Morning Oregonian., October 29, 1913, Page 10, Image 10

10
TTIE 3I0RXIXG OREGONIAN, AVEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1913.
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POKTLAXD, 'WEDNESDAY. OCT. 89, 1913.
HAS THE WORLD'S UNREST GROWN?
"It i3 the day of the mob the world
over," walls John A. Slelcher In Les
lie's. He mentions riots in tokio,
Home and Dublin and asks: "What Is
th secret of this world-wide unrest l
Has liberty been misconstrued as 11
cense? Are the thoughtful people of
the country not disturbed over the
oossibllities?"
What reason have we to believe
that unrest is more world-wide now
than In other times? A certain pro.
portion of the people in every great
center of population breaks over the
bounds of law from time to time. It
was so In ancient times, as the history
of Rome, Greece, Palestine and Egypt
testifies, and in medieval times aiso.
Cities are apt to give way to gusts
of nasslon. Just as are individuals.
Men whose minds are inflamed with
enthusiasm for an idea break over
the restraints of law now as they did
In times past, whether the idea be
Dolitlcal. religious or economic. Men
ti aut tn or Ill-trained In the ways of
a restrained democracy regard the
necessary limitations on their liberty
as tyranny and imagine that only un
bridled license is freedom. They fall
to see that democracy provides or
derly means of attaining that which
under other forms of government
could be attained only by violence.
This la true of the present, as it
has been of the past, but there is no
reason to believe mob violence has
become more prevalent. It seems to
be so, because we learn of riots more
TromDtlv than in pre-telegrapn days.
A riot no sooner happens than the
news is flashed around the world. In
former times the news of the events
in Tokio. Rome and Dublin would
have trickled slowly from country to
country and from city to city. The
combined impression of the three
events would not have been produced
then as it is now. We are more im
pressed by such facts because we
learn of them more promptly, are
more familiar with the people con
cerned and are therefore more in
terested. Even if there is more mob disorder
than in past times, it is no cause
for alarm. More events happen every
24 hours, for modern science has ac
celerated the pace at which the world
moves. The increase in pace is pro
portioned to the difference in speed
between a horse and a train, between
a postrlder and an electric spark. In
these days, too, many men are ed
ucated. Education generates thought,
thought leads to action and action to
clashes between men and bodies of
men of diverse minds. But there is
rio reason to believe that the amount
of mob turbulence has increased more
than have peaceful forms of human
activity.
There Is no occasion to mourn for
the "good old times" when learning
was the perquisite of the rich and
when the poor dared not lift hand or
voice until driven to despair by
hunger or oppression. In these good
new times we have more men and
women devoting themselves to re
moval of those evils which provoke
riot or to convincing the mob that
there are better ways than riot to ob
tain redress of wrongs.
- IMAGINARY COLOMBIAN BLUFF.
British and Canadian newspapers
neglect no means to influence public
opinion in this country in favor of re
pealing the toll exemption clause of
the Panama law. For example, the
Vancouver, B. C, Province says:
The report from London that British In.
terests may be considering the building of
another canal from tho Atlantic to the Pa
cific la Interesting-. It has probably arisen
owing to the activities of the Pearson, Lord
Cowdray, group In Colombia, where their
representative. Lord Murray, has been for
sv considerable period.
Proceeding to say that Lord Murray
has obtained some concessions from
the Colombian government, the. Prov
ince admits that their nature has not
teen divulged, but says:
They are estimated vaguely as oil licenses,
contracts for wharves, dredging, railway
building, etc Lord Murray Is the last per
son tn the world to divulge any Information
on the subject, having only recently given
excellent proof of his ability to Keep his
own counsel In the Marconi affair.
- But It does not need much Imagination
to Jump to the conclusion that a new canal
might be cut through Colombia via the
Atrato River.
Having thus built up a foundation
of "mays," "probablys," "vague esti
mates" and "Jumps to conclusions"
with the imagination, fthe Province
proceeds to erect an imaginary super,
structure. It says President Taft of
fered to buy the Atrato 'canal route
from Colombia for 110,000,000, but
Colombia refused. It says "the esti
mated cost of a canal by that route is
only J55,000,000, a mere bagatelle,
considering the interests Involved."
Then follows a description of the
Atrato route. The Atrato River flows
northward into the Gulf of Darien, is
400 miles long and Is navigable for 250
miles to Quibdo, "once the bar at its
mouth Is crossed." Quibdo Is only
twenty miles from the Pacific Ocean,
but is cut off by the mountains. Dredg
ing through the bar and dealing with
the immense quantities of silt carried
down by the river "may be quite feasi
ble, and the actual linking of the river
with the Pacific a feat in no wise im
possible." Our sage friend continues:
If a canal routo Is feasible, even at double
the cost of the estimate, there would be no
difficulty at all In raising the necessary cap
ital in Europe to finance the scheme. The
Colombian government Itself could float
canal bonds which would be taken up in
the various European capitals if the finan
ciers were once convinced that the security
was good.
