8
TITE MORNING OltEGOXIAX, FRIDAT. DECEMBER 26, 1913.
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rOBXXAV ITUDAY. PEC. to, Ml.
; ., MB. LASE'8 UXP FOI40Y.
: -No document more Inspiring to
' 'Western people than the annual report
; of Secretary of the Interior Lane has
i recently appeared. We are used tq
regarding Government reports as
. masses of dry detail, but Mr. Lane has
; struck out on new lines. He has writ.
' ten with masterly hand a state paper
I which, may well become the basis of a
; new charter of liberty for the West.
r He combines the technical knowledge
of the lawyer with the practical sense
of the man of affairs and calls to his
aid In statins; his conclusions the facil.
r lty of expression of the trained news
paper man. To these qualities he adds
: an Intimate personal knowledge of the
West and its problems and a sympathy
with lis ambitions. All these qualities
unite In prompting him to humanize
- the land laws and their admintstra-
' tion.
The Secretary finds that the Gov-
I eminent has reached a deadlock in the
I land question, and be offers a key to
: unlock it. A halt was called on meth-
ods of spoliation and the Nation has
i been' doing practically nothing while
' awaiting adoption of a new policy. He
proposes the policy, for which the
y West has clamored for years ''place
f our resources at the service of the
people." He says very truly that the
v West Is reconciled to safeguards
-' against monopoly and "against the
aubversion of the spirit of our land
laws, but it asks that the machinery
' be promptly established by which the
i voices the demand of the West.
1 Beginning With. Alaska, he proposes
5 that all Its resources be placed in the
J hands of a commission, each member
i of which shall manage one depart-
l ment, and which shall apply the reve-
sue derived from the land and streams
; and sea of that vast territory to its
5 development. Without awaiting the
. creation of this commission, he would
begin ' construction of ' Government
2 railroads and would lease the coal
r land. He would make the increased
.' value of land along the railroads re
' coup the Government for their cost.
He would develop agriculture to the
point where the Territory would pro-
dues its own food, supply, and would
3 rival the Scandinavian countries in
population.
5 He would, apply the leasing policy
also to the coal land of the Western
, states, also ' to petroleum, phosphate
I and potash land. As to coal, he meets
. the objections of those who fear ex
: haustion of the supply by saying: "I
: cannot feel that we should sacrifice
j any present need for fuel or willingly
1 surrender .ourselves to a demand for
exorbitant prices." He sees a substi
' tuts for coal in "water power, saying:
t "Water will be, Indeed already la, the
greatest conservator of coal." He sees
: the absurdity of applying the same
homestead law to the treeless lands
east of the Cascades and to the densely
timbered area west of that range,
i Instead of trying to defeat the
I homesteader whose only aim is to e
i cure and sell the timber, as did his
I predecessor, by creating a new class of
; land not recognized by law, he would
change the law to provide for the sale,
' first, of Umber on agricultural land,
.' then of the land Itself.
As te arid land, he would apply
royalties from coal, oil, phosphate and
potash land to its reclamation and
' would Immediately provide 1100,000,-
004 to be reoouped from that source.
As with Alaska, he would use the rev
' tuns of Western land to develop the
' latent values of the West, saying:
With a llttl foraaignt w can tranaform
coal and oil, phoaphat and timber. Into
sreca fields and electric power.
. He would meet the legitimate de
mands of the states by giving them a
certain percentage of the royalties
; from non-precious minerals, but sug-
; gests that this percentage for a time
"be used In such co-operative irriga
tion enterprises ss the state might de
sire," and be paid to the state when
the fund Is replenished. He cites the
work which the Government is doing
Jointly with Oregon and Washington
as examples of such co-operation.
As to water power, he shows ao pa
tience with "the present condition of
stagnation." He would lease power
'sites without rental, provided the plant
revert to the Government at the end of
fifty or sixty years. This policy would
attract capital and with Federal and
state regulation of rates the much
dreaded water-power trust would be
robbed of Its terrors.
There can be no doubt but that air.
Lane's policy has . the approval of
President Wilson and we may, there
fore, expect that the whole influence
of the President will be exerted to em
body it In law. We have seen in the
cu.se of the tariff and currency laws
how potent is that influence in proour-
' ing action. Hence we may reasonably
expect the present session of Congress
to open a new era of development in
Alaska and the West.
Mr. Lane has but enlarged upon and
elaborated the policy recommended
by Secretary Ballloger, but he is more
fortunate in not having become the
object of a vendetta and in having to
work with a President who can bend
Congress to his will.
GMT BUS AN I-SFB4KCE.
There was Christmas cheer for
everybody in the reinstatement of
Janitor Chamberlain at the City Hall.
The case of this humble worker had
touched the heart of the 'public. It
was not 'an instinct toward charity
that was aroused, but one In behalf of
common Justice. Few there be who
would make municipal employment a
rrfuge for the Incapacitated, but when
one has entered the public service In
full vigor and has given long years of
faithful, capable sen-ice. his summary
discharge upon advent of the Inevita
ble slackening of caracity to do is
repugnant to the warm-blooded,
whole-hearted people that comprise
the great majority of . every com
munity. It ought to be a rule not only
of publie but private employment that
gray hair acquired in the service shall
be Insurance against want.
