8
tttt? 3rOT?NTyCr OREGONIAX. FRIDAY, MAY 29, 1914.
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l-ORTLWD, FRIDAY, MAY 29. 114.
4j TARIKf NOT OCT OF POLITICS.
"j The comparative "calm with which
t the Nation has accepted the Under
: wood tariff has encouraged some san
; guine economists to believe that the
tariff has finally been taken out of
politics and that an early return of
. the Republicans to power would not
': be followed by revision. These gen
; tlemen do not give due weight to the
; great probability ihat the Treasury
, report for the first year during which
: the new tariff is in operation will
' show a deficit; to the industrial stag-
nation for which, rightly or wrongly,
the tariff will be held responsible; to
' the activity and influence of those
gentlemen who have found the tariff
; a good political talking point; or to
j the influence of those industries
; which have been deprived of much
: or all of their protection.
Treasury experts who calculate
for Congress the probable volume of
imports and amount of revenue under
certain rates of duty are prone to err,
and appear to have erred on this oc
- casion. Taking prior years as a cri
., terlon, they estimate that reduction
s of a duty from, say, 35 to 25 per cent
: will stimulate imports to the point
; where as much revenue will be yleld-
ed at the lower as at the higher rate.
'." But they fallto make allowance for
the period of transition from one
: rate to the other and from one tariff
; to the other, during which trade is
; adjusting itself to changed conditions.
That period is not yet past. In addi
tion, there has been a general depres-
' sion irrespective of the tariff. These
; two causes have falsified the experts'
; estimates of revenue. Extravagance
. of Congress and greed of its pork-
barrel statesmen have made expenses
exceed the appropriation committee's
'. estimate, for a deaf ear- has been
; turned to Chairman Fitzgerald's
protests.
! Writing in the Century Magazine,
James D. Whelpley says that the tar
! Iff has "little or no bearing on the
; cost of living" and that the difference
; in cost "will bring no obvious relief
; to the average householder." He
thinks this difference will be ab
j sorbed by the middlemen and will not
; reach the consumer. That may be so
i at the outset, but if the Democrats
I carry out their promise to "bust" the
1 trusts and to restore competition, this
excess profit should be squeezed out
of the middlemen for the consumers'
'; benefit by competition. But the con
; sumer does not see the benefit as j'et,
and the Democrats will pay the pen
alty of being too profuse with
promises.
' Add to these influences those of the
standpatter ready to take advantage
: of adverse conditions for tils political
' profit and of the once-protected man
ufacturer ready to do the same for
financial profit and we have a com-
: bination which will create a demand
for new tariff revision. But there
will never again be a Dingley tariff.
The Republican pary has taken to
; heart the lesson of tne Payne-Al-drlch
bill and the golden bond be
: tween the manufacturers and the pol-
ltlelans has been broken by publicity
: of campaign funds.
The prospects are that a deficit will
' necessitate a higher tariff or some
other means of increasing revenue
unless a change for the betetr comes
very quickly. If the Republicans
; control the next House they may
' propose higher duties and offer the
Democrats the alternative of impos
ing what have always been consld
; ered war taxes. If they are wise,
' however, they, will endeavor to take
the tariff out of politics by basing its
. revision on reports of a non-partisan
board such as President Taft's Tariff
Commission and by starting the work
v wtth a detailed revision schedule by
schedule. The only Democratic Pres
idents wo have had since the Civil
: War have owed their election to Re
' publican excesses In protection, and
, many a man who has voted for the
' Democrats on that issue would gladly
; ally himself with the Republicans as
. the. party of positive achievement in
domestic affairs and as the party
; which vigorously upholds the Nation
; al honor in foreign affairs, were the
; tariff out of the way as a party issue.
WRONG DONE BY RED TAPE.
There is still some red tape for
Secretary Lane to cut out of Land
. Office administration in order that
hard-working pioneers may not be
t deprived of their homesteads by dry-as-dust
lawyers. Senator Thomas re
cently caused the reading in the Sen-
ate of an article from the New York
World describing the case of W. E.
1 Dermott. who had taken up a home
; etead six miles from Galena on the
' south fork of the Skykomish River in
Washington twelve years ago. Two
: years later his land was included in
: the Snoqualmle National forest, but
Mr. Dermott held on, built a one and
' one-half story house, cleared three
acres for a garden and planted 1500
strawberry plants, besides growing
other fruit and vegetables. He and
his family lived on the claim six or
eight months in each year, spending
, on improvements all he could save
from his work as a contractor in Ev
" erett. but he is now Informed that he
Aid not live there long enough each
year and the Department finds fault
with his improvements. Said Mr.
Dermott:
There were plenty of hardships during
most of the ll years we lived in the moun-
' tslns so far from civilization. There were
; no trails, no schools, no doctors and few
oslshbors: we were in the wilderness, but
happy and fairly welt contented In the b-
: lief that some day we would have a com
; forts ble home.
