THE MORNING OREGONIAN MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 1914.
6
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PORTLAND. MONDAY. AUGUST 17. 1914
PRIMITIVE PASSIONS UNLEASHED
Looking at the whole thing from
thi distance, a jdistance which re
moves us from the strong passions of
Europe, the whole affair is unspeak
able, revolting and horrible. The man
hood of all Europe is seen arrayed
In hostile camps or deployed in battle
army, killing or seeking to kill. In
dustry is put aside. Art and science
are forgotten. Those too young or
too old to Join in the fearful carnival
of bloodshed hover about bulletin
boards or war offices seeking every
fragment of news from the armed
camps.
Another picture is that of the wom
en toiling in the fields. That the peo
ple may live the ways of peace must
not be wholly neglected, and since the
sinews of the nations are busy with
rifle and sword in their work of de
struction the weaker hands must take
up the arduous tasks in field and fac
tory. It might appear less depressing
could we fix upon the idea that this
was to be the last of such spectacles.
But there is every reason to believe
it will not be. The conflict will not
crush the primitive passions that give
strength to the law of might. One
side or the other will emerge with
smouldering lust for revenge and a
hope for fresh trial of strength in
some more opportune hour. It was in
such spirit that Europe emerged
from her last great war, and now the
harvest is being reaped.
The world has a number of adjust
ments yet to make and war doubtless
, will continue to be the means of set
tlement. But there is a hopeful note
in the world and it is growing a
broader sanity that revolts at the
thought of armed conflict between
civilized powers. In due time we shall
expect to see the human animal
evolved to a point where he will not
go on these insane and bloody ram
pages. It is entirely possible that the
horrors and devastation of this war
will serve, after all, to hasten the day.
CONSKNT OF THE GOVERNED.
On the face of it at least, the war
now beginning is being fought on one
side in behalf of that fundamental
principal of American independence,
that governments derive "their Just
powers from the consent of the gov
erned." The powers which are con
tending for this principle in some
quarters are false to it and will prob
ably prove false to it if they shall
triumph. Nevertheless, an effort Is
being made In very limited measure
to put in practice this great American
principle.
The Servian agitation which pro
voked Austria to war was due to the
aspiration of those Servians who are
under Austrian rule to escape a gov
ernment to which they do not consent
and to be united with independent
Servia under a native King. The
motive of France in making war on
Germany was to re-unite with her
self Alsace and Lorraine, and the Joy
with which French troops were wel
comed in those provinces proves the
desire of the Alsatians and Lorralners
for that reunion. Originally taken
from Germany by conquest, these
provinces have become French in
spirit, sympathy and language. They
gave to France some of her greatest
generals in the days of Napoleon, hosts
of their people migrated to France
or went into exile rather than live
under German rule, and they have in
spired in the breast of every- French
man a passionate longing for redemp
tion of the "lost provinces."
But the powers allied against the
Germanic nations are not true to this
principle of the consent of the gov
erned. Russia took up arms through
race sympathy for the Servians, but
her whole history proves her con
tempt for the desires of the people
to choose their own government. She
tries to unite the Poles of Germany
and Austria with those of her own
dominions in her support by promis
ing to re-establish the ancient king
dom of Poland, with its wn religion,
laws, customs and language, under
the rule of the Czar, but no man fa
miliar with the story of Russia's many
broken promises to the Poles can be
lieve this promise will be kept. Her
treatment of France is too recent an
example of her contempt for prom
ises and for the rights of nations.
While France stands for the prin
ciple of consent of the governed in
Alsace and Lorraine, it is not on rec
ord that she consulted the wishes of
the people in imposing her rule on
her Northern and Western African
colonies or on Tonquln. England
makes a closer approach to recogni
tion of this principle in the large
measure of self-government she con
cedes to many of her colonies, but she
holds India and several of her African
colonies without regard to the consent
of their people.
The world is still far from aban
doning the theory followed at the
Congress of Vienna In 1815, that ter
ritory rna" be carved up among rulers
without regard to the wishes of its
inhabitants. Only in such isolated
pots as Servia and Alsace-Lorraine
is there any prospect that the pres
ent war will rearrange boundaries in
conformity with this American prin
ciple. While some advance may be
made in that direction In those quar
ters. It Is probable that, whichever
party becomes victorious, the prin
ciple will be violated in other quarters.
