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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1914)
Tllfe .31011X1X0 OREGONIAIf, TUtTRSDAY, FEBRUARY 26 1914. roBTLAND. OBEGON. Entered at Portland. Oregon, Fostofflee a svcono-ciase matter. Subscription Hum Invariably la Advance: (BY MAID Dally, Sunday Included, on year f S.VO Laily. bundaD Included, six months . ... .tfo Dally, Sunday Included, three months ... aily, Sunday Included, one month ..... .?d bally, without Sunday, one year 600 Daily, without Sunday, six months ...... Dally, without Sunday, three mortal ... LV5 Daily, without Sunday, on month. " Weekly, one year 1.60 Sunday, on year 2.60 bunday and weekly, one year .......... B.00 (BY CABKICB) Dally, Sunday Included, one year (8.00 Dally, Sunday Included, ona month How to Remit Sand poetofttce money or der, exprsss order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at eender risk. Give postofflce address In full, lncludlna- county and state. Postaare Betee 12 to 10 paxes. 1 cent; 18 to 62 paxes, 2 cents; 84 to 4a paxes, cents; 60 to 60 paces. 4 cents; 82 to 7 paces. rents; 78 to U2 paces, oents. Foreign post ace, double ralea. Eastern Business Office Verree Conk lln. Ka York, Brnnswlck bulldlnc- ChJ tago, Stecer bulldlnc. San I ran clsco Office R. J. Bldwell Co, 143 Market street. PORTLAND. THURSDAY, FEB. 6. 1914. - SECOND TERM AMBITIONS. ' Speculation on President Wilson's aims In regard to t second term has developed two opposing; views of the meaning of his silence on the single term plank in hia platform. One is that he is merely keeping quiet in order not to lose the influence over Congress by means of -which he is putting through his programme, but that when this work is completed he will announce that he desires no sec ond term. The other Is that his per sistent silence on the single-term plank can have no other interpreta tion than that he will at the oppor tune time repudiate it, as he has al ready repudiated the canal tolls plank, and proclaim his candidacy. The former vitw is held by the Chi cago Evening Post's Washington cor respondent. He thinks "the prepon derance of evidence is on the side of those who hold that the President will feel himself bound by the peculiarly strong wording" of the plank and that "at the proper time he will say the word which --will prevent his renom Jnation." -He explains the President's silence by asserting that if Mr. Wilson should say today that he will not seek a renomination, "nine tenths of his influence with members of Congress would go down the Po tomac," and that "the Democrats in Congress would play bally-whack with his trust legislation and with other legislation which he has at heart." He suggests that it will be time enough for Mr. Wilson to declare him self when half of the long session of the next Congress is passed. He at tributes the pamphlet issued by the Democratic National Committee boasting of Mr. Wilson's achievements to zeal for the party and to the in ability of Thomas J. Pence, the pub licity manager, to sit quiet. The New York Sun, however, says that Democratic leaders who advocate a second term make light of the single-term plank. It says Mr.. Wilson would interpret that plank only as pledging him to urge a Constitutional amendment making the President in eligible for re-election. It ascribes the same view to Mr. Bryan, observ ing that, while in his three campaigns ho affirmed that he would be satis fied with one term, there was no word of limitation in any of his plat forms except that of 1896 which de clared against a third term. The Sun recalls that Mr. Cleveland "got stolid ly over" his opposition to a second term and says: When Mr. Bryan harped upon a single term, it waa to impress the gullible, er he would have put the limitation into the 1U08 platform, which be was in a position to dictate. Recalling that Mr. Wilson did not commit himself, either in his letter of acceptance or In his campaign speeches, the Sun says: No one doubts, not even Mr. Bryan, that the president Is planning to succeed him self; In fact the "literature" put out in his behalf proves It. The platform wjft not, and need not, deter him; .everybody knows that the one-term plank waa buncombe. Every precedent and the course of the Administration confirm the in terpretation which the Sun puts on Mr. Wilson's silence, though The Ore gonian holds there was no' deliberate purpose to deceive. Former Presidents who have expressed opposition to re election for a second or a third term have been unable to resist temptation when the prize seemed again within their grasp. Grant could not, nor could Cleveland, although the latter most solemnly and effectively stated the objections to re-election in his letter of acceptance' in 1884. Conced. ing a man to be sincere, the con sciousness of good work done and of ability to do more and the love of power, which grows with enjoyment of that whereon it feeds, will aid the specious reasoning of zealous friends to overcome scruples and to convince a President that now is the time to make an exception to a salutary rule. The President has shown a dispo sition to hold the party platform in light esteem. HU success hitherto and the docility with which his party has submitted to his leadership must have contributed to cause the germ of meg alomania concealed in his mind to burst Into full flower and to inspire the conviction that he is the lndis ' pensable man. Few have been