TITE MOTtSTSG OREGONIAN, TUESDAY. OCTOBER 28, 1913. "
PORTLAND, oeego.
Entered at Portland. Oregon, rostornce
Subscription Kaies--Invarlaily In Advance:
(BY mail.)
Dally, Sunday Included, one year $8.00
Daily. Sunday Included, six months 4.25
Xfally. Sunday Included, three months... 2.25
Pally, Sunday Included, one monUi 75
Ially, without Sunday, one year .. 6.00
Daily, without Sunday, six months 3.25
Daily, without Sunday, three months. ... l-'5
, Daily, without Sunday, one month .60
Weekly, one year 1-&0
(tunriiv. film v.nr ...... 2.00
Sunday and weekly, one year 3.601
(By CA'RRIER)
Dally. Sunday mcluded, one year.. 9.00
Dally. Sunday Included, one month 75
How to Remit Send postofflce money or-
aer, express order or personal cneca on yuur
local panic. stamps, coin or curreutj -at
sender's risk. Give postofflce address
In run, including county and state.
Postaee Rates 12 to 18 pages, 1 cent: IS
to 32 pages, 2 cents; 84 to 43 pages, 3 cents;
80 to OO pages, 4 cents: 62 to 70 pages, a
cenU; 78 to U2 pages, cents. Foreign post
age, double rates.
Eastern Business Offices Verree A Conk-
Itn, New York. Brunswick building. Chi
cago, Steger building.
Ban Francisco Office R, J. Bldwell Co.,
742 Market street.
rOBTLAM), TUESDAY, OCT. 88, IBIS.
KEDlSTRIBrTT ON OF DELEGATES.
Discussion of reduction of Southern
representation In Republican National
.conventions has already reached the
point where definite plan, -re offered,
Three such Diana are described by the
Baltimore American's Washington
correspondent.
The first plan would give each state
' four delegates at large and district
delegates as follows: For each district
in which the Republican vote cast for
presidential electors In 1908 was not
more than 40 per cent of the total
: vote, one delegate; for each district
Where the total vote was from 40 to
; tO per cent, two delegates; for each
', district where the Republican vote ex-
eeeded 60 per cent, three delegates; for
ach Representative-at-large, delegates
la the same ratio, comparing the Re-
publican vote of the state with the
whole vote of the state.
A second plan would give each state
XOur ueiegates at targe ana one aaai-
I tlonal delegate for each 10,000 Repub-
Uoan votes or major fraction thereof
cast In 190S.
A third Is the same as the second,
but provides that each district have
I at least one delegate and that there
' toe two for each Representative-at-
larg-e.
, The first plan is said by the Amer
ican to be almost sure of adoption.
It would cut down the representation
of the districts in the Southern black
belt to one each If the ratio of Repub
licans to the total vote were about
the same in each district as in the
state at large. On the same basis the
number of delegates from many
' Northern And border states would be
Increased. Instead of each district
having two delegates, as in the last
convention, the representation by dis
tricts would he aa follows:
Bepns. per
cent of
total vote
Alabama ., ., 24.47
Arizona ......... ........... .....47.13
Arkansas ............... ......87.29
California CS.45
Colorado 40.88
Connecticut .A.....'....... .C9.41
Delaware ......62.08
Florida .., .21.68
Georgia 81.41
Hawaii 4S.U1
Idaho 64.14,
Illinois .54.63
Indiana 48.80
Iowa .65.63
Kansas ....................... .52.4(1
Kentucky ...... ....... ...... .48.08
I.oulBiaca ...11.77
Maine 63.99
Maryland 48.84
Massachusetts ................ .48.84
Michigan ,...61.91
Minnesota . ..69.80
Mississippi .................... a 03
Missouri .................... ...48.69
Montana ......47.06
Nebraska .....................47.60
Nevada 43.81
New Hampshire. . ............ .69.32
New Jersey ,.58.99
New Mexico... .49.44
New York 63.43
North Carolina. ............... .46.49
North Dakota............. 60.97
Ohio ..............60.88
Oklahoma .............43,28
Oregon .-...............66.39
Pennsylvania ..................68.84 -
Rhode Island. ......... .........67.00
6outh Carolina. ....m. ......... 6.97
fiouth Dakota. ..... 67. 95
Tennessee ..................... .46. SIS
Texas ..................... .....22.85
Utah 56.1T
Vermont ....... ...,.,75.11
Virginia i... .88.48
Washington 67.68
West Virginia .......... ...... ..63.41
Dale.
each
dirt,
l
2
1
2
2
2
3
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
a
2
2
8
2
X
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Wisconsin ............. ........04.62
.Wyoming- 65.48
The number of district delegates
win noiiuouciui mlw-lms wouiu proo-
ablT average more than two for each
district, for in some districts the per-
centage of Republicans to the total
vote would run over 60, thus entitling I
the district to three delegates, while
other hand, the only Southern states
where the average shows each die-
trict entitled to two delegates are
Maryland, Missouri, Kentucky, Ten-
nesaee and Oklahoma. -
This plan would give small but
strongly Republican states a voice In
the convention out of proportion to 1
their size. Thus Maine, North Dakota!
and Vermont would send three dele- 1
gates from each district Michigan
ibeing the only populous state entitled
to that privilege.
