8
THE MORNING OREGOXIAN. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1914.
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rORTLAXn, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18. 1914.
MR. BOOTH TOR SENATOR.
The Oregonlan commends to the
people of Oregon the candidacy of
Robert A. Booth to be United States
Senator. Mr. Booth is a native son
of Oregon. He has lived here through
the entire fifty-dive years of his life.
He is widely known. He is in a re
markable way an example of the
self-made man. But he is more. He
is a creator and builder of in
dustry and an important contrib
utor through personal service and
through large commercial enterprise
to the welfare of the state. He la
. pioneer in a large way the pioneer
in the manufacture of lumber for
export from the Willamette Valley.
He has given much to the public and
he has asked and had nothing except
the legitimate reward .of honest ef
fort. He has fouid time through a
busy life to take an honorable and
useful part in public affairs, and he
has given bountifully of his own en
ergy and fortune to the promotion of
many worthy causes.
Mr. Booth would be the last person
to make an appeal for public recogni
tion on the basij of his charities and
philanthropies; but in any estimate of
the man or record of his career they
must be mentioned. He has a high
place In the recent political and in
dustrial history of Oregon and he has
at all times demonstrated his thor
ough capacity and his genuine in
tegrity. He has exceptional personal
force and an unusual understanding
of effective ways to get things done.
He will make a useful Senator. For
these special reasons The Oregonlan
will support him.
But there are broader reasons of
political and general expediency that
t seem to make of Mr. Booth a wholly
' available candidate. They arise out
of the demoralized condition of our
politics and of, the widespread appre
ciation of the state's need of aggres
sive and impressive representation at
Washington. Mr. Booth's nomination
would go far to unite the Republican
party and his election would do much
to restore to Oregon the prestige it
has lost at Washington. Mr. Booth is
a Republican, but he Is in no narrow
or offensive sense a partisan. The
State of Oregon Is Republican, by a
large majority, and the Senatorship is
in a. broad and correct way a politi
cal office; yet the State of Oregon is
now represented at Washington by
two Democratic Senators, who have
not hesitated tc align themselves in
all partisan concerns with the Demo
cratic party. There is growing im
patience with a situation that does
not reflect the real political senti
ment of Oregon and that can be cured
only through conciliation and through
a well-directed impulse toward a com
mon understanding among the various
elements of the Republican party,
constituting by far the greater part of
the state's citizens.
It is time for new men and a new
spirit among Republicans. It is nec
essary that the old prejudices be dis
carded and a new harmony be sub
stituted. The reorganization of the
Republican party cannot easily be af
fected through adherence either to
old methods or old leaders; but it
may be done by impressing into serv
ice new leaders, who have not been
identified with faction and who de
serve, and in a large measure have,
the confidence of the rank and file.
It is the understanding of The Ore
gonlan that Mr. Booth has not will
ingly consented to become a candidate
for Senator. He had withdrawn from
the most onerous part of his business
responsibilities and had set about to
devote himself to his private affairs,
which Included a plan to foster cer
tain semi-public activities. But there
came to him a genuine call from his
friends and neighbors, repeated by
others who had knowledge of and
respect for his qualities, to enter pub
lic life. He yielded through a sense
of duty, and for no other reason.
The Oregonian is aware that an at
tempt will be made, as it has already
been made, to discredit the move
ment to induce Mr. Booth to become
a candidate, on the assumption that
it wag "worked up"; but it is in posi
tion to know that its inspiration came
wholly from men who were sincerely
concerned in the welfare of the state
and who had a deep conviction that
Mr. Booth was the man of the hour.
The invitation to him came from such
men. It had its initiative in a public
gathering at Mr. Booth's home in Eu
gene, where the formal request was
made that he become a candidate for
Senator. After Mr. Booth had as
sured himself that the favorable sen
timent toward his candidacy was gen
eral In the state, he gave affirmative
response.
The candidacy of Mr. Booth ought
to be received with satisfaction by all
good men and women throughout
Oregon. He is a resident of a minor
city, but he is in the truest eense a
citizen of the state. He is a church
man, but he is no bigot. He is a Re
publican, but he is nevertheless a rea,l
democrat, with broad sympathy for
the worthy laborer and with no kind
of tolerance for the oppressions of
no-called capitalism. He is an em
ployer, but he has always been a
worker and he has done much by ex
ample and by constructive policy to
bring about mutual confidence be
tween employer and employed. He
has amassed through legitimate and
open methods a competency, but he
has given much to education, to re
ligion and to charity: and he has
helped many a struggling young man
and woman to become efficient and
self-reliant members of society. He
has been a legislator, but in that ca
pacity he has known no interest but
the public Interest. He is and he has
always been a good citizen, consid
erate of the opinions of others and
genuinely anxious to serve his fel
lows. He has- outright convictions on
mora questions and on political is
sues; and he knows how to express
them and he does express them. He
would, without question, make his
way at AVashington Into a position
where he would command the confi
dence and respect of Congress and of
the National Administration.
