lO TTTF. MOTIXTXG OREGOXIAX. WEDXESDAT. -i NOVEMBER 12, 1913. fje mwrimt PORTLAND, OREGON, Entered at Portland. Oregon, postofflce as Mond-claaa znatt r- SubscripUoa Kate Invariably In Advanee: (BI MAIL) fkafTy. Svnd&7 IncTuiled. one year. ... . . . .?S.0 Dairy. Sunday IncSinled. alx months 4.21 RaHy. Sunday tneliM ed. tnrea month. .. 2.25 IaU, luulaj Included, ona month .73 Daily, wKbeet Sunday, one year 80 T I 1 1 V wlthnnl Mnnduv aiv mnnthM - 3 . 2 u Satly. without -Sunday, three montbi. ... 1-T 3 J ially. without Sunday, one znontn...... Weekly, one year. . . 1.&0 Sunday, ona year......... -0 Sunday and -weekly, ona year (BY CARRIER) Dally, Sunday lnclodatl, one year 9"22 Zally, Sunday Included , one month...... .75 Mow to Renalt Sand postofflce money or Cr. expreaa order or .personal check on your local cask. Stamp, cola or currency are at lender'! risk. Cllve postoffice addreal In full. Including coujnty and atate. Pasta Rate 12 to 18 pace. 1 ceat; 1 e S3 pages. 2 cental 4 to 43 pages, S cent; SO to 6o page, 4 cent; 62 to 70 pase. o cents; T8 to It 2 page. 4 cent. Foreign post age, double ratas. Katrrn. Buamcaa OWlcM Verree Conk, fin, Kew 1'ork. Bruria-wlck building. Chi cago. 8tegar building. San FrancWn Orflce R. J. Did well Co.. 7 Market straet. J'ORTLAND. WEOMKDAI, NOV. 1, 1913. WIL60X AI THE ELECTIONS. Newspapers in general see only en couragement for President Wilson in the- results of the recent elections, though his warmest adherents cannot gainsay that Democratic success has been due to a divided opposition. The New York papers are generally too absorbed in rejoicing at the overthrow of Tammany to pay much attention to results in other states, but the Sun attributes Governor Fielder's election in New Jersey "to the confidence of lila party and doubtless of many men of other parties in President Wilson," yet adds that the victory was won with the good help of Mr. Colby and the simon-pure Progressives." Though an open supporter of Mr. Walsh for Governor of Massachusetts, the Springfield Republican admits there were vote3 enough to beat him, but says that under the circumstances it was impossible to prevent his elec tion, for "it was the simplest of prob lems in division" It ascribes to the Progressives a purpose only to poll more votes than the regular Republi cans and says "the two branches of the old Republican: party Just about eliminated each other." "Outside of Massachusetts," says the Boston. Transcript, "the returns show that the Republican party is gradually recuperating from its pun ishment of last year and that the third party la such a poor third that lis presence in the field only promotes Democratic victory." It ascribes the different story in Massachusetts "in part to the 'rule-or-ruin' Republi cans," who deprived Mr. Gardner of effective organization. It says "Mr. Gardner remains the leader of his party in tho state" and "has Just be gun to fight." It expresses the hope that "those who stand loyally by him will turn their attention to the com plete reorganization of their party." Tho Brooklyn Eagle says the Presi dent "qught to be pleased with this showing," for "he knows that the re buke of Foss is as important as the victory of Walsh" and "he under stands that tho close vote on the ticket outside of the Governorship indicates a friendlier feeling toward Democracy than the Bay State Ts in the habit of showing." The Eagle holds that "the tariff bill Is in the process of being tried out and that "the voters have Jumped on" Mr. Foss "becausa fair play demanded a suspension of Judg ment." The Chicago Record-Herald finds it "exceeding difficult to ge at the exact significance in National politics" of the elections. It says: Evidently there Is a fatal division carried over from the last campaign that is of more importance than discussions of the tariff or the currency, and it must have its ln tluence on the political development of the future. In general it would appear at least that the time has not yet como for a marked revulsion from the decision of last year. "Broadly speaking, the elections were favorable to the Democrats," says the Indianapolis News, which holds the President's greatest victory to have been that won by the Fuslon- ists in New York City, Among the conclusions drawn by the Baltimore Evening Sun are these: That Wilson is as strong today as he was a year aeo. That the day of spasmodic reform is pass ing and the people propose to have honest and capable government nay in and day out. That the low tariff bill is a popular one and that even the annoyances Incident to tn.e putting of an income tax Into operation o not offend a people confident of the ability and fairness of the Administration responsible for it. That a fair primary Is the greatest guar antee of btg majorities on general election day. The? Chicago Evening Post sayst As far as the National ' politics of the elections Is concerned, we are glad that no one will be able to wring from them i rebuke to President 'Wilson. It finds comfort for the Progres- sives in Air. Bird's defeat of Mr. Gard ner and in the splendid fights they made for good government in cities. How the Progressives aided the cause of good government is not easy to conceive, since by dividing the op position they promrtted tho success of the machine in Indianapolis and other cities. II ANDY AH OUT THE IIOf.SK. There is lamentation