Morning Oregonian., June 24, 1914, Page 10, Image 10

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POBTLAND, WEDNESDAY, JU"E 84, 1914.
i THE BATT5 DECISION. .
Inasmuch as the opening of the
Panama Canal Is near at hand the
effect ot the Supreme Court decision
In the important intermountain rate
case is that in large measure which
Is succinctly stated by L. J. Spence,
director of traffic of the Southern
Pacific. He sees this result:
The unfavorable feature of the decision
is in the aerloua restriction -which it puts on
the transcontinental lines in their future ef
forts to meet aea competition, which In the
near futnra promises to become more acute
than it has aver been, by requiring them
to choose between making rates to Pacific
Coast terminals to retain business against
the competition of the sea and reducing
ratea to Intermediate distancea to conform
to the prescribed formula of the Commission,
or abstaining from making rates to hold
business against the competition of the sea
and thereby surrendering a volume oi tramo
In which they might have otherwise con
tinued to participate with a measure of
profit.
Water competition Is vital and
actual. Traffic, when . the canal is
pen, will move by the cheapest route.
Heretofore the length of time con
sumed In water transportation has
lad Its Influence. That influence will
be largely eliminated by the canal.
The intermountain rates were es
tablished originally on the basis of
water competition at coast terminals.
The water rate was met by the rail
road's terminal rate and the Inter
mountain rate was fixed by adding to
the terminal rate the local rate back.
Thus the charge for moving freight
from the East to Spokane, for ex-
Ample, was greater than the rate to
Portland.
The decision of the Interstate Com
merce Commission, which is now sus
tained, upheld this principle of rate-
making, but in effect it was ruled that
the theoretical haul-back charge was
too great. It was reduced" by the ap
plication of a zone system of rate
making. Spokane was given terminal
rates from points west of St. Paul.
From points east of St. Paul the Spo
kane rate was fixed at varying per
centages higher than the terminal rate.
A probable consequence now is that
when the Spokane Jobber buys from
the Eastern manufacturer he will find
that it will be cheaper to route his
shipment through the canal to Port
land and thence by rail eastward to
Spokane. He will thus pay rates based
on the identical principle against
which Spokane has been complaining
for a quarter of a century.
This situation will depend, as Mr.
Epence says, upon whether the rail
roads find that they can, without loss,
meet the water rate. If they reduce
the terminal rate to the coast they
must necessarily lower rates all along
the line. Rates on through traffic at
which the railroads would sustain a
loss would naturally in most cases
mean that they would cause a loss
on intermediate traffic. It would then
be more to their advantage to sur
render a large share of the trans
continental traffic and take their
profit from the haul to the interior
from the ocean ports. Inlaryl Jobbers
will have accomplished the transfer
of through freight carrying from rail
road to steamship, nothing more.
Portland's position is more than
satisfactory. It has the potential pos
sibilities of a much greater seaport
than at present. Nor is its destiny
solely that of a transhipping port a
place merely where freight is unloaded
from ship to warehouse and then re
loaded to freight cars. Its location
makes it a natural distributing cen
ter. The opening of the Ceiilo Canal
will give it an interior water highway
which if properly utilized will have a
competitive influence toward the re
duction of railroad distributive rates.
Whatever rejoicing there may be in
Spokane is premature. At the time
the Interstate Commerce Commission
rendered its decision three years ago
the Middle West Jobbers and mail
order bouses awoke with a start. They
saw an opportunity in the new rates to
invade territory theretofore controlled
ty intermountain Jobbing centers.
Doubtless they have not been lulled to
sleep by the long delay in securing
the affirmation of the Supreme Court.
In fighting Portland, Seattle and Ta
coma for Jobbing territory Spokane
has opened competition to Missouri
River Jobbers In territory it hereto
fore monopolized. In the twenty-five
years' battle for lower rates the Pan
ama Canal has been completed and
a new advantage has been created for
the ocean ports of which no system of
artificial rats-making can deprive the
Coast cities. It was an attempt to
overcome geographical obstacles, and
the decision is but a paper victory for
Spokane.
There is this cause for rejoicing In
the inland city, however, but it ex
tends to the few, not the many. There
is the possibility that the railroads
can be compelled to refund the ex
cess charged for moving freight dur
ing the three years the case has been
In the courts. But if this expecta
tion be realised the refund will go
Into the pockets of the Jobbers. The
goods on which they paid the higher
freight rates have been distributed to
the consumers and the consumers have
paid on the basis of the higher rates.
The consumer to whom freight rates
are an important factor in the cost
of Jiving will have as yet profited noth
ing. The decision has an acute bearing
npon the future activities of the rail
roads. It is not altogether visionary
to presume that we shall see a vast
change in the flow of commerce and
the distribution of manufacturing cen
ters. It is a shove toward that con
v ditlott which some commercial
prophets have heretofore foreseen
when transcontinental freight traffic
shall be largely surrendered by the
railroads and they shall become feed
ers to and distributors from the sea
ports; when manufacturing shall find
its moat favorable opportunities on
the eoasta Yet, withal, necessity as
well as opportunity confronts Port
land. Water transportation must be
encouraged, harbors deepened and
rivers improved. The ruling in prac
tical effect makes a distinction between
what might be done and conditions
that actually exist If water traffic
be built up we have lost nothing.
