10
TITE MORNING OREGONIAN, FRIDAY, JANUARY
2,
1914.
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rOBTLASD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 181.
THE FCTCRE.
As the year 1913 drew to a close
the business world grew more cheer
lul. There was a decided improve
ment in the tone of comment at the
close of the last week as compared
v-lth the one preceding. For example,
la the New York Evening Post's fi
nancial articles from various, cities,
published on December 27, we find
euch expressions as these:
London More end-ef-the-year optimism Is
visible this week on the markets than
seemed possible a few weeks ago. General
opinion now seems to favor easier money in
tha near future, and perhaps a very consid
erable relaxation of the tension. f
The moment the currency bill, amended by
the Senate caucus, went to the conference
committee and was asreed on. Stock Ex
change prices burst into an enthusiastic
rise, and that large body of opinion, which
habitually bases its own conclusions on the
verdict of the stock market, at once began
to applaud the bill.
An eminent financier remarked this
vMk that the attitude taken by the Gov
ernment towards corporations, and the evi
rienee that the party now in power is capa
ble of sound and constructive financial leg
islation, were incidents which supersede all
other considerations, in the general situation.
Boston These closing days of 1913 are
giving birth to a certain degree of hope and
courage in financial circles, and in business
circles also, which provides lnterestng con
trast to the deep gloom and pessmlsm which
has prevailed for many weeks and months
past.
Pittsburg There Is no question but that
the Iron and steel trade outlook has measur
ably brightened In the past ten days.
Kansas City Wheat conditions are high.
relng practically perfect over a large por
tion of the wheat belt of the Southwest,
and If the next eight weeks maintain this
condition, trade will feel an Impetus all
through the Interior. The Interior is ready
to take part in trade revival at any time
conditions seem suitable.
London Statist There are Immense bal
ances standing to the credit of the United
States In Europe, and the United States,
therefore, has it in Its power to take gold.
The prevalent tone is optimism at
every center of finance. Steel prices,
after a long decline, are stiffening.
Woolen mills are putting Idle machin
ery to work. Stocks of cotton goods
are so low that the mills expect large
orders when stock-taking is com
pleted. That sums up the manufac
turing conditions and justifies the
statement that the tide has begun to
turn In favor of industrial activity.
Most important is the changed at
titude of big business toward the Ad
ministration and the better defined
attitude of the Administration to
ward big business. Business men agree
that the Administration has proved by
the currency law its capacity for
sound, constructive legislation. Presi
dent Wilson's declaration of his pur
pose "to build up business on a sound
basis," taken in conjunction with the
voluntary dissolution of the teleph6ne
trust, is understood to mean war not
on big business in general but only
on bad business. He has thus calmed
fear of the forthcoming anti-trust
bills. Public opinion is becoming fa
vorable to higher freight rates and
Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Prosty has indicated readiness to heed
this opinion.
With every business and political
portent forecasting a prosperous new
year, there is every reason to meet
ltH with a smile of hope and con
fidence. KVILS NOT ALL PAID FOR.
Undoubtedly a great majority of
Oregonlans will concede the truth of
the criticisms ex-Senator Jonathan
Bourne directs against paid petition
circulating In his letter published In
The Oregonian today. But a great
many will not concede that the two
main evils he mentions are wholly
predicated on the payment of money
to name solicitors.
Mr. Bourne mentions as these two
evils, submission of measures for
which there is no poular demand and
the forging of signatures. There are
conditions under which a small active
majority will find no difficulty in ob
taining circulators who will work
without pay and thereby secure the
presentment of measures for which
there is no popular demand. Were the
state by a large majority "wet" in
sentiment there would always be
nough interest in prohibition to se
cure the submission and resubmis
sion of a prohibition law without pay
ing circulators. Were the state dry
the liquor interests would not find it
difficult to submit and resubmit an
amendment to permit licensing of the
liquor traffic.
Petition forging is likely to be done
in behalf of a cause. Direct money
consideration is not the only incentive.
A legal penalty is now imposed
upon petition forging, yet the pen
alty does not stop it. The cir
culator who will forge names will
as readily accept unlawfully payment
for circulating a petition. To the
criminal solicitor the Bourne bill
would not be an obstacle except in
the difficulty he might encounter in
finding an employer willing to risk
his own liberty by paying him. Yet,
as has been pointed out in The Ore
gonian and in other newspapers, there
are numerous indirect methods of
paying solicitors that could be adopted
with impunity.
The real solution of the petition evil
. is the complete abolishment of direct
solicitation of signatures and the sub
stitution of voluntary signing. We
do not advocate prohibiting discus
sion of proffered petitions or the urg
ing of signers from the rostrum, the
press, the bill board, the handbill or
the circular. But if petitions are
placed at convenient points and the
attention of the public is directed
thereto there can be no doubt as to
the initiation of any measure for
which there is a reasonable public de
mand or the referending of a law
against which there is a protest of
reasonable proportions.