In the news paper world over the unhappy man who ought to be "handy about the house" but is not. His deficiency is held up as a subject for tears and he ia ex. ftorted to aspire to better things. It Is well known that all women are full of inventive and constructive genius. Under the guidance of the erudite "women's columns" in any number of magazines they can transform a soap box into a whatnot without much dif ficulty and make over an old beer Jug Into a Greek vase. , It is the man of the house whose hands are helpless and his brain lm beetle before the problems of daily life. He cannot mend a leaky spigot He cannot put a shelf in the pantry. If he can drive a nail without splitting the hoard it is more than one usually expects of him. When his weary and sad-faced wife begs him to mend the broken broom handle he replies in differently, "Oh, have -somebody do It and Til pay for It." Whence flows many an increment to the cost of liv ing. Philosophers have speculated a great deal over the question why the ordinary man of the house is so help, less when it comes to using his hands, Some say it is because he is too proud to work. Others hold that the male is naturally inferior to the female as a Jack of all trades. In our opinion his incapacity is one of the many consequences of bad early training. If he had beer educated in boyhood's happy hours to use tools he would have preserved the capacity to do so all his days and would have been healthier and happier for it, to say nothing of an immensely magnified utility a head of a family. Why Is it, by the way, that all the exercises in our gymnasiums are merely ornamental? We mean in par ticular those designed for grown men. They are taught to frisk around in divers more or less beautiful postures, but who ever thinks of teaching them to use the saw, the hammer and the soldering Iron? There Is as much good exercise in these employments as in Jumping over horizontal bars and as far as utility and pleasure go, there is no comparison. FRAMING A "NEW" MEXICAN I'OUCY. For several weeks the world has been holding its breath while Wood row Wilson and William Jennings Bryan have been working out a new Mexican policy. Europe agreed to do nothing in the meantime, for it was strongly intimated that we would temporize no longer. At the outset more battleships were shoved into Mexican ports. Naval men termed this a naval demonstration designed to awe Dictator Huerta. Orders went out to United States troops to prepare for possible eventualities. i All the while the world at large speculated on what was about io hap. pen. It cam to light that Huerta's resignation had been called for from Washington. What would Huerta do about it? Would he dare defy the United States? If he did would the United States lift the embargo on arms or would It precipitate armed In tervention? What form would that "drastic action" expected of the Ad ministration take? At last hold your breath the new policy has shaped itself. It has leaked out from the White House. We are to follow a policy of "hands off." Ever hear of that policy before? Huerta, the insolent wretch, has ab solutely refused to back down. . In stead of resigning he naively an nounced his intention of raising an army of 500,000 men. For what? To attack the 10,000 Constitutionalists? Very well. If he is going to get nasty about It we will have nothing more to do with him. We wash our hands of the base creature. We shall cease to recall the alleged fact of his existence. Maybe he'll perish of a broken heart under our slights. There, at least, is a faint gleam of hope In that idea. RUSSIAN" EMIG RATION'S EFFECTS. Emigration from Russia to the American hemisphere has reached such proportions as to attract the earnest attention of the Czar's gov ernment, particularly as it has ex tended to the purely Russian popula tion. It has grown from about 40,000 a year toward the close of the last century to an average of about 250, 000 a year during the last decade, ac cording to the London Times". Con trary to the general impression, the emigrants are not mainly Jews, from ,25 to 40 "per cent of the total being of that race. Poles, Lithuanians, Germans and Finns come next In or der and an exodus of . Russians has now begun from Little Russia. Owing to the heavy passport fees Imposed to check emigration, the great majority of emigrants are smug gled across the frontier to . German ports and furnish lucrative business to the German steamships. Many ob tain temporary passports to work as harvest laborers in Germany and Den- mark, and sail from those countries to America. The great majority come to North America, but many now .go to South America, where they have founded" settlements. Only from a fourth to a fifth sail from Libau, the terminus of the Russian trans-Atlantic steamers, and it Is proposed to check the drain to German ports by estab lishing a line from Odessa to Rio, to handle traffic to South America. An increasing proportion of Rus sian emigrants return home, and it is now estimated at between 15 and 25 per cent. These Americanized Rus sians with their newly acquired ideas of liberty and progress may prove a cause, of disquiet to their despotic rulers. They may gradually work as great a social transformation as has been caused by returning Italians and Hungarians, and ia time may bring about political -change. The United States by thus planting the leaven of liberty and progress In those who so journ with us for a few years may work a peaceful revolution in Europe far more effective than that which was attempted by the military propa gandlsts of the first French revolu tion. FAIR BATES FOB RAILROADS. While the award of the board whlca arbitrated the Eastern railroad wage dl."