10
TTTB UrORXIXG OREGOXIAN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER o, 1913-
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PORTLAND, WEDNESDAY, NOV. B, 1013.
i OREGON'S REPLY.
The people of Oregon, toy an over
whelming vote, have . sustained the
legislature In four of the five meas
ures submitted to them through the
referendum; while th fifth (steril
ization) la in doubt. It is a triumph
of sanity, discretion, and moderation,
and a distinct rebuke to the skulkers
and dodgers who seek to defeat de
sirable legislation by an improper use
of the Oregon system. It is, more
over, another evidence of the people's
( understanding of the merits of all
Important Issues presented to them
and of their clear and unerring ap
preciation of the motives that guide
men in seeking to upset and defeat
, meritorious measures, such, for ex
ample, as the university and com
pensation acts. The referendum is
' not to be used as an instrument of
' revenge, or reprisal, or obstruction.
The sterilization bill is lost if it
Is lost because of the underlying hos
tility of the people to the Invasion by
the law into the domain of private
rights and because there is a certain
feeling of repulsion against the things
it was proposed to do; yet it, too,
may have been swept through with
the great tide of affirmative votes.
For there has been a mighty chorus
of "ayes" from the people of Oregon,
and it Is their response to the .med
dlers and triflera who would destroy
the real function of the referendum.
JAPANESE TRAITS AND AMBITIONS.
There has been so much misunder
standing of Japanese character and
ambitions by those who have been
. most active in exploiting "the yellow
peril" and In breeding prejudice
against the Japanese that a real -service
is done by Dr. Charles W. Eliot, I
president emeritus of Harvard, in
writing his pamphlet on "Japanese
Characteristics." This pamphlet Is
published by the American Associa
tion for International Conciliation,
which, cannot better serve the cause
of peace than by thus spreading cor
rect knowledge of other nations, their
characteristics and aims. Quarrels
between nations, as between individ
uals, often arise from ignorance, and
the spread of knowledge is therefore
the best safeguard of peace.
Dr. Eliot begins by emphasizing the
fact that the Japanese are, as a race,
distinct from other Orientals in phys
ical, mental and moral characteristics;
that "their social and political history
has been different" and that "they
have taken on Western civilization
with a rapidity and a skillful adapta
tion to their own civilization which no
other Oriental nation has ever ap
proached." He tells how the Japan
ese have seized upon Occidental law,
- economics and science and applied
them; have built up a great educa
tional system; have "put into practice
all the Occidental methods of warfare
and have proved that they can face in
battle not only the yellow races but
the white."
Dr. Eliot reviews the adoption by
Japan of modern means of transpor
tation and communication, of Western
methods of business, finance, govern
ment and taxation. He recalls how
. Japan accomplished In two years the
difficult process of transition to a gold
. standard, which took the United
States thirteen years. He tells of the
measures being taken to ameliorate
the condition of factory labor, of the
successful adoption of the applied sci
ences, particularly medicine and sur
gery. He says that disease has been
fought by compulsory change in the
diet of army, navy, police and other
large bodies under government con
trol, the motive being to increase ef
ficiency. "The results of their prac
tices in preventive medicine," he says,
"have more than equalled that of any
, other nation." He pronounces their
achievements "nothing short of mar
; velous."
' Dr. Eliot then asks: "Is their dem-
onstrated strength dangerous to the
, peace of the world and to the white
race?" He replies:
Tns Japanese are not a warlike people. In
apite of the fact that they have waged with,
in a few years two wars In which they took
the part of invaders. The war with China
and the war with Russia were both in real
ity defensive wars.
They are homing people. They are com
mercially adventurous, and will travel far
and wide as peddlers, or In search of trade
or work; but they are not colonists. The
: Japanese government has had great -"dlffi-'
cultles in Inducing Japanese to settle In
1 Formosa; and at the present moment it has
. a similar difficulty in Curea. although the
Corean climate resembles that of Japan.
A hot climate the Japanese dislike. They
would have no more use for the Philippines
than Americans have. If a Japanese trader
makes money in a foreign country, he will
take his family and his money back to
Japan as soon as he can. Under favorable
conditions, climatic, industrial and social.
a few Japanese might really settle in a
foreign land, become naturalized and let
their children lose connection with Japan;
but they would be exceptional persons.
The Japanese, says Dr. Eliot, have
an intense fondness for children, and
the declining or disappearing family
Is not common among them. "Their
present civilization is more likely to
endure than the civilization of several
Occidental nations," he observes. Ori
ental races do not suffer from alco
holism and venereal diseases as do the
whites. The opium habit is not Jap
anese and the nation is not threat
ened with Increase of defectives. He
denies that business integrity is less
In Japan than elsewhere.
As to dominating of the Pacific
Ocean, Dr. Eliot says.no one nation
could do so and he continues:
All Japanese leaders recognize that it
would be impossible for either Japan or the
United States to send an army of KiO.OOO
men wltn tnelr baggage, munitions, animals,
and stores across the Paclfio Ocean in safety.
although the fleet should be convoyed by
scores of battleships and armored cruisers.
