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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (June 3, 1914)
10 TITC 3IORXING OREGOXIAX, WEDNES5DAT, JUXE 3. 1914. I L PORTLAND, OREGON. Zntered at Portland, Oregon, Postofflcs as Second-class matter. Subscription Rates Invariably In Advance: BT MAIL.) Dally, Sunday Included, one year $8.00 Ually, Sunday Included, six months -23 Daily, Sunday Included, three months . .. 2r Xaily, Sunday Included, one month . .... . Iaily, without Sunday, one year g.uo Iaily, without Sunday, six months ...... S.o Jjally, without Sunday, three months . ... Xally, without Sunday, one month -f0 Weekly, one year 1-? Sunday, one year .,......... -6t Kunday and Weekly, one vear a0 (BY CARR1SR) Daily. Sunday Included, one year ...... 89.00 laily. Sunday included, one month ..... ?5 Eow to Kemit Send postoffice money or der, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk. Uive postoince address in iu", including county and- state. Pontage Kates 12 to ltf pases, 1 cent; 18 to z paes, z cents; 04 to 45 pases, ccui 60 to tk pages, cents; 62 to 78 pages, i cents; 78 to U2 cages, o cents. Foreign post' axe. double rates. Eastern Business Offices Verree as Conk. Iln, New York, Brunswick building. Chi' cago, Steger building. ban Francisco Office R. J. Bldwell Co rn; Market street. rOBTIAND, WEDNESDAY, JTHNB 8. 1914. ' TBYIJl'O TO TOOL BOTH PARTIES. By adopting; the labor union provi sion of the Clayton anti-trust bill, the House has attempted to meet the demands of the unions without ex empting; them entirely from the op eration of the law. It provided that "nothing; In the anti-trust law shall be construed to forbid the existence or operations" of labor unions or farmers' co-operative associations or to forbid or restrain members of such organizations from "carrying; out the legitimate objects thereof." That seems to forbid such organizations to violate the law, for It implies that they may pursue only legitimate ob jects, but the Webb amendment weak ens the effect of the provision by Baying; that these organizations and their members shall not be "held' or construed to be- illegal combinations or conspiracies In restraint of trade under the anti-trust laws." The only Inference to be drawn from these ambiguous, contradictory expressions Is that an attempt is being made to deceive both the unions and their opponents. The unions are to lie fooled Into the belief that they are exempt, and their opponents are to be fooled Into the belief that they are merely permitted to exist, pro vided they do not violate the anti trust law. President Wilson Is said to have declared his purpose to veto any bill which exempts unions, and President Gompers will be placated with nothing short of exemption, yet both profess to be satisfied with the provision and Its amendment. Each must think he has gained his point and "put one over" on the other. The result doubtless will be as Representa tive Murdock predicted years of lit igation. This whole subject was threshed out by the Senate when the Sherman bill was discussed In 1890. Every possi ble effort was made to draw a pro vision which would protect labor unions In their legitimate operations without granting them an unconstitu tional exemption from prosecution for . Illegal acts, but it was found imprac ticable and the attempt was aban doned. The House now adopts a straddling provision, which either party can construe its way and leaves It to the Supreme Court to take out the kinks It has deliberately put In the law. The Supreme Court will have to face a fire of criticism which ever way It decides and will be ac cused of legislating. What else can it do with such a jumble of contra dictions? Labor unions and farmers' co operative associations are generally recognized as beneficial so long as they pursue legitimate ends, but it Is possible for them to become as dan gerous public enemies as the greatest monopoly. We have had an example in the triangular combination of plumbers' supply dealers, master Plumbers and Journeymen plumbers. If Congress Is not made up of cowards and tricksters, It will draft a provi sion which grants the legitimate but denies the illegitimate demands of the unions, or, if that prove imprac ticable, will leave the courts to make the distinction according to "the rule cf reason." AN AMERICAN NOBEL FUND. Professor Rudolf Eucken, the fa mous Idealist-philosopher of Jena, suggests In the Independent that It would be an excellent thing for the United States to have a foundation similar to that which distributes the Nobel prizes. There are five of these prizes which are awarded yearly for chemistry, physics, medicine, litera ture and peace. They do not by any means cover the whole field of science, since they omit such subjects as biology, history, psychology and economics, to say nothing of theology, which is sometimes classed among the sciences. Professor Eucken believes that a set of prizes offered for'eminence in these subjects would not be competitive with the Swedish Nobel awards, but would rather supplement them and give that wholesome recognition to other departments of intellectual work which Is now restricted to the physi cal sciences, literature -and the cause f peace. There are many reasons why a foundation of this kind would be singularly appropriate in the United States. For one thing this country has done good work In psychology and history, as well as In biology and economics, and is, therefore, entitled to sit in judgment upon the achievements of other