?pnte expressly disclaims any au thority to consider an advance in rail road rates as compensation for the ad vance in wages, the whole tenor of the decision shows that it considers that such an advance should be made. not only in Justice to the railroads but in the interest of the public. The very fact that the increased cost of living was considered an important factor In the award suggests that the cost of living for railroads has also ad vanced and that the same reasoning which is held to Justify raising train men's wages Justifies raising railroad rates. An increase- !n wages Increases cost of operation, and the price of all ma terials entering into construction has advanced. Railroads must pay for right of 'way, which in former times would have been a gift. Growing volume of traffic compels them to en large terminals, for which they must buy urban real estate at high prices, and to double their tracks. Laws re quiring safety devices and restricting hours of labor impose additional ex pense. We are frequently told that the stock of railroads is watered and that. If they were capitalized at their ac tual value, their present rates would pay a fair return. Valuation of the railroads is now being made by the Government in order to determine whether and to what degree this statement is true, but this work will occupy several years. In the mean time railroads are unable to borrow on reasonable terms the capital nec essary for the Improvements de scribed. In consequence, the develop ment of our transportation system, which is necessary in the Interest of shippers and travelers as well as of carriers, has not only ceased to keep pace with the growing requirements of the country, but has actually fallen behind. The patrons of the roads suffer in slow and Inefficient service far more than the equivalent of the 5 per cent advance In rates asked by the Eastern roads. With great pains one transcontinental road has been able to increase the average daily movement of a carload of freight to thirty-one and one-half miles. The shipper loses by this delay. If a rival road were able to guaranty him move ment twice as expeditious on payment of 5 per cent more, he would gladly pay It. This question concerns not only owners and patrons of existing roads, it concerns those who look to new roads for development of new coun try. It particularly concerns Oregon, for our greatest need is railroads, and work, on pending projects has stopped or languishes for lack of capital. By the Interstate Commerce Commission and the State Railroad Commission we are amply protected against extor tion by the railroads. It is time that we applied to the railroads the prin ciple of a fair day's wage for a fair day's work which we apply to work men. MRS. BRIGHT REDtX. A copy of the Harbinger of Light, which we are privileged to see lying on our desk as we wrlte, , contains great news. The wondering and re joicing world Is given to understand that "Mrs. Bright has returned. Where from? Poor, benighted reader, she has returned from the evergreen shore. Mrs. Bright passed away June 21, 1913, at Melbourne, Australia, Be tween that date and August 1 she made several efforts to bring herself to the attention of one medium and another, but did not succeed. Her signals were perhaps a little indefinite. On one occasion she caused a clear light to shine over a medium's head at a seance. This, of course, was em phatic, but a light may mean so many different things. Who could have supposed that it signified the departed Mrs. Bright and her alone of the innumerable millions of the emigrants to Paradise? On an other occasion she walked out of the cabinet at a seance in full view of the spectators. Or at any rate In as nearly full view as the lamps permit when they are all put out. But her face was veiled and so she failed again to be recognized. These astonishing and Indeed epoch making facts we have gleaned from "the Harbinger of Light, a monthly Journal devoted to psychology, occult Ism and spiritual philosophy," which is published In Melbourne. The Poly nesian Continent seems to be far ahead -of these northern regions In spiritual knowledge and culture. Un deterred by the failure of her previous efforts to make herself known,. Mrs. Bright tried again on August 1, not in Melbourne, where familiarity had per haps bred contempt among the medi ums, but in Rothesay, Scotland. Your genuine ghost is nothing If not cosmopolitan. This time she not only made herself recognized, but ac tually got a chance to talk and we must confess that she Improved her opportunity. A long, long column of the Harbinger of Light is filled with her remarks. What did she say? The usual thing and her grammar was also usual. "Humanity needs teachers," she declared, "but none of us are in dispensable. We can all be done with out." After this penetrating revela tion who could question that it was Mrs. Bright herself speaking and no body else? ALFRED RUSSELL WALLACE. Alfred Russell Wallace, whose death at a good old age is