TITE MORXIXG OREGONIAN, SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 1914. i PORTLAXD. OREGON. Entered at Portland, Oregon. Postofflce as second-class matter. Subscription Rates Invariably In Advance: (BY MAIL.) Pally, Sunday Included, one year JS.00 HiaHy, Hunciay Included, six months ..... 4.25 raily, Sunday Included, three months ... 3.2.- J-ially, Sunday Included, one month ...... .75 Dally, without Sunday, one year tt.uo Daily, without Sunday, six months 8.25 Dally, without Sunday, three months ... 1.75 Dally, without Sunday, one month .tiu Weekly, one year ........- l.Ou (Sunday, one year 2.50 Sunday and weekly, on year . 8.&0 (BI CARRIER) Dally, Sunday Included, one year .......o-0n Zally, Sunday Included, one month ..... .75 How to Rrmlt Send postofflce money or der, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk. Give postofflce address In full. Including county and state. Postage Rates 12 to 16 pages, 1 cent; 18 to 82 pages. 2 cents; 84 to 48 pages. 3 cents; r.O to 60 paires. 4 cents; 62 to 76 pages. 5 cents; 78 to t2 pages, 6 cents. Foreign post are, double ratea Kantern Business Offices Verree as Confc 11a. New York, Brunswick: building. Chi cago, steger building. Ban Franctaco Office R. J. Bldwell Co., T42 Market street. PORTLAND. BATCHDA.T. JAN. S, 1914. FIVE PER CENT. The- cardinal fact about the) pro posed engagement of Waddell & Har rington to be the supervising engi neers of the Columbia Interstate bridge is that their fee shall be 6 per cent of the total cost, whatever that cost Is; so that the greater the cost of the bridge the larger the en gineers' fee. We Imply nothing against Waddell & Harrington when we declare that It Is an Improper ar rangement. There is no adequate fi nancial Incentive to the engineers to reduce the aggregate outlay to a mini mum; there is obvious danger . that any proposal for increase in cost through change of specifications or otherwise, will not have the Im partial and disinterested considera tion it should have. If the bridge commission' is irrevocably committed to Waddell & Harrington and "the 5 per cent fee, it is clear that a maxi mum amount should be fixed. It is clear also that $87,500 which is 5 per cent of $1, 750, 000, the expected cost of the bridge is quite enough and ought to cover everything. There are many citizens who think it is too much. The Oregonian is among them. The proposal of Waddell & Harrington contains the alternative offer of a lump sum. It ought to be made the basis of a new negotiation for en gineer service. Let us see how the S per cent scheme works out in actual operation. Tho amount of steel required for con struction of the Interstate bridge will be in the neighborhood of 10,000 tons. The price of structural steel today is about $52 per ton at Pittsburg, mak ing the total estimated cost there $120,000, or about one-third of the entire cost of the bridge. The rail road freight on structural steel from Pittsburg to Portland is $16 per ton, or a total of $160,000 for 10,000 tons. The cost of the steel in Portland will therefore be $680,000. A part of the engineering fee to Waddell & Har rington for building a bridge across the Columbia River is 5 per cent of the railroad freight rate on 10,000 tons of steel. Here is an Item that yields them $8000 in Portland; but If the bridge were to be built at Pitts burg, under the 5 per cent contract, It would produce nothing. The services to be performed by Waddell & Harrington Include ac cording to a statement by Mr. . Har rington the preliminary borings, a study of the proper approaches and the protection of thepublic against excess cost for patent rights, of course the preparation of the plans and specifications and supervision after the contract has been let. It is clear that the supervising engineers can prepare specifications, if they see fit, that only certain bridge concerns may be able to comply with, either because of their shop practice or be cause of trte ownership of certain patented devices. It may be entirely true that Waddell & Harrington, from their knowledge and experience, know what firm or firms are likely to give the best results both in bridge plan and in workmanship, and it may be entirely true also that their purpose Is to invite open competition among contractors for the best bridge at the lowest price. It is not assumed here that they intend to pursue any other course; yet It is obvious that under their contract they may do about as they please. The crux bf the situation is that the 5 per cent plan Is wrong in principle. A flat sum ought to be paid a con sulting engineer for his services and the construction firms should be re quired to prepare their own plans upon the basis of specifications to be furnished by the engineer. There are bridges of many makes, but there are standards to which all must conform. If the contractor submits his plan as to a certain type of bridge, or several types, the duty of the consulting en gineer would be then to recommend the best proposal and thereafter to see that the structure was erected In accordance with contract. The County of Multnomah and the County of Clarke have a heavy re sponsibility in constructing the in terstate bridge. It Is not to be ex pected that they will escape without payment of a reasonable engineering fee, and it Is desirable that first-class engineering talent be employed. It has been said that It is practicable to employ a member of the American In stitute of Consulting Engineers for $25,000. Other