10
THE 3IORXIXG OREGOXIAX, TXJESDA.T. DECE3IBETI 2, 1913.
FOKTLANU, ORXGON.
Xatered at Portland, Oregon, FoatofTic aa
eeeoad-cias matter.
taoscription Kate Invariably In Advtnca:
BT MAIL)
Tlfy. Sunday Included, on year ....SS.oo
Daily. Sunday Included, six months ..... 4.23
Iat:y. Sunday Included, tbreo montha ... 2.25
Ijefiy. Sunday Included, one month .....
tlly, without Sunday, on year e.00
)Lf:y. wlthut Sunday, si, montha ..... tj
Ial;y. without Sunday, thrae months ... l.TS
Xaily. without Sunday, ono snontb ...... .SO
Weekly, on year 1-60
Cuaday. ona year S.00
Saaday and Weekly, ona year
. (BT CARRIER)
rafly. Sunday included, ona yar ....... JS.OO
liaily. Sunday Included, on month ..... -73
Row t Rmtt Rend nostoffic money or.
See. express order or personal check on your
local tank. Stamp, coin or currency ar
a senders riin. uivs postome aaareaa
la fall, Including county and stai.
tag Bates 13 to 1 pages. 1 cent: 18
to 2 pages, j cents; a to pages, a cents;
BO t do paces, 4 centa; 6i to 76 paxes. A
ceata; 78 to VI paxea, o cents. Foreign post
age qouoi rates,
Easterai Baslnes Offices) Verree as conk'
lln. Kew York, Urunswlck building, Chi
cago, bteger building.
Baa Francisco Office K. J. Bid well Co.
142 Market street.
POKXLASD, TUESDAY, DEC. t. 181.
CONTRACT FRICE-FIXING.
Under the caption "Cut-Throat
Prloe; the Competition That Kills,"
Louis D. Brandeis makes a plea In
Harper's Weekly for legal sanction, of
contracts by which manufacturers of
patented and trade-marked articles
fix the prices at which their poods
shall be retailed. These contracts
have been declared In restraint of
trade by the United States Supreme
Court. Mr. Brandeis admits that
"such a, contract does in a way limit
competition," but he adds:
No man Is botmd to compete with himself.
And when the same trade-marked artloie Is
sold in the ssm market by ona dealer at a
less price than by another, the producer, in
affect, competes with himself. To avoid
such competition, the producer of a trade
xnarked article often sells it to but m
single dealer In a city or town; or he eatab
llshes aa exclusive sales agency. No ona
haa questioned the legsl right of an inde
pendent producer to create such exclusive
outlets for his product. But if exclusive
Bailing agencies are legal, why should tha
Individual manufacturer of a trade-marked
article b prevented from establishing a
marketing system under which his several
agencies for distribution will sell at the
ami price? There is no difference. In
substance, between an agent who retails the
article and a dealer who retails it.
Mr. Brandeis must know that the
maintenance of exclusive sales
agencies for lndicidual articles would
restrict sales and increase expenses
as compared with sale outright to a
number of merchants who carry a
general stock. He pleads that con
tracts of the kind in question do not
unreasonably restrain trade, yet he
admits that they restrain competition.
Any device which restrains competi
tion Is a restraint of trade, as our
experience with the trusts has proved.
Price contracts are based on a false
assumption namely, that conditions
under which all retailers do business
are the same. It is notorious that they
are not the same. One merchant may
pay a lower rent In proportion to his
volume of trade than another; good
management may reduce the cost of
running his business below that of an-
' other; ample capital may enable him
to discount his bills, while a competi
tor must take all the time the pro
ducer allows. One merchant can thus
sell at a lower price than his competi
tor and yet make the same percentage
of profit. He can thus increase the
volume of his sales. Even though the
two men's cost of doing business be
the same in every respect, one may
prefer to increase his volume of busi
ness by selling at a smaller profit than
his neighbor, thus applying the prin
ciple of small profits and large re
turns as against large profits and
small returns. One merchant may be
overstocked with a contract article
and may desire to sell it at cost in
order to make room for other goods
for which there is Immediate demand
and to provide money to pay for them.
Why should his freedom to manage
his own business according to his own
circumstances and according to his
own judgment be restricted at the
pleasure of the man from whom he
buys? Having bought the goods, he
owns them and they should be his to.
dispose of as he pleases.
What assurance have we that the
price fixed by the manufacturer of
. trade-marked goods Is reasonable? A
price which Is reasonable in the In
fancy of a, business may become "un
reasonable as that business grows to
tvreat proportions and as volume of
rales Increases faster than overhead
charges, but it may be maintained to
cover up overcapitalization or Ineffi
cient management or to pay Interest
n wornout or obsolete plant. If the
law Is to sanction price contracts. It
should also determine whether the
prices are reasonable, all the more so
because It gives the manufacturer the
protection of patents and trade marks.
Thus we come to the point of gov
ernment price-fixing. Then if the
Government Is to fix the price of pat
anted and trade-marked commodities,
why not of all commodities? If the
Oovernment is to fix prices. It must
also revise them from time to time.
When we recall the dally, sometime
hourly, changes In prices and the de
liberation with which the Government
revises the price of a service so stable
lit value as transportation, we can
conceive how Impracticable would be
iJovernment price-fixing.