The Oregonian thinks the state
needs such a man as Mr. Booth for
Senator.
THE ALBANIAN PRINCE.
The principality of Albania pre
sents a" curious puzzle to European
diplomacy. In the late Balkan War
the allies had their pins all set to
divide up Albania at the conclusion
of peace, but we know what happens
to the best laid plans of mice and
men. Servia was naturally to get
the biggest slice. Greece was to have
the southern end, which corresponds
to ancient Epirus, while little Monte
negro was to enjoy the fruits of its
victories in the north.
But at ' the close of the war the
European powers decreed an entirely
different disposal of Albania. They
erected the province into an autono
mous principality and set over it for
ruler the Prince of Wied, whose name
betrays, his German origin. This mag
nate has not yet assumed his princely
duties in Albania and for the best
of reasons. He is afraid of his loving
subjects. They are all gunmen, who
are usually eager to shoot and seldom
miss their mark. They feel insu
perable objections to paying taxes,
preferring to murder the assessors.
The inhabitants are of three different
religions and speak at least three lan
guages. In the north end we find a popula
tion of so-called Christians who never
go outdoors without a full panoply
of guns and daggers. Each little
neighborhood has its own valiant
chieftain, who is a hot candidate for
the throne of the country and his
people all stand by him so faithfully
that they are ready to kill the Prince
of Wied or anybody else at a mo
ment's notice. The middle belt is
Mohammedan and stands by Turkey
in sentiment, but not to the point of
paying taxes.
This blight upon manhood they gal
lantly fight clear of. It has also an
active candidate for the throne who
goes about with his gun cocked, cry
ing, "Where is this Prince of Wied?
Just let me get sight of him." The
south end of Albania wants to be an
nexed to Greece, where it belongs
ethnically and geographically. More
over, it is in a fighting mood against
any other settlement. The Prince of
Wied, as we perceive, will find an
entertaining welcome when he lands
at Durazzo, as we are told he soon
will do. May blessings attend his
progress among his loving subjects.
FLYING AROUND THE WOLRD.
While the proposed aeroplane race
around the world serves to emphasize
the wonderful advancement man has
made in his conquest of the air, yet
there can be little doubt but that this
is rather too much of an undertaking.
In the past ten years the flying craft
has become an institution. No longer
is it an experiment, for practical use
is made of the flying device.
But the trip around the world is
unnecessarily perilous and a long
stride forward from the present stage
of development of the aeroplane. The
oceans have not yet been conquered.
Transcontinental flights have been
made with infrequency and more or
less difficultjv In attempting to cir
cumnavigate the globe multitudes of
difficulties and dangers not met with
in the transcontinental trip will have
to be overcome. The problem of sup
plies in strange countries and in cross,
ing. remote bodies of water would be
difficult to meet.
No doubt staunch spirits can be re
cruited in plenty to make the desper
ate and ' dangerous hazard. Nothing
appears to daunt the aeronaut. Given
the necessary support and encourage
ment he would not hesitate to court
fame and wealth in a trip around the
globe. However, it is asking too much
of him and exposing him to unnec
essary danger.
The suggestion of the Aeronautical
Society that the trip be changed to
a transcontinental race is an excellent
one. The trip across the American
continent is practical and at the same
time big and spectacular enough for
all purposes of proving the effective
ness of flying craft. Success would
be more probable and the hazard to
life far less.
APPLYING A NEW POLICY.
President Wilson has interpreted his
policy of not recognizing South Amerl.
can governments which are established
by force so as to permit recognition of
the revolutionary government which
has overthrown President Billinghurst
in Peru. He holds that the process of
setting up the latest provisional gov
ernment was constitutional in every
way, because Billinghurst had set
aside the Congress and was discharg
ing his duties unconstitutionally, while
the Congress, the Supreme Court and
all the constitutional authorities had
approved his overthrow.
Mrjre light is thrown on the cause
and circumstances of the revolution by
an article in the Outlook. Billing
hurst is a native of Peru, being the
son of an English father and a Peru
vian mother. He rendered distin
guished service in the war with Chile,
won the admiration of both govern
ments by his reconstruction of the
ceded province of Tarapaca, as Mayor
of Lima made great sanitary reforms
and was elected Vice-President and
finally President in May, 1912. His
trouble with Congress was due to his
efforts to introduce economy in ad
ministration. Last July ho submitted
an economical budget, which Con
gress refused to sanction and which
he finally put in operation by decree
last December. He received many pe
titions from the provinces asking him
to dissolve Congress and his decision
to do so at the beginning of February
provoked the revolution.
Congress, says the Outlook, "decided
to undertake the defense of the con
stitution as it interpreted it," chose
Dr. Augusto Durand, who had led two
former rei'olutions, as their leader,
and asked the support of the army.
