Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (May 8, 1914)
niKTLAJIU, UKEUON. " Entered at Portland. Oregon. Postoffice a j cecond-claM matter. jfiuoacnpuon Ka.te invariably In Advance: r (BY MAIL) -pally. Sunday Included, one year J8.00 " Jaily, Bunday included, six montna.... 4JiS Daily, Sunday Included, tare months. . 2.25 . Llaily, bunday Included, one month.... .15 Uaily, without Sunday, one year 8.00 -pally, without Sunday, etx months..... 3.-u . paily, without Sunday, three months 1.T5 ; Vu.ity. without Sunday, one moixli. . . . . .60 Weekly, one year 1.60 Sunday, one year suhuay aud Weekly, one year t (BY CARRIER) pally, Sunday included, one year .$9.00 .Uaily, Sunday included, one month.... -75 How to Hemit Send postofnee money or faer, express order or personal check on your fc local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at Bender's ri&k. Give postothce u.ure&4 in full. Including county and state. ' foetage Kutea u to 10 pages, 1 cent: 16 to 32 pages, 2 cents; 34 to 4S pages. K cents; bo to oo pages, 4 cents; vi to To pages, 5 . vents; (8ww pages, o cents. Foreign poat i double rates. Ja(ern Biuuiess Offices Verree dc Conk l!n, is'ew Vork, Brunswick building. Chi ..i ago, stcger building. r ban traociKo Uiuce R..J. Bidwell Co. Market street. rfOKTLAXP. FKIDAV, MAX 8, 1914. I TOR TIU5 1'L'BLIC BENtni. An anxious citizen writes to ask The Oregonian what the eleven candidates for the Legislature, recently called to -public duty by more than 100 men :and women of Multnomah County, pare doing for themselves in the cam paign. He wants them elected; he ; thinks that nothing ought to be left : undone, by them, by The Oregonian, or by interested citizens generally, to see that the entire eleven are success ful at the primary and at the Novem ; ber election. The eleven candidates are not mak ing a canvass for votes. They have ; responded through a sense of duty to an obvious popular demand upon 'them.. Probably it would not be be coming for them to show too great anxiety about the result. But The Oregonian is anxious, and the people ought to be anxious. ' We think they are. The interests of county and state are singularly con cerned in the election of these eleven men to the Legislature. Merely to mention their names is to elicit a favorable opinion as to their capacity, experience and integrity. They are: Ben Selling. g. u. Cobb. Jr. A. C. Smith. I c. Lewis. O. V. Home. S. B. Huston. Louis Kuelin. lMotvden stott. L. J. Wenuvorth. John tiill. K. V. LitUelield. It is not a "citizens' " .ticket, or a "business men's" ticket, or a ticket representing any class, faction or spe cial interest. They are men who have nign records m this state, and it is worth while to have them in the Leg islature. The gainer will be the pub lic. SYSTEM IX WBUC BUILDING. Government expenditures on public buildings have reached such propor tions that the commission appointed to inquire into the subject has recom mended the creation of a Bureau of Public Buildings which shall have charge of all Government construc tion except that of a technical char acter for the Army and Navy, and to which the supervising architect's of fice would be attached. This bureau would have a board of estimates .- which would collect Information for Congress and would have eight su perintendents of construction, each in charge of a zone. Most important of nil lia v.. u ... ... hucau wwuiu prepa-re type sets of plans and specifications, woujd classify cities and group states ac cording .to similarity of conditions. Congress would then authorize build ings by class according to cost. Postmaster-General Burleson has made a minority report in which he criticises the majority for not having followed instructions to present a con nected scheme involving annual ap propriations for buildings already authorized and to report as to adapt ability or those buildings to the com munities for which they are Intended and as to whether the appropriations should be increased or diminished. He recommends that no public build ing for a postoffice be authorized un less the Government is paying J1000 a year rent and then only where post office receipts are $15,000 or the pop ulation is 5000; that quarters be pro vided for all permanent Government offices, but for United States courts only where they have been in session ten days a year. He would provide 200 square feet of building area for each person estimated to be employed in the postoffice ten years hence, would allow 75 per cent additional for United States courts and would fix the limit of cost according to area. Thus a class A building would cover 4000 square feet and cost $25,000 and Ihprfl Wittily Virt an ) Bin,, .4 i n ...... 1 to 12.000 square feet and a cost of 100,000 for a class L building. He, too. would have standard plans for each class except those which must be treated as special projects.' He would limit the price of sites to 20 per cent of the amount to be expend ed, would allow use of inside lots and would give the Secretary of the Treas ury wide discretion. He would erect the buildings already authorized in compliance with these restrictions as to size and cost and would have a lump sum appropriation of $10,000. 