Just announced, was one of the most interesting men of his time, His biological researches were numerous and sufficiently dis tinguished to give him a place at the head of evolutionary science. He also made many excursions into other fields. In the extremely suggestive book published in 1903 which he en titled "Man's Place in the Universe," Wallace used hl3 -comprehensive knowledge of astronomy to prove, or try to prove, that the earth is the only inhabitable planet. His argument leads him to assert that our solar system lies at almost the precise cen ter of the created universe, while the earth is the only world which Is adapted by its size and physical features to sustain life. His conclu sion is that our place in the universe is unique. Indeed, he reverts to the ancient theological position that the whole universe was made for man. who Is the only animate creature en dowed with intelligence to be found within its limits. Wallace showed in other ways that his active and acute intelligence contained a curious mln gllng of medieval and modern traits. It Is well known that he accepted many of the most difficult tenets of spiritualism. He believed In the ma terialization of disembodied souls and found it possible to put implicit faith In many of the common tales of com munications from the spirit world. He has 'always been one of the fore most "psychical researchers," but it is' not thought that his contributions added much to the scientific value of the soclety'3 investigations. Credulity of this sort was sufficiently astonishing In a man of Wallace's scientific abil ity. It seems to illustrate the diver sity of gifts which the same individual may possess . and perhaps demon strates that there is a trace of folly in the greatest minds. Wallace, who was born Jn 1823 some fourteen years after Charles Darwin, began his career as a land surveyor. This reminds one of Her bert Spencer, another famous pioneer of evolution, who was an engineer In Ms younger days and finally forsook that calling for philosophy. Wallace gave up surveying for the vocation of naturalist. The study of- animal life fascinated him, as it did Darwin, and he pursued unremitting researches in many remote parts of the world with brilliant results. The fruits of his labors were published in works whlch gave him high standing among con temporary men of science. While he was carrying on his stud ies In the East Indies Wallace was struck by the thought that the vari ous animal species must have arisen from a common stock through the process of natural selection, heredity and the struggle for existence being the active factors in the process. In the tropics he had seen so much of the intimate relations between one species and another, protective varia tions are so striking and the bound aries between types are so evanescent that no other hypothesis seemed to fit the facts. The only surprising thing Is that It had not occurred to other naturalists long before. It really had occurred to one man in precisely the same form and that was Charles Dar win. This great genius had been work ing on the theory of evolution by nat ural selection ever since his famous voyage in the Beagle. With exemplary patience he had been elaborating his arguments and collecting corrobora tive facts for more than twenty years, but had published little or nothing upon the subject, when he received a letter from his friend Alfred Russell Wallace containing a brief statement of the evolutionary hypothesis and asking him to present it to the British Association for the Advancement of Science. Darwin's fidelity to , his friend obliged him to comply, but he owed something also to his own reputation. Hence he accompanied Russell's letter with a brief statement of what he had done on his account. Thus the great hypothesis cf evolution which has transformed modern' thought and given a new direction to every branch of science came into the world from two sources at the same time. The same is true of the calculus, which Newton and Leibnitz discovered con temporaneously, and of many other fundamental "human achievements. Immediately after Russell's letter was published Darwin set to work to complete his work on "The Origin of Species," which appeared in 1859. It is almost Impossible for readers of this generation to imagine the hubbub which Darwin's boob; stirred up. There was scarcely a theologian of note in the civilized world who did not hasten to denounce it. The Anglican bishops were particularly heated in their at tacks on Darwin and his theorie. Their great argument was that evo lution contradicted the opening chap ters of Genesis. "If evolution is true," they said over and over again, "we must give up the Bible, for the two cannot be harmonlzed."To many ear nest persons the thought that man was "descended from the monkeys" was unspeakably repugnant. Darwin's theory was defended Just as vigorously as It was attacked. Herbert Spencer devoted a long life to elaborating anQ explaining it. Huxley took the offen sive and put the theologians to rout on many a stricken field. Alfred Russell Wallace came up to the help of evolution with vast erudi tion, and a mammoth array of scien tific evidence. Such a struggle could have only one termination. The evo lutlonlsts gained a complete victory The faith which they were supposed to threaten has become Intelligent enough to perceive