Otherwise we have surrendered a
great deal to the Inland cities.
WHAT IS PORK?
The Oregonian will reply to an in
quiry as to whether it opposes the
river and harbor bill by saying unre
servedly that it is opposed to Congres
sional pork in every form. How much
of the $100,000,000 river and harbor
bill pending in Congress is pork?
Pork is Congressional' largess, pro
duced through judicious feeding of
complaisant members by the Congres
sional machine, and distributed where
it will do the most good. Pork is
the reward of faithful party service.
Pork is the excrescence of an over
flowing treasury, or it is the salvage
of a wrecked public pocketbook, as
the case may be. Pork takes the
shape of an appropriation for a public
building or an improved river, or a
deepened harbor, where no public
building is needed, and no valuable
river or harbor project Is possible. It
is the monument of the Government's
extravagance in the crossroads village
of Squeedunk, and of the Congressional
pull in the shallow end crooked river
of Froghole, or the Inaccessible and
remote harbor of Graftopolis.
It is the misfortune of great public
works, such as the Columbia River
project, that it should be linked with
petty schemes and unworthy ventures
of other states. The result Is to dis
credit the Columbia and other mer
itorious Oregon improvements and to
cast odium on the entire river and
harbor policy of the Government.
What a price for our Congressmen to
pay that they must approve every
other Congressman's demand for a
share of the pork to get for Oregon
its Just deserta
Let us hope that Senator Cham
berlain and Senator Lane will get
through the Senate the amendment
placing on a continuing contract basis
the north Jetty at the entrance of the
Columbia and fixing this amount at
$5,100,000; and we shall hope that
they will succeed with the other Ore
gon appropriations. But we are none
too sanguine. The gauntlet of the
more economical house is yet to be
run, and of the Presidential signa
ture. Where, by the way. Is the all-pow
erful Lafferty in this critical hour?
At his post of duty preparing to help
along the liberal Oregon appropria
tions when they reach the House, if
they ever do? Or three thousand miles
away, pressing litigation for private
clients and making his plans to re
pudiate the solemn verdict of the
sovereign people in their official pri
mary? Where, indeed, is Lafferty?
BO.ttE AMERICANS AND THE FLAG.
A citizen of the Oregon country
had a large investment in Mexico, at
Guadalajara. He took his family
there, built a home, made friends with
the Mexicans and enjoyed the security
and prosperity that every law-abiding
person deserves in any country. The.
revolution broke out, and the various
factions struggled throughout Mexico
for the mastery. But the Oregon man
was not disturbed; his family was safe,
and his property untouched by fed
erals or rebels. Other Americans
did not fare so well In the ruin and
chaos fast encompassing Mexico; but
our Oregon friend, being in Mexico's
second great city, was more fortunate.
Then came the occupation, of vera
Cruz. War had been declared. The
Gringoes were invading Mexico. The
Oreeon man and his family became
public enemies. They were proscribed.
They fled, in deadly fear of their
lives. Reaching the coast, after many
dangers, with other Americans, they
expected to find an American war ves
sel there to receive and protect them.
They were disappointed. By chance a
German freighter came along and took
them aboard, though there were no
accommodations for passengers. They
suffered many hardships.
On the high seas, while bound for
San Francisco, their eyes were glad
dened by the sight of an American
war vessel flying the glorious Amer
ican flag. At last they were to be
cared for, though the kindly German
captain had done all he could, and
more, for them. They signaled the
vessel. An American officer came
aboard. They asked for blankets and
other comforts. The officer returned
to his cruiser, the Albany, to get the
blankets. The captain peremptorily
refused to give the Americans any
Supplies and sailed on.
The American Government, through
President Wilson and Secretary Bryan,
refuses to accept responsibility 4or the
plight of Americans in Mexico or
Americans desperately trying to flee in
safety from, Mexico. They may lose
all they have, and we are indifferent.
They may sacrifice their lives, and
we piously remind their sorrowing
relatives that they were in Mexico at
their own' risk. Finally, when they
return to the protecting folds of the
Stars and Stripes, we give them no
shelter.
We wonder if the American flag
now stands for life, liberty, equality
and protection for the American
wherever he is.
BCMFER CROPS AND AUTOS.
Along with bumper crop reports
comes the word that there is an in
creased demand from the farms for
automobiles. Some country banks are
having trouble meeting the situation
of providing money to move the crops
and buy automobiles. Still they are
not protesting, for the farmer who
buys an automobile cannot be sus
pected of indulgence in needless lux
ury. Trie automobile has a useful
ness in the country that It does not
always find in the city. The farmer
does not regard it as an instrument
of pleasure alone. It Is also a source
of profit and may pay for Itself many
times.