The arousing or public sentiment in
the Chamberlain case marks a plain
and unmistakable path for the guid
ance of the City Commission. Effi
ciency with economy is desired, but
small savings may sometimes properly
be sacrificed 'to righteous sentiment.
The polities! phase ef selection as
heads of the municipal government is
nqt to be overlooked. Success of the
administration will not be judged
wholly by the financial balance sheet
and record of novel achievements.
How the commission has responded to
the convenience, desires, and even
tender sentiments will aid in measur
ing its popularity.
FOB THE FCBUe BENEFIT.
It seems hard to believe that the
agitation to locate the auditorium on
the East Side I in earnest, though we
will assume that It Is. But it is cer
tainly misguided and mistaken, and
the fact that it comes mainly from
sources that have professionally what
may be termed the East Side view of
every question gives the movement its
proper significance.
The auditorium belongs neither to
the East Bide, nor the West Side, nor
the North Side, nor the South Side.
It belongs to Portland, and that means
it should be located at or near the
civto center.
The auditorium ought to be placed
near the heart of community activity
for the same reason that every Im
portant theater, every important hotel,
every publio building, is located there.
and the life of the city radiates from
there.
The auditorium is not a neighbor
hood or sectional project. It ought
not to be moved around or located for
the benefit pf any section. It should
be placed where the publio will use it.
It Is to be built for the public benefit.
JOITO, TTDtSf OS FROM COOS. ' -
Let us pause long enough, in our
digestive contemplation of the remains
of the Christmas turkey and in our
pest-prandial discussion of the effects
of the currency bill and. the troubles
of some men who want work, and of
other men svho say they want work,
to listen to an optimistio song from
Coos Bay. The Record prints this:
About Marsbflald than Is at this time
more work In Immediate contemplation than
almost any othr ctloa f Oreson.
The bulldinc of the Willamette, Pacific
will brine; XuOO men to tbla portion at Ore
Con In the axly Sprlns.
The Blanco townaite, which was sold for
$100,000 a abort timo ago. will ba improved
wltbla a few month.
'T'i Coo ton townslt waa purchased by
the Kreis ayndlcat not Ion ago and even
now the men who are ti tereated In It are
en route bere to plan tois things for that
locality.
The banding of the bridge will keep an
army of highly-paid workmen busy for th
entire year.
Activity In Curry County the purchasing
of right of way by the Southern Paclflo
make It a aura thing the southern r'aoino
will be building from Eureka to Marsbfield
In th Bummer.
The pulp mill, which baa been operating
for a few weeka only, will, when It gets Into
full swing, employ a great many men.
The C. A. Smith oal mine la showing ap
such a hug amount or tin coal that it
will, alone. cau the springing up of a
small-slsed town.
Cheer up. Coos Bay is a part of
Oregon. What we need is a wider dif
fusion of the Coos Bay spirit.
run WATER FACTS.
The salient faots of the present
Portland water policy are presented
by The Oregonian in an article else
where. The reason for their publica
tion is their Interest to every citizen
or at least to the citizens who foot the
bills.
The obvious faots are that the over
head charge In the water department
has nearly doubled in the past year.
The office expense in 1912 was 8.55
per cent of the total revenue. For the
first eleven months of 1913 the office
expense was 14.41 per .cent. There
has beeq no commensuate Increase In
inoome, gross or net There has been
no increase of efficiency, or decrease
of delinquencies. The 6.93 per cent
increase in outlay is sheer waste, due
to the monthly billing system.
Commissioner Daly is not responsi
ble for the monthly billing scheme;
but he is responsible for a recom
mendation for quarterly bills. The old
system of no bills to all flat-rate users
is the main basis of the previous
economy, now abandoned. No one has
advanced a good reason why the for
mer plan is not the best.
The original water policy was that
the users should pay for installation
and for service; the present policy is
or seems to be that the taxpayer
shall pay. For example, the 11,250,-?
000 water bends Issued in 1909-1910
to build the second Bull Run pipe
line are a charge against the general
credit of the city--not alone against
the water plant and the annual 50,-
000 Interest is paid out of the general
fund.
Commissioner Daly's water policy
contemplates the operation of the city
water department as an independent
branch of the city government, con
trolled by the water users, and not by
the taxpayers, though the chief bur
dens are to be borne by the taxpayers.
If water meters are to be universally
installed for domestiq useat a total
cost of about $450,000: the cost of in
spection will grow to a large figure.
and the interest charge alone will be
about $18,000 a year.
The available water supply now Is
67,500,000 gallons dally, and the daily
consumption is about 47,000,000 gal
lons. With 20,500,600 gallons to
spare, the Daly policy Is for economy
of use and prodigality of maintenance
cost.