nations. Of course, all the world would be Invited to compete for the prizes, though It is assumed that the judges who determined the awards would always be Americans. Eminent men . from abroad coming to the United States to receive their ' dues would find that this Nation is "astir with ideal interests," as Professor Eucken says, and would report us cor rectly to the rest of the world. We might thus in time escape from the imputation that we think of noth ing but dollars. The foundation would help us to a state of intellectual in dependence, since, in judging of others' merits, we should be obliged to think of our own with proper respect. An other advantage would be the sub stantial sums of money which, year after year, would go to men of emi nence in walks of life where poverty is the rule and opulence the excep tion. The Nobel prizes have already made a dozen poor men of genius independent, thus enabling them to do better and more vigorous work. A similar series of prizes awarded an nually In the United States would double this most desirable effect. We have plenty of millionaires who could endow a Nobel Foundation to morrow if they were so disposed. They give away enough money every year to do the deed twenty times over. All that Is necessary to realize Professor Eucken's excellent suggest tlon is to turn some donor's attention to the desirability of such a system of prizes. Very likely the article which he has published in the Inde pendent will be seen by some prince of finance and acted upon sooner or later. If the United States cannot do scientific and literary work of the highest rank it certainly has the money to reward those who can and some of it ought to be used for that worthy purpose. LETTING GO. No settlement of the Mexican Drob lem by the A. B. C. mediators, or any other external force, can be achieved if It shall not reckon fully with villa and Carranza, President Wilson clearly apprehends that vital phase of the situation and he is urgent in pressing the constitutional cause upon the Niagara Falls conference. General Carranza wants to know who will force the constitutionalists to abide by our plan of mediation? Who, indeed? - If the august mediators from South America devise a scheme of pacifica tion that composes merely the quar rel between the United States and Huerta, what then? Who and what will head off the victorious march of General Villa upon Mexico City? Not the United States, of course; not the South American republics, of course. Only General Carranza. Why, then, should Carranza be excluded at Niagara Falls? Originally, we meddled in Mexico because we didn't like the blood we thought we saw on Huerta's hands. Later we had our feelings hurt by an Insult to the flag. Then we decided that we were really at the doors of Mexico, with Army and Navy, "to serve mankind." Now we are chiefly anxious to get the A. B. C. mediators to permit Car ranza and Villa to help us let go the Mexican bear's tail. 1TNKNT. The New York World is unkind to the Senator from Oregon, Mr. Cham berlain, whom it accuses of "being In the business of breaking treaties." and sneerlngly characterizes as a "patriot" because he has a grand scheme of re prisal against Great Britain in its use of the Sault Ste. Marie Canal, for Its offense In resisting free tolls at Pan ama for coastwise American vessels. The treaty of Washington, made in 1871, arranges the terms of traffic through the lakes canal; "but what," demands the World, sarcastically, "is a treaty for If not to. break it when you are in the humor to help out a monopoly?" The steel trust is. the monopoly which the New York paper thus describes as the beneficiary of the Oregon Senator's favor. The World is a comprehensive newspaper, with, a wide news and edi torial survey of National and interna tional affairs; but clearly it doesn't know much about Oregon. The In terpretation of treaties, the exposition of domestic policies, the promotion of local interests, according to the Cham berlain idea, must all be arranged to suit the exigencies of Oregon politics. Mr. Chamberlain is a candidate for re-election this Fall as a Democrat. Repeal of canal tolls is a Democratic policy, the late National platform to the contrary notwithstanding. That particular Democratic enterprise of a Democratic National Administration is unpopular in Oregon. Does the World regard it as the duty of the Oregon Senator to be a martyr to con viction not his own, for he has no political conviction that Is permitted to interfere with his welfare as a can didate but the . President's convic tions? Besides, the President doesn't need the Chamberlain vote in the repeal scheme. But he may need it later in other matters. The little excursion of the Oregon Senator off the Wilson reservation Is well understood at the White House. The light burns bright ly In the window for the wanderer's return. . i MEN OB PRINCIPLES. If the Republican party must be held accountable for Penrose, Foraker and Barnes, the Progressive party has the same responsibility for Perkins, Sulzer, Bryan (J. W.) and Lafferty. If the Republican party is never again to be entrusted with power be cause Foraker is a self-invited can didate for Senator in Ohio, and Pen rose iri Pennsylvania, by the same token no Progressive anywhere should be permitted to aspire for office be cause a demagogue like Bryan (J. W.) intrudes himself on public notice in Washington, and another demagogue like Lafferty in Oregon. The argumentum ad hominem can not, of course, be maintained. Yet it