It is In the country that the auto
mobile often finds its greatest value
and supplies the direst need. It brings
not only fresh hope into the farmers
life, but fresh profit. He is no longer
cut off from easy contact with the
social centers of the community. Nor
is he held back from a ready market
for his perishable products by an In
tervening space of twelve or fifteen
miles, which Is only a trfling spin, by
automobile. To make the trip to mar
ket by team often means loss of a
whole day, whereas the round trip
could be taken by auto in two or three
hours. Thus the automobile is a bless
ing of many aspects for the farmer.
Undoubtedly there have been many
abuses of the automobile by city folks
who often buy when they cannot af
ford and have no real use for a car.
But no discouragement should be
placed in the way of the prosperous
farmer who wants one. , He needs it
in his business.
MKDI.tnOX AND CIIAl TAUQCA.
The mediation conference has taken
on an aspect which Indicates that It
has one principal purpose at this
time. That purpose is to keep to
gether so that the Mexican situation
can remain in statu quo. Since there
can be no agreement on essentials,
then a discussion on non-essentials will
be proceeded with. Since the Amer
ican and Huerta delegations cannot
meet in harmony, separate meetings
will be held, with the mediators in
the role of go-between. To make the
farce complete a desperate effort has
been exerted by the Administration to
get the rebels to send a delegation
to the scene to participate in these
disconnected and fragmentary efforts
to cure Mexican ills. Why?
It Is significant that this degenera
tion of mediation into transparent
dallying followed the inspired visit of
Minister Naon to the Capital. There
he received fresh inspiration and in
struction from Secretary Bryan, who
initiated the A. B. C. brand of media
tion in the first place. Since Naon
got back on the Job the whole aspect
of mediation has changed. The
stumbling blocks have been removed.
The possibilities of a disagreement
have been done away with. Now, if
the rebels can be lured up to Niagara
Fails on any sort of pretense, there
is no reason why mediation should
not continue its colorless course
throughout the Summer. That will
give the Chautauqua season a chance
to pass by '"..
There is every ground for the con
elusion that a direct connection exists
between the latest form mediation
has taken and the Chautauqua season.
With mediation off and a ticklish in
ternational situation at hand how
could . Secretary Bryan possibly get
away on his Summer quest of the
elusive golden eagle? On the other
hand, with mediation so shaped that
a rupture cannot occur, the vacation
Chautauqua tour can proceed unhin
dered. What does it matter that
mediation is getting nowhere In the
meantime?
QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED.
Whv should the United States apol
oeize to Colombia? What have we
done to apologize for?
Wfcir iiu-a thH Wilson Administra
Hon agree to pay Colombia $25,000,000,
although, immediately alter tne revo
lution in Panama, Colombia offered to
oant tin nnn nno and during the
Taft Administration was willing to ac
cept $8,000,000? .
What Is to be done with the otner
iik nnn nnn or si7.ooo.000?
These are questions whlco not oniy
Republican but Democratic Senators
wish to have answered before they
vote on the Colombian treaty. Repub
lican Senators Insist upon an mves
tiraHnn nf the "secret and insidious"
rnivrrfon inhhy. Administration Sen
ators advise withdrawal of the treaty
until the Senate has investigated our
dispute with Colombia. They hope
thus to Justify the treaty.
Secretary Bryan, the great apolo
gist, Is driven to take the defensive
h tha arnrm hn has raised and is
digging among the records of the Taft
Administration for evidence mat Mr.
Taft also was ready to apologize. He
Hoc fnnnd a -memorandum, which, he
says, is the basis on which Mr. Dubois,
then United States Minister to uiuiu
bia, was authorized to negotiate- a
treaty. This contains a statement that
the United States "honestlyi regret
anything should have occurred to mar
our friendship with Colombia; He has
fnunri -om-miinications in which the
Taft Administration expressed regret
at the estrangement, but Republicans
maintain that these expressions of re
gret are merely diplomatic amenities
and they challenge Mr. Bryan to
prove that the Taft Administration ex
d Tee-ret that Panama seceded.
Their contention is supported by one
document signed by Mr. xart nimeeu,
rjroDOsine to pay Colombia $10,000,000
simply as "an act of grace," but re
fraining from any expression of re-
irret at any acts of the Kooseveit ao-
ministration.
tx7itvi lAadnrt nf both narties de
manding investigation from opposing
motives, the entire Colombian affair
promises to be thrown into the open.
The Colombian lobbyists and the
Americans who . have been hired to
aid them -will be dragged into the
light. The reasons for offering Co
lombia $15,000,000 more now than
Colombia was willing to accept eleven
years ago will be made known. The
attempts of Mr. Bryan to hide from
popular wrath behind the bulky form
of Mr. Taft Is not likely to help him.
Very strong proof will be required
that Mr, Taft offered to apologize for
acts of an Administration of which
he was himself a member. Should It
be produced, Mr. Bryan's cry, "He's
another apologist," would not save
him from public indignation; it would
only cast obloquy on both him and
Mr. Taft.- Whether or not Senator
Borah should succeed in procuring
consideration of the treaty in open
Senate, there will be abundance of
publicity for It.