Representative Falconer has intro-
: duced a bill authorizing the issue of
patents to Mr. Dermott and some of
his neighbors who are in the same
position, but special bills to remedy
. individual wrongs are not sufficient
and may sometimes give relief in un-
deserving cases. The true remedy is
. an amendment of the general law
' and its administration in a spirit of
sympathy with, not suspicion of, the
settler. The latter requisite involves
supplanting the Eastern bureaucrats
with Western men who know West
ern conditions. Secretary Lane is
doing all he can. but he cannot re
construct the minds of his subordinates.
HIGH COST OF ELECTIONS.
County Commissioner Llghtner Is
right in his criticism of the cost of
primary elections. The recent elec
tion cost Multnomah County alone
$25,000, and, it is safe to say, cost the
other counties of the state JoO.OOO or
175,000 in arl.
Seventy-five thousand dollars will
more 'than pay one year's salary for
all the state officers. Supreme Court
Justices, Circuit Judges and members
of the Legislature nominated. At that
it is but a preliminary expense. The
general election will cost probably
more than $75,000. The state has
appropriated $35,000 for printing of
blanks and pamphlets alone.
It is not to be expected that a pri
mary can be conducted without pub
lic expense, as were the nominating
conventions, but in our efforts to
avoid corruption, we have overlooked
efficiency and economy. At a rough
guess we should say that the cost of
the two elections held each blennium
is at least the equivalent of the entire
salary budget for elected state. Judi
cial and legislative officers.
It is often said that if a private
corporation conducted its business as
do state and local governments it
would soon become bankrupt. It is
doubtless true that the stockholders
of any corporation that spent as much
for electing its officers as It did for
their services would vehemently pro
test if they found it out.
THE DtDB HAS TURNED.
Like the worm, the dude will turn.
Senator James Hamilton Lewis,
known in his earlier days in Seattle
as "Dude Lewis," has grown restive
at Journalistic Jests on his pink whis
kers, his cream-colored suit and hit
other startling peculiarities of attire.
To his mind, his beard is "an inti
mate personal matter" and he wishes
no longer to have his "superficial pe
culiarities furnish material for th
struggling efforts of the budding gen
iuses of Journalism."
'Twas not ever thus. There was a
time when Mr. Lewis deliberately
courted attention by cultivating pe
culiarities. His whiskers and his
clothes were -his stock in trade, and
he would rather be . ridiculed than ig
nored. He blossomed forth in a tall
hat, white vest and spats when Seat
tle was a "raw" town and regarded as
marks of eccentricity such articles of
clothing. He cheerfully enjoyed the
Jibes flung at him as he struggled up
ward from longshoreman to lawyer
and then to Representative in Con
gress, for they kept him in the public
eye.
But the Colonel has now arrived,
as the French say, and he kicks away
the ladder of eccentricity by which
he climbed. He has arrived at the
dignity of a Senatorship and wishes
to be taken seriously. Though there
are doubtless no bounds to his ambi
tion, even he probably realizes that
he can climb no higher. There is
then no motive for him to continue
the butt of "budding geniuses of Jour
nalism." There was a time when he
would bubble with thanks for "that
kind notice you gave me this morn
ing," though the reporter whom he
addressed had tried to penetrate the
Colonel's hide with the laslt-of sar
casm. But he need thus demean him
self no longer. His whiskers and his
clothes are a part of himself. He
could not change them if he would
without attracting -undesired notice,
and probably he would not if he
could.
What the Senator wishes the world
now to notice is the great brain which
labors beneath those abundant au
burn .locks. That brain is now striv
ing to solve the great -problems which
distress the people "my people," of
whom he was wont to speak with a
thrill of emotion in his voice. Take
your ' eye off the whiskers, the vest
and the spats and watch the working
of that brain.
OCR ERA OF TRANSITION.
The United States is in a period of
transition from the era of free public
land to the era of private ownership;
from the era when agriculture was
the chief industry to the era of manu
facture; from the era of waste to
that of conservation. These facts,
their causes and effects, economic,
social and political, are discussed in
an able article on "The Influence of
the Passing of the Public Lands,"
which Professor William J. Trimble,
of the North Dakota Agricultural Col
lege, has contributed to the Atlantic
Monthly.
The United States acquired between
the close of the Revolutionary War
and the year 1850 title to 1.465,000
000 acres of land. The Secretary of
the Treasury in 1827 estimated that it
would take 500 years to settle our
then public domain. Yet, excluding
Alaska, the public land unreserved
and unappropriated in 1910 had been
reduced to 343,486,000 acres. After
eighty-three years we had only the
leavings of wha' it was expected we
could not occupy in 500 years. In
that brief period we had settled
1,121,514,000 acres.