The Province dwells on the beauties
of this scheme as offering Colombia
"a good deal more than any compen
sation offered for the robbery of Pan
ama," as "a very serious matter for
the United States" and as giving Co
lombia "a very excellent hand, if only
for bluffing purposes."
Certainly the dredging through a.
bar and the disposal of vast quantities
of silt In a river 250 miles long are
mere bagatelles. We know that from
our experience on the Columbia River.
So Is the excavation of a canal through
a range of mountains. The United
States proved that with the Culebra
cut. So Is $35,000,000 as the cost of
an inter-oceanic canal.
But estimates have a habit of being
exceeded when one comes actually to
do the work. The Panama Canal has
cost more than double the estimate.
Difficulties have a habit of bobbing up
when one burrows through mountains.
There are also decided objections to
navigating a canal 270 miles long as
compared with one only fifty miles
long. Every additional mile Increases
the delay through slow steaming and
may further increase it through risk
of obstruction.
Nor would the Pearsons dig the
Atrato canal, or Europeans provide the
capital, unless they were reasonably
sure of making money out of it. If
the United States found the Panama
Canal confronted with competition, we
could abolish tolls and pay the cost of
maintenance and operation and the in
terest without acute suffering. If w
engaged in a merry canal war, we
might donate a bunch of bananas to
each passenger who chose the Panama
Canal. That would be cut-throat
competition, in direct violation of th
Sherman act, but anti-trust laws do
not bind nations. Lord Cowdray and
his Colombian friends might get very
tired of the game long before we did
For their own sakes we should advise
them not to play.
MAKING WAY FOR THE DEMOCRATS.
A large numner of our Republican breth-
ren are almost ready to weep over the ac-
tion of Congress In passing that amend
ment taking Deputy United States Marshal:
and Internal Revenue Collectors out of the
civil service and .permitting the heads of
these departments to select their own as.
slstants as they ought to do. We Just
wonder If these brethren would feel as they
now do had Mr. Taft been elected and re.
talned several thousand Democrats in these
positions had he found them thereT We
Imagine their respect for civil service rules
is largely owing to who is In and who is
out. Salem Messenger (Oregon's only real
Jjemocratlo newspaper).
Tour office-Jiunter is opposed to
any kind of civil service, whether he
be Republican or Democrat; but your
office-holder is strong for his Job.
no matter who put him there and
no matter what his political affilia
tions. If Mr. Taft had been elected and
had kept in oflTce many Democrats
in minor Jobs, it may be assumed that
the brigade of Republican place-
seekers would have made him infinite
trouble. The Republican-out-of-a-job
and the Democrat-out-of-a-Job have
precisely the same opinion as to the
Government's duty to provide them a
living.
But we wonder what was in the
President's mind when he signed the
bill exempting the Deputy Marshals
and- Internal Revenue Collectors from
the civil service and felt compelled to
assure the Nation that there was "no
danger" while he was President that
the spoils system would creep in
with my approval or connivance"? It
sounds like a plea of confession and
avoidance.
IF BRYAN, WHY NOT WILSON?
The case for Secretary Bryan is
presented today by a Pendleton Dem
ocrat, who supplies a great deal of
mere argument about that distin
guished office-holder that he thinks
The Oregonian ought to have contrib
uted as matter of information. The
tatus of Mr. Bryan as a world's fig
ure is perfectly understood by The
Oregonian and by all its readers. The
social demands upon him are many
and the expense is considerable,
though it may fairly be said that
there is so far no record that the Sec
retary has sought to make a great
splash at Washington in the world of
society. It is likely enough true that
the Bryan earning power as a private
citizen exceeds his official salary.
The criticism of Secretary Bryan
rests upon his neglect- of his duties
and upon the methods he adopts to
add to his official Income. It Is a
revelation of an unknown and unex
pected side of Mr. Bryan's character
that he should regard a public office
as a private perquisite and that he
should be unwilling to make the sac
rifices that every one of his predeces
sors has had to make to uphold the
dignity of his great position.
Mr. Bryan has an ample fortune.
He supports a house in Nebraska, a
house, in Florida and a house at
Washington. He cannot live on $12,-
00 a year; . therefore he feels Justi
fied in leaving Washington at critical
times to go on the lecture platform
for pay. The business of the De
partment for days at a time has been
a standstill. Lately he has been
on the job, doubtless because the lec
ture season is over.
If it is seemly for Mr. Bryan to go
gadding about the country to keep
full his personal cash box, it is all
right for President Wilson to do the
same thing. If it is seemly for Mr.
