the murder of SJadero. and has snubbed Castro, who has-jtljTCe begun a revolution in Vene zuela. Ill- order to secure stability to the present government of Nicaragua, he has offered that country a pro tectorate and payment of $3,000,000 for a canal concession, that sum to be usod in rescuing the republic from its financial embarrassments. The great objection to the policy adopted in Mexico is that it can only make good if carried farther. We cannot make good on our condemna tion of such a government as that of Huerta unless we announce what kind of government we will recognize and unless we use force to establish it. That means intervention. Since as sassination or revolution is about the only means known to the countries around the Caribbean by which a change of government may be effected, the Wilson policy means, if carried to the point of dictating what govern ment shall stand and be recognized by us, resort to force In Mexico against Huerta, in Venezuela against Castro and in other republics against any fu ture revolutionary leader. It means I'umpuisiuu upon inose countries to abandon their customary methods of pulling down and setting up govern ments and to adopt our own method. That would require the maintenance by us of a considerable armed force, both land and sea, in the Caribbean and the establishment of a protectorate over the whole region. Mr. Wilson is making a first attempt to put his policy in effect in Mexico. He is trying peaceful means, but with poor prospects of success. Huerta' scorns all mention of mediation be tween himself and the rebels, and any thing but a friendly reception awaits Mr. Lind as Mr. Wilson's personal representative. If the President wishes Huerta to step down, he will find some more forcible means necessary. In Mexico political controversies are not settled by Bryan methods. Guns are trumps in the game as played there. If Mr. Wilson wishes to take a hand, he must play the game with the im plements which count in Mexico. Since Mr. Wilson is strongly averse to the use of these implements, in other words to intervention, he would better adopt the alternative policy, both in Mexico and Venezuela. Let htm recognize the government which the Mexicans have allowed to gain control of the capital and the admin istrative machinery, diplomatically closing his eyes to the stain made by Madero's blood. Let Huerta fight It out with the rebels. Whichever wins, the country will be so impoverished at the finish and will be so swamped with European claims that Mexico may be glad to let us take charge of her cus tom houses and pay off her creditors, as we have done in Santo Domingo. That simple but bloodless expedient has put an end to the revolution busi ness in Santo Domingo; it may have equal success in Mexico. Mr. Wilson's present policy leads unerringly to in tervention, which the American people do not sanction. PrBLIO LAND CROOKS. Beware of the odious land swindler Is, in substance, the warning sent out by the Department of Justice to the public. The operations of these suc cessors of the shell game and three card monte men have been extensive, for they have had a new field for crooked exploitation lately and their victims have been legion. Your new land swindler isn't of the ancient order of crooked timber land locators. That particular first cousin of the highwayman was comparatively crude and primitive in his methods. He would take his victim into the fastnesses, point out a beautiful bit of virgin domain, indicate its location on a blueprint map of the district and then hurry the unsuspecting person away to the land office, where a filing would be perfected and a fee of sev eral hundred dollars collected. Later on, when the proud entryman revisited his homestead with a compass and ran his lines with the aid of an experi enced cruiser, he would find that he had acquired the right to prove up on a select bit of barren hillside some rods or miles from the spot shown him by the locator. But this isn't the type at which the Department of Justice points the finger of warning at this time. The new type calls on you at your home or place of business, or possibly waylays you in your search for lands. He is a plausi ble rascal and has convinced many who are not ordinarily gullible that great areas of the public domain are to be had by application of a little in side information. Very large use has been made by these operators, the de partment points out, of the status of the old Oregon & Washington Railroad land grants which are held by the low. r courts to have been forfeited by the company. Scores have been induced to "locate" quarter sections of choice lands on the theory that by tendering 12.50 per acre to the railway company and having their offer refused they laid the basis for primary entryman's rights upon final forfeiture of the grant. Attention is called by the depart ment to the fact that a lower court de cision may be reversed. Or if it should be affirmed, disposition of the lands would await an act of Congress and could not, in the absence of a new statute, be made subject to entry. Thus people who engage in these cun ning enterprises squander the fees they pay the professional land operators. .