How is it possible to avoid the con
clusion that the true, method is the
flat rate for the domestic user a
certain rate per faucet with auto
matic water distribution and fixed
monthly charges?
What is the object of all this revolu
tion in acceptable and economical
methods? Free water?
ISAAC INGALLS STEVEN S-
Tha death of the widow of Isaac
Ingalls Stevens, at the great age of 96
years, recalls pathetically the distin
guished services which that remark
able man rendered to his eountry.
Born in Massachusetts and educated
at West Point, he was one of Scott's
staff officers during the Mexican War,
and became Territorial Governor of
Washington In 185S. He was partic
ularly Interested in tlje project to
build a paclflo railway along one of
the northern routes and aided con
spicuously In forwarding the original
surveys. From 18s7 to loi he was
Delegate in Congress from Washing
ton Territory, voting faithfully with
the Democrats. His loyalty to the
Southern wing of the party drew him
into many an exciting scene in the
territory which he represented.. His
motives were questioned with consid
erable malice and his policies were
denounced, but time has Justified the
wisdom of most that he did. He sup
ported BreekeHridge for the Presi.
dency in 1860, but when party loyalty
came finally to mean treason to his
country, he chose the better part and
dedicated his great abilities to the
service ef the Union.
Had the retiring Buchanan been
wise enough to follow Stevens' advice
many a calamity would have beep
spared to the Government and "many
a life saved. It was his opinion that
the Southerners who were talking
treason in Congress and acting it in
the' Governmental departments ought
to fee severely dealt with. For In
stance, he counseled Buchanan to
dismiss Floyd, the notorious -War Sec
retary who turned so many Federal
posts ever to the secessionists. It will
be remembered that this man of un
enviable fame fled ingloriously from
Grant at Fort Henry, deserting his
comrades in order to save himself,
Jnst as he had betrayed his country
in order to save slavery,
Stevens, entered the army as Colonel
of the Seventy-ninth New York High
landers and rendered services pf con
spicuous value. Lincoln knew him
personally and valued him as one of
his best advisers on military affairs.
After acting under Sherman in the
Port Royal Expedition, Stevens was
attached to the Army .of the Potomac
under Pope, and fell at Chantilly,
where so many other lives were need
lessly sacrificed. At the time of his
death, Lincoln was considering - his
appointment to the chief command of
the Eastern armies.
DEATH'S HABTEST IN 181.
In the course of the year 1913, as
in all previous years of human history,
a number of interesting and a few
Important people have died. In some
years men have passed to. their ao
count who played a part In the world
which seemed so essential that the
imagination was staggered when they
left us, and it was feared lest civiliza
tion might be paralyzed by the loss.
But nothing of that kind ever happens.
No matter how great an individual
may be, civilization always . has re-
sources sufficient to supply his place
when he is called upon to say his last
farewell. - A recent writer of renown
has an Interesting page or two upon
this topic. He reverts to the well-
known fact that in times of social or
military crises a man almost invarla
bly appears in the moment of need
who is abundantly capable of doing
all that the situation demands. This
was wonderfully true in the days of
the French Revolution, when great
men were as common as street
urchins usually are. The French were
able to guillotine them by the hundred
and still have all they needed ready
for seirvice in their constantly re
curring emergencies.
The people of the United States
have had experiences of the same sort.
though, happily, not so violent. But
in most of our great National crises
the "man of the hour" has made his
appearance and the needs of the coun.
try have been amply provided for
The author to whom we have referred
Interprets these remarkable facts as
signs that there always exists in the
body of the people a vast supply of
undeveloped ability or even genius
which only awaits for a suitable op
portunity to blossom forth in great
achievements. "Full many a gem pf
purest ray serene, the dark un
fathomed caves of ocean bear." In
this Instance, the caves are the un
explored masses of the people. The
year 1913 has been a little exceptional
from the fact that no man of over-
towering eminence has died, unless it
be J. P. Morgan, who occupied in the
realm of finance somewhat the posl
tion of a despotic ruler. His executive
greatness was perhaps best shown by
the condition in which he left his
affairs. They were so consummately
well organized that the passing of the
master made little external difference.
All went on much as if he were still
alive. It may be doubted whether the
course' of financial history would have
been altered in the slightest degree if
J. P. Morgan had continued to guide
its progress. -
No author of the first rank has dledl
djuring the year. Alfred Austin, the
poet laureate of England, passed away
without rippling the surface of literary
affairs. His ability was respectable
and his productiveness considerable,
but none of hls'works rose far above
mediocrity. He was made laureate
because he was a "safe'' man, not be
cause he was a great poet. Joaquin
Miller was perhaps the best known
writer whom the United States has
lost, but he had lived to a ripe old age
and the world recognized that his time
was at band. Blessed are those who
hear the call when their work is done
and they are ready to fold their hands
for the final sleep. "They rest from
their labors and their deeds do fallow
them."
The whole country was concerned
over the loss of Reuben Gold Thwalte,
whose renown was restricted but of
the highest quality. By all students of
American history his work la known
and valued. His editions of our his
torical sources are not only pioneering
achievements, but they are final in
their field. None could do them better.