The rapidity with which we occu
pied this vast area enormously in
creased the products of the farm, for
est and mine, and insured their
cheapness and abundance. Having an
apparently unlimited supply, our
forefathers skimmed the cream and
wasted much. The supply of free
land is almost exhausted, production
of cattle is decreasing; that of grain
is not increasing in the same ratio as
population; that of lumber becomes
more costly as accessible timber is
cut off; and that of minerals also
grows more costly as mines go deeper
and lower grade ores are treated by
more costly processes. We are being
driven from careless to efficient pro
duction, from waste to restoration of
soil fertility. The laborer no longer
has the soil to fall back upon as a
means of becoming an independent
citizen, and the rise in value of land
and the cost of modern farming
methods place the farm still farther
beyond his reach. Classes of. capital
ist land-owners and of tenant-farmers
are growing up. Instead of looking
to the land for an opportunity, the
youth must attend trade schools and
obtain technical education. His In
dividualism is being sapped by pen
sions and welfare work at the great
factories where he is employed.
Free land. In Professor Trimble's
opinion, was a powerful agent in the
spread of democracy in Europe as
well as America, aided in Europe by
modern industrialism. It also tended
to social equality. Its passing tends
to develop an aristocracy, a middle
class and a laboring class and to fix
class distinctions. He asks: "Will
the political equality survive V and
says we are hard at work on this
problem and are using our political
equality to try to gain greater social
and economic equality. He sees evi
dences of the effort in civil service,
the secret ballot, direct primaries,
those measures which come under the
head of social and ' industrial Justice
and in education. He concludes hope
fully in these words:
All along the line, however, our democracy
Is moving forward. Either voluntarily or
through conscription, even our wealthy men
ar learning to march with the people, for
it la one of the most encouraging facta in
the outlook that our holders of great wealth
are by no means unresponsive to tides of
social feeling. Let our democracy be self
controlled and sane, let it avoid war, let
It limit excessive reproduction and immi
gration, let it redirect education, let It con
serve the strength and health and well
being of Its citizens, and we may hope for
success in the delicate and complicated and
trying adjustments whloh we are making as
we pass from the era of public lands.
The conclusion to be drawn from
this discussion of our transformed
conditions is that they are coming to
resemble more closely those of Eu
rope and that we must learn from
the older continent how to adaDt our
selves to the change and how to avoid
tne social, economic and political
evils from which Europe suffers.
I'XCI.E SAM, DEALER IX WARSHIPS.
Secretary Daniels' scheme for the
sale to Greece of the battleships Idaho
and Mississippi opens a new line of
business for Uncle Sam dealing in
out-of-date warships. The two ships
mentioned are among the last-built
and the best of the old-style battle
ships, having been laid down shortly
before England launched the first
dreadnought. They could not stand
up in a fight In open sea against more
modern ships, for a dreadnought
could knock them to pieces while
still out of range of their guns, but
they could hold their own in a fight
with a newer ship in the narrow seas
among the Aegean Isles, or even with
the big ship Turkey recently bought
from Brazil.
The rapidity with which warships
become obsolete is shown by the his
tory of the Idaho and Mississippi.
Their keels were laid in 1904, when
they were considered the last thing
in battleships, superior to any of
those which made the voyage around
the world, but by the time they were
commissioned in 1908 they had been
rendered useless as line of battle
ships by the dreadnought. The offer
of Greece to buy them opens a mar
ket for our obsolete ships which may
greatly facilitate the transition of the
Navy. One ship of the latest type is
equal to more than two of the Idaho
and Mississippi type, and if we can
procure one at a cost of only $2,000,
000 in addition to the price we obtain
for the old ships, we shall make a
good bargain. Some of our older
battleships may not be marketable,
even among second and third-class
nations, but the earlier dreadnoughts
are already passing out of date and
might well be sold, that we may re
place them with ships of the New
York type.
That Greece, impoverished and
loaded with debt by her recent wars,
should be spending millions on war
ships may cause surprise. Like the
other Balkan states, Greece realizes
the necessity of preparing for an
other war, in which she and Servla
may find Bulgaria allied with Turkey.
Her acquisition of a more extended
coast line and of a number of Aegean
Islands renders naval expansion nec
essary. France and England can view with
equanimity Greece's development as
a naval power, for she may become a
counterpoise, to Austria and Italy in
the Mediterranean. British and
French statesmen may therefore have
given the money lenders a hint that
they are not averse to seeing Greece
furnished with funds for naval
armament.
KNOWLEDGE AND PEACE.
President Wilson's feelings were
more dependable than his memory In
his speech at the corner-stone laying
for the new Methodist university at
Washington. When he said that
knowledge unifies mankind and at
tributed much international hatred
to international ignorance he spoke
from his heart and everybody must
agree with him. But when he added
that "scholarship, as far as he could
recollect at that moment, had never
been associated with any religion but
that of Jesus Christ," he consulted
not his heart, but his memory, and
it proved a fallacious guide. It is
truly remarkable that President Wil
son should have forgotten the debt
which modern scholarship both in
literature and science owes to the Mo
hammedans. During a long period
while Europe was sunk in the dark
ness of superstitious ignorance these
remarkable people wrote books and
pursued scientific investigations both
in the East and the West. Their
schools were scattered over the world
from Spain to Persia and multitudes
of scholars attended them.