in Darwin and Wallace its staunch est supporters. In his great poem, "In Memoriam," Ten nyson beautifuly reconciled the new thought with the old faith and noth ing is left today of the contention but here and there a faint echo. The intelligent and pious modern can see no reason why the Creator should not have made the world by an evolutionary process and the con tradictions between Darwin and the Bible have lost their substance In the light of historical crlticlsm. There is ululatlon In the land over the passing of the spare room and the decay of hospitality. People who dwell In apartments have barely room enough for themselves. There Is none for their friends. So the day has gone forever when a gay and happy house hold welcomed the arrival of a dozen unexpected guests and had places for them all to sleep. But perhaps some substitute .for the good, old hospitality will be invented. The social instinct ia too vital to be killed by apartment houses, A patient, said to be "violently in sane," has escaped from the asylum farm and! is causing much worry to the authorities. There is no doubt of it, Since when has it become custom to allow "violently insane" patients the liberty of the farm? French boxing authorities hold that Jack Johnson forfeited the champion ship by forfeiting his bond, but what does Johnson care? He gets the pro ceeds of his past glory and Is free to win more foolish women who admire brutal brawn. Murder statistics show Italy to be a safer country to live in than the United States, but it would not be so If we deported all the Black Hand thugs to their native land. There are great opportunities in lumber over in the Philippines, so the Insular Bureau announces. Yes, even to a large chance of returning home in a wooden overcoat. fTama Jim" Wilson is in Washing ton to write a book on his administra tion of the Agricultural Department. Will it be a history, an apology or a vindication? The efficacy of arbitration and the justice in It are shown by ftie 7 per cent increase of pay awarded to East ern trainmen. That course beats a strike. VThe same old Bill" Sulzer insists on remaining Governor so far as the payroll is concerned. His attachment for the payroll is truly touching. A Republic, Wash., hotel man was held up and robbed of $1800, it is re ported. The small ,town hotel must be a paying proposition. It is entirely probable that the num ber of undefeated elevens will be re duced by. one-half at the Multnomah field -next Saturday. Insolvent corporations are held to be immune from corporation tax. The same fortunate rule applies to de ceased individuals. The cost of widening one Portland street Is put at more than one-third of a million- a mere bagatelle for Portland. Congress has set apart a whole day for hearing from women on suffrage. Must intend to hear only one woman. All the while that Eastern 6torm Is leaving ruin and death in Its wake we are having our annual flower show. It might be wyll to change the name of the moral squad of the police de partment to the gambling platoon. Theodore is speechmaking In Bue nos Ayres. We thought he went down there to lose himself for a spell. Damage to the Argentine wheat crop strengthens the market. It's an 111 wind blows no one good. Toung Sayre and Jessie will always have something to hock, thanks to Congress. Provident shoppers, of course, have their Christmas shopping at least half finished. Huerta announces that his sole a!m Is peace. Then he's a poor marksman. Mr. Asqulth has made It clear that the Anglo-Saxons will stand together. Anna Held decries bad habits among American women. Fie, fie, Anna! Arbitration has become a great force lnthe industrial world. Huerta might consult old Weyler to advantage. Is your Thanksgiving turkey being fattened ? When Mr. Hill comes to town things happen. Uneasy lies the head that wears a helmet. ' Topical Verse Tenaora Mutantnr. I remember when, not very long ago. our youthful merry Sports were frowned upon, when night was coming on When a guardian with gumption would be scared wed get consumption If we stayed ontdors between the dusk and dawn : When a boy discovered lying on the ground was mourned as dying Or as good as dead! .And I remem ber when 'Tws reckoned simple suiotda to cast a shirt or shoe aside But times have changed a little bit since then. We could read of how our fathers didn't have such pesky bothers. How the old-time Injuns alept upon the grass t How Arcadian Amaryllis baver hoard of a bacillus. Though she lived among the lilies lucky lass! Endymlon might " charm us, but hla moonlight naps would harm us. And we couldn't sleep tn dew damp moor or fen For when we called attention to his tale, our folks would mention That times had changed an awful lot since then. We're returning row, you'll notice, to the lovely Land of Lotus, And the "night air" doesn't cause. but cures a cough. We defy the windy season now, for listen, there a a reason" Clothing cures consumption (If you take It off!). Our grandmothers were silly when they warned us that a chilly Day was rather hard on narrow- chested men. And we moderns hear no more of what. perhaps, was true a score of Years ago. You see the times have changed since then. Ted Robinson, in Cleveland Plain Dealer. Homorable Mention I'm one of those near winners who In any competition. Almost but do not quite squeeze through The gateway of