It will never be necessary to do them
again. Every library )n the land is
richer for his labors. American his
tory is better understood for his
studies. The State of Wisconsin, hon
ored by his residence and endowed
with his fame, will remember him as
one of the most cherished of her
adopted sons. Price Collier, the phil
osophical traveler, also departed this
life during the year 1913. It is to his
credit that he made the great nations
of the earth better acquainted. Every
scrap of accurate knowledge which
the Germans, the British, the French,
the Americans acquire about one
another helps destroy the gross illu
sions of ignorance and break down the
venomous fanaticisms of - prejudice.
In this field Price Collier, by his coolly
cynical Judgment and his calm inter
national studies, did a-v work which
mankind will long remember and
prize.
Perhaps the best known woman
writer to die during the year was
Pierre de Coulevain," whose novels
possess a quiet rationality deilgnuui
to the most cultivated class of readers.
She was not so popular among. the
undiscriminating as among the Judi
cious, but her fame, though limited,
Is probably as secure as that of any
recent novelist. Alfred Russell Wallace
merits a place both among literary
man and scientists. His books will be
remembered with his researches
among the finest achievements of his
generation. It was his distinction to
discover the law of evolution by nat
ural selection contemporaneously with
Charles Darwin. The two great men
announced their views at the same
scientific meeting, and their excep
tional eminence is demonstrated by
nothing so well as by the rare liberal
ity with which eacb, acknowledged the
merit of the other. Wallace bowed to
Darwin, who had beeq incubating; the
hypothesis for years before it was
published, but the author of "The
Origin ef Species" always assigned to
Wallace the credit which he had
earned.
Death, reaped his richest harvest
among the aviators during 1913
More than 100 of these adventurous
spirits went to their account. Even
the dirigible sailors were not spared
heavy tribute. The wrecks In both
domains of aeronautics were tragic
and disheartening, but they seem to
have discouraged nobody. The con
quest of the air goes on apace, and it
is announced for the coming year that
the newest machines are almost as
stable as ice wagons. If this is really
the case, it will not be long before
flying machines will carry their regu
lar quota of travelers and speed across
the oceans . with the mails. Death
gathers his tribute from among the
noblest of the human race, but in no
contest with man's intelligence and
courage has he ever yet come off
victorious.
Representative Lewis, of Maryland,
says the telegraph is a declining in
stltutlon and Is being supplanted by
the telephone, therefore he proposes
that the Government take over the
telephone lines. But how long will it
be before the telephone by wire
supplanted by the wireless? If Port
land had bought the old cable roads,
of what use would they have been in
the days of trolley lines? Changes
come so rapidly in .these days of in
ventlon and of scrapping the last gen
eration's inventions that the Govern-
ment should be sure that a device is
not -obsolete before It even considers
buying.
The trust idea expands apace. We
are familiar with farmers' trusts and
labor unions. Lawyers and ministers
have long been united in associations
which, under many a fine phrase and
plausible pretext, seek to restrict the
supply and increase the fee. Last of
all we have a poets' trust. In contem
plation if not in reality. The worm
has thought of turning even if it has
not yet turned. The meekest, the
most subdued, the worst exploited of
all earth s sons are talking of an
organization to raise the price of their
wares. We hope they will not put it
so high as to kill the demand. -
The sale of the Duke of Bedford's
London property is important not only
as opening the way for improvement
of a slum in the heart of the world's
greatest city but as an evidence that
the paralyzing law of entail is losing
Its grip in England. We may yet see
the day when one will be able to buy
a lot outright in -the English metrop
olis, not merely lease it for ninety-
nine years from some lord, build
house and let the landlord take both
house and lot when the lease expires.
The Yakima apple man who thinks
he could turn his inferior fruit into
denatured alcohol at a profit if the
law permitted has many - fellow
sufferers. The Treasury regulations
are so eumbersomely stupid that
farmers can do nothing in the de
natured alcohol line. One person who
wished to try the experiment spent
year In futile correspondence with the
authorities and finally gave up in
despair. Congress proposes, but de
partmental red tape disposes.
Dr. Anna Shaw's refusal to pay her
income tax is not likely to be sustained
in court, but as a protest against un
just discrimination It's value may be
very great, She bases her action on
the same principle as the famous
Hampden whose refusal to pay "ship
money" started a revolution in Eng
land. Her maxim that "taxation
without representation is tyranny'
will hardly be disputed by any good
American.
Woman suffrage is prescribed 'by
the Chicago Evening Post as a femedy
ror fraud and corruption in South
Carolina primaries and the Progres
sive party as the hope of escape from
one-party rule.. It fails to explain how
division of the opposition weakens the
ruling party.
When the Gridiron, Club has its
next "jinks, rresiaent vviison may
wish he had not molested the Cara-
baos. He has given the Gridirons an
opening for some merciless satire,
which will bite deeper than anything
the Carabaos said,
Dayton, Ohio, .has at last found a
city manager In the person of H. M,
Walte, a grandson of Chief Justice
Morrison R. Walte. He is to be paid
312,500 a year and to begin work with
the new year.