While all this Is going on, what
will become of that ambitious pro
gramme of reconstruction with which
Mr. Wilson entered office? Big busi
ness will chuckle at the diversion of
attention In Congress and in the coun
try at large from the anti-trust bills
and at the improved prospects of their
postponement. Legitimate business
will despair of any effective legisla
tion by the Democracy against monop
oly. The West will lose hope of the
early unlocking of Its very much re
served resources. The President is
doing or trying to do great things
fnw the British shiDOwners and the
Canadian producers with his canal tolls
policy, for Mexico, coiomnia ana
Nicaragua, but what is he doing for
the American people? Giving away
their canal and their money. He is
having a grand international potlatch.
BAMNOCKBTJRX.
Six centuries 'ago today the Scotch
and English fought the battle of Ban
nockburn, which ended the effort to
unite the two kingdoms by conquest,
and postponed the union for three
centuries, until a Scottish King be
came ruler of England as the next In
line of succession. The battle was
remarkable as the disastrous end of
the effort begun by Edward I In 12 9 6
to annex Scotland to England, and as
the triumph of the Bruce dynasty, to
which the Stewarts succeeded.
Bruce stationed his army of 40,000
men on the rugged banks of Bannock,
burn to block the advance of Edward
II's army of 60,000 to Stirling, which
he had besieged. The Scotch battle
front was only a mile long, the first
line being composed of three corps of
pikemen. Before them In the swampy
ground pits had been dug. Edward's
army had a front of equal length and
was divided into ten corps each of
cavalry and infantry. There were
three lines of three corps each, with
one in reserve. Bruce's left flank was
protected by a bend of the stream, his
right by woods, behind which some
of his men were concealed. The Eng
lish .cavalry of the first line charged
through the morass and up the slope,
but were confronted by an rmpenetrsv
ble hedge of spears. The Scottish
spearmen were galled by the arrows
of the English bowmen, until 500
Scottish cavalry broke their ranks.
The Scottish archers then charged with
axes and fell upon the English cav
alry, which was entangled in the
pits. The way was clogged with fallen
horses and men, so that the second
and third lines of English could not
aid In the fight, and the Scottish line
steadily pressed back the struggling
and disordered mass.
Then came the dramatic decisive
point in the battle. The camp fol
lowers advanced from concealment in
the woods of what has since been
called Gillies Hill, crying, "Slay! Slayl"
and the whole English army, mistaking
them for a great reserve, DroKe ana
fled in disorder. They choked the
burn, where many perished, and the
fugitives were hunted to the border.
The English loss was about 11,000,
the Scotch about 4000 men.
Those were the days of close, hand-
to-hand fighting with ax, pike, sword
and lance, the only weapons striking
from a distance being arrows. Hence,
though the . battle was fought in a
narrow space, the casualties were not
as great as In some battles of the
Russo-Japanese - war, where armies
fought in open order and over a long
extended front. In those days the
generals really led their armies in
stead of sitting far in-the rear, direct
ing movements and learning of the
progress of the fray by telegraph or
telephone. Deeds of personal valor
were done by the chieftains in sight
of all, as when Bruce slew Sir Henry
Bohun with one stroke of his ax the
day before the battle, the shaft break
ing in his hand. War was then an
encounter between the fighters; now It
Is more largely a scientific contest be
tween commanders, whose soldiers
cannot see general results nor under
stand the immediate purpose of their
movements.
Wnnj r.mea that there is a shake-
,m In tna fnlnrado National Guard
o a Afiiiit nf trA vAoant strike bat
tles. This is a hopeful sign, for the
command of Colorados troops nas
hnan ohiiBod fn thA nractlce of admit
ting mine guards to the ranks in the
hour of trouble. A dismissal of those
commissioned officers responsible will
rial effect. But action
should not be left altogether to state
military officials under whose noses
Mi iinnsi flrmrlshad. The War De
partment, which provides heavy sup
port to the militia, snouia join in ine
investigation and see to it that the!
iniirtAnt An en not rjass with the mus
tering out of a few minor scapegoats.
Tti -MAunti-ir -a-111 aerreA with Wilson
in wiping out the Mason and Dixie
line, but will insist on "tne tstar-apan-rT,.
Pannar" leariiner "Dixie" on the
programme except in regions where
proper consideration or tne wenare ui
the musicians will Justify forbearanoe.
rm-pna ns-fl.in refuses to send dele
gates to discuss internal troubles in
f--inn Now. if he'd set it to music
and have It played by a couple of brass
bands, possibly his refusal would pen
etrate to the understanding of the
State Department. '
Ttii.oinesa men in a Kansas town
turned out to work In the hay fields
and save the crops after imported
mn.iar, y,nA milt nn account of heat
This Winter these same business men
will be contributing to the support of
the quitters.
Hurriedly deciding a great array of
cases, the Supreme Court has ad
journed for the Summer. How the
mills of Justice do grind when there
Is a vacation in sight.
Brvan is still trying to explain that
Colombian treaty. This Is a had
precedent. " If Bryan ever gets to ex
plaining, he'll find no time for vaude
ville or anything else.
That 11-year-old Arkansas boy who
killed the man who killed his father
acted as the head of the family should
act In, a region wherein the shotgun
is pre-eminent.