The means of attack at night on a wlde
titsnded fleet in motion, by almost in
visible vessels, are now too many and too
formidable. If by miracle, such an army
should effect a landing on either shore, it
could achieve nothing significant, unless
promptly reinforced by a second and a third
expeditionary army of eciual alse. The scale
of modern warfare among civilized nations
is too large for such remote expeditions. .
While he believes that Japan might
fight successfully a defensive war at
or near home, Dr. Eliot says:
Her financial condition is such that she
will be prevented from engaging in offensive
war, for at least a generation to come.
The commercial and industrial interests of
Japan require peace with all the other na
tions of the world. There is no interest of
Japan which could possibly be promoted by
war with the United States or any other na.
tion; and, conversely, there is no- interest
of the United States which could possibly
be promoted by war with Japan.
Dr. Eliot's conclusions are so full
of common sense that the circulation
of his pamphlet should go far to lay
the Japanese war scare beyond hope
of resurrection.
A PROMISE WITH AN "IF."
One of the blessings which the Un
derwood tariff was to put into the
free market basket was cheaper bread,
due to free wheat ana flour. But
there was an "if" to this promise.
Wheat and flour are to be free if they
come from countries which admit like
products from the United States free.
Coming from countries which impose
duties, they are subject to duty.
The Treasury Department has dis
covered that the only countries which
impose no duty on wheat and flour
are Great Britain, Finland and the
Netherlands, hence they are the only
ones from which we can import those
commodities duty free. But they do
not export wheat and flour; they are
large Importers. Great Britain im
ported last year 109-.000.000 hundred
weight of wheat and 10,000,000 hun
dredweight of flour. The countries
from which we might import these
products are Canada, Russia and Ar
gentina, but all of them impose duties
against us, hence Importers - from
them must continue to pay duty.
We have heard nothing as yet of
the repeal by these countries of their
wheat and flour duties. They are not
stampeding to throw their products
Into the free market basket. We must
wait awhile before the basket becomes
really free.
RKAR-ADMIRAL CLARK AND - THE
OREGON.
Although Rear-Admiral Charles E.
Clark is retired from active service,
he has been designated to command
the Oregon on her pioneer trip
through the Panama Canal. This will
take place in January, 1915, at the
formal opening, when there will be a
great celebration.
Admiral Clark is the man who com
manded the Oregon on her famous
trip round the Horn to take part in
the Spanish War. The voyage would
have been only 5000 miles long had
the canal been in service at that time.
As it was, the vessel had to sail 15,000
miles and her arrival at the destina
tion in fighting trim was deemed a
great wonder by the military experts
of that day. The retired Admiral is
a halo old warrior of 70 years. He
has not neglected his physical prowess
and is said to look as fit for action
today as he did when he performed
his celebrated feat of navigation.
The opening of the canal, in which
Admiral Clark is to play a conspicuous
part, will fundamentally alter the na
val arrangements of the world. Eng
land has heretofore reached her East
Indian dominions by way of the Suez
Canal and the security of her sea
power has been maintained by a series
of stations along that route. Her
measures have been taken so judici
ously that it would be fairly impossi
ble for a hostile fleet to reach India
by way of the Suez Canal. If it were
not destroyed, on the way it would al
most certainly be crippled for want
of coal. All this will now be changed.
The British naval stations in the Medi
terranean cannot completely safe
guard the route to India after the
Panama Canal is opened, since the At
lantic route will then be practicable.
This must cause a redistribution of
the British fleets at least in part. In
former years it was hoped that the
Panama Canal would double the ef
ficiency of the United States Navy.
The transit from ocean to. ocean
would become so facile, we were as
sured, that a Pacific fleet would not
be necessary. This is now looked upon
as a fallacy by naval authorities. Since
the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic
must be protected at the same time
and since it is quite possible that we
might be attacked simultaneously
from Europe and Asia, we need fleets
in both oceans In order to be safe. It
seems to follow, therefore, that the
building of the canal will require a
larger instead of a smaller Navy than
would have sufficed without it. The
consolation is that its benefits to com
merce will more than repay the ex
pense It entails.
COOn ROADS IN KINO COUNTY.
Seattle's thriving automobile club,
which has some 700 members, is tak
ing an active part in the good roads
campaign in Washington. The club
does a great deal of work on Its own
account and much more in co-operation
with the public authorities. It
takes a hand in repairing rough roads
which have been overlooked or neg
lected and has been interested in
putting up sign boards along the main
traveled lines for the accommodation
of motorists. The sign board where
the road divides is resuming the im
portance which it had In olden times
but which it lost when traffic began
to move by rail almost exclusively.
The use of the motor car has restored
the country highways to their pristine
importance.
