16
TTtt wnnNO OREGONIAN. SATUEDAT, NOVEMBER 23, 1913.
I PORTLAXD, OKEUOH.
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l'ORTLAND, SATURDAY, NOV. , 1913.
. AST HISTORIC FAaUlET
Those -who scoff at the suggestion
that our present Mexican entangle
ment may culminate In war should re
fresh their memories as to events lead
ing up to the Mexican war of 1846, for
there Is a close similarity between con
ditions and events then and now. We
drifted Into war then and we may b
so again. -
"When the Polk Administration took
office In 1845 It inherited a Mexican
problem. Just as the Wilson Adminis
tration did this year. Attention was
then given first to the tariff and the
Independent treasury bill, and the
country was in an uproar over the Ore
gon boundary, just as thevpresent Ad
ministration dealt first with the tariff
and the currency and paid little heed
to Mexico until that subject forced its
claims on the President's notice.
The Mexican controversy in 1845
arose from a boundary dispute follow
ing the annexation of Texas to the
United States. The contested strip was
fcetween the Rio Grande and the Nue
ces River. Polk sent John Slidell In
November, 1845, to Mexico to nego
tiate a settlement with President Her
rera and to arrange for the purchase
of California, Just as John LInd was
sent by President Wilson, but here the
parallel Is broken. Diplomatic rela
tions had not existed since the annex
ation, but Slidell was made a full min
ister plenipotentiary and the Mexicans
protested that his credentials violated
their agreement to receive a special
envoy for special purposes only. Mr.
Lind, on the other hand, went as the
unofficial confidential agent to deal
with a Mexican, government which we
have refused to recognize. Herrera
was overthrown shortly after Sildell'e
arrival in Mexico City because he was
about to end difficulties by friendly ne
gotiation. Slidell was refused pass
ports, but was given an escort to Vera
Cruz. Meanwhile an army of occupa
tion, commanded by General Zachary
Taylor, was sent to the disputed strip
and a small fleet was sent to the Gulf
of Mexico, Just a Mr. Wilson has kept
an army of observation on the Rio
Grande and has sent warships to both
coasts of Mexico.
At the. Inception of the difficulty the
Whigs, who had opposed the annexa
tion of Texas, opposed, but not loudly,
Polk's suspected plans of conquest.
Polk was averse to war, which was not
considered Imminent The first sign
of a belief that war was at hand ap
peared in January, 1846. The New
York Evening Post, which has pub
lished an exhaustive article on the
events of that period, quotes from Its
flies the following paragraph from an
artlole by its Washington correspond
ent, published on January 24, 1846:
I am under the Impression that ws will
yet have to do something unpleasant to
wards -these Hispanican gentlemen. The
nonsensical quibble upon whluu they seem
to have refused to receive Mr. Slidell Is not
to be tolerated by a free and enlightened
country like this.
. Walter Savage Landor, in a letter to
the London Dally News, saw in the
disaffection of Northern Mexico and
the presence of our army of occupa
tion indications of Impending annexa
tion and suggested that England ac
quire these provinces by purchase or
otherwise. In March Southern news
papers published rumors of the occu
pancy of the disputed territory and of
an intention by the Northern Mexican
states to declare independence. But
the Northern press did not regard seri
ously our army of occupation. They
treated facetiously the demands of the
Mexican Generals and Taylor's firm
stand- On April 14 Mexico threatened
war unless Taylor withdrew within
twenty-four hours, but he responded
that bis orders were to stay east of the
Nueces River and that, anyway, "the
roads were muddy and it was unpleas
ant retreating a,t this season."
Gradually the North awakened to
the fact that war was almost inevita
ble. The correspondent of the Albany
Atlaa predicted as much on April 21,
saying: "Every party and every fac
tion in Mexico is determined to fight
It out with us." Yet opposition con
tinued to find expression in theNorth.
A New York newspaper on May 6 pub
lished a letter urging that the United
States ought to overlook many of
Mexico's. Imprudences and declaring
that the sending of General Taylor's
army was indiscreet and unjustified.
The writer of that letter urged nego
tiations, indemnity and mutual with
drawal of troops. The New York
Tribune violently and the Evening Post
temperately opposed war.
On May 11 Polk resolved on a call
for 60,000 volunteers and the raising
of 10,000,000, and told Congress a
state of war had for some time existed.
but this last statement was declared
false by Calhoun, though indorsed by
Sam Houston, the Texas Senator, The
Tribuna pronounced our treatment of
Mexico ruffianly and piratical, but,
once begun, the war was popular and
a New York paper which had ridi
culed the possibility . said: "There
should be neither hesitation nor de
lay."- War was declared pn May 18
nmld. protests from the Northern
Whigs, but men of that party gradu
ally swung around until enthusiasm
was almost as gTeat in New York aa in
New Orleans.