is" constantly employed, especially by professional Progressives and in durated Democrats. Colonel Roosevelt has often used it, with great effect, but we rather fancy he has changed his course. He will continue to war on Penrose and Barnes and Foraker, but not on the Republican party. If we do not mistake Colonel Roosevelt's recent utterances and present temper, he seeks co-operation, not warfare. The question of amal gamating the rank and file of the two parties is taking care of itself. WILSON'S OPPORTUNITY LOST. President Wilson admits that, much as he favors the several conservation bills, he has no hope that any of them will pass at this session of Congress, except possibly the radium bill, In which he is especially Interested. The undeveloped resources of the West and of Alaska must remain locked up for at least another year. That is the pleasant prospect before us. Attention of both President and Congress has been called repeatedly to the need of action on many of these questions. Secretary Lane has in formed Congress that the approaching construction of railroads in Alaska renders Imperative the adoption of a simple, expeditious method of admin istering that great territory, such as the commission which he proposes. This necessity Is illustrated by the case of J. C. Murray, of San Francisco, who asked Mr. Lane how he could legally use the coal cropping on the bank of a creek where he proposed to dredge for gold. The reply was that no authority of law exists for per mitting him to mine the coal. The letter was sent to the Senate with the query: What am I to say to this man? If the Alaskan coal leasing bill becomes a law this session the answer will be easy. He got no answer. The Senate went maundering on with its dull routine. The New York Times doubt less prophesies truly when it says: Murray's dredger will rot on the banks of the creek. Because, you see, if he were allowed to take soma coal, good for nothing else, and operate his dredger, he might make a little money, and all departments of our Government have for ten years been united 'In the Inflexible resolve that no private In dividual shall make any money in Alaska. The President has little chance of getting the radium bill through so unbusinesslike a body of solemn trlflers with time. The Walsh bill once secured right of way, but by some hocus-pocus has lost it and that measure seems likely to be smothered In a continuous flow of talk on ap propriatlons and trusts. The Presi dent has also lost much of his hold on Congress. He may get a little done with conservation bills at the short session, if his party wins the November elections for the House and Senate. If the Democrats lose, they will be in no humor to work or to submit to his dictation. He has thrown away his opportunity to have his name associated with a great se ries of constructive measures by lis tening to the pernicious promptings of his Secretary of State. WORK AND RHXXTBM. Scientific men are paying a great deal of attention nowadays to the psychology of work. For the greatest efficiency of the worker it Is impor tant that his task should be per formed with the smallest possible ex penditure of energy, both mental and physical. It is found that "rhythm! cal" operations make the least de mands upon the worker, since a sin gle mental impulse suffices to keep the action going; for a long time. An excellent example of rhythmical mo tion is the swing of a scythe In the hands of an expert mower. He can keep it up all the afternoon without the waste of an ounce of mental en ergy. Typewriting is also rhythmical. In work of this kind anything that breaks up the- cycle of movements diminishes efficiency. For this rea son some persons believe that the shift key for capital letters is not so good a device as the double keyboard. All , workmen recognize the helpful ness of rhythm in their operations. They always say they can work bet ter after they "get the hang" of a performance. There id usually a reg ular set of repeated motions which can be repeated ove and over again without much thought after it is thor oughly committed to the muscular memory. Rhythms of this kind are apparent in ,the act of driving a nail, sawing through a board or spading a. garden. They are equally apparent in higher tasks. - The business man's day is nothing but a series of rhythms, and the less their regular flow is inter rupted the better his duties will - be performed. Anything that breaks up the rhythm, whether of a typist, a carpenter or a business man at his desk, wastes mental energy and en tails bad results. The great secret of rapid and ac curate work is security from inter ruptions. The mind cannot be thrown out of gear without considerable de gree of friction. Throwing it back into gear causes still more. The con tinued repetition of these destructive operations may ultimately strip the cogs from a mental pinion and re quire extensive repairs, Emerson .was not a man of science, but he had the good sense .to curse the interrupters who strolled in to "devastate his day." The greatest kindness one can show to a man at work is to leave him in peace until his task is finished. It is no mercy to interrupt him even to oewau tne aeatn, of his mother-in-law. MR, TAFT ON THE JUDICIARY. The one subject upon which ex- President Taft can speak with author ity Is that of the law and the courts. He has been most outspoken -in his condemnation of the evils of dilatory and overtechnlcal procedure and he has striven to remove these evils. His legal learning and