A large sum of money will be avail
able for expenditure on the highways
of King County this year. It amounts
to $4,430,000. Naturally the Seattle
Automobile Club Is deeply concerned
in a wise use of this fund. The plan
Is to build about 200 miles of road
with modern materials and under sci
entific engineering. The lesson has
been thoroughly learned that money
spent on roads '3 wasted unless the
construction is permanent. The be
setting sin of our road builders has
always been to make a stretch of road
this year in the full expectation that
the same work must be done again
next year and the year after and so
on forever.
The idea of permanent road con
struction is as new in this country as
It is profitable. We might have
learned it long ago if we had taken
the trouble. Seattle and King County,
it is agreeable to notice, have aban
doned the old wasteful system of road
bulldlng and taken their stand firmly
on an engineering science. The Pa
cific Highway is to be constructed, as
far as Seattle can control it, after the
best engineering plans that can be ob
tained. The same will be done with
the other great scenic roads which
traverse King County. If the projects
are completed according to design,
that part of Washington will become
a veritable paradise for motorists and
the money they will naturally spend
must go far toward meeting the actual
cost of the roads In the long run.
There is no good reason why every
foot of road that is built in Oregon
and Washington should not be built to
last forever. The habit of perpetual
reconstruction upon . the highways
ought to -be overcome. It is as ex
pensive as it is foolish. Temporary
repairs to roads are In the end many
times as costly as permanent engineer
ing. The lesson that King Coirnty
seems to have learned so well ought to
be taught in every rural neighborhood.
We shall never have good roads until
we make up our rrHnds to build for
eternity whatever we build at all. Less
ground might be covered annually
than now, but there would be a great
difference in the quality of the covering.
NEW POLITICAL METHODS.
Old politicians find as great diffi
culty In adapting themselves to new
political methods as old dogs find in
learning new tricks. Hence it is not
surprising that, when a man who
called to congratulate him on his seventy-fifth
birthday, made a remark
about political changes, ex-Secretary
of the Nayy John D. Long should
have said:
Politics and campaign methods have
changed a lot. Of course we had conven
tions then instead of this fizzle of a primary.
In those days when we had our state con
vention to Belect the candidates a much
cheaper and far better method than the di
rect primary the people had a chance. To
day, although it is the object of the direct
primary to give it to them, they do not get
it, for, with the exception of the leading
candidates, there Is an inability on the part
of the people at large to learn and they vote
without discussion.
If the voters have not enough
chance under the direct primary to
learn about the candidates, that is less
the fault of the system than of the
long ballot, which existed under the
convention system as it exists now.
When we have reduced the number of
elective officers to a few and have im
posed undivided responsibility on
those few, we shall be in a position to
canvass more thoroughly the qualifi
cations of all candidates. The direct
primary system is by no means per
fect and will be Improved from time
to time when the people have over
come the suspicion that every man
who tries to amend it is its enemy.
But It was adopted precisely because
the convention system did not give the
voter a fair chance to have an accept
able ticket nominated and it has come
to stay.
Commenting on Mr. Long's re
marks, the Springfield Republican
says: "The multiplication of ma
chinery designed to make the will of
the people controlling has resulted in
a degree of weariness, confusion and
lack of direct knowledge of men and
issues." True, unless public-spirited
men step to the front to end the con
fusion and to give the voters a clear
conception of whom and what they
voto for. That was how Portland over
came the trouble caused by a multi
tude of candidates at the first Com
mission election. We learned each
man's qualifications and what he
stood for, and we filled the few of-
nces with men whose election we have
not yet had cause to regret.
A CLIMAX APPROACHES IN MEXICO.
At last President Wilson has done.
according to reports, what he should
have done at the outset in order to
carry out his purpose of securing to
Mexico constitutional rule. The Presi
dent Is said to have notified Huerta
that he and all those who are asso
ciated with him In maintaining gov
ernment by force must get out. He
evidently intends to use whatever
means are necessary to force Huerta
out in case the dictator refuses to.
yield to his demands. There is to be
an end, as there must be, to chaos
in Mexico. It is inconceivable that
the President would have sent his dic
tum unless he was prepared to enforce
its obedience.
This is the only logical sequence of
Mr. Wilson's announced determination
not to recognize Huerta or any other
ruler In Mexico whose authority rested
on force and to recognize only a ruler
whose selection comes from the free
choice of the Mexican people,. He
erred at the outset in attempting by
moral suasion to induce a man to ef
face himself who gained power ' by
force and in proclaiming that he
would not use force against the man.
Such men as Huerta yield to nothing
but superior force, or to the clearly
meant threat that superior force will
be used. Huerta Is a soldier, trained
in the school of Diaz. He has a sol
dier's contempt for the arts of diplom
acy and moral suasion and for all the
ways of peace. Like Diaz, he made
public necessity the excuse for doing
away with his enemies and for slay
ing Madero and seizing the reins him
self. He now makes the same excuse
for retaining power and for the far
cical election by which he seeks to
Install his chief lieutenant, Blanquet,
as his successor. Mr. Wilson now re
alizes what thousands of others per
ceived long since, that Huerta and
his friends will yield only to the same
means by which they obtain control
of the government.