No, Clarice, the gas is not leaking.
That is merely the odor of pa's Chrlst-
inus tigur irum toe oox motner
bought him.
A noted instance of unsatisfied en
deavor was theft of a locked safe from
a Lackawanna station which proved
to be empty.
spoitane s neaitn officer issued a
warning that over-eating on Christmas
Is criminal. A lot of us feel like crim
inals today.
A childless couple in San Francisco
adopted a baby for Christmas. Christ
mas will mean something to them
hereafter.
The Mayor has shut his doors to
agitators.- The more you reason with
an agitator the more unreasonable he
becomes. -
A new comet soon will be visible.
Millions of uncharted ones will be
visible to many next Wednesday
night.
The very idea of anyone continuing
to protest against the rare and de
lightful privilege of paying an income
tax.
Denmark may take up the Bryan
arbitration treaty. Eventually Balu
chistan and Anam may also adopt it.
But the - only man who is apt to
stand by a New Year resolution is the
one who swears off swearing off.
If you fild not get what you wanted,
remember there are others.
And now. the pinch has been taken
out of Pinchpt-
- Commence your Christmas shopping
early.
Has the Christmas reaction hit you
yet? .
Wonder what 1914 will bring? '
Swearing-off time approaches,
Happy. New, Tear..
Stars and Starmakers
JBT ibaWNal CAM BAB a.
I met the meanest man on earth yes
terday. He said that his wife had
never missed baking him a Christmas
ctfke in all the fifteen years they had
been married. The brute says he
looks on each one as a milestone.
Since the bundle-carrying season is
past men have resumed their habit, or
custom, of raising their hats to women.
e e e
Cathrlne Countiss received a lot
of Christmas presents yesterday and
loads of flowers and telegrams, per
sonal calls and letters. But the most
touching tribute of all came from
little girl, a wisp of a child, who sent
a bulky little envelope, tiea wiin
bright red twine. Inside was a note.
scrawled in childish hand, and it said
"Dear Miss Countiss, I hope you wil
have a merry Christmas and a happy
New Year. I thought about you last
night and about your being so far away
from home and no one to give you any
Christmas. So I am sending you this.
It is my dearest treasure. I hope you
will use It." Then she signed her
name. The "dearest treasure" was
small folding hand mirror of the sort
given away as advertisements. But
you couldn't get it away from Cathrlne
Countiss.
He kissed ber under the mistletoe;
'That's not right," he heard her say
"I'm aorry," humbly replied the man,
"WU1 you show me the proper way?"
e
The leading role In Frank Sheridan's
sketch, "Blackmail," which is to be on
the bill at Hammerstein's Victoria
Theatre of Varieties In New York next
week, will be played by Mary Stock
well, who is a daughter of that famous
old-time comedian. Lew R. Stockwell,
the original Marks in "Uncle Tom's
Cabin," and Ethel Brandon-, also
prominent actress in her day. Miss
Stockwell inherits both ber father's and
her mother's talent for the stage, and a
brilliant future is predicted for her.
Lew Stockwell was particularly well
known in- San Francisco, where he
managed the old Stockwell theater, aft
erwards the Columbia. Ethel Brandon
was out here last season as the mother
In "The Bluebird."
. e . .
Cabaret singers will not be able to
cash their notes after the New Year,
Christmas always is merry for Prince
Floro, the man-monkey that is filling
extra-attraction place at the Empress.
This is the third Christmas Prince
Floro has spent in showdom find today
will mark the second Christmas the pet
ape has passed in Portland. Mr. and
Mrs. Oswald Hillardt. owners of the
ape, always have a Christmas tree for
the unique pet. Prince Floro's Christ
mas celebration will be held in the
dressing room at the Empress, where
the tree is all ready for the festivities.
A Teddy bear, a bell, candy of the
sticky kind and whatnot hang on the
tree. One gift was too big to hang on
the tree. This is a box of- Hood River
apples sent to Prince Floro by R. H.
Weber, of Hood River, who -met Prince
Floro in the recent apple show at Bpo
kane. Apples are the favorite delicacy
served the pet monkey.
They're they meaning the manage-!
ment serving real turkey at every per
formance at the Baker theater this
week. Dorothy Shoemaker says she
thinks It would be an economical little
trick to gather up all the remains after
each show, save them, and on the last
afternoon bold a reception on the stage
and serve turkey sandwiches. If I get
a bid I won't go.