Bryan to be half a Secretary and half
a lecturer, it is seemly for the Presi
dent to devote half his time to the
vaudeville entertainers and the yo
delers and ,to report ' at the White
House between platform engage
ments. What would our Pendleton
friend think of that? What would
the country think of such a Presi
dent? Mr. Bryan does not take his duties
or his responsibilities seriously
enough. Why did he accept the place
if he was unwilling to meet the prop
er and necessary demands upon him
as Secretary of State?
of a negro to any position where he
will be in command over white per
sons, particularly white women,
Southerners control the Senate and
say, with good cause, that they have
the tacit support of many Northern
and Western Senators. Only two ne
groes have been nominated for office
by the President and only one of
these, Dr. George W. Buckner, . for
Minister to Liberia, has been con
firmed. The other was Adam E. Pat
terson, of Oklahoma, to be Register
of the Treasury, and his nomination
was withdrawn at his own request,
that he might escape the humiliation
of rejection. The office was filled by
a man of Indian descent, whose nom
ination was confirmed. The Admin
istratlon has departed from custom
by sending whites instead of negroes
as Ministers to Hayti and Santo Do
mingo. The President, Intent on
holding his party in line for the great
measures of Nation-wide importance
to which he is committed, evidently
avoids provoking dissension in his
party and imperilling his programme
by stirring up the animosity of the
Vardamans and Tillmans.
Segregation accords with the pre
vailing sentiment of the white popu-
latlon of AVashington. . The Capital
is In that respect a Southern city,
and Northern people soon assume the
Southern attitude towards the negro.
Opposition to suffrage in the District
of Columbia is largely due to the fact
that negroes compose one-third of the
population and would hold the bal
ance of power in elections.
The race issue admits of no com
promise. The President must either
adopt the Southern view of race in
feriority and subjection and close the
door of hope on which his predeces
sor. Colonel Roosevelt, so often dwelt,
or he must openly espouse the right of
the colored man to equal opportunity,
or he may try to dodge the issue. His
silence on the subject has already
caused the holding In Boston of a pub
lic meeting In protest against segre
gation. That policy has caused the
Boston Transcript to exclaim that "the
door of hope is being silently and
stealthily pushed toward shutting out
colored ability from the civil service."
The race issue will not down. It
rises up to plague every President,
particularly every Democratic Presi
dent. It may particularly plague Mr.
Wilson, for the Southern aristocracy
now dominates both Senate and House
and his writings may be quoted as
ground for him to run counter to its
deepest prejudices, or as evidence that
he is false to his convictions.
THE RACE ISSUE REVIVES.
The race issue is up in National af
fairs and will not down. Negroes in
the civil service are being quietly and
unobtrusively segregated from whites.
With a party in power controlled by
Southern whites, who proclaim the
belief that the negroes are an inferior
race and who, unlike many Republi
cans, put their opinion in practice,
there is little obstacle to the process.
But while the extremists of one kind
are having their way, those of the
opposite kind are voicing their protest
and are forcing the race issue to the
front.
President Wilson before his election
repeatedly assured the negroes of Just
treatment and generous consideration.
Many of them, relying on this assur
ance and resentful against Mr. Taft
because of the Brownsville episode,
voted the Democratic ticket. The
president now answers appeals for the
fair play which he promised by urg
ing patience pending disposal of the
more pressing matters which engage
his attention and the working out of
a practicable plan for meeting the
race question.
While the President remains silent,
champions of white supremacy are ac
tive. They are crowding negroes out
of all except minor positions and un
der pressure from the Job-hunters,
even these are begrudged. The Sen
ate refuses to confirm, the nomination
REFORM OF COURT PROCEDURE.
In Charles Dickens' time the law
of England had become a public scan,
dal on account of its complications
and delays. The great novelist weaves
these legal miseries into his stories
and it is commonly understood that
he played an effective part in re
forming some of them. At that tim
tfie ordinary routine of an English
lawsuit was conducted according to
Tidd's Practice," "a great fat book.
which the 'um'ble Uriah Heep de
lighted to read. It contained a great
many erudite expressions and Latin
words which "were trying to a reader
of Uriah's 'umble attainments.'
They must have been vexatious to
other people not quite so 'umble as
TTriah was. for most of them nave
now been extirpated and the English
courts conduct their business in
direct and simple manner, which
might give a useful lesson to America
if we would only heed it. "Tidd's
Practice" crossed the ocean with our
forefathers from the mother country
and furnished rules for common-law
nrocedure In almost every state of
the Union. Long after this barbarous
routine had been simplified in Eng
land our love of precedent and loyalty
to tradition kept it green and vigor
ous here,- although about the year
1848 David Dudley Field, an influ
ential New Tork lawyer, tried to lead
the wav to better things.
At any rate, he thought tney woum
be better, but his expectation was more
or less broken in the fulfillment. Mr
Field set the example of reform to
the country by compiling what he
called a "code of procedure" for the
New Tork courts. Its purpose was to
substitute a "plain, simple, common
sense" routine in the court3 for the
Latin fetishes and labyrinthine tech
nicallties' that came down to us with
the common law. Old-fashioned law.
vem onnosed the new code for all
those excellent reasons which reac
tionarles push forward against every
improvement.
Charles O'Connor was one of the
most bitter foes or tne innovation
How do vou like the code?' Mr.
Field asked of him one day. "I un
derstand," was O'Connor's reply,
"that under your code the plaintiff
comes into court and. tells his tale like
one old woman and the defendant
tens his storv like another old
woman."