Much of the scientific knowledge
which we now enjoy came to us by
way of the Mohammedans. They
were not very brilliant as original in
vestigators, but they kept the torch
of knowledge burning when it was
extinct among all other peoples and
we have inherited the results of their
industry. Nor is Mr. Wilson's re
mark quite fair to the Jews. It seems
, almost incredible that he should have
denied them the credit of, "scholar
ship," although their achievements
are certainly not "associated with the
religion of Jesus." The Jews have
done far more than their share in
every department of intellectual and
spiritual work. Their scientific men
are now and always have been at the
head of their profession. Their phi
losophers stand in the very front
rank. Their mathematicians are as
great as any. In great music and art
the Jews have done almost as much
as all the rest of the world together,
at least since the time of the Renais
sance. A memory which could deny
to the Jews and Mohammedans any
credit for scholarship needs chasten
ing before it is trusted again.
But the President stood on firm
ground when he said that very often
our only reason for hating' and de
spising other peoples is because ' we
do not know them. His quotation of
Charles Lamb's odd saying that he
"never could hate a man whom he
knew" was extremely apt. Of course
in exceptional cases we hate men be
cause we know them only too well,
but such instances are rare. Enmity
between individuals. Just as between
nations, is usually the consequence
of ignorant misunderstandings. The
English In old days detested the
French because they were -"frog-eaters."
while the French returned the
feeling with interest because the Brit
ish were "John Bulls." That was all
they knew of one another and the
gap In their knowledge afforded am
ple room for interminable warfare.
Now that British and French have
become Intimately acquainted by
means of trade and travel the idea
of strife is repugnant to both nations.
We may feel assured that no war will
break out between them in the future
unless startling international changes
should occur.
Knowledge unifies the world In
many ways. The pursuit of science is
a bond of Increasing power. Inves
tigators in the French, German, Eng
lish and American laboratories are all
eager to keep In touch with one an
other's work. Interchange of ideas
and publications goes on among them
constantly. In this way friendships
are cemented between the leaders of
the world's thought and war is made
more improbable every day. The
same process goes on in the realm
of literature. No sooner does a
genius produce some great work than
it is translated into all the European
languages. His thoughts become com
mon property. People of kindred
minds make friendship with him in
all parts of the world. Such men as
Ibsen, Hauptmann, Bernard Shaw
and Tolstoi have probably done more
to abolish war by the friends they
have made than by their sermons.
The lovers of Tolstoi, for example,
are numerous in every reading coun
try, and since they are almost invar
iably people of ability their influence
for peace is a factor not to be de
spired by the" Jingoes. It would be
easy to cite a score of ways in which
increasing knowledge combats the
war frenzy.
As a mere human being we should
Imagine that Milton J. Levi was
priced a little high at $150,000. He
is a glided San Francisco youth and
this is the sum at which his deserted
wife values his lost love. Since he
forsook her within a quarter of an
hour aster the wedding, his love, in
our opinion, is a mighty poor article.
But if Pearl, that is his wife's name,
can make him pay up in good round
dollars for his treachery we shall re
joice with her.
Ed Allsky's brief autobiography
gives an interesting account of a long
and usef il life. He was born in Ger
many in 18 32 and came to Portland
in 1875, after an adventurous life on
land and sea. Mr. Allsky served as a
sailor in the southern seas, was fore
man in a metallurgical laboratory in
San Francisco, dug gold in California
and has followed various useful call
ings In Portland. His green old age
Is the reward of a temperate and dili
gent life.
A school of up-to-date philosophers
has proposed a simple and expeditious
plan for abolishing crime. All we
need do is to abolish the law. Were
there no laws it is perfectly obvious
that there could be no crimes. By
the same token if we had no clothes
they would never wear out and if we
had no houses they would never burn
up. A little more reflection brings to
light the fact that if we had never
been born we should not have to die.
If Governor West really wishes to
embarrass his political foes, there is
a more effective means at his com
mand than a special session of the
Legislature. All he needs to do is to.
put them under martial law and send
a detachment of troops against them.
Lincoln Beachey invented the aerial cork
screw fllpflop. but perhaps It is a mere imi
tation of the political corkscrew flipflop.
Chicago- Record-Herald.
Woodrow .Wilson invented the po
litical flipflop with his reversal of at
titude on canal tolls and W. J. Bryan
put in the corkscrew feature.
It is to be hoped that the Hood
River Unitarians do as well by their
minister as by their choirmaster. The
latter will look conspicuous 6porting
round in his new official automobile
If his pastor is obliged to walk.
Wo cave nineteen lives to prevent
arms and ammunition from reaching
Huerta and now stupidly permit tnem
to be delivered without remonstrance.
That is a new record of National in
efficiency. Americans are charged with spend
ing a billion a year eedlessly. Well,
we're enjoying life, anyway, and a
billion isn't very much after all In
this land of plenty.