The Outlook explains the success of
the revolution with this sentence:
"With visions of more liberal dealings
the soldiers Immediately responded
and went to the palace to ask the
President to resign." He resigned and
Congress has decided to name a gov
erning board pending provisions for
a new election.
Billinghurst's whole record and the
causes of his downfall show him to be
a progressive, while his enemies are
defenders of the spoils system, to
whom economy is abhorrent. The lat
ter have the support of the Supreme
Court, but those who are familiar with
South American history know what
that means. Castro got any decisions
he wished from the- Venezuelan Su
preme Court on foreign claims and
Huerta's Juggling with elections in
Mexico has not called forth any ad
verse decrees from the Supreme
Court of that country. The Su
preme Court interprets the consti
tution according to the wishes of the
party in control, and that party is al
ways the one which secures the back
ing of the army by making the most
liberal promises.
How little regard the revolutionists
have for the constitution of Peru ap
pears from the fact that they propose
to elect a new President, though Peru
has first and second Vice-Presidents,
who are In lin. for succession to a
vacancy in the Presidency. They pass
over these officials for the probable
reason that the latter are men of the
Billinghurst type, and they will hold
a new election at which they will
doubtless take care that a man of
their own type is successful.
Since the war with Chile there have
been few changes of President without
revolution and though the country
has had three constitutions, they have
been set aside whenever the stronger
party wanted a short cut to power.
If Billinghurst violated the constitu
tion in order to effectuate reform, his
foes did likewise in order to depose
him. Yet President Wilson recognizes
the reactionaries who seize the gov
ernment by force and turns down the
progressive, Billinghurst. His action is
inconsistent with the principle he has
laid down and the circumstances at
Lima prove the impossibility of apply
ing it to countries which set aside the
constitution whenever it hinders im
mediate execution of their will.
Why treat Peru differently from
Mexico? In the latter country Huerta
is-supported by Congress and the Su
preme Court, but is not recognized;
in the former the revolutionists are
supported by the same bodies and for
that reason are recognized. Why make
fish of one and flesh of the other?
SOWING THE SEED OF THRIFT.
A savings bank at Evanston, 111.,
has adopted an ingenious device to
stimulate business.. It advertises that
it will place $1 to the credit of every
baby born in that city and advices
parents to add on each birthday $1
for each year of the child's age until
it is 21, and to allow the money to
accumulate at compound Interest.
The Chicago Inter-Ocean has gone
to the pains of calculating the total
which would stand to the child's
credit on its twenty-first birthday, in
cluding $21 deposited on that day.
The total is $284.59, of which $231
would be principal and $53.59 inter
est compounded at 3 per cent. That
illustrates how money grows and is
a valuable lesson in thrift.
But the scheme is good for the
bank also. If only half the parents
follow its advice by continuing to
make deposits the bank will gain the
handling of this amount of savings
for an average period of ten and one
half years by an investment of $2. It
will probably gain more, for many
parents would deposit larger sums to
their children's credit and as the chil
dren grew up many of them would
add their own earnings to the fund.
The habit of thrift Is "catching" and
the parents would be apt to open ac
counts for themselves and for children
who were born before the bank an
nounced its plan. The bank is thus
sowing seed from which will grow
a yearly increasing crop of deposits
upon which it will take its just toll.
MERELY A DREAM.
Mayor Albee Is for the Market
block as the site for the Auditorium
as It appears he has always been
provided there are no legal complica
tions. -If there are legal complications, of
any kind, they have been found here
tofore to exist only in the Imagina
tions of anxious citizens who wanted
the Auditorium to be somewhere else,
or nowhere.
The original purpose of the dedica
tion, it seems, was as a site for a free
market. But long ago the city pro
cured' from the original donor Colo
nel W. W. Chapman a clear warran
ty deed with no conditions of any
kind, and paid him' a substantial sum
therefor. That would appear to dis
pose of the whole "legal complication"
bugaboo; but if it does not, it is yet
to be recalled that the so-called Mar
ket block was for a great many years,
beginning in the '70s, the location of
the old Mechanics' Fair pavilion. It
was the early-day Auditorium of
Portland. No one then ever heard or
thought that it was being used for
an inappropriate or illegal purpose.
Now it is suggested that, If it is nec
essary to reduce the plans of the pro
posed Auditorium to - a one-block
compass, the architects' fee of $17,000,
more or less, heretofore paid, will be
lost. It is therefore proposed, appar
ently in order to save this fee, to go
to the .East Side and spend $55,000
for a two-block site. What sort of
business Is that?. The public mind Is
settling to the Market site. The ma
jority of the Commission is favorable.
The Market block will be found to be
free from legal obstacles.
If there is still any talk of the ref
erendum in. the event the Market
block Is again decided upon it may be
well to recall that the Auditorium was
once located on that site by city or
dinance and the matter is beyond the
reach of any referendum, unless that
ordinance be repealed.