known to renounce a crown, and of these few some would fain have regained it. HAND AJTp BRAIN. There has been some sensible talk in New York ' of late on the subject of schooling. Dr. Claxton, the Fed eral Commissioner of Education, told the superintendents' association the other day that there was far too little connection between the studies of the common schools and the everyday work of the pupils. "We teach too many ologies and isms," said the Commissioner, "and too few practical arts." Miss Florence Marshall, whom ' President Wilson has named for the National Vocational Training Com mission, goes on record with much the same sentiment. "We are Just coming to realize," says Miss Mar shall, "that the mass of the people must expect to work with their hands. Our schools are planned, not to train them for life, but to prepare them for college.' where nine out of ten will never go. This kind of talk is excellent. It Is badly needed in every state of the Union and most of all, perhaps, in New York, wherj progress of all sorts is discouragingly slow and "the dead hand rules in the schools as well as In the -courts. But In our wise urgency for vo cational education there are one or two points which it would be disas trous to overlook. To be sure the mass must earn their living with fceir hands and therefore it is a direful wrong not to teach them a trade or some marketable craft. But it is also true that every American citizen is required by the fact of bJa citizen' ship to use his head. Earning a liv ing is only pari of his career if he lives up to his duties. ' He must also take part in the government. In Ore gon he must take a very conspicuous and important part, both in electing officials and in making laws. To limit the education of our citi zens to hand-training merely v ould be little short of a crime against civiliza tion and liberty. We must not fail to look after their brains unless we are willing to sit calmly by and let the state drift into ruin. It is the duty of the public schools to provide for both hand and head training and for one as much as the other. It would be a deplorable calamity if in our new zeal for vocations we should forget the Intelligence which makes the citizen safe and useful. STILL WAITING. The murder of a single British sub ject is hardly cause for war between the United States and 3Iexico, even though the United States had under taken to give the British the same protection in Mexico it has been giv ing Americans. But, of course, Amer icans have had no protection at all. They have had official advice to get out or Mexico. Secretary Bryan could hardly be expected to do for the sub jects of a foreign power what he has publicly refused to do for his own. It seems to be a complete defense, however technical -and however strange it may sound to the British. But Great Britain will not invade Mexico because of Benton's murder. It is obliged to accept the fact of America's superior Interest in Mex ico and America's right to determine Its own attitude. Great Britain may not like it, but it will do nothing- like ly to jeopardize its relations with America. Our policy of "watchful waiting" waiting for the Mexican problem somehow to solve itself is a master piece of cynical tolerance of murder of Mexicans by Mexicans and of an occasional Briton and American. THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE. The Oregonian hastens to inform the admiring friends of Dr. C. J. bmlth, candidate for Governor, that It did not write his tentative platform, nor any part of it. This assurance appears to be necessary in view of the discovery by one of the enthusiastic supporters of Dr. Smith that certain sentences in his original declaration are in accord with the ideal platform tor gubernatorial candidates promul gated by The Oregonian the other day. The Oregonian had suggested a vigorous policy of retrenchment in public expenditures and the investi ture with the Governor of power for veto of separate items in appropria tion bills. Dr. Smith had proposed the same things. Wonderful. Therefore Dr. Smith must be The Oregonlan's candidate. But The Oregonian also said: The candidate for Governor who Btands up for public retrenchment and shows how It may be accomplished, and how It will be accomplished. If he shall be elected, will be Oregon's next Governor. Dr. Smith, it appears, has an nounced that he will make his real platform as he goes along. But in his preliminary statement of his candi dacy he said: "The big issue in the state today is respect for the criminal law," and the highest duty of Gover nor West's successor, it ' was made clear, was to follow in his footsteps. The way to efficient and economical administration does not lie there. The Oregonian agrees that respect for law is a great matter and it In sists that law obedience by Governor and by citizen is vital to the -preservation of our institutions. lb cannot agree that Dr. Smith, to whom reduc tion in burdensome taxes and efficien cy in administration is an incidental subject and imitation of Governor West a paramount obligation, ought to be elected. But he might be, if he dropped his idea that he is willing to be West's man and discarded the other notions, put into his head by designing poli ticians, that the state needs a com mander-in-chief who shall subjugate the civil authority through the mili tary power. Let him extend first a helping hand to the harassed tax payer. COLOTtAJWS GRAND