integrity are con ceded by those who have been his political opponents, and regret is widespread that he did not follow hie first Impulse and await the appoint ment to the Supreme Bench which would almost surely have been his. instead of yielding to the Importuni ties of those friends who made him President only to turn upon him when their and his mistake was re vealed. For these reasons what he says about the courts in an article in the " New York Times Is worthy o'f respectful attention. This Is a defense of the courts against those who would make judges subject to recall and against those who would permit recall of judicial decisions by popular vote. His con tention is that the courts are in dispensable to the upbuilding and maintenance of civil liberty, and that their necessary functions, among others, are to pass on the constitu tionality of laws and to supply lapses and defects by reasonable inference as to the intention of the Legisla ture, and to reconcile inconsistencies. He admits that in performing these functions judges may at times over step the line between judicial con struction and judicial legislation, but he maintains that the Legislature can supply Immediate relief by pass ing a new law more clearly setting forth its will." Mr. Taft maintains that constitu tional limitations are necessary to the preservation of liberty and that an independent judiciary is necessary to enforce them. This is so, he holds, because restraint on the majority Is necessary to preserve the rights of the minority and of the Individual, be cause the majority of the electorate Is but a representative minority of the whole nation and because this majority might by injustice provoke the minority to resistance. Then chaos would come "and after chaos we would have the man on horse back." To avert such a catastrophe, he holds that we need "a judiciary whose tenure and salary and learn ing and ability and character are such that they can face temporary unpopularity with the majority in de fending the rights of the Individual or the minority." He says "that there has been nothing in our form of gov ernment so admirable and useful in Its workings ' as the Supreme Court of the United States and the author ity which it has exercised In Its steadying opinions, in the security it has given to life, liberty and prop erty, In its keeping open, as far as the Constitution can secure it, the equal opportunity of all men." So far from the courts having failed to be responsive to public opinion, Mr. Taft says that the present outbreak of criticism Is due to their having been so responsive. After the war, he says, "we settled down to a tre mendous material expansion, in which all the people had their attention fo cused on the extended application of invested capital to further develop ment." ' He continues: It was 'a period In which the political duties of the people were often negligently exercised and In which the Influence of wealth over politic became greater and greater, until plutocracy threatened; and If the attitude of the court reflected the at titude of the people and the law did not make as much moral progress In that time. It Is only because the courts were doing what It Is denied they do now, 1. ., keeping pace with society. He adopts as his own the view of Professor Pounds, of Harvard, that the chief ground for criticism on the score of failure to adapt the law to the progressive needs of the people Is to be found in the decisions of elective judges. ' He affirms vthat "no small or narrow prejudices contract the judicial views" of the United States Supreme Court. He points out how changed social and economic con ditions have necessitated changes in the permissible limitations on con stitutional rights and says that If the New York bakeshop case were to come before the present court the law would not be declared unconsti tutional and that the court appre ciates the necessity ' for liberal con struction with a view to ' changes of conditions. In support of this opinion he quotes from an opinion of Justice Brown that amendments to the struc ture of the law will continue "and the law be forced to adapt Itself to new conditions of society, and, particularly, to the new relations between employ ers and employes as they arise." Mr. Taft's statement that the de cisions of elective Judges have been most criticised as out Of consonance with public opinion will be a sur prise to those who have a vivid recol lection of the storm raised by deci sions of Federal Judges against rate laws and in favor of railroads In gen eral. It Is true, however, as to those decisions of the New York courts at which Colonel Roosevelt has leveled his sharpest darts, but those Judges were nominated by boss-ridden con ventions. Federal Judges have re cently shown more deference to sub lio opinion, probably because the youngest in service have been ap pointed by Presidents who were more regardful of the public Interest than of Senators' wishes. State Judges seem to become more amenable to public opinion under the direct prl mary. In Oregon, at least, and thus renders the recall unnecessary, else why has it never been exercised? Some Judges who were nominated un der the old boss system would have been recalled with great alacrity by the people of this day. All our recent experience goes to show that the more Judges, like other officials, are made to feel direct responsibility to the peo pie, the better Judges they are and the more those who appoint Judges are made to feel that responsibility the