Provisions adequate to safeguard
petitions from theft, mutilation or
forgery would be necessary, but of
ficial designation of depositaries
would largely, if not quite, solve tho
problem. If the proper period were
established between the date of the
primary and the date of the general
election the posting of petitions in the
election booths on primary days
would be the ideal plan. They would
then be subject to official supervision,
accessible only to registered voters and
be conveniently available for perusal
and consideration by everyone entitled
to sign.
MISS HOBBS AM) THE SALOON'S.
The descent of Miss Fern Hobbs
upon Copperfield today is likely to
prove a memorable event. Miss Hobbs
is private secretary of Governor West,
and possesses, as she undoubtedly de
serves, his unqualified confidence.
Not long since Miss Hobbs was dis
patched to Washington City as the
agent of the State of Oregon for the
purpose of solving some kind of a
land dilemma created by official red
tape and clerical sloth, or something
of that kind, and she acquitted herself
admirably, with the result that she
achieved for herself and for the Gov
ernor many columns of gratuitous
newspaper space. Whatever else worth
while was accomplished will no doubt
transpire in time. Undoubtedly the
Journey was worth to the state all it
cost, and more. '
The mission of Miss Hobbs to Cop
perfield is to close the saloons of that
unregenerate village. The municipal
authorities of Copperfield are identi
cal with the saloon ring and the
county officials say that nothing can
be done in the absence of any known
infraction of law. But Governor West
knows better. He Is determined that
the saloons shall be closed, and he
has clothed Miss Hobbs with full au
thority to bring about that desirable
result. Just how she will do It is a
secret buried in the mysterious re
cesses of the future, but It is to be
done and Miss Hobbs is the modern
Joan of Arc chosen to do It.
We share the Governor's confidence
in Miss Hobbs, but we venture to won
der if that highly salutary task of
closing or disciplining the Copperfield
saloons ought to have been placed in
her hands or In the hands of any
woman, however experienced and ca
pable. RACE ISSUE MAT COME UP.
The New Orleans Picayune says
that the Republican National Commit
tee has reduced Southern representa
tion in National conventions "to cut
down the Influence of the negroes in
making nominations of candidates
whom they cannot elect." It naively
explains this statement by saying:
The great majority of whites in the South
are Democrats and vote with the party,
while the great body of negroes are Repub
licans, but cannot comply with the re
quirements of the electoral laws, being
either unable to read and write, or. In de
fault of that, failing to own and pay taxes
on property of a speclllea value, and, there
fore, they are not voters.
But It errs in saying that "repre
sentation of a state in the popular
House of Congress is proportioned to
its population," for It has overlooked
these words in the fourteenth amend
ment to the Federal Constitution:
When the right to vote at any election
is denied to any of the male mem
bers of such state, being 21 years of age and
citizens of the united States, or in any
way abridged except for participation in
rebellion or any other crime, the basis of
representation therein (In the House of Rep.
resentatlves) shall be reduced in the pro
portion which the number of such male
citizens shall bear to tha whole number of
male citizens 21 years of ago in such state.
The true basis of representation in
the House is not population, but male
citizens permitted to vote. The new
basis of representation in Republi
can conventions will tend to encourage
Republicans to insist on their right
to vote, not only at primaries, but at
elections. It may spur negroes on to
assert their rights and may cause
white Republicans to back them. It
may revive the race issue in politics
for the spectacle of Republican voters
excluded from Southern polls may
cause Republicans of the north to
demand reduction of Southern ' repre
sentation not only in Republican con
ventions, but in Congress.
OLIGARCHY OR DEMOCRACY WHICH?
There is a certain similarity be
tween the relation of the Philippines
to the United States and the relation
of Egypt to Great Britain. In both
countries the governing white nation
has endeavored to establish a measure
of native self-government. In both
there has been persistent agitation for
self-government among the educated
and ambitious few, but in both the
proportion of the population which
has taken part in elections has been
very small.
In Egypt there has been constant
agitation for home rule, but at the
second election, held in 1907, only
1.1 per cent of the natives eligible
actually voted, and at the election
held a few months ago the proportion
was still less. In the Philippines in
1907 only 1.41 per cent of the total
civilized population voted, the total
vote of the islands being 9 8,251 and
the total registration 104,966 in a
population of nearly eight millions.
In the next election the proportion of
voters to population doubled, but still
was only 2.81 per cent. This was un
der a franchise law far more liberal
than prevails in many states. Those
may vote who have filled one of sev
eral designated petty offices under the
Spanish regime; own real property
worth $250, or pay taxes of J15 a
year; or can speakv read and write
English or Spanish.