There Is but one rata means of fix
ing prices. That is the law of supply
and demand under a system of free
competition. That law will give his
Just reward to the manufacturer of an
article so, excellent and fo necessary
that a general demand springs up. If
a manufacturer seeks an unreasonable
profit that law will paro it down to
a fair percentage. If a manufacturer
attempts to preserve a high ratio of
profit bv depreciating the quality of
his product that law will punish him
by roduclng the demand for his goods.
It wtll enforce efficiency and economy
In production., energy and enterprise
In selling.
' rORTLAND TRADE WITH ALASKA.
Establishment of a direct line of
steamships between Portland and
Alaska is a distinct advance In devel
opment of Portland's trade "which
must "be placed to the credit of the
Chamber of Commerce, particularly
of the committee which has assured
the necessary traffic. Delay in en
tering the Alaska trade directly in
stead of through other cities has been
due to preoccupation of Portland
merchants with tha field they already
held and to reluctance to branch out
into a territory which seemed already
occupied.
Tet much Portland capital has been
Invested la Alaska and many Portlnnd
men have gone to the northern terri
tory. It is but natural that these in
vestors and prospectors should buy in
their home city, price and Quality be
ing equal. So long as there wan no
direct eteamshio line, Portland mer
chants found it necessary to absorb
the freight by rail to Seattle In order
to compete in prices with the mer
chants of that city. This Is a distinct
handicap, which direct steamers will
overcome. The new steamers will also
make Portland a market and a point
of trans-shipment for Alaska products,
which have attained great volume.
They carry north Investors and pros
pectors and bring south Alaskans to
winter In the Oregon metropolis.
The greatest means of expanding
the trade of any city or country is
direct lines of transportation. This
haa been proved on a small scale by
the mosquito fleet, which plies from
Seattle to all ports on Puget Bound
and which did much to keep that city
on its feet during the depression of
the nineties. It was proved on a much
larger scale when that city began,
during the same period, to build up
trade with Alaska and thus laid the
foundation for the great commerce
which has given Seattle a strong hold
on Alaskan trade and which has teen
chiefly instrumental In causing the
great growth of that city. It has been
proved on a much larger scale by the
International commerce which British
and American steamship lines have
created.
The Alaska steamship line will be a
good "drummer" for Portland trade.
It will broaden the Interests of the
city, which have been too much con
fined to the Immediately 'surrounding
territory.
WHY IS AXTTHIXO?
Again a doleful voice from Oregon
City. The Courier bemoans the loss
of the new supplies ordered by the
county to conform with the require
ments of the registration law now de
clared unconstitutional. "Why do we
permit men who don't know law to
make laws?" it asks. "Why do we
permit men who are Incompetent for
the -work to tackle such a Job and
blunder a great expense onto the peo
ple? Why a Legislature, anyhow. In
a state where the people have the law,
making power?"
Riddles of wisdom, these! Which
was the greater example of legislating
In the dark, the registration law or
the Medford rate hill? The people
went to the polls arui blithely adopted
a railroad rate measure of which they
knew not the meaning nor had any
way of finding out. That law, too,
has been declared unconstitutional.
"Why do we permit men who don't
know law to make laws," In or out
of the Legislature? Why a Legisla
ture? Why the Initiative? Why not
let ITRen be the whole thing?
closing rp the miutk house.
"Is It better," demands the La
Grande Messenger, In commenting on
the abandonment of the New Year's
reception at the White House, "that
President Wilson spend his brief va
cations in social events, or in seclu
sion, where he finds rest and recrea-
ion and returns to his duties better
fitted mentally and physically to cope
with the vital questions confronting
the Nation and millions of people?"
A President in seclusion is a new
ype. N'o other ever ventured to with
draw from the traditional social ac
tivities and duties of the Presidency;
no other ever dared to hold the peo
ple at arm's length. President Wilson
is entirely justified In declining to be
hauled here and there to banquets or
publio gatherings; but he cannot es
cape the formal social obligations of
his great office and he should not try.
The truth Is undoubtedly that Presi
dent Wilson has no instinct for meet
ing and mingling with the multitude
and he will not do it. It Is irksome
to him to shake hands with a miscel
laneous lot of visitors and exchange
commonplaces with them. Tet it is
a great political blunder to exclude
them from the White House on the
one day in the year when they have
been free to go there. New Tear's
day is everybody's day at Washington
and the humblest citizen is, or has
been, free to meet the President on
the same terms as the greatest Am
bassador or the most noted General.
The President haa a strange way
of keeping "open house," as he said
he would when he took office.
LITTLE BATS OF BrNSHTXE.
John T. Rockefeller's exits and en
trances at the Cleveland church have
become international events. What
ever the minister happens to say in
adulation of his exalted parishioner Is
reported from one end of the world to
the other. Mr. Rockefeller's chance
observations on the street as he gets
Into or out of his car are listened to
by breathless nations, as if they came
from Delphi In all its glory.
The other Sunday as he lolled in
his luxurious motor and basked In
the radiant Cleveland sunshine, he
discoursed genially on the benefits of
light. Not intellectual light, mind
you. nor spiritual light. What Mr.
Rockefeller approved of was sunshine,
the kind that waa pouring graciously
down upon him at that moment.
"Plenty of sunshine, he murmured
with that rare smile of his, "Induces
more persons to go to church. Per
petual sunshine and an equal distri
bution of It would make churches ah
necessary." W'e suppose that Is the
reason why they do not build any
churches in Los Angeles, or at any
rate rarely go inside those they do
build.