-No swindle could be more despicable. The highwayman finishes with you in a few minutes, taking your purse and jewelry. The gold-brick artist is sat isfied with a quick touch, after which he hastens his removal to more ver dant pastures. But the confidence man of the public domains dallies with his . victim 'for months and inspires them with new hopes which must fall. Altogether he is a most reprehensible rogue. GOOD CIRCUS. OR BAD? The Oregonian is accustomed to mis representation as to its motives and misstatements as to its sayings; so that it is able to view without much concern the newest charge that it supports the injunction issued by Judge Eakin against the Oregon City authorities, thus preventing them from suppressing a Sunday circus. The main objection of Governor West to this particular circus, it would appear, was that it was not a good circus. But The Ore gonian has had no information on that subject and has not sought to pass upon it. It would appear also that Judge Eakin discreetly avoided the phase of the question that threw the Governor into such deep agitation and issued the injunction in the clear legal knowledge that the statute per mits amusements on Sunday. But whether that was the-specific ground for this action ls not known to us; nor does it matter. The Oregonian sought to show that the action of the judge was an orderly procedure, and that the subsequent action of the Governor was a disor derly procedure. It sought to demon strate also that the Governor had dif ferent views of the same broad issue, varying with geography and his own executive humor, for he bitterly re proaches the authorities in Coos County for not interfering to prevent the de portation of Leach, while he attacks the district court of Clackamas County for taking action on a matter regularly brought to its attention. When the courts of Oregon rule or render a decision displeasing to the Governor he does not hesitate to threaten, and perhaps to declare, mar tial law. PORCINE HUNTERS. When the sly old Chinese pheasant cock attains the dignity of maturity he is prepared to lead the average hunter a merry chase. He can play his in stincts and cunning against the nim rod's wits with considerable success, invariably winning the game in which his life is the stake when the hunter has no dog. For instance, the pheasant cock can play hide and seek in a stub ble field with the sharpest-eyed of hunters and never betray his presence. Hard pressed, he will squat down and let the searcher pass within a few feet. When finally driven to flight he cata pults himself into the air with a tre mendous velocity. Nor is he so indiscreet as. to fly di rectly away from Inevitable volley that follows his taking the air. Rather he will move off at a sharp angle and, when in a tight corner, has been known to fly directly toward and over the hunter, depending on his marvel ous speed and the limitations of all wing shots. Frequently the hunter wins, but more frequently he doesn't. Anyway it is an exciting sport in which the prize goes to the more skillful. Many pheasants die of ripe old age after having encountered whole ar mies of hunters. , The hunting of this? splendid game bird before he has attained his full growth, however, is a practice to be severely condemned. Reports come from many quarters of the Willamette Valley that the early killing is heavy this season, despite the vigil of game wardens, who cannot be everywhere. The individual who will stalk down the growing bird, which is not yet ready for the hard game, and hasn't a chance for Its life, is porcine rather than sportsmanlike. He Is a law breaker of a detestable order and should be vigorously hunted and se verely punched when found. Such a person has no sense of fair play, owns a lack of regard for the law. A jail sentence, where conviction Is reached. would seem better suited to his needs than a nominal fine. LET US FINISH READJUSTING. Democratic dissension on the sub ject of currency does not hold out much prospect of early action, but the argument of Senator Hitchcock against attempting to pass the bill at this session of Congress is on a par with the Arkansas farmer's excuse for not mending his roof. Even though as he says, the new system cannot come into effect for a year after its enactment, the certainty that it is coming into effect will aid the bust ness readjustment which must follow adoption of the new tariff. If Con gress delays action on the currency until next year, we shall have two years of adjustment instead of one. that due to the tariff being followed by adjustment due to the currency While we are about the work of re adjustment, we would better do it all at one time. Business will the sooner settle down to a steady gait. Instead of considering such left over populist schemes as currency based on warehouse receipts, the Dem ocrats well may busy themselves with making their bill, excellent in Its main provisions, more acceptable to the bankers. They have been acting on the assumption that the banks must accept any scheme Congress chooses to adopt. Congress has power to lay down rules under which banks may be incorporated by the Government and may issue notes, but it is optional with the banks whether they will come under those rules. Three-fifths of the commercial banking is done by, state banks, which will think' twice before they become partners in a system whereby one-fifth of their capital Is to be handed over to seven Federal appointees for use by the Government in carrying on the banking business. Though National banks cannot re main National without becoming part ners in the reserve banks, they will still be free to surrender their charters and