Merle Maddern, who comes to the
Heilig on January 5 as leading woman
with Otis Skinner, is a Californian. To
locate her birthplace exactly she is
San Franciscan. Her father, William
Madden, is a well-known business
man in San Francisco, and her mother,
who lately passed away, was one of the
leaders in the literary life of Califor-
niana She was a noted writer on mod
ern literature and the drama. Miss Mad
dern is a cousin of Minnie Maddern
Fiske. She received all of her early
theatrical training in stock, in Califor-r
nia, serving an apprenticeship at Ye
Liberty in Oakland. In 1907 she made
her first New York appearance under
direction of her cousin's husband, Har-
rison.Grey Fiske. She came to Portland
with Mra Fiske five seasons ago in
Becky Sharp." ,
' e
Christmas matinees all over town to
day. The reg lar ones at tne vauae
ville houses, "Shore Acres" at the Ba
ker. and the colorful "Pink Lady" be
ginning this afternoon at the Heilig.
. e
Bessie Clifford has been mentioned in
a peculiar way in a divorce case insti
tuted by a Mra Justine Sutton Gray in
New York. She says her nusband was
cruel," and one of the allegations of
his cruelty she cites is that he played
cards with Bessie Clifford.
Two cities have objected officially to
Brieux's drama (or clinic) "Damaged:
Goods." In Cincinnati a board of cenr
sors passed the play intact, but in Bos
ton Mayor Fitzgerald expurgated one
entire act.
May Yohe, who lived in Portland in
addition to a lot of other things she s
done and in whose doings we must
take a certain natural curiosity, having
been a former citizen, n a way has
apparently fixed matters all up in Eng
land. The former possessor of the Hope
diamond Is to wed once more. No one
seems to know to whom, however.
Broadway heard, on her arrival from
Europe, where she has had a 20 weeks'
engagement in vaudeville, that Miss
Yohe and her first husband. Lord Fran
cis Hope, had become reconciled.
Stranger things than that have hapr
pened," said she. "It is true that I am
to be married again, but, really, I must
not say to whom. That might spoil
everything."
Miss Yohe said she would remain in
New York for the Christmas holidays
with her mother, then return to Eng
land, where the knot will be tied.
They have been very good to me on
the other side," she added, "and I am
trying to behave myself so as to con
tinue in their good graces."
Lord Hope's second wife, whom he
married after divorcing May Yohe,' died
about a year ago. There are three chil
dren as a result of that union.
May Yohe s career has peon fraught
with adventure and her escapades have
made her conspicuous en two conti
nents. She began her stage career in
1886 in Philadelphia u a chorus girL
She sprang into prominence when she
married Lord Hope, and again when
she married Captain Putnam Bradlee
Strong, whom she divorced in 1910. Her
last marriage three years ago was to a
cafe, singer in Seattle - -
CONTROVERSY PURELY MEXICAN
Civil Wu In Southern Republic Sfot Dtu
to Rival Forelsrn Intereats.
PORTLAND, Dec. 22. (To the Edi
tor.) I would like to add a little to
the interminable discussion of Mexican
anairs, it, is orten sam iui amwiM
capitalists went into Mexico to exploit
the country, knowing the hazards of
doing so, and, therefore, the UniteJ
States Government should not be called
upon to protect them and their ac
quired properties. The following facts
seem to me to bear closely upon the
situation. Americans have nqt been
exploiting Mexico any more than th
English, Irish, Germans and Scandina
vians have exploited the United States,
nor as much. The great part of Amer
ican money invested in Mexico has been
in connection with mining, metallurgy
and railroad building. Eighty per cent
of the mining properties acquired had
been either abandoned by Mexican and
Spanish holders, or was being operated
on, a small scale, prior to the purchases.
As the result of American activity hun
dreds of old mines were opened, mills
and smeltars were built and operated.
Under Mexican laws 60 per cent of th
labor of such operations had to be na
tive labor, and under the Diaz regime
this was strictly carried out.
As a general proposition the Ameri
can operator paid natives higher wages
than did the Mexican operator. This
mining activity, which extended to 10
or 18 states, also made employment for
freighters, packers, graders and timber
men, and stimulated railroad building
and afforded a market for products. The
vast army of employes were of those
who were not farm workers, and who
are now either idle or have joined some
armed body for war or plunder.
Four years ago there were 15 smelt
ing plants operating in Mexico, about
10 of which were owned by Americans.
The only strictly Mexican-owned smelt
er was at Torreon; one at Mapimi was
owned by a French and German com
pany. The mills for ore concentrating,
and metal extraction by cyanldation
were numbered by the score, and metal
lurgical methods in Mexico. were on as
high a standard as any In the world.
This may be called exploitation, but it
was development and progress of the
highest industrial order. It was re
habilitating an industry previously
dead. The actual dividends which found
their. way out of the country were small
as compared with the vast sums dis
tributed amour the Mexican popula
tion as expenditures in connection with
operations.
As to the railroads, they were ope
rated under strict government regula
tions, and passenger fares were just
half what they are in the United States.
In my opinion the railroads have dis
closed to the world what Mexican re
sources are and have done more for
Mexico than that country has done for
them.
American capital invested in coal and
oil lands is not as great as that of.