preliminary expenses, such as location and borings, would Increase this expense to $40,000 or $50,000. But, above all, if such an engineer should be employed, he would be free to give the bridge board disinterested advice about the best offer submitted by competent Tiriflc-fi constructors In competition l' among themselves. President Wilson's recommendation that Congress facilitate the financing of the farming Industry promises to be carried out by the passage of a bill on the general lines of that which has been prepared - by the National Commission on Rural Credits. The Dill divides farm credit into two classes. One Is long time or mortgage credit to meet capital requfrements that Is, to aid the farmer in the pur chase of the farm and in its improve ment, such as construction of -build- ; Ings, drainage, irrigation and clearing, or the equipment of the farm so as to bring his operations to the highest : state of efficiency. The other class is designed to meet his current needs. ; such as the harvesting and marketing i ct crops. i The bill proposes to provide capital ; ly creating a system of land mort gage banks under Federal charter, jvhich, would make loans on long-Ume mortgages payable In annual or semi annual installments. These mortgages would' form the basis of farm-mortgage bonds, and the Interest on them would be limited to 1 per cent more than that paid on the bonds. The banks would be chartered to operate within a certain state, but competi tion would be provided by placing no restriction on the number which might be chartered in any state. The amount? of bonds to be Issued by any bank would be limited to fifteen times its capital and surplus. Banks may( be organized on a co-operative basis where desired, but no Government fi nancial, aid is proposed. ' The banks would be under Federal supervision. The bonds would be accepted as se curity for deposit of postal savings funds and as an Investment for sav ings funds of National banks and for trust funds, and would be exempt from taxes. As to personal credit, the new cur rency law makes some provision, but It is proposed to supplement this by enlarging the powers of National banks, and. that the states enact laws to the same end. Experience in Europe has proved that no security is more stable and popular than land-mortgage bonds. The bonds of the Credit Foncier com mand a ready market in France, and similar bonds should prove as ac ceptable In this country. Limitation on issue of bonds by any one bank safeguards the investor, and limita tion of rate of Interest protects the farmer from extortion. The proposed system would give us the first essen tial to better farming, for poverty pre vents many men who have the quali ties which bring success from buying farms, and It prevents many who own farms from buying the Implements and fertilizers, erecting the buildings and procuring the blooded stock which are necessary to produce the maxi mum crops from the soil. DEEP-SEA SALMON riSIIING. It is pleasant to learn that a change in the methods of taking salmon may insure a constant supply of that agree able fish for future generations. Pro fessor Trevor Klneaid, of the Univer sity of Washington, announces that such a thing Is easily possible. Ac cording to his' view, salmon may just as well be captured In the deep sea aa in rivers, since they school to gether In well-defined localities. Fish ermen can explore these resorts and take the fish with proper apparatus. Thus it will not be necessary to de pend upon the annual runs in rivers and the world's supply can be provid ed with ease and certaintly. No doubt Professor Klneaid has ma turely considered every possible ob jection to his plan. One occurs to us, but we advance it only tentatively, feeling sure that he has an appropri ate reply to It. Our point Is that sal mon cannot multiply without entering freshwater streams. Their nature prompts them to run up rivers to spawn and it is while they are per forming this imperative function that they are usually taken for human food. Were the annual runs in the rivers to cease it seems pretty certain that very soon there would be no more salmon. If the runs continue In their usual magnitude there Is no good reason apparent why Professor Klncald's plan with. its expense and danger should be adopted. Moreover, to take the fish at sea would appear very much like eating seed grain in stead of sowing it. Every salmon cap tured before the season, for the an nual run would mean so much taken from the permanent source of supply. ' If the fish were caught in large numbers, as they surely would be were the plan adopted, few would be left to propagate the species. And If fishing in fresh water streams con tinued at the same time it is fairly certain that before a great while none would be left. To an unprofessional observer from the outside there seems to be only one way to conrerve the salmon supply and that is to regulate fresh-water fishing with considerable rigor and forbid entirely fishing In the deep sea. OH, THIS IS AWFUI,! We have" received from an anony mous source a manuscript which, Judging from Its peculiarity of liter ary" style, might be a lost or misplaced front page editorial belonging to or Intended for the Portland News. Mayhap, however, It is a genuine ef fort of one of the downtrodden, so with this possibility In mind, and also because of its concise and genteel diction, it is herewith given space in The Oregonian: "Reintroducing to your notice, ladies and gentlemen, taxpayers