Aa in 1846, so In 1813, few believe
that war will come, and few desire it
but, aa in 1846, so in 1913 we seem to
be getting Into a position where it will
be unavoidable. We are better able to
endure the struggle, but so are the
Mexicans, so far as numbers are con
cerned- Yet the present controversy
is no mere dispute as to territory
which can be quickly settled by the
fortune of war. We are attempting
to force upon Mexico our own ideas of
government, which would involve pro
longed occupation. Mexico might
prove another Philippine problem.
Finding amendment in detail of Its
straitjacket constitution impossible, II
llnols is now agitated over the question
of calling a constitutional convention
to frame a new organic law. It la the
Irony of fate that the state which
boasts most loudly of its progrresslve
ness should be unable to make prog
ress through being restrained by the
dead hand of its constitution-makers.
HORRIBLE THOC6RT,
An acquaintance of two of the I.
W. W. organizers who were deported
from Florence, Or., a short while ago
suffers misgiving as to their fate. In
a letter to The Oregonlaxvthis alarmed
writer, . who signs the name "Daniel
Martin" and gives his address as the
vacant store at 205 Washington street,
says:
The account of Captain Metcalfi Inves
tigation Is not at all convincing. He seems
to have got all his evidence from the very
men who were in that lawless mob,' and he
seems to have taken their word without
question when they assert that they did not
Injure anyone. Meanwhile, the rumor is
gaining ground that the men were not
simply driven out. but that they were
brutally mistreated and then aet adrift in an
open boat. This rumor Is the more convinc
ing, as none of the victims have been heard
from, although they have had ample time to
write or to come to Portland, aa I have every
reason to believe they would have done If
they ware alive.
The romor our worried correspond
ent has heard has been specifically de
nied by a newspaper correspondent on
the ground and the denial has been
published.
But there Is small comfort to the
I. W. W. in that. If makes possible
that a worse fate than death has over
taken the proselytista. Perhaps their
Florence experience has caused their
reform and they have gone to work!
CUSAX IT UP.
About the mildest thing that can
be said concerning the disclosures in
the police investigation is that they
reveal disreputable intrigues, immor
ality and lack of discipline in the de
partment, and the presence there as
members of men whose conception of
duty and rectitude is sadly at fault.
If the evidence submitted Is to be
believed, a former Acting Chief of Po
lice has in effect levied political con
tributions on the force: has required
a subordinate to consort with a pro
fessional prostitute and give her
money for a purpose not yet revealed;
has endeavored to suborn perjured
testimony against a captain under fire,
has used his authority to punish sub
ordinates for personal reasons; has
slept on duty as Captain, and as Acting
Chief has failed to suppress gambling
by patrolmen in the police station, al
though aware of the practice.
It is indicated that the gambling
mania has been widespread among the
patrolmen and higher officers. One
captain is so Ignorant of or Indifferent
to the necessity that law-enforcers
shall themselves obey the law as to
question the impropriety of policemen
gambling when the game is "square."
Fallen women, it is alleged, have had
the power to make or break members
of tho department. And so the miser
able story runs on.
It is all a deplorable mess, likely
to have an unsavory influence on Port
land's reputation. It demands the
closest scrutiny and investigation. It
would not be meet that men in the
ranks escape Just retribution by di
recting scandal against their superiors;
nor would it ba wise to assume that
their testimony Is concocted in the
hope of escaping in a cloud of smoke.
A clean-up is due and it ought to be
sweeping, that It may be salutary.
WHOSE IJITENT CONTROLS?
The decision of the Supreme Court
in the workmen's compensation case is
logical, however much we may wish it
might have been of different tenor.
The law in its text sets the date for the
beginning of its essential operations as
after "June 80, next following the tak
ing effect of this act." The Legislature
undoubtedly expected the law to take
effect on June 3, 1913. Yet it must have
been mindful of the referendum power,
which under the terms of its own spe
cial election law could be invoked to
delay the taking effect of the compen
sation law until November i. The ref
erendum waa Invoked, the law took
effect oh November 4, and the pay
ments into the fund and disbursements
therefrom must begin after the June 30
following, which is June 30, .1914, not
June 30, 1913, as he Legislature ex
pected.
Much was said in the argument be
fore the Supreme Court as to the In
tent of the Legislature. It was con
tended that the specifying of a date
was merely intended to give twenty
eight days' opportunity for performing
certain required formalities and that
the payments and disbursements
should begin twenty-eight days after
the referendum vote.
We suspect that a new Jlne of de
cisions on legislative intent will grow
out of the exercise of the referendum
power. It is fairly logical to assume
that the Legislature's intent must be
disregarded when one of its acts goes
to. vote of the people and that the un
derstanding or intent of the people
must supersede it. Doubtless this par
ticular measure would have been ap
proved by the voters had the date of
insurance been fixed at a time in May
or December. But a similar provision
in some other law might vitally affect
the Judgment of the people. The voter
ought to know what he Is voting on,
and the only way he can ascertain is
by reading the law. If it became a
practice to go back of the returns,
after a measure had been approved by
the people, and there discover an in
tent held by an inferior law-making
body and clear only to one who pos
sesses knowledge of court construction
and legal precedent, much of the vir
tue of the referendum would be de
stroyed.