Tet disregard of the wishes of the
governed is the most fruitful cause of
war. Were boundaries readjusted so
that substantially all persons within
one country' w-ere content to remain
under Its government and were each
nation thus constituted to abandon all
thought of forcibly annexing part of
another nation, little cause for fight
ing would remain. Until this adjust
ment is made and finally accepted, it
is idle to talk of universal peace and
arbitration as near. So long as na
tions deny the American principle,
they wtfl flg-ht for territory among
themselves and they will fight all who
endeavor to establish the principle,
unless, as in the present instance, its
support in one direction agrees with
their plans of territorial gain in an
other direction.
THE OTHER MAN'S RECORD.
Mr. Winn, who writes to The Ore
gonian today, is mistaken in his as
sumption that The Oregonlan in the
statement of Dr. C. J. Smith's legis
lative record last Friday criticised the
Democratic candidate for his affirma
tive vote on each bill subsequently
vetoed by Governor Chamberlain.
What The Oregonlan criticised was Dr.
Smith's attempt to shine as an apostle
of rigid economy in the reflected glory,
fancied or otherwise, of Governor
Chamberlain's vetoes.
Dr. Smith has boasted of the econ
omy of Democratic Governors. He
has told how much Governor Cham
berlain rescued from an extravagant
Legislature. He has told in dollars
how much Governor West preserved of
the taxpayers' money. He nas in
vited votes on the score that he could
be trusted to do likewise. Tet the
record shows that if Governor Cham
berlain's vetoes were wholly laudatory
and the bills thereby defeated wholly
bad. Candidate Smith as a member of
the Legislature that passed the bills
did little to aid Governor Chamberlain
in his noble efforts.
If, on the other hand, the bills that
Governor Chamberlain vetoed and Dr.
Smith approved were good bills, the
reflected glory In which the Residuary
Legatee is basking is badly dimmed.
Dr. Smith cannot indorse the veto
record of Governor Chamberlain with,
out impuguing his own record. He
cannot defend his own record without
impugning that of Governor Chamber
lain. Dr. Smith's professions of an intent
to emulate Governor Chamberlain In
the matter of vetoes are like his pro
fessions of Intent to emulate the law-
enforcement record of Governor West.
Both are belled by his own acts
in office as a member of the Legis
lature and as Mayor of Pendelton. We
trust that it Is now clear to Mr. Winn
that the article to which he refers was
published to show how difficult it is
for one man to run for office on an
other man's record.
CONCENTRATED TIMBER WEALTH.
We glean from the Saturdaj' Even
ing Post the statement that "a great
part of the timber land of the United
States belongs to 1694 owners, whose
combined holdings amount to 105,-
000,000 acres an area three-fourths as
inre-p as France and more than two
and one-half times the size of New
Knsrland." The figures are taken from
a report Issued by the National Bu
reau nf Corporations and are held by
the Post to indicate concentration of
wealth.
TTnforttinatelv. the reoort of the Bu
reau of Corporations is not before us,
but apparently t" ere has been some
peculiar classification of timber lands
made somewhere that does not accord
with nrevlouslv announced figures. For
example, the World Almanac for 1914
gives the forested area of the united
States at 550,000,000 acres. The Na
tional forests, including Alaska and
Porto Rico, cover about 187,000,000
acres. The National forests, together
with the 105,000,000 acres of "concen
trated wealth." total 292.000,000 acres.
leaving 258,000,000 acres more in pri
vate hands an area practically twice
as large as the whole of France, not
accounted for in the statistics quoted.
Still, it is not to be denied that in
the Western States the heavily tim
bered lands are now largely concen
trator! In the hands of a few. But this
concentration has been due in consid
erable part to the belated conservation
policy promulgated in rigid form. The
iirtl sawmills and shinele mills that a
decade or two ago dotted the country
are now for the most part laie or dis
mantled. They have cut up the tim
ber on the small holdings of the own
ers. There are no more small tracts
to be had. The timber that remains
is either conserved for speculation or
i hninir snwpd h the large owners or
is conserved by the Government for
future generations.
Timber in the National forests is
purchaseable, but under such restric
tions that the small millman cannot
compete with the large mill that is
cnttine from privately owned timber.