better judges they appoint. If consolidation is such an excel lent thing for schools of lower grade, why Is it not worth trying for our higher Institutions? When three or four country schools are united a great deal more work is done for the same money and better results are secured all along the line. States which have applied the principle of consolidation - to their higher schools find that it works Just as well as it does for the lower ones. Perhaps if frre pedestrian' must be confined to street crossings, he may be allowed a few rights, the greatest of which is guarantee that he will not be run down in the path pre scribed for his feet . One who wades through the weary waste of words which fills the Con gresslonal Record Is inclined to echo the words of Augusts Comte: Let the Government be run bv ths devil himself. If need be. provided we can get rid oi tnese Diow-naras. A Delaware town VAjstrflv rol, brated a bombardment bv the Ttritlnh in 1812 in which the casualties, con sisted of a cow, a chicken and a pig. bounds more like a sheet from Mex lean history. On the final vote on the tolls repeal in the Senate it Is predicted that free tolls will be lost by nine. That's the nine that will throw the Panama Canal pennant to the British shipping league. Four hens at La Grande are cred ited with 100 eggs In one month. A man with a flock of that kind of hens would soon make his way into tha John D. class. - Three killed in one day by pitched balls. That gentle game Is becoming more dangerous than war In these days of speedy pjtchers and poor con trol. Bryan announces that he will spend his vacation on the Chatauqua circuit. Doesn't he mean he will end his vaca tion at the Statehouse and go back to his real work? Having convicted the army supply grafters, with a real lord among them, the English will perhaps have less to say of American political corruption. "What can you d6 without 'me?" Carranza demands of the mediators. "Or with ire, for that matter." he might well have added. A crusade for kllllnar off the rnntnra has been launched in South Dakota. Is this the beginning of some dark, new feminist plot? Huerta. has called an elttrrlnn. nr July. By that time Villa mav in seated his handy man in the presi dential cnair. Elimination of the peddler nuisance during the carnival removes the final obstacle to an enjoyable time. Secretary Houston's watchman who hoped for elevation on the Job "dis covered" the fuses too soon. The canvass of the Multnomah pri mary vote should be complete In time for election. Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas want 82,000 harvest hands. But that's work, you know. The thread trust having been dis solved, the high cost of living should fall with a crash. Also, if you can't get a Job lust at present remember it's purely psychological. This is the weather that brines out and preserves the roses for next week. Jacob Furth put more than a dol lar mark on Seattle. Clear the decks for a big time next week. They've snipped the thread trust. Meet "em .at Flavel. Cut the weeds. SENATOR JOM3S- PLACE IN PARTY Neither Standpatter Nor Progressive, but One of Main Body. TACOMA, Wash.. June 1. (To tha Editor.) The Oregonian today, discuss ing the progressive character of the Republican party, gives Senator Jones, of this state (Washington), an antl standpat recommendation. Many citi zens are disposed to respond to The Oregonlan's approval, with the locu tion: "Good, if true." It is now betieved that the Repub lican party is free from the boss sys tem which controlled the Chicago con vention of 1912. It is asserted that "the interests" can never again obtain from it legislative or other favors. If the Republican party needed and has had a renaissance, what part has Senator Jones (now also Candidate Jones) had in the work of regenera tion? He has been a National legis lator for many years. Has he been sweating like a steer In the furrow, striving, ever striving to advance, in politics and business, the cause of the people? When and under what circum stances did Jones cease to keep step with these politicians whom The Ore gonian sets down as reactionaries? The Payne-Aldrlch tariff law of 190S was denounced as an oppressive eco nomic measure. Mr. Aldrlch was se verely criticised as a vicious statesman. But is not Mr. Jones, of North Yakima, tarred with the same stick? .How Is one to distinguish between the political conduct and convictions of Aldrlch and Jones? Again, what was the attitude of Jones toward the Bryce-Knox treaty of 1912? That was a treaty urged by the pro-English Carnegie crowd, and to which the Taft Administration had been Induced to give official sanction. Jones was a blithe and complaisant upholder of that un-American and pro English proposal. The treaty was amended, and Its pernicious provisions cut out but that happy result was ac complished against the protest and vote of Senator Jones. The proposed treaty allowed England to bring all kinds of lawsuits against the United States, and to compel our Government to send law yers and witnesses to Europe to defend such suits In an anti-American tribunal. Mr. Jones was then in favor of "arbi trating," in courts controlled by Euro pean and Aslatio Judges, all questions relating to the Monroe doctrine, to Jap land-ownership and school privileges, immigration and American control at Panama, Inasmuch as foreign concerns are inseparably Intertwined with do mestic concerns. It Is evident that the Carnegie Senators were willing to place a large part of the government of