WTIVSON'S ANTI-TRrST FXA"S.
President Wilson appears now to
consider currency reform well on tae
way to enactment into law and is al
ready preparing the. next great meas
ure on his programme of emancipat
ing business. He has induced Repre
sentative Clayton to sacrifice his ambi
tion for a Senatorshlp and to remain at
the head of the committee which Is to
draft an anti-trust bill and to steer It
through the House. He la conferring
with the leaders of his party in Con
gress on the details of the bill, which.
like the tariff and currency bills, will
be essentially a Wilson bill.
Mr. Wilson indicated the trend of
the legislation he was likely to recom
mend when, as Governor, he caused
the passage by the New Jersey Legis
lature of the seven bills which became
known as the "seven sisters." He de
scribed one of these bills as designed
to promote free competition and com
merce. This declaration' Implies, that
he would not be content with prohibit
ing interlocking directorates, overcapi.
talisatlon and divorce of transporta-
tlon lines from production, but would
go further and would continue to
break up existing trusts and would
prevent further combinations. For
enforcement of those laws he would
enlarge the powers of the Bureau of
Corporations and create an Interstate
Trade Commission. He is known to
favor the bill prepared by Senator La
Follette and Louis D. Brandels prohib
iting a number of methods by which
trade is restrained and competition de
stroyed. Other leaders . in Congress
would also define what corporations
may do.
The New Jersey laws define restraint
of trade, but specifically permit expan
sion of a business, provided the new
acquisition is cognate in character and
not overcapitalized. They impose
prison sentences as well as fines on
violators, and like provisions may be.
expected in the forthcoming National
bill.
The chief point of contention prom
ises to be the alternative between reg
ulating trusts, as proposed by the Pro
gressive party, and destroying or pre
venting them, as has been the policy
of the law and of recent administra
tions. Shall we legalize and regulate
monopoly or restore and regulate com
petition T That is the question. The
President Is pursuing the latter pol
icy as existing law requires, and pro
poses to strengthen that law in the
manner described. But he does not
consider himself debarred from inquir
ing into the merits of the opposite pol
icy. His Commissioner of Corpora
tions, Mr. Da vies, proposes to inquire
Into monopoly and competition aa
working theories of Industrialism, and
an additional appropriation of $500,-
000 is to be asked for his use in this
work.
PROGRESS r JICTXONARIES.
The evolution A dictionaries has
now reached a point where we shall
soon need steam machinery to handle
its product. The New Standard is far
too heavy to be used without a special
holder and its bulk exceeds anything
heretofore compressed in a single vol
ume. But in spite of its mass and
weight the form of the Standard is
more convenient than any of the many
volume dictionaries. It is a bother
to use a dictionary which is divided
into two volumes even. Convenience
has been thought of everywhere in
this mammoth book. The tables on
geographical and biographical names,
which in the older dictionaries were
huddled together at the back, where
people usually forgot to look for them.
have been distributed through the
body of the work. Portland, Or., for
instance, is inserted where it belongs
aphabetically with six other cities of
the same name and we learn without
undue difficulty that it is "the county
seat of Multnomah County, Oregon,"
but, unfortunately, the rapidly-grow
ing population is overlooked. In fact
population is something that changes
almost from day to day and since a
dictionary is intended to be a fairly
permanent source of information it
could scarcely be included with pro
priety.
The biographical names are a great
convenience, though of course the in
formation given under each is as curt
as possible and not always judicially
selected. For Instance, we are told
that Descartes, the great French phi
losopher, invented the "rule of signs'
for algebraic equations, but there Is
no mention of his vastly more important-
Invontinn ii P a n n lrf na 1 tranmotfV
With the names of literary men antifl
women their principal works are given,
together with the dates of birth and
death. This, scant as It may be, is
enough to put - the Inquirer on the
right road if he cares to know more.
The inclusion of all these biographical
and geographical, together with a
great number of scientific, names nat
urally expands the vocabulary of the
Standard beyond anything seen in
former dictionaries.. It defines some
450,000 words and we are assured that
this by no means exhausts the verbal
resources of the English language. The
various sciences are rapidly growing,
each advance requiring new technical
terms. The industrial arts continually
enrich our "common speech with novel
expressions. Such names as aeroplane,
motorcycle, automobile, are of the
most recent origin. Chemistry con
tinually forms new words to designate
its new compounds. Nor are these
the only sources from which the lan
guage draws Its fresh supplies. The
English-speaking race is distributed
over many lands In various widely
separated parts of the world. The
diversified habits of life which pre
vail in these regions lead to linguistio
changes. Old words are dropped out
of use and new ones formed. Pro
nunciation alters under the influence
of climate and industry. Since these
changes tend to Increase rather than
diminish with time, there is always
danger that the common English
speech may break up into colonial dia
lects or even divide into different lan
guages, as Latin did during the Middle
Ages.