In any event the strange dream of
an Auditorium a mile and a. half from
where It should be will soon be over.
A LIVE PRINCIPAL.
Principal Beverldge, of Medford,
lias clever ideas about teaching civics.
Usually that branch of knowledge is
taught from a textbook which pre
sents a cut-and-drled theory without
much relation to practice. The boys
and girls learn an abstractly mathe
matical account of our National and
local governments, which is totally
unlike the actual workings of applied
politics. The election of a President
on the immaculate page of the text
book is something very unlike the
process "that goes on in the conven
tions and among the voters. The
judiciary department is presented in
the classroom as the interpreter of
the laws and nothing else. In prac
tice our judges are often our most
active and potent lawmakers.
Principal Beveridge Is working out
a plan which will teach his pupils
actual, and not merel y theoretical,
civics. An election is to be held and,
after a lively campaign, city officers
are to be chosen. We understand that
the play "will approach reality as
closely as sound morals permit. It
ought to be highly instructive to the
young people. Even their parents
might learn something, from the ex
periment If they could be persuaded
to take a hand In the game.
There la no reason why Mr. Bev
eridge should not extend his lesson in
civics far beyond the confines of city
affairs. He might hold a state or
even a federal election with the es
sential details all attended to. He
might enact a session of the Legisla
ture On the Stare of his unhnnlrnnm
He might dramatize the entire ma
chinery of government and if he
should do so we foretell an amazing
growth of interest and mental profit
in his classes.,
By the sudden, tragic death of Dr.
Llnklater Oregon has lost one of the
best representatives of the country
physician. By his 80 years' residence
in Hlllsboro he became an institution
In Washington County and knew the
family history of many of the resi
dents. Often called In emergencies to
remote farms, he must by being
thrown on his own resources, unaided
by consultation or by specialists, have
acquired a self-reliance and a broad,
general experience not possessed by
many of his city brethren. What high
rank these circumstances gave him in
his profession is shown by the fre
quency with which he was called to
the city for consultation. He was very
close to the hearts of the people, for
he must have eased the last hours of
many a grandfather whose sons and
daughters he attended and whose
grandchildren he ushered into the
world. As the pastor is father to his
flock spiritually, so was Dr. Llnklater
father to his flock physically and he
will be mourned in many a home
where he had ministered.
The University of Minnesota has
undertaken a promising piece of civic
work. It is going to make a model
town out of some down-at-the heel
village somewhere in (he state. The
professors of municipal research, engineering-
and economics will take a
hand, .while Mayor Nye, of Minne-.
apolis, is to help. They will lay out
the chsen town on a new and sci
entific plan, revise its water works,
beautify its public buildings and puri
fy its politics. We shall watch them
with a hopeful if somewhat skeptical
eye.
They maintain in Albany, New
York's capital, an "information bu
reau." whose work is peculiarly need
ed there, but would be desirable in
other legislative centers. Its purpose
Is to watch the Legislature and give
a full account of its doings to anyone
who wants to know. Each bill 13
catalogued, its origin traced, its- his
tory compiled and the Influences be
hind it brought to light. We can
think of other Legislatures whose
morals would be uplifted by such a
bureau.
The New Jersey girl who begs the
Governor of Oregon to find her "a
nlce husband" has applied in the
right place. Not that Governor West
shines very brightly as a matrimonial
agent, but think of the host of gal
lant and eager males from whom he
may choose. He couldn't choose amiss
If he tried. Before many months the
wise Jersey girl will be provided with
a model husband and we confidently
expect that she will come to Oregon
to live. It -must be a nice state that
produces dueh nice men.
There is an excited discussion in
the East over the recipe for corn
bread. Anybody can make corn bread
after a fashion, but we are talking
about the genuine golden confection
that fills the soul with visions of Par
adise and suffuses the stomach with
eupeptic bliss. So far as we can learn
this invaluable recipe has gone the
way of stained glass and tempered
copper. It is lost. If any ancient
New England dame remembers it she
can win a niche in the hall of fame
by publishing It. ,
In the news of the day we read
about an astute employer who has di
vided hia men Into two classes, 6heep
and goats. The sheep are the abstain
ers from strong drink. The goats are
the others. The abstainers are to get
10 per cent more pay than their bibu
lous fellow workmen. This is sound
morality and sound sense. Drink be
fuddles a man's brain and lessens his
muscular efficiency. The teetotaler
earns more than the tippler and it is
right for him to receive more.
Milton Miller is developing a line
of humor in the Collector's office. He
is sending Income tax statements to
country editors. Perhaps one reason
for his appointment of James Godfrey
was the latter's ability to estimate the
Value of cordwood taken on sub
scription. James has been sawing
wood these many years awaiting ap
pointment. Bleached bones of South American
explorers have been found in the
wilds. No, there were no nose glasses
and large teeth, so don't grow
alarmed.