reincorporate under state laws. It will rest with them Ho consider whether the right to issue notes, which they would lose by this course of ac tion. Is sufficient compensation for loss of full control over one-fifth of their capital and limitation to five per cent of the profit they may earn on that fifth. The benefits which will accrue to the country from the new system will be In close ratio with the extent to which the banks become parties to It. If practically all the state banks should exercise the option of taking stock in the reserve banks, the benefit will be much greater than If all these banks hold aloof, or than it would be if a con siderable proportion of National banks transform themselves into state banks in order to avoid coming under the new law. NEW LAW ON OLD FOUNDATION. What Is described by a writer In the Boston Transcript as the last word in workmen's compensation law look3 to us more like a return to first prin ciples. The law is that adopted in Connecticut. It seems to discard all theory that there is a duty devolving on general society to help provide for pensioners of peace," and rejects the insurance plans"' adopted with varia tions in Washington, Oregon and Ohio. Compensation is to be paid direct to the injured employe by the Individual employer. The principal function the state performs is in enforcing the proper application of the law. A com mission of five members acts as um pire for the two principals employer and employe. The workman's compensation law in its original form attempted to pre scribe a legal schedule of payment by employers to injured employes, this schedule to be observed ia lieu of a jury determination of the award in each case. The state-administered plan was evolved in an effort to dis tribute the burdens more equally of this tax on industry. Acceptance in some states of the theory that the em ployes and the state should pay a pro portion of the insurance premium was a natural consequence. Assessing and collecting of pre miums and disbursing of benefits un der state Insurance call for a more or less unwieldy administrative structure, but it is speedier and more certain in relieving the Injured than any statute which simply enacts a schedule of compensation. The latter was sub jected originally to litigation based on all the old, unfair doctrines of assump tion of risk, contributory negligence and fellow-servant responsibility. Then, too, the insolvency of individual employers was an obstacle to overcome If employes were to have complete as- surance of compensation for Injuries. Connecticut has attempted to apply the merits of state insurance to direct compensation. Acceptance of the pro visions of the act Is presumptive. In other words, affirmative act by em ployer or employe is required to re move either from its application. While thus elective in bare form, it Is actually compulsory in spirit, for the common law defenses are preserved to the em ployer who accepts the law when his employes do not; but those defenses are abolished for the employer who elects to withdraw when his employes are willing to abide by the act. To guard the employe against in ability of his employer to pay com pensation, the employer is required to submit proof of solvency or deposit security satisfactory to the State In surance Department. Failing In either of these, the employer is required to insure his compensation liability. Another feature of the law author izes employers in the same or similar businesses where the hazard of injury is similar to form mutual Insurance companies to Insure their own com pensation liability. The act applies to all employers of five or more work men. One aim of the law Is to encourage employers and employes to adjust be tween themselves the questions that frequently arise pertaining to the basis for compensation. No law can be made absolutely automatic in this respect. The state is divided into districts and the five State Commissioners are ar biters in such disputes. The Connecticut law overcomes many of the objections to state insur ance. It calls for only a small pub licly paid department, requires no actuarial detail, no inspection of pay rolls, no collectors. In short, avoids the creating of a publicly administered Insurance organization. The act is more in accord with American institu tions and labor conditions than most of the laws which are embraced with in the broad classification of work men's compensation and it is probably nearer to the ultimate standard of any yet adopted. MEAT AND BACILLI. Metchnikoff, the eminent investi gator and bacteriologist, appears to be intent on bringing back to earth the wildly soaring price of meat. In pur suing his investigation of the perni cious little colon bacillus he has reached the conclusion, that this busy and ungrateful parasite would not have such an enjoyable time in the human system but for a meat diet. His recent explorations into the realms of bacilli led him to the celebrated con clusion that the sour milk bacilli combated the colon bacilli, but more lately he has concluded that the sour milk forces merely subtract from the nourishment of the deadly colon bacilli. Abstinence from meat sub tracts further from the happy environ ment and bounteous commissary of man's principal enemy in the bacteri ological field. An interesting experiment is re ported by Metchnikoff In support of this idea. He inoculated chopped meat and vegetables in separate cul ture