Tha 'President felicitates Kins
George on his birthday. It would have
been real thoughtful to have made
the canal presentation on this auspi
cious occasion. v
income tax nenalties become effec
tive June 30. Of course, that doesn't
affect those of ua who have only a
psychological income tax to meet-
President Wilson wants the fact
rViT-rntten that there is a North and a
South. He appears to have forgotten
long ago that tnere is a west.
is allowed officers Of
ty,a nval militia on cruises. Which
adds a bit of fresh Joy to that Honolulu
Junket next month.
It is ruled that pass-users are not
entitled to damages if injured in rail
road accidents. Still, who wouldn't
take a chance?
Whv not take the mediation gath
ering along on that Chautauqua tour?
It would provide a leavening of com
edy to the bill. '
The Supreme Court decides Wilklns
must hang and the opponents of cap.
ltal punishment are due to get busy.
One monitor and three submarines
will not hold all the commissioned
officers of the Astoria regatta.
Huerta Is now said to see the logic
and Justice of the American view.
The needle, Watson, quick!
nn titmdred thousand nunils in
Japan are studying English. Getting
ready for the conquest 7
A vaudeville actress kissed the lion
that ate her fiance. Gratitude or
craze for publicity?
Only one day left in which to Join
the naval militia. All aboard for Hon
olulu! Benson and McNary may have to
draw straws yet.
Do your Christmas shopping early.
Tinkering again with the charter.
Make a data for the Cherry Fair.
PARTY PLATFOKJI IS SHATTERED.
Seaator Vardaaaaa Convicts Wlleaa
by Bis Owa Warsta.
One of the severest arraignments of
President Wilson and his adherents in
the Democratic party for violating
their platform by proposing repeal of
the coastwise exception clause of the
canal law was delivered in the Senate
by Senator Vardaman, of Mississippi,
of whose Democraoy there can be no
question. After reviewing what he
regarded as the good record made by
his party, in passing the tariff and cur
rency bills, Mr. .Vardaman said:
"Mr. President, when I first heard it
suggested that the President might
take this unfortunate step, I did- not
give it serious consideration. I could
not believe it. But when I beard it
from his own lips I was amazed. I was
dumbfounded; I doubted the veracity
of my own, ears; I could not think it
possible that one who had given such
hearty approval to the plank in the
platform which he now asked Congress
to repudiate I could not believe that
one who had spoken such scorching
words of condemnation of those who
failed to keep their platform promises
I could not, Mr. President, under
stand how the President could now
ask others to do the very thing which
he had so unsparingly condemned. The
President gave ne valid reasons for
the change of front which he demanded
that Congress should make. He ad
vanced no arguments. No facts were
submitted. He did not even admit his
own error of judgment or give a reason
for his change of heart. But with an
assurance unbecoming I use the term
with great Teapeet of one so learned
and clothed with such rare accom
plishments, he asks the Congress, a co
ordinate branch of the Government, to
repudiate Its promises, which would
involve a betrayal of the voters of the
country, subordinate their own Judg
ments, and yield to his wishes on this
Important question, without even In
quiring as to whether the things they
were doing were right or wrong.
"Mr. President, fidelity to platform
promises has through all the years of
our national life been the foundation
of our party system, and the corner
stone of American political morality
has been the faith which the people
placed in the integrity of those who
pledged, in exchange for :helr votea
the assurance that the promises of the
party platform would be faithfully
carried out. The idea of any one hu
man being, however great in his own
conceit or wise in the estimation of
others, imagining that he has the pow
er to absolve himself from such a
pledge in order to substitute some
theory of his own In place of it is a
heresy in political religion in the Unit
ed States which is now being preached
and practiced by the leaders of the
Democratic party for the first time. It
may be treason to the crown, but I can
not approve It I will not subscribe
to such a doctrine. - I regard a plat
form promise as a political confession
of faith, and Just as binding upon the
servants of tho people as the oath
which - o-n.-"- takes when he enters
this chamber and assumes the duties of
his great office. It Is conceivable that
contingencies may arise which would
Justify a violation of platform prom
laes, but such contingencies have not
arisen In this case and are not likely to
arise -out of the question at issue. I
cannot believe that any power in the
world short of the people themselves
has a light to absolve one from
solemn promise given to the people in
exchange for their votes, cast on the
strength of a definite pledge. To take
any other view of this matter would
render nugatory and vain all platform
utterances and Immunize men elected
to office upon such platforms from the
shame and disgrace of the crime of
treachery, for which they should be
punished.
"Mr. President, since there is no pow
er short of the people themselves that
can absolve a President, a Represents
tive, or a Senator from a solemn pledge
given in writing or by word of mouth
upon the hustings directly to them In
consideration for their suffrage, I must
decline to be a party to this repudl
tion of the Baltimore platform until I
have an opportunity to consult the
people, to whom I owe first allegiance
on the subject, and permit them, if they
see fit, to absolve me from my promise
to them."