and mutts. Representative Lafferty, first name Abraham, known by his friends as Walter, signs his name simply A. W. Lafferty. "Remember how the money power and the privileged press fought Laf ferty for Congress and how you mutts followed the lead of the Portland News and elected him? Does Laf ferty appreciate what the. News did for him? "He does not. "Representative Lafferty has emit ted another speech in Congress. Laf ferty Is hot stuff on the chatter. We have it all .16 printed pages -In pamphlet form. He says the News Is owned by a multi-millionaire who owns 66 other penny newspapers. He says he has more respect for The Oregonian and Telegram than for the News. "Do you get that? "The owner of the 67 penny news papers, says A, Walter, employs re porters and editors trained to play up the misfortunes of the poor. They prate of unimportant matters of local concern. But when a public officer becomes dangerous to monopolistic graft meaning !A. Walter, of course they show the cloven hoof. "The millionaire owner 'is simply cashing the misfortunes of the down trodden. "But you mothers,, mutts and looted taxpayers are safe. Lafferty Is going to be re-elected. "He says so himself. "Now that all the newspapers In Portland, including the News, have it in for him, he will rely on the postal frank. The postal frank will get his record before you. "You, toilers are going to be in formed by franked circulars that Con gressman Lafferty, first name Abra ham, known by his friends as Walter, 'will remain loyal to the end.' "The same special interests that cdntrol the Portland News and 'every other newspaper In the United States 'now wish to see the postal frank of Congress abolished.' But it will never be done. A. Walter will see to that. "We mutts should worry." An article byHarold J. Howland In Suburban Life attacks the irritating problem of fraternities - in rural schools. In such an environment as a country Tillage affords the. fratexn- ity looks boobyish. It Is out of place in any school, but ridiculously so in country districts. The absurd fop pishness which the school fraternity apes from the college has no redeem ing merits. It should go and go quickly from town and country, but by all means from the country. A BIO BIOGRAPHY. The price of the new biography of Sir Edward George Lytton Bulwer, by his grandson, puts It out of the reach of ordinary book buyers. The two volumes sell for $7.50 and together they Include more than 1100' pages. This is more than there Is worth tell ing about any man. Think of the im mortal lives Plutarch condensed into a score of pages and how interesting the world still finds them. Compare his method with that of the modern biographer, who meanders with his hero through a thousand pages or so, and decide which Is the better of the two. , The bad habit of writing mammoth books is growing upon the world and with it come numerous complaints of the decay of reading. Is there any connection between the two circum stances? The world's best books are all little ones, the New Testament, for example, Hamlet and the Apology of Socrates. Lord Lytton's biography is as well worth writing as most men's, though his grandson would have been wiser had he told the tale more brief ly. His; novels never were accounted among the greatest, but they always had many readers and Bome of them, like "The Last Days of Pompeii," are still widely popular. Just why Bulwer Lytton's works were held Inferior to those of Dickens and Thackeray, It would be a little difficult to say clearly. He knew how to compose a good plot and tell his story in excellent, straightforward English. Some of his shorter stories are among the most powerful in the language. "The House and the Brain" is one of the best ghost stories in the world. Eugene Aram Is perhaps the strongest detective tale ever written. No doubt Bulwer fell short of the highest achievement, because he could not draw character with the potency of Thackeray and especially was he inferior to Dickens In this particular. The great creations of the latter au thor, still live in all their original vigor and keenness of outline. When the Immortal Mr. Mlcawber is 4de picted at a moving picture show the audience recognize him and smile.' though with half an Inclination to weep. Bulwer could not create Ml cawbers and Uriah Heeps. Therefore his fame Is less than Dickens'. A NOVTTL, DWELLING. What the American dwelling will be like when .it is fully evolved is a subject for curious speculation. Per haps Samuel Sachs' new flat in New York comes pretty near to the ulti mate perfection which people of means and taste will never rest until they attain. This, gentleman, who is a banker, with plenty of money, has rented one entire floor of a huge building for . domestic use. Its area is a third of an acre. On all four sides there are great windows open to the landscape, air and sunshine, while the interior includes an open court. There is space enough in this dwell ing for ample servants' quarters, bath rooms, dining-room, kitchen and a dozen or more bedrooms. Mr. Sachs' purpose was to avoid the inconveni ence of elevators. The practice , of racing constantly from one floor to another becomes wearisome even when one has the best and swiftest means of transport. The modern home-maker meets the same trouble with elevators as the olden house wife with stairs. What the good wom an desired for the sake of her tired limbs was to collect as much of her work as possible on one floor and that the ground