tubes and injected the cultures into a rabbit. From the vegetable cul tures the rabbit experienced no incon venience. But the colon bacilli in the meat culture had multiplied to such an extent that the rabbit's demise fol lowed quickly. It has been estimated that some 150.000.000 of these bacilli are born every second In the Intestinal tract. Furthermore they cannot be eradi cated, although paraffin oil has been found to wreak havoc with them and thus stay the hand of arterio schlerosis, for which they are alleged to be responsible. They have a wide range of vicious activities, the princi pal of which is generating toxins for distribution throughout the human system. They also lie at the bottom of many serious disorders, including gastric ulcers, gall stones and dysen tery. Thus the revelation that they must have meat In order properly to perform all their functions of propa gation and toxic generation is an Im portant one. Metchnikoff does not hesitate to say that the detestable bac tena dote on meat and subsist on vegetable diet only when necessary, a vegetable diet limiting the propaga tion of the colonies in a measurable degree. The deduction Is that the American, with his insistence on meat three times a day. is playing Into the hands of the colon bacilli, if not into the hands of a receiver. True he is making life agreeable for the billions in his intestines, but they reciprocate by subtracting from his life tenure. It was freely said that the heavy meat eater is an old man before 50 long before Metchnikoff discovered the reasons. While meat supplies the calories or heat-work units for keeping up the human organism, replacing muscle tissue and providing material for re pairs, meat hasn't a monopoly. Thera's as much fuel In a pound and three- quarters of peanuts or oatmeal there Is in three pounds of fresh meat. Two pounds of wheat bread and a similar quantity of dried peas each will go as far as three pounds of-Tib beef, even though it does take 15 pounds of codfish, 10 pounds of white potatoes or 37 pounds of muskmelon to produce the required number of calories to sustain a man one day, for which the three pounds of rib beef are found necessary. ' Furthermore it is'fourid that the protein or nitrogenous food of vege table origin doesn't record colon bacilli putrefaction as readily as protein of animal origin, at the same time being quite as readily digested. It may be that where industrial clubs and consumers' leagues have failed to coax down the high price of meat the gentle laboratory experimentalist eventually will force the way. Philadelphia is asleep no longer. The old city is going after foreign trade by a grand, unique advertising scheme. It will send a vessel around the world, loaded with Philadelphia products, to buy and sell, and estab lish commercial relations at every port and everywhere to advertise Phila delphia. It will go to South America. Hawaii, Bombay, Calcutta, China and Japan. This is the latest thing in community advertising ahd is worthy of Portland's attention. A ship built and manned In Portland and loaded with Oregon products could carry the "made in Oregon" slogan around the world. The supervising tfrchitect of the Treasury Department cannot turn out plans fast enough to spend the great appropriations for public buildings made at the last session of Congress. Many Democrats in the House want a deficiency appropriation of $137,000 to increase his force by one-fourth. Then he would be able to gratify the pork-barrel statesmen by spending $5,000,000 a year more. But the House leaders, particularly Mr. Fitzgerald, oppose the scheme as a raid on the Treasury. Clyde W. Buell is .not the first pea son who has tried to ride to safety on the back of a bull moose, but he had more success than others, who have been drowned in the waters of political oblivion. The silver-tongued Albert J. Beveridge attempted the feat, but the moose failed to land on him on the far ther shore. As a means of crossing streams, a bull moose is picturesque, but not dependable. The Czar recently concealed his identity so successfully that .he caused his enrollment as a private in one of his own regiments and marched seven miles In the ranks. He wished to know how his soldiers fared and how it felt to carry a knapsack and rifle. He can do this without discovery, for car toons of him are forbidden and pho tographs are scarce. This Nation is so lacking in any thing ancient and historic, it well can afford to appropriate money to repair the Constellation. Built of wood rather than $400 steel plate, she cannot go into the junkpile. She was a great fighter as frigates went in her day and will be an incentive to patriot ism wherever she Is moored. Keep h6r afloat. It Is suggested that King George and Queen Mary of England may visit this country next year, when they are to make a tour of Canada. They will be welcome and we may even go so far as to sing "God Save the King" to the air of America. The joy with which Howard Elliott is welcomed to the presidency of the New Haven road is equaled only by the execrations heaped upon the de parting Mellen. Who ever heard of Millionaire Brady? Tet he dies leaving an estate in excess of $100,000,000. He just "piled it up" without a publicity man ager. Perhaps if the music of "America" were changed to ragtime, objection to it would cease. Somebody is all the time wanting to "bust" everything. America's apple supply will not measure