The best remedy for the impiety of
the masses. Mr. Rockefeller believes
with almost Inspired wisdom. Is sun
shine. lt those sweated London
shlrtmakers. who earn 40 cents a week
by seventy-five hours' work, get out
into the beauteous sunshine and all
their complaints against Providence
will vanish as if by magic. A little
sunshine is all that Is needed to set
tle the miners' etrlkes in Michigan
and Colorado. Mr. Rockefeller's
faith in sunshine is enhanced by Its
cheapness. It requires no income tax,
none of those other seditious expedi
ents which are becoming all too com
mon in this, wicked period. But, as
he remarks, tho sunshine "must -be
equally distributed" before It can do
Its perfect work and make us all
happy.
It would be interesting to learn Mr.
Rockefeller's recipe ' for bringing
about the equal distribution which
seems to be in Important.
EW IEVT OF BACK-TO-TIIE-FARV.
The New Tork Times take) a new
view of the back-to-the-farm move
ment. Referring to the statement of
an Iowa professor that In 1800 90
per cent of the population were farm
ers against 3S per cent now. It says
that one man now can raise more
than a dozen could then, citing aa
evidence the use of power plows and
harvesters twenty-four hours a day.
It attributes the abundance of manu
factures "to the fact that the number
of hands we require for the produc
tion of our food is constantly smaller"
and says truly that w hat Is wanted on
the farms Is not more men but mora
brains." It continues:
In the future aa In the Past the produc
tion per farmer can Increase at tha same
tlm thst the proportion of farm laborers
decrees-. It is to this release or nana
work from th farme that we must look
'for the aunolv of factory handa needed
to supply ua with other necessaries and
to Increase our exports 01 manuxacturea.
Then why the increased cost of food
and why the great army of unem
ployed In cities at times? It would
seem that the number of farm hands
who have gone to the cities is out of
proportion to the Increased efficiency
of modern farm machinery; In fact,
that the movement has been exces
sive. Most certainly more brains are
needed in farming, but more farmers
are needed also to restore the equilib
rium between cost of living and earn
ings and between urban and rural
population.
BEADING ALOl'D.
College graduates are receiving a
great many invitations of late to con
sider their shortcomings. These are
all so well meant that we suppose they
must be welcome, and no doubt
marked Improvements will follow In
all the walks of life to which the critics
direct their kindly attention. Edward
Bok patiently reminds the college
graduates of both sexes that they can
not spell, write or express their want
of thought in elegant English. To
show how universal the sin is of which
he complains he commits the same
faults which he charges up to others.
Postmaster-General Burleson sticks
more pins In our National conscience
by admonishing us that we cannot
write legibly and are Ignorant how to
place the address properly on an en
velope. College graduates. It appears,
are as bad as anybody else In these
particulars. But It remained for Pro
vost Edgar F. Smith, of Pennsylvania
University, to bring home to them
their most miserable falling. He does
so In the following piercing rebuke:
"It Is a deplorable fact that we have
many students in the university who
are unable to read a page from a text
book aloud to the class and read it cor
rectly. Reading, writing and arithme
tic will furnish sufficient labor for any
young student, and when he has once
mastered those branches he Is edu
cated to a far greater extent than 50
per cent of the men who enter our uni
versity today.
Poor readers Indeed furnish lament
able examples of faulty education.
Listening to their mumbling, grunting
and sighing, we ponder sadly on what
might have been had they received
sensible instruction In their youth, but
we fear that Provost Smith would not
limit his objurgations to university stu
dents If he knew the world as well as
some persons do. Good reading aloud
is one of the rarest of the arts. Per
haps we ought really to class it among
the lost arts, like that of tempering
copper and staining glass. Who ever
heard a minister read his hymns and
Scripture selections agreeably? There
is a tone of voice supposed to be
uniquely adapted for pulpit use be
cause of its extreme reverence. It is
a sorrowful tone, overladen with
groans and tears, monotonous and de
pressing. . We dare say the habit min
isters cherish of reading in this way
accounts for many an empty pew.
They would do better If they had been
taught how when they were young,
but theological seminaries know as lit
tle about good reading as the secular
colleges. The deplorable performance
that passes for reading aloud in the
schools begins early in children's ca
reer. Suppose Tommy has to read
"The pig can run" before the class.
He first deciphers "the," applies his
voice to it and lingers mournfully over
the task while his Intellect attacks the
more formidable problem of "pig." By
the time he feels competent to pro
nounce "pig" the word "the" has be
come a linked sweetness long drawn
out. Its sound Is even prolonged inio
pig" and the two mingle their music
as Tommy, after prolonged meditation.
begins upon "can." Thus the poor lit
tle wretch acquires a bad enunciation
at the outset, and of course he never
corrects It. For who cares how
Tommy utters his vocables when he
reads aloud?
The chances are that In the whole
course of his humblo "progress from
the schoolhouse to the grave he never
will once be called upon to practice
the art he has acquired so crookedly.
In olden days, when kerosene was dear
and books were scarce, reading aloud
was a valuable family expedient. The
little flock gathered round the evening
fire and the good mother, drawing
"The Scottish Chiefs" or "The Chil
dren of the Abbey" from the sacred
nook where they reposed during the
day, gave everybody a delightful hour
or two with her silvery voice and Intel
ligent expression. But with the prog
ress or the years light grew cheap
and books became plentiful. Tommy,
Mary and Susan might easily have sep
arate volumes of their own, and a little
reflection will show how tiresome it
would have been to wslt for mother to
read them all aloud. The vsrloui
members of the family, consulting the
prlnlclples of modern efficiency, all
buried themselves In their own chosen
hooks and each "sat sullenly apart,
gorging himself in glom," or in joy,
according to the tenor' of his author.