Englishmen and other foreigners; and
the great land holdings of Mexico,
which Is the greatest contributing
cause of the strife and revolutions now
pending, are almost wholly in the hands
of Mexicans. The great nacienaas. or
plantations, are partly inheritances
from early days and partly later gov
ernment concessions to political sup
porters. The peonage of a vast num
ber of Mexican DeoDle is a condition
that Mexicans themselves must be held
to answer for. It is a system lnsti
tuted by the Spanish military chief
tains, and perpetuated by Mexicans who
came after them. The industries estab
lished by Americans, Englishmen and
other foreigners proved a boon to the
peon and middle classes nd awakened
them to a realization of their poverty.
Diaz saw the necessity for parceling
out lands for those people, but the land
boomera were his supporters ana ne
could see no where to begin. Madero
had similar plans, but he larked the
support even to begin carrying them
out. Americans have paid tor every
thing they obtained In Mexico, and with
their money, energy, skill and ability
have contributed mightily to the thrift
of Mexican people and improved condi
tions wherever they have gone.
Thn causes of insurrections, revolu
tions and brigandage are solely Mexi
can. One writer says the strife re
solves itself into a war between the
Standard Oil Company on one hand
and an English oil company on the
other, but If Mexican people were
united onther affairs of their country
they could soon dispose of the oil ques
tion. The exploitation at the base of
the unrest is three centuries old, and
is purely Mexican. W. A. SCOTT.
519 Lumcer n-xcnanee, ronumu.
GROSS ABUSES OP REPEHESllUiB.
With Initiative It"shonld Be Restricted
In Usee, Says Writer. ,
PORTLAND. Dec 22. (To the Edi
tor.) Most people are agreed that the
purpose of the initiative and referen
dum is neither to usurp the duties of
the Legislature, nor to help it in its
work. The numose of each is to hold
check on the lawmakinug bodies and,
in the case of a stubborn Legislature
or Governor, to pass badly needed laws
or to veto harmful legislation, it nas
never been the intention of the voters
to allow curbstone loafers to sit in
iudement on the work of the Legisla
ture, but the method of invoking both
the initiative and reierenoum nas veea
made bo easy that this has been the re
sult. Tf the, natltlons were filed with tne
County Clerk of each county, or at such
places as might be designated, and if
each petitioner were required to igu
to the Clerk to sign, and only regis
tered voters were allowed to sign, the
effect would be to put only such meas
ures on the ballot as were very urgent
Instead of beine used as a ciuo to com
pel the Legislature to cater to every
nnastnir whim or fancy. It would be
used to prevent vicious legislation, as
intended.
When an issue is urgent, enousu iu
rl,mnrl direct action by the people,
public sentiment could be much more
easilv awakened under this plan that
at present, where there are always a
ultitude ot measures to oe miu-
gated. A. t. u.
Legal Tender.
PORTLAND. Dec 25. (To the Edi
tor.) Are small denominations legal
tender to any amount? I. A.
In coins, silver dollars are legal
tender unless otherwise contracted",
smaller silver coins are legal tender up
to $10, and nickel and copper pieces
are legal tender up to 25 cents.
United States, notes of any denomina
tion are legal tender for all debts ex
cept customs and lnterst on public
debt: all Treasury notes of lsau are
legal tender unless otherwise contract
ed; silver certificates, National bank
notes and gold certificates are not.
WHAT X WANTED AND GOT.
I -wanted some opera glasen.
And a ring of topaz -hue. f
Silk lingerie with ribbons
Of palest, softest hue.
An Imitation botrtonnler.
With an orchid and a ro,
And some slipper buckles,
Alao a few silk hose.
O. Henry's books In leather.
An, etching in a frame.
Silver for my dresser
Splashed over with my name.
My wants were pl so little ,
They wouldn't cost a lot
I told 'em 'round jo all my friends,
And this Is what I got:
A calendar, hand-painted. -
A bunch of featbar flowers,
A dinky motto oh a card
Which says, "Improve the hours."
A nearly silver button-hobk,
A pin-tray made of sine.
A book I wouldn't ever read.
A needle boot pf pink.
I took an Inventory,
In trembling and in fear,
And made this resolution
I'll ba a, 6PUU next year.
lO.S'H CASS BA1SR.
Twenty-five Years Ago
yrom "The Oreponlnn of Deoeraber 26,
NEW ORLEANS. Deq. 25. The steam-
V. .. . T.I,. 1 1 Uunna uo, HimaI In.i,
Bght at piaquemine. La. Of 100 per-
sons on board, only 1 are known to
have been saved.
Marblehead, Mass., Peo. 35. Marble
head is on fire. The entire business
portion is in ruins and a dosen firms
ara burned out. It is estimated that
seven acres have been burned over, and
the loss will be at least $500,000.
Mr. Moody will return from Astoria
today and re-open the meetings at the
Tabernacle this evening.
Last night quite an excitement was
caused by a small blaze on the roof of
Fritz Kraus' saloon in East Portland.
Christmas was more generally ob
served In the churches and families
than ever before.
Misses Emma and Mable Arrtnrton
and Mrs. Fannie Wells leave for Hub
bard today.