000 a year. Congress was driven to seek some system in the erection of public build ings by the fact that it has swamped the supervising architect with work by Its lavish, pork-barrel appropria tions. The total appropriated in the 'lust twelve years is about $163,000, ,000, or about $13,500,000 a year, but contracts have averaged only $9,000, 000 a. year and the architect" has been nnable even to think of $45,000,000 of work authorized. The majority proposes to overcome the difficulty by adopting type plans . and y enlarging the staff. Mr. Bur : leson's plan is more thorough and systematic, but it would shut out many would-be recipients of pork. The type plan would promote econ omy but would also produce a deadly sameness in Government buildings. . They should each have individuality and should be an ornament to a town (1n order to do. credit to the Nation. The type plan as to size and interior arrangement might be adopted with out making all buildings in towns of the same size exactly alike. This whole subject illustrates the need of a department or bureau of public works, such, as exists jn other countries. Aside from Army and N'avy work the Government is erect ing buildings, improving rivers and harbors and reclaiming arid land. When Congress ' acts on conservation it may authorize drainage of swamp land. There is no sound business rea son why all this construction should not be under one head with a staff transferable to any point. A man like Colonel Goethals would soon get an army of architects, engineers, builders and mechanics to work as a team WHITHER ARE THEY GOING? Mr. Geer declined to be considered for the Prohibition nomination for Governor because he is a candidate for the Republican nomination. Mr. Brownell has not given any indica tion that he would accept the Prohi bition nomination if it were offered, and we have no idea what he would have done if exposed to temptation. Mr. U'Ren openly sought the leading piace on tne Prohibition ticket, ' and got it. Mr. Geer, Mr. Brownell and Mr. U'Ren are the three avowed can didates for Governor who have de clared for state prohibition. The two first are Republicans and the last named is no longer a Republican. The effect of the Prohibition nomi nation on Mr. U'Ren's candidacy is perhaps problematical; but its effect upon the Prohibition party is not problematical. Mr. U'Ren is not, and never has been, concerned in the wel fare of the Prohibition party. He Js concerned in nc party, except as it may minister to the radical propa ganda with which his name is identi fied. He proposes now to use the Prohibition party as a stepping stone to the further exploitation of TTRen ism. The Prohibition platform contains very little U'Renism. It would "safe guard" the initiative and referendum. So would everybody else. It is for proportional representation. Natur ally enough, perhaps, since it is a party hopelessly in the minority. Otherwise it is not greatly disturbed about the Oregon system. The plat form has no mention of the single tax. It says nothing about the pro posed $1500 household tax exemp tion, just now a pet U'Ren idea. It does not seem to care whether or not the State Senate is abolished. It ig nores that old U'Ren favorite, the general manager scheme of state gov ernment. But the Prohibitionists themselves have accepted the humble position of tail to the U'Ren kite. It will be the old story of the farmer who yoked himself up with an ass. PENDLETON A NO THE LAW. Dr. C. J. Smith, candidate for Gov ernor on a law-enforcement and rigid economy platform, is .greatly dis turbed because The Oregonian the other day called attention to the fact that the doctor-candidate was Mayor of Pendleton in 1898, when Pendleton was an "open" town. Dr. Smith ad mits that he was Mayor of Pendleton, but denies that he countenahced gam bling, or open saloons, or a free-and- easy red-light district. The Oregonian had not supposed that Dr. Smith, or any one, would have the temerity to deny facts widely notorious and never heretofore, dis puted by any person familiar with earlier conditions in Pendleton and other frontier towns. But it appears that the unwise and immature cam paign managers of the trusting doctor have thought it well to have him say, and to say for him, that the laws against vice and the saloons were thoroughly enforced during the Smith Mayoralty. To support that extraor dinary statement the testimony of the town marshal in 1898 (Heathman) is presented. Why did they overlook the gamblers and saloon men as wit nesses? The Oregonian presents today else where an accurate and informed statement as 'to the situation in Pen dleton under Mayor Smith. It was no better and no worse than under other administrations.. The Smith re gime followed the custom of the country after a little virtuous pre tense, shortly after he was installed, about driving out the gamblers. But very soon the old system of arresting the gamblers at stated intervals vir tually a license scheme was resumed. So it was with the women of the un der world. Meanwhile, the saloons ran day and night, seven days in the week. If Mayor Smith's pretense of law enforcement resulted in the wide-open Pendleton of 1898, what would hap pen in Oregon In 1915, under the great law-enforcement programme of Governor Smith? ADVICE TO DEMOCRATS. Regardless o previous disagree ments over trifling matters. The Ore gonian in the matter of electing a Democratic National committeeman 'is heart and soul in accord with the Medford Mail Tribune. The Mail-Tribune's candidate is Judge W. H. Canon, of Medford, who is opposed by Postmaster Myers' can didate, Mr. H. M. Esterly, of Port land. Judge Canon is The Orego nian's candidate also. Southern Oregon Democracy Is en titled to this representation on the National committee. In the Western Oregon counties south of Marion the voting population