OLD MAN. The late ex-Senator Teller was re garded as the grand old man of Colo rado. He had served the Centennial State continuously as Senator from the year of its admission .until 1909 ejccept while he was a member of the Cabinet. The high place he won in the National councils reflected glory In which Colorado basked. He en- Joyed the rare distinction of having changed party with the majority of his constituents, but yet of having no doubt cast on the purity of his mo tives in making the change, Colorado's fidelity to him is to be explained largely by his fidelity to Colorado and to that broad West of which it is an integral part. From the opening of his career as a Sena tor he. worked for the interests of the; West and he worked effectively. He left the Senate only to become Secretary of the Interior under Presi dent Arthur, and in that capacity he continued the work he had begun as Senator for the development of the West. It was his loyalty to what he conceived to be the interests . of Colorado and other Western states which led him astray on the silver issue and caused him with tears to leave the Republican convention of 1896. Fierce as were the passions which raged on that occasion, those who viewed this act with the greatest reprobation could not but admire the stalwart character of a man who would go to such lengths. The best testimony to the venerable Senator's worth was his continuance In office for so long a time from a section of the country where changes are the rule. 1 DODGING THE INCOME TAX. The Income tax promises to be the cause of a crop of test suits, notwith standing the fact that the sixteenth amendment to the Constitution was supposed-to have cleared away all ob stacles. A pamphlet purporting to demonstrate its unconstitutional char acter and illegal administration has been published by Albert H. Walker, a New York lawyer. He 'maintains that the law violates the fifth amend ment in being confiscatory; that It is inoperative as to the year 1913, be cause the tax is levied on property without apportionment among the states; that the administration of the law is illegal, because it deviates from the statute; that four separate rem edies for the wrongs named exist. It will be strange if the points raised in this pamphlet are not taken up by litigious persons and fought through all the courts. Once more we are So be reminded that a law; is not a law in this country until it has not only passed both houses of Congress and been approved by the President, but has also been approved by the Supreme Court, provided any person chooses to challenge ' it. There is seldom lack of challengers for any important law. THE LAW AT COVE. If Miss Fern Hobbs has correctly given the local option returns in Union County, and we do not doubt that she has, the precinct of Cove is legally dry and ought to be made so in fact. It appears that while the county as a whole voted "wet" Cove pre cinct voted for prohibition. The law clearly instructs the County Court to declare "dry" a precinct that votes "dry" under such circumstances. The governing section of the local option law has been construed and upheld in more than one case by the Supreme Court. The Governor in his letter to Coun ty Judge Henry quotes one decision in point, but there is an earlier one that fits another phase of the case and indicates a remedy where the County Court refuses to act. The case of State ex rel vs. Rich ardson (4 8 Or. 309) arose over the refusal of the County Court to de clare the result of a local option elec tion in Malheur County. The action was for a writ of mandamus and the court held that "mandamus will lie to compel a county court to declare the result of a vote Utider local option as the act required does not involve the exercise of either discretion or judgment, being entirely ministerial." It appears then that if Judge Henry still refuses or neglects to make the order there is a method of compelling him to do so. For that matter, if the Town Coun cil of Cove is as anxious to have the law enforced as the members gave Miss Hobbs to understand there is no reason why the process of the courts should be awaited: The Su preme Court in a recent decision held that under the home rule amendment a city council has the power to make a city dry by refusing to issue licenses. The law, as enacted by the people of Cove, says that there shall be no sa loons there, and it is the moral duty of the Council to put the saloon out of business, regardless of formalities the County Court may have neglected to perform. THE MALTREATED CLASSICS. The classics have suffered many a hard blow of late years and their place in education is far from being what it once was. Still they are not dead by any means and every little while a voice is raised in favor of re storing them to an imperial position in our courses of study. Sir Fred erick Kenyon Is the last and perhaps the loudest . of these valiant cham pions. He speaks particularly for Greek and bases his plea on the debt we owe to Hellenic art, philosophy and science. The debt cannot be denied, but there is some question whether the best way to pay it is by smothering our own originality and imitating the Athenians. Those charming people gained their superiority by developing their inherent gifts. The chances are that the best compliment we can pay, then, is by doing something similar for ourselves. The classics have lost ground because of the insufferable conceit