By whatever means the President
intends to make good his demand, it
Is safe to assume that he will be given
a free hand, with moral support from
other powers. The declarations of the
British government show that it will
not stand In the way of American ac
tion. Mr. Lind appears to have se7
cured' pledges of moral support, or at
least of non-interference, from the
representatives of Germany, Russia
and Norway. Similar pledges possibly
have been secured from other powers.
Should any attempt be -made to install
Blanquet or any of the Huerta clique
as President as a result of the sham
election, that man would find himself
Ignored by the great powers.
Should Huerta or any of his lieu
tenants then continue the effort to
maintain a government, any one of
several means, short of actual sending
of an American army into Mexico,
might be adopted to render his posi
tion untenable. The powers might
join the United States in blockading
the coast. A military demonstration
might be made on the Rio Grande and
California borders. Ports might be oc
cupied with a view to starving out
Huerta. Belligerency of the Consti
tutionalists might be recognized and
they might be given opportunity to
import all the arms they can buy.
They have already informed Mr. Wil
son that, given this opportunity, they
could make short work of Huerta. As
sault on one city after another seems
to have been abortive because they
lacked heavy siege guns. Battles have
been indecisive because they lacked
field and rapid-fire weapons. Victories
have not been followed up, because
supplies were not available for long,
rapid pursuit.
But if the United States were, even
Indirectly, to espouse the -Constitutionalists'
cause, Mexican patriotism might
rally to the other side in hatred of the
Gringo, and the aged Diaz might re
turn In hope -of riding back to power
on a wave of patriotism. Some who
profess to know Mexico seem to think
so, hut others who appear to know the
country- equally, well believe that the
substantial citizens would welcome
any means of ending anarchy and that
Mexican threats of uniting all factions
against the Invader are mainly bluster.
The main thing is, however, that
President Wilson has practically ad
mitted the Impotence of moral sua
sion and is now prepared to follow up
words with deeds.' We believe, and
are gratified to believe, that he will
exhaust all lesser means of coercion
before resorting to intervention. "Very
few of us desire a Mexican war. But,
if the declared policy of the United
States can be carried out and the dig
nity of the American Nation can be
maintained in no other way, then let
Intervention come. Should It come,
let there be no drawing back until
we have completed the task to which
we have set our hands.
Boston has six Washington streets,
three Harvard streets and three Har
vard avenues, four Chestnut streets
and four Cedar streets. Besides that
there are four Harvard Places, a Har
vard Road and a Harvard Square.
Names seem to be so scarce In the
classic hub that we wonder they never
thought of using numbers. Naming
streets is a. difficult art in most cities.
In Paris they commemorate patriots
and literary men in that way. Boston
might possibly simplify her street no
menclature by a resort to history.
The adventures of the onion on its
odorous way to market throw light
upon the cost of living. An erudite
railroad manager says that onions
which brought the growers only $821,
000 cost the consumers .$8,212,000.
The price was multiplied by ten In the
hands of dealers. Something of the
same sort happens to almost every ar
ticle of food. The remedy, of course.
Is co-operation among producers and
consumers, aided by a practical public
market.
The Greek immigrants to the United
States are faithful attendants at night
schools. The Churchman says that they
are good students, bright and cheerful,
with agreeable manners. The habit
of classing- Greeks among "undesirable
immigrants" ought to be corrected.
They are intelligent, eager to improve
themselves and attached to free insti
tutions. The chances are that they
will make some of the best citizens
we have in the course of time.
A woman who conspired to kill her
husband has been sentenced to the
scaffold in Connecticut and if she is
hanged she will be the first woman
to suffer such punishment In that
state in 124 years. In all likelihood
she will live to a good old age, for
public sentiment is against hanging
women, although the Eastern states
are peculiar in many respects regard
ing the sex.
. Mayor Shank, of Indianapolis,
makes himself "solid" in ruling it is
not the duty of a policeman to assist
strikebreakers in running streetcars.
In troublous times like those in th
Indiana city the policeman's first duty
is to avoid being killed or injured by
accident or design.
The Fine Arts Commission has rec
ommended that the memorial inscrip
tion on the Culebra cut have Roman
V-shaped letters. So the country
which dug the canal will be called
"the Vnited States of America." Why
should fine art conflict with common
sense?
We are all ready with an army of
500,000, should we need it, according
to the Administration. Tes, all that
remains is to get the men, organize,
drill, equip and prepare them for the
field.
The man who drew the elephant In
the lottery has an equal In the farm
er at Chemawa who grew six acres of
tobacco thi3 season and cannot find
a market for the product.
The opening of the opera season
and a. strike of taxi drivers occurred
simultaneously at Philadelphia. Unless
the strike Is settled the opera season
will fare poorly.
Los Angeles has adopted an ordi
nance preventing solicitation of votes
and other electioneering wiles. The
best men may have a chance under
that system.