Government reservation as well as pre
vious Government prodigality has
caused concentration of timber wealth.
C8ING PESTS.
From Ithaca, New York", comes a
strange tale of the achievement of an
enterprising farmer named Reed, who
has solved two striking problems at
one fell blow. One is how to do away
with the pest of wild rabbits. The
other is how to keep his gardens free
of weeds. Reed has hit upon the
simple expedient of having one pest
destroy the other. In a word, he has
trained the rabbits to eat the weeds.
In order to do this it appears that
Farmer Reed went to much trouble
and pains. He followed a long course
of training and breeding with a few
selected rabbits until he developed a
species that would serve his purpose.
Now he is reaping his reward with a
rabbit that turns up its nose at car
rots and lettuce, but devours every
thing in the weed line that appears
in the garden. It is reported that
Reed not only keeps his own gardens
clear, but gains large revenues by leas
ing his rabbits to others in the vicinity.
This tale is well vouched for and
if Reed has accomplished all that is
claimed it suggests a broad, new
sphere of human activity. Why not
seek some use for the multitudious
pests about us. Perhaps we have been
both harsh and blind in the past. Can
not the devastating grasshopper be
trained and bred into similar spheres
of usefulness? Why not seek some
way of putting the lowly gopher to
work on the dandelion roots in the
lawn? Why can't the yapping coyote
be taught to herd sheep in return for
an occasional handout? It may be
found possible anon to put even the
pestiferous mosquito and the deadly
housefly to work. We do not appear
to be able to exterminate these numer
ous pests, so less us hope that the
Ithaca farmer has pointed the way to
an even better solution. Here is work
for a wizard of Burbankian propen
sities. According to the reports, each bel
ligerent In the war is winning tre
mendous victories. From Berlin we
learn with Joy that French, Belgians
and Russians are all In flight. Paris
tells us to our equal Joy that the Ger
mans are madly hurrying home to
their beer gardens, leaving their arms
and sausages on the bloody field. If
this happy state of things can only
last the present war will be the most
satisfactory to all parties ever fought.
THE GERMAN RECONNOISSANCB.
London censorship must not be
blamed altogether for reports of nu
merous German repulses along the
wide-drawn line of battle through
Belgium and along the Franco-German
frontier. There is another ex
planation. That lies in the German
tactics. The Germans are fighting an
offensive war and must assume the
initiative in their forward movement.
Troops do not rush pell mell into bat
tle immediately upon arriving within
striking distance. Their relative po
sitions and strength must be devel
oped by reconnoissance.
The German reconnoissance is made
invariably in force. When a German
field arms approaches a hostile posi
tion it does not send out a few scat
tering patrols to develop the enemy,
or even use a regiment. A whole bri
gade, or possibly a division, with cav
alry and artillery, is pushed forward.
This force is sufficient to sweep aside
the hostile covering troops forces
placed to the front to shield the main
body. Thus the enemy is forced to
go into action with sufficient power
to repel what has every appearance or
a heavy attack. As soon as the hos
tile position has been revealed by the
scope of fire and force of resistance
the reconnoissance in force has ac
complished its mission and draws off
to await the main column and orders
for a concentrated attack.
This, to be sure, does not explain
the reverses before Liege. The Bel
gian forts were first assailed by small
forces which attempted a coup d'main
and failed with heavy losses. Then the
German corps began sweeping against
the forts, only to be thrown back by
the heavy torrents of artillery fire and
musketry. There is every reason to
heiiovo that this obstacle was not fore
seen by the German strategists and
that the situation became a very em
harassing one. Yet if the Germans
succeed in sweeping aside the barriers
of resistance that have been inter
posed in Belgium, Liege cannot be
noted in history as a German defeat.
A really decisive battle is yet to be
fought between the Germans and
allies.
WE MUST FEED EUROPE.
Europe's need of food from Amer
ica has hppn vastlv increased at the
very time when America's surplus is
unusually bountiful. rne new wunu
must feed the old world while the old
world neglects its harvest to fight.
In the aggregate, even u pea.i.-e
T,tin.ioi the wheat croD of Europe is
less by 400,000,000 bushels than that
of last year. The surplus wheat or tne
rTi.ej aiMec will h about 300.000.000
bushels this year, as compared with
100,000,000 In recent years. Thus we
could have supplied three-fourths of
Europe's shortage had there been no
war.