of their supporters. Those professors sit like images of the Grand 'Lama, shrieking that there is no way in the world to educate a person decently except ty putting him through a pitiless drill in Latin and Greek grammar. The truth of the matter is that there are dozens, of other ways which produce results fully as good and sometimes better. The classics have grown hateful to many because they have been idolized so scandalously by a few. There is nothing whatever in Sir Frederick Kenyon's plea that we must all learn Greek because we owe a debt to the Athenian philosophers, sculptors and architects. All that is worth while in Greek philosophy has been translated into English, where it can be studied far better than in the original. Greek science is em bodied in modern science and the two are naturally learned together. As for the art of those gifted pag ans, it is Just as well studied without their grammar. There are a great many young men and women who would gladly study the beautiful Greek tongue if it were presented to them on its own merits without com pulsory requirements. Fewer would study Latin for such a reason, be cause it has little beauty and a com paratively feeble literature, but un doubtedly both languages would find devotees enough if they were not made repulsive by professorial zeal and tyranny. ' TRUSTS HOLD UP RAILROADS. Recent investigation by the Inter state Commerce Commission has de veloped the fact that relief of the railroads from deficiency of revenue is to be obtained to some extent by other means than an advance in freight rates. Revenue can be large ly increased without any general ad vance in rates by simply wiping out the discrimination which has been practiced in favor of certain big ship pers. This discrimination consists in free switching of cars from tracks owned , by the shippers Industrial railroads, as they are called or in actual payment by the railroad for the use of these tracks, while the small shipper must truck his goods to the freight depot at his own ex pense. The amount thus lost in rev enue in Eastern trunk line territory alone is estimated by the Commission at $15,000,000 a year. It would seem necessary to insure that the railroads are collecting all the revenue to which they are legit imately entitled before deciding whether to sanction an advance in rates or how great an advance shall be granted. This is work for the Commission, for the railroads appear powerless to enforce their rights. Paradoxical as it may seem, some in dustrial corporations have grown to such proportions that withdrawal of their patronage from some railroads might stop dividends and even imperil interest payments. Conceive the im mense volume of traffic controlled by the steel trust alone and the dire con sequence to a . railroad of losing -its share. Popular belief has been that the railroads granted favors to the trusts. " Perhaps they do in some in stances, where the same individuals hold large blocks of stock in both railroad and trusts, but in many in stances the railroads are literally "held up" by the trusts with a threat of he?tvy financial loss. The Interstate Commerce Commis sion has been popularly supposed to exist for the purpose-of protecting the shipper as&inst the. railroad. Experi ence has proved its function to be protection of the small shipper and the railroad against the big shipper. If the truth could be learned, it would probably be found that the railroads opposed Government regulation, not so much of their own motion as at the dictation of large shippers, which feared deprivation of the concessions they had extorted from the railroads. Here is another reason for breaking up monopoly the power of extortion it has not only over the consumer, but also over all with whom it deals, including corporations supposedly as powerful as the railroads. It will probably be found after all leaks have been stopped and all dis criminations removed that honestly managed' railroads should be permit ted to advance rates.' But that point cannot be decided and the measure of the advance cannot be fixed until the leaks have been stopped. The liberty loving Swedish peas ants are greatly troubled over the ad vance of Russian oppression in Fin land. The -Finns are their kinsmen and for 600 years the two countries were united. In 1809 Russia acquired Finland with fair promises, which have all been .broken. The Swedes fear the same fate for their own coun try and they are urging the govern ment to be on guard. The peasants want a strong fleet for defense. No doubt Germany would stand their friend should the crisis come, but they want to be ready to make their own fight. The Reed College idea seems to be a sucoess in athletics. President Fos ter says that every student took part in the games last Fall, and we sup pose they are doing so still. This is much more profitable for them than to look on and scream while a pam pered team does the work. We no tice, by the way, that the Reed stu dents like their college well enough to work for it. They made an old fashioned bee not long ago and cleaned up the grounds. Soon there will be another to plant shrubbery. This is college spirit that counts. Scotland has produced a new poet who is expected to rival and perhaps eclipse the fame of. Robert Burns. His name is McGonagall, a melliflu ous eponym. We cull a chaste treas ure from his muse. It refers to the capture of a whale in the Tay: Then the water descended on