Spreading butter made in. New Zea
land on griddle cakes made of flour
from Minnesota is pretty near placing
a girdle half way round the world.
At last prosecution confronts one
of those hunters who shoot fellow
hunters for deer. That sort of care
lessness is close kin to murder.
People with sympathy to spare can
expend it on the misguided Oregon
hens, which have not yet developed
their Winter underwear.
Announcement is made from Wash
ington that the United States Is pre
pared for war. With Uruguay or Zan
zibar, perhaps.
Worse, in our estimation, than the
voter who voted "No" is the one who
didn't trouble himself to vote at all
yesterday.
English suffragists are trying to
raise an army. Armed with hatpins
such a force would be a formidable
one.
The annual campaign of the "spugs"
has been launched. They voted "No"
on the university appropriation yester
day. The rain yesterday relieved the in
tensity of the dryness caused by the
law governing thirst on election day.
The Mediterranean cruise, now,
don't you think, is to show Europe a
sample of our fighting machinery.
If McManigal Is out of Jail and
missing, it behooves him to keep with
in the limits of parts unknown.
Bryan denies having Issued an ul
timatum. Of course he didn't. There's
not an ultimatum In the man.
The man who "buys a dead horse Is
not In it with the man who must pay
$10,000 back alimony.
We are to have a National day of
prayer. Huerta, -also, should have
one.
That New . York - eleotlon closely
rlvalledhe recent one In Mexico City.
Wqodrow, put on the cloves!
MARRIED WOMEN CSrBP PLACES.
They Keep Many Needy Girls Oat of
Work, Is Charared.
PORTLAND. Nov. 4. (To the Edi
tor.) I would like to say a few words
in regard to the letters of "A Some
time Wage Earner" and "Stenograph
er." Now the former says that they might
have lost their savings of previous
years had she not assisted her hus
band as a wage earner. Well, they
might not have lost it, too. Also they
were buying two pieces of" property,
paying oft on each monthly. Why not
buy them one at a time, and give some
poor girl her- chance? How many
working girls are there who even have
an opportunity to buy one piece of
property? Most of them have others
who are more or less dependent upon
them.
Then her last and, in my estimation,
poorest excuse, was that she and her
two children would not be able to keep
abreast of the fashions, unless she
turned wage-earner. Supposing they
didn't wear the very latest style of
clothes, but let some girl who has no
one to help her whatever, have a
chance to earn enough to buy some
very much-needed clothes, that may
not be of the very latest fashion,
would it not be far more just?
"Stenographer" says that - her hus
band only earns $90 per month and
that she works as stenographer and
together they earn enough to live re
spectably and keep up appearances.
After reading such letters I am more
thoroughly convinced than ever that
the City Commissioners are right in
asking that only unmarried women be
used as city employes, for if "Stenog
rapher" and her husband cannot live
respectably on. $90 per month, they
would find difficulty In living on twice
that amount.
Give me that $90 per month and I
know that I could keep two people in
respectable circumstances and save
money each month also.
In the department stores there are
many married women employed and
only a small percentage through neces
sity, yet at the same time there are
girls trying to get positions, so they
may have a place to sleep and some
thing to eat, who find the positions
filled by married women.
If these married women, such as "A
Sometime Wage Earner" and "Stenog
rapher," only realized It, they are often
the indirect cause of the downfall of
many girls who try unsuccessfully to
get work and rather than beg, steal or
be sent to jail when they are without
funds to pay for a room, food, etc.. they
choose the "easier way."
I can not understand why these wo
men get married. If they still intend to
be wage earners, instead of caring for
their homes as they should.
I know whereof I speak, for I am
one of the unmarried girls, and have
no one to help support me and am un
able to get work. Hoping that the mar
ried women will be persuaded to. try
to exist on their husbands' earnings,
and that the girls will be given a
chance, for I'm sure they will do the
work In as satisfactory a manner as
the married women, if they only get
their chance; I am
A WORKING GIRL.
LIVING COST VARIES GREATLY.
Tan cos Vary and All Can't Live Well on
Small Wage.
HOQUIAM, Wash.,- Nov. 3. (To the
Editor.) In The Oregonian a few days,
ago, a laborer signing himself L. L. ex
presses himself as wondering why any
man or woman need work for another
one unless, as he states it. he lacks
ambition or business ability.
There are reasons in plenty, and if
he was not obsessed with the idea of
the emancipation from wage labor by
the self-denial method they would be
only too apparent.
The principal one Is that of necessity.
It Is the natural order of things that
some must be laborers and that a man
happens to be one of these useful mem
bers of society surely is no evidence
of lack of ambition, although it might
be of a lack of business ability. We
cannot all be capitalists or-business
men, and the discontent of the laboring
class as a whole is not with their po
sition In society, but the lack of the
comforts, not to say the actual neces
sities that the man he refers to as liv
ing up his $7 per day can procure as
contrasted with the more usual laborer
with a family and $2.25 to provide them
with a living.