That was his way of condemning
the code. Its directness and sim
Dllcity were anathema to his legalized
soul. In order that pleadings might
be dignified and seemly a certain
seasoning of erudite complexity and
technical indirection was essential to
his mind. The idea of proceeding as
straightforwardly as an eager old
woman would was nauseous to his
desiccated taste. Still that style of
pleading Is just what the reform of
the British procedure has introaucea.
There under the modern rules the
plaintiff and defendant may. come be
fore the Judge and tell their stories
as tersely as possible. The witnesses
are heard and the suit is adjudged
without delay. Field's code was ac
tually adopted in New Tork and sim
ilar results followed for a time. Other
states imitated the good example set
by New Tork and great hopes transi
ently flourished that we were to have
a really simplified law procedure, just
as in Roosevelt's Administration some
people thought the day of simplified
spelling had come.
But the reformer proposes and the
routine lawyer disposes. The fate of
the Field Code was like that of many
another promising Innovation. It was
presently submerged in a deluge of
amendments. The original cod was
brief and pointed, containing only
391 sections, as we learn from George
W. Alger's article on the subject in
the World's Work, but unhappily it
possessed an unlimited power of ex
pansion. In every state where it was
adopted the code suffered the same
calamity. Under the influence of the
lawyers it was revised and inflated
until it usually became even more
complicated than the old common law
procedure had been.
The New Tork code now contains
some 3000 sections instead of the
original 391 and it fills a book of
1130 pages In fine print. With the
annotations which are necessary to
the practicing lawyer it fills four
huge volumes containing 6000 pages.
These annotations refer to court de
cisions upon disputed points in' the
code. Naturally some of these de
cisions touch "upon, matters of Justice,
while others pertain to matters of
pure form. The unsophisticated
reader might believe, in his innocence,
that justice has been the principal
quest of the courts which his taxes
maintain. A study of these annota
tions will rudely undeceive him. A
careful computation brings out the
melancholy fact that three-fifths of
all the decisions made In New York
since the code was adopted concern
questions of technicality, while Justice
creeps into no more than two-fifths.
This seems to Indicate, as Mr. Alger
suggests, that the courts of New Tork
pay half as much again attention to
form as they do to justice, since
three-fifths are once and a half as
much as two-fifths.
The reason why the codes in all the
states have been smothered with
technicalities is not far to seek. As
Field gave it to the world the code
was a mere skeleton of procedure,
leaving great liberty to the Judges.
For many reasons our American law
yers are jealous of the bench and
their effort has always been to tie
it down by exact rules so that the
judge shall be obliged to act by set
forms and not by his own discretion.
One reason for thl3 preference is
the chance it gives an acute lawyer
to trip up an unwary opponent and
win a case on fine points of procedure
which he might lose as a matter of
Justice. Another is the lurking sus
picion so common in the United States
that the Judges are amenable to po
litical influence and other Invisible
leadings. Often this suspicion is
baseless. Occasionally it is Justified
by facts. In any case it makes the
lawyers reluctant to leave the Judge
any more authority than he barely
needs to umpire lawsuits and some
times not even that. It appears.
therefore, that one of the principal
obstacles which must be cleared away
before we can hope to simplify our
court procedure is the fear of bias in
the Judges. Perhaps Mr. Alger makes
too much of this, but the course of
events seems to corroborate his con
clusion.
The strike of chauffeurs of mail
trucks in New. Tork, hastened by the
arrest or some of them for speeding,
win settle a mooted issue. The driver
of a mail cart has a greater idea of
his right of way than even the butch
er boy; but when he is put on a power
machine the rest of the world can
do naught but tremble at his ap
proach. Even a person run over is in
danger of a charge against him for
delaying the malls.
Having killed j-ellow fever on the
sthmus, Colonel Gorgas has gone to
the Rand to fight pneumonia among
the Transvaal miners, whom that dis
ease slays as yellow fever once dec
imated the population of the troDlcs.
His is the kind of war for which no
nation should grudge millions of
money.
An enthusiastic admirer sends the
President a potato weighing six and
three-quarter pounds as a "sample of
uemocratic prosperity," forgetting
that not many years ago potatoes and
salt were a sample diet of the time
of lack of Democratic prosperity.
Aroused at a revival meeting to
memory of ancient wrongdoing, a
baker rushed to local police head
quarters to surrender himself. An
epidemic of that spirit' would fill our
jails to overflowing.
Men at Monmouth are making as
high as J 25 a day trapping skunks.
This is not such a malodorous occu
pation as it might seem. All depends
on how the animal is approached.
The man whose Income is subject
to tax has much less to worry about
than the man who is immune, al
though it is hardly human nature that
he should appreciate this fact.
Bryan announces that the powers
will await our new policy in Mexico
before doing anything. But will they
be satisfied with any more of our
moral suasion medicine?
Dr. Friedman offers his tuberculo
sis cure free to all physicians of the
German Empire in honor of the Emp
ress. Is there no other way to in
duce them to use It?
Mexico has appendicitis and Iluerta Is the
appendix. Charleston News and Courier.