Possibly the new system would
cause the Southern Republicans to
make a more determined effort to te.
cure the voting of negroes and the
counting of their votes. . This would
give new life to the race issue and
a future Republican Congress might
cause renewed efforts to procure Fed
oral supervision of National elections,
: ST. PATRICK A3TD HIS SUCCESSORS.
There must have been some heart
searchings among the Portland minis
ters as they listened to this sentence at
their weekly meeting: "With thou
sands of times the equipment, the
membership, the- facility for reaching
people, the modern church is not do
ing so much as the ancient." It was
the Rev. Asa Sleeth who uttered this
bold remark. He might have made
It stronger without violence to fact.
Think of St. Patrick, who entered
Ireland with nothing but his eloquence
and zeal and converted the wild
heathen by the thousand. He some
times, we are told, baptized a whole
tribe at one camp meeting.
Nothing of that sort is seen in these
times, except, perhaps, at Billy Sun
day's meetings. He may be the ex
ception that proves the rule. Nor is
the paucity of conversion for ' want
of heathen by any means. It is said
by some statisticians that two-thirds
of the people of the United States
never go to church. We do not wish
to vouch for their accuracy, but com
mon 'observation tells us plainly
enough that this land is in sober truth
quite as much heathen as Christian.
The Rev. Mr. Sleeth believes that
the power of the clergy has waned
"because they have left God out of
me Dattie. we nave never, ior our
part, noticed any lack of reference to
the diety in most sermons, but still
Mr. Sleeth may be right. One might
suggest, however, that the acknowl
edged Ineffectiveness of modern
preaching Is in part due to a less Sa
I rlou9 shortcoming:. Have the minis-
I lers really left the Almighty out 01
1 account or have they failed to keep
nn with him?
Current philosophy teaches us that
tha rlolf-ir ia lh verr oonter nf rrn.
I gresslvenesa. The word "God" has
become to modern thought almost
synonymous with activity. He 13
the source of life, the fountain of be
ing, the ever-dlllgent Creator who
makes new worlds incessantly. For
getting these truths, some at least of
the clergy sermonize as if the Lord
had been asleep for the last 2000
years, neither discovering new truth
himself nor revealing any to man. It
b thJ which makes their
1
"" nm ""o
r aesire.
HOW ABOUT CLATSOP CO r NTT?
The County of Multnomah, besides
the great sums it has expended In ten
years on roads, is building a splendid
scenic highway up the Columbia at a any country ought to nave a title to
cost of 1150,000 or more, and is about h b founded ?n "" mor-
- ... . , als, honest processes and popular sup
to vote $1,250,000 to be expended on -,, T,,lt , th, .,,
tui.-.iruuUUIi Uj. .
bridge across the Columbia. A An
'""' ,u""'1 v-w
jumoia, to me county line, is none.
xn tni extreme souinern pan oi
Oregon jacKson county hub oy an
u.onuniuiLs nnmunin euuu,-
000 for roads, and will complete from
north to south of the county a hard-
surface road as a part of the Pacific
I Highway,
Klamath County will give $300,000
for roads if a proposed bond issue car-
ries; and Crook County purposes to
keep up with the procession with a
comprehensive scheme of roadbuild
I mg.
Nearer Portland, Tillamook County
has built a fine system of roads, and
is building more; and Columbia
County feels the Impulse and is ex
pected to do her share toward the
Lower Columbia highway; as well as
other roads.
Clatsop County has done well with
her roadB: but can Clatsop afford not
to give additional evidence of her in-
terest in roads, and her appreciation
I uiitsir seai vaiua aim lxupurcance,
by failing to vote favorably on No-
vember 4 on the proposed $400,000
bond issue?
TRUTH OR FALSEHOOD?
The clamor against "The Lure'
echoed today by a correspondent, who
dlBBtrropa iwlrb rh nnlnlnr. nf Tho
Oregoniaa that it teaches a wholesome
lesson. The Oregonian reaffirms that
opinion, with the single Qualification
that the outcry against production of
"The Lure" and the atmosphere of
I scandal and notoriety with which It
has thus been surrounded have driven
from its audiences the men and worn-
en who would be most likely to be
benefited by Its teachings and have
attracted In their stead - numbers of We have progressed in a hundred
! mere curiosity-seekers and sensation- years, of course. We Insist upon mak
hunters. who are after a new variety ing the domestic affairs of a nation
of thrill and emotion and who are
disappointed because they fall to get
it.
"The liure" to far less offensive than
"Damaged Goods" and the kindred
plays which have been produced
everywhere with the approbation of
the judicious and the languid interest
of the thoughtless. It Is melodramatic
in its methodsand fairly effective in
its climaxes. It tells in dramatic form
the painful and terrible story of a
girl's experiences with white slavers
in a great city. It furnishes a star
tling picture and. we think a true one.
so far as affairs in one circle of life
low life go,
But our correspondent does not as.
sert that the story ia not true. He
merely says it ought not thus to be
told. To his suggestion that if it is
all right to expose the white slavers to
the public In this way, it ought to be
added as a course of instruction in our
!J I schools, it ia sufficient to reply that we
2 have not made the theater for any
purpose, or in any department, a part
of the curriculum of the public
schools.
The Oregonian shares the conviction
of many people that the real demoral
izing Influence of the stage upon all
people, young and old, does not consist
In facts or truths plainly told, what
ever they are, but it consists in the
tremendous falsehood that the wages
. nt ,
TKK BIU. IS WHAT WB VOTE OX.