ambition; For when I try for any kind Of prize for brain invention. Under "Awards' my name I find. Wins "honorable mention." It's jnst the same whenever I, To mend ray circumstances. For something lucrative apply With seemingly good chances. Just as I think I've got a cinch As steady as a pension, I lose the job by half an inch Of "honorable mention." The same with love. The girl who most Aroused my heart's emotion Had several beaux, yet I made boast Of privileged devotion; Yet when I felt I had obtained Her best and sole attention. She married Muggs, and all I gained Was "honorable mention." And probably 'twill be my fate When, after earthly striving. I come at last to heaven's gate. To hear upon arriving: "Although to win a dazzling crown Was doubtless your Intention, We find we have to hand .you down Our 'honorable mention.' " London Tit-Bits. Columbus and the Areoplane, When old Chris. CoL. some years ago, Sailed forth across the sea To find the way To ln-dl-ay, And found Amertkee, The distant shore he did not gain By sailing in an aeroplane. No forty Meven miles an hour With whirring wheels and things To curl one's hair And split the air On widespread, flying wings Did old Chris make aoross the main He never saw an areoplane. Three months or more he plugged along From Palos to the shore Which lay beyond The briny pond That none had crossed .before, And never any one in Spain Had thought about an aeroplane. Slow going that too slow for tis Who hit the hurry gait And feel that we Must cross the sea At once or be too latej And yet In crossing the main, Chris had it on the aeroplane. What? W. J. Lampton, in the New York Times. The Poet's Trouble. (He stumbles upon a half-dozen words that have no rimes In the lan guage.) The cresent moon hangs o'er the sleep ing town. A shred of cloud caught on her lower cusp; Through filmy mist her tenuous rays come down. And (No rime for "cusp." Have to start again.) Sickly the moonlight shines upon the plain. Dim. like a half worn-out electric bulb; Heaven's eyes are full of unshed tears of rain. And (This is a fool language, any how.) The changing moon would fain avoid the task Of ushering in a sad. Autumnal month; She sides her face behind a cloudy mask. And (This is one of the delights of being a poet) The moon's aweary of the deeds she doth Weakly she shines on heaps ot dust and culm; And (Goodnight!) Judge. On Her Stoutness. When I consider how my life la spent. How half my days in Impotent, vain wrath. Are given over to massage and bath. And diet of a Bcantiness worse than Lent. That I to my dressmaker may present A hlpless shape moueled like any lath Is it worth while, I cry. to tread this path. A parcel of my plumpness to prevent? Oh, Fashion, ban these slim and slen der slips! For few of us can stand their fearful test. ',T is not enough If lines be long and straight, "T is not enough though we efface our hips And exercise continuous without rest. They also curve who only take off weight. Carolyn Wells. Animal Daicea. You know about the turkey trot. The monkey twist. The bunny hug, as like as not. Is on your list. You know the weaBel dip. ot course, The pigeon whig; And that great dance, the crazy horse The latest thing. I love the neat gorilla flop. The kangaroo. The proper place to give a hop Is at the zoo. - .-Exchange. LARGE OWNERS HOLD SOLVTION Men Who Control Large Land Trnctn Can Kesulato General Frlcea. PORTLAND, Nov. 10. (To the Ed itor.) I have read everything that has been published In the Portland papers and have heard every word that has been publicly uttered on the railway situation during both the Harrlman and Hill visitations. From this I have gleaned the following facts: That financial conditions are not favorable for securing money for rail road construction and too high a rate of Interest is demanded. That American railway securities are In poor standing both at home end abroad. That these conditions are brought about to a very great extent by liti gation and legislation past and threat ened. That while these conditions continue the construction of new lines will not be undertaken and no extensions, con nections or new mileage will be added except where It Is necessary to protect the lines already in operation. Locally, so far as Central Oregon Is concerned, that If the start had not already been made railroad building there would not be undertaken while these conditions exist. The decision as to whether or not it is necessary for the protection of the existing and operating lines that the stub of a road up the Deschutes Can yon terminating at Bend, and one In Malheur Canyon, reaching up to River side, and both surely operating at a loss, be connected across Harney and Crook counties Is before the railroad court and one which the officials will undoubtedly soon decide. The settler and investor in Central Oregon are called upon to pay the penalty for the mistake of the railroad companies and of the politicians. One thing that Judge Lovett reiterated with emphasis was hla opinion that the large specu lative land holdings in Oregon- were retarding its progress. At the Hill banquet Saturday night, CoL C. E. S. Wood made an Impassioned plea for cheaper land for -our prospec tive farmer settlers, stating that every acre of good, available agricultural land was taken up and was held at an unreasonable' price. He was followed by Louis