Will Surgeon Wilson have the nerve
to perform an operation, if it should
become necessary?
With a Tammany boss and Sulzer
exchanging compliments, we are re
minded of the celebrated exchange
between the pot and the kettle.
It appears that the Army reserve
plan Is a wonderful success except
for the trifling defect of a lack of
men to serve in It.
Thaw has scored another delay. If
the Thaw money holds out he may be
scoring delays when death from old
age interrupts.
A Dallas preacher has become re
porter on the local paper and will
now see life from a different point of
view. ,
Hobson has been given a life mem
bership in the W. C. T. U. He always
was a popular chap with the ladies.
COL. WOOD PROPOSES NEW GAME
It's a Contest In Defining "Free Speech,"
Constitution Quotations Barred,
PORTLAND, Oct- 25. (To the Edi
tor.) When I was a boy I lived in the
country. I had to, because I worked
on a farm. I had to. because it was
my father's farm. It was not much of
a farm. He was a sailor, and was quite
Innocent about farms. He thought the
earth was the same everywhere except
that he knew it was slightly flat at
the poles and in Wall Street and other
places. Our farm was poor land when
Lord Baltimore landed, and it got no
richer during the Revolutionary and
Civil Wars. There was a rocky hill
side, however,-which gave a fair crop
of wild dewberries. On top of the hill
was a persimmon grove, where you
could depend upon possums most any
night from- Thanksgiving to Easier.
And rabbits! It was a good place to
trap rabbits. These were our best
crops. But this is not an autobiog
raphy. Did you ever see a nossum
play possum? He does it weir for an
untaught actor, but he makes one great
mistake. He grins. It Is certainly fine
to grin in adversity, but it is a mis
take if you wish to be thought dead
unless you are a politician. I repeat.
this Is not an autobiography.
There were plenty of games on the
farm for the amusement of. the morn
lng hours, such as rising at 4:30 and
milking the cows by lanfern light.
Often, just as the pail was filled we
received an example of the old adage
that "there is many a kick 'twixt the
cup and the lip." But the evenings
the long Winter evenings! Then we
welcomed other games!
Now that our own Winter evenings
are approaching, I propose a game
which will both amuse and instruct the
Innocent farmer and simple police, and
others of our rural population: That
everybody subscribe to The Oregonian,
and each subscriber be entitled to state
for publication what is Free Speech,
the person giving the best definition
to receive leave to speak after 8 o'clock
evenings through the entire Winter at
Thirty-seventh and Tillamook streets,
provided he does not in fact obstruct
the streets, which we all admit is the
first consideration when it Is actually
an obstruction; but further provided
that he shall not say anything offensive
to anybody.
In this contest, any quotation from
the Oregon State Constitution to the
effect that "persons have the right to
speak freely on any subject whatever,
being responsible for the abuse of this
right," shall be barred. What Is
wanted Is an original definition. Be
sides, a constitution is a dead letter
anyhow unless it is written in the
blood of the people as well as on
paper.
This game could be extended indefi
nitely or further, even to the election
of Roosevelt as President. For exam
ple, suppose one says "free speech is
the right to speak freely on any sub
Ject provided you do not obstruct the
streets." We could then ask, when Is
an obstruction not an obstruction? Is
it an obstruction when the speaker is
a Socialist and not an obstruction if
he be a street fakir or Salvationist
Or, must It be an actual obstruction 1
fact or an obstruction in the mind of
the. chief of police or the other rulers
of the people? The game could be car
ried into the public schools, and whil
correcting adenoids and defectiv
teeth, the little children might get som
idea of liberty other than the blin
Idolatry for the flag by a ritual lik
a religious superstition, without th
slightest conception of how the flag
originated. They might be asked
whether some soapbox orator ob
structed the streets of Philadelphia in
1776, or Boston Common, and then be
required to state who obstructed an
what they obstructed; or it would b
an excellent and amusing game in his
tory to ask .when and where and by
whom free thought and free speec
has ever been successfully suppressed.
There is no limit to the possibilities 1
this amusing game. It could even b
carried into the Sundayschools, and in
order to bring Christ home to the pres
ent day the children could be asked
did he obstruct the streets of Jerusa
lem? Was he the soapbox orator
his time?
But I have said enough to show how
profitable to The Oregonian and to th
people this game could be made, and
am sure it will be welcome now that
the period of our gray skies is coming
on, which are in such striking contrast
to the illuminating spirituality of ou
beloved city. C. E. S. WOOD
Another J150.000 carved out of the
city budget. We'll be able to afford
turkey for Thanksgiving dinner yet.'
Having married. Miss Elkins will
retire from the news column, at least
for the customary period.
LABORER, ADVISES CONTENTMENT
By Economy and Thrift Han Built Up
n Competence.
PORTLAND, Oct. 28. (To the Edl
tor.) I have heard and read much
about the poor workingman who doe
not receive enough for a comfortable
living. I always wonder why any man.
or woman need work for another one
unless he lacks ambition or business
ability. If that Is true the man who
is capable of engineering business
should naturally receive the most in
come.