Elsewhere is published today a let
ter from a citizen who Is puzzled by
th8 a(lvloa of oregonian on vot-
MnB Tln SIec,al November
the Parasraph which confuses!
lm The Oregonian said; "If any elti.
sen disapproves of the use of the ref-
erendum on any particular measure
ho votes yes. If he approves of the
measure submitted through the ref
erendum he voten ves.'
These-two sentences merely recite
two reasons for voting yes on a ref- I
erended bilL
"Referendum" Is the term applied
to the process by which a bill Is re-
ferred to the people. When this
process has bean invoked the bill it.
self is voted on To vote "yes" in
a referendum election is a vote in
favor of the bill
It has been asserted that in more
than one instance the invoking of the
referendum on hills, of tha last leaiala.
tlve session has been unwarranted,
naa been the effort of a selfish faction
of small proportions or has been sur
rounded by fraud or misrepresenta
tion In petition filling. The referend
ing of a bill under such circum
stances ought to be disapproved by
the voters. The only way to disap
prove or rebuke it is to adopt the bill,
and the only way to adopt the bill Is to
vote yes.
The same paragraph may be ex
pressed in this way:
If you believe any bill has been
referended without shadow of excuse;
or for selfish reasons; or by fraudu
lent petitions; or by misrepresenta-
tion of petition circulators, vote "yes"
that the bill may be carried and such
misuse of the referendum power re-
bulcej . -
Tf vmT ViaIIm tha Mil la a -nod
bill, It matters not what you think as
to the method or inspiration which
put it on the ballot. Vote yes. v
Dr. Anna Shaw disapproves of Mrs.
Pankhursfs militant methods as a
matter of expediency only, saying:
If the Government does not stand for I
what la rood and Just it should be over-
thrown by any means, I
Let us see whither that theory would
lead us. Many manufacturers think
the Underwood tariff unjust and many
rich men condemn the Income tax on
the same ground; hence it is only a
matter of expediency whether they
should smash things. Socialists be-
lieve the private ownership of means
of production is unjust, hence it is
only a matter of expediency whether
they should throw bricks, Dr, Shaw
forgets that in a democracy the small. I
est minority is free to reason with the
1 majority in the hope of itself Decom
Ing the majority, but that majority
rule is the foundation of all democ
racy. In treating: militancy as a mat
ter of expediency, she verges danger
ously on anarchy.
ANOTHER TYRANT.
, President Wilson declines to rec
ognize Huerta as the President of
Mexico because he rules through force
and not "by consent of the governed."
The President has an aspiration that
all republics and all other govern
ments In the Western Hemisphere
shall be founded on law and order,
and that the methods of revolution,
murder and demoralization that have
marked so many Spanish-American
countries "shall be stopped. It is a
I noble ideal.
It deserves the world's
I respect and approval
It is unaawer-
able that the President or ruler of
to bring about peaceful administration
and lawful elections in the Central and
south American countries.
It tKat HPrtJ. i. di-tator
Bn, Ht..w .f .nr'. r,..
w, fn tt, hna ,-.
tainted h-i- mnrflsr nr. frnnr! Wo ha
SUDr,ressed the Mexican Conn-ess He
P.the wurS.HSTi utf
., ..j u -
is the state. The government of Mex.
ico is the will or whim of Huerta.
There was another world's outlaw
greater than Huerta, unscrupulous as
Huerta and far more ambitious than
Huerta. He was an officer of the
French, army. He saw the King gull
lotined. He became a great figure in
the events following the French Revo,
lutlon. He was a general and wort
a series of brilliant victories for
France. He seized the reins of gov
.ihnn-v.j rni.Anre or.,1
was made First Consul with autocratic
powers. He caused the Duo d'Enghlen
t hB ot .ft . trial for
ae cc.nspIracy to re3tore the
Bourbona and then had hlmseif
elected Emperor. He put the crown
on his own head in the Pope's pres
ence. He was at odds first with one
nation and then with another arid
with all Europe. He pursued ruthlessly
his Invasions and his wars of conquest.
is He divorced his faithful wife, Jose
Phine, and married an Austrian Prin
ror reaSOn-J Of State.
I tn6 -worlds Including America, as the
I tt,,,,. nr tp-t, t, hi. wo-h fn
name the ruler of Spain, Rome,
Sweden and other nations was la ef-
I feet conceded. His name was Na-
I poleon Bonaparte. He was dethroned
because he Interfered with other na.-
I tlona and not because he had made
himself Emperor of France.
like Mexico our own concern. But
Just what we are to do about it, or
how to do It, we are almighty un
certain
SAFETY AT SEA PROMOTED.
The scheme of the ship-owners to
defeat the seamen's bill has failed in
the Senate, for that body has passed
the LaFollette bill, backed by the
Seamen's Union, the Department of
Commerce and the Department of
Labor. Seamen are to be raised from
serfdom to freedom and put on an
equality with other workmen. They
are not to be suoject to imprisonment
for desertion. Workmen on land are
subject only to civil penalties for viola
tion of contract; why should seamen
be? Crews must include a certain
proportion of skilled men, and three
fourths of them must understand the
language of the officers.