is less than three fourths that of Multnomah County, yet in the nine counties in that dis trict there were 1000 more Democrats than In Multnomah. in 1912, accord ing to registration figures. Moreover, your Southern Oregon Democrat is more generally a Demo crat the year through. He not only votes the Democratic ticket in the general election, but he more often registers as a Democrat and votes the Democratic ticket in the primaries. Party representation and party fealty are entitled to reward. It is small recognition that Southern Oregon Democrats are asking of their party. They ought to .get it. But why The Oregonian's interest in a Democratic contest? Pure good natured sympathy. We are quite con vinced that the Democracy will need a few politicians like Judge Canon in command to revive it after the Fall election. Judge Canon is not only as tute but bold. He picked the winner in the National convention in 1912 al most before anybody else. Then he raised1 -a campaign pot larger than that contributed in any other county outside of Multnomah. Moreover, he sent a telegram to the. wavering Ore gon delegation at Baltimore daring them to cross the Missouri on their return if they did not stick with Wil son. What has Mr. Esterly ever done for Democracy to indicate that he would be able to reorganize a disintegrating, army? Does he know how to raise' campaign funds? Would he dare send orders reverberating across the continent? It is The Oregonian's. ad vice to the Democrats that they elect as committeeman one of demonstrat edfitness to command and that they alsfc reward the faithfulness of the flock in Southern Oregon. From the manner in which Senator Norris, of Nebraska, discusses canal tolls, he evidently knows more about the navigation of a prairie schooner than a steamship. He boldly asserts THE MORXIXQ OKEGOMAy, FRIDAY. MAY that. If coastwise ships vwere com-: pelled to pay tolls, their profits would " just mat much less than if they were exempt. Russell L. Dunn, who certainly knows more about ships than this prairie statesman, estimates that Diesel motor ships will carry freight from the Pacific Coast to New York at $2 a ton. Mr. Norris esti mates the toll of $1.20 per net regis tered ton as equivalent to 60 cents per cargo ton. Does any man imagine that, exempted from tolls, shipown ers could -long absorb this 60 cents extra profit on a service they can ren der for $2 without paying tolls? They can only do so by the grace of the Attorney-General in not prosecuting them for illegal combination. . THS BEST 8TIDENTS. We have Longfellow's eminent au thority for distrusting appearances. "Things are not what they seem," he tells us in his admirable "Psalm of Life," and it is probably true that of all deceptive things on earth , statis tics are the worst. They can be made to mean whatever the' manipulator wishes and the falsehood' they tell is made all the more pernicious by the commort- belief that "figures cannot He." They are the worst liars under the sun when they have a moderately skilled human brain to help them. The statistics just published by the University of Washington in regard to the scholastic acquirements of fra ternity students read most convinc ingly. To the unwary mind they seem to prove conclusively that fraternity students are the best students. Only a little more than 7 per cent of the fraternity members were conditioned in their studies this year, while of the "barbarian" horde outside the frater nities more than 10 per cent were conditioned. How brightly the sun of glory shines unon the Greek letter so cieties as one peruses these figures. But presently it is eclipsed by a low ering cloud. The fraternities are .here shown to be some 3 per cent ahead of the aver age university mark. They ought to be 40 or 50 per cent ahead if they attended to their studies properly. To begin with, they are the picked stu dents. The fraternities seek out only the brightest human material in the classes and reject all that does not come up to a certain standard. This material is out of sight of the main student body when it is chosen, but it does not keep out of sight. Through idleness and self-indulgence it gradu ally falls back until, as we see, there is only a narrow margin between this brilliant coterie and the humble mass. Nor may we forget that the frater nity students are of advanced univer sity rank. They are all of the sopho more or higher years, while the aver age for the outsiders includes fresh men who are new to college life and naturally backward in acquirements. All this is perfectly patent to anybody who understands college chicanery. We comment upon it merely that readers may be on their guard against the special pleading that seeks to jus tify an undemocratic institution. P REACHING ON BIRD8. It must have been a refreshing change for the Dallas churchgoers to sit and listen to the Rev. George H. Bennett's sermon on "Birds." The venerable themes of baptism, danc ing, theater-going and Sabbath-breaking are pretty well outworn both in city and country churches. - The con gregations are hungering and thirst ing for something new and occasion ally there is a minister who rises to his opportunity and supplies it. Mr. Bennett evidently knows a good deal about birds. Some of those golden moments which too many of his brethren spend poring over He brew texts he has devoted to the study of God's outdoor works with immense profit to his soul, we should say. And it stands to reason that just as soon as a minister begins to amass real profit for his