Another severe earthquake has
failed to damage the canal. Fortu
nate thing the ubiquitous political
grafter didn't have a chance in its
construction.
Writh heavy cargoes of arms and
war munitions reaching him from
both coasts, Huerta may shortly be
come a bit haughty again.
The latchstrlng is out for the. Pro
gressives in Missouri. And they had
better hurry in from the wilderness
of a lost hope.
Burning- heat In New York has
been broken by a violent and destruc
tive storm. One thing right after
another.
J. Ham Lewis resents continual
twitting. - Perhaps if he would shave
people might take him more sertouBly.
Nez Perce Indians are for prohibi
tion. Little wonder, considering what
firewater does to the redskin.
Elk liberated near Seattle are de
stroying crops. A brief open season
will provide a quick remedy.
But even if a protocol Is signed and
Huerta agrees to everything, what
will the "patriot" Villa do?
What's the matter with crowding
the ball park tomorrow. Just to en
courage the Beavers?
The wife of the notorious Dlggs
wants a divorce. Never was wife
more long-suffering
A .local plumber has gone into
bankruptcy, a fact that might serve
to dispel an illusion.
The snow-white squirrel caught In
Polk County must be a "sign." Where
is the interpreter?
The proudest father in Portland
will be the one whose offspring wins
the spelling bee.
The city's efficiency system appears
to lack but one thing efficiency.
Tomorrow opens the holiday sea
son. Buy everything today.
Save your choicest blooms for the
graves tomorrow.
Now watch the roses bloom.
MKRR1 -GO-KOt D OF" THE PERMIT.
How to Procure Klaat to Erect Ordi
nary Building; la Explained.
PORTLAND, May 27. (To the Edi
tor.) Did you ever get a building per
mit? If you have I sympathize with
you; if you haven't let me advise you.
Start early and Journey to the City
Hall; be sure to take two sets of plans
and specifications, also your lunch. You
will find the Beiilding Inspectors' office
on the fourth floor. Line up, and when
It comes your turn, the plan clerk looks
over your plans, and if the building
is an ordinary one he will tell you
that you may get your permit today,
otherwise he will tell you to come
back next week.
Presuming your building is Just or
dinary, we will continue: The plan
clerk has your plans red-penciled here
and there, and then he gives you a slip
of paper and asks you to visit tue
Water Office on the first floor.
The water clerk takes your plans and
figures and figures, and finally he re
turns your plans and says about $4,
please. You ought to use so much ce
ment, so much plaster and so many
brick; the water it takes to mix these
up you pay for at so much a barrel,
ton or thousand.
Pay your bill and he will tell you the
City Treasurer on the second floor
would like to see you. There you pay
for your building permit (which you
haven't got). After you have been in
itiated so far, you go back to the
Building Inspector and show your evi
dence that you have been the round in
correct order, and finally he stamps
your plans and gives you a permit.
You can breathe a sigh of relief that
you have your permit, but you are
not finished yet. See the-City Engineer
and procure a street permit for the use
of one-half the street to dump materials
on.
Coming to the point, it is this. The
merry-go-round method of doing busi
ness at the City Hall should be stopped.
This way of doing business may be
system, but it Is the wrong kind of sys
tem. Let us hope for better methods.
CHARLES A. ERIS5.
SEW LOCKED CORK FOR BOTTLES
A Key Takes Place of Corkscrew Wltb
Tb.ii Curious Stopper.
Chambers' JournaL
An ingenious method of corking bot
tles has been Invented which is appli
cable to the bottling of more expensive
liquors. This latest device comprises
the familiar cork made to standard
sizes so as to fit bottles of varying
capacity and shapes, and provided with
a patent metallic double cap. The cork
is driven into the bottle in the usual
manner; but, instead of a corkscrew,
a small key is used for its withdrawal.
In the metallic cap is a small slot for
insertion of the key, which is slightly
depressed. This causes the upper part
of the. cap to fly upward by means of
a spring. This movable disk, which
slides upon a substantial though slen
der shaft, serves as a grip for the
fingers, so that a steady and direct pull
draws the cork without damaging it.
Consequently, when some of the con
tents of the bottle has been poured
out. the cork may be replaced and
driven home, the bottle being thus
sealed as tightly as it was originally.
To all intents and purposes it is the
application of the Yale lock used for
doors, etc. The cork cannot be drawn
without the key, bo that tampering
with the contents or improper use is
impossible, because the key is in the
possession of the owner or some re
sponsible person. The drawing of a
cork thus becomes an easy operation,
and destruction of the corkscrew Is
prevented. Although the stopper has
been designed specially for the liquor,
wine and spirit trade, it at the same
time completely solves the vexed ques
tion of securing the safety of bottles
containing poisonous liquids, as a bot
tle stoppered with this new appliance
cannot be opened without the key;
and ask this is in safe keeping, pre
meditation is required to obtain the
contents.