up to that of last year. So long as the demand holds up we should worry in this neck of the woods. Ambassador Gerard finds represent ing this country In Berlin is expensive and is coming home to consult Bryan, who has troubles of his own. Henry Tlutt's divorced wife will not seek to effect a reconciliation, but will enter society. In short, she will not return to the Hutfhut, The divorced woman knows how to get In front of the camera, and the more shapely she Is the more front she gets. A Palis inventor of aeroplanes has the record for high flying in finance. He has just gone broke for $8,000,000. A woman broke her arm bowling at Seaside. You seldom hear of a woman breaking a bone doing housework. Is there a butter trust? Sixty-five million pounds In cold storage in Chi cago is sufficient answer. - Now the Balkan conferences have ignored the American State Depart ment note. Poor Bryan! Secretary Houston says the meat supply Is 30 per cent short. And 200 per cent too high. It would seem that the one thing the Democrats can agree on Is revision and division of pie. An auto speeder was sentenced to five days on the rockpile. Keep up the good work. Howard Elliott says he will continue to boost for the Northwest. Hard habit to break,. It takes the Dutch to regulate and edit our National songs and patriotic airs. Huerta may yet bring our Adminis tration dreamers to their Benses. t BETTER LIVING AT LOWER COST Produce Direct From Finn and Home. Roasted Coffee Landed. PORTLAND, Aug. 6. (To the Edi tor.) The communication in The Ore gonian from "M. D.," at Dallas, on how he provides bacon, lard, sausage and hams for home use Is of timely interest. Born and raised in the old-fashioned way, on an 'Illinois farm, the home cured bacon, la still preferred by this scribbler to the modern packer's bacon ana naiy within -'time porker nas ootn iront feet in the feed trough. This meat, tasting of chemicals and smoked wltn a few strokes of the brush saturated with liquid smokine, what ever that is, springs back, as you chew it, against your teeth, like a piece of rubber. How the stomach handles it I haven't the least idea. For years my bacon has come from the Schulmerich farm at Hillsboro, from A. Hodez, at Corvallis, or Mr. Baily at Forest Grove. Recently 1 got some good home-cured bacon at Stayton. Many of our Oregon farmers made choice bacon before the price of dressed pork ad vanced, but nearly all now sell their hogs dressed to the Portland market. ' The man of simple life knows two slices of good farm smoked bacon for breakfast, with two fried fresh eggs. good home-made bread and a cup of coffee, make a fellow feel at peace with his morning paper, his maker and all his neighbors. People whose breakfast consists of a bit of some one of the fake "break fast foods" don't know how they are humbugged. Little wonder they have dyspepsia, and contemplate suicide or divorce. And this leads me to say that my fruit and eggs come direct from the farm the eggs from Silverton and the fruit from a daughter's farm at Dallas, each case or box costing by Wells Fargo about 35 cents for carriage at the door. In this way $1.50 is saved on a case of eggs. Apples and prunes little more than the carriage. Coffee, I buy in the berry 50 pound lots, the best Java, which is "parched" and ground at home, and such coffee! In this way the cost of the purest cofr fee is actually less than half that usually paid for the much exploited stuff in brightly labelled cans. Now, it will be seen that all this deals with the cost of high living and that is the result, largely, of the smil ing solicitor every morning at the back door for orders of this and that, making for the workingman, at the end of the month, a discouraging bill, with little to show for it. Nor is the habit of telephone ordering much bet ter. But I started out with the intention of asking M. D. at Dallas not to cut up his hogs' jowls for lard, as he says he does, but to salt and smoke them, with the reBt of the meat, and send them to me to be cooked with greens. I can think of nothing so good in early Spring. C. E. CLINE. PROPER APPELLATION IS GIVEN Dr. Leach Rightly Called "Anarchist Editor," Sara Writer. PORTLAND, Aug. 6. -(To the Edi tor.) In The Oregonian there was a typical letter from a Socialist in which he took very much to heart the appel lation you have given to Dr. Leach in calling him an anarchist editor. He wishes to know why and by what right you call him so. Civilization has been brought to its present stage of development by one class, the reformers. The reformer Is the producer of two other classes, (1) revolutionists, or radical reformers; (2) the anarchists, or radical revolutionists. The reformer is a necessity at all times, for without him there would be no progress. The revolutionist is at times necessary, as when the gentle methods of the reformer will not ac complish the desired end. But the an archist is not only at all times unnec essary but positively harmful to prog ress and a disgrace to the community which allows him to exist. One always thinks of anarchist as synonymous with bomb thrower, mur derer. Incendiary, and people who sym pathize with them are equally culpa ble. A" Dr. Leach editorially took the part of a class (L W. W.) which openly declares its anarchistic proclivities, he puts himself on the same footing with them and so well merits the name, "an archistic editor." If the treatment he received were accorded to some others in this city things would, I think, as sume a much brighter aspect. HUGH R. LAZENBT. 