The Filipinos show far more readi
ness than the Egyptians to take part
in democratic government, but only a
very small proportion of them can
comply with the very moderate quali
fications or care to exercise the right.
The explanation seems to be that the
mass of the people either cannot or
will not take a hand in their own
government. They cannot, because
they lack the necessary education and
the training which self-governing peo
ples have had. They will not, be
cause they don't ' care. The demand
for self-government springs from the
educated few, who desire to fill the
offices and to rule the uneducated
many. Grant of the demand would
result in oligarchy, not democracy.
We have been going the right way
about establishing democracy in the
Philippines by educating the whole
population and molding them into a
nation by giving them a common lan
guage; by teaching them how other
nations have established and main
tained self-government and by giving
them practical training through elec
tion of local officials and of Assem
blymen. The present Administration
Is going the right way about estab
lishing an : oligarchy by committing
the government to the educated few
before the masses have been equipped
to participate. As in Egypt, so in the
Philippines, the premature establish
ment of democratic institutions de
stroys hope of real democracy.
Agnes Repplier has written one of
her entertaining essays to prove that
children ought to be educated today
precisely as they Were fifty years ago
when she was a little girl. Her logic
is perfect. Since ttiat olden method
produced an' Agnes Repplier what
possible fault can 'you find with it?
If the world needed no other crafts
men but witty essayists there would
be no answer. Unhappily for our au
thor's case it also needs' carpenters
and doctors.
KUSSIAX LIBERALITY.
Michael Krossnogeon gives in the
Constructive Review a vivid account
of what an orthodox and aristocratic
Russian means by religious liberty. He
lays down several principles, which,
in his opinion, ought to govern the
relations between the various religious
bodies. Here is one of them: "No
church Is bound to administer its
spiritual gifts to persons who do not
belong to it." If they want to go
to perdition, very well. Let them. No
church is under any obligation to soil
Its hands by saving them.
Again he says that no church is
bound to accept the religious rites of
any other church as valid. If his
doctrine were carried out by every
denomination as rigorously as it Is by
the orthodox Russian what a harmon
ious community the Christian world
would present. In spreading its views
among, the unconverted It is the duty
of the orthodox church, he says, to
"avoid all such means as are not
proper to the Church of Christ."
What are such means? Fire, sword
and torture have all been held proper
by great authorities and are common
ly employed in Russia today.
Professor Krossnogeon caps the cli
max of his extreme liberality by the
following precept: "No church can
allow its followers to have any inter
course with the followers of other con
fessions either In sacraments, relig
ious rites or prayers in general." Ac
cording to this enlightened doctrine
Methodists must refuse to pray
with Presbyterians, Congregationalists
should decline to take the sacrament
of the Lord's supper with Sweden
borgians. "If the church permitted promis
cuous intercourse with various con
fessions It would bring destruction on
Itself," continues the liberal-minded
Krossnogeon. "Religious toleration,"
exclaims this great light of orthodoxy,
"i3 closely related to persecution."
That is to say if you tolerate another
man's faith you are doing Just about
the same thing as when you persecute
him. What a pity Roger Williams had
not the privilege of reading Profes
sor Krossnogeon's advanced views.
Happily, however, "the orthodox Rus
sian Church does not feel animosity or
contempt for those who think differ
ently in matters of faith, but it loves
them. How tender its love must be!
KT.TMTXATDfQ TUBERCULOSIS.
Dr. John Bessner Huber, of New
Tork, says boldly In the Evening Post
that "tuberculosis can be eliminated
from human experience. All we have
to do Is to determine not to stand for
it." In common with all educated
medical men. Dr. Huber believes, of
course, that tuberculosis i3 a germ
disease. Its destructive effects are
the work of a bacillus which attacks
and ruins the tissue of the lungs. The
germ also attacks other parts of the
body, but it is the lungs which are
the principal scene of its deadly ac
tivity. The tubercle bacillus has been
isolated and studied. Physicians now
know all about it, even to the best
method of counteracting its work in
the body. No dose has yet been dis
covered which will cure tuberculosis.
but, happily, none is needed. The di
sease is best treated, not by doses and
drugs, but by wholesome living. For
it should never be forgotten that tu
berculosis is a misery-disease. Dr.
Huber not only knows all about the
specific germ which causes if but he
also knows and so do every other
trained physician and social worker
in the world, that this germ never
can gain a foothold in a thoroughly
healthy, well-nourished body.
. The germ of tuberculosis is in fact
a saprophyte, "an organism that lives
on dead or decaying organic matter
and which has no power, to attack
-normally vital tissue. Healthy lungs
are immune to Its ravages. It is only
when the body has been depraved and
devitalized by lack of sunshine, fresh
air and wholesome food that it is in
danger from the tubercle bacillus.