Cheap printing has been perhaps
the most formidable foe to the hnbit of
reading aloud. The free public librar
ies have almost as much to answer for.
The guilt must 'be about equally parti,
tloned between the press and the li
braries if we admit that there is any
guilt in tha matter. Silent reading Is
of course, far more rarld than reading
aloud, and. If we may believe a cloud
of witnesses. It is apt to be more profit
able. When one pronounces each
word he la presently seduced by the
drone of the voice into a sort of auto
hypnosls where not much is under
stood, and a similar lapse Is only too
apt to occur when one is listening. The
somnolence which besets the church
goer Is accounted for on this principle
by some philosophers. Much reading
does not necessarily mean much profit
from It, but upon the whole the man
of many books Is preferable as a social
unit to the man of one book. "Beware
of the man of one book." a wise ob
server warned us long ago. He Is apt
to be Intense, narrow and fanatical.
What the modern man needs to make
his way through the world Is a mar
ketable knowledge of one subject and
a comfortable smattering of many.
This cannot be obtained from one
book, no matter how big and vener
able It may be.
Nor do we believe that Provost
Pmlth was well advised In recommend
Ing a narrowing of the aohool curricu
lum to the "three rs." Fundamental
as these branches may be, they are
till only the foundation. They are
not the superstructure, and even the
hnmbleit citlxen cannot be expected to
spend his whole life In the cellar con
templating the underpinning of th
house. However solid the walls may
be, he needs a little light and air to
make his existence human and whole
tome. If our provosts and professors
would venture out Into the living world
once in a while, their counsels would
gain as much in common sense as they
might lose in academic calm.
Progressive leaders in Illinois pro
pose to concentrate their efforts on
electing at least thirty-five members
of the lower house In the next Legis
lature with a view to holding the bal
ance of power, eay the Inter-Ocean.
If they win, they propose to block
all legislation unless their programme
is enacted. This includes initiative
and referendum, abolition of the
State Board of Equalization, home
rule and a new charter for Chicago
and the principal items in their social
justice code.
The attraction which a soldier's life
possesses for descendants of a man
who has distinguished himself In war
is shown by the leaning of the Grant
family to the Army. The great Civil
War General was followed by his son.
General Fred Grant, and now his
grandson, Chapman Grant, has left
civil for military life. He sees a
chance of war and will Join the Four
teenth Cavalry on the Mexican border
as a Second Lieutenant. The longing
for a fight seems to be In the blood.
The municipal factory for employ
ment of the blind Is a practical step
to help men to help themselves. There
Is no sound reason why men who have
lost one of their five senses should
not be able to earn a living by use of
the other four instead of making capi
tal of their infirmity by begging on
the streets. There are among the
blind many self-respecting men, who
shrink from becoming dependents.
They need only a start to become self,
supporting.
In at least one demand of the Na
tional Federation of Labor all enlight
ened persons will concur. That is a
minimum wage for schoolteachers. It
Is coming to be understood that the
country schools are our most impor
tant Institutions, but those who teach
In them are often miserably under
paid. Here, as everywhere else, there
ought to be some correspondence be
tween the social value of the work
and its remuneration.
The latest civic watchword Is
"Make a hero of your community."
The point Is that a community, be it
village, city or country neighborhood.
Is larger and nobler than any individ
ual. It is worth living and working
for. Our great need,- we are told, Is
to become , "community conscious."
The modern pageant helps toward this
end. Hence it Is pleasant to know
that we are to have one or more at
the next Rose Festival.
With all its queerncss Kansas Jus
tice has some traits which might prof
itably be Imitated elsewhere. The vil
lage magistrate who sentenced a pair
of "drunks" to assign their wages to
their wives for a year was no Dog
berry. Through his wisdom the poor
wives will be lightened of their bur
dens. If he had Imposed fines In the
usual way he would only have made
their lot harder.
Colonel Goethals la reported to have
declined an offer to become Police
Commissioner of New Tork City under
Mayor-elect Mitchel. The Colonel
perhaps considers digging a canal a
mere picnic by comparison with, head
ing a newly-muckraked police force.
The latest "bunk" is that Ulster is
recruiting In this country. That is
waste of effort. Tho only way Ulster
can win is to Induce Irishmen to do
her fighting, as does the mother
country.
An Arkansas man has been running
for office forty years without success.
He should not lose heart. Look at
Bryan. After all hope seemed lost he
got appointed to something.
There were 135 fatalities In twenty-
one states In the hunting season Just
closed. It would seem that the hunt
ers, rather than the game, is threat
ened with extinction.
Only his grape-Juice record saved
Bryan from a grilling by tho Ne
braska Anti-Saloon League. Temper
ance In drink, saves him from intem
perance in diplomacy.
Delay in the Sweek case appears
to hang on his practice as a police
court lawyer. Since when did the
party set up such high ideals?
A bunch of fowls seems to havo
Ilttlo individuality, yet almost every
body can see a resemblance in a
rooster to some, one. he knows.