W. Hill, who Intimated some doubt as to Wood's statement, that all government lands were taken up, but he also insisted upon cheaper lands for the'settlers and colonies which hl3 company wanted to bring to Oregon. Mr. Jas. J. Hill in bis fine- agricul : tural address plainly stated and re peated that $15 per acre for raw sage brush land in Central Oregon was an absurd price and that land speculation and high prices were doing more to prevent railroad building and state de velopment than any other cause. If this Is true, let us face the situ ation and place the blame where it belongs If sage-brush land which, when cultivated, will produce 25 to 33 bushels of Turkey red wheat or a fair yield of other grains, and alfalfa Is not worth $15 per acre, let us insist upon the price being reduced to the proper amount. If the prloe being asked for land Is not too high then Mr. Hill and these other gentlemen are libeling our country, and such state ments should be stopped, for they go out broadcast and are believed, and It would then be plain that such claims were made simply as an excuse for his company in not eontlnutng the Central Oregon transportation system. Louis W. Hill. W. P. Davidson. H. Corbett, Wm. Hanley. Col. C. E. S. Wood, Drake O'Reilly and their associ ates own or control Buch'an area of Gentral Oregon lands that they can regulate the price. These gentlemen are all reasonable business men, lead ing citizens and publicly claim to be laborinjr for the upbuilding of Oregon. If land prices are too high they can offer enough of their non-productive speculative holdings to put the price wnere It should be Doesn't It appear the most comic kind of comedy for Jas. J. Hill to get up and scold four or five hundred business men of Portland about the price of land tn Central Oregon? Why doesn't he In a fatherly way take Louis out In the barn-yard and frankly tell him that he and his friends must get busy and adjust Central Oregon land values. C B. McCONNELL, Burns, Oregon. GOVERNMENTS REFLECT PEOPLE. They Can Re No Rette and No Worse Than the Governed. PORTLAND, Nov 10. (To the Editor.) .Hearing a man bewailing the "rot tenness of governments," the utter fall ure of all earthly endeavor toward hu man happiness, set me to thinking. I went home, sat down for an hour with Solomon (I refer to Eccleslastes 17 to 23 verses, chapter lii). It seems that many men are unaware of the fact that governments are but reflections of tho people they govern. A government cannot be any better than the people is governs. Tile limitations of human nature are sufficiently plain; all should understand this great truth without the aid of ancient history. It is almoBt Impossible to ever hope for the sublime In government. The Greeks had their chance, the Roman had theirs, the Hebrews were governed for awhile by very abla judges, yet they tailed. What la the answer? Hu man nature. In "boxcai lattrr" After all, tnan Is Just a beast of prey in tne lap ot isature. tls is worse than the other beasts In some respects. I have seen man do things that the low er animals have never been guilty of. For his own preservation he is com pelled to pass great Volumes of laws to bold him In restraint. GEORGE II. SANDS. Flrat Antl-Sltivcrr Meeting. PORTLAND. Nov. 10 (To the Edi tor.) Flease publish the names of the 39 men In the first anti-slavery con vocation held at Albanv. Or.. Juna 27. 1S55. Z understand the names appear in ins uregonian July. 7 of that year, E, B. W. in the Weekly Oregontan, July 7, 18S5, appears the following! article with regard to ths stand taken against slavery in the Territory of Oregon. PREH SOIL CONVENTION. Pursuant- to call, gentlemen from different portions of Oregon Territory assembled in the Courthouse In Al bany, Linn County, on Wednesday, June 27, 1S55, and organized by calling B. K. Whitsen. Esq. to the chair and appoint ing W, C. JohnBon secretary, The chairman explained the object of the meeting to be to take undei consideration the proper oourse to be pursued by those in Oregon who are opposed to the" extension of slavery. As this was the first anti-slavery meeting ever held In the Territory of Oregon, It Was proposed and carried by acclamation that a list of the names of those desiring to be known as mem bers of this convention be takon and preserved for future reference Where upon the following named gentlemen came forward and recorded their names, to wit: Origen Thomson, H. H. Hlcklln, T. S. Kendall. John R. McClure. WUUaui T. Baxter, Wilson Blain, John McCoy, Sam uel Hyde W. L. Coon. William Marks, W. C Hlcklin, H. F. McCully. David Irwin, John Smith, Isaac Pest, J. W. Stewart, G. W. Lambert, J. B. Forsyth, J. M. McCall, John Conner, Thomas Cannon, B. F. Whltson, W. C. Johnson, Hezeklah - Johnson. J. T. Craig, D. C. Hackley, S. R. McLelland, Robert A. Buck. Samuel Bell, J. P. Tate, U. H. Dunning, Alfred Wheeler, Samuel Col ver, D. H. Bod Inn, W. C. Garwood. D. Beach. Charles Ferry. J. F. Thompson, Milton B. Starr. Twenty-five Year Ago From The Oregonian of Nov. 12. ISSb. Olympia. Nov. 11. Tne Republican demonstration last night was the lar gest ever witnessed in this city. Co lumbia Hall was crowded to suffoca tion. Hon. J. C. Horn presided and brief addresses were made by General Milroy, the war eagle of Indiana; Hen. N. S. Porter, Judge M. A. Hoot, Hon. F. H. Cavanaugh, General Oarretaon, of Tacorna, and