own soul he cannot, to save himself, hinder it from over flowing upon the souls of his congre gation. The true reason why so many sermons are arid and meager is that the minister himself is spiritually starving. What he needs is a session or two with the birds, the fishes -or something else equally wholesome and religious. Dr. Bennett has been led by his studies to think highly of the birds. He says they are perfectly able to take care of themselves, thereby set ting an excellent example to human beings, some of whom "are always whining because nobody coddles them. Then again the birds are true to their instincts. They all live the simple life and addict themselves to no vices. Mr. Bennett knows of no bird that chews tobacco, smokes cig arettes or drinks whisky. They fol low the laws of their unspoiled nature and -thus pass their lives in good health and reasonable happiness. Nor is that all the story. The birds not only take care of themselves, but they help take care of us. Without these .little auxiliary soldiers in the agricultural army what would become of our crops? Who could raise grain or fruit without the aid of the birds? And wherf they have helped us earn our livings by their unpaid services they go a step farther in generosity and soothe our aching bodies with their songs. Truly the Rev. Mr. Ben nett chose wisely when he took the birds for a text. soniCEa or depression. The people are not interested in the prosperity of the United States Steel Corporation simply as a corporation, but they are deeply interested in the prosperity of the steel industry. That industry contributes materially to the general prosperity and has come to be regarded as the business barom eter. As the steel trust controls fully half of the industry, the statement of its earnings indicates the condition of the whole. In the first quarter of 1914 the trust-showed net earnings of $17, 994,381, as compared with $23,036, 343 in the same quarter of 1913 and $34,426,801 in the same quarter of 1912. It paid the usual dividends only by drawing $6,289,644 from its surplus, while in the first quarter of 1913 it added $1,002,304 and in the first quarter of 1912 $7,369,600 to its surplus after paying the same rate of dividends. ' This is not merely a showing of de pression in the steel trader it is an evidence of depression in business generally. This depression is largely due to cessation of Improvement and extension by the railroads, which are the steel manufacturers' best cus tomers, consuming in" normal times 35 to 40 per cent of the country's steel output. Railroads have ceased to buy because their net earnings have de creased to silch an extent that they cannot borrow money. Thus depres sion results in the steel trade and in the labor market and spreads thence through all lines of industry and trades In some quarters the financial weakness of the railroads is attribut ed to manipulation of accounts , or to such high financing as is now being exposed with regard to the New Ha ven road. The Interstate Commerce Commission has authority to regulate accounting methods and should have corrected any manipulation. The roads which have suffered from high finance control but a small proportion of the whole mileage. They should be disciplined, but the large majority of honestly managed railroads should not suffer for their sins. Senator La Fpllette charges that pressure has been brought to bear im properly on the Interstate Commis sion by letters and resolutions to in duce it to sanction an advance in freight rates. The Commission being a semi-judicial body, such influence is as improper as if it were used upon a court. -But the public has a right to ask that the Commission .lose no time about ascertaining all the facts necessary to form its judgment and that it hasten the announcement of that judgment. Man? communica tions addressed to the Commission have doubtless gone no farther' than to ask prompt decision. When Charles Dickens was vhtii us he made learned observations upon our table manners. Among othere re grettable circumstances he noticed the individual knife which flits from the gravy to the pie and thence to the mouth, completing its cycle in the butter. "Juicy" was the adjective with which he characterized its use fulness. We wonder what he would say were he to see a dozen guests at a cheap restaurant all dipping their juicy spoons Into the same sugar bowl. The Southern Methodist Confer ence ought to be heartily commended for preferring regeneration to eugen ics as a means of improving the 'hu man race. If we must choose be tween better souls and better bodies we take souls. But must we choose? What is there to, hinder our improv ing souls and bodies, too? Will the conference please tell us why we can not have both regeneration and eugenics? - - Maine ' politics is as interesting as ever this year. The Bull Moosers seem to have dropped out of sight and Republicans and Democrats face one another in horrid belligerency. Pro hibition is helping the Republicans, who have declared for it uncomprom isingly, while the Democrats are more or less unsound in the faith. Maine is still a September state. Hence everybody is watching her. The modern university is marked by a strong centrifugal tendency. This is the opposite of the "cloistral" idea. New York University offers a good sample of what is goiijg on. It has established a "forum" where the multitudinous elements of the sur rounding city mingle and learn to understand each other. It prepares for life by admitting lire to its