The ship-owners tried to defeat this
bill by causing Senator Nelson to in
troduce another bill which brlBtled
with Jokers. It limited the provisions
for improved sanitation in the crew's
quarters to vessels carrying twenty or
more men, thus applying them to less
than a dozen American ships. It al
lowed a vessel to have a crew unable
to understand the language of the of
ficers, provided the ship carried an
interpreter. Imagine an American
captain in a storm shouting his orders
to a Chinese Interpreter, who mangles
them in Interpreting them to a Chi.
nese, crew! Though the interpreta
tion was correct, delay In an emer
gency might prove serious, while mis
understanding of orders might prove
fatal shlp and crew
The opposition of ship-owners to
the La Follette bill and their attempt
to foist upon Congress a measure so
impotent for good as the Nelson bill
illustrate the blindness of special in.
terests to their own good. The loss of
life on the Tltanio was increased by,
ala the lose of many a good ship has
been due to, the employment of un
sKinea men. une wouia suppose xnai
business prudence would dictate to
owners that they should have trained
men to navigate their ships, men who
can Quickly understand and carry out
the orders of their officers. But they
I are as determined in their opposition
as were the railroads In blocking
safety - appliance laws and laws pre-
venting me continuous employment or
Hen to the point of exhaustion. The
mat of a great passenger steamer
Illustrated this folly when be said,
pointing to the quartermaster at the
wheel
Imagine the economy of trusting- this
million-dollar ship (whlchone wrong twist
of the wheel could send to the bottom) in
the hands of a seaman paid ten shillings a
weeKl
The seamen's bill will be as effective
in preventing shipwreck as the several
railroad bills have been in preventing
tralnwreck, but those directly Inter
ested have been unable to see this, and
presBurfl must be brought from outside
to compel them to protect their own
interests.
Were the safety of the ships alone
involved, the ship-owners might be
left free to wreck or sink as many aa
tney Pleased" But they hire seamen
and carry passengers, with whose lives
l"ey are aa reciuess aa wun meir own
property Recent disaster, at sea have
Impressed on Congress the necessity
of measures to prevent waste of hu-
iimu uy buui L-tsimea greea. A,
shlD like the Titanic can no Innnp V
manned at the last moment with men
who cannot Dull an oar. fnr
ments must care for tha manv Hv
... - ..... ,r .
jjruietiuis: uie uves 01
passengers and crew, governments
protect the ships in spite of the
owners."
There can be little doubt that the
La Follette bill will pass the House,
It Is substantially the same as the
Wilson bill, which passed both Senate
and House in the last Congress, but
was vetoed by President Taft. There
will be some delay in its operation,
due to the notice which must be given
of abrogation of conflicting treaties.
but wo arc now; assured ot free, com- j
petent seamen on every ship, Amer
ican or foreign, which comes to Amer
ican ports, and of more nearly equal
ized cost of operation between Amer
ican and foreigns ships. Another step
has thus been taken toward restora
tion of the American merchant
marine.
Tibet, the Hermit Kingdom, Is be
ing brought Into the family of nations
A conference of British-Indian, Chi
nese and Tibetan representatives is in
session at Simla, arranging Tibet's fu
ture status. I seems probable that
the kingdom will be secured against
Chinese aggression by definition of the
frontier, that Chinese suzerainty will
be recognized, but that Tibet will be
permitted to negotiate directly with
the Indian government subject to Chi
nese approval and that a British of
ficial will assist in starting manufac-
tures and mines in Tibet. Modern
civilization will then penetrate to
every corner of Asia.
The presence of eight, sailors at a
temperance meeting in New iotk
surprised some who saw them. The
sailor and his grog are Inseparable to
many imaginations, but this Is not so
near the truth as it used to be. Sea
men are as intelligent as other people
and when they have a chance to lm
prove their minds they are eager to do
S Onjmanymoael,;n vessels tney are
SualXl Th"" SS
i Raa acquainted mem witn me injury
On many modern vessels they are
done by alcohol and a marked temper
ance movement has followed
W. L. Dresback, of Sclo, who packed
141 boxes, of apples in 9 hours,
should be awarded a niche in the hall
of fame. He has achieved consum
mate mastery of a difficult and im
portant art. The apple packer must
exercise eye and hand In perfect uni
son. The eye is required to Judge of
size, color, shape and quality without
hesitancy, and the hand must seize the
apple it Indicates and place it in exact
position instantaneously. What an
education the scientific orchard gives
and utilizes.
The explosion of a mine "by1 wire
less" in England reminds us again of
some of the perils of our new inven
tions. This was done intentionally, as
an experiment, but the same thing
may happen by accident. When the
atmosphere is vibrating with all sorts
of waves It seems as if nothing of an
explosive nature can be really safe.
We dare say the time will come when
it will foe perfectly feasible to blow up
an enemy's powder magazine at a dis
tance of many miles with a wireless
Instrument.
The Idea of reforestation has taken
hold of the East. The Indinapolis
News calls for tree-planting on "the
hills of Brown County and the wastes
of the old Llmberlostr Then Mrs,
Gene Stratton Porter's children will
have the scene for a new series of
novels after the style of "Freokles."
People who think all a lawyer has
to do is to take the money are mis
taken. A man under trial for murder
deeded his property to the attorneys
for the defense and they did their best
to prove he was Insane. Now he seeks
to recover and they must prove hla
sanity. They will, of course.