Mr. Vardaman gave his recollection
of the circumstances under which the
canal tolls plank of the Baltimore
platform was adopted by the resolu
tions committee. It agrees entirely with
that of Senator O'Gorman and with that
of Senator Walsh, particularly as to
Mr. Bryan's having proposed the amend
ment in favor of excluding railroad
owned ships from the canal. He said:
It was an admirable suggestion: and. like
almost every other suggestion made by the
mstinguisnea citizen from Nebraska, it was
promptly accepted by the committee. The
purpose of this plank was manifest. Free
tolls to ships engaged In eoastwise trade
was to lower freight rates and thereby pro
mote the Interests of tbe consumer. Nobody
then questioned the purpose of the free
tolls plank. Nobody regnrded It as a subsidy
in tne interest ot tne shipping trust.
In substantiation of this last state
ment the Senator quoted from Presi
dent Wilson's speech to the New Jersey
farmers in August, 1912, this explana
tion of the purpose of the tolls clause,
which ' squares with the Baltimore
plank:
We don't want the railroads to eompete
wnn memseives, Because we understand that
kind of competition. We want water car
riage to compete with land carriage, so as
to be 'perfectly sure that you are going to
get Detter rates srouna the canal than you
wonld acrosa the continent. . , ,
Mr. Vardaman continued: .
"The argument was a clincher. It
was unanswerable. The speech deliv
ered that day was seed sown upon fer
tile soil, and the harvest was many
fruitful votea Mr. Wilson told the
farmers more than that. He said
further:
Our platform is not molasses to catch
flies. It means business. It means what it
says. it is the utterance of earnest and
honest men. who Intend to do business along
those lines and who are not willing to see
whether they can catch votes with those
promises before they determine whether
they are going te act upon them or not.
They know the American people ara taking
notiea in a way which they never took aotloe
before
"Mark that
and gentlemen who talk one way and vote
another are going to be retired to a very
quiet and private retreat.
-J'Weigh those words. You may have
an opportunity to refer to them In the
very near future,
"Was anything said about subsidy
to ships? Does anybody believe that
Candidate Wilson thought of subsidy
then or cares for subsidy now? There
was no intimation In that confidential
heart-to-heart conversation with the
farmers about this plank being put
Into the platform In the Interest of the
shipping trust. Mr. President, I ara
afraid that Senators who prate so
much about subsidy are not as Ingenu
ous as they should be. Does anybody
believe that there Is a Democrat in
Congress who would have raised the
question of subsidy if the honorable
senior Eenator from New Tork (Mr.
Root), had net suggested repeal and
the President followed suit? No, they
do not. To believe that Candidate
Wilson thought It was a subsidy and
In-the Interests of the shipping trust
and gave it his indorsement In words
so carefully selected and sentences so
maturely formed is a reflection upon
his morality and Intellectual honesty,
which I am sure his bitterest enemy")
does not approve.
Schoolboy's rteted Reeora,
Indianapolis News.
Attending the same school- for 13
years without being absent or tardy is
the remarkable record of John Pugh,
19 years old, who has just graduated
from the Deepwater (Mo.) High School
a the only boy la the class.
Mayer efTnrner Writes Otter Thema-
la-ar Sal-sa Fir IX-aarrescat.
TURNER, Or.. June it (Te the Ed
itor.) When the citizens of Turner
were aroused from their slumbers at
11:45 o'clock Tuesday night. June If.
and found the large warehouse and el
evator In flames In the extreme top of
the high building, which building la
situated near the S. P. depot and in
such position relative to the city that
if there wasn't help from some well
equipped fire department (as Turner
has no fira protection at present but Is
on the eve of installing a gravity water
system) there would be little left of
the city In a very short time, a tele
phone call was sent by A. S. Wright to
the Salem fira department, and In 21
minutes the new motor fire engine was
throwing two heavy streams of water
on the burning building and other sur
rounding buildings that were about to
burst Into flames from the heat and
flying clndera
When tt Is known that there was
soma delay In getting the required per
mission to leave the city of Salem, and
that Turner is eight miles from Salem.
one can realize there was some hustling
of men and speed of engine to make
the trip In so short time.
It was between 11 and II minutes
from the time the engine left the fire
station until it was in Turner and pre
paring to fight the fira
The citizens of Turner will never
forget the prompt action on the part
of the city of Salem and har brave and
noble-hearted firemen. As soon as they
arrived and at a glance saw the danger
the city was in they seemed to know
just the best thing to do In the emer
gency, and it was done with no delay
and such rapid and effective work It
has never before been our opportunity
to wltnesa
Tbe City Council fully expected te
get a bill from Salem for the use of
their fire department, but when L as
Mayor, visited Mayor Steeves, of Sa
lem, and expressed the gratitude of the
citizens ot Turner for what had been
dona and requested the bill for the
services, you can Imagine the surprise
and pleasure to hear the hearty ex
pression from Mayor Steeves. "The city
of Salem will present no bill for such
services, and we are only too glad we
could render assistance In time of
need."
Without any question, the prompt
response to the call for the Salem fire
department saved the business portion
of Turner and also many dwellings.
G. F. UOOTH. Mayor.
WHERE HOST PROGRESSIVES ARE.