Mrs. J. P.' Howe arranged a royal
spread in the basement of the New
Park Theater last night for all the em
ployes. Yesterday Thomas Guinean, propri
etor of the Esmond Hotel, fell from
a stepladder, dislocated hts ankle and
broke the small bone of his right leg.
Rev. Ross C Houghton, pastor of
Grace M. E. Church, has been elected
a member of the Society ot Biblical
Archaeology, pf London. '
PASTG WARNING FOR AUDIENCES.
Soggestlon Offered That Formal Can-don-
Preede All Entrrtaiumeatn.
PORTLAND, Dec 26. (To the Edi
tor.) The terrible panic at the Cal
umet, Mich., entertainment only
proves the rules which govern psycho
logical causes and effects with a mob.
A mob is a company of persons whose
normal reasoning capacities have
been temporarily suspended, and all
move with a common impulse toward
a common "goal. Individuals who re
tain their normal activities are brushed
aside like straws in a swift current.
The most terrible results occur when
numbers of children are present, and
with these the rules hold full sway.
The most elaborate precautions in
building do not suffice. One voice sets
the spark to the psychological powder
and the explosion is instantaneous.
Perhaps an anti-toxin would be of
Immense help. Therefore, I propose
that at all entertainments with 100 or
more persons present, a short cau
tionary statement be seriously given
at the start. This should contain
warning not to give way to alarm be
cause of sudden cries 'of danger or the
Eight of a burning curtain or explo
sion. A well-drafted statement might
be prepared for common uso. ,
The basic principle is that the com
mon mind of a crowd Is concentrated
on a Christmas tree or other enter
tainment, and when such channels of
thought are rudely disturbed and
broken up, the result Is the same as
when one who cannot swim is pushed
into deep water. Panio and a struggle
with the rescuer ensue at once.
We drill school children for such
emergencies; then why not the mixed
crowds at entertainments? There is
no need of it at a prayer-meeting or
a gathering of politicians. These may
be stampeded, but never by a cry ot
firo even hell-fire.
Seriously, it might be well even to
provide by- law that such cautionary
statements be given at the commence
ment of all entertainments as have
been mentioned. It can be done at
once voluntarily by theaters and other
places where entertainments are given.
ROBERT C. WRIGHT. .
Buffalo In Oregon.
SEATTLE, Dec. 23. (To the Editor.)
In The Oregonian of December 22
I was fortunate enough to receive bere
in Seattle and It was the only one
I had received regularly for three
days J. D. Lee's letter on Judge Wil
liam Brown's address on buffalo skel
etons attracted my attention.
It appears strange that, after all the
controversies we have had on this sub
ject during the past 40 years that lec
turers appear to be yet unaware that
buffalo existed all over Eastern Ore
gon and Idaho. Joseph Gale, who lived
on Eagle Creek told rne oldt-ime sto
ries of how, in early days, he used
to go to Fort Hall with Hudson Bay
men to hunt burialo, and the horns
today can be found along the benches
of Snake River near there. I have also
found them on Big Camas Prairie.
near the Wood River country and by
the score In Eagle Valley when my old
friend Moody was farming and plow
ing there in 1875.
Joseph Gale also Informed me that
the last buffalo was killed in 1888 by
the father of Nez Perce Chief
Joseph. If lecturers or others would
even now clip from and paste in their
scrap books all such excerpts, they
would find that The Oregonian would
prove every bit as interesting now as
it has proved in the past.
' - , FRANK J. PARKER.
Calves' Disease Thooght Blackleg.
TYGH VALLEY, Or., Dec. 24. IJo
the Editor.) I have noticed several
times of late mention made in The
Oregonian of a mysterious disease
among calves in different parts of the
Willamette Valley. It Is my belief that
the disease mentioned is 'blackleg.
Blackleg is more prevalent in Eastern
Oregon this season than for many
years.
I am not a veterlnanian, but I have
had much to do with blackleg. It
rarely attacks an animal over two
years or under six months old. It is
incurable. Every animal attacked by
the disease will die. The only relief
is to render young cattle immune to
the disease by vaccination. The virus
for vaccination can be obtained from
the Department of Agriculture, Wash
ington, D. C, free of charge, by mak
ing application and stating how many
cattle it is desired to vaccinate. I
am mentioning this In the hope it may
be of benefit to some fellow sufferer.
A A BONNET.
Home Rule
Home rule has been a much-discussed
political question.
Home rule for women is the gen
erally accepted domestic situation.
Every wife has her own little
kingdom to" govern and has to face
the problems ajid responsibilities it
entails.
Not the least of these problems Is
the monthly "budget."
. The woman who keeps count of
her expenditures, makes up her
monthly statement, and compares It
with those of former months, is the
one who is guarding her treasury
properly.
But she should go a step farther
She should be sure that she has bad
full value for the money spent and,
in order to ascertain this, she should
read the daily advertisements of
The Oregonian and see what the
best shops are offering and at what
prices.
The "day after" is a good time to
think these things over, particu
larly as the new year Is close at
hand and new resolutions are due.
-Adv,