halls. The Vaterland is a swift steamer, but she cannot surpass the Maure tania. in speed. For the present the ocean greyhounds seem to have reached the speed limit, and "new steamers will probably only be as swift as the best and will bid for busi ness on the score of safety and com fort. Dr. - Steinmetz, the famous head engineer of the General Electric Com pany, says in an interview that the day will come when machinery will dispense a,lmost entirely with human supervision. This, in his, opinion, will emancipate men from toil and afford ample time for self-improvement. As to the Villa-Carranza an nouncements that they will relieve Mexico from the grasp of tyrants, it may be recalled that Madero tried this without getting very far. . So Lane 'Is- listed as "doubtful" on the tolls question. Possibly, until time for a vote, when a slight jar of the plum tree will make him eat out of the President's hand. Britain delivered an ultimatum which caused Hayti tb pay an Indem nity promptly. Had it been the United States, Hayti would have me diated. The arrest of a Paris adventuress who had stolen srems worth a million Lreveals that truth occasionally out strips tne wildest writers of claptrap fiction. . - Teddy lost fifty-five pounds during his South American trip. Hearing which, we -take it that Professor Taft is looking up the next sailing date. "Vera Cruz meat prices have become forbidding. The Mexicans will find that American civilization is not with out its drawbacks. Killing of two more Englishmen in Mexico might be a far. more serious matter if the tolls question were out of the way. The fact that Roosevelt is fifty four pounds lighter means he will fire shrapnel rather than solid shot in this campaign. Does-the order giving Funston a free hand mean that the Administra tion suspects the .futility of media tion ? Spokane may introduce autophones. Hard on that type of bad-humored grouch who vents his spleen on cen tral. Idaho County farmers take the stand that Wild West exhibitions are demoralizing. Envious of Pendleton. . Did ITRen get double trading stamps with the nomination? Simple choice is not a bargain. Dropping bombs into a beleaguered city is not skillful warfare, but ruth less murder. The Administration is now consid ering something to help the West. High time. ' The candidates are entering on the home stretch lit the primary mara thon. The alleged spy at Fort Stevens is probably an idly curious person. The gentle shower is' needed w hen the roads become dusty. She is now Mrs. McAdoo and head of a family of six. 8, 1914. OM3 HABIT LEADS TO A .NOT II Kit. Mr. Wilson Trans Xlcotlne Slavery Back to Coffee Drinking. CORVALLIS, Or, May 6. (To the Editor.) Referring to your excellent editorial Sunday, respecting the nitrate cure for nicotine, I am constrained, to mention & fact or two for the consid eration of the medical profession who read The Oregonian. t have referred this question to three physicians who maintain their standing in the profes sion and they have all partially agreed with me. two of them in Oregon and one in Chicago. Nicotine Js one of the worst enemies a young boy has to com bat. At what age does & boy contract the cigarette habit, and why? Why does he do it? There came under my observation the table habits of a boy. This was an un usually bright boy. At about 16 he quit drinking milk and began to use coffee. It was not strong enough, so hia mother made it stronger; shortly thereafter he . began to use tobacco. Both of his parents objected to the tobacco, but not to the coffee. In his case the coffee drinking has persisted throughout his life, and with it the tobacco. His entire life has been a desolation. He ie regarded as an un usually bright man, some 60 years old. but a confirmed vagabond. He will never be anything else. The pot. the bowl and the cigarette go together. They are convivial and congenial companions. They are great friends and they are the chief instru ments of His Satanic Majesty in his operations "seeking whom he may de vour." A few preachers might think on this practical question with ad vantageous results also. Now every one is trying to cure the nicotine habit groping in the dark without ascertaining and removing the cause. There would be no question of doping themselves with -poppy pro ducts after they are cured of nicotine unless the original cause remained. I -have not the slightest doubt but what, in the economy of Nature, some where, somehow, behind every cigarette fiend there is either the direct applica tion of- a cup or two or three of hot, delicious coffee every day. perhaps three times a day, or else there is an ancestor who was fond of either the Arabian berry or some form of alcohol. Let not our unreflecting portion of the community fall into the grievous error of thinking they can sow a few wild oats in the field of alcohol, or a few tame oats in the field of caffeine without reaping the whirlwind. That Is exactly what either they or their children or their grandchildren will reap. It runs in my mind that about a hundred years -ago I was taught something like this by a lady who Is now a saint in heaven. In Sunday school. It ought to be taught every day in the common schools nay more: it ought to be threshed in. good and deep. Then maybe the next genera tion would do. some reflecting on Its own account. T. H. WILSON. PRODCCTIOJT WORTHV OP STUDY Contributor Dlscnxaea Antigone to Be Heard at Reed College. PORTLAND. May 7. (To the Edi tor.) Cards are at hand announcing the production of the Antigone at