Contributor Finds More Amoaa Repub
licans Thaa la Third Party.
PORTLAND, June 15. (To the Edi
tor.) So Mr. A. C. Caasady, whose
article appeared In The Oregonian re
cently, seems to think one who Is a
Republican, "suffers Intense mental
agony," brain storm" "walllngs from a
lost soul in purgatory" and worse than
all he is a "standpttter," and I guess
these charges are true. We have Mr.
Cassady's word for It, and that helps
some. They answer when one Is be
reft of reason and without argument:
Did all the progressives desert the Re
publican party In 191IT Who were the
real progressives before the third
party was born? Is It not a tact that
there are today more progressives In
the Republican party than In the third
party? Are not Cummins, Horah, I-a-Follette,
Hadley and Brlstow progres
sive? We all know they are and were
long before the bolt from the Chicago
Convention.
Were those who bolted progressives
until that time? Not one of them.
Their desertion was caused by their
failure to nominate the candidate they
supported. If he had been nominated
there would have been no third party.
There Is no place now for a third
party. All of the main features or
principles enunciated In their platform
ara embodied in tha Republican plat
form. The phenomenal vote received
by the Progressive party In 1(11 was a
tribute to tha wonderful popularity
and personality of Theodore Roosevelt.
Any ether candidate would have re
ceived only a small portion of the vote
cast, and the vote cast was not by rea
son ot any progressive plank In the
platform, but simply a wild stampede
that will not occur again.
The only statement borne out by the
facta made by Mr. Caasady waa that
the Republican party was defeated In
1912. Tha Republican party la not a
minority, but a majority party. The
registration of the Republican party in
this state Is 134. 69T, and that of tha
Progressive party only 6253. It Is the
same experience we had with the Popu.
list and Free Silver Republican parties.
We standpatters stood by the old party,
were steadfast and Immovable In our
advocacy of the principles we knew
would bring the largest measure of
success and prosperity to the people,
until our erring and deceived brothers
returned. Then we were successful
and the country enjoyed usual prosper
ity under Republican rule. Conditions
are propitious for a repetition of the
same experience in 1916.
C. B. LA FOLLETTE.
Maa and Wife la Equal Place.
. PORTLAND. June 23. (To the Edi
tor.) What has become of the married
woman teacher problem? Did wa put
any member on tha school board to
look out for the unmarried teacher who
is in need of a position, or is he there
to see to It that the children receive
the best possible Instruction?
What do our schools need most, mere
pedagogy, or if possible, splendid ped
agogy coupled with some other strong
ly successful line of work? It such a
person ean be found, Is It not a fine
thing for the board to employ a highly
sucoessful doctor, lawyer, merchant,
farmer, housekeeper, father or mother,
who is a splendid scholarly teacher too?
Do you know anything wrong with
tha wifehood or the motherhood of
Harriet Baacher BtoweT If a magazine,
today, recalvaa a clever article from a
woman, can It afford to loaa it, merely
because the author Is married? And
does the editor consider whether the
producer needs the money or not?
Why should we train our daughters
for anything but housekeeping If mar
riage is to close every other field to
them? Why should marriage limit the
exercise of women's talents any more
than It does a man's? Why should a
man require his wife personally to conk
his meals, wash his linen, clean Ms
house, any more than she should In
sist on him raising the wheat, meat
and wool that she and the children use?
If marriage essentially limits a woman
to housekeeping, it must logically limit
a man te farming. A PATRON.
Drafted.
Sarah X. Cleghorn In the Survey.
Colleglane, stretched reposeful
Along your campus greensward.
Between the halls of science .
And fanes of Art and Law,
Tour tranquil meerschaums smoking
And noncahalantly turning
The pages of ths last romance ef
Bennett, Wells or bhaw.
Have you not beard the news, then?
The draft of many soldiers?
What boots us then your learning
If here we look not for
The forward scouts of freedom
The engineers of Justice
The drummers and the ensigns that
lead the bloodless warT
O haste and Join the army!
Equip for long campaigning.
Hearyou not ghostly music?
But threescore years before,
Shades of your tires were singing
A fsst they filled the muster.
"We are coming, rather Anrnha.n. a
hundred thousand more!"
Twenty-F.va Years Ago
Trom The Oregonian of June It. !'
Olympia, June 2 2. At a meeting rf
eltlrens last evening between lie
and H0.oo was raised toward a sub
sidy of 1100.000 for the Tuget fiil A.
Chehalla Railway.
Tha funeral of Mra M. P. Charmaa.
wife of Colonel W. W. Chapman.
plac yesterday. Rfv. John U. rWllao.vl
conducted tha aervlcee. Tha pallb-ar-ore
were Mayor Van ft Pel.aahrr.utt
Judge E. D. Shatturk. lion. H. KiUia.
Lloyd Rrooke. ex. t'. B. Marshal U H.
Kearney and lion, Joseph Gaston.
As a tralnload of clrcua waa enentne;
Into town yesterday over the West
Side, a car loaded with elephants was
derailed and two of tha elephants were
obliged to walk Into town. They were
very Indltrnant, and aa they passed
through South Portland wavawl their
trunks and scared the horses.