In San Francisco there is a girl of
17 who has been married three times,
and yet we send missionaries to for
eign lands to reclaim the heathen.
Fifty Mississippi men took a mur
derer from a train and hanged him.
There are now fifty murderers where
there was but one.
Three gold nuggets found in a
can of baking ' powder at Eugene
ought to get a rise out of somebody.
The decision settles one thing:
That firemen do not toil all the time.
Some people may have been in doubt.
A boy was Bhipped from Nebraska
crated as a hog. There's surely a por
cine person in the boy's family.
A Georgia man had his life's sav
ings stolen from his office. There is
but one moral to this tale.
A' Brooklyn girl yesterday married
an Italian Duke. We trust she is not
going beyond her means.
A Lewlston man will ship a ton of
oats by parcel post. Cheerful news for
the parcel post carriers.
San Francisco pastors refused to ac
cept Dr. Aked'a resignation. Another
defeat for narrowness.
A New Jersey girl has written to
Oregon for a nice man. The Oregon
woods are full of 'em.
But should, the humane society let
that around-the-world flight proceed?
That Booth platform is one we can
approve at the polling booth.
" Burglars at Eugene burglarized a
church. Modest burglars.
One woman holds up another. That
is the true feminist spirit.
Registered?,
TYPIST'S JOB NOT WHAT IT WAS. I
Brleht Days of Good Pay Larerely Gone,
Says Male Stenographer.
PORTLAND, Feb. 16. (To the , Ed
itor.) I have read with considerable
interest the discussion in The Oregonlan
begun by "Stenographer," and so ably
replied to. We all must agree that the
present-day scale of wages, and our
modern standards of living, make it
sometimes imperative that the wife get
in the harness and add her share to the
family exchequer. There is, however.
one angle of this subject which neither
of your fair correspondents has pre
sented, and that Is the fact, proven by
statistics, that had not the gentler sex
taken up stenography, it would not now
be necessary for the male stenograph
er's wife or daughter to help bear the
family financial burden.
A really first-class male stenographer
is fortunate Indeed to command a sal
ary of $18 or $20 a week, and the aver
age pay Is far, far less than that. When
the writer first took up stenography,
several years ago, it was considered an
art or profession, not a minor office
"job" as at present, and the remunera
tion was in keeping with the high re
gard in which a good stenographer was
held; a mere beginner just out of school
had no difficulty in drawing $50 a
month, and after two or three years'
experience, he was Indeed backward if
his efficiency and skill was not worth
from $100 to $125. With such an In
come the average family, even today,
has no trouble In remaining a stranger
to the bill collector.
Aside from the economic question of
our girls and women entering the com
mercial field, a question too complex
to be discussed here, It Is a proven fact
that the average woman is physically
L-unflt for a busy stenographies position;
by this physical unfitness, the average
efficiency of stenographers aa a class
has been seriously Impaired, with a re
sultant general decrease in the average
standard of wages.
I do not desire by these remarks to
create the impression that our girls and
women are not wanted in our offices;
they are welcome -among us. married or
single, especially if they are forced into
the commercial field from necessity,
but, having entered our field on an
equal footing with us, they should be
willing to abide by the conditions which
they have largely helped to create.
Personally, I spent nearly three
months in this city in a vain search for
work at my. profession; I have worked
but two weeks, and need the money for
my wife and family, but have not gone
on record complaining because the
"other feller" had the Job in fact, to
prove I have no harsh feeling toward
those of the other sex in my line, I will
make the following offer: If "Steno
grapher" ia of sufficient skill to hold
down my position, give her my address
and let her call on me; if the boss is
willing, I will resign in her favor and
look for work elsewhere. "Don't mind
me; I'm used to it."
MALE STENOGRAPHER.
NO STORIES WITH "SWEAH-WORDS'
Mother Objects to Sentence Small Child
Heard In School.
PORTLAND, Feb. 14. (To the Edi
tor.) The other day my daughter, aged
9 years. In discussing school affairs
with me, as is our custom each day,
remarked that she did not think the
man in the story, "The Mien Without a
Country," used very good language
"You know," she observed, "he said
'Damn the country and everybody in
it." " And in answer to my astonished
look she calmly repeated the oath with
evident relish. Whereupon our 7-year
old took it up with the same satisfac
tion in having apparent authority to
use forbidden words.
I found on closer questioning that her
teacher had told (not read) this story
of E. E. Hale's, and it was from the
teacher's lips that the delectable sen
tence first came to my daughter's ears.
I have tried to get the teacher s view
point in this matter. Undoubtedly her
purpose was laudable; probably she
was actuated by principles of pure
patriotism in the telling of it, but I
think that no one will disagree with
me in thinking her vehicle was ill
chosen for fourth-grade pupils, and
that her selection fell so far short of
its purpose that the. only definite Ira
pression left on the minds of her hear
ers was this deplorable sentence. I am
confident that my child was not the
only one who remembered that to the
practical exclusion of the rest of the
story, nor was mine the only one quick
ly to seize and enjoy the opportunity
of saying "swear-words" with impun
ity.