Reed College. May 13 and 14. This oppor tunity of hearing Sophocles' master piece is not to be passed with scant at tention, for not only do the efforts of the classical department of Reed College merit recognition, but it is worth while to get some acquaintance with a work of art that the selective hand of time has culled for its garner of choicest possessions. Art is not only local, but it Is also universal In its appeal. A plav may be written' for a particular people and occasion, but it may also contain a message for all times and nations. Herein is the Antigone no exception. What creation of the "Tragic Three" so well represents the statuesqueness of the Attic stage as does Antigone? In what play is the chorus better repre sented as the mouthpiece of public opinion? In Kreon is seen an' example par excellence of the Herodotean doctrine mat vv nom tne gods would destroy they first make mad." In the family of Antigone is exemplified the Greek idea of an hereditary curse that persists through the ages, nipping off here a bud and there a flower till at last the unlucky tree is destroyed, root and branch. Thus is the play full of things Greek, still it is no less modern. Anti gone in her revolt against the con ventions of the law is akin to Dr. Anna Shaw, who objects to taxation without representation. The easygoing Ismene plays the part of a foil to her strong minded sister quite after the fashion of Sidney Carton and Charles Darnay in the "Tale of Two Cities." Another modern character is the guard, who in his garrulity and prolixity is a worthy forerunner of Shakespeare's Dogberry.- Kreon, the king, as pig headed ai adherent to a narrow con ception of duty as is the unrelenting sleuth of Les Mlserables. In contrast to these modern ele ments in the Antigone the way in which the ancient poet treats the love motive will interest the audience. Soph ocles introduces Haemon, the crown P'ince. as the lover of Antigone. How different a modern dramatist would have handled the situation can be judged by those who witness the play. Whether the auditor enjoys the play by reason of its antique flavor of Its signs of modernity, he will be chiefly Interested in Antigone herself as the sole successful example in all tragedy of a perfect hero (heroine). It is a canon of criticism that the tragic hero must have great virtues, coupled with imperfections for a tragic character must excite sympathy. The .suf fering of a light character, as that of a child, arouses merely pity. The unjust death of a perfect character, as that of Socrates, arouses merely indignation. Neither begets sympathy. Antigone is an exception to this rule. She is a strong character; she has done no wrong and yet in her fall we feel all that stirring and purging of the emo tions which Aristotle has laid down as the true test of tragedy. A. P. M'KJNLAY. - Swiss Have a Mercantile lVa-r-. Londdh Chronicle. Long before Germany was to be reck oned with as a sea power, Switzerland possessed a fleet equipped for warfare. Eight hundred years ago on all the larger Swiss lakes, armed eralleys were -maintained by the rival cantons. Skilled Bnipwngnts dad to be imported from Genoa for the construction of these vessels, some of which carried crews of 600 men. The largest Swiss flotilla was maintained on the Lake of Geneva, when the inhabitants of Geneva were at war with Savoy. Since the neutrality of Switzerland has been guaranteed by the powers, there has been no need for warships on the lakes. The Swiss, however, possess a mercantile navy, which carries a considerable amount of trade over the 842 miles of navigable waterways in the republic. . flavored Melons. PORTLAND, May 7. (To the Edi tor.) In my native county town. Hills boro. 111., lives a Mr. Harrison Litiker, who raises melons, some of which he flavors to the queen's taste. The meth od is a simple one, which any farmer or gardener in Oregon can try for him self. A half pint or pint bottle, is filled with sugar eyrup. to which has been .added any desired flavoring, lem on, orange, vanilla or pineapple. Into the bottle of syrup Is inserted 10 inches or so of yarn string, the protruding end of which is, with a darning needle, passed through the stem close up to the watermelon. - This muet be done Just as the melon begins to ripen. The melon absorbs the contents of the bot tle, giving back a rich flavor, when cut and eaten. C E. CLINE. WHY ROAD BONDS AJREj OPPOSED. Proposed Clackamas Highways Vnt airly Located, Says Writer. EAGLE CREEK, Or, May 6. (To the Editor.) I must take issue with two articles printed in The Oregonian May 3. One is "Newspaper Urges Bonds," which quotes an article from the Ore gon City Enterprise, with reference to voting - road bonds in Clackamas County.. The other article is. "Eyes of State On Clackamas County." First I want it understood that I am not opposed to good roads. In fact every one who knows me knows that I am a good-road enthusiast. The fact that I live in a road district that was made largely through my influence and has each year since its existence voted special road tax of ten mills, and that the district was made in order to get a section of country set to itself so we could vote this tax and that I am one of the heaviest taxpayers in the district, prove that I am willing to be taxed for road work. The Enterprise calls attention to how fairly these roads have been named. This Is the point I want to strike at hard if I can. It argues Clackamas County can not afford not to vote these bonds. I contend that Clackamas-County