Keep the human body up to the maxi
mum of vitality and it need never fear
tuberculosis. We see, therefore, as
Dr. Huber well says, that tubercu
losis is not merely a medical prob
lem, but much more a political and
social problem. It is "the most tre
mendous economic . and social degen
eration in civilization." Medical sci
ence affords no warrant for believing
that this terrible scourge has been
sent by the Almighty to punish our
sins, for tne worst sinners escape the
blight. The persons who are most
accountable for the ravages of tu
berculosis seldom feel its destructive
effects themselves. They are the men
and women, says Dr. Huber, who
thwart efforts to co-ordinate hygienic
activities, the persons "who overwork
women and children in factories and
are responsible for sweatshop atroci
ties," the employers who "require
men to work at dangerous trades un
der intolerable conditions."
AH these individuals contribute
their quota to the death rate from tu
berculosis. The arrangements by
which the price of food is held far
above a normal figure have also a
share in the iniquity to answer for.
The cold storage people who make it
impossible for the poor to eat fresh
eggs and meat, the dairymen who
peddle out infected milk, the miracle
mongers who try to substitute magic
and charlatanry for the methods of
enlightened medicine, all these play
a part in the ghastly drama. Worst
of all, perhaps, is the landlord- who
houses the poor in dark tenements
without sunshin'e and air. But no
matter who is most to blame In
questions of this stupendous magni
tude individuals count for little. The
true criminal is society, the body of
Christian civilization in which we all
profess to be members. No person can
escape some share of responsibility for
the ravages of tuberculosis. The sin
is a social one and as long as it con
tinues we are all tainted with guilt.
The Christianity of the modern world
has become as much a civic as an in
dividual religion. We are getting
back to the state of mind of the an
cient Greeks, as depicted in Sophocles'
"Oedipus Tyrannus," which believed
that individual crimes poisoned the
entire community. Our problem is,
indeed, how to modify our civic life
so that it shall cease to produce con
ditions favorable to tuberculosis. How
many more centuries of Christianity
shall we need before misery-diseases
will have disappeared ?
Thus far pretty nearly every effort
to lower the cost of food to the poor
has aborted. Nothing comes of any
thing that is tried. Dr. Huber ex
pends a great deal of indignation
against the tariff, to which he as-.
cribes much of the responsibility for
dear meat, eggs and groceries, but the
tariff has been lowered now and still
prices rise. No doubt the trouble lies
in our . machinery of distribution. It
has been devised to collect tolls for
middlemen, not to get food from pro
ducer to consumer rapidly and cheap
ly. Something fundamental must be
done about this if we wish to end the
ravages of tuberculosis and kindred
misery-diseases. Again we must fix
our minds on the. problem of housing.
It is almost useless to build tubercu
losis hospitals and seek for curative
vaccines as long as the toiling poor
are housed in sunless and airless
chambers. Until hygienic dwellings
are available for them the mills of
death will grind out their lamentable
grist in spite of all that we can do.
Back of the housing problem lies an
other. Rents depend directly on the
density of population, which contin
ually grows greater toward the hearts
of cities. So for sunlight and air the
poor must move to the suburbs and
when they try to do that the transpor
tation cost becomes a serious matter.
Moreover, the migration of any large
number of people to a suburb im
mediately raises rents so that the ef
forts of the tuberculous classes to
save their lives often reinforce the
causes of death. What a complicated
problem it is! We may feel perfectly
certain that it never will be solved
until we attack it with at least as
much intelligence as savants have di
rected against the hidden secrets of
mathematics and the mysteries of the
atoms.
An afternoon contemporary reflects
tearfully upon the thinness of the
oyster stew as it is currently exhibited.
The habits of the church sociable in
this particular have spread lament
ably, so that the customer who finds
one oyster in his stew experiences a
glad surprise. In this day of reforms
the oyster shops must not be over
looked. The sooner we organize a
militant society to establish closer re
lations between the oyster and the
stew the better for the world.
John Burroughs, writing in the At
lantic Monthly, gives Bergson the
highly complimentary title of "Proph
et of the Soul." It is all the more
flattering to the French philosopher
because it is merited. Bergson has re
stored the belief in the soul to re
spectable scientific standing. He has
made it possible for a rigorous evo
lutionist to believe In an active deity.
A man who has done so much de
serves compliments.
Sandow condemns golf as recrea
tion for "those who are engaged in
sedentary occupations or work In
volving mental strain," saying it Is
likely In nine cases out of ten to be
actually harmful and that he has
known it "in many such, cases to be
the direct cause of nervous break
down." There seems to be no recrea
tion open to the tired business man
except the musical comedy, the vaude
ville, the cabaret or the tango.
' There is nothing an American will
not do, nowhere he will not go to get
motion pictures. Frederick Burlln-
game descended 1212 feet to the
floor of the crater of Vesuvius, while
the volcano was active, and' took cine
matograph pictures in a temperature
of 600 degrees.