He advises us to watch the average
labor.er and solve the problem, and
adds the question thereto, "How much
does he earn per day?"'
I am surprised that he can use the
term "average" with the above obser
vation and then pick out an individual
example, himself, as an object-lesson
to us, of. what we all might be if we
were only ambitious or had business
ability, by which he evidently means
to be economical and saving out of our
princely income of $2.25 per day.
Rather would he observe that the
"average" laborer's efforts earned a
surplus over his wages for the "aver
age" employer. Also that the average
wage usually, owing to the multitudin
ous wants of a civilized man, covers the
expense of existence. It's ridiculous
to expect people to believe a man lives
as well provided with nothing but "his
room and board" as he can by spending
$7 per day. What's the use striving to
get into the exalted realm of business
ranks if this is so? Capitalists' would
only be too glad as a rule If the work
ers would only "average" in the adop
tion of this idea he illustrates.
Another thing that such observation
would teach L. L., is that while the
few laborers, such as he, can-save, have
nine lots, improvements and money in
the bank, the many won't or can't.
Tastes differ. What is a good living
for one individual would be considered
a beastly existence by others. If the
average worker would demonstrate
that he could live on one-half of his
present Income the tendency would be
for his wages to more readily meet his
lower cost of living than otherwise.
M. M..
FarnlHhlng Hobby's Den.
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
"When Billinger bougnt his new
house it was with the express under
standing that he should have a room
all of his own a den or study."
"Yes, I know what you mean. Did
he get it?"
"He got it and his wife furnished it."
"How?'
"With a sewing-machine, a cutting
table, two dressers, two dummies, three
sewing chairs, and. a full-length
mirror."
Another Woman's Gown.
Baltimore American.
"It Is vulgar to dress so as to at
tract attention on the street."
"Isn't it!".
"I saw Miss Knobby going down the
street yesterday in a gown which
caused every man she passed to turn
and look at her.
"Sure enough. I wonder who is her
dressmaker?"
"I asked her, but she wouldn't tell
me."
A Retort Irish.
London Tit-Bits.
A person entered an inn with a dog,
and an Irishman asked what, breed it
was.
The owner looked the questioner In
solently up and down, and then replied
with a drawl:
"It Is a cross between an ape and an
Irishman."
"Faith, thin, we're both related to
the beast," was the ready retort.
Plenty of Room at the Top.
New York Sun,
Knlcker There's plenty of room at
the top.
Bocker Yes, but your wife lets you
have' only the hottom bureau, drawer.
POLITICAL CONTROL IS FEARED.
New Banking Syatem Might Facilitate
Discrimination, Thinks Writer.
DESCHUTES. Or.. Oct. 27. (To the
Editor.) The Oregonian printed some
days ago an editorial on the currency
bill now pending In congress, the tenor
of which was a defense of the bill and
a challenge to show how political con
trol of the finances of the, country
would be dangerous to the nation.
The plan is to force National banks
to become members of the regional re
serve banks and to induce the state and
private banks to join by reason of the
attractive feature of being able to
command large sums of cheap money,
thus weaving a complete financial fab
ric of all our banking institution
Control of the reserve banks by the
Government is secured by appointment
of their executive officers. These In
turn are controlled by a Federal Re
serve Board, wholly under Govern
mental control. The question of con
trol is practically the only thing hold
ing back the passage of the bill.
The danger of such control lies In
having the power to name rates of dis
count. Pressure could be brought by
the board on every borrower, whether
an individual 'or a bank.
Any bank wishing to discount its
paper, which it would have to do to
secure sufficient funds to do business
under conditions that would be cre
ate! by such a system, could be grant
ed or refused dscount. or the rate to it
could be made less or greater. Objec
tion could be made to any particular
borrower carried by any bank, who in
the judgment, of the board was not
financially sound and entitled to credit.
Of tne three major professions, medi
cine, law and finance, depending large
ly on the exercise of judgment for
successful results, finance is the one
requiring the most delicate judgment.
It would be impossible to draw a set
of rules or a code of laws that would
direct the actions cf the Federal Board
In essentials. It would control all,
through its judgment or discretion.
The interests of politics and finance
are not identical. Finance represents
the rewards of frugality, industry and
success, and does not consider the un
fit, the unsuccessful, tho lazy and the
careless.
To control finance through politics
would give ear to the unmerited claims
of the latter class against the former.
Guarding the savings of the many
against the encroachments of the ambi
tions of politicians and statesmen has
been tho onerous duty of many a
financier.
It would be safer for the general
good that tho control of the vast
forces of finance be left in the hands
of the bankers, checked by a minority
of politicians: for instance: Should
the Federal Reserve Board be composed
of seven, four of them should be bank
ers of groat capacity and integrity
elected by tho bankers who subscribe
to the stock of the regional banks.