Apple day for horses Is a good idea.
So is turnip day for cows, bone day
for dogs and cream day for cats. The
first is a Chicago proposition; but how
about apples for the hundred thou
sand children in that big city who
never have the chance even to "speak
for the core"?
Nearly 80,000 people have regis-
tered for the 2000 quarter sections of
Government land to be drawn at the
North Plattfe lottery today. The 78,-
000, more or less, disappointed can
cast an eye toward Oregon and see the
promised land.
That New York reformer who went
to Jail for a week recommends seven
teen reforms. If - he'd been there a
year no doubt he'd have recommended
the total abolition of prisons.
The general Weather Bureau an
nounces that cold weather is due ere
long. Isn't it wonderful how those
experts can look into the future?
The banking committee is working
behind locked doors on the currency
measure. Now wouldn't it be just too
awfully sad if they'd lose the key?
The supervisor who drags a dirt
road, with the roller as a follow-up,
will add to his 'popularity when he
runs for a higher position.
Explosion of a mine eight miles dis
tant by wireless is making fiction Into
fact The dream of the novelist today
reality tomorrow.
Texas is a big etate and a slight
fall of gnow in one section at this
time of year is something like a. storm
n Mount Hood.
Opponents of suffrage are starting a
light on Mrs. Pankhurst That's right.
Don't overlook Emmallne altogether.
Chauffeur named Killian ran down
two women at one time. Who said
there's nothing in a name?
Wellesley girls are accused of bolt
ing their food. But you should see
them out in- company.
All things - come to the man who
waits, and John Barrett, of Cregon,
is no exception.
That in Mexico wasn't an election.
it was one of Huerta's Jokes on the
United States.
Mars is said to be signaling this
world. Possibly trying to get In touch
with Brazil.
Huerta has one of the traits of Por
firio Diaz when it comes to running
an election.
What excuse will the Administration
devise now for doing nothing in Mex
ico? -
Society is planning many halloween
affairs. Especially the younger set. -
Few Mexicans cared to waste tiros
going to the Huerta type of polls.
About time for a new egg-laying
Champion to be announced.
Indian Summer will not down.
New Scheme of Lawn Decoration.
Sydney, Australia, Bulletin.
Poet A beautiful garden party was
given yesterday under the auspices of
Lady Black. Mrs. Nawrleh- I'll have
our landscape architect plant soma aus.
plees on our lawn at onoa.
Stories of Natural Science
Synopsis of lecture nt Reed College,
Delivered by Dr. William Cosger
Morgan.
Ne. The rrodnctton of Hydrogen
Th sraa hvdroeen. recognized by
Paracelsus as early as the 16th century,
became an actual problem to science
200 years later when Its properties were
considered with reference to the pnio-
erlston theory of combustion. Cnemicai
belief was becoming unsettled at this
time, for the development of a great
many hitherto unsusrected facts was
arousing skeptical inquiry among ven
erated Ideas left undisturbed since the
time of the ancient phllosopnere. vviui
a keen-mindedness comparable to that
of Aristotle, Antoine Lavoisier occupied
himself during the last quarter of the
18th century In finding more plausible
explanations for chemical phenomena
than those wnicn nis cunmiui"'""
unquestionably accepted. -
Lavoisier's famous a-un-barrel experi
ment by which he produced hydrogen
from water is still used In various mod
ifications for producing hydrogen. As
first performed, steam was passed
through an intensely heated tube in
which a quantity of Iron nails had been
placed. Escaping steam was condensed
at the end of the tube by passing It
through water, and the surviving gas
eous Biibstance was nyorogen. ainci
steam and Iron were the only sub
stances from which' the gas had come,
its origin was either in a combination
of these two substances, or else it came
from the decomposition of one of these
substances. That hydrogen was a con
stituent of water did not long remain
in doubt.
e
Hydrogen is like oxygen in the fact
that its production is exclusively
function of those substances which oon
tain it. Of these there are thousands.
Beside the interaction of iron and water
to produce hydrogen, there are otner
metals which decompose water in a
similar way. One characteristic metal
which does this is sodium. In its pure
state, sodium is a bright, lustrous
metal, not too hard to be cut with
knife. A small piece dropped into
water shows additional characteristics
of a remarkable nature: for on the
surface of water it becomes molten
at once, spins about, and Indulges in
much sputtering. Hydrogen passes from
the scene f the reaction. Potassium, a
metai of physical properties little dif
ferent from those of sodium, performs
in much the same way when brought in
contact with water: the reaction in this
case Is accompanied by so gceat a lib
eration of heat that- flame is produced
and the evolving hydrogen Is consumed
Both of- these metals produce from
water a substance Identical with that
Which was bottled np at tha end of a
heated iron tube through which steam
was passed.
With sodium and potassium, the act
ivity, or reactivity seems due to a
more energetic impulse. This tendency
exhibited by one substance Joining into
combination with another is. In scien
tific terminology, chemical affinity. The
similarity of the expression to one used
In classifying a certain emotional phe
nomenon nas not: moauiatea its severs
ly sclentiflo significance, although hy
potheses based on the idea of affini
ties are bemg found Increasingly inse
cure. One hope of science is that the
affinity of substances will not always
have to be taken for granted, but that
some more comprehensible explanation
will find expression in a more compre
hensible term.