others. Salem, Or., Nov. 11. Ex-Governor W. W. Thayer, judse of the Supreme Court of Oregon, and his estimable wife returned this evening from Portland and Celebrated the thirty-sixth anni versary of their marriage. Fulton Park Drawing. The drawing of pool lots in this most valuable addi tion will take place at the Mechanics' Pavilion on Thursday. Mrs. H. Anderson, of 47 North Sev enth street, was on her way home from shopping a few evening since when it young man grabbed at her purse. She dropped her bundles and gave him a side swipe on the face that made him dizzy. lie ran down tho streets as fast as he could. Oregon apples are In great demand in China. H. E. Battin & Co. recently shipped 400 boxes to Vancouver, B. C. where they were reshipped to China. Anna Frischkorn, the 15-year-old daughter of August Frischkorn, living at 110 Washington street, was taken down with smallpox yesterday. London, Nov. 10. A meeting ad dressed by W. E. Gladstone at Wolver hampton tonight was broken up by a mob. The North Paciflo Terminal Company proposes to cover North Front street with jrravel. Half a Century Ago From The Oreeonian of Nov, 1, 18S3. John Galbraith. recently arrived at Lewiston from Beaverhead by way of Spokane, reports seeing two old Salmon River miners, who had Just returned from the Saskatchewan diggings. At a meeting of citizens of Oregon City the committee reported that Dan iel Harvey asked $100,000 for his Ore gon City claim, which it considered ex orbitant, and recommended that a com pany be organized to bring water from some point above Harvey's claim, that an immense waterpower now lying ldla and worthless may be made available. The recommendations were adopted and the following standing committee was appointed: A. Warner, J. R. Ralston, Hiram Straight, J. H. Moore, W. C. De ment, Thomas Charman, Septimus Huelat. Mrs. Julia Dean Hayne has been In duced to appear thts evening in "East Lynne." Common Council. The contract for lighting the streets with coal oil was thrown up and the president authorized to contract with the Gas Company for 12 months at their bid $6 per lamp, be ing $2 less than the old contract. Wells, Fargo & Co. brought down on the Hunt last night 300 pounds of dust. One hundred and ten passengers came on the boat. Those loyal men who desire to en list In the service of their country can do so by calling upon Sorgeant Gar rett, corner of Front and Ash streets. Mr. Newburg, who, It was feared, had been murdered In the mountains sev eral weeks since, has turned up all right at Lewiston. Does Free Wool Benefit Vat ONTARIO. Or., Nov. 7. (To tho Editor.) To settle a controversy do you think free wool will benefit 75 per cent of the people of the United States? A READER. We cannot bus that It will. It will practically destroy the wool-growing Industry, but the benefit to the con sumers in reduced cost of woolen gooda will bo Blight, If any. We be lieve that the destruction of a great Industry, will Injure every other In dustry, therefore the whole population, far more than the reduction In cost of woolen goods will benefit the people. Tho country gains more by Imposing a protective duty. Just sufficient to en able the Industry to live at a fair profit, than by throwing wide the gates to competition from abroad. Free wool benefits the woolen manufacturer, but it benefits the consumer of hla product to only a alight degree. A Real Wonder Cornea to Town. Youtigstown (O.) Telegram. Marjorla came running Into the house with a. "measuring worm" on a leaf. "Look what I found on the pear tree," she said to her mother. The mother looked and Bra lied. "It's Just a little worm," she said. "But Walt a minute," the youngster Insisted, "and you'll see him take a tuck In himself." An Author In the Country. Atlanta Constitution. "The lust man that came by askln' for work," said the farmer, "was one o' them wrltln' chaps." "Did he say he was?" "He didn't need to; I knowed It without tellln', fer he looked as lone some as a sheddln' owl aettln' on a graveyard gate post, an' as hungry as a possum up a almmon tree that had Jes been hit by llghtnln'r Mailing nia Wife's Letter. Judge. Mrs. Peck John Henry, did you mall that letter? J. Henry You, my dear. I er held it in my hand all the way to the mailbox. I didn't even put it In my pocket. I remember distinctly, because Mrs. Peck That will do, John Henry. I gave you no letter to mail. t An Experiment If you have never personally ex perienced the benefit of newspaper advertising try this experiment to day. Read carefutfy through the ad vertising columns of The Oregonian. There you will see attractively pic tured or described the very latust fashions In wearing apparel for Fall and Winter. Among these you will surely find at least onu thing you need. The best shops tn the city have a message for you and you will be surprlstxi how well pre pared you are to make an intelligent selection after reading the day's advertisements. Then when your shopping ts over, note with what satisfaction your purchase was made. Retailers who advertise are progressive and alert so that you not only receive merchandise of finest quality and latest style, but you also experi ence store service, polite, intelli gent salespeople and a shopping satisfaction that Is perhaps new to you. Advertisers in The Oregonian have a high standard of service as well of merchandise. Adv.