T?,,- ha vL'ar rtfis increased the short
age, particularly in England, which de
pends on imports, not uuiy nuu
rrnitpfl stntes and Argentina, but from
other European countries. Wheat har
vest in ustria-iungary was auuui.
flrnloVieH when war beean. but It is
short, and in the eastern part of the
empire will bareiy sumce iur umc
sps whatever Is available for ex
port is cut off from England and
France by the war. servia uauauj
no an eirnnrtahle slimlUS Of livestock,
wheat and beet sugar, but with the
whole male population in tne armj
that .ntrv on.n scarcely harvest its
corn in October, that grain being kept
for home consumption, it musi lhcic
twe retain the wheat, which is usually
exported. Its Austrian market is cut
off and its best hope 01 reaenmg uui
ct merirets Is throuerh Salonica, pro-
..iei v,e A no-ln-French fleet controls
the Mediterranean, ttoumama anu-
T3.,io-aT-io have a sum us oi wncai anu
corn for export from the Black Sea
through the Dardanelles to Greece,
Italy, Spain and Southern France, but
if Turkey Joins Germany and Aus
tria, she may stop exports to hostile
if Roumania should Join
Russia, would seize Roumanian wheat
ships. Russia grows principally opring
wheat Tuhinrl is no t vet harvested, but
her grain country's remoteness from
the scene of hostilities renders the
crop immune from seizure by the en
emy. That country has an exportable
surplifs of wheat, oats and, barley, but
if Germany should hold control of the
Baltic, and if the Dardanelles should
be closed either by Turkey or by a
German-Austrian blockade, it could
not get to market. England's supply
of Russian beet sugar, eggs and butter
would be stopped by the same means.
Though British control of the Atlan
tic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea
cenmc assured, and though Britain and
Japan are likely soon to clear the Pa
cific of German cruisers, a large pai l
of England's usual food supply will
still be out of reach so long as the Bal
tic and Black Seas are not in the
nr.-e- r,r that nution and its allies.
The only outlet for Russian produce
would be oyer the Trans-biDenan rtau-
. thence hv a. Inn? sea vovage.
and Roumania and Bulgaria would be
bottled up. England never nas on
hand more than six weeks' supply of
wheat and flour, or more than three
weeks' supply of meat. No large stock
of other food is kept on hand, and
George Renwlck, a member of Parlia
ment, has said that any interruption
of foreign supplies would bring the
people to the verge of starvation. Lord
Ellenborough has said: "The starva
tion of England means abject surren
der." Germany, though less dependent on
foreign countries for food than is Eng
land, will be deprived of our supply of
grain and meat by the declaration of
England that foodstuffs are conditional
contraband. She may be able to im
port them through the neutral ports
of Holland, if neutral vessels carrying
them can evade British vigilance, but
It is probable that our entire trade
with that country and Austria will be
suspended. Our exports amounted in
the fiscal year 1913 to $331,684,212 to
Germany and $23,320,696 to Austria.
England must have our food sup
plies, as well as cotton and wool for
her factories. A large proportion of
her own shiping having been diverted
to military service and the ships which
ordinarily carry food from European
ports having also been diverted by the
war or blockaded in enemy's ports, she
will have fewer ships available for
American trade, though she needs
more to carry a larger volume of
freight. At the same time there are
many German ships tied up in our
ports. The attitude of German ship
owners is shown by the offer of the
Hamburg-American line to sell $20,
000,000 worth of these ships. The
declaration of London, adopted in
1909, that the transfer of an enemy's
vessel to a neutral flag after the out
break of hostilities is void, has not
been ratified by either the United
States or Great Britain, and is, there
fore, no obstacle to the purchase of
these ships. Since Great Britain
needs the services of these ships in
carrying food to her ports, and since
they will remain in American ports to
avoid capture, unless they are trans
ferred to neutral owners it is not likely
that she would raise the point, even if
the London declaration were In effect.
What is true of the Hamburg-American
liners is true also of other German
and Austrian ships which have sought
refuge in American ports. They are
the means ready to our hand for estab
lishing an American merchant marine
for carrying our foreign trade in our
own ships and for expanding our for
eign commerce.
Humanity and self-interest alike re
quire that we keep moving every ship
possible by buying and putting under
our flag all foreign vessels obtainable.