When a laborer is not satisfied there
Is no law to force him to continue a
the Job. This is a free country, and
any one may work as he please. 1 came
to Portland 12 years ago, and had 5o
when I arrived here. I never allowed
that amount to grow smaller. I now
own nine lots, good improvements and
money in a bank. I earned It all by
work, and many times I had no pay to
speak of and never large.
I heard a laborer say that he lived
Just as well when he used to get only
his room and board as he does now
with $7 per day. I heard a retired
farmer say that 60 years ago he could
only get a day s work once in a Ion
time and he received 25 cents per day
He went to work at daylight and quit
at dark. The trouble Is Americans
have grown lazy because they have no
interest In what they are doing.
Watch the average laborer and solve
the problem. How much does he earn
per day?
There is nothing passes the time so
pleasantly, so swiftly, as being in
terested In our work. This brings a
good appetite, a sound sleep, a mind at
peace with all the world because we
owe no one ana xeei interested in our
selves. There is more true pleasure
in watching a pumpkin vine grow than
trying to be happy 1n society and
craving things out of reach. Idleness
creates envy. Go to work at anything
for yourself. Stay at home and don't
bother about what the other fellow has
or is doing. L L.
Huerta, in turn, might call atten
tion to troubles in Colorado and
Michigan.
It's reached the stage where we've
got to assert ourselves in Mexico or
step aside.
Diaz Is now in the only safe spot
in Mexico aboard a United States
warship.
John Barrett denies the soft im
peachment, but does not quote Sam
Weller.
"As the sagebrush disappears, dis
covery of coal In Central Idaho is
timely.
England is to stand by the United
States on Mexico. Well done, old top!
.Oregon gets the International dry-
farming sweepstakes. .Of course. ,
Anyway, it is high time to
mence saving for Christmas. .
What so rare as a day in late Octo
ber? Ia Portland, that Is, -
Protects Home and Fireside.
PORTLAND, Or., Oct. 28. (To the
Editor.) The very fact that the work
men's compensation Act, to be voted
upon at the polls next Tuesday, is
heartily opproved by the Grange, State
Federation of Women's Clubs and thou
sands of working men and their wives
all over the state, stamps it as a meas
ure for the protection of the home and
fireside. It is an act to keep famil:es
of orphans from being broken up and
insures a certain degree of independ
ence to many a little band who would,
unquestionably, without its shelter and
assistance, have the bitter experience,
during dependent years, of afsij-tance
from unwilling hands. Vote 308 X yes,
by all means.
FRIEND OF THE WORKER
Support la Deserved.
Ontario Democrat.
The two measures asking for appro
priation of funds for improvement and
carrying on the work at the State Uni
versity, which will be voted on at the
special election. November 4, should
receive the nearty support or ail who
believe in education, and those who
have state pride do not want to see
Oregon behind in educational matters.
The university is badly in need of new
buildings, and has been for several
years. The educational work at this
worthy state institution Is also being
retarded by the referendum on one of
these appropriations.
HAS BRYAN RIGHT TO LECTURE t
Defender Asserts That Secretary Vlo
lutes No Public Trust.
PENDLETON, Or., Oct. 25. (To the
Editor.) While I agree with some of
your policies and admire the intellec
tual quality of your editorial page, your
repeated attacks upon the character
and motives of W. J. Bryan impel me
to insist hat you have not given your
readers that full, unbiased information
necessary to enable them to take the
true measure of the man.
For example, in your editorial of
October 14 entitled "The Two Bryana"
you neglected to mention that Mr.
Bryan has occupied for many years a
position of commanding leadership, not
only in his party, but in the moral, re
ligious ard economic affairs of this re
public and of the world. Tou failed to
Inform your readeis that such u, leader
ship has brought Mr. Bryan into a
many-sided contact with large numbers
of people in which it was ethical for
him to accent their hospitality. You
did not observe that a uesire to make
a fair exchange of hospitalities is one
of the strongest Impulses of human
nature. Tou overlooked the probability
that one engaged as he has been in the
uplift of a nation and of all humanity
for so long a period of time is likely
to assume voluntary financial obliga
tions in the prosecution of human wel
fare work commensurate with his in
come. Neither was it stated that his
earning power as'a private citizen ex
ceeded his official salary.
Residing in Washington City as Mr.
Bryan now does, where many of the
public-spirited citizens with whom he
has been associated in these common
forward movements gather from time
to time, who would deny him the means
to entertain them at his home? To pro
vide simple fare for all who have
earned his hospitality would consume
a salary much greater, perhaps-, than
his.
Mr. Bryan says that he still supports
his fraternities, his church and the
many uplift associations which ho loves.
As the piemier Cabinet officer, it de
volves upon him further to entertain,
officially, foreign diplomats and other
visitors of quality from abioad.