cannot afford to vote these bonds and main tain its honor, when it Is considered how injustly these 'roads have been named. Twice in recent years the section north and east of the Clackamas River has tried to separate itself from the balance of the county. Why? Entirely on account of such unfair methods as have always been used against this portion of the county, Just as are now applied In this bonding act. Let any fair-minded person look over the list of the roads named and judge for him self how equitably they have been laid out. What does East of the Clackamas River get, although it is developing as rapidly, if not more rapidly, than any other part of the county? Eagle Creek Currinsville, Estacada, Garfield. George. DoVer. Firwood. Cherryville, Bull Run. Cottrell. all valuable assets to Clacka mas County, In fact, strong enough and well able to maintain & county govern ment alone, and not one road named in this great and important section. One short road of seven miles, between Boring and Sandy, and another little road from Damascus to a junction with the Clackamas road, are all that is given to the best part of Clackamas Countv. or iihniii .i n..i.I.irii, . i. i Your correspondent tells where only ccn ftnn . i. : . r vvv.vvu ui hub money is to D6 used. Why don't he tell where the other $50,000 goes? The election notice does. It goes into a sinkhole, a new proposed road from Logan across the Clackamas River to Barton, to benefit no one but the Portland Railway, Light and fower Company. Your correspondent seems to think that every one is highly commending the County Court for its, wise selection of these roads. I have heard nothing but rnnripntnotinn V. . v. v. i . . . . ...-.... - .v.. ma uuLcretti reeling against every member of the r..-. 1 1 -1 a . : .. i i V . - - . ucibaLiuii ui taxpayers rrom t tl I'fl do ,..... 1 . T 1 m . -. u v i it ii r irwooa districts called upon the County Court -tmuetot oi one or its members, and was faithfully promised by two mmhpra nf t h. , . . . . i - - ! ' " ' - " L eaai live miles of road would be named from ""'"n eastwara via Jagie Creek and more if possible, but not one mile is mentioned 'in the list. The road from Eagle Creek to Fir wood is one of the most prominent highways in Clackamas County. It is the old emigrant pass and should be classed as an interstate road. It is the common passage-way from the south to the mountain . road across the moun tains via Government Camp and vice versa. Considering the Importance of the road from Eagle Creek via Dover to Firwood. why it was nor named is hard to solve. No one can say that I am contending for this road from a selfish motive, for it does not pass within three miles of my property, and It would only be a small portion of it that I would use to any great extent. Possibly $600,000 is not enough to cover the main roads of the county. If so, then leave out new visionary pro posed roads, or make the bonding act large enough to cover the county. There would be less opposition to a bonding act of $900,000 equitably dis tributed, than $600,000 as the roads are now named. J. -w. EXON. WHEN ONE'S MONEY IS "TAINTED" unly fo When Retained In .Hands of Those Who Cot It by Wrongdoing-. VANCOUVER, Wash., Mav 6. (To the Editor.) What has Rockefeller done that his money is "tainted"? What nas anyone done that his money should be "tainted"? Why should money be tainted? Why should money accumulated dis honorably or even illegally not be re turned in some way to those from whom It has been secured by question able means : Should the man vhn innir u n bowels of the earth & product that he developed into a useful product which he may have sold at exorbitant prices be refused the privilege of putting that money Into a channel by which it can go back to those from whom It was wrongfully taken, because It is tainted "j Should the man who produces an article from the product of the soil, WhtCh is Of no Use to thosn whr iiu it, but rather an injury.Vbe refused the privilege of returning some of that Ill gotten money to the unfortunate ones who have suffered hunger, rags and disgrace from the habits of fathers ana Drotners with uncontrollable hab its, be refused the orivile.r lng some of that ill-gotten money to muse umortunaie ones from whom it was taken because it is "tainted"? Is there any man so pure that he should stand up in Congress and refuse to accept "tainted money that is of fered to those from whom it was Il legally obtained? A purer and more honest Christian gentleman never went among sinners In & mining camp than Rev. C. S. Kingsley when he went into Bannock (Idaho City) and organized a Metho dist Church and set about the building of a place for worship. He went into the vilest saloons hells of destruction and asked for money. He was met first with refusal. "Why should we pay to build a church?" The reply was, "Because you are dragging down, and you should help to lift up." "But ' they say our money is tainted." Yes, your money is tainted while it is in your hands, but when it is on the way to do good it is as pure as any gold. And the money was forthcoming plentifully and the church was built largely by this "tainted" money. A. B. ROBERTS. No More of West Policies for Clatsop. ASTORIA. Or.. May 6. (To the Edi tor.) The voters of Clatsop County are pleased to know that Dr. C. J. Smith has announced that he is wearing Gov ernor West's collar. That if nominated he will continue Governor West's poli cies. This statement settles Dr. Smith's chances in Clatsop County. Voters