A lunch-counter car Is being tried
on the Pennsylvania lines. Looks ns if
poor people were going to have a
chance to eat while traveling.
All the main chiefs having failed,
why doesn't some staunch Mexican
suffragetto riso up and become tho
mother of her country.
A punctilio must be removed before
Germany and Great Britain may ex
hibit at the . San- Franrlseo fair.
Where's Dan Lively?
Turkey apologizes to Russia for a
minor affront. That should be the
keynote In Turkish foreign relations
hereafter.
The state can make a substantial
entry In its credit sheet on the an
nouncement that John L. Msy will re
cover. Somehow these pictures of Santa
Claus do not pan out when Christmas
comes. No boy realizes all his hopes.
A billion Is asked to run the Gov
ernment during the next year. My,
but aren't the Democrats economical!
A Wisconsin woman has Inst be
come the mother 'of her twenty-ninth
and next year may be "an ror her.
Huerta wan reported to have fled
Mexico vesterday. He doesn't - im
press us as a fleeing sort of man.
An Ogden man says his mind Is a
blank. Bet he's a Spug trying to
forget that Christmas approaches.
Nurses In California are subject to
(he eight-hour law and appendicitis
will come that much higher.
Congress may conduct a series ef
experiments for killing frosts. Great
news for sunny California.
i
Women now demand recognition ef
Wilson, it's different from dealing
with poor old Huerta.
No, Gerald, the chicken show Is not
in the form of a musical coxnediv ..
HOME RILB 1'RO.MISB NOT KEPT
Wet Criticised for at Awptlaa
Majority Rale la Late Election.
SCAPPOOSE, Or Nov. l. (To the
Editor.) I have been very much In
terested in the attitude the saloon
keepers, in some of the cities which
went dry in the recent election, are
assuming. After all tha fair promises
they mads us during the campaign for
the home rule amendment in 110
about being perfectly willing to let
the majority rule, getting the cities to
adopt model licensee and obeying la we,
we had supoaed that when the major
ity voted them out la any city they
would be submissive. But It seems
otherwise, and It Is astonishing what
a lot of wickedness these "dry" people
have been guilty of.
However, what seems grossly wrong
In one city and Is held to be a cause
sufficient for the courts to declare the
election Illegal In another city the
same thing which was not done con
stitutes the Illegality, as, for example,
in Salem and other up Valley cities it
was all wrong because the city au
thorities did not conduct the election,
while in Rainier, down the river, the
contention Is tbat the Illegality was
In the fact that the election board was
not appointed by the county but by the
City Recorder. Oh. consistency. thou
art a Jewell
If the saloonkeepers were so anxious
for majority rule In 110, why are they
not willing to submit to it In 11S.
even though there were some little Ir
regularities In petitions calling elec
tions, appointing election boards and
the like? The cbanes are that In every
one of these IS cities It was a fair ex
pression of the voters who took part
in the election, and thrso gentlemen
should sbide by the votes and thus
keep faith with the promises made for
them by the Home Rule Association In
1910, that they would be good. I am
about coming to the conclusion ex
pressed editorially In your columns
about two months ago,, that what we
need more than anything else are a
lot of model saloonkeepers, for It
seems that our present lot will not
reform the business and are not will
ing to let other reformers take a hand
In It, "Vox popull. vox Del" la not
always true, but In this case the ma
jority of the people should rule Just
the same as in the towns and dales
which went "wet." We hear of no
contests In those placea
These gentlemen are only making
arguments for the repeal of their
treasured amendment, but for state
wide prohibition.
C L. HATFIELD.
SCHOOL. AMENDMENT TO CHARTER
Department of Education) Proposed to
Supersede Village riaau
PORTLAND. Nov. 30 (To the Edi
tor.) It would appear from reports of
the last school district meeting that
the proceedings were largely a farce.
and certainly far removed from ex
pressing that sober Judgment which
ought to govern the educational affairs
of the community.
Is it not high time that the whole
machinery of administration of our
public schools be reformed? The ex
isting methods pertain to a period in
our development which we have long
outgrown. It was probably efficient
in Portland's village days; but under
present conditions it Is utterly lmpos
sible. In a town meeting, o obtain a
true expression of the mind of the
people.
In view of the fact that the present
city charter eliminates party pontics.
would it not be practicable so to amend
it as to provide for a Department of
Education as part of the city adminis
tration, thus giving the voters of the
city a really effective means of con
trolling this most important branch of
public business?
There is no doubt that a great ma
jority of those most deeply Interested
in education feel that the present sys
tem Is a farce, for it Is physically im
possible for the people of the district
to express their convictions at an
election.
A reform In this direction is long
overdue, and the recent fiasco will
help to hasten It; the result will be a
great gain. JOHN BAIN.
TtA.Tealoas I.I vewtoew.
fHERWOUl1. Or, Nov. SO. (To the
Editor.) Is tf.ere a state la J" re
quiring a person that Is selling cream
to have his cows tested for tubercu
losis? If so can a person sell the
cow for beef?
CHARLES P. TATLOR.
Milk or cream may be sold from
cows that have not been tested for
tuberculosis except in such cities sa
have local laws to the contrary. Tho
state law, however, makes It the duty
of every person who has In bis pos
session any domestic animal which he
suspects of being affected by any In
factious, contagious or communicable
disease to report the same to the
state veterinarian. There are certain
regulations governing the sale of beef
from tubercular cows and a plan for
Indemnifying the owner for the
slaughter of Infected stock. Persons
Interested should write to Dr. W. H.