After nine years of strenuous labor
In governing the- Philippines, W.
Cameron Forbes is talked of for Po
lice Commissioner of New Tork. Does
not Mayor Mitchel know that Mr.
Forbes has come home to rest, not to
work harder?
Bulgaria, starving and freezing
after the devastation of warfare, turns
to the United States for aid. The
United States never turns a deaf ear
to the stricken.
- Bernard Shaw has Just given a
formula for securing world peace. His
formula for regulating the universe
will be out shortly, no doubt.
"General" Rosalie Jones will make
another suffragette march on the cap.
ital. Got a taste of the spotlight and
can't get on without it.
Everybody seems' to be looking
ahead to big times at an early date.
Which is the surest forerunner of a
greater prosperity.
New Tork is to have another still
higher building fifty-one stories.
New Torkers must plan to- reach
heaven eventually.
There Is no punishment inflicted in
sending to jail a man who destroys
property with the avowed purpose of
getting into jail.
A Detroit policeman who found and
returned J27.000 was merely thanked
for his pains. But honesty is its own
reward.
Portland is now among the great
cities. It will be among the greater
ones, anon. We've merely started to
grow.
Portland is now the third healthiest
city in the United States. Got to cut
that down a couple of notches this
year.
Illness may be a luxury, says a
headline. It long has been, provided
you were ill enough to have the doc
tor. Cereal receipts for the past year
break all records. The story of our
prosperity is a never ending serial.
"Interests" are said to be watching
the local egg market- They would
better watch the Oregon hen.
A few Oregon cities did not possess
all the distinction yesterday. The
White House was "dry," too.
Chauffeurs seem to think any man
who is poor enough or fool enough to
walk ought to be killed.
If a mere speck of radium Is worth
$4500 we would be perfectly satisfied
with a couple of tons.
Green was the popular color yes
terday, for almost every Portlander
carried an Annual.
Rainfall in California is breaking all
records. Likewise sunshine in Ore
gon. Anarchy, famine and war threaten
Albania. Goodbye, " Albania!
Have you learned to write it 1914?
Now for the primary campaign.
Stars and Starmakers
BY LfiONS CsUSfl BABB.
f n n breaks leflr oplehrfttinsr New
Tear's, says a story. He's probably
Happier Dreaming it tnat way man ma
man who attained, a like result bring
ing in the coal.
see
I presume the leg referred to was his
own.
Dustin Farnum and his wife have
moved to Los Angeles to make their
home for three or four years. Mr.
Farnum is Identified with a motion
picture concern.
By a strange streak of coincidence
or luck, maybe Mrs. Tom .Richards
has succeeded Lula Glaser in vaude
ville. Just as Miss Glaser succeeded
Mrs. Richards in the affections of the
effeminate and, pretty-boy Tom Rich
ards. Miss Glaser has been in vaude
ville with Mr. Richards for a season,
and a recent serious operation neces
sitated her cancellation of the tour.
So Mrs. Richards, who is a vocalist,
has been booked for the rest of the
time.
e e
I do not believe it but a note in a
New Tork paper says that Dr. Mary
E. Walker has signed a contract to
appear at a vaudeville theater begin
ning January 6.
i Miss Walker, who is a native of Os
wego, N. T., has dressed In male at
tire for years.
I expect some day to hear that an
act for vaudeville has been written
around Lydla Plnkham.
J. Frank Burke Is playing at the
Alcazar, in San Francisco.
e a '
Relatives of the late Jere Hunt,' St.
Louis railroad man, and friend of Lew
Dockstader, will not accept $1075
raise-d by Dockstader to provide a
monument for Hunt.
Dockstader raised the fund in St.
Louis when he heard Hunt's grave
was unmarked. He will endow a bed
for actors in a St. Louis hospital with
the money.
Now that the fair and charming
Alice is gone from our midst, I may
tell a secret. The pretty little slim
girl who dressed In scarlet and danced
In the Russian dance was her daugh
ter, Daisy McNaughton.
e
George L. Baker, manager of the
Baker players, walked abroad in the
lobby one night last week during a
between acts." He spied a man with
a cigar in his mouth.
"We do not allow smoking," he said,
tapping the cigar-holder on the shoul
der. ,
"I'm not smoking," courteously said
me tapped one.
"Well, you'r er you've got a cigar
in your mouth," said Mr. Baker.
"You're right," said the man. "rve
got feet in my shoes, too but I'm not
walking, m,ir
Kitty. Gordon appears to be doing
nicely in Los Angeles. She created the
role in a new piece for stock, "Pretty
Miss Smith," for Oliver Morosco and
now he is planning to take it to New
York.