This tendency, which everybody
would gladly see checked, finds its
most efficient antagonists in the dictionary-makers,
enterprising toilers
who collect the various locutions very
soon after they are formed In Aus
tralia, South Africa, the United States
or Canada and print them where they
are accessible to all wlw understand
English. Thus the language is kept
fairly homogeneous. A great many lo
cal usages musCnaturally prevail, but
as long as the dictionaries continue
faithful to their duty they will not be
come unintelligible to outsiders. The
Standard still further promotes lin
guistio homogeneity by giving the sim
plifled spelling of a great many words.
Thus we learn that "through" may be
spelled "thru" on the authority of the
simplified spelling board. Other more
or less phonetic spellings are given
on the authority of the American Phil
ological Association. The "new spell
ings are always marked distinctly, so
that no person can be beguiled into
using them contrary to his wishes, but
in spite of this precaution their very
presence in the dictionary will prob
ably excite the wrath of bigoted or
thographical standpatters. Like Eph
ralm, these individuals are Joined to
theirjdols and we must let them alone
Other dictionaries will no doubt find
it expedient to follow the Standard's
example in printing the simplified
spellings and we may reasonably ex
pect to see these scientifically correct
and scholarly forma finding their way
more or less rapidly into common use
Very few people, unfortunately for
themselves, ever read the matter
printed in the front part of the dic
tionary. That contained in the New
Standard is particularly interesting,
but we fear it will, share the neglect
tq which all auch literary treasures
seem doomed. Speaking of the "spell
ing reform," the Standard gives us
some remarkably sound common
sense. It points out that a great many
English words are already spelled sci
entifically. In this class are included
most of our polysyllables derived from
the Latin and Greek, as well as a host
of short native words. "It Is a great
mistake," the writer adds, "to speak of
English spelling as If it were alto
gether bad and needed to be thrown
into the melting pot and recast. But
there is a portion which is bad in
varying degrees of badness and un
fortunately it comprises a. pretty large
number of the commonest words in
the language." The Standard points,
these remarks by giving us "a scien
tific test of good spelling." It says
that "a, language is well spelled If
one can. write correctly any new word
one hears and -pronounce correctly
any new word one sees." Of course
this cannot bo done even by the wisest
of us as the language is commonly
used. The dictionary frankly tells us
that "the obstacle to - reform is the
inertia and prejudice of habit.' Those
who oppose improved spelling maTce a
grand parade of their love of scholar
ship and loyalty to traditional beau
ties, but the truth is that they are
opposed to the new simply because
they are habituated to the old. The
change must come about, as the New
Standard assures us, "gradually In the
elementary schools. If children are
taught to spell sensibly when they
are young they will not backslide to
the grotesque and irrational when they
are old.
Russia Is taking measures to pro
duce her own supply of cotton. In
Turkestan about 50,000 acres have
been Irrigated and opened to cotton
culture and about 675,000 more acres
are to be watered. On the Mugan
steppe In Trans-Caucasia, east of the
Caspian Sea, great irrigation works
have been undertaken, which will
open to cotton culture 8,375,000 acres.
About 20,000 settlers have been placed
in Turkestan and as many on the
Murgan steppe. They are given the
aid of skilled cotton-growers and seed
plantations. The value of land in
creases from 830 to 8500 a dessiatln
(2.7 acres) after a single crop.
There are greater possibilities in
increasing the production of land now
under cultivation than In bringing
more land into use. Scientific study
of the soil has increased wheat crops
from fourteen bushels an acre to
twenty-nine bushels in Germany and
thirty-three bushels in .England in the
last half century. Dr. Cyril G. Hop
kins, of the University of Illinois, has
done much in the same direction in
Illinois and Is now about to prosecute
the same work in the South.
Greece did not make the peace
treaty with Turkey too soon. It has
cost her 325,000,000 a month to main,
tain an army in Macedonia, her treas
ury is empty and neither France nor
England will allow bankers to lend
her money. Turkey has,, borrowed
350,000,000 in Belgium and was in
slightly better position to fight. The
veto on loans may prove an effective
means of maintaining peace.
Progressive Republican Assembly
men in New York have been asked to
act together, and a conference of pro
gressives cf all parties has been called
to unite . them against the bosses.
Bosses Barnes and Murphy may find
fusion of" their forces necessary to
their salvation, and may thus bring the
bi-partisan alliance of the powers that
prey Into the daylight. '
One plan proposed to reduce the
high cost of living is the issuance of
coins In denominations of 2, 3 and
12 cents. The odd cents lost
through our adherence to the 6-cent
multiple would total a tidy sum in a
year.
S'blood! The villain Huerta will
not obey our orders to resign. "Very
well, then. We will fix him. Yes, sir,
we will patiently wait until he gets
good and ready to resign. Such is our
very latest attitude.