floor. It does not ex haust muscular energy to go up and down in elevators, but It tries the nerves and Mr. Sachs, by spreading out his dwelling on a single floor has made a distinct eaving where most Americans sadly need it. His flat is said to be the largest in the world, but, of course, that is a glory which it will not long enjoy. Other men will soon follow Mr. Sachs' example and flats covering a whole acre will per haps become as common as sky-scrapers In a few years. An imaginative magazine writer not long ago projected a model dwelling, which at first glance bore very little resemblance to Mr. Sachs' mammoth flat. He called it a "roadhouse," but the reader must not unwarily assume that it was a tavern for the accom modation of Jubilant automobilists. It was Intended to be the home of a multitudinous population. The title "roadhouse" was appropriate, because the structure was to extend for mile after mile through the verdant meads and thrifty fields of the country. Along the roof was to proceed the de lectable stretches of a promenade, embowered In gardens with fountains and singing birds, the latter, of course, in proper cages. Each floor of this elongated building was to be cut up Into flats and here comes in the somewhat elusive resemblance to Mr. Sachs' device, since every flat could be cut to suit the needs of the inhabiting family. . The grounds in front and rear were to be parks for the use of all and an electric railroad was to run from end to end In the basement. What could be more com plete? The news reports have un happily been silent of late as to the progress this inspired projector Is making, but we-may hope that he will find investors as enthusiastic and trusting as he is himself, so that the "roadhouse" may ultimately be built. In the clash of Ideas and the compe tition of schemes we shall discover what is best for us. It may take a long time to decide, but no matter about that. What is a thousand years in the history of the race? What we are seeking with more or less wisdom is a perfect house for the indwelling of the families of our kindred human beings. We have come to the conclusion that evolution alone cannot be trusted to produce what Is desired. For one thing. It acts too slowly and, for another, it Is as likely to go backward as for ward. We must apply our minds to the problem "and take all the cir cumstances into consideration. The past affords some little light, but per haps not a great deal. The ancient dwelling of mankind was a cave in a hillside, or the top of a tree. From those primitive abodes he pursued his way through tents and log huts to houses of hewn planks and stone. What he sought originally and for many thousands of years afterward was first of all protection from prowl ing foes. Comfort and beauty were minor considerations. They were not considerations at all for hundreds of generations. It is a commonplace to remark that Kings and great nobles in the Middle Ages lived less com fortably; than the poorest hodcaxrier does now. It may be going too far to say that they had neither shirts to their backs nor glass to their win dows, but they certainly lacked bath tubs and spoons, to say nothing of soap and towels. Brooms even were lacking to those ancestral homes. The floors went unswept for so many cen turies that finally, the Black Death broke out and taught hygiene by slaughtering half the population, of Europe. In those baronial halls domestic affairs went on about the' same as in the days of Homer. Domestic progress has always lagged behind everything else but politics. The lady of the house spun and wove with her maidens like Penelope In the pal ace of Ulysses. The clothing for the family was made- at home and the year's provisions were provided, and cured in the kitchen. Naturally, the dwelling was planned with these in dustries In mind- Since cleanliness was not valued, no arrangements were made for It. Eating being the foremost necessity everything cen tered around the storehouse and kitchen. There was a workroom, where clothingwas spun and woven and Inasmuch, as predatory foes swarmed roundabout, the structure had to be built strong enough to keep them out. Mr. Sachs has no armed enemy to fear, so he need not think of drawbridges and moats around his third-of-an-acre flat. His windows open freely to the light and air, while those of his medieval ancestors, if he had such, were cut narrowly through' deep walls of solid stone and Intended to let missiles out rather than sunlight in. The prevalence of peace has modified our domestic ar chitecture as much as the transfor mation of industry has. What these and other factors will finally make of It is for the future to reveal. Every experiment on a scale as magnificent as Mr. Sachs' naturally brings us nearer to the Ideal. Chairman Barnes, of the New York Republican committee, expresses fear of an alliance between Tammany and the Progressives to organize the As sembly. What he really seems to fear Is that the Republican majority will not unite to accept his dictation, and that some progressive Republi cans will join progressive Democrats and third party men to overthrow his machine. If the Republicans should not unite, it will be because of a re volt against Mr. Barnes. The City of Guayaquil, which is no toriously the worst pest hole In the world, is cleaning up. The inspiration under which it is moving toward san ltarlness flows from Colonel William C. Gorgas. His victories over filth and disease on the Isthmus have touched a