' If this story is in the course of study
it should be so cut in the presentation
as to eliminate such an objectionable
feature. If it is not required, I serious
ly question the judgment of the teacher
In making this (selection. Surely, when
our literature Is filled with, beautiful,
patriotic stories, ' clothed in language
the purity of which is unquestioned, we
need not deliberately place an often
sive thing before young children for
any purpose whatsoever.
I am a D. A. R., the daughter of a
Civil War veteran, and my husband waa
in the Spanish-American War. I be
lieve "a country's a thing men should
die for at need," but to Instill that pa
triotism no 'one ever found it necessary
to tell me that once upon a time an
imaginary man said "Damn the coun
try and everybody In it."
WYONA FARGO SCOTT.
Hla Words at Parting.
New Orleans Picayune.
' "Henry," said the Sheriff to the
negro on the gallows, "have you any
thing to say?" "Yas, suh," said the
condemned man. "Tse got a few words
to say. I merely wishes td state dat
dis suttmly is go In' to be a lesson
to me!"
Threat In Pickle In til Christmas.
Judge.
"You don't seem to be as fond of
Charley Dawkins as you used to be."
"No, I admit that I don't care- for
him at all any more. Sometimes it
seems as if I just couldn't wait until
after Christmas to tell him so."
Spanish Treasure
By Dean Collins.
(King Alfonso has sent a letter of
thanks to Andrew Carnegie for a
diplodocus cast presented to the Mad
rid Museum of Natural History. News
Item.)
How gratitude in Spain must spring!
How happy is Alfonso!
Indeed it is a pretty thing
That Carnegie has done so! "
Now Spain may boast with pride
indeed
A pet of diplodocus breed.
The modern era's prince of peace.
And foe of bitter war.
Unto Alfonso doth release
This lovely dinosaur.
Joy must the heart of 'Fonso lift
Because of such a useful gift.
The woes of Spain must lighter grow;
Her troubles must subside.
Now that this useful beast doth go '
In Madrid to abide.
A brighter sun Illumes the sod
Since Andrew gave this sauropod.
What nation would not rise and sing,
Enrapt In heavenly blisses.
If it had just received a thing
As valu'ble as this Is?.
Just think! A life-like cast that shows
The diplodocus how he grows!
So let us share the joy of Spain,
And let no nvy choke us.
But join thom In their proud refrain.
And praise the diplodocus.
His wealth with care our Andy sifts,
And doth dispense auch pretty; rifts.
CONVENTION ON DRESS PROBLEM.
Woman Would Have Oregoa Insmge
Against Foreign Style Makers.
PORTLAND, Feb. 12. (To the Edi
tor.) E. M. A. writing In The Oregon
ian concerning women's dress certain
ly voices the sentiments of a large ma-
Jarlty of Portland women who, under
protest, feel constrained to adopt In a
measure such of the prevailing modes
as will safeguard them against unkind
criticism. In answer to her question.
jan any one ssuggest a dignified
way out?" will say that I have long
cherished a plan hoping for the time
to come when this slouchv "slonnv."
I believe is the popular term style of
habilaments with Its barbarous adorn
ments and riotous orgies of color had
run its course, and when our women.
properly clothed and in their right
minds, would put aside their foolish
pride and silly ambitions and would
walk, with freedom, in the broader
paths of common sense and reason.
Let us launch a campaign for the
original designing and creation of wo
men's and children's attire, such as will
express -our own tastes and require
ments suitable to climatic conditions,
the out-of-door life with all Its use
ful, healthful activities and the dig
nity and self-respect we feel when
well and becomingly, which means
naturally, attired.
We should exercise the "made-in-
Oregon" spirit in the way of employ
ment and development of home talent
in the art of designing and creating.
We have local artists of real ability
whose work is so "chic" that if labeled
Paris" and marked up 500 per cent on
its real money value would bring out
the loudest acclaim from those who
would gladly pay the exorbitant mar
gin for exclusiveness, thereby reserv
ing to Oregon her own in the way of
profits accrued. Would our merchants
send such vast amounts of money out
of the country if we, the women, did
not demand it?
In competition with the world, Ore
gon is fast coming to the front and it
should become our duty to standard
ize our products. Many of our wo
men win go East this year as delegates
to National and international conven
tions and it goes without saying that
they would reflect no discredit upon
their state if they attired themselves
exclusively in home-made creations.
Therefore, I would - suggest that a
public meeting be held for tne consid
eration of the dress problem and that
local modistes and milliners be invited
to exhibit Spring models or designs
of their respective work.