the men in the boats. Wetting their trousers and also their coats. Here is a genuine poetic afflatus. We remember nothing in Burns that quite equals it. Each county in Minnesota has an agricultural agent. He is an expert, not in graft, b-.t in farming, and he knows a great deal about the jolls, climatic singularities and crop possi bilities of his territory. Under the care of these agents agriculture has begun to show new energy in Minne sota. In Oregon we do not so much need to increase crops just yet as to improve marketing facilities. Well chosen agents cruld help in both di rections. Suffrage is more alluring to women in the promise than in the fulfill ment, if all accounts are true. Ore gon women are slow to register. Is it because they do not really care for politics? In Chicago many women registered, but few voted. Their zeal was a flash in the pan. Is the trouble In the women or in polities? Will the unromantic act of casting a ballot ever become as attractive to them as a game of bridge? It is a false light that guides our anti-saloon men towarT Billy Sunday. That redoubtable spouter no doubt in terests many people and excites the crowd,. But he does not think him self and he does not persuade any body else to think. He despises sci ence and deals only cursorily in facts. Hia oratory woulck add heat to the campaign but no light. In our ardor for temperance let us not grow in temperate. The London Daily Mail suggests that a special official is needed to deal with the United States diplomat ically. He would be a busy man try ing to do business with the State De partment. It is charged that New Haven se curity holders were robbed of $200, 000,000. That ought to keep the rob bers in pocket money for a few days, anyway. Meier & Frank will spend J 1,250, 000 for a nef store building. It keeps even the most progressive bustling to remain abreast of Portland's growth. Jackson County has ,her road money ready for use. Jackson has a way of not permitting the grass to grow under her feet. Snow at New Orleans! They'll be having it at the equator next. Port land appears to be about the only place to escape. Alleged sa'feblowers went after $1,000,000 in Des Moines. Those were financiers, not common criminals. The work on the Iowa State Treas ury was raw. The right klndof Leg islature can get that million. Additional income from half a mil lion will make a great campaign fund. "Them as has gits." Bet that Washington doorkeeper who talked chesty to President Wil son is trembling yet. After a tempestuous voyage the Auditorium is peacefully at harbor In the Market block. According to the Supreme Court, "bleached" flour Is good if it does not make you sick. The Prohibitionists have on their war-paint and ere sharpening their tomahawks. Here's cruel news for some: Idle ness will not last, according to Samuel Gompers. But, you will recall, the Mexican situation grows tense at least once a month. - In case nitrate fails to work on the cigarette fiend there is left strych nine. Matty will lead a stampede if he signs with the Federals. The -chances are Villa doesn't dare produce Benton's body. Villa will be recorded by history aa Villain, Stars and Starmakers BT LBOMB CAM BalB., A letter written to Mrs. Harry L. Hogue. from Katie Putnam, tells of the passing out of Miss Putnam's hus band, Harry Emery, several months ago. Both Katie Putnam and Mr. Emery are well known on this Coast, Miss Putnam in particular having been Identified with early theatricals in Portland. She was last here in the title role of "Mother," "Jules Eckert Good man's play.; Since Mr. Emery's death she has been living in Dunedin, Fla., with friends, the Kennicatts, who trav eled for years with Miss Putnam. Mrs. Kennicatt was adopted by Miss Put nam's mother and the two are insep arable companions. e e e "Our Wives," being presented at the Baker Theater this week, is the work of Frank Mandel, a San Franciscan. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Mandel, and a nephew of Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Hirschfelder. of San Francisco. He was graduated from the University of California at the age of 19 and was the author and producer of the one-act play, "Everywoman," which was first presented in 1905 at the old Palace Hotel and later by the Century Forum and Philomath Clubs. While practicing law he decided that playwritlng was his forte, and about two years ago he went to 'New York and devoted himself to that art. His first comedy, "Our Wives," was given its premier last November In Wallack's Theater, with Henry Kolker leading the company, and the critics unani mously pronounced it one of the bright est things New York had witnessed in a decade. In the same week a comic opera, "Miss Princess," by the same author, was presented by John Cort at Allentown. Pa., with Una Abarbanell of "Madame Sherry" fame, as the star, and it, too, made an unequivocal hit. Two new plays have sinve been con structed by the clever young San Franciscan, and New York will prob ably witness them before this year expires. .Simultaneously with the Baker pre sentation of "Our Wives," the Alcazar in San Francisco is presenting it, e e A family which included the father and mother and two small sons visited the Peoples Theater the other night. They sat together far down in front and enjoyed the show. When all the reels had been run and the second show began the rose to go, the mother pinning on her" hat as she