If The Oregonian or anybody e.se
has knowledge that Secretary Bryan
wastes his salary in profligate living,
that he panders to an aristocracy of
money, of that he assumed obligations
as a private citizen which his present
salary will not now sustain, and which
he can dispense with without violence
to his conscience, then objection to his
earning a few dollars upon tho lecture
platform during his vacation might
have some foundation.
Mr. Bryan had three alternatives. He
could deny hlmrelf the pleasure and tne
duty of entertaining those entitled to
hospitality; he could have eaten up the
modest fortune which he has accumu
lated, or he could supplement his offi
cial salary by spending a vacation, no
longer than that accorded other offi
cials, upon the lecture platform.
In choosing the latter, who can say
that he has violated any obligation to
home, friends or country? ,
To draw a parallel between the legit
imate demands which devolve upon him
under all these circumstances and those
of an ordinary Federal judge is so in
consistent as to be readily apparent.
C. P. STRAIN.
Twenty-five Years Ago
From The Oregonian of October 29, 1888.
Lafayette, Or., Oct 28. The schooner
Mabel, of Astoria, was wrecked near
the entrance of Tillamook Bay on th
24th. It is supposed that all hands
are lost
Thomas A. and Nancy Stott cele
brated the 50th anniversary of their
marriage at their home on Tukanon
street. Walla Walla, October 18. . Mr.
and Mrs. Stott are pioneers of Oregon.
Work is being prosecuted by about
250 men on the lower lock of the Gas
cades. The committee on streets has In
structed F. Matthews, superintendent
of the street-cleaning department, to
put his whole force to work on G
street and to thoroughly clean It up
from Front to Tenth street and cart
away the mud.
.The Taylor-street Methodist Episco
pal Church, which has been undergo
ing improvements under the supervi
sion of Architect Richard Martin, was
re-opened to service yesterday with
Rev. C. C. Rtratton. president of Mills
Seminary, Cal., in the pulpit.
Seattle, Oct 27. The condition of
the Postofflce in this city is something
that makes the average citizen threw
up his hands and groan.
A delegation of citizens from Road
District No. 1 express gratification
with the Improvement made In roads
by Supervisor C. C. Redman.
The six lota In the block between
Sixth and Seventh and I and J streets,
which were bid In by John Kiernan
for 834,500, were. It is generally be
lieved, bought for the North Pacific
Terminal Company.
On the retirement of Mrs. S. M. Buck,
teacher of the eighth grade of the
Park school, the other teachers pre
sented her with a chatelaine of
ebony trimmed with gold. Professor
T. H. Crawfold, principal of tho
schools, made the presentation.
It Is reported that the Council has
under consideration a scheme for light
ing the streets as far back as sixth
with arc lights, such as are now used
on First and Third streets.
i
Edward Ilolman said yesterday that
before tfie end of next year a stately
brick structure would adorn the
quarter block on the southeast corner
of Fourth and Washington streets,
which he and Councilman Fliedner pur
chased last year for 122,000 and for
which they hav since refused $50,01)0.
Half a Century Ago
OUR, DUTY TOWARDS THE LONELY.
Is
A Regular Visiting; Committee
Ur&red ast a Necessity.
ALBANY, Or., Oct. 26. (To the Edl
tor.) It took a reporter of The Ore
gonlan to discover In Eugene a lonely
old man of the age of 95 years, living
all alone In a little shack, withou
kith or kin, who in his pining for hu
man sympathy poured forth his plain
tiff wail that in the active years o
his life he had contributed money to
the Christian faith, but now in the
dayg of his loneliness, Instead of his
soul being made glad by regular visits
from his Christian brethren, he is in
a measure deserted In a city of
churches. The good people of Eugene
are Just as quick to extend sympathy
or aid to those in need as any city in
the world, but the reporter gives
story which points to the apathv of
the members of the Christian faith in
this country.
No doubt this sad commentary on
the neglect of those charged with
God's work on earth in falling to visit
and cheer the heart of this lonely,
feeble old man, touched a chord of
sympathy in the minds of many per
sons who, like myself, read today in
The Sunday Oregonian the statement
concerning the Hie of Uncle Jimmy
Doyle.
I suggest that the churches In every
city appoint one active, true Christian
who ha plenty of leisure time to a
joint commlctee to be called the Chris
tlan union visiting committee, whose
duty it would be to discover those
who live all alone, and. If In need, or
desirous of human sympathy, to visit
all such at least once a week and
make due report thereof to the church
to the end that the work which now
seems everybody s business and un
attended to, may be the business of a
special committee and properly at
tended to.
To the true heart alone In his little
shack or room, a regular weekly visit
from one who comes with words of
kindness and aid is appreciated more
than words can express, and brings
new life and hope to those who have
lost faith In the goodness of men.
No one Is so small -or too poor to
be of some Bervlce to some human soul.
No brass band Is needed to chronicle
a word of sympathy or a deed of char
itv. Marble statues will perish. Mag
nlficent temples will crumble Into
dust, but che work of immortal minds
and simple deeds of righteousness will
live forever.
GEORGE W. WRIGHT.