Alderman Pretzel, of Chlcaeo. is crolng to
try to eliminate the objectionable features
of the tango. Alderman Pretzel is the man
to tackle Knotty problems. Chicago ftecord-
Herald.
What does his partner. Alderman
Beer, say about it? v
'North Yakima young men Bay they
ill be guided by eugenlo principles
in selecting a bride. Unless some
sickly miss happens to catch their
fancy.
Pullman sleuths are to travel up and
down the Coast, but George will mark
their soles Just for'ard of the heels all
ight. You cannot beat the porter.
By the way, when does Captain Slo-
ver intend to retire from the depart
ment and enter the pulpit, as an
nounced by him some weeks ago?
Calmly forcing a sister nation into
bankruptcy in. order to have our own
ideals observed is not so humane as it
might appear at first blush.
With reference to Governor Col
quitt's turkey-trotting wiih turkeys,
the office boy insists that it's usually
done with chickens.
Big gains are shown by the banks
small part of the story of our prosper.
Ity.
The Pullman manager says he knows
nothing of tipping. He should ride
incognito on a Pullman creeper.
The latest thing in tango dancing is
approved by the New York smart set.
Must be tremendously indecent.
T3Rnrmd1ne- to warm sunshine. hud
and blossoms are appearing in the
East. They will not get far.
With three currency bills now
in the arena, Woodrow's future as a
prophet- looks dark Indeed.
Aviation Is destined to limit wars,
says Secretary Daniels. By killing off
the daring spirits?
The football season is shorter than
the baseball period and is all the more
agonizing.
Ah, relief I The warclouds lift. Gov
ernor West's agent report all well at
Florence.
It is reported that snow fell in Port
land yesterday. Does anyone believe
it? .
Any man who pursues a crooked or
unethical course will live to regret it.
Sylvia's on the first page again and
mamma can't even get a local brief.
Congress will soon have a whole
bankbook full of currency bills.
Wilson may believe Huerta is
doomed, but seeing is believing.
The whole country Is planning to
have pigskin with its turkey.
The weather gives the Navajos cold
feet.
Will someone please pinch Pinchot?
Stories of Natural Science
A Re-Flew of a Lecture by William
Conger Morgan, of Reed College.
THE SEARCH FOR THE ATOM.
The teachings of various old phil
osophers who wrote and lectured on
the .composition of matter are very
interesting from the standpoint of
their Ingenuity, and show the small
necessity of bothering long 'with fact
in tbe production of elaborate hypoth
eses. Since we have grown less In
dependent of experiments and observa
tions for our knowledge, we cannot
fail, to be interested In the older and
easier methods by which philosophers
employed Imagination and ingenuity to
propound great truths.'- As accidental
discoveries -or the questionings of In
quisitive sceptics Interfered with their
theories they were remodeled to suit
the occasion. Numerous old thinkers
built and defended philosophies which
explained matter and Its peculiarities
In various ways. Dem-ocrltus in the
fifth century B. C. held to a modi
fication of the belief in four funda
mental elements. The conception of
the world in this case imagines it to
be built up of the smallest possible
particles, or atoms, which might all
differ In form and size, but which
should be Identical In 'the nature of
their substance. All the changes In
the, world were conceived to depend
upon separations and recombinations
of these atoms, which were continu
ally in motion so long as they contin
ued to exist.
It would seem that such a doctrine
might lead to the beginning of our
modern chemical ideas, but unfortu
nately, this was not the case. The
minds of men still continued to be
pacified by discourses on earth, ir,
fire and water as the four fundament
als, and further possible subdivisions
of matter did not become a subject of
immediate inquiry. Although develop
ments In chemical thought took place
during several centuries following,
the fundamental facts ooncernlng
matter had to wait during this time
The age of 'alchemy bad a powerful
stimulus to research due to its promise
that given the correct process baser
metals might be transmuted to gold.
Investigations of this,, period brought
out many discoveries which are the
inheritance of the present age, but
the master knot could not be un
ravelled. A vast amount of prepara
tlon in chemistry was necessary be
fore a sound and lasting doctrine
could be found to expound its laws
and simplify its phenomena.
Even before a number of the old
views on chemistry had given way to
new ones, the chemists who occupied
themselves with them began to be
animated with the modern scientlfio
spirit; they became more exact In their
methods and more logical In their de
ductions until during the eighteenth
century contributions of considerable
value were made to the fund of chem
leal data that was later re-arranged
into the modern conception of chemis
try. Several of the favorite old mis
conceptions, chiefly the venerable
phlogiston theory -of combustion, con
tinued to confuse men's minds. Its
supporters made some far-reaching
discoverlesr however, which somewhat
differently Interpreted are embodied In
the present understanding of chemis
try.
The modern organization 'of chem
leal knowledge -depends primarily up
on the labors of John Dalton during
the early nineteenth century. Strong
ly Inclined in taste to scientific in
vestigation, Dalton spent a number of
years on various problems of science
ani thus acquired the experimental
dexterity that later brought out some
of the most deep-rooted facts of
chemistry. His early publications on
gases were significant, but It was not
until his volume on "The New System
of Chemical Philosophy" appeared in
1808 that the full details of his -re
searches beoame known and appre
ciated by the scientific world.