Lytle. State Veterinarian, talem. Or.
Tradlnar Cheek.
ROSERmO. Or, Nov. 30. (To the
Editor.) A gives B a check for ;0 In
exefiansre. for B-s cherk for J20.
I.atr A finds otrt that R has no
funds in th bank on which his (B)
check was drawn. A then notifies his
(A bank and stops pnyment on his
lA'sl check.
In the meantime R has persuaded C
to rasu the check that A gave him.
Who is th loser? Most A meke the
cheek good? X. Y. Z.
If A's check fell into the hands of
an innocent purchaser A is the loser.
SnprrstlMn aa t "13.'
PORTLAND. Nov. 30. (To the Edi
tor. Would you advise your readers
what reasons, if any there be. that
people look with omen upon number
"13," when It designates time, num
ber. etc.T
Please atte the origin of this super,
stitlon. and ohlls-e.
INTERESTED READER.
Superstition concerning th number
"U" grew out of the Incidents attend
ing and subsequent to the presence of
Judss at th Ijist Supper.
R I Rlcat.
GOIJ5ENPALE. Wash, Nov. IS. (To
the Editor.) A has a reservoir at some
dlstanre from his farm Buildings end
a number of feet higher. He will lay
a three-inch pipe from eald reservoir to
within a short distance of his buildings
and at that point reduce it to one
Inch. Intending thereby to get a greater
pressure.
B says that he will not have more
pressure than he would if he had
used an Inch pipe all th way. Which
Is right. A or B? W. COWLE3.
Marriage After rlTTee.
POltTLAND, Nov. 10. (To the Edi
tor.) How soon can people divorced In
Oregon marry again In the states of
Washington, Idaho and California?
OXH INTERESTED.
Marriage of a person within six
months after obtain. ng divorce la in
valid no matter In what state per
formed. lepi at la mt Mcslc.
AUMSVILLH, Or., Nov. 2. iTn tha
Editor.) Please state the population
of Mexico? W. P. KHAFF.
Mexico's population In 1!10 was
15.0J.3iJ, ,
Verse by a Hindu
Written by the Winner of the Nobel
i'rUe, Hobindraiialh Tat ore.
THESE are some of the poems of
Rablndranath Tsgore. the Hindu
poet, to whom has been awarded the
Nobel prize for literature. This la
tbe first time tbat this prize has been
awarded to any person not of the white
race.
The poet's attitude towards his own
work Is mirrored in the following
stanzas:
Tou cam down from your throne and stood
at my cottage door.
I was slncing- all alone In a comer, and
th melody caugnt your ear. You cam
down and stood at my cottas door.
Masters ar many in your bail, and sonss
sre suns tnere at a;l hours. But tne
simple carol of this novic struck at
your lovw One plaintive little strain
minded with the crest muslo of the
world, snd with a f ower for a pns
you ram down ar.d stooped at my
cottss door.
High praise Is given by W. B. Teats
to the following poem. -The Infinite
Love":
I bare ever loved thee la a hundred forms
and time.
Axe after axe. In birth following- birth.
The chain of sonxs that my fond bean
did weaee
Thou itidouny didst take round thy neck.
Ate after axe, in birth following birth.
When I listen to tbe tales of the prim
itive past,
Th lov.pauf of th far dtstsnt times.
Th meeting and partings of th ancient
ages
f see tny form gstherins licht
Throuch the dark dimness of Eternity
And sjpfias; as a siar vr fixed in tbe
memory of tbe All.
We "two have come floating by the twin
enrrenta of Iot
That well up from the inmost heart ef
th Boglnnlnglee.
W two hair played in the Uvea ef myriad
lorers
In tearful solitude ef sorrow
In trsmulous shyness of sweet union.
In old. old love ever renewing its Uf. a
THE WOMAN IN SORROW.
Ah, who Is she who dwells In my heart, the
woman sorrowing ever?
I wooed her and 1 faiied.
I decked her with wreatha and saxg songs
in her praise.
A smile shone In her fac for a moment.
then it. faded.
"I haze no joy in thee." she cried, th
woman la Borrow,
I fcourM Jeweled anklets for her feet and
Tanned he; wi'li a tan gem-studded;
I made for her a bed on a golden couch.
Thare flickered! a gleam of gladness In her
yes. then It died.
"I have no Joy In them, aha cried, tha
woman in sorrow.
I seated her upon a car of victory, and
drove her from end to end, of the
earth,
Conquered nearta bowed down at her feet,
and ahouts of appiaue rang in tbe
eky.
Pride shown In her eyes for a moment.
then it was dimmed in teers.
"I bare no Joy in conquests,' she cried.
the women in sorrow.
I asked her: "Tell me, whom la It thou
seekest?"
She only said, "I do not know bis came."
Days pass by and she weeps.
'When will my teloved come whom I know
not. anl be known to me forever?"
she cries, the woman In sorrow.
THE BRAHMIN.
Th sun had set on tha western margin of
the river anions the tangle of the
forest.
The hermit boys hsd brought back the
cattle home, and sat round the fire
to listen to the master, Gautama.
Just then a. strange boy come, and greeted
him with fruita and flowers, and. tow.
inc lo at his feet, spoke in a bird
like voice "ijord. I have come to
thee to be taken into the path of
the supreme Truth. Aiy name is
Satyakama."