The product of sodium and water
reacting is hydrogen. Another effect
of this reaction is to ba found in the
water; it becomes slippery and has - a
soapy taste. A paper treated with dys
from the litmus plant might be dipped
into this water, and would turn blue.
This blue color gives a meana of de
tecting certain properties in -solutions
which would be noticeable in the same
way if the sodium should be replaced
by potassium, or by calcium, barium or
magnesium. Any one or these metals
will evolve hydrogen from water and
form a compound with a soapy taste,
slippery feeling, and the property of
turning litmus paper blue. The com
pound of sodium Is called sodium hy
droxide in the laboratory, and outside It
is merely called lye. There Is a little of
It In soap that produces the well-known
soapy taste.
AH these five metals are known to
form compounds with water which are
called hydroxides, and which have the
three common properties mentioned. A
search for the cause of this would de
mand common features about each of
tha five reactions rather than a slml.
larity between each of the five differ.
ent metals. This Is not an ancient the
ory, for texts on chemistry even up to
recent times have attributed these
common properties to the metals them,
selves. The newer explanation shows
the improved method followed In the
scientific world of today. In these so
lutions the only common elements are
nyorogen ana oxygen, wnion oiten com
ing together in the same way are treat.
ad as if they were but one substance.
and defined aa the hydrogen-oxygen
radical.
A later evidence of hydrogen In watei
has been found most conclusive. This
comes from the decomposition of watei
by- electricity where the gases Into
which water resolves can be collected
and measured. Hydrogen Is produced In
this fashion from its compound with
oxygen. There are certain other com.
pounds of hydrogen with chlorine, ni.
trogen, sulphur and oxygen, and carbon
and oxygen from which the hydrogen
can ba liberated. A long list of these
compounds could ba made In which a
common property beside the presence
of .hydrogen would be a sour taste.
The sour taste is a basis of our under
standing of acids, so it has been sat
isfactory to'call these soup-.subatances
acids. They have additional properties
of reacting on metals and turning litmus
paper from blue to red. Tin, Iron, mag
mus paper from blue to red. Tin, iron,
magnesium and zino Invariably disap
pear In aolds simultaneously with tha
evolution of hydrogen. Gold and plati
num enjoy immunity from acid action.
Nltrio acid treats metals in much the
same way that other acids do, but it is
not given the same credit for tha evo
lution of hydrogen. The difficulty oc
curs "in a certain habit of nltrio acid;
hydrogen la made and then Immediately
used up, so from the observers stand
point hydrogen Is not produced. It la
assumed that a man making bread and
eating it all himself would not be called
a baker. .
--' Health Officer' Experience,
PORTLAND, Oct. 27- (To the Ed
itor.) For the benefit of the taxpayers
of the city, will you kindly Inform the
publla when Dr. Marcellus, City Health
Offlver, received his diploma; how many
years he has practiced medicine, and
what d,oes ha know about sanitary eon
dltlons in general? What taxes does
he pay? ' VICTOR H. SMITH.
The Oregsnlan published Dr. Mar
cellus' biography at tha time bis ap.
polntment was announced. June 22, Ha
graduated from the medloal department
of the University of Pennsylvania in
1903; was licensed to practice in Penn
sylvania in 1904, and in Oregon in 1906;
was attached throughout the insurrec
tion to the sanitary troops or hospital
corps in the Philippine Islands, and was
sanitary officer with supervision of O.
N. G, military camps and maneuvers
from 190 ts m. Ha pays 1120 in
t
NO EXCTSB FOR CHANGE! lit FLAG
Ex-Confederate Gives Patriotic Ilea
sons for Preserving; Design.
PORTLAND, Oct. 22. (To the Ed
ltor.) It would appear, from what
have read at different times lately on
the subject, that there Is a move, or
rather a contemplated move, by som
person advocating a change - of the
stars In our National flag. I for on
am not disposed to take this matter
seriously; thinking and hoping there
may ba no grounds for the report; bu
in case such a move is projected, I as
a reader of and a subscriber to your
old pioneer paper for the last 86 years,
ask a little space for the purpose of
voicing my earnest and honest, not to
say indignant, protest against any
such thought, intention or action.
The old flag Is good enough for me.
It flaunted defiance In my face as
rebel soldier In "Stonewall's" corps of
the late General Lee's army. It float
ed over my ancestors who helped to un
furl It before all the world. It float
ed over my grandfather, who offered
his life to maintain Us prestige. It
floated over my father, who lost a leg
in our war with Mexico. It floated over
my son, who now sleeps his last sleep
In Rosa City Park, in our war with
Spain. Tea, the old flag is good enough
for me. It has floated over me for 71
yeara
It stands for everything that man
could wish for on the face of God ;
earth. It offers a shelter for tha down
trodden and oppressed. Why change
As a boy In my early teens, I learned
to love my country's fig, and when my
state, Mississippi, called for volunteers
to go fight for our "rights," as they
were called (and I can't see to this day
where my "rights" were in any manner
considered, for my people owned no
niggers, there was no pudiio scnooi
system, and If the parents were not
able to nay their children, got no edl
cation"), so I enlisted, aa I understood.
and would fight under the old nag.