In arguing against the Aldrich cur
rency plan before the House banking
and currency sub-committee, Hon. Les
lie M. Shaw, ex-Secretary of the Treas
ury, took a stand against central con
trcl by a few bankers. The same ar
gument holds true under the present
currency bill, but with greater force
against the politicians.
Suppose a certain section of the
country differed in political faith frjm
those in power, could not pressure
be brought in that section, resulting in
votes for the party in power through
a judicious use of the rate of discount?
You are constantly inveighing
againf.t senatorial patronage, trades
and political appointments in the pos
tal service. An analysis would prob
ably show them to be of no worse char
acter than political control by tho
means herein suggested.
The price of any staple such as corn,
wheat, cotton, or the credit of any in
dividual or bank could be affected
within controlling limits by action of
the Federal Reserve Boprd through the
rate of discount.
I do not believe that this power
would be used for political purposts.
but why not subject the board, by let
ting bankers elect a part of the mem
bership, to our basic idea of checks
and balances that has guarded our in
stitutions safely for more than 130
years? ROSCOK HOWARD
THE NEW OLD SON"G OF SONGS."
Professor Moulton's Presentation Is
Held a Rare Literary Gem.
DALLAS. Or., Nov. 2. (To the Edi
tor.) Your editorial remarks of Oc
tober 22, as to the charming finish
which Professor Moulton's modern lit
erary dress has given the familiar Bib
lical poem, "Solomon's Song," led me to
inquire at the Dallas Public Library -for
the little booklet. I have just finished
a careful reading of the poem, and it
certainly is a rare literary gem. Pro
fessor Moulton has placed within easy
reach of the reading public an admir
able presentation of "The Song of
Songs which is Solomon's" in the
"Modern Reader's Bible" series. "The
text is that of the revised version, with
marginal alternatives often adopted."
It is said to be the consensus of opin
ion, among modern Biblical scholars,
that the author of the poem was some
unknown Hebrew Kenius, but the
ttlamor of King Solomon's name caused
Hebrew public opinion to accredit its
authorship to that magnificent mon
arch. I wish to quote a fascinating little
stanaa, for tho edification of the hyper
critical, who question the literary
worth of this beautiful Oriental poem.
It is the shepherd lover's appeal to his
kidnaped sweetheart:
"For, lo. the Winter Is past.
The rain is over and gone;
The flowers appear on tho earth:
The time of the singing of the birds Is
come.
And the voice of the turtle Is heard In the
land ;
The tig tree rlpeneth her grreen ties.
And the vines -are In hlossom.
They give forth their fragrance.
Arise, my love, my fair one.
And come away."
I cannot understand how any one can
help but admire this magnificent poem,
especially in its modern literary form;
restored, perhaps, to its original splen
dor by the magical art of Professor
Moulton's masterful literary skill, un
marred and unscarred of antique theo
logical annotations.
Professor Moulton argues with much
Ingenuity and ability for the hypothe
sis that the shepherd lover In the
"Song of Songs" is King Solomon in
disguise. The key to his Interpretation
is what he calls "the dream reminis
cences" of the heroine of the poem,-and
he claims that any other interpretation
is strained, or far-fetched. In spitQ of
an effort to be sympathetic, I am not
prepared to accept his interpretation as
final. His hypothesis Is controverted by
many eminent modern Biblical scholars.
Kuenen, Oort and Hooykaas, in the
"Bible for Learners," contend that the
lovc-ly Shuhallite had a shepherd lover
from whom she had been ruthlessly
torn by the minions of King Solomon.
Sho remainttf faithful to her lover, dis
daining all the flatteries and passionate
appeals of the infatuated King. Her
constant reply was:
"I am my beloved's
And he is mine."
And finally the King was compelled to
let her go.
Nothing" is more certain than that
romanticism was never a characteristic
of the social life of Oriental potentates.
They were, and are, the most sensuous
of realists. Imagine the proudly arro
gant, luxurious and sensuous King Sol
omon donning the costume of a lowly
Hebrew shepherd, and making love to
a sunburnt peasant girl! Obviously no
such romantic methods were ever
adopted by this haughty scion of
Israel's great King, when he wished to
add a new infatuation to his over
crowded harem. Nor does it seem logi
cal to attribute the disguise theory to
the intuitive psychology of the poet's
mind, for Hebrew genius always was
far more disposed to Tecognize moral
grandeur than to pander to the capri
cious spirit of romantic eentlmcntall-jm.
J. T. FORD.
Twenty-five Years Ago
From The Oregonian of Nov. 6, 188S.
Olympla, Nov. 4. Hon John L. Wil
son received a hearty welcome last
evening at Shelton. A large meeting
was held at Tumwater and addresses
were made by Messrs Gowey, Root,
Cavanaugh and others.
Centralla. Nov. 4. Colonel Kllons
burg has arrived, bringing workmen
for the new railroad.
The bridge on South Front street,
which begins at Abernathy street and
runs across the O. & C. railroad at
Lane and runs against the hill beyond,
just west of tho Orphans' Home, is
nearly completed.