The atomic theory which began with
Dalton is an explanation of the fact
that chemical compounds are formed
by the combination of various elements
in constant proportions. It Is a well
justified belief that all matter is made
up of atoms. All the atoms of any
one element are exactly alike. For
convenience they have been assumed
to be spherical in shape,.but they are
very different from the atoms of any
other element. Speculations upon the
atoms themselves and also upon other
hypotheses which answer various
questions are inspiring to the imagin
atlon and otherwise extremely valua
ble, but take second place In importance
to Dalton's idea upon the formation
of a chemical compound. The belief
that the union of the elements into
chemical compounds consists in a com
blnation of these microscopic particles
in certain definite Quantities 'is a lost
leal deduction from the facts that are
at hand. A hundred years of close
scrutiny has failed to find a single
inconsistency in the belief, and it thus
approaches the realm of fact as nearly
as any hypothesis can. The world Is
ready to accept evidence that will re
main unshaken for a century, and Im
poses no further question. With Blml
lar credulity it Is ready to call any
man good if he has been acting as a
good man for a hundred years or even
less; and It is safe to pin one's faith
to any belief when it is so wall sub
stantiated as this.
Consequently there Is a perfect con
fidence among chemists that the great
hypothesis of-DaJton will continue to
serve the purposes of science. Analysts
have proceeded for a hundred years with
the idea that there are certain funda
mental units in all matter which are
the units of chemical reactivity. Hun
dreds of thousands of different com
pounds have passed through the lab
oratories and their compositions have
been ascertained as to the relative
number of atoms of each element con
tained in each one of them. No seri
ous discrepancy between fact and
theory has interfered with the com
plete application of the atomic theory
through all this momentous work,
and modern chemistry, with its
thousands of practical applications in
all our great manufactories, has ad
vanced steadily during this hundred
years, so that now practically every
one of our industries is based upon
its discoveries.
e
The conception of the atomic theory
by Dalton and Its subsequent develop
nent and application is one of the
triumphs of science. Its development
illustrates the working of tbe purely
inductive method when based upon
complete data and carried out with
oareful attention to all the facts.
There has not been any way dlscov
ered by which science can see the ac
tlon of the detached atom and in this
manner substantiate the beliefs con
cerning It, for the atom is far too small
to be seen by the most powerful micro
scope. But so perfectly are our mod
ern experimental methods developed
that the necessity of direct observation
is largely removed. -
MECIIAJriCAL REFORM LACKING
Republican Party Moat Volte on Pro-
tramms of Progresc
PORTLAND, Nov. 19. (To tie Edi
tor.) The semi-centennial anniversary
of the dedication of the Gettysburg
field for a military cemetery and of
the delivery of Lincoln's Immortal ad
dress, brings vividly to the minds of
those who have personal recollections
o those days the great and stirring
events of that period.
As the years go by the receding
figure of Lincoln instead of diminish
ing grows larger. The world more
fully and clearly apprehends his wise
and far-seeing statesmanship, his won
derful comprehension and splendid
achievements. The influence of his
life and teachings are, at the present
time, a potent factor for good In our
public life and should be a greater
one.
In some respects our complex po
litical affairs seem verging toward
confusion. I will advert to only one
particular: The great party, which is
Indebted to him for many of its best
foundation principles and wise direct
ing influence, has recently suffered
National defeat because of an ugly
rupture which threatens Its very exist
ence. The causes of this disaster are
tolerably well known and a rehearsal
of them would be profitless here.
Query: Have all the practical and
important principles of Lincoln's po
litical philosophy been embodied into
laws or have they so permeated the
public mind and thought as to become
guiding principles and therefore need
not. further emphasizing? I fear they
have not. While In the letter we laud
them, practically there Is a disposition
to drift away from many of them.
how can this unfortunate tendency
be reversed? By recognizing in a most
substantial manner the importance of
the exercise of the baslo principles of
Justice which actuated our patriots of
60 years ago; by earnest and candid
efforts to embody them in our political
operations, of today; by the practice
of sturdy political honesty and civic
morals and an unfeigned and unselfish
desire to benefit the entire people,
locally and Nationally. The Invisible
government should be repressed and
as far as possible obliterated.
These laudable efforts cannot be
monopolized by any party or organiza
tion.. The Republican party by making
tne people Know that such is its en
deavor, by platform utterances and se
lection of leaders Imbued with the
spirit of progress and reform will Irre
sistibly draw together the best ele
ments which have formerly affiliated
with it and from other parties as well.
No attempt to galvanize life into it
by mechanical appliances will succeed.
The people will reject any Barnardo
del Carpeo skeleton, though clad in
armor, plume and tinsel and mounted
on the finest of war steeds.