So it was a great surprise to me a.
few months later to see a strange flag
Instead of the Stars and Stripes, and
during the war I never did bava much
love or regard for, or become accus
tomed to the sight of It, but when
looked at it. what little regard I had
for It would drop several degrees, and
at my first baptismal experience of real
war at Winchester, under Jackson, In
May, 1862, I saw tha old flag go down
to temporary aereat, ana wnen tn
rebel cavalry, after driving the enemy
across the river, returned trailing 1
in the dust, tied to their horses tali
well, I can't put on paper the. state of
my boyish feelings at that time, so
won't try.
My first Impulse was to attempt to
rescue it, but I realized too well the
consequences of so rash an act.. So It
was at Malvern Hill, at Fair Oaks, at
the second Bull Run. at Antletam,
where my brother was killed, at Fred
ericksburg where a loyal Yankee bul
let layed me up for several months
But after four years ef agonizing
doubts and fears and Insults, the old
flag. "Old Glory" come unto Its own
at Appomattox Do we want a change?
Accursed be the tongue that gives
voice to the wish. Let the old flag
alone, let it wave in all Its glory and
beauty. This Is my maxim: if any
man. be he I. W. W. or whoever he may
be, attempt to tear down or speaks In
sultingly of the American flag, "fanoot
him on the spot," and if there Is a loyal
American who would not do this, the
same is a coward and does not deserve
to be an American citizen.
The old flag, the flag of and' above
all flags, the flag that has never yet
known defeat. W. E. MOBKI3.
720 Linn street.
EFFECT OF "YES" VOTE NOT CLEAR
Confusion Likely to Affect Ballots la
Referendum Election.
WARRENTON, Or., Oct 26. (To the
Editor.) A few days ago I clipped
short editorial of yours, entitled
"Voting Tes vs. Voting No," in order to
post me at the polls on the tn ot rxo
vember. The sixth paragraph In the
editorial says: 'If any citizen dlsapr
proves of the uses of the referendum
on any particular measure he votes
yes. if he approves the measure suo
mitted through the referendum he
votes yes."
I may ba exceptionally thick-headed,
but I cannot see where a voter gets
any chance to choose (on the ballot)
between disapproving the use of the
referendum, and at the same approving
the measure submitted under that ret
erendum. and In each case you Instruct
voter to vote yes.
I doesn't seem to me that you make
It clear to the voter whether he ii
voting to Invoke the power of the ref
erendum and thereby kill the proposed
law, or voting to approve the law as
proposed and thus kill the referendum
n that Identical measure, it seems to
me It would have been easier (the five
matters to be acted on at the election
being all under the referendum) to
have dropped the word altogether and
voted yes or no directly on tue bills as
passed by the Legislature and either
confirm or reject them.
I fear that unless you can explain
the way to vote more simply there will
be many a vote that will have the op
posite effect to what was Intended
when it was cast. I must surely get
further instructions myself before I
can vote Intelligently.
JOHN EVENDEN.
Strictly speaking the "referendum"
Is not voted on. A "referendum" laf
the process by which an act of the
Legislature Is suspended pending ap
proval or rejection of the law by the
voters.
The law Itself Is voted on. A vote
"yes" Is for adoption of the act. A
vote "no" is fojr the ejectlon of the
act.
If one believes the law a good one
he should vote ;'yes-" If he lacks
knowledge as to its terms, but knows
or believes It has been held up by self
ish interests or by the misrepresenta
Hons of petition circulators, he should
rely on the Judgment of the Leglsla
ture and .-vote "yes." A vote "yes" un
der the latter circumstances Indi
cates the- voter's disapproval of the
method or Inspiration of the attack,
hold-up, suspension, or referendum
to which the law has been subjected. A
vote "yes" helps carry the bill and re
bukes misuse or abuse of the referen
dum power.
Mountain Meadows Massacre.
BUTTE FALLS. Or., Oct. 20. (To
the Editor.) Please tell about the
Mountain Meadows massacre. J, T.
The massacra occurred In September,
1857, at Mountain Meadows, 350 miles
south of Salt Lake City. A party of
emigrants from Arkansas and Mis
souri were fired on by Indians, and.
It is alleged, by Mormons disguised as
Indians. After four days' siege they
accepted the proffered protection of
John D. Lee, Mormon Bishop nd
Indian agent, and left the shelter of
their wagons. All adults and chil
dren over 7 years of age were killed.
Seventeen younger children were
afterwards restored to relatives through
the efforts of the United States Gov.
eminent. Lee was executed for the
crime In 1877, but efforts to Inculpate
other high officers of the church failed.
Bancroft's history of Utah places the
entire blame on Lee. Suspicion of
knowledge and approval of tho project
by the Mormon Church was strength,
ened in the minds of many by the fact
that Brig-ham Young hud previously
issued an oraer sgainsi passage into or
through tha territory "without a per
mit from th proper offloer,"
Twenty-five Years Ago
From The Oregonian of Ootober 28, 1688.
Newark, N. J., Oct. 27. James Q.
Blaine spoke tonight to 4000 people.
New Tork, Oct 27. A Democratic
parade of 17,000 business men was
reviewed by President Cleveland to
night. The Mechanics' Fair has drawn to a
close. The Judges of the baby show
gave their decision yesterday as fol:
lows: Baby No. 7, A. Stuart McDon
ough, first prize, gold medal; baby No.
34, Olgo Sectum, second prize, grand
sliver medal; baby No. 30, Matilda
Ward, third prize, stiver medal. The
buggy given by Staver & Walker, was
won by B. Gibson, of East Portland.