our country In foreign hands. In this mat ter Candidate Jones co-operated with such renowned standpat Senators as Root McCumber, Burton and Brandegee. The Inference put forward today by The Oregonian will please the North Yakima politician and will aid him in matters of near consequence. The writer of this does not gainsay the truth thereof. But he and other citi zens would like to know the facts upon which said Inference Is based. JAMES HOYE. While The Oregonian did not class Senator Jones as a standpatter, it did not class him as a progressive. He is one of those Republican Senators who seems to have stood by the organize tion in the Fayne-Aldrich tariff fight but who later exercised a greater de gree of Independence without definitely auying themselves with the insurgent progressive faction. He has upheld the interests of the West on numerous oc casions and has Introduced a water power" bill at this session which pos sesses much merit He is not however. one of those who lead the van, nor is he one of the reactionaries who brins up the rear. He stays with the main body. , NOT MEMBERS OF ORGANIZATION Men la Friars Club Orgy Do Not Be long; to Travelers Association. PORTLAND. Mar SO. (To the Ed ltor.) I wish to place a matter before you which is of great importance to the traveling men, and the order of the travelers' Protective Association. Recently some traveling men were on a tear at the Friars Club and It seems induced three young women to lane drinks with them. Oulte a nuh. liclty was given to this Instance, and we at once took the matter up with Mrs. Baldwin to ascertain the" names of those men Implicated. Our inten tions were to see if they were members or our organization, and if thev were. we would cancel their membership. After careful investigation, and being lniormea or their names we looked over our membership list and to our gratification will state that they are not members of the Travelers' Protea tlve Association. The writer has been an active trav. eltng man for 15 years, since his ir rival on this coast in 1882, and he is happy to state that the class of men he has come in contact with, and with whom he gladly exchanges hands, as "knights of the grip," are men of good moral character capable business men or else they would not have been able to hold their position for any length of time. It la our aim to walk at the head of the procession, and earn the respect and goodwill of our fellow citizens, by our courteous ana Dusiness tactics. ALEXANDER KUNZ, Secretary Oregon and Washington Di vision Travelers' Protective Associa tion. COAL MIXING WITHOUT CAPITAL This Correspondent Would Like to Eliminate the Investor. CHEHALIS, June 1. (To the Editor.) With much interest I read your edi torial entitled 'What Provoked Colo rado's War" in The Oresronian Mondav. No doubc the writings of Clair Price in the rs ew York Evening Post are a careful, 'unprejudiced exposition of the Colorado affair. No doubt the country at large pretty thoroughly understands tne situation. Now what we want is a solution of the matter. If you can suggest any remedy other than the taKing over or tnese corporate oroDer ties and administering them for the Denent ol ail that work them and the consumer of the product by the state. please lead us to It By this I mean the elimination of the useless owner of the stocks and bonds who Insist on a return on what they call their investment regardless of wnetner it is pure water or not and who take a big per cent of the product and who, it is conceded by the writer of the editorial, are the .real disturbing element in the Colorado war. Any one will concede that the miner that digs tre coal cannot tie eliminated, but some of us can see where the factor that simply owns and draws a dividend and- Interest can be eliminated. Give us light CARL MOTTER. When Mr. Motter will inform' us bow we can dispense with capital in de veloping mines, we will concede that we have a basis for discussion. Until then discussion is fruitless. Direct Legislation. PORTLAND, May 28. (To the Ed itor.) Kindly explain the "initiative and referendum" and cite Instances when It has been applied here In Ore gon. A STUDENT. The Oregon Blue Book contains tha state constitution, which Includes the initiative and referendum provisions The Blue Book also contains a list of measures submitted to direct vote. Tt can probably be obtained by writing to the Secretary of State. Salem. Or. Th Public Library in Portland has numer ous reference works on direct legislation. I WIRELESS FAILS IN ARCTIC Kites) Used to Send or Receive News, bnt Not One Tick Heard. New York Cor. Kansas City Star. Although they have tried to commu nicate - by wireless with civilization from the frozen north, "not a tick or a buzs have we heard." Thus reports Donald B. MacMillan. head of the American Museum of Natural History's expedition to Crocker Land. The report came in a letter from MacMillan to the museum officials here. The letter was dated Etah, North Greenland, January 10. 