went. The father was groping around under the seats. "Where's my hat?" he asked. "I can't find it anywhere." "Such a man," exclaimed the wife. Then in the way of informing the other people in the audience she added: "He is always losing his hat and If his head were not fastened on he would lose that, too." Meanwhile all four members of the family stood in their seats, blocking the view of the people behind them, while an usher peered under the seats of their row and the rows around them. Finally the owner of the missing hat had a happy thought, - "I put my hat inside yours," he said to the mother. t The woman unpinned her headgear, took it off, and sure enough .there was her husband's felt fedora skypiece. People in the audience said it was one of the funniest shows they had ever witnessed at that particular "movie" house. e Emma Trentini, who has been called the little devil of grand opera, put one over on Tetrazzinl in San Francisco last Thursday. Tetrazzinl "belongs" to that city and her long suit is un veiling monuments and singing with a statue for a background naturally In suring many photographs and atten tions from the. press. Trentini, also Italian, wrapped her five feet one inch figure In $1,000,000 worth of furs, someone held an um brella over her, and she stood in the rain at the corner of Brannan and Di vision streets while the bronze bust of Verdi, which is to crown the monu ment that the Italians in California are to present to San Francisco, was uncrated in her'- honor. Last Monday night Trentini gave a benefit concert for the monument fund at the Cort Theater. The statue will be unveiled March 22 in Golden Gate Park. Trentini will be at the Helllg next Monday night for one week's engagement, An authority says "Wigs must match the dress." Isn't that JuBt my luck. I've only two dresses and one is a plaid and the other a polka dot. It can't be done. e Most men would prefer that women display green wigs rather than green eyes. e e Arthur Ives, formerly treasurer of the Seattle Orpheum, went East a few weeks ago to be treasurer of the Cort theater In Boston. Now he has made another change and la assistant treas urer at the Cort theater in New York City. The reason assigned for Mr. Ives' exchange of position was the fact that he is occasionally able to run over to Philadelphia, where his family are lo cated. Which is a good enough reason. That new book, "The Jam Girl," sug gests a streetcar heroine, or possibly an elevator girl. e e e Look out for the song publishers who advertise they will publish your song, put It on the market, and make you an Irving Berlin and all for a paltry few dollars. The United States authorities are after these concerns and have already closed up several of them. A few of them have gone to jail. If you have a song worth publishing offer it to a legitimate publisher, and if he will not have anything to do with it, make up your mind that it Is alto gether likely you will waste your money if you have it published your self. e e . a Renee Boucicault, a daughter of the late Aubrey Boucicault, is appearing in Henry Savage's production of "Along Came Ruth." a Read where an .actress with $13,000 in her purse, begged for bread. Prob ably she wanted it to eat with the dosen eggs she intended purchasing with the $12,000. More than half a dozen plays, to say nothing of several playlets, have been written around the Mendel Bellls in cident in Russia, Some of these have been produced, but most of them came along too lata to take advantage of the stir of .the moment, COST OV ENFORCING LABOR LAWS. Commissioner HoC Contends) That Pres. ent System Is Economical. SALEM, Feb. 23. (To the Editor.) Permit me to answer your editorial of February 23, referring to the addi tional cost in enforcing the labor laws, in that $2500 a year is spent for the board of inspection of child labor. I believe you realize that where la bor laws are enacted it is necessary to have some one to see that these laws are enforced, for it will not take much of an investigation to convince an open mind that if the worker, in whose benefit the law is enacted, should un dertake to enforce the same, in four cases out of five, he or she would lose his or her Job. and "therefore the fear of the same if there is none to take care of their Interests, the law would be a dead letter. To get matters before the Proscuting Attorney,' someone must make a com plaint. The state appropriates $4000 a year for the Labor Commissioner: this pays the Commissioner's salary and traveling expenses, besides witness fees where investigations are held; also additional help to detect the violation of the different laws, besides Buch ex tra help as is needed to get out the biennial report. With the amount as above stated ap propriated, it was impossible for the Commissioner to properly take care of the child labor question, and for eight years Mrs. M. R. Trumbull took care of this in Portland without the state paying one cent towards the same. Three years ago we asked for an appropriation to help the bureau take care of this part of the work, as the state certainly should not make the care of our children a charity matter, and it was thoroughly gone over by the Legislative committee, whether it would be any cheaper and better for the state to place the child labor prop osition entirely undor my department. The facts were that a branch office would have to maintained in Portland and a competent person deputized