responsive chord in Ecuador and the citizens of Guayaquil are at last ashamed of their hoary slums. Per haps Centralia will take a lesson from this South American awakening. The project of seeking a home mar ket for Portland's water bonds de serves commendation. Interest paid to residents and spent here fertilizes the trade of the town. An issue of bonds marketed in Portland would provide means to push forward water improvements at a season when labor is plentiful and wages moderate. Thus we might be in a measure inde pendent of stringent money conditions elsewhere. The Interstate Commerce Commis sion's report 13 pronounced ""dry as Sahara" by the Brooklyn Eagle. It might take a hint from heads of de partments and other bodies and make a readable summary of Its year's work and its recommendations, adding the dry details for the benefit of those who are particularly concerned. A re port in the shape in which it Is pre sented is the next worst thing to no report at all. Awful consequences to the scenery are foreseen by the New York Bun as a result of Mrs. Pankhurst's visit to Switzerland, for It says: Switzerland has been getting too funicular and vlllatlc. When the mountains look on Emmellna they will see how a piece of aus tere and awful scenery should look. The Jungfrau looks ashamed of herself. The avalanches get ready for a raking and a shaking down. Pllatus Is clothed in goose flesh and all the acres of Swiss cheese are sour. One of the crying needs of the day is a supply of trained managers for co-operative enterprises such as stores, fruitgrowers' associations and dairies. When these fail it is usually because the managers are Incompetent. If the Agricultural College has not already provided a course in co-operative man agement it will doubtless do so be fore a great while. Foreign missionaries are to be espe. clally trained. They should be sure to train down to their lowest possible weight, especially for service among aborigines. Work is now available for every unemployed man who will accept it. That fact, however, will not fully rout the army of the unemployed. 'Gold production fell off heavily in 1913. But since the production of farm produce Increased wonderfully we may be able to struggle along. And what did Harry Thaw get in hit stocking assorted nuts Boston 'i ranscript. Probably a writ of habeas corpus and a sheaf of lawyers' bills. Turkey Is said to be preparing for war with Greece. Those Turks don't seem ever to get tired of running. President Wilson has learned first hand from John Lind how he restored peace in- Mexico. A Baker man paid a gambling debt In mining stock. That's trimming the trimmers. New York officials must let actions, not words, speak for them. That Isn't politics. Costly terminal improvements are In prospect. The New Year sets In auspiciously. Jack the Hugger Is abroad again Wait till he accosts a woman athlete! About time to make another de mand for Huerta's resignation. John D. gave away $7000. man will bankrupt himself yet. That It is only humane to let the Mex ican defenders leave Mexico. The pigskin now Joins the horse- hide among the mothballs. Our Bud has been nipped in the bud once again. Clad we're, not in stormy California. RESPONSIBILITY FOB BAD ROADS Cnt rjUam Contributor Agrees That Blame ltrsts on Taxpayers. GRESHAM, Or.. Dec 31. (To the Edi tor.) I desire to call attention to two editorials appearing in different col umns of The Oregonian recently. It occurs to us that there Is a little In consistency in the relation of the two items. Inasmuch as one commends an Eastern Oregon paper for placing the blame for the useless waste of road funds where it rightfully belongs, that is, with the taxpayers themselves, while a brief item casts reflections on the ability of our district road supervisors as road builders. I am very much Inclined to defend the attitude assumed by the Eastern Oregon paper. Under the Oregon sys tem of making laws, the fault unques tionably lies with the taxpayers them selves and no one else, and, until the taxpayer takes sufficient Interest in. his roads to work out a scientific system of constructing roads, the waste of funds will go on and on indefinitely. Under our present system each road district is apportioned so much money. according to the assessed valuation of property In the district. Oftentimes this apportionment is not sufficient to build and keep the bridges in repair in the district. Yet the much-abused road su pervisor (I am not a road supervisor and never have been) is expected not only to keep the bridges In repair, but also build and maintain from 20 to 50 miles of road, and if he fails to do this, the taxpayers call mass meetings and express, their Indignation at what they are pleased to term "waste of their tax money." And every mother's son of them that has a piece of crossroad run ning past his place will demand and insist that his pro rata of the fund be expended on this particular piece of crossroad. Further to emphasize their demands they appoint a committee, with power (-to act, to go before the Board of County (jommlsstoners, wbo are as helpless to aid them as Is the road supervisor. Let us be consistent in this .matter of building roads. Let all the commer cial organizations, civic improvement clubs, all the newspapers, city and country, all the farm periodicals, county ana state omclals unite in a get-to gether campaign of education on this question of building public highways and it will not be long until the prob lem is