Though It has been demonstrated
through scientific investigation that.
aside from its absolute hideousness.
the present style of dress has developed
round shoulders, curvature of the spine,
narrow, flat chests and Ill-shaped feet,
yet there is just a modicum of good
to come out of it in the way of ex
panded waists, relieving the pressure
upon the internal organs. However, It
is common with many to wear the customary-sized
corset, padding out the
form to comply with present require
ments, the idea being that in time
fashion will demand a return to the
small waist and the "lines" must be
preserved. The limit has been- reached.
Our lessons have been learned. It is
time for the "worm to turn." M. E. S.
COMPANIES DESERVE NO SYMPATHY
Neglected Express Opportunities Are
Pointed Out by Contributor.
PORTLAND, FeW 12. (To the Edi
tor.) The proceedings before the
State Railroad Commissions of Oregon
and Washingon at the Courthouse were
very Interesting, as showing the mild
mannered behavior today of the ex
press' companies, who have seen and
read the handwriting on the wall. Mr.
Stockton, representing Wells-Fargo,
admits that the postal authorities have
taken one-third of the business in
which they were in competition with
the express companies, and the new
rates promulgated by the Interstate
Commerce Commission take another
slice of their earnings. Now the ex
press companies will see if they can
make a living. Mr. Stockton says that
the companies desire to please the
public, and they propose to strive to
ward greater efficiency and economy
of operation.
A few weeks ago I called attention
to one field that the express com
panies leave unworked, and their con
duct is so -flagrant that it would seem
that in one important particular they
have not yet realized that they owe
the public anything. If you live in
so close and well-populated a neigh
borhood as Laurelhurst, your express
packages will not be delivered. If
some friend sends you an express pack
age you get a postal card in a day
or two notifying you that It is at the
office, and you can call for It. This
method is antiquated, inefficient and
uneconomical. Who that lives a mile
from the center of Portland wants to
have an express package If he has to
go to the express office and get it?
Especially when the companies have
an abundance of well-fed -horses,
wagons, auto trucks; and when Uncle
Sam will deliver his packages at his
door. I think this is an opportune
time to remind the express companies
again of a great field that they are
leaving unworked.
Mr. Stockton is not ' sure that the
companies, being ground beneath the
nether millstones of the Interstate
Commerce Commission and the Post
office Department, will be able to 'live.
Then let them die, with their untold
millions of watered stock. Then the
railroad companies will handle the ex
press business, as they do In Euro
pean countries, and the stockholders of
the railroads will get the emoluments,
as they should. The public owes noth
ing to the express companies, especially
those who happen to live about a mile
from the center of town, as most of
us do. R. M. TUTTLE.
WHY ECONOMIZE ON CITY'S WATER f
There's Plenty of It, and No Need for
Costly Meters, Writer Contends.
PORTLAND, Feb. 16. (To the Ed
itor.) Has Commissioner Daly & pre
monition that J. Pluvlus intends to for
sake Oregon, or is danger of exhausting
the water supply of Bull Run River ap
parent at this time? If not, why the
occasion for water meters in the city
now? What reason Is there for plung
ing Portland into an additional and un
necessary expense for such useless and
costly playthings?
So long as ML Hood is capable of fur
nishing a city -five times the size of
Portland with all the water it can pos
sibly consume, why endanger the san
itation of this city by curtailing the
use- of practically an unlimited supply
of this costless commodity? Is it not
far better to have a healthy population
in the city by permitting a little ex
travagance in the use of water than to
endanger our public health by placing
a premium on the amount of its use?
How long will Portland's death rate
continue to be the smallest in the Unit
ed States If the use of water Is inter
fered with in the manner Mr. Daly pro
poses? How long will -t be before the
number of sick and infirm public
charges increases the city's expense
ten-fold more than the amount received
from such a source of revenue? If the
present double pipe line Is apt to be
come Inadequate for the needs of Port
land, as it may eventually be expected
to do, would it not be wiser to Invest
the money. If there is a surplus lying
Idle in the city's safe et present, in an
investment where the Interest com
pounded for a few years will be suffi
cient to pay for another pipe line?
Our obstreperous city father seems
to be possessed with a plethora of pur
pose and a paucity of ideas regarding
municipal finances, if he is to be judged
by the expenditures ft - has suggested
In connection with proposed changes
of our present water system.
WALTER H. KORELL.
Twenty-five Years Ago
From The Oregonlan of Feb. 18, 1880.
Washington, Feb. 17 Secretary of
State Bayard, commenting oh the clam
or over the Samoan episode, said:
"What is it they want me to do? To
provoke war? I do not believe the
people want to go to war about Samoa
There is no occasion for it. If they
want war, they must get another Secre
tary of State."
Spokane Falls, Feb. 17. The arduous
labors of the committee appointed by
the Board of Trade to obtain subscrip
tions to the capital stock of the Spo
kane & Northern Railroad veK
brought to a successful termination
last night.
William Monkley's arm was broken
in two places by a pile of wood fall
ing against a Portland & Willamette
Valley train, in which he was riding
three miles the other side of Oswego.