1914. MacMillan said all the members of his party were in good health and spirits and anxious to start their con templated trip of over a thousand miles in a temperature ranging from SO to 90 degrees below zero, from Etah to Crocker Land. He expected to make the dash about February 10, and said he would take on the trip 21 men and 160 dogs. Knud Rasmussen. the Danish ex plorer, brought the letters out of the frozen north, and they were forwarded by him from Copenhagen. In his letters to President Osborne. MacMillan tells of attempts to reach civilization by wireless, and of how, in the Spring, kites would be used in the hope of sometime finding conditions right The letter of Dr. Hovey, director of the expedition, said that the dash across the polar sea from Cape Thomas Hubbard to Crocker Land was to be made by MacMillan. Elmer Ekblaw and Fitzhugh Green, with eight Esqui maux. -- The party, it is believed. Is now re turning to the base at Etah. Old Rome Had Skyscrapers. New York Times. The history of skyscrapers, contrary to the belief of the general public, dates back to ancient Rome, where the tene ment house had quite as many evils as it has today, according to the Con struction News. So great was the number of such houses in ancient Rome, and so badly were they constructed, that In A. D. SO Emperor Otho. when marching against Vitellus. found his way barred for 20 miles by the ruins of tenement houses undermined by inundation. The spontaneous collapse of tenement houses at that time was so frequent an occurrence that it caused but little ex citement Tenants were constantly fearing cremation or burial in their homes, and companies existed for the purpose of propping up and sustaining nouses. Emperor Augustus limited tha hele-ht of new houses that opened upon the streets to about 68 feet in order to make less frequent such disasters. Mar tial alludes to a poor man, a neighbor, who was obliged to mount 200 steps to reacn nis garret Small Boy Fools a Woman. Philadelphia Retrister. One afternoon a very stout woman was rambling along a country road when she suddenly noticed a little boy wanting closely beside her. Not know ing the youngster, she was naturally somewnat surprised. "Look here, little boy." Bhe heatedly cried, "why are you following me along like that? Go away from me instantly!" "I. ain't doin' nothin", lady," pleaded tne little fellow. "Please don't send me away. "You must go away at once." reseat ed the perplexed woman. "Why do you wisn to follow me? "Because," was the startling rejolnd er of the youngster, "you are the only snaay spot along the whole road." No Cbance In Democratic Times. ALBANY, Or.. May 28. (To the Ed itor.j now is tnis for a Democratic administration? The writer deeded yes- taraay nis property over to William lio gan. of Albany a house that rents readily for $10 or 812 a month and four lots on Seventh and Hill streets, Albany, Or.; a fruit and walnut orchard or ranch southeast of Albany two and one-half miles, all told worth SCO00 to 88000, for a $2500 mortgage put on same year ago, alter weeks and months of strenuous but fruitless ef forts to' borrow $200 to pay off the interest ALVIN J. CAROTHERS. Workins; for the City. Judsre. Green What is the hardest work you ever did? City Employe The work I did landing this Job, and the next hard est is the work of keeping It from be ing taken away from me. Nit Dream of tbe Idler. Lustlge Blatter. "And now they've started a company to Insure people against lack of em ployment" "H'm! What we need Is a company to Insure against having to work." All Pirates) Not Desid Ones. Town Topics. "Father, are all the pirates dead?" "No, my son, they now run the coat checking privileges at the hotels and restaurants." HOW THE BLIZZARD BEGAN. (Originally published in previous Dem ocratic times Author unknown.) The flour barrel is empty. And the lard is Retting low. And the folks with whom I've dwelt Want cash for what I owe. And many times I've blamed myself For voting for a "change." But I've learned through my stomach What I couldn't through my brains. There's no money in my pocket And there's no coal in the bin. The weather's growing colder And my breeches mighty thin. I'm longing for the "good old times," And my conscience gives me pains. For I'm learning through my stomach What I couldn't through my brains. The factory hasn't started up And times are mighty slow. And daily I am adding more To the little bills I owe. Each day I figure losses Where I used to count up gains. And I'm learning through my stomach vv hat I couldn t through my brains. There's a day of Judgment coming For those who fooled me so. There's a day of retribution t or those who made times slow. I am going to vote to change times back. When I can count up trains. For I've learned through my stomach v hat I couldn t through my brains. Souphouses have been opened. But the diet's awful thin. Free traders made their promises And denounced McKlnley tin. But the people have grown wiser. Losses don t size up with gains. They've found out through their stomachs What they couldn' t through their brain. They pity the "poor farmer." Taffy well the workingman. And praise the free trade Wilson bill To the people of the land. And how they love the pensioner, it gives the veterans pains. But they learned through thetr stomachs What they couldn't through their brains. They promised us much better times .And money free as mud. But work has stopped and wages drop'd Way down with a dull thud. But we have smitten those Democrats And given the liars pains. For we've learned through our stomachs What we couldn t through our brains. Twenty-Five Years Ago From The Oregonian of June 8. 