"Bleasinps be on thine hesil," said the
master. "Of what clan art thou, my
chllJ ? It la only fit for a Brahmin
to ".spire to tho highest wisdom."
"Master. answered the ooy. 'I know not of
what clan 1 ant. 1 will go and ask
my mother."
Thus saying, eatyakarra took leave, and
wadinjr across the shallow stream,
came back to his mother's hut, which
stood at the eds of th sandy
waste ul the end of tho sleeping
vllltse.
The lamp burned dimly In tne room, and
the mother atood at the door in the
dark waiting for her son's return.
Sh.t clapped him to h-r bosom, kissed tilm
on Ms hair, and asked him of his
errand to the master.
"What Is the nar.ie of my father, oear
mother?" aked the boy. "It is only
fit for a i'rahmin to aspire to the
highest wisdom, said Lord Oautama
to me."
The woman lowered hr eyes, and spoke
In a whisper, -in my youth I as
Roor. and had many masters. Thou
dftt come to thy mother, Jabala'a
arms, my darling, who had no hus
band. The early rays of the sun (listened on
the treotops of the forest hermitage.
The atudents. with their tangled h'r still
wet with tnelr morning bain, sat
under tbe anoionl tree, betoie the
master.
There came .Satakama. He lowed low
at the feet of the Sage, and stood
ailent.
Tell mo." the great teacher asked him. -of
what clan art ihcu'.'
Vy Jord,' he answered. "I know It not.
My mother said when 1 asked her.
"I had served rr.anv masters In my
oi-th, and thou badsi cot we to thy
mother Jabala'a arms, ho nad no
husband. "
Then rose murmur ilka th ansry hum
of bees disturbed 'a their hive; snd
the students muttered thfir wrath
at th shameless Insolence of the out
cast waif.
Master tiaut-inia rne from Ms seat,
stretched out lits srms. took the boy
to his bosom, snd said, "iiest of ail
rahmllii srt thou, iny child. Thou
ins. iLe noblest heritage uf truth."
tiiv; TEMrUB.
With days of herd travail I raised a temple.
It US'l no !oors or tndow, Its mails
were thickly built with massive
atones.
I formt all els-. I shunned all th worM.
I j,ase,l In rspl rontemplstion at
th lml- I let u;o the altar.
The rtrlit there -we everlaltn4. lit by
the lamps of perfumr "
The ceae.'less striol-e ef ineenre wound my
heart in lt heavy cuiia.
i-'leeplets. I carvvd on tb sails fantsstlo
figures lit maxy lines, bewllderlns
singed horses, floaers with human
fee, women with the curving limbs
of a aement.
No rMir was left anvwher through
whloh could enter tha song ef birds,
the murmur of leaves, or the hum
ef th busy village.
Th enly sound thit echoed In Its dark
dome was my own chanting of in
cantations. Mr mind became keen and still Ilk a
pointed iarae, my senses swooned In
ecstasy.
I knew not how time pssed till a thun
der storm sad struck the temple, and
a pain atone m through my heart
es 11 were a snske of fire.
Suddenly a gtp yawned in the atony walls,
the dsjUeht streamed in. aud volets
earn from the world.
The lamp ttecame pale and ashamed.
The earvlncs on ths walls, like chained
dreams looked meaningless in the
lignt, and vain tried to find a bid
ing place.
Tho closed walls opened In toy temple.
I looked at tbe Image on the altar.
I saw It smiling snd alive with the living
touch of God.
The eeotive night spread Its wins' and
vanished.
To Much Waste.
PORTLAND. Nov. SO. (To th Edi
tor.) I read your editorial of Novem
ber 17 concerning taxes, and am one of
those people that have no children at
the present time old enough to enjoy
the opportunity or privilege of taking
advantage of the schools, playgrounds
etc. Tet. I have paid my 40 to taO
per year taxes cheerfully.
I have also voted cheerfully the bond
Issues, but I shall not do so any more,
for the reason that I have carefully ob
served In the administration of all tbe
departments of the city the enormous
extravagance practiced In doing- the
work. It la not an uncommon sight to
see the men In the park departments
standing around In the rains when no
one can work making the effort to put
In tbetr time. I know of Instances
where tha engineering corps have
stacked their instruments at noon and
would not go in till' 4 V. M. . I have
been surprised and disgusted to think
men In tha city department had s little
honor or pride aa to make a feint In
order to draw down their salaries.
I think you will hnd moat all the
people do r.ot cbjei-t per se to iny of
the tax levies, but t'ney dn know they
do not get over 61 rents on the dollnr i-i
returns. What Is'lhe its to aay more?
JOHN TEN LICK.
! Half a Century Ago
11
From Th Oregoniaa of Dec. 3, 143.
Chattanooga, Nov. 24. Today Hook
er, with Granger's and Osterhaus' di
visions and two brigades of the Fourth
Corps, carried the north slope of Look
out Mountain. Sherman's corps, with
three divisions of in. 000 and one divi
sion of the Fourteenth Corps, carried
the northern extremity of Missionary
Kldge.
Chattanooga. Nov. 25. General Bragg
evacuated .the summit of Lookout
Mountain last night- Our troops now
occupy that position. General Sherman
attacked the enemy on Missionary
Kldge this morning and gained a com
plete victory.
Arrangements have been made at
The Dalles for a course of lectures for
the benefit of the Methodist Episcopal
Sabbath school library.