The war has destroyed for the time be
ing our commerce with Germany, Aus
tria and Russia, aggregating $386,000,
000 a year. We must fill this void and
increase our commerce while the way
is open. We can avert part of the loss
by carrying in American vessels goods
which would otherwise have gone in
foreign vessels. The war has injuri
ously affected the merchant marine of
Holland and the Scandinavian coun
tries, and their ships may be in the
market. The commerce of South
America and the Orient is being neg
lected, and we can have it by simply
taking it. We can take it by buying
the ships, and we can use those ships
to expand it. Hitherto our foreign
commerce has been carried in foreign
ships. That is as though a grocer were
to hire his competitor to make deliver
ies; he would retain only such custom
ers as the other grocer could not win.
As soon as the .pending shipping bill
is passed, American capitalists should
grasp the opportunity to acquire a
merchant marine and to take " the
world's commerce. If they do not
promptly rise to the occasion, Congress
should pass the Williams bill authoriz
ing the Secretary of the Treasury to
buy ships of belligerents now or here
after in America.n ports, to operate
them in foreign commerce during the
war, and to sell them four months af
ter the war ends. The belligerent na
tions would then probably be too im
poverished to outbid Americans and
the vessels would remain permanently
in the American merchant marine.
Now is our opportunity to do what
Blaine urged us twenty years ago to
do develop a merchant marine and
expand our foreign commerce at such
a pace as shall make all past gains
seem insignificant. We are in a posi
tion of unprecedented strength finan
cially and have provided the banking
machinery for invading foreign mar
kets. We can do more now in a few
months than we could do in twenty
years of peace.
When we recall with what ease na
tions break treaties, there seems to be
much truth in Colonel Roosevelt's
criticism of the Bryan peace treaties:
These proposed arbitration treaties of ours
would not be worth the paper on which they
were written if it became to the interest of
any great military power to violate them,
and if it thought it could violate them with
Impunity.
In his hatred of opiates Senator
Lane would not even permit the sale
of soothing syrup. The Senator's chil
dren have not been babies for many
years, so he must have forgotten the
troubles of their infancy.
The Chinese editor who was whipped
to death for publishing false news
lived in the wrong country. He was
qualified to run a yellow paper in the
United States, where the "powers" are
tolerant.
The Czar thinks the Poles are good
fellows and can have what they desire.
Since freedom shrieked when Kosci
usko fell, the Poles are ready to swal
low any "bunk."
Since the war has raised the price
of drugs, economy will more than ever
dictate care of our health. We simply
can't afford sickness.
If Japan should capture all of Ger
many's Pacific islands, she would have
a string of coaling stations all over
the Pacific Ocean.
Imagine a line of battle extending
from Portland to a point beyond Pen
dleton, with millions of desperate men
eager to slay.
The Russians are ponderous if slow.
They are reported to have annihilated
an Austrian regiment of intantry and
one of cavalry.
Irishmen are said to be slow about
enlisting. That is natural. There are
no reports of fighting to encourage
them.
The Kaiser's allusion to Japan as the
yellow peril has rankled, and now
comes a good opportunity to retaliate.
Capture of German ships will give
British sailors more money than they
know how to spend wisely.
Von Emich was 66 and too old for
an active campaign. This is not the
day of Shafter.
Having larger game in sight, Japan
asserts she will assure the integrity of
China. v
Roosevelt says treaties are made to
be broken by war, and it looks that
way.
Will the dealers in cordwood have
the hardihood to place the blame on
the war?
The honest deerhunter will heed the
proclamation. The other kind will get
caught.
Many may be able to ride in style
as the war of the taxis grows intense.
With a Beaver cinch on the pennant,
talk of football is in order.
Signing a petition for recall is mat
ter for consideration.
This is the open season for the second-hand
automobile.
Plumbers' supplies may go up. This
is a war-time Joke.
Bristow, of Kansas, has dropped
into the discard.
American tourists are getting over
their hysteria.
The ferryman on the Styx needs
more boats.
Get your health tested and live
longer.
Mr. Krebs' idea of dollar hops suits
Oregon.
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonlan of August 17. 1864.
Headquarters, Army of the Potomac,
Aug. 14. Burnslde was relieved yes
terday and left the command last even
ing. Meade Insists he did not carry
out orders.