1889. Last Friday, Way 81. the Ilwaco Rail way & Navigation Company gave a complimentary excursion In honor ol the completion of its railroad from Il waco to Nahcotta, the terminus on Shoalwater Bay. W. H. Utter, an attache of the Che mawa Indian School, states that the institution is very prosperous and that General W. H. Beadle, the new superin tendent is well liked by the pupils. Mrs, Ellen Henry, aged about 67 years, died at her home In Wasco Coun ty a few days ago. Yesterday was the hottest day of the season, the maximum temperature be ing 93.5 degrees. Rev. Dr. J. W. Bushong, a distin guished Methodist minister, of Cincin nati, occupied the pulpit of the Taylor Street M. E. Church yesterday morning and the Hall-Street Church last even ing. Union memorial exercises were held In the Alblna M. E. Church Sunday evening. The members of Phil Kearney Post. G. A. R., were In attendance. Company D marched to the church in Uniform. Th nrirfrooo woo . -1 1 , i . . . .j woiveivu u y Rev. T. H. Henderson. D. M. McLauchlin was --nominated for Mayor and A. Stoldt as Treasurer of Alblna. The Wlllamettes defeated the Port lands in a rattling game at Riverside yesterday, the score being 3 to 2. A contract for building the O. R. & X. line from Rockford Into Spokans Falls, a distance of 26 miles, has been awarded to Kilpatrick Bros. & Collins. Ell Perkins (Melville D. Landon). who enjoys a National reputation as a humorist and who has also been dubbed "the great American Ananias, has just arrived, accompanied by his wife Half a Century Ago From The Oregonian of June 3, 1864. Fortress Monroe, May 81. A portion of the troops at Bermuda Hundred under General Smith have been sent in transports with great celerity up York River to White House. Grant's new base of supplies. A messenger from Grant reports that on the morning ot the 30th our army crossed to Median iesville. near the Chickahominy, with but little opposition. Sheridan had routed the enemy's cavalry at all points, capturing many prisoners. Washington, June 1. An unofficial dispatch from Kingston, dated May 31, says: Major Hopkins, of Stoneman's start who came from the front this afternoon, says the rebels attacked us at 7:30 o'clock this .morninjr. By 10 o'clock the affair was over and the enemy repulsed, and our lines pushed to the railroad at Marietta. The ac complishment of this object was ths purpose of Sherman's movements. Washington, May 51. Dispatches from General Grant dated at llawes' Shop read as follows: The enemy came over on our left and attacked us. They were repulsed with heavy slaughter. To relieve Warren, who was on our left, Meade speedily ordered an attack by the balance of our line. Hancock was the only one who received the or ders in time to make an attack before dark. He drove the enemy from his entreffched skirmish line and still holds it Cleveland, May 31. The Radical Re publican convention met this morning:, ex-Governor Johnson, of Pennsylvania, In the chair, and adopted a platform. Meeting of the Common Council. Councilman E. Elfelt's resignation was accepted in consequence of his depart ure for Europe. A resolution was of fered instructing the City Surveyor to survey all streets south of Jefferson street to Caruthers' addition and all east of Eighth street The clerk was Instructed to advertise in The Oregon ian for bids for building an engine house for Columbia Engine Company No. J, the cost not to exceed $6000. The Judges of election tor the South Portland precinct are Henry Law, si. J. McCormlck and Matthew Patten. The place of voting will be the Courthouse. In the North Portland precinct the judges are George II. Flanders, Will lam Cornell and Thomas J. Holmes. The place of voting will he the engine house of Multnomah Fire Company No. 2. Quite an excitement was created on the lot corner of Front and Washing ton streets yesterday mornlna:. A was procured a lot of brass filings and salted the reputed spots of gold depos its. Soon small claims were staked of. picks, pans and shovels were procured and men and boys went to work with a will taking the dirt to the ,rlver hank to wash. The results of their labors may be Imagined. We were invited last evening by Emil Loewensteln & Co. to examine a fine sofa of the Elizabethan style man ufactured by them for tha rostrum or the new Presbyterian Church In this city, which is without doubt the most superb affair of the kind ever got ui in this state. Its frame is solid black walnut elaborately carved, the seat. back and arms covered with crimson velvet. The length is 12 feet height 7 feet. It is a present from irs. D. F. Bradford to the church. ANENT THE DANCE. The grizzly bear, the turkey trot The bunny hug and. too. Some others might be mentioned Among the dances new That rearwards have been crowded. In seclusion to abide And make way for another to be Called the Huerta glide. Some other creatures of the zoo Have slighted somewhat been. No matter, though, the jig's now up For those that did get in. The tango and the hesitation waits May. too. be cast aside When we are introduced to what? That newer Huerta glide. A. H. O CONNELL. Moral Suasion at School. Motherhood Magazine "Bless me!" 'said Tommy's great uncle. "Do you mean to say that your teachers never thrash you?" "Never!" replied Tommy. "We have moral suasion in our school." "What's that?" "Oh, we get kep' In, and stood up in corners, and locked out and locked in. and made to write one word 1000 times, and scowled at and Jawed at and that's all." Someone Wants To See You? Who Is it? What can he want? Turn over the advertising col umns In today's Oregonian and you will see his message clearly nt forth. It Is sharp, well written and to the point Perhaps it does not Interest you? Maybe you don't want to see him? s- That's the beauty of it you don't have to respond unless you care to. Yet the message may be the very one you were hoping for. Look and see.