Gina Recamier, a minor actress in
Paris, may no longer use that nom de
guerre on the stage. The courts hav
ordered her to discontinue it after an
action by a French general and a
Paris doctor, descendants of Madame
Recamier, a noted beauty, of the Na
poleon court.
The girl's right name is Mile.
Ageorgea. After the filing of the suit
she changed the spelling to Recamle,
but still the soldier and the medico
objected.
The defendant explained that she
chose the name at the suggestion of
Andre de Fouquieres, the society danc
er. He was a Judge at a contest of
professional beauties, at which Mile.
Ageorges was declared to have the
most shapely ankle. Her pose sug
gested a noted picture showing
Madame Recamier seated and display
ing her ankle, and de Fouquieres called
her attention to the similarity of pose.
The testimony caused much amuse
ment. OLD GROUNDWORK IS PREFERRED
School Patron Cites. Apparent Effects
of Frill Teaching.
PORTLAND, Jan. 1. (To the Edl
tor.) In the beginning, I want to say
I am not opposed to dancing; but 1
am opposed to dancing in our public
scnoois. remaps the apologies of a
conscientious school teacher to me
lately will explain my attitude:
"Thoroughness is a lost art in the
Tortland schools. We just haven't
time for it."
Now I believe I voice the sentiments
of a vast majority of the parents of
Portland, when I say: I send my
children to school to get the neces
sary bread and meat of education, and
if any eclairs are needed, I'll furnish
them myself. My children have, a
most tottering knowledge of the mul
tiplication table, fail to spell cor
rectly simple words and can't write
legibly. I try to help them In night
study, too, but their heads are so filled
with smatterings of a score of unes
sential school things that there seems
to be no time for concentration on
things worth while.
How I wish we could move to the
country and that my children could
have an old-fashioned country teacher
to root and ground them in the simple
branches, sans all modern frills.
Am I extreme .when 1 say our
schools are turning out graduates
totally unfitted for any practical vo
cation? Let me cite you two incidents.
A gentleman told me of hiring a
Portland High School graduate for his
office. The first morning he went
out, and when he returned found this
note on his desk:
"Mr. B. called about your loneing
him money. He wants a lone of $500."
Needless to say, the youth didn't
"suit." It is well known by business
men that the only way to get efficient
office help is to go to the business
colleges for it. And yet we willingly
pay our taxes for institutions that
turn out incompetents.
A young woman of my acquaintance,
a Portland High School graduate, said
her friend was talking of going to
Manila, Cuba. I meekly said:
"My dear, I think you forget that
Manila is In the Philippines."
She answered, with assurance:
"Yes, of course, but Cuba is one of
the Philippine Islands."
I humbly submit that neither of
these graduates has education enough
to be entitled to a grammar school
diploma, to say nothing of a high
school one.
Now, why not take a little of the
time spent in "attempting" to teach
the score and more things I might
name if there were space to do so, all
good enough in their way, and lay a
firm foundation in the things without
which basket-weaving, brick-making
folk-dancing and the like are nil?
MRS. ANNA M. DAVIS.
OREGOS KEEDS AltE ENUMERATED
More Practical and Less Theatrical
Legislation Prime Requisite.
PORTLAND, Jan. 1. (To the Edi
tor.) It is my fortune to have- been a
resident of this state continuously since
loos and to have some knowledge of
Its political and legislative history. The
publication of a statement showing the
annual increase of per capita tax from
tnat year to this would be very Inter
esting reading and throw some light on
and be some evidence of the high cost
or living. The question arises: How
long is such increase in taxation to
continue and where is the limit and
what Is the remedy? Sooner or later
we shall have to arouse pioneer pa
triotism and return to its business
methods and business principles.
we have too many laws and too much
legislation. We have too many com
missions and too much operating ex
pense. Under existing conditions it is
too easy to enact vicious legislation
and too easy to defeat or postpone good
legislation. This state needs less pea
nut politics and more good, common
horse sense. The courts are not
through construing laws of one Legis
lature before another meets, passes
new laws and makes other changes in
conflict with the courts' construction
of the old laws. The courts have not
construed one initiative law adopted
by a vote of the people until another
law is enacted that leaves the meaning
or tne whole law in doubt and confu
sion.
This state has a large amount of
splendid resources which need capital,
and capital only, to develop them and
give employment to all kinds of labor;
but outside capital is timid of invest
ment and will continue to be so until
such time as the laws of Oregon, per
taining to business, become definite.
permanent and certain. Such questions
affect both labor and capital.
I have absolute . confidence in the
honor and intelligence of the people,
and the Initiative and referendum are
both right in fundamental principles,
but they were enacted to prevent then
existing evils and should not be used
to create them. There is something
wrong in fundamentals when a recog
nized good law can be subjected to the
referendum, or when the people are de
ceived into voting for an initiative law
the meaning of which is not known or
understood. There is something wrong
somewhere when the Legislature en
acts law which requires a decision of
the Supreme Court to say what it
means.