146 East Emerson street. CHARITY FUND FOR W. J. BRYAN It Ought to Be Preceded by Attempt to Live for Less. VANCOUVER, Wash., Aug. 5. (To the Editor.) I read with much sur prise and no litle amount of disgust of the plan "inaugurated by the Dem ocrats of Texas to raise a charity fund by which Secretary Bryan might be able to live in his official office in Washington without resorting to the lecture platform in order to meet his running expenses. A wonderful idea! Perhaps Secretary Bryan would not care to be looked upon and considered Government pauper. ' If he was in that sad condition, his own state ought first to be apprised of the fact and set the example of pity and liberality in helping the poor and needy. Perhaps the condition of the Secre tary of State is much like that of the clothier who was endeavoring to sell garment to a customer. Said the merchant. "As I live, I cannot afford to sell to you for any less." Said the customer, "Then live so you can sell cheaper." Perhaps it would be well for Texas liberality to direct the same language to Bryaivs condition and try that plan for a time before starting to raise a public donation or helping fund for the Secretary of State, and that, too, per haps without his knowledge or con sent. L. S. BRONSON. NO KNOWLEDE IN Q,UINCE EATING. Therefore, It Wts Not Forbidden Fruit In Garden of Eden. ONTARIO. Or., Aug. 4. (To the Edi tor.) In The Oregonian Saturday, un der tne beading, ".Did Eve Eat an Apple?" the writer very "learnedly' proved tnat it was a quince that our distant relative ate, and that led me to think "What a great thing is learning.' " None but an almost Solo mon would have discovered it. Had a person of ordinary intelligence been asked what kind of fruit Eve ate he would have replied, "Why, I reckon it was knowledge." I notice that apple trees bear apples; peach trees, peaches, and plum trees, plums. So I 'spose knowledge trees yield knowledge. Besides 'tis said that wherj Eve saw that the - fruit would make her wise she decided to eat it. Now, I never heard that a quince was in any way calculated to enhance one's intelligence. It might make one strong or fat, but not wise. Who was the first to start the re port that Eve ate an apple? What ground had they for the report? Was it a rehash of the myth of the "Apple of Discord?" W. P. LAWRY. Wreck of Rosccrsjna PORTLAND. Aug. 6. (To the Edi tor.) To settle a dispute, will you please publish where the Rosecrans was .wrecked? A. says it was wrecked Just off Northhead, and B. says it was a long way from there. A. says Its mast Is seen from Long Beach, and B. says it went completely out of sight. Which is right? A READER. A. is about right as to the location. There is one mast of the Rosecrans above water that is plainly seen from vessels passing in and out of the river. WHY AMERICANS GO TO EUROPE Brosdesi&g of Viewpoint Rather Than Scenery Is Chief Benefit. PORTLAND, Aug. 4. (To the Edi tor.) Many ask at this time of year, "Why do so many Americans go to Europe? Why not see America first?" Articles are written, speeches made, advertisements printed, all trying to prove that it is the patriotic duty of Americans to spend the most of their money d-evoted to travel in becoming acquainted with their own country. Yet the tourist stream to Europe does not diminish. What is the- reason? After a residence of two years and a half in Europe perhaps I may be per mitted to venture an answer. Ameri cans generally cross the Atlantic for three purposes: For business, for study. or for recreation and amusement. The last class is the largest, although many who go for business and study get a gooa deal ol fun out of their visits. One does not have to be in Europe long and be possessed of good health, time, sufficient funds and an open mind before one sees that the heritage of a rich and varied past, including tradi tion, custom, governmental institu tions, social usage, literature and art, is a vast asset for the country. While the United States is vastly richer-in natural resources than any European country, we lacic tne nistoric atmos phere that inevitably strikes the edu cated American as a thing of subtle charm and value. This atmosphere pervades all walks of life in Europe. True, it may often contravene our ideas of democracy. Yet It would be a gross error to think that there is no democratic feeling even in monarchical countries, although It may not always take political form. Democracy may exist as toleration and forbearance and mutual respect among Individuals and between classes. Such a manifesta tion of democracy may be worth more than the mere right to vote. Our country undoubtedly has scen ery as grand as Europe. But is scen ery alone what the man or woman with the impulse to travel Is looking for? Apart from the fact that the cost of living is cheaper in Europe, that Its Summer climate la better than anything we have east of the Rocky Mountains, and that the points of interest are more accessible, is it not the people them selves, their ways and customs so dif ferent from ours, affording a change of outlook upon life, an entirely new social panorama, that interest the traveler and draw him from afar and satisfy his instinct for adventure? In amusements, the European cities of themselves attractive and many of them delightful and beautiful afford everything we have and