solved. G. N. SAGER, The Oregonian agrees with the cor respondent that the taxpayers them selves are largely and primarily re sponsible for waste of road funds, but still It falls to see much inconsistency between this statement and the second editorial paragraph referred to. That paragraph in commiserating with the rural carrier stated that many Oregon roads are a disgrace to the supervisors who make them. The supervisor can not wholly be excused simply because the taxpayers who have the power have not compelled him to do good work. NEW BOlRB BILL IS ASSAILED. Sir. Banec Contends Paid Circulator Is Reliance of Workers. PORTLAND. Op.. Jan. 2. (To the Ed itor.) With regard to circulating pe titions it may seem presumptuous for a man of meager standing to speak in opposition to ex-Senator Bourne, yet a aurerent station In life enables us to see things from a different view point. Just how Mr. Bourne can stretch his conscience to believe in the initiative and referendum, with all it means for political Justice and economic freedom. and then intimate by letter to the pub lic press that the citizen is Incapable of casting an intelligent vote, as his veiled declarations by letter indicate, is a puzzle to right thinking. Does Mr. Bourne think that the In itiative of any measure has any actual bearing on the demand for its becoming a law? Must such things be guarded by a competent 8 per cent, or do the elec torate decide this matter? If Mr. Bourne has this idea of the initiative h surely has not gotten very far away from the old precinct boss and slated convention. Petition circulating for compensation, by a paid circulator is as legitimate, fair and honorable as the drafting of any measure by any compensated at torney. Workingmen have not the time or opportunity to lay down their daily task and give all their time to petition circulating, even though it be favorable to their class. They can, however, by stinting themselves, give of their wage to compensate a paid circulator, who may forfeit his job through serving as a paid circulator. If all were Johnathan Bournes with financial standing that guaranteed their livelihood wrung from the toil of some mystic nobody, they might agree with Mr. Bourne that each individual cir culate the petition for each special law of his own fancy. To say signatures gotten by a paid circulator are not representative of the electorate Is to cast reflection upon the citizen. It is not necessary, legally or otherwise, that I favor or even understand the merits of the measure that I ask to be submitted. Frankly I confess that I do not know everything and for that reason I am anxious to learn. Who pays the expense of these measures, outside of the Ink and extra paper used therein? Surely not the state. Is not the day of election and not the filling of the petition the trial of the merit of the measure and the legiti mate test of the law to be enacted or rejected? The working class are now provided with the law making power. Surely but slowly they are learning to use it. They will not willingly yield to spe cial privilege laws that limit their power. The cure for democracy is more democracy. C. W. BARZEE. Risks for Lotc! Sake. Puok. Henry Yallerby Aftah we's married, we'll hab chicken foh dlnnah ebery day, honey. Melinda Johnson Oh, yo' deary! But I wouldn't ask yo' to take no sech risks foh mab sake! Her Model Son at School. New York Evening Post. First Fond Mother My Reginald has to have a new set of school books every year. Second F. M. He should take Harold for a model. My Harold always stays in the same books for three years. Breaking; It to Him Gently. Buffalo (N. Y.) Express. The Information editor received this letter from a fresh youth: "Kindly tell me why a girl always closes her eyes when a fellow kisses her." The editor replied: "If you will send us your photography we may be able to tell you the reason." Gift for a Golden Wedding. Boston Transcript. Bix What did you give the Scrap plngtons for their golden wedding?" Dlx A book entitled "Fifty Years of Conflict." Entertaining; a Man-Visitor. Woman's Home Cbmpanlon. Mr. Staylate The other night I heard a story that gave me such a start. Miss Muchbored I wish I knew It. What One Saves. Atchison Globe. Some money. people save trash instead of Ha as Raw Material. Atchison Globe. Aunt Jane (single) says that so many men are Just raw material. Maybe It Is Just as Well. . Atchison Globe. Everj one is enthusiastlg at first. SOME OF" T. It's" INCONSISTENCIES Contributor' Compares History Wlth Ex-President's Late Writings. KELSO, Wash.. Jan. 1. (To the Editor.) 1 have often wondered how such men and women as Lyman Abbot and Jane Addams were led to espouse the cause of Colonel Roosevelt in the 1912 campaign and after reading Roosevelt's story as given in The Ore gonian of last Sunday, I still wonder how they were deceived by such a subtle argument as that given, the very subtleness of which was and is evldnnce of its bad faith. In 1904 Roosevelt gave out the dec laration that the wise custom which limits the President to two terms re gards the substance and not the power and under no circumstances will ' he again be a candidate for or accept another nomination for President. In 1913 Roosevelt says that the tre mendous power which a President may exert to effect his own nomination falls from him the moment his term expires and that therefore the wise custom which limits the President to two terms loses Its potency and la In valid. It would be unwise, he