EXAMI-VE . PEOPLE ONCE YEARLY
New York Physician Would Add Five
. Years to Each Patient's Life.
New. York World.
Health Commissioner Goldwater has
a scheme afoot for adding 15 million
years to the lives of people living in
New York. The scheme involves the
medical examination of every man.
woman and child in the five boroughs
at least once a year, but he believes
that the huge task would infinitely
more than pay for itself, because his
estimate of 15 million added years as
a result is a minimum. Five years, he
believes, is more likely to be the new
lease enjoyed on an average by each
Individual.
The commissioner's project is, in re
ality, but a city wide application of the
"life extension -methods pursued ty
many large corporations for the detec
tion and prevention of disease among
their employes. He has already put
It Into practice among the three thou
sand employes of his own department,
and he will shortly seek the approval
of the board of estimate and apportion
ment for the examination in the same
way of the employes of every city de
partment. "We have already," Dr. Goldwater
said, "a bureau of ehild hygiene in the
health department for the prevention
among school children of epidemics and
Infectious and contagious diseases gen
erally. I believe that we ought also to
have a bureau of adult hygiene."
The greatest boon of the new plan
would be. Dr. Goldwater says, the
registration of communicable and de
generative diseases. Ordinarily men
and women put off until too late the
consultation with physicians regarding
their ailments, but the projected exam
lnatlon would prove a "stitch in time'
in more instances than anyone can now
surmise.
What Are Pneumonia Symptoms?
PORTLAND. May 28. (To the Edl
tor.) Pneumonia has removed from
this life a useful man. Bishop Scadding.
He could reasonably have expected
many more years of life, as he was ap
parently strong and healthy.
This moves me to Inquire whether
there are symptoms of pneumonia
which can be immediately recognized
by the average person. If so there is
a chance to promtly consult a physi
clan and take remedial measures. The
disease 1b so swift and deadly that it
would be well if the City and State
Health Boards would give the public
the information I seek if It can be put
in useful form. If pneumonia could only
be distinguished from more harmless
troubles on the start much could be
dona for humanity.
ROBERT C WRIGHT.
Appreciation of n Visitor.
London Punch.
Visitor (sampling Belfast stout with
evident appreciation) Really, this Is
splendid stuff. . They say that it is
both meat and drink. Walter (Inter
rupting) Sure, an' it's roight ye are,
sor; an' if ye take -plenty av it it'll
foind ye lodgings, too.
Perils of an Explorer.
Washington (D. C.) Star.
"It takes a lot of courage and
patience to be an explorer, doesn't it?"
"Yes," replied the adventurous man.
"Discovering things isn't so bad. But
great Scott! What you have to go
through when you get back to civiliza
tion!" It Is Worth One Penny.
AIRL1E. Or.. May 27. (To the Edi
tor.) Dear Sir: Please let me know
if a new penny made in 1910 is of any
valuo or not. C. C.
CHARACTER ESTIMATE OK VILLA
Former Resident of Mexico Discusses
Traits of Rebel Chief.
PORTLAND, May 28. (To the Edi
tor.) In estimating the character of
Francisco Villa, the Mexican rebel
chief, it is difficult to do Justice. He
is guiltless of some of the deeds at
tributed to him. The motive of other
of his violent acts has been misunder
stood In toe United States. No doubt
some of his homicides and savage war
practices are the deeds of & man given
to fits of cruel and violent temper.
Few foreign correspondents have the
confidence of Villa or have been in a
position where they could obtain first
hand Information. His enemies have
naturally been willing to give the
worst possible account of him. John
Reed, a former Portland boy, probably
knows more about the Mexican revolu
tion to far as it is an uprising by the
mass of the people than any other cor
respondent who has been in Mexico.
His accounts of Villa and his follow
ers in the April, May and June num
bers of the Metropolitan magazine are
intimate and evidently Just. He does
not hide the dark spots, neither does
he forget to tell about the good quali
ties of the revolutionists, such as they
are.
I lived four years in Mexico and
have been in most of the states of that
unfortunate country. I made my exit
shortly after the outbreak of the Ma
dero revolution in 1910. Considering
what has happened since. I am glad I
left. But Mexico Is not a bad place
to live if you know how to adapt
yourself to the customs and the people.
Thar is one trouble with foreigners.
especially English and Americans in
Mexico. They will, not let the Mexi
can live his own. life and do things
in his own way. The foreigners take
the best part of the country from the
natives and then brand them as irre
sponsible and immoral. The Mexican
Is a Mexican, and not an Englishman
or American. It is foolish not to make
allowance for a difference in tempera
ment and custom. No nation can real
ly Judge fairly the customs and habits
of another nation without taking ra
cial traits, tradition and age-long so
cial environment into account.
Hence It is easy to make a mistake
about Villa. One cannot think of him
otherwise than as a fiend, an Insane,
murderous beast, unless one remembers
the racial characteristics of the Mexi
cans and the special conditions under
which they have lived for a good many
generations.