We most adjust ourselves to the
times and modernize in a practical way
the homely virtues and great princi
ples of the fathers. The details of the
modus operandi are too lengthy for
present discussion. J. D. LEE.
METER, SYSTEM MAKES TROUBLE
Flat Water Rate System Can Be Han
dled at Minimum Cost.
PORTLAND, Nov. 19. (To the Edi
tor.) Water meters for households
have multiplied troubles of the city
government ever since their Installa
tion began some six years ago. . Now
our salary-drawing officials are seek
ing to rid themselves of these troubles
by shunting themoff on salary-paying
land owners.
The city might have saved the cost
of the new pipe-line from Bull Run by
curtailing water consumption with do
mestic meters. That is what a private
corporation would have done. But now
the city does not have to save water.
It has a much larger supply than it
needs. But the city does need to save
money.
Expenditure of $300,000 more for
household meters (25,000 at $12 each)
will be waste of money, not only in
Initial outlay, but also in subsequent
line of meter-readers, bookkeepers and
clerks. Not only that, but It leads to
the injustice of charging water bills to
land owners.
The flat rate would save all this
trouble and expense. It would work
out proportional justice, too, because
in ordinary nomes there is average
consumption of water that varies lit
tle until the dry season and
then an extra hose rate would ap
ply. Rich men with big houses should
be metered or pay a faucet rate.
Mr. C. B. Moores, with his big house
and 20 or 80 faucets, should certainly
not escape with a 50-cent minimum
flat rate. Nor should those household
ers perched up on Portland Heights
"get off" that easy; every gallon of
water up there is pumped, costs extra.
Elsewhere Bull Run flows by gravity;
costs nothing extra unless metered.
Meters have added greatly to cleri
cal work lit the Water Office. They
make intricate bookkeeping, necessi
tate more hands, defer collection until
late In the month, Increase the quota
of "bad bills." The reading of meters
makes Jobs for a big squad ofinspec
tors. The rendering of statements
monthly has grown to so big a job that
Commissioner Daly thinks to reduce It
by rendering statements quarterly.
This, in turn, requires. the city to look
for its pay to persons more responsible
than consumers to land owners; be
cause the latter can't "skip off" be
tween times.
This $300,000 for 25,000 new meters
will be grand for the plumbers' trust.
whose twin elements are material job.
hers and the union journeymen. More
over, the meters will have to be re
newed very 10 or 12 years. They will
wear out. Therefore, more materials,
more jobs, more expense, more politics.
As a business proposition the mini
mum flat rate is simple, fair, sensible.
Monthly statements and thefr office
bookkeeping would be unnecessary
Every consumer would know his bill
had to be paid at the first of each
month. Administration and jobs would
be reduced to minimum. M.
Sirs. Duniway Explains.
PORTLAND, Nov. 21. (To the Edi
tor.) Do you know that we have
stirred up a commotion of indigna
tion among my esteemed co-workers,
the old maids of Oregon, because of a
remark I recently happened to make
before a reporter in Eugene? We were
speaking of the fact that comparatively
little progress is made for votes for
women in the East and South. I said
and I know it to be the truth, that
married men. as voters, object to pro
fessional old maids (my accent waa
on the word "professional") holding
the leadership of a movement that
especially concerns the fathers and
mothers of the Nation.
No one has a higher regard than I
for the bachelor maidens of today, who
are filling honorable positions in all
communities. But they are not in a
position to understand the aversion of
the average husband and father to the
almost exclusive domination of the
"old maid" leadership in the older
states of the Union which Is conduct
ing the suffrage movement.
I nope this explanation and apology
will modify my beloved unmarried co
workers in Oregon, who are filling
their allotted stations with credit to
themselves and the public.
ABIGAIL SCOTT DUNIWAY.
Two Movements I,ess Per Minute.
Washington (D. C.) Herald.
"Our boss is a c-ank on efficiency."
"What's he up to now?" "Trying to
teaoh the stenographer to chew her
gum in two moveruents less per minute
to tne lower jaw." t
Jack's Desperate Move.
Baltimore American.
Cora Jack proposed to me last night.
Mayme There! I was afraid the poor
boy would go and do something des
perate.. -
Twenty-five Year Ago
From The Oiegonlan of Nov. 22, 1838.
dent-elect this evening tendered Elijah
W. Halford, managing editor of the In
dianapolis Journal, the position of pri
vate secretary.
Olympia. Nov. 21. Governor Semple
left today for Seattle for tbe purpose of
administering tbe oath of office to
Chief Justice Boyle.
Salem. Nov. II. Articles were filed
today by the Salem Ice & Refrigerating
Company. Incorporators: George H.
Williams, H. W. Cottle, C. B. Moores,
Amos Strong and Theodore Wolf.
Salem, Or., Nov. 21. A. S. Hammond
was admitted to practice in all thov
courts of the state today.