says, to limit by statute the number of terms a President may serve, as in times of great National peril It might serve to deprive the Nation of the one best fitted to serve it. and I fully agree with him, but I do not agree with him that such an argument obtains to clear his conduct in 1912. In the teeth of a practically unani mous demand from the Republican party he claims that he could not do other than he did. Granting that the demand - was practically unanimous, what is there about that that clears his conduct? Was It impossible for him to rise to the situation, forget self and place his tremendous influ ence behind one of the many Pro gressive Republicans capable of car rying on the work started by blm? The only rational answer is yes. But why. If the call was practically unani ous, was not Roosevelt selected? Where did the call come from? Did It come from the Republican machine? The machine was In oontrol at Chi cago, according to Roosevelt. Why, then, wasn't he nominated? Did it come from the Republican electorate? The Republican electorate had the privilege of voting for Roosevelt at the polls. Why was he defeated? Screw loose somewhere. Perhaps In the unperfected Roosevelt machine. But we were led to believe that Roosevelt didn't believe in machine politics. Perhaps that is only when the machine is in control of an anti- Roosevelt man. Roosevelt says that the wise cus torn which limits the President to two terms regards the substance and not the power. What is the Bubstance of that custom? The custom as start ed by Washington was for the pur pose of protecting the Republic against unscrupulous politicians, who might endeavor to make a private asset of the great office by using the tremen dous power of the office to effect his own continued election. But is that the full substance -of the custom? Does the mere skipping of a term make that custom invalid? Is it not possible for a President to carry a large part of the power which he holds In office with him to his private life? Roosevelt says no, but his pub lie record is an emphatic refutation of the denial. What was Roosevelt in 1900 compared to what he is today? How does Colonel Roosevelt recon cile his unequivocal approval of Taft given at tho Saratoga conven tion and his approval of the Canadian reciprocity treaty with his subsequent conduct? In what way does he excuse his deserting La Follette after having promised his help? P. S. W. THE MOTHER'S REWARD. She pressed him closely to her breast. And curled his golden hair. Believing she was nobly blest While he lay sleeping there. She bore him when her faith was new. And nursed him tenderly; But had forgotten babies grew. And often struggled free. So, as the years grew on apace. With student cap and gown. She saw him win the college race. And don the laurel crown. She heard the people laud his name; It echoed round the world; The while he sat in halls of fame This babe whose hair she curled. Ah. they had known It all along. They dragged him from his chair, But it was cruel, it was wrong. To leave her lonely there. One night she heard the students cheer And followed with the crowd. Not knowing whom they went to hear. Or why they cheered so loud. A voice resounded thro' the hall. Intoned with eloquence A voice she thought could ne'er en thrall So vast an audience. But when they orank In all he said. Spellbound and tense with Joy, Her throbbing heart was turned to lead Where was her Baby Boy? G. O. FREEMAN. Portland, December, 1913. Black riagne Law. VALE, Or.. Dec. SO. (To the Edi tor.) At various times there has been recommended and agitated in. and out of Legislative assemblies of different states provisions to compel the report ing on the part of physicians of all venereal diseases as being contagious Land Infections within 24 hours after coming under their notice. This pro vision has been adopted in at least one state under the name of "black plague law." I wish to bespeak a good word for this law, as to have these reports is the right of society for its own protec tion. However, in this provision should be one to compel the reporting of those applying to their "druggist friend" as a certain per cent of these cases do In their lnclplency. F. L. WILLIAMS, M. D. Bible and War. PORTLAND, Jan. 2. (To the Editor.) In The Oregonian December 25 ap peared an article signed L. L. Bush in regard to war and peace, prophesying that wars will become obsolete. I would like to suggest to Mr. Bush and others who believe the same way, that they look up what the Bible says on this subject and note in Micah iv:2-3 also verses 12 and 13 what "many nations shall say" and in Isaiah 11:2-3-4 what "many people will say" namely that In the last days they will predict that war shall become obsolete, just as your correspondent predicts and then see what the Lord "has spoken" as recorded in Joel iil:9. This is a most Interesting study and will repay anyone to look up. READER. Troubles of at Financier. . New York Weekly. Jim Say, Fred old boy, I'm looking for some friend who will loan me 10. Come, now can't you be of assistance? Fred Certainly. Jim Thank you ever so much. Fred Yes, It's going to rain, and If you'll step over to my office I'll lend you an old umbrella so you won't get wet while you're looking. Hew It Is In Literary Boston. Boston Transcript. Library Attendant A foreign-looking woman came in today and asked for "cottage cheese." Friend Ha! Did she think the library was a grocery Btore? L. A. No; after some question, ing I found out that she wanted. "Scot tish, .Chiefs,''- . - . Twenty-five Years Ago From The Oregonian of January 8. 