here, irrespective of politics-will never indorse Governor West, his policies or any candidate either state or local tha Is tied to Governor West's apron strings. The West fiasco has cost Oregon many thousand dollars in one of the most reckless and extravagant admin istrations in the history of the state, and the voters are not In a mood to isidorse Governor West, his policies or his candidates from Constable to Gov ernor. We now know where. Dr. Smith stands and Democrats can act accord ingly. CLATSOP DEMOCRAT. Mysteries of a Complexion. x London Tit-Bits. "She has a fine complexion." "And she gives every man who kisses her a little of it as a souvenir." Twenty-five Years Ago (From-The Oregonian of May 8, 1889.) Washlnz-fnn. Mav 7 T Vi . Y--i today appointed Theodore Roosevelt Civil Service Commissioner. Washington. May 7. Ex-President Cleveland's seal brown horses, car riages and stable trappings, which were sold at public auction yesterday, brought astonishingly low prices. District conventions were held throughout Washington Territory yes terday for the nomination of delegates to the constitutional convention to be held at Olympla, July 4. Tacoma, May 7. The Democrats have elected S. A. Wheelwright Mayor by about 150 majority. Salem, May 7. The Board of Trade has raised subscriptions of about $200 per month for advertising purposes and expects to raise $400 or $500 with a few days' work. The city of East Portland is in a healthy financial condition. The bond ed debt is $23,000 and there is $9500 In the debt fund. The debt will be wiped out within two years. Mrs. George Johnson died yesterdav at her residence on Tenth and L streets. East Portland'. An unusually large assembly of Sun day school workers greeted Rev. T C Clapp last night at the opening of the Multnomah convention In the First Congregational Church. C. L. Fay, the president, took the chair and Rev. Al fred Summer delivered an address. There has been a legend among tho clerks In the office of Major Jones. United States Engineer, that some 17 years ago the lady then occupying the house, on the occasion of the birth of a daughter,' buried several bottles of wine in the cellar to be left there till the wedding of the daughter. The clerks spent some leisure hours pros pecting for that wine, but never found it. A day or two since Mrs. H E. Jones, whose daughter. Miss Louise Savier, is to be married today, made a descent on the cellar, secured the long buried wine and carried it off in tri umph. The monthly meeting of the watr committee was not held yesterday, there being no quorum. The death of Mayor Gates left 14 members on the committee. Of these, seven were out of town. S. G. Reed was in San Fran cisco, F. Dekum In Vancouver. R. B. Knapp in Egypt. A. H Johnson in Washington County. Colonel Fleischner in Vienna and W. V. Smith in East Portland. Edward E. Kiessling, the musician, died at Grants Pass Monday, Work on Grace M. E. Church Is being pushed. An organ has been ordered which will cost $5000. Rev. Ross C. Houghton, pastor of the Grace M. E. Church, has been elected a member of the American Historical Association. J. Bourne, Jr.. leaves tonight for Baker City to meet a party of nine St. Louis capitalists who have interest In the E. & E. mine on Cracker Creek, and accompany them to the mine. R. Mendenhall is preparing to enjoin the city against building a city hall on the Plaza block. ' The honor of sending the first ship ment of Oregon strawberries to this market is claimed by M. Levy lor Mr. Johnson, of Roseburg. The condition of Mrs. J. P. Howe, who Is critically ill. has greatly im proved during the past few days. n The Sunday Orea-onlanr AT VERA GRUZ Under the Stars and Stripes A correspondent of the Orego nian presents a clear and graphic picture of the Pearl of Mexico as it now appears under American occupation. lie illustrates the ar ticle with five large, clear photo graphs. Full-page feature. Harrison Fisher Pictu-res Harrison Fisher, the famous artist, has completed a new and striking series, "The Greatest Mo ments of a Girl's Life." Each one of the 12 drawings in this series occupies a full page a pase worth cutting out and saving. The first drawing, "The Proposal," will ap pear Sunday. The Mexican Army It isn't much of au army from a fighting standpoint, but for pic turesqueness and incapacity it is the most remarkable in the world, all of which is shown in a feature article illustrated by photographs. Planning "Wars. While mediation has the limelight just now, jet the plans for possi ble trouble go merrily on. The man who plans our wars and the nature of his work are covered by a Washington correspondent of The Oregonian. Breezy Suzanne Ellis Parker Butler's delightful new character passes a few enter taining remarks on "The Point of View. ' ' With the rieet An illustrated page, in colors, on the work of the great American fleet in Mexican waters. It is the story not only of the great fighting machines, but of the men and how they live. Genevieve's Moods. The fourth article in this series, portraying the inner moods of a. spirited girl, has to do with the domestic mood. Fire Fight Fire A story of heroism by George Allen England. A red-blooded story. Complete Sunday. At Portsmouth ' Theodore Roosevelt's own story of how ' Japan and Russia were brought together after bitter fighting- in the Orient. Oregon's Flowers "Who's' Who Among the Wild Flowers" is one of a whole page of illustrated features for the chil dren. SCOKZS OF OTHER FEATURES Order early of your news dealer.