to run this office, and none claimed that this could be done for less than $2500 a year, office rent and all, and it was after due consideration decided that the present method was best. As it stands, to enforce the labor laws, including the protection of chil dren, gather and compile labor statis tics, superintend the factory Inspection department and to furnish help and as sistance in looking after the interests of the laborer as is today done by this bureau, 'the state (outside of the fac tory department, where the deputy in spectors are paid from fees) appropri ates $6500 a year. If this is too much to spend for the protection of the labor ing men and women and the enforce ment of our child labor laws, we invite a candid investigation and comparison of the results of this work, including both the Bureau of Labor and Board of Child Labor Inspection with other de partments, public or private. O. P. HOFF, Commissioner. There' are four Inspectors in the Bu reau of Labor in addition to the Labor Commissioner. These officers are pre sumed to make Inspections in Port land. It would seem that enforcement of the child labor laws might be Inci dental to their other duties. But the story does not end there. In addition to the Bureau of Labor and the Board of Inspectors of Child Labor we have a commission that deals with the minimum wage at an expense to the state and a high-salaried board created by the workmen's compensation act. The founr departments could be economically and effectively combined Into one. All these boards are work ing in the interests of labor. PRODUCER MOURNS LOWER KATE. He Says Cows No Longer Pay Him a Profit, PORTLAND, Feb. 24. (To the Edi tor.) Secretary Redf ield expresses himself as being glad that the . ten dency is towards cheaper food under the administration of his party, and the taking the tariff off certain food prod ucts. But I find another slda to that question. Two weeks ago I bad a herd of fine Holstein heifers in Eastern Oregon, and their cream was bringing me about $7 a head per month. A year ago cream was bringing about 30 per cent more in Portland than it is today. If last year's prices prevailed today, I would be getting $9 per head instead of $7. That extra $2 would make the difference between profit and loss. Today my dairy barns are empty and awfully lonesome. I sold my fine herd of 35 heifers because I could find no profit in the business. Everything that I had to buy on my ranch cost as much as ever; even labor is no cheaper than it was a year ago. I am willing that some Democrat who voted for Wilson should have my cows, and try to make money with them. Fortunate ly I was able to dispose.of them with out sustaining a loss, although my dairy equipment is idle. Tf the Demo crats in Congress, while legislating so that New Zealand butter could com pete with mine, had also passed some legislation that would enable me to buy for less money what I needed on my farm, perhaps I would not mind S3 much. A Portland creamery man in explain ing to me why butter fat is so low this year compared with last, said that In addition to the New Zealand com petition there was also to be consid ered the fact that thousands of Port land people are not as able to buy good quality of butter as they were last year at this time, owing to the general trade depression. I hope that Secretary Redfield is cor rect in his prognostications as to the Improvement of business, being on the way. But I mourn the fact that ad verso tariff legislation has struck from my business the profits that I made last year, and I am wonderintr how many dairymen and sheepmen will vote for a Democratic President three years irom now. R. M. TUTTLE. Let Canada Do It, LAFAYETTE. Or., Feb. 24. (To the Editor.) Let hiFtory repeat: When the Canadian, Australian and New Zealand troops reached the scene of action, during the Boer War in South Africa, the war was soon brought to a close. Are not the Canadians Ameri cans? Are they not under the protection of the Monroe doctrine? Does not the Monroe doctrine declare, "America for the Americans?" As the Administration at Washing ton seems to have conscientious scru ples against interfering in the Mexican situation, can the United States legally object if Canada takes a hand? I would be glad to volunteer for the front with a Canadian regiment, to help put a stop to the Mexican atro cities. Forward Canada. A NEW ZEALANDER. How to Kill Rabbits. LEESVILLE, Cal., Feb. 22. (To the Editor.) I saw in The Oregonian Feb ruary 12 from Pendleton an article telling of farmers trying to catch bunny with poisoned wheat. Substitute apples (green) or table beets poisoned and put on pegs six Inches off the ground. That will get them. Mr. Bartell here gets them in good num bers that way. GEORGE W. GIBSON Scotch Motto. PORTLAND. Feb. 24 (To the Ed itor.) Please tell me the meaning of the motto: "Famam Extendimus Fac tls." The above motto was used by a certain clan of Scotland as a crest or seal. A SUBSCRIBER. We, extend pur, fame by, our deeds. Twenty-five Years Ago From The Oregonian, February 26, 1SS9. Indianapolis, Feb. 25 General Har rison and BArtv left nn L nnAplal tpafn for Washington today for the inaugu- . i Salem, Feb. 25. Governor Pennoyer today vetoed Senator Sinclair's bill to protect the fishing industry. Salem. Feb. 25 John M. Young, of Pendleton, was today appointed Clerk of the Supreme Court in that city. Olympia, Feb. 25. Secretary Owings today received notice from Senator Dolph that the constitutional conven tion was to bo held in Olympia. Tacoma, Feb. 25. Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue Gwin Hicks ten dered hi resignation today. There is hardly a doubt that the streetcar line will be extended across Stephens Slough as far south as Judge Woodward's place on Brooklyn Heights this Summer. G. A. Webb has placed an exhibit of fruit from Sllverton in the Board of Immigration rooms. A leading commission house yester day received 161 barrels of Baldwin apples from the East, which they are selling at $4.50 per barrel. Dr. E. Clarke's face was badly burnt yesterday by the explosion of a spirit lamp. Clerk of Court John R. Duff was about the Courthouse again yesterday, after his sickness, looking rather thin. Miss May Estes ha s returned from vvaua Walla. Mr. A. C. Lohmire and wife, formerly Miss Elba Cusick. have returned from their wedding trip tox.San Francisco and Los Angeles. A. G. Walling, one of the old citizens of Portland, left last evening for Wash ington to attend the inauguration. Henry McGinn yesterday received a dispatch from Mrs. M. F. Mulkey, at Oakland, Cal.. Informing him that Mr Mulkey was dead. Rev. Dr. George H. Atkinson died yesterday at his residence. 196 Salmon street. Fire last evening destroyed the third floor of the Allsky candy factory on E street between Fifth and Sixth. Half a Century Ago From The Oregonian of Feb. 26. 1864. v Letters from Washington explain in part the cause of the proposed mili tary changes in this district. Ona of them says that Mr. McGilvra. the pres ent United States Attorney of Wash ington, made an effort to have Judge Oliphant removed and himself appoint ed in his place. Falling in that, he tried to have General Alvord ordered East and himself appointed brigadier general to command this district. Mrs. Connor, wife of the notorious Connor who was shot at Canterville, Boise, last Summer, came to her death by burning in a house at Pierce City on New Year's day. Deceased was for merly a resident of this city, then the wife of Edward Meeny, at that time proprietor of the Western Hotel. LaFayette, Feb. 23. The friends of cur holy Union cause gathered at the Courthouse. The house waa crowd, ed. Including a goodly number of ladies" The Dayton Brass Band was in atten dance, and also Mr. Spence's choir of vocal musicians. General Palmer was elected president. Dr. H. V. V. John son, vice-president, and B. F. Gilt ner, secretary. The meeting was opened with invocation by Rev. George B. Chandler. A committee on resolutions was appointed, consisting of G. W. Lawson. G. W. Stewart, S. C. Adams, Dr. J. W. Watts and A. G. Cook. Reso lutions were adopted endorsing the Na tional administration and emancipation, denouncing the British privateers. r rencn invasion or Mexico and Demo cratic svmpatny with secession. nd s were made by Rev. T. H. Pearne. Judge wiitiams ana judge Boise. New York, Feb. 13. The Newton, from Charleston bar, February 10, has arrived. A blockade-runner grounded during a fog on the 7th, and was de stroyed by our fleet and the batteries in Charleston harbor. She had a cargo of iron plates and other material for the construction of ironclads. We were yesterday shown a box of tobacco, put up by J. F. Vest, of Lewis River. Two acres on Sauvie's Island, not highly cultivated, yielded 3000 pounds last year. At the public school rooms yesterday a boy was undergoing punishment for bad behavior when he deliberately drew a pistol and leveled It at the head of his teacher. He was prevented from shooting, and afterwards re ceived a merited castigation from his father. This city is fast becoming noted for it3 desperate boys. The pressroom of The Oregonian establishment is often crowded with persons to witness the working of our steam engine, which is now in perfect running order, and by the use of which our cylinder press easily turns off 1200 . copies an hour. Every Reasonable Means. Yorkers (N. Y.) Statesman. Jinks Would you marry for money? Blinks Not until I've exhausted every reasonable means of getting it. Here's a Combination That's Good Much has been said about the evils of combination, but here is a com bination that has at least three vir tues. It is a combination between the manufacturer of some dependable brand of merchandise, seeking a Nation-wide distribution, and the retailer who places this merchandise in his windows and on his shelves for sale. The three points of virtue are: 1. When a manufacturer chooses a dependable retailer to represent him locally it is a good thing for the manufacturer. He adds the retailer's reputation to his own. 2. The retailer places on sale something of nation-wide reputation and known value, thereby reaping quick sales and simplifying his stock by eliminating the slow selling, un known, and often undependable kinds. 3. The consumer is the one that both the manufacturer and the re tailer have ultimately to please: and so this out-ln-the-open policy .bene fits him by practically insuring him against fraud or substitution. Combinations like the above are much in evidence through the land nowadays, as will be seen from the advertisements in The Oregonian and other good newspapers. Manufacturers wishing to know more about this kind of National newspaper advertising are invited to write to the Bureau of Advertis ing, American Newspaper Publishers' Association, World Building, New York City. , Booklet on request. Adv.