In response to an Inquiry as to the
original cost of the lot sold at $25,000,
Mr. Sherlock said he bad paid 200 for
it in 1851. The lot is No. 2, in block
46, situated next south of the south
west corner of Oak and Third streets.
H. B. Lltt has decided to open a
branch of his famous Portland suit
house In Tacoma next Spring.
L. J. Rouse, of Joseph, Wallowa
County, was in the city during the
week.
Sidney Loewenberg, a lad IS years of
age, was thrown from his pony near
Salmon and Eighth streets Friday aft
ernoon and his leg was broken.
McCraken & Co. are putting an en
tirely new floor in their wharf at 1)
street.
Yesterday A. B. Richardson, the auc
tioneer, sold lots 2 and S, block Y,
for $11,200; lots 1 and 4, block Y, for
$11,500; lots 5 and 8. block Y, for $11,-
800.
Postmaster Roby has been notified by
General Superintendent Bancroft, of the
railway mall service, that railway pos
tal clerks Captain N. S. Fierce, C. P.
Holloway. George N. Fawcett and W.
W. Webster have been removed. All
are Grand Army men.
Judge Bolsa has decided the suit of
the Oregon Paciflo Railroad Company
against G. W. Hunt in favor of the
latter, the Jury awarding him 7ti,
243. J o h n Roberts and John Sterrett killed
a bear near Fairvlew that weighed 354
pounds.
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonian of October 28, 1868.
Captain Ankeny, Hill Beachy and
Tom Pike have arrived at The Dalles
In pursuit of Romaln, Lowery, Pago
and Howard, the supposed murderers
of Magruder and his party In the
Beaverhead country. They found the
birds had flown, probably to Portland,
where they had likely taken the
steamer for San Francisco. It was the
intention of Captain Ankeny and part)
to pursue them until found. They are
thought to have realized from $40,
000 to 150,000 from their three mur
ders.
New York, Oct, 22. General Shackle-
ford, with cavalry, has driven the
rebels entirely out of Tennessee.
New York, Oct. 22. The grand ex
pedition under General Banks has ef-
feoted a landing at Point Isabel with
the corps under Franklin. The suc
cessful occupation of Point Isabel will
give us possession of Brownsville.
Louisville, Oct 20. Major-Geneial
Grant has assumed command of the
armies of the Ohio and tha Cumber
land. He left for Nashville this morn-
ni to assume the direction of affairs
at Chattanooga. General Thomas takes
command of Rosecrans' army.
The express and banking business of
Wells-Fargo & Co. in this city will
henceforth be transacted In their new
office in Cree's fireproof block, corner
of First and Stark streets.
The stage arrived at half past 5 Inst
evening, gaining near 12 hours on
schedule time.
NO AID TO MORALS 19 OBSKRVKD
Andleace Not InMruoted or Aroused hy
"Toe Lure,"
PORTLAND, Oct, 27. (To the Ed
itor.) I often attend the theater, and
just as often read the criticism of thu
lays. Frequently my opinion and the
writer of the criticism concur, but when
therwlse, I give special thought to
right or qualify the Judgment I have
formed.
I saw the playing on Saturday of
The Lure," and read the criticism In
The Oregonian Sunday, and -- for u
long time have I disagreed with your
ritic as to the wholesomeness of the
play on the average mind and the re-
ults to follow.
You concede the audience was mixed,
large part of the atendance was
probably prompted to attend bv tho
ensational title, and the salacious
wording and acting accompany it.
In which their expectations were
realized. This same body of thinkers
are temperamentally the ones crowd
ing about a turmoil on the street and
eelng two men pun eaoh other.
Though blood may flow and pain find
outlet In screams, yet no one Inter
venes; but after the affray, comment Is
made as to which was the greater hero
for the moment, and even a desire ex
pressed to witness another bout. This
much for a part of the audience.
The other half are shocked at the
outrage"" "nrtltlons prevalTlng, of
which they have a general knowledge;
but to believe they are aroused by this
play as an educational force and there
by the ends could be reached even be
yond that of a sermon, would Justify,
our Board of Education to create a spe- '
cial course In connection with our
eugenic classes for the education of our
young men and women on parallel
lines.
I do not think this means of reaching
a moral uplift is any more potential
than has proven the commandment
from the time of Moses "thou Shalt
not steal." -. Education at the hearth-
side and enforcement of laws will recti
fy to a degree this shamelul evil, but
"The Lure" never. READER.
The World Moves
Did you aver stop to think what
a marvelous and ever - changing
scene of activity this world Is .
what a wonderful kaleidoscopic pic
ture it presents? Even tha com
munity In which you live moves
rapidly changing and changing as
the days come and go.
' Where do you stand In the scheme
of things? To what extent are you
master of your own actions? Are
you steering your own course or do
you drift along helpless In the great
current?
This newspapeT Is constantly help.
Ing those who are willing and ready
to receive and profit by Its help. If
you have never dona so before, Just
consider separately and collectively
the vast and various lines of activity
set forth In Its advertising columns.
Then you cannot fail to realize
what It means to you to go about
your shopping and spending with, a
fixed Idea of what and where to buy,
gained from the Information thus
imparted.
Where do you receive the best
service and the best merchandise for
your money? Adv.