Middletowij, Va., Aug. 12. Skirmish
ing with Early's army is going on.
In saddle, Shenandoah Valley. Aug.
2. The rebels continue to retreat and
are supposed to be going to Strasburg
or Fort Royal.
Washington, Aug. 12. The Commis
sioner of Indian Affairs says that all
the Indians of the plains are combined
in a war against the whites and that
It extends from Texas to the British
possessions.
New York, Aug. 15. Admiral Farra
gut, in a leter to Commodore Palmer,
at New Orleans, says: Early on the 5th
our fleet, lashed two and two, sailed
into the pgs close under the guns of
Fort Morgan, pouring broadside after
broadside of grape and cannister. driv
ing the gunners from their places and
leaving our vessels exposed only to the
fire of Forts Gaines and Powell, which
were less effective... At the same time
Granger's land batteries poured an
enfilading Are on Fort Gaines and
caused the evacuation and blowing up
of Fort Powell. In passing the fort
the Oneida received a shot, which
temporarily disabled her machinery, but
was brought safely through the Are. Her
consort monitor Tecumseh, one of our
foremost, was sunk almost instantly,
carrying down 100 men. Including Cap
tain Craven. The gunboats, having
passsed out of reach of the forts, were
pusued by a formidable rebel ram, the
Tennessee. Three ironclads imme
diately attacked her and battered her
so effectually as to compel her to sur
render. About noon yesterday Mr. Haines, the
superintendent and builder of the tele
graph to British Columbia, in company
with a few invited guests, went on
board the steamer Julia, Captain
Strang, and started for Vancouver,
having in tow a flatboat with a reel
containing the submarine cable. In
tended to connect the northern and
southern shores of the Columbia river.
When at a point about half a mile
above the town the cable was well se
cured around a giant oak and spliced
to the wire which had been previously
stretched from this city, after which
the steamer was headed for the Wash
ington Territory shore, a couple of
men paying out the cable as the boat
passed slowly along, reaching the point
of destination in about 20 minutes.
When all had beeen successfully ac
complished Superintendent Haines at
tached his portable relay magnet and
dispatched sundry messages to this
city and San Francisco. The first
dispatch was from A. Bushwiler to The
Oregonlan.
The Oregon Pitch & Turpentine
Works, corner of Front and Clay
streets, were burned yesterday. The
loss is estimated at $3000 to T. R. Wood
& Co., the proprietors.
Hon .A. J. Borland, member-elect of
the Legislature, and Judge Denny, of
Wasco County, paid us a visft last
evening.
The new Columbian Hotel keyboard
is about as nice an arrangement of the
kind as was ever inported into Port
land and was manufactured here by
Emil Lowensteln & Co. The New Colum
kin ( raniiiv filling- with quests and
mine host, Mr. Sinnott, bids fair to be
popular.
"RAIN - MAKING" IS POSSIBILITY
Faith and Publicity Are Essential
Tools, Says Colonel Hofer.
SALEM, Or., Aug. 15. (To the Ed
itor.) "Where is the rain-maker?" you
ask editorially. Several such inquiries
in. your paper, and the prolonged
drouth, raise a very interesting ques
tion: Is it in the power of man to
break a drouth?
A prolonged drouth is undoubtedly
costing Oregon millions in cutting
down crop yields and increasing for
est fires. I have been too busy pro
moting industries and trying to save
Oregon from a still worse dry spell
to pay any attention to making rain.
But In reply to your good-natured Jib
ing about my rain-making abilities,
wish to say that I sincerely believe It
is possible to break a drouth and
produce moisture when it becomes an
absolute necessity. It is a great big
undertaking to Intercept a stubborn
drouth with brassy skies, and the mat
ter is too serious for Joking. To or
ganize a campaign against a drouth
and change destructive aridity re
quires scientific psychological consid
eration. The first requisite of success
is to have a daily newspaper in which
to formulate the problem in any
drouth-stricken area.
The factors or elements of the problem
must be analyzed scientifically, and
there must be actual danger of great
suffering or injury as a basis of action.