H. A. Cunningham, of Albany. Is tho
district deputy grand sire for Oregon
the present year of the L O. O. F.
During the alarm of ffre yesterday
William McMiilan. an old and respect
ed citizen, fell at the corner of Front
and Alder streets, dislocating his shoul
der. He was assisted by Judge Strong
and Dr. Drew upstairs to the office of
Dr. Gllsan.
By the assessment roll of this county
the value of land Is 1242,170; all city
lots, $1,597,200; personal property, 1.
2,060; total. 13.7..430.
There are l."?3 men liable toVo mili
tary duty in Multnomah County.
Twenty-five Years Ago
From Th Orsgonian of Dee. 2. IMS.
Auburn, Dec 1 J. C. Harris, of
Seattle, was acquitted of the opium
smuggling conspiracy today.
Hon. John P. Caples. the prominent
Portland attorney, returned yesterday
from Corvallis.
The Oakland CaI. Enquirer in its
report of the proceeding of the grand
lodge of sorrow, A. F. and A- M.,
said: "Edwin A. Sherman said he would
that J. C. Ainsworth, 32d degree, wera
here to utter words in memonam of
John B. Congle. past grand master of
the grand lodge of Oregon."
William Currier returned yesterday
from the East
William H. Cray, the venerable As
torlan and author of an early history
of Oregon, fractured his shoulder yes
terday. R. Abraham returned from his stock
ranch lu L'mpqua Valley Thursday.
Oregon's first Catholic Church, built
at St. 1'aul 43 years ago. Is undergoing
remodeling costing 11200.
BEEF THAT IXSTLTED THE DOG
Another Man Tells of His Experience
With Australia- Prodart.
PRIXEVILLE. Or, Nov. 28. (To the
Editor.) I read, with some Interest,
the letter of C. E. Cllne, of your city,
on the excellent qualities of Australian
beef. He says that it was tender ar.d
juicy, and in every way to the Queen's
taste. 1 don't know what Queen he
refers to, or Just how sensitive her
taster or smeller is, but I am quite
sure his Queen must have been moth
ered by a she-wolf or coyote, as were
Romulus and Remus of old, for other
wise she never could have cultivated
such a taste as that.
I was in Portland when this ship
ment of beef was distributed, and, out
of curiosity, purchased a slice of beef,
and. taking it to the house of a friend,
we fried it In it's own fat. but the stale
smell was enough, without tasting it.
We offered it to a neighbor's dog, who
took ono sniif and ran awsy. barking.
Mr. Cline will have to furnish argu
ment fully as strong as the smell of
his beef if he puts that down the good
people of Portland, who use the quan
tity of choice beef that they do, and
don't kick much on the price, either.
As for his New Zealand butter. I en
sure we will need a "little" salt with
that comparison. alto.
H. S. CRAM.
Fareaaaa Not tiallry-
MOSIER. Or.. Nov. 29. (To tha Edi
tor.) I note In The Oregonian about
the 20th and the 22d, and again about
the 27th. mention of a negro suspected
of being Mike Donnelly, who rece;itl
escaped from the Washington State
Prison and who made hia get-awav
from the officers near Hood River, and
later made a section hand at Mosier
file the handcuffs off of him. About the
27th you mention it as the "section
foreman" who filed the handcuffs ofT.
I am the section foreman, and hav
not tiled off any handcuffs. I have sev
eral men working for me who will tes
ttfy to the Inaccuracy of the charge.
I would be glad If you would correct
these statements, as they might cause
a reflection on me and cause me to los
my position. 1 have a family to sun
port and do not wish to be caused any
trouble when I am Innocent.
JAMES PIERCE Y.
Firwt rorreslol "District.
TAVT. fr.. Nov. 2!. (To th TA
tnr.i (1) Ilovv- iinpy votes did th
candldnte of tin; Democratic party of
T-. nnn....lm:a I Tli.f -let "
Oregon receive in the 1813 election?
ii W nen was .nr. rinmiiry cicrici
Congress JOKS OSTEKMAV.
(1 Vole for R. G. 5ni;th. Democrat.
13.410.
(2) Mr. Ilawley Is now. Si-rvlng hi i
fourth consecutive term In Congress.
He was first elected in 19C6.
C larva ce L. Reames,
TOKKLAND. Wash.. Nov. SO. (T
the Editor.) Please inform ma who l.-t
Lnlted States District Attorney for the,
Portland District. A READER.
Keeping Up
With Advertising:
Alert and progressive merchants
are urged to keep their eye on the
advertising columns of this news
paper. The merits of to many fln prod
ucts for tho home and for personal
use are being advertised, and read
ers are Informing themselves so
thorouft'oly now on tho subject of
what to buy and where to buy that jj
It benooves every mercnant. Dig r
little, to know what is going on.
He should see that his shelvee
carry the best grades of dependable
merchandise that the people are
asking for.
His salespeople should be trained
In the fine points of this merchan
dise. And In the windows and In the
store every prominence possible
should be gven to the merchandise
being advertised in this newspaper
and demanded by our readers.
In this manner retailers may In
crease their sales and profits bv
taking full benefit of the various
standard commodities that are con
stantly described In the newspapers.
N"t to be prepared to serve a
customer with an article he haa
lua.le up his m!nd he wants, fre-fiu-itt!
means the loss of an oppor
tunity to Increase th regular
patronage rf a ftore. Adr.
0