STERILIZATION LAW DENOUNCED
It Harks Back to Dark Ages, Says N,
II. Bloomfleld.
PORTLAND, Oct !0. (To the Edi
tor.) I heartily agree with Judge
Munly and others in their opposition
to the "sterilization law" In a letter
recently published in The Oregonian
and I concur also with Colonel wood
in characterizing It as "an engine of
tyranny and oppression," and that "It
is rot Yes, it is worse man mat,
It is tom-fool-tommy-rot.
I wonder that it cannot be beat into
the heads of some people that the con
stitution of the United States and all
constitutions forbid "cruel and un
usual punishments." Such an act would
undoubtedly be held unconstitutional
by the Supreme Court of Oregon and
by the. Supreme Court of the United
States, by every court In fact in
fluenced by the promptings of our
Christian age and civilization.
Such an act harks back to tho time,
In EmrLand. when there were over 280
offenses punishable by death and when
the character of cruel and unusual
punishments prevailed, against which
our rsatlonai constitution was a protest.
It harks back to the Spanish Inquisi
tion the dark ages and the age of
barbarism. I deny the right of society.
In sight of heaven, so to ordain, hven
though we might confess Its right, in
time of peace, to take life for the
rime of murder, yet we would deny
the right of society to mutilate and
leave the victim alive to suffer the
onseauences of sucn cruelty. The
measure is no more lawful than would
one that would cut oil an arm, an
car, or pluCK out me eye, or sill the
nrlsoner's nose or brand him on the
cheek or forehead with a red-hot iron,
with the word "insane" or the word
criminal.
I confess to a degree of impatience.
reaching almost contempt and a feel
ing of outrage, for such en Infamous
measure as the "sterilization law."
II. iiLOOMFlELD.
From The Oregonian of October 20, 1S63.
The California State Telegraph Com
pany has bought the interest of Mr.
Strong In the line from Yreka, Cal.,
to this city. Mr. Whittlesey, the agent
of the company, has been preparing tho
poles to receive the wires between
Jacksonville and Yreka.
Army of the Potomac. Oct 20.
The sudden withdrawal of Lee's Army
from our front Is explained. Informa
tion received at headquarters confirms
reports of Burnside's gaining a posi
tion in the rear of the rebel army and
actually threatening their chief base of
supplies, Lynchburg. Lee received posi
tive orders to fall back on Gordons
ville with all haste to protect Lynch
burg. Lee at once commenced a re
trograde movement Buford and Kil
patrick's cavalry started at once in
pursuit and next morning the whole
Army advanced. A severe skirmish In
Thoroughfare Gap ensued between
Buford and Lee's rear.
Charleston,' Oct. 20. The Yankees
are busy constructing another battery
east of Gregg.
City Council Petition for lamp post
on corner of Second and Jefferson
streets was granted. Contract to fur
nish the city with light was awarded
to David E. Swan, who Is to light the
city for six months from November 1,
with coal oil for $5 per month for each
lamp, and furnish wick and trim the
lamps.
A largo number of miners came down
the river last night many of whom
are seemingly well-to-do as regards
the filthy lucre.
We received a present last night In
the shape of a very agreeable temper
ance drink labeled "Jacquetas a
Reims," with the compliments of
Rrannan & Sloan, proprietors of the
Temperance saloon, just opened on
Front street next door to the Tem
perance House.
When Hallowe'en Comes
By Dean Collins.
Arise, my friend, and go with me.
And in the Autumn morn.
We'll trail the pumpkin stealthily
Across the fields of corn;
For chill October's frosty hand
Is painting gold on green.
And It is proper that we planned
Some things for halloween.
Arise, my friend, and go with me.
And mid the corn wo 11 roam,
And carry back triumphantly
The pumpkin to our home;
And from its golden heart we'll scoop
The souls of hundred pies.
And, carving features like a Goop,
A lantern we 11 devise.
Arise, my friend, and go with me
Where russet apples swing.
And walnuts lie beneath the tree
Or on the branches cling,
And gather up the tempting store
And strlo the branches clean.
For we can use all this and more
Upon the halloween.
For while the witches fly outside
And hootlntr owls declaim.
Inside the lighted house we'll bide
With banauet and with game;
Amid the Jack-o-lantern's light
We'll merry be. I ween,
Enjoying well, with all our might
The play or naiioween.
Father Watchdog.
Life.
"Is your mother a suffragette?"
"You bet she ain't. My father's a
prizefighter."
Stretching
Your Salary
In these days of the high cost of
living or the cost of high living,
however you may regard it, there
Is one central purpose that guides
you, if you are a normal, careful
person. That is the idea of econo
my, of making every dollar do its
full stint of work.
You may be sure of doing your
utmost along this line If you will
pay attention to the many oppor
tunities for advantageous buying an.
nounced in our advertising columns.
There Is practically nothing that
you buy that is not advertised. And
by studying the advertisements you
may inform yourself at all tiiues
on the subject of what to buy,
where and at what price to buy It.
The careless person rarely buys
the right thing and usually gets
less for his money than one who
goes about his business with his
eves open and his wits sharpened.
Adv.