What Oregon needs is more Bract! cal
and less theoretical legislation and to
eliminate peanut politics, cut down on-
erating expenses and conduct Its busi
ness arralrs on business principles.
CHARLES A. JOHNS.
PAID CIRCULATOR IS CONDEMNED
Mr. Bonne Recites Evils That Led to
His Proposing New Law.
WASHINGTON. Dec 26. (To th PVI1
tor.) It has been quite generally
agreed that under the system of Daid
circulation of initiative and referendum
petitions two evils exist: the submis
sion of many measures for which there
Is no popular demand, and the forging
of signatures. To remove these evils,
I shall propose an Initiative measure
pronioitlng payment for circulation of
petitions but placing no restriction
upon the right of the people to circu
late petitions for any measure in which
tney reel an Interest.
One of the fundamental purposes of
the Oregon system Is to increase the
power of men and decrease the power
of money. I am surprised, therefor, to
find that there are some sincere advoT
cates of better government who oppose
tne pian or proniDltlng paid circulation
of petitions. Most of those who oppose
my bill acknowledge that it Is right in
principle but say It will not work Ratls-
factorily in practice. I contend that
lr it is right In principle it will ulti
mately be adopted and will work in
practice.
An initiative petition is supposed to
represent the desire of eight per cent of
the voters. It does no euch thing. It
represents merely the expenditure of a
crtain amount of money.
Possibly circulation of petitions
serves to notify about 10 . per cent of
the voters that the measure Is being
proposed, but, if that is the end to be
gained, it certainly could be done more
effectively by expending the money in
the printing and circulation of copies
of the bill which voters could read,
rather than in securing signatures of
voters to a petition which few take the
time to read.
The adoption of my suggested bill
would make the petition represent pub
lic opinion, for the number of volun
teer circulators would be in proportion
to the extent of public desire for the
measure.
I admit that so long as the custom
of paying circulators continues, practi
cally every measure must be initiated
in that manner, but I am confident the
time will come when the duties of citi
zenship in procuring and protecting de
sired laws under the initiative and
referendum will be performed without
special compensation.
The hiring of paid circulators for
measures or candidates is no less un
representative than the hiring of work
ers or vehicles on election day, which
have both been prohibited by the cor
rupt practices act.
JONATHAN BOURNE, JR.
SHERIFF ED'S LOST OPPORTUNITY
Seattle Woman Takes What MIrnt
Have Been His First Paxe Place.
PORTLAND, Jan. 1. (To the Edi
tor.) Progression being the slogan
of political civilization, the many
friends of Sheriff Ed Rand, of Baker
County, would fain not believe that
the Governor has put over a slogan
on Ed. This Is the hob and nob of the
whole business. To stand in the old
ways muttering antlologies on the
due process of law, in the face of the
due process of custom which meas
ures everything by the prominence
of the headlines on the first page, is
not the conduct of a matured Sheriff,
but the concetto of one who doesn't
know the difference between the law
and the militia.
And now we shall see what one
pore little woman can do.
What is the matter with Sheriff
Ed? When he got his "orders" to
close Copperfield, did he need a Dis
trict Attorney to interpret the plain
terms or a mental nudge? Did he. not
know that the honor, the dignity and
the chastity of leaker County were
thrust upon his manly shoulders and
that he should proceed somewhat
thusly: "Hey, you unregenerates of
the liquid damnation, close up Cop-
perflela within 24 hours, or 111 hand
you something horrisonous enouerh to
scare the tar out of a Bull Moose
leader.
Now we shall see what a "pore"
little woman can do. All else is lost.
and tne. press Is deprived of the ex
ploits of a daring Sheriff, also his
photograph.
J. HENNES3T MURPHY.
ECHOES FROM SLABVTLLK.
A weary pilgrim here I stand.
Jobless and despairing,
I gaze upon this sodden land
And cannot keep from swearing.
I chased a wagon load of wood;
It didn't do me any good.
Another chap was on the scene.
With gunny sack and smile serene.
I'm petrified, I'm flabergasted.
Say. honest, folks, my hopes are blasted.
I wonder where on earth I'll hike.
There's nothing doing on this pike.
I tried Seattle, got the Jumps;
I tried Spokane, got big hard lumps
Of savage looks. I think I'll go
Where old Willamette kindly flows
And let the current bear me on,
All Jobless, to oblivion.
GEO. H. SANDS.
Twenty-five Years Ago
From The Oregonian of January 2, 1S8S.
Washington, Jan. 1. The White
House has seldom, if ever, presented
a more brilliant spectacle than today,
on the occasion of the President's New
Year's reception.