That Villa Is cruel at times is true,
but there are thousands ready to do
to him what he has done to his ene
mies if they get the chance. In fact,
the very robberies and cruelties he has
Inflicted upon others, Villa knows have
been inflicted upon his friends. It Is
the old code of blood revenge, of re
taliation with big interest, that ob
tains in Mexico.
Villa denies that he has violated
women. It is true he has several
wives. But the custom of the country
is not opposed to that, so Villa makes
no effort to hide the fact. The mar
riage tie is very loose among the
masses of the people. Men and women
live together and separate with little
formality. Yet there are many life
long unions among men and women.
Divorce, with more formality and ex
pense. Is not unknown even . In the
United States.
Among Villa's good qualities I would
mention first his strict sobriety. For
years he has been a -otal abstainer
from alcohol, and he never uses tobac
co. Again, he is unquestionably loyal
to his friends. He worshiped Madero,
and of course is working for the death
of all of Madero's enemies.
His hates and his loves are both vio
lent. He hates the Spaniards implaca
bly, claiming they are always the Insti
gators of plots to curtail popular lib
erty. On the other hand, he has often
been overcome by grief and wept like a
child when some close friend of his
was killed. He would undoubtedly be
fiendishly delighted to kill Huerta with
his own hands.
Villa is personally brave. He often
fights In battle like a common soldier
and where the fighting is worst. The
guerrilla warfare of the rebels requires
a minimum of direction by officers.
Military, experts of other nations have
conceded that he is a born commander,
and his success proves it. In addition,
he is a shrewd diplomat. His refusal
to let Huerta stampede him into an of
fensive attitude toward this country
shows him to have plenty of "savy."
He has the whole-hearted confidence
of his followers, and so far has played
fair with them. His division of the
land ameng them has been essentially
Just from the peon's standpoint.
Villa Is illiterate but capable of
'earning much. The man who has
charge of his hospital corps Is a gradu
ate of Johns Hopkins University Medi
cal School. Villa gave Mexico "?r first
field hospital, and he Insists that the
sanitary regulations of his medical
chief be obeyed. Thev are
Villa claims to hate war and love
peace. He is opposed to standing
armies. His aim, he says, is to own a
farm and raise corn and cattle, or work
in a government leather factory mak
ing saddles and bridles, a trade he
understands. At the same time he is
for an armed citizenry, every person
even the women being trained to the
use of firearms, owning a fine rifle
ana having plenty ot ammunition.
Should the patrla then be in'ed, the
foreign foe would find a whole popu
lace armed against them a most ef
fective defense.
Villa's worst foe may yet prove to be
his own ambition. He is a strong man.
let no one doubt that, and he has an
ideal of liberty to which he has so far
been faithful. He became a bandit to
war against Diaz and his followers.
It remains to be seen if a man of
strength such as he is will not be led
into making fatal compromises to ob
tain personal power, wealth and glory.
But whatever his fate may be. coward
ice will not play a part in it. He will
die fighting. GRINGO.
BASEBALL AND CONGRESS.
Ohio Representative Says Diamond
Heroes Overshadow Legislators.
Washington (D. C.) Cor. Cincinnati
Enquirer.
In the midst of the solemnities con
nected with the memorial services in
the House of Representatives in honor
of the late Representative Irvln S
Pepper, of Iowa, General Isaac R. Sher
wood, of Ohio, brought smiles by In
terjecting some very interesting obser
vations on the decadence of Congress.
General Sherwood first became
member of the National law-making
body in 1872, but he had listened to
Congressional debates as far back as
1859, and his remarks came like a
voice out of the past, contrasting the
early days with the present.
He told how. in the first half cen
tury of National life. Congress held, the
thought and attention of the country,
and then he showed how Congress has
gradually taken the sidetrack, while
the artists of the diamond and prize
ring have basked in the limelight.
"Congrese," Bald he, "was then the
central and leading attraction the
star of hope of a new nation on a new
continent. Today Congress is regarded
as a side issue, except in case of war
or some great conflict that stirs the
patriotic blood of the people. The Con
gressional Record Is generally unread
in the presence of the baseball bulla
tins and the staged bouts of the nose
smashers and rib-crackers of the
brutal prize ring.
Lovely AVomsu mm s Shopper.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
"How can you tell when a woman is
only shopping?" "When they Intend to
buy they ask to see something cheaper.
When they're shopping they ask if you
haven't something more expensive in
stock."
Twenty-Five Years Ago
From The Oregoflian of May 19, 1SS9.
Chicago, May iS Detective Daniel
Coughlin, Patrick Sullivan, the ice man.
and Frank J. Black, alias Woodruff,
were indicted this evening for the mur
der of Dr. Cronin. Woodruff has con
fessed, but says he simply acted as
driver of the wagon which disposed of
the body.