At the residence of the bride's par
enta 14 Jackson street, last evening.
W. W. McUuire. a well-known East
Portland Journallat. was married U
Miss Rosalia NicolaL daughter of lr.
and Mrs. Adolph Moolai, by Rer. J. R.
Sellwood.
The city dredge, which has been un
dergoing extensive repairs, waa
launched Saturday.
John Kelly, Oregon's commissioner te
tha Paris exposition, wrltaa from 1-ori-don
that be has Just returned from Ire
land. Rev. T. E. Clapp has been elected a
member of the board of trustees of
Pacific University. Hon. O. fhlndler.
of Portland, waa elected president to
succeed Hon. A. II In man. of Forest
Grova
The Jury which tried Sandy Olds for
the murder of Emll Weber disagreed,
atartdlng eight for conviction, four for
acquittal.
Chief of Tollce I. B. Tarrlsh gave
some remlnlscencea at the- ploneeta'
reunion which are worth repeating.
About the end of December. !. sev
eral Inches of snow had fallen, and the
villagers, young and old, engaged In
snowballing. Captain John II. Couch,
who then owned the greater portion of
the north end, waa then In the visor
of manhood and as frisky aa any
schoolboy, and Joined In the sport. The
Captain lost a massive gold ring weigh
ing an ounce, the setting of which waa
a locket containing pi. lures of his
wife and daughter, the latter now being
Mrs. Dr. Wilson. Tha snow-covered
ground was gone over hundreds of
times, but the Jewel waa not to ha
found. In a few days the snow dis
appeared, the bnye renewed their
search, and Knmmy and N. O. Tarried
found It. Captain Couch determined to
reward them. Karly In January a
small brig anchored In tha river.
Among the cargo was a bog of small
boya' boots. Captain Couch took the
two Tarrlsh boys to the ship and told
them they had the choice between a
pair of boots and a block of land. Ther
decided In favor of tha bnota. of course.
There were no hoots In the rliy at that
time (all wore moccasins), and the alts
they could put on wltii their red-top
boots was an advantage not to be
sneered at. The two blocks of land
were of no use o them; anybody could
own land In those daya. but everybody
could not sport aurll boots.
The Oregonian Railway Companvs
lines have been sold to the Pouthetn
Pacific Company for about (l.dvv.etto.
Out on u. the scribblers and sour
paragraphers.
The rhymetere. cartoonists and squlb
sters and chaffers.
Who frame up those Jokes that, earn
season, are aped
With aim at the hopeful young grsd
uata'a head.
Myself. I have dene them.
In reams I have spun them.
But I do relent and renounce and re
pent And this year Tm shouting for all I
am worth:
"Hooray for the graduate, salt ef the
earth I"
Surrounded hy' visions he eemee from
the college.
Serene In the strength ef his newly
won knowledge;
Unworn by ths combat undamped by
the strife.
Unstained by the murk of commer
cialised life.
All ready to labor
Kor brother or neighbor.
For all his Ideals, lor mankind's ap
peals. And therefore I write 'mid my rythmic
effusions:
"Hooray fur him! Long may he keen
his illusions"'
He glimpses the truth of the Beads ef
tha world:
His heart and his sout In his efforts
are hurled.
Perhaps he may blunder,- perhaps he's
not right:
At lcaat though, he Jumps In with all
of his might.
Oh. scribes, who've grown selfish,
And rynlo and pelflsh.
Why Jibe at his stumbles, his glorious
tumbles?
He fights and no Jesting that honor
can rob
For all his Ideals. We've flunked en
that Job.
Why rostanae Cess law?
MORTON". Wash., June 23 (To te
Kdltor.) I see by the papers that tha
Department of Agriculture has granted
to the food and drug manufacturers an
extension of time In disposing of their
fake labels. The department set ih
date the first of May next Now It Is
to he Mar. I'l.
Why should this Oovernment grant a
permit to manufacturers to perpetuate
a fraud, simply because they haa a
large stock of fake labels en hand. If
the present labels are fakes and are
used to defraud the p'Tle as It hss
been proved and ruled, then why not
stop their use at or-? What I s h
stock of labels on hand to do In 'he
case? Might aa well grant a peron
that haa made a lot of counterfeit
money and haa It on hand to dispose
of hie stock, there would he Just as
much sense in it. yet this Is Just v-hst
the Agricultural Department hss done
granted theee fakers and frauds two
more vears to rob and dc'-e-i.t the
American people. f. g lil'l VI'H
The Trunk and
Its Contents!
Pays to get a good trunk In the
first plaew and that need not mian
a very expensive on.
Lots of good trunks on ths mar
ket and If you want te know where
to get one to advantage consult the
advertising In today's oregonian..
Probably you never knew there
were so many different kinds and
so suitable (o your wants.
And the advertising la an equally
safe guide to those seeking things
to go In the trunk.
Merchants who advertise are mer.
chants who are building bueineea
for a lifetime. They stand behind
the promises they mske Is the pus
lie prints.
Defense of tho Grad
Dy Dean alllae.
A
N