more. The playgrounds of the continent, such as the Alps and the Mediterranean, are more numerous than ours. In addition, the pursuit of pleasure has dignity in Europe that is contrary to our strict er traditions of hustling. The culti vation of leisure ia a serious business across the Atlantic that has brought certain elements of refinement into civilization. Here the same tendency is brusquely called loafing. In a word, It is the novelty and vari ety of European life that attracts the traveling American more than the un questionably sublime natural wonders of his native land. One other feature of life In Europe I cannot help mentioning. It is the superior capacity of the people on the whole of relaxing after work and- of minding their own business. Henca life there Is more placid, more "gem uetlicli," as the Germans say, more con genial. There is at least on the con tinent almost a complete absence of that snooping spirit of Puritanism, prescribing how people shall drink, dance or dress, what theaters they shall go to and when, who their acquain tances shall be, and many other de tails of life. Public opinion is more inclined to believe that people are cap able of taking :are of their own private characters without interference by self-styled "uplifters" who are not con tent unless meddling with some one's particular way of enjoying life. This phase of Europe is enjoyed by visiting Americans who. after all,- prefer per sonal liberty to being thrilled by scen ery. That this excellent plan of mind ing your own business as long as no offense is committed against public or der or public decency is practical, is shown by the fact that life in Western Europe on the average is both safer and longer than with us. TRAVELER. WATER RATE PLAN IS PUZZLING. Those on Meter Advised to Favor Monthly-Payment Plan. PORTLAND, Aug. 6. (To the Edi tor.) Will some one please enlighten the public as to Commissioner Daly's plan to reduce expenses by making water collections quarterly instead or monthly? From his office came the word that they had not worked out the plan yet. Why ask for expres sion on something so indefinite? My water rate for June, for in stance, was $1.15. . I am on a meter. My next-door neighbor, who does not use any more water, if as much, pays $1.50. He has no meter. Another water user in the same locality pays a flat rate of $2. 2s during the Summer, while a meter user near by, who uses fully as much water, pays $1.25. How is the vv ater Department or Commissioner Daly going to fix a rate for meter users that will be just Some lawns require a great deal of water, and some get a very little Will an arbitrary rate, a uniform charge be adopted, and then the meter readings taken and a rebate allowed those who do not use the amount paid for, and a bill sent those who have used in excess of the quantity the quarterly payment would cover? As a measure of economy, with all this necessary bookkeeping which will arise, where is the real saving? The Commissioner will do well to formulate some plan tne people can understand. In the meantime, the man who is on a meter will be wise to vote for a continuance of the monthly pay ments, and to hope that some real method of reducing expenses will be devised. WATER USER- CHARITY FOR COUNTRY'S SAKE Philanthropist Wants to Contribute to Bryan Silence Fund. PORTLAND. Aug. 6. (To the Edi tor.) -I see that a fund is started in Texas to keep Mr. Bryan off the lecture platform and to enable him to devote his time to his Job. As a charitably inclined man I would like to contribute my share to this worthy fund, though I am against in discriminate charity doling and I am afraid this precedent might induce the whole army of Government em ployes to threaten the public with Chautauqua lectures and silvery speeches if we do not accede to their extortionate demands. I wash my hands of such con sequences. But this, may be, is an ex ceptional case; the country is ia im minent danger of being swamped by peerless lectures and we have to ward off the danger at any cost even if we have to shut in the lecturer in the State Secretary's cabinet I am enclosing a pledge for my pro portion of the Bryan fund. I would send the cash, but there is no equiva lent for it in the United States cur rency. Please do not publish my name and address in large type, as I prefer mod esty in everything, particularly, so in charity. A MODEST PHILANTHROPIST. Why Not? PORTLAND. Aug. 6. (To the Edi tor.) Why can't we have "The Band" at the Brooklyn Park some evening? There are a few people in this end of the city who enjoy- music. MEMBER MOTHERS' CLUB. Twenty-five Years Ago From The Oreg-onian of August T, 18SS. Constantinople, Aug. 6. The Turk ish Ambassador at Berlin has notified the Porte that negotiations between Germany, Austria and Italy on the Bulgarian question will soon be begun. Chicago, Aug. 6. The letters of ac ceptance of General Clinton B. Fisk and John A. Brooks. Prohibition can didates for President and Vice-President, were made public this afternoon. The narrow gauge lines are to be p'aced in order for the shipment of this season's crop. Judge Deady made an order allowing Mr. C. X. Scott, re ceiver, to issue certificates to pay off indebtedness and to pay for repairing the roads. Several days ago a party of O. R. & N. surveyors, in charge of John A. Hurlburt. arrived at Lewiston. Thev will survey to Missoula through the Bitter Root Pass. The first quarterly meeting of the W omen's Union was held yesterday at the First Presbyterian Church. The president, Mrs. M. S. Burrell. and the vice-presidents. Miss Hodgdon and Mrs. T. B. Trevett, all being absent. Mrs. A. Holbrook was elected to the chair. The Willamette Street Railway Com pany will ask the Albina City Council tor a franchise for a street railway from the south line of Goldsmith street to Delay street, along Russell to Helm and north on Helm to the city limits and throughout the full length of Williams avenue. Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Bellinger leave tor biiverton on a camping out tour. Samuel A. Herring will leave this week for Spokane Falls. -S. B. Wllley, controller of the Ore gon Railroad & Navigation Company, has returned from the East. Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Knowles. of the St. Charles Hotel, have lost their little daughter Zeilpha, aged 20 months. WORDS IN OPERA NOT UNDERSTOOD No Cause for Worry Over Tongua Adopted Ia Seen by Mr. M-rcra. PORTLAND, Aug. 6. (To the Edi tor.) A few days ago The Oregonian had this: "It is one thing to weep and wail because most of our opera is sung in a foreign language." I fail to appreciate the point here Intended to be made. Whv hnuM onv one care what language is used in opera, or even in the singing of songs and hymns, since "cultivated." "trained," "professional" singers sacri fice, almost wholly, the words to the melody In their performances before the public? Who has ears sharp enough to know whether the artist iy using German. French, Italian or American? As proof that I am not exaggerating let me give an illustration. In The Oregonian last Sunday a writer on happenings to stagers, 40 or 50 years ago, gives this "curious" circumstance of a quartet that sung simultaneously In four languages. It was Clara Louise Kellogg's company in "Martha." Miss n-enogg sang in English, Brignoli in Italian, a German woman In German and a French man in French. The writer says the audience never noticed the confusion of tongues. How could they notice it, since "tongues" were not used at all, but only the mouthings of voices educated out of all natural ' and enjoyable proportions and expres sions? It is too bad to have a good song spoiled in that way, and it is too much to ask people of good taste to listen patiently to such a performance. If a song is worth anything, it Is quite as important to the hearer as the music to which it is set, and its words ought to be given as distinctly and as clearly as the music itself. To sacrifice the words of a song, hymn or opera, to mere gush and warble, and a super abundance of tremolo, is one of the mis takes, as it seems to me, of modern singing. Only think of rendering the Star-Spangled Banner in such fashion that you could not tell whether it was In German, French or Italian, only by keeping the blessed words in your mind, in spite of the fault of the singer. Let us demand better singing under new ideals of what good singing is. Good singing means sentiment, voice and words as well as melody. LEVI W. MYERS. Sugar to Ward Off Old Age. Indianapolis News. The belief is gaining ground in many quarters that if you wish to stave off old age and to have the feeling of perennial youth and gaiety, no matter what your actual years may be, you cannot do batter than eat plenty of sugar. One of the pioneers of this theory is Professor Metchnikoff, who has made exhaustive experiments to prove his statements. There are some who even assert that not only does the frequent eating of sugar keep one from growing old, but that if a mart or woman will begin the sugar treat ment, even after senility has Bet in, the effect will be so great as to amount to a complete change in his or her character. ..... Turks tn New Colors. London Tit-Bits. "The Unspeakable Turk" has been painted in new colors by Count Frey sing, a Lieutenant in the German army, who, as a volunteer in the Turkish army, had opportunities to observe his comrades at close range. According to his story, the Turkish soldiers are "highly moral," loyal to their officers, profoundly religious and resigned in the face of the inevitable. Women and children were not molested by them on the retreat, and had the ladies of the German Embassy wished to go through the Turkish lines they would have tak en no greater risk than being present at a maneuver of the German army. Pronouncing Words. PORTLAND, Aug. 6. (To the Edi tor.) Please give correct pronouncia tion of Don Quixote. A LADY FROM MONTANA. Consult ja dictionary. Out in the Open If you are up In your advertise ment reading if you are a close observer of the trend of mer chandising methods as set forth daily in the advertisements of this and other good newspapers if you have lately experienced un usual satisfaction in your shop ping and business dealings you doubtless know the underlying principle of fair play that actu ates present-day merchandising. It is the principle of service. It spells satisfaction for the con sumer and success for the mer chant. People who have something to sell now tell you openly all the interesting facts about their products and their wares. The most direct method used is news paper advertising, because news, papers now advertise every line of human activity. It is to news papers that you turn for informa tion. And. consequently, adver tisers tell "their story out in the open where it will be sure of a careful reading by interested people.