Mrs. R. M. Robb makes an appeal on
behalf of the Baby Home on the cor
ner of Tenth and J streets. East Port
land. Morrison street bridge will be light
ed when Mr. Hogue gets his electric
light plant In operation.
The German Evangelical Lutheran
St- Johannes Church of Alblna will be
dedicated on Sunday, November 15.
Among the speakers will be Revs. Tlce,
of Oakland, Cal., Meyer of Helena,
Mont., Doering of East Portland and
Clans of Cornelius, Or.
The O. R. & N. Co.'s steamer -Bonanza,
which ran on a rock near Os
wego, is a total wreck and will be
abandoned.
Seattle, Nov. 21. James Hamilton
Lewis, whom not to Jcnow Is to pro
claim oneself unknown, rather got the
better of some of the great men in Se
attle recently. Arrangements were
made for a special city e.ectlon to de
termine upon the borrowing of $1,000,
000 to construct a new water works.
Mr. Lewis published an opinion that a
special election for that purpose would
be Illegal and the election was post
poned. John R. Duff, clerk of the State Cir
cuit Court, is at home nursing an at
tach or rheumatism.
The City Council has received a
proposition from the Willamette Falls
Ii,lectrio Company to lisrht the city.
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonlan of Nov. 23, 1863.
During the last upward trip of the
steamer Onward, plying between Ore
gon city and Salem, when near the lat
ter place an immigrant by the name of
Wright, whose family was on board,
walked or slipped from the guards Into
the river and sank before assistance
could be rendered.
During the last few years the want
of some convenient Summer resort
upon the sea coast has been seriously
felt. For several Summers past parties
have repaired to the only available
spot which our rugged coast presents
near the Columbia's mouth, taking with
them tents and all the rough and crude
utensils Indispensable to camp life.
Messrs. Elwood and Reed have pur
chased the spot above alluded to and
will proceed immediately to erect a.
suitable hotel. The land claim was
purchased of Thomas Reddlck and is
situated at the foot of Clatsop Plains
in the bight north of Tillamook Head,
the ridge upon which the establish
ment Is to be built being 25 feet above
the highest tide.
Mr. Turley, who spoke so acceptably
last week upon ine subject of the Pa
cific Railroad, will address our citi
zens again this evening at the Court
house. City Treasurer, to announce that there
Is coin In his possession to redeem a
warrants presented for payment anil
registered prior to uctoBer l, ibs.
Joseph Buchtel announces himself a
candidate for the office of chief engi
neer of the Portland fire department.
Hint to the Express Companies.
PORTLAND, Nov. 20 (To the Edi
tor.) In these days when every econ
omist is seeking for some way to
remedy the high cost' of living, permit
me to say that the express companies
that operate in Portland are not doint?
their share. They are also missing a
large source of revenue. Nobody ex
pects them to do anything pro bono
publico, but their selfish interests, one
would think, would induce them to ex
tend their delivery regions. Half tho
population of Portland, and perhaps
more, lives outside the region of their
delivery. I have acquaintances who
grow apples, produce honey and other
desirable articles of food, from whom
I could well afford to order goods to
come by express, but I live beyond th
delivery limits. There are thousands of
people like myself, who do not care
to go to the express office and bur
den the streetcar with farm produce,
and, as a result, we go without such
things, or pay larger prices for them,
because they have gone through thi
commission man's and the retailer's
hands.
Some years ago one of the express
companies had an office on the East
Side, to which It would deliver pack
ages, thus making a convenient placu
for at least those who lived In tho
neighborhood to go for their package?.
But that has been discontinued.
Perhaps It is true that the express
companies have no franchise from tho
city, and are thus not amenable to any
regulations as to delivery that the city
might Impose. But the express busi
ness is a monopoly, and the companies
are all in a combination to deliver
goods only within certain disr,icts.
They are acting in restraint of trade.
It Is remarkable that they shoul d thus
fail to grasp a profitable line of busi
ness that is waiting for them.
R. M. TUTTLE.
Mr. Retailer
Is Your Money Idle ?
That is the question that means
everything to your business, Mr.
Retailer.
Is your money lying asleep on your
shelves waiting for an earthquake
to shake it down, or is it up and
hustling for you?
Think this over a little bit before
ltets too late, and If you have any
"Sleepers" around your place, turn
them out now.
Stock your shop with merchan
dise you can sell and you will not
only Increase your own profits Im
mediately, but you will strengthen
your position in the community so
that your Increase will grow each
year.
The most progressive manufactur
ers are advertising their products In
dally newspapers. The most pro
gressive people are demanding ad
vertised articles. Have you enough
money so that you can afford to
have a great part of it idle by tying
It up In merchandise that nobody
ever heard of and nobody wants?
First, get the right goods In your
shop.
Then "hook up" with the general
newspaper advertising of the manu
facturers by telling the people of
your city through an advertisement
in The Oregonian or live news
paper that you carry these goods.
You can also "cash in" by prom
inently showing these goods on your
counters and in your windows.
Then you will make your money
"hustle"! Adv.
V