Bids for supplying three new
sprinkling carts for the city were
opened Saturday.
George W. Weidler has resigned as
director of the Oregon Real Estate
Company.
The bridge which leads from the
White House road to Henry Hewett'a
house was broken Saturday by a tree
which was felled by a laborer in clear
ing the way for the electric wires to
Oregon City.
Bays & Jeffreys are building a wind
ing boulevard road from the head of
J street through Mrs. A. N. King's
property to the summit of the moun
tain, to the King heirs' property:
The appearance of Miss Lydia Thomp
son and her celebrated burlesque com
pany at the New Park Theater for six
nights commencing February 23 recalls
some of the roles In which she made
her most noted successes.
Frank C. Nowell has been presented
with $100, half from John Cort and
half from Mr. Nowell's fellow employes
of the Standard, In recognition of his
heroic conduct in extinguishing a fire
under the orchestra.
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonian of Feb. IS, 1S64.
New York, Feb, 10. The Herald's
dispatch says Mosby with 300 guerillas
was on the Bull Run battlefield yes
terday and had a skirmish with our
pickets at Manasses yesterday.
Washington, Feb. 11. A correspon
dent writing from Longstreet's head
quarters, says Longstreet is being rap
idly reinforced. A full supply of cloth
ing for the troops has arrived; also the
money to pay them off. The men have,
suffered most from want of clothing,
the feet of many being so badly frozen
as to necessitate amputation.
London, Jan. 30. Wranssel. of Prus
sia, has demanded the evacuation of
Schleswig.
San Francisco. Feb. 12. General
Wright has confirmed the verdict of
the court-martial sentencing Fratic-is
Ely. of the First Oreson Cavalry, to bo
shot for desertion.
London. Feb. 1. There is a fle.'H of
six rebel steamers in China waters.
These vessels were fitted out by i-'her-mel
Osburn in British navy-yards under
a contract for the Chinese government.
When they reached China.- ;i tlieapiee
ment arose and they wt-ro sclrl at auc
tion. A Singapore telegram says tin:
Alabama left there on Ueoember - I
and was afterward seen in the strait..
of Malacca. These facts seem to cor
roborate the report that the vessels
have been sold to Jeff Davis and that,
in company with the Alabama, they
contemplate an attack on San Fran
cisco. Yesterday afternoon an unsuccessful
attempt was made to reeve the ha
liards through the head of Engine Com
pany No. 2's flag-staff on Second street,
between Oak and Pine. The pole ia 149
feet 4 inches hig-h. Charles Schultz,
of the firm of Hermann & Schultz. vol
unteered his services, and. with the
line, attained a height of 130 feet, but,
becoming exhausted, slipped down with
terrttic velocity until within 20 feet of
the ground, when he fell. Dr. Kirchner
found no bones were broken and no In
Jury received other than a jar.
A new and commodious warehouse is
in course of construction on Oak street
and the river front, in the rear of
Richardson's auction house, for the
amiable auctioneer.
Short Platform.
VANCOUVER, Wash., Feb. 13. (To
the Editor.) The Oregonian publishes
from a would-be candidate for Gov
ernor suggestions for a platform.
Allow a hayseed to suggest that he
have as a platform a single plank, to
wit: That if elected he will strictly mind
his business as Governor and not enter
any other official's field, even though
it be a gold field.' a'sirver field or a
copper field.
G. M. W., an old subscriber and resi
dent of Oregon since 1876.
A Memory of John Hay.
Joseph Bucklin Bishop.
He lived his own life with patience,
charity, falrmindedness, candor, mod
esty and Indefatigable industry. A more
conscientious man never lived. To him
as to the sternest Puritan tho line
which divides right and wrong was
narrow as a hair, as high as heaven,
aa eternal as the stars. He drew it for
himself, but never insisted upon draw
ing it for others. He was an indi
vidual conscience, not one for the regu
lation of the human race.
The Weather
vane of Business
"Straws tell which way the wind
blows."
But newspaper advertising tells
you how business is going, what the
fashions axe, what the popular de
mand is, and about the general of
business ideas in the various chan
nels. For a manufacturer to proceed
without being a faithful observer
of this weather-vane is injudicious.
It ts akin to starting out upon a
long Journey without noting what
the weather promises to bo.
Retail merchants feel the pulse
of trade through the indications
registered by advertising.
The public is becoming more and
more accustomed to look tn adver
tising for advance information on
which to base its future actions.
The currents of the lousiness
world are many and various; but
newspaper advertising responds to
the slightest change and registers
with faithful accuracy what Is and
what is likely to be.
Whether you are manufacturer,
retailer, or consumer, you should
always keep in touch with the trend
of business ideas in the various
channels.
Perhaps you would like home sug
gestions. Write to the Bureau of
Advertising, American Newspaper
Publishers' Association, World
Building, New York.
Booklet on request. Adv.