The individual in charge of breaking
up the drouth must be able to com
mand not only publicity and public at
tention, but he must have a moral
conviction of the justice and necessity
of interfering with material conditions
amounting to a religious faith. He
must be able to secure the co-operation
of large organizations and strong
leaders of spiritual bodies. For this
is a struggle for the dominion of mind
over matter on a large scale the as
sertion of the higher and subtler forces
of mentality over the gigantic forces
of material inertia the conquest of
stubborn Nature.
If I had not been otherwise employed
and could have secured the services of
a newspaper that was not under ag
nostic, materialistic control, I would
have attempted breaking this drouth
a month ago, and have not the slight
est doubt it could have been done. It
would have taken my time and ener
gies and undivided concentration for
a week or two. I broke a drouth In
Oregon a few years ago In less than a
week. But as I sold my dally news
paper two years ago I lacked the first
requisite. Besides, there is no way to
compensate a rain-maker. He runs
risk of doing some damage to hay.
fruit and picnics. But on the whole,
millions would have been added to Ore
gon bank accounts by producing a
timely rain about July 15 to 20.
The drouth may teach Oregon peo
ple the value and necessity of irriga
tion. If it does, it will be a blessing,
and might' be a greater blessing if It
had been more severe.
To return to the problem of raln
making by organized prayer, changing
a destructive material condition by
bringing about a psychological trans
formation, it Is a subject of vast im
portance to agriculture and to National
finance. We are accredited with being
a Nation advanced out of polytheism,
and believing in God. In words of the
old hymn:
Prayer is the heart's desire.
Unuttered or expressed.
We, believe that prayers will be an
swered. To make them available for
rain-making, the rain-maker must
himself believe in prayer. He must be
able to organize and promote prayer
for a definite needed purpose on a
large scale. In a short, sharp campaign
to get results. The means to break a
drouth are at our command If we will
but avail ourselves of them in the
right way. E. HOFER.
Ant of Malay Peninsula.
London Tit-Bits.
In the Malay Peninsula an Knglieh
naturalist has discovered a species of
ant that makes Its nest in the fleshy
stems of ferns that grow on the limbs
of trees high In the air.
FESTIVE HOBO LOLLS AT BEACH
And Beg From Door to Door Rather
I linn Exert Hlmarlf.
PORTLAND, Aug. 16. (To the Edi
tor.) A new element is this year, for
the very first time, at seaside resorts
namely, the professional hobo. At
first glance this statement may seem
absurd, but the hooo is there, and
comes to the back door for a handout
the same as he does In Portland, .last
why anybody should choose to be a
hobo in a place where a living Is so
easily obtained as at the beach is more
than I can understand.
At my las,t week-end vacation at
Gearhart I was invited to come and
see how easy it is to catch fish. The
fishing was to be In the Necanlcum.
the dividing stream between Gearhart
and Seaside. The fisherman of my
party had asked a friend the night be
fore for the loan of a few clams to use
as bait, but when we called In the
morning we found that the clams had
been boiled and were unfit for bait.
Rather than go back to our house to
obtain a shovel for bait digging, we
proceeded to the beach and in nature
man fashion with bare hands in a few
minutes three fine-looking clams were
dug. Several dozen clams undoubtedly
could have been dug within an hour.
We proceded to the river and in a lit
tle while a number of fish were caught
A ready market can always be found
at the beach for all seafoods. One day's
fishing from the start of a few dozen
clams dug by hand would enable any
man. to get a shovel, a rake and fish
ing lines, and he would then be fully
equipped to live comfortably as a man
rather than as a hobo.
The sapds are a school for thought
to me at all times, hut on this occasion
I received confirmation from a new
angle as to why some men succeed
while others fall. There are rival fer
rymen at the mouth of the Necanlcum;
one Is proprietor of a rowboat, and the
other proprietor of 'a motorboat. Tho
one havihg a rowboat pulls to the other
side of the stream immediately he sees
some one coming along on the oppo
site beach, and time and time again I
noticed his disappointment when he
had crossed the stream and found that
the parties did not Intend coming to
this side. Whenever he returned to the
side where I was he remarked cheer
fully: "Well, that was an expenditure
of muscle for nothing."