San Francisco, Jan. 1. The con
ditions were generally favorable to
day, both In California and Nevada.
for a clear observation of the total
eclipse of the sun.
The standing committee on memo
rials and resoliitions of the recent
water convention, consisting of M. C.
George, W. P. Gray, H. Parker and J.
F. Halloran, holds the general opinion
that the state should raise a tax suf
ficient to build and operate portage
roads, to be maintained by a tonnage
tax.
A dinner was given to the news and
messenger boys of the city last night
by Bishop Morris, at the assembly hall
of Bishop Scott Academy. The older
guests, seated at a cross-table with
Bishop Morris and wife, were: Judge
Deady and wife, George H. Williams
and wife. Rev. D. E. Lonerldge and
wife. Rev. William McEwan and wife.
Dr. T. L Eliot, Rev. John Sellwood,
H. L Pittock, .Miss Williams, of the '
Annie Wright Seminary, of Tacoma;
Miss S. M. Buck and several others.
K. A. Breyman, of Colfax, is in
the city.
Richard Martin, Jr., of Milvaln &
Martin, will leave for Chicago during
the week.
William F. Woodward, who has been
with Woodard, Clarke & Co. for the
past six years, was admitted to a part
nership in the firm on the first.
Baseball is looking up a little in
sporting circles. The chief embarrass
ments to managers Is the absence of
a league or the semblance of one.
The stone church for the First
Presbyterian congregation, of this
city," being built at the corner of Tenth
and Alder streets, has so far advanced
towards completion as to afford an
Idea of what a beautiful and stately
structure it will be.
Front street, which was the first
street opened in this city, still main
tains Its prestige and Is the longest
street and has the largest number of
wholesale stores.
The plans and specifications for the
five-story block to be erected by Hon.
H. W. Corbett, at the northeast corner
of Third and Oak streets, have been
about completed.
The D. A. Levins quartz mine at
Canyonville, Southern Oregon, Is likely
to prove a bonanza. A. H. Johnson
yesterday purchased for a pocketptece
a little brick from the mine worth T79.
D. R. Davis, the Western Union's,
superintendent of construction at San
Francisco, left for home yesterday.
The Hero.
'Way back in ' he was high In politics
For his age.
And again in 1900, with the Democrats ha
blundered
On the stare.
When ha got a Job at last, for his service
in the past.
Good and true;
Although we'd Just been licked, we were
glad that he was picked
For the crew.
For we knew the mighty Dutch, at the
magic of his touch.
Would subside;
And that Denmark's mighty hosts never
more would rise like ghosts
On the tide:
Knew that in the peace he'd get us (It- the
Mexicans would let us)
We'd rejoice.
Listening at Chautauqua school, on a hard
three-dollar stool.
To his voice.
Paul Ryan.
Michigan Good, hot Oh, Yon Oregon!
PORTLAND, Jan. 1. (To the Edi
tor.) My people in Michigan cannot
fathom why I am so content to be out
here alone and so far from "civiliza
tion." I picked roses from my yard
and enclosed little "Jig" came to me
in reply to their question. I believe
there are others who feel the same
way:
Sure. I love oM Michigan
1 And all its riches rare;
For my own kin and loved ones
Call It their home-place there.
But oh, you dear Oregon,
With sea and mountain blest.
Bloom roses in December.
I believe 1 love you best.
J. L. W. STOCKJBRTDGB.
227 Chapman street.
Her Unsbnnd as a Text.
Judge.
"Men are inconsiderate things," ob
serves the bride of a few months.
"You are not growing pessimistic al
ready?" smiles her friend.
"Well, they are selfish. Yesterday
Harry had the cook broil for him the
nice lamb-chops I had ordered for my
dog."
Features for
Sunday
Centenaries of 1914 The year
is one of the very richest in no
table centenary events. An il
lustrated full-page is devoted to
the century milestones in human
progress that will be passed
during the 12 months.
Women
Bankers are a dis-
tinct
suceess. They have in-
vaded the field of finance and
are there to stay. A Portland
woman has played a leading
role in the recognition of her sex
in financial matters.
The "Wolf Howls in "Wall
Street. That great place of
chance has lost its grip t last
and is all but discredited. Half
page, illustrated.
War It is only a social war,
but it is being waged fiercely.
Illustrated by photos.
Henpecked Husbands have
formed a club and will strike
for greater rights and broader
liberties.
Maximfeast is held as a new
solution of the high cost of liv
ing problem. It is a new, pal
atable, nourishing and inexpen
sive food.
John Henry, through the me
dium of that gentle cynic,
George V. Hobart, writes of tips
and tipping. The best Hobart
article yet.
Theodore Roosevelt devotes
another chapter in his autobi
ography to "Changing the Old
Order of Things" during his
first administration.
Two Short Stories. Many
Other Features. Order today of
your newsdealer.