The Oregonian has made arrange
ments with Mr. J. D. Meyer whereby Its
full election returns, per Associated
Press, will be displayed in front of his
store on b Irst street, near Alder.
A large audience assembled last
night to hear Hon. N. H. Bloomfleld in
defense o the ReDubllf.an tloWt at T o
Camas.
Colonel MendeU, of the TTnlted Statos
Engineer Corps, arrived from San
Francisco yesterday.
Ex-Justice of the Peace Aaron Busli
weller is much Improved in health by
his trip to New York.
C. C. Scott, one of the proprietors or
the Gilman House, now holds over $1S,
000 In election wagers.
The new Southern Pacific ticket of
fice on First and Alder is being fit
ted up In first-class style and will be
opened in a few days .
United States Senator Mitchell re
turned to the city last evening and is
at the Esmond.
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonian of Nov. 6, 1863.
The shipments of treasure to Kan
Francisco by Wells. Fargo & Co. dur
ing the first few months are $1,8-15.000
and the amounts assayed in Portland
are $2,486,496 during the past six
months.
Bannock City, Oct. 29. An Irrepres
sible conflict is going- on between the
miners and property holders In Ban
nock, and Main street is fast filling up
with tailings, besides Montgomery
street has several yawning abysses.
Auburn. Oct. 23. We have lately had
an arrival from Jacksonville by direct,
route over the mountains. A pack
train of 60 animals came over fully
loaded with bacon and bound for the
Boise mines, and only some two months
on the way here.
A detachment of Company A. Ninth
Infantry, consisting of 17 men, came
down to Vancouver from Walla Walla
on Tuesday under charge of Lieutenant
Woodson. These men were ail desert
ers who surrendered under the Presi
dent's proclamation.
The Bulletin says that recently
many apples came to San Francisco in
barrels, and it states thai, owing to
the high price of packages and the
low price of fruits, fruitgrowers have
been obliged to use some cheaper
packages than the usual boxes.
We were shown, yesterday, by Mr.
Arrlgonl, of the Pioneer Hotel, a very
pretty slab of John Day's River gold
valued at $761.17, which is said to be
Intended as a present to Victor Em
manuel. King of Italy, to be used as a
paper weight.
Articles of incorporation of the Sho
shone Gold and Silver Mining Company
were filed yesterday; capital stock
$."00,000. The incorporators are R. R.
Thompson. D. F. Bradford. Lloyd
Brooke and J. C. Ainsworth. Its object
is general mining in Baker County.
The Hope Deferred
By Dean Collins.
"Hip, hooray! Here we go,
'Cross the line to Mexico";
Thus we chortle o'er the news that
comes a humming on the wire;
Telling how the President
Has an ultimatum sent.
Down to Huerta to inform him it is
time he should retire.
We prepare to shed our coats.
And with glee our heart emotes.
As we view the coming combat and
forecast the merry brawl.
And wo plan about the" fun
Bryan yells from Washington;
"Hold, hold! Be calm! We nevur
said no such a thing ut all!"
When we heard the message bold.
Wherein Wilson plainly told
Mr. Huerta it was time that he
should put the damper on;
We exclaimed with vim immense;
"That's the end of tho suspense!
Check your suitcase for the nio
Grande! 'Tls time we should be
gone."
And our hats were upward cast.
For we thought we had at last
Found a modicum of sand In the
Executive, and gall;
And we bristled up in pride
Bryan promptly rose and cried;
"No no! Be calm! We never said
no such a thing at all."
Oh, it may come, on some day.
When my beard is long and gray.
That we'll hear the merry cry of
"wolf" go ringing as of yore;
But I'll never turn my head;
I'll Just plug along Instead,
On my last and senile pilgrimage
unto the "Golden Shore."
War and rumors may fly thick.
But my ears I'll never prick.
For the thrilling of the trumpet and
the nfe's Insistent call;
For I know that if I did.
I should hear Bill Bryan bid;
"Nix, nix! Back up! We never planned
no such a thing at all."
Visitor From the Country.
New York Globe.
Customer How many inches to th-.-yard
here? Clerk Thirty-six, of course.
Customer Oh, I thought it might be
different here in the city.
Fur Month
This month is the most important
fur month to the forehanded wom
an because any day may be severely
cold, and warm garments must be
in readiness.
The question of furs for the Winter
Is not a difficult one to the woman
who can, without thought of price,
go out and buy what happens to
strike her fancy. If she regrets her
purchase later on she can buy some
thing else.
To the thrifty woman, however,
there are problems of quality, style,
price and durability to be consid
ered more carefully in buying fur
garments than in buying almost any
other articles of dress. Then, too,
there is the possibility of making
over slightly worn pieces, or of
combining some new fur with the
old.
All of these points need careful
thought. Many, hints and sugges
tions may easily be obtained by
reading the advertising columns of
The Oregonian, and, more than like
ly, the most satisfactory solution of
your problem will be found there.
Adv.
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