Salem, May 28. The 16th annual ses
sion of the Oregon State Grange con
vened today. State Master Hayes pre
sided and Governor Pennoyer gave the
address of welcome. Mrs. L. L. Hille
ary responded. Mrs. J. H. Strickle, of
Salem, sang a solo; Judge Boise, on
behalf of Salem Grange, delivered an
address of welcome. Mrs. L. A. Man
ning and Miss Mabel Gray sang a duet:
W. A. Sample, of Umatilla County, re
sponded to Judge Boise; Mrs. S. T.
Hayes delivered an address of wel
come to the visitors from California,
to which A. G. Dewey responded, and
Master Hayes then read the annual
address.
Walla Walla, May 28 Mrs. O. W.
Hunt and family, accompanied by her
niece. Llllle Moore, have returned from
a visit to Roseburg. Or.
Victoria, B. C. May 28. A powerful
British squadron is now en route to
Bering Sea for the protection of seal
era Walla Walla. May 28. The Oregon
Railway Extension Company has filed
a mortgage covering the following
prospective roads: From a point on
the O. R. & N. near Alto through Eure
ka Flat to Walla Walla: from near Es
tes, this county, across the fiat to
grange City and thence to effect a
junction with the O. R. & N. line; from
Portland to Astoria.
George B. Markle has returned from
the Coeur d'Alene mines.
HarrV TV flicinman n.4 T-i T
who are collecting subscriptions for
I'uuim wi juiy ceieoration, report
meeting with good success.
Colonel Frank J. Parker nt -veil.
Walla, and Robert Wilson, of Puyallup,
" " city, naving just returned
from a visit to the Colonel's extensive
ranch at Yaquina.
Miss Ella E. KaufTman rinnrht.i. f
Mr. and Mrs.A. Kauffman. was united
marriage yesterday to Anson P. Ho
taling, Jr., by Judge L. B. Stearns.
.TpffrlA XT IT..... .
. do, manager OI tne
Yvestern Lnion Telegraph Company in
this cltv. haa alniul i .
. - -" - . w .aric eiiect
June 1, when he will enter upon his
duties as assistant superintendent of
wblai xeiegrapn uompany.
The Porttnnj i . , ,
- -- " i . ABBvi;jaLiun nas
found 44 horses entered for the June
lueeung. miss Myrtle Beck will ride
a span of thoroughbred horses bare
back around the track June 8.
On his farm of some 1200 acres In the
Waldo Hills, Judge Waldo has about
150 Chinese pheasants.
C. F. Mayhew, the old man who dis
appeared a week ago, has been f jund
at The Dalles.
Monday Manager C. J. Smith, of the
O. R J rV. Ton.ln-J Jl ..u -
Lillian McGarry dated Johnstown Pa
aclrina. . 1 . . , . 1
i"" no leiegrspn any informa
tion reisardinff JsmH at-i; ., 1 .
moments. A disnatch wa
sent stating that McGarry is now safe
and nllv at t Vi a t..i it . .
-- --Hospital at
Marshfleld, Or.
The ground for Dr. Dav Raffetys
house in Raffety's Addition, south of
Stephens Slough, was laid off yester
day. It Is said he will put up a resi
dence costing $5000.
FEATURES FOR
THE SUNDAY
OREGONIAN
From Wealth to Poverty.
The story of the once-powerful
Terrazas family of feudal over
lords whose millions have been con
sumed by the fires of revolting
peons whom they exploited for
years m Mexico. The record of
their fall to comparative poverty
is graphically told by a corre
spondent of The Oiegonian now in
Northern Mexico.
Homes for Workers.
An illustrated article from a
New Zealand correspondent which
tells in detail how the humblest
workers acquire neat and comfort
able little homes of their own.
Fisher's Drawing.
This Sunday in his new series,
"The Greatest Moments in a Girl's
Life," Harrison Fisher portrays
"The Honeymoon.' - A full page
drawing, in wash.
Fortunes in Signs.
A crook of the finger may mean
thousands on the Chicago Board
of Trade. An illustrated feature
tells of the most unique sign lan-.
guage in the world.
Titles for Sale.
Even the proud old aristocracy
of Japan is giving way to the
allurement of dollars, so a Tokio
correspondent discovers. Titles are
now a matter of barter.
Her Husband's Shadow.
How a face on the screen at Bel
port upset the populace, and what
old Bill Tewlegger discovered on
his own account.
A Woman Adventurer.
She has invaded the darkest cor
ners of China and Mongolia, calmly
meeting many dangers and hard
ships. The story of her remarkable
exploits are illustrated by photo
graphs which she took on her bold
jaunt.
Moods of Genevieve.
In ,the seventh sketch of this
series the "Imaginative Mood" ia
portrayed.
Judgment.
A short story of love, daring and
sacrifice, by Owen Oliver. Illus
trated. New War Machines.
A grim and titanic monster in
deed is the modern fighting or
ganization and it has added a ter
rible effectiveness to the sad game
of warfare. Full page, in colors.
The Fold-Up Tamily.
A new feature for the children,
together with a full page of other
features for the little ones.
Many Pages of Other Features.
Order today of your newsdealer.
r