18S9. Ellensburg. W. T- Jan. 2. Delegates have been arriving all day from all parts of the territory to attend the statehood convention tomorrow.- Olympla, Jan. 2 The stage from Montesano was held up this evening at Bush Prairie and the treasure box of the Northwestern Express Company and the mailbags were taken by the rob ber. The driver is N. L. Inman. Walla Walla, Jan. 2. There will be a mass meeting of the citizens of the northern half of Umatilla County at Milton tomorrow in the Interest of division of the county. There was a meeting of the City Board of Charities at Masonic Hall last night. The report of the committee showed an enrolled membership of 350 and subscriptions of $3006. The committee appointed to draft a charter consolidating the cities of Port land, East Portland and Alblna met at the Council rooms yesterday. There were present Mayor Van B. Do Lash- mutt and City Attorney William If. Adams, of Portland; Mayor 13. C. Wheeler and City Attorney J. V. Beach, of East Portland: Mayor D. M. Mc. Laughlln and City Attorney P. L. Willis, of Alblna, and II. W. Corbett, repre senting the Portland Board of Trade. The marriage of Miss Alice M. Win ters, of Sunnyslde. and Aunust Miebus. of Portland, took place at the residence of the bride's parents on Tuesday, Rev. S. P. Davis, of Mount Tabor, officiating. Half a Century Ago From Tha Oregonian of Jan. 4, 1864. We learn from Sheriff Ladd that a man 'named Kittemore shot John 0. Hess at Sauvie's Island on Saturday evening. Dr. Bellows has received from Char lotte Cushman, the actress, $8267 ns a. donation to the Sanitary Commission. She had received it by giving dramatic performances in some of the Eastern cities. Washington,' Dec. 20. The report ot the commissioner appointed by the Navy Department showing the prac ticability of using petroleum to gen erate steam has proved satisfactory. Charleston, Dec. 18. The Ironsides and three monitors, while attempting to pass the obstructions, became en tangled. The Ironsides will probably have to be abandoned. The monitors are also badly disabled. The California Senate adopted a res olution instructing the delegation in Congress to procure passage of a law granting National assistance In right-of-way, grant of land and bonds to tho companies about to undertake con struction of the Oregon & California Hailroad. The Portland Daily Union. Under this title a new paper appeared on Sat urday, published by several practical printers. New Year's eve at Belpassi Tho school under the charge of Professor E. P. Henderson gave a very interesting exhibition last Thursday evening. Tha pupils of Columbus Brown and Misses C. and E. Brown especially deservu mention. To our city subscribers M. M. Southworth will from today carry on the route south of Alder street and J. M. Doherty north of the same line. The ship Oreg.on has risen from her bed, steamed to the mouth of the Wil lamette, received once more her freight and passengers and gone on her way. We notice with much pleasure the ef forts now being put forth by members of the Various evangelical denomina tions towards forming a Young Men's Christian Association In Portland. Hands In Wild Ace. ASTORIA. Or., Dec. 31. (To tho Edi tor.) We all admit that a royal tlu&U is tho highest hand in a card game of draw poker, but to settle the question for all time, we ask you to have your authority on card games tell us If tho same hand, a royal flush. Is higher than five kings in the game of wild ace. T. STEVENS. As wild ace is ordinarily played thero are no bands not possible to hold in ordinary draw poker. Occasionally "fives" are admitted by previous agree ment, but in a conflict of values the established poker hand takes prece dence over the hand made up with aces. Thus the royal Mush beats five kings. Plain Hint to Late Caller. St. Louis (Mo.) Dispatoh. "Is that clock right?" asked the visi tor, who had already outstayed his wel come. His hostess yawned. "Oh, no!" she said. "That's the clock we always call the Visitor." The obdurate one sat down again. "The Visitor?" he- remarked. "What a curious name to give a clock." . His hostess ventured an explanation. "You see." she cooed sweetly, "we call It that because we can never make it go." And even then he failed to see the ooint. Sunday Features Skiing on Mount Hood is the thrilling sport that is described in a snappy article by the well known writer, Anne Shannon Monroe. Birds in Winter need care, protection and occasional help. You will be especiully interested in this illustrated article. News Snapshots taken by keen photographers in many parts of the world, present true pictures of recent noteworthy occurrences. Gaby Deslys, the vivacous lit tle actress, is interviewed by th camera man, along with some of her most striking gowns. Grants Pass' Progress is an other chapter in the story of en terprising and thrifty Oregon towns. 'Centenaries of 1914 are ' counted by the score. A page of it to keep for reference. Il lustrated. Henpecked Husbands have formed one of the most unusual of clubs and will insist upon their rights as mere men. Tipping is investigated by that gentle cynic, George V. Hobart, in the best article yet from his pen. In the E,oosevelt Autobiogra phy another chapter is devoted to policies of the first Roose velt administration. These are but a ferw of a great array of splendid features. Order today of your newsdealer.