This did not stop htm. however, from
always crossing when a possible fare
was in sight. The man with the motor
boat waited until people came to his
boat. The rowboat got 10 fares to the
motorboat's one fare during the time I
watched them. I noticed also that the
rowboat man while waiting always kept
busy catching fish. Naturally, I was
drawn towards this worker. In con
versation with him I learned thnt he
had started at Seaside with nothing:
now has his own home, supports a fam
ily, schools his children, and is laying
by money, and all out of his rowboat
ferry at 5c a passenger, and from the
proceeds of his twice a day harvest of
clams, fish and crabs, for which he
makes a market either at Seaside or
Gearhart. A hustler always wins.
L. SAM I' EL
GERMAN EMPEROR HELD TO BLAME
People Would Wmt Have Started War,
Saya Stephen A. Lowell.
PENDLETON, Or., Aug. 15. (To the
Editor.) That our German fellow
citizens should manifest a sensitive
ness because of the apparent American
sentiment hostile to the Austro-Ger-
man alliance in the present war is
natural, but they are entitled to as
surance thut such sentiment is not di
rected toward the German people,
either here or in the fatherland. The
hostility Is born chiefly of dislike of
the German Emperor, who is probably
the most unpopular llgure in the world
today. Most men would be pleased to
see him lose his throne as a sequel of
this war, for which they believe him
responsible.
For the German nation there exists
only the friendliest feeling, as I ana
lyze public sentiment in this country.
No element of our citizenship Is more
respected, more highly regarded, more
desired, than that element which is
German born, while the industry, the
learning, the substantial character and
the sterling Christianity of the German
at home have exalted that people as a
model In our civilization. It has been
one of the mysteries of the age that
such a people would endure such a
ruler.
Of greater force and Intelligence than
either Nicholas of Russia or Francis
Joseph of Austria. Wllhelm is regard
ed as the typical reactionary among
the crowned heads fit Europe. He be
longs to the age of absolutism. His pub
lic utterances have Impressed the world
that the man really regards himself as
an agent of the creator; that he be
lieves that tho Hohenzollerns are di
vinely appointed to hold popular gov
ernment In check, and maintain the
principle of divine right of Kings to
rule. He Is out of touch with the age
in which he lives. Men of middle life,
too. recall his treatment of bis father
and mother, and of Bismarck, the
statesman who created the German
Empire. There is a feeling that he Is
at heart unfriendly to thlB Republic.
It is known that a word from him
would have held Austria in check, and
that the present war would have been
thus avoided. When he failed to ut
ter this, the world naturally held him
responsible for the unntcessary and
horrible slaughter which must result,
and, notwithstanding his protestations
otherwise, history will hold him so re
sponsible. Finally, the thing which crystallized
public sentiment against Germany was
the Emperor's disregard of the solemn
treaty rights of Belgium. Holland,
Denmark, Switzerland and Belgium are
neutral countries, and their soil is In
violable by virtue of treaties of the
great powers to which Germany sub
scribed. When the troops of the Em
peror invaded Belgium a blow was
struck at International justice, and few
will ever again accept the lofty dec
larations of Wllhelm as more than pre
tense. To this feeling the fair-minded
German-American must at heart
subscribe. There would have been no
war had the question been left to the
people of Germany, nor would they
ever have Invaded neutral territory.
STEPHEN A. LOWELL.
Smith Right; Chamberlain M ronl.
PORTLAND, Aug. 16. (To t'e Edi
tor.) Though I am Republican I think
Dr. C. J. Smith, as State Senator, voted
right, generally speaking, on the meas
ures for which you attacked him In
Friday's Oregonlan. In the whole list
of bills which you published as having
received Dr. Smith s vote, 1. am unable
to find one for which there was not
reasonalie grounds for a favorable
vote. In fact, if memory serves me
risrhL I am quite convinced that not a
few of them received the direct support
of The Oregonlan at the time they were
up for consideration.
Amonsr the measures on which you
attack Dr. Smith is the law which in
creased the appropriation of the stale
University to $126,000 a year. That
measure as 1 rememoer li naa tne
strong support of The Oregonlan at the
time of its Dassage and had similar
support from The Oregonlan when it
was under referendum.
Is It fair for The Oregonlan to con
demn Dr. Smith now for what It ad
vised him to do eight years ago?
FRANK W. WINN.
Mr. Winn may be enlightened by
reading an article In anotht.- column
on this page.
The Oregonlan has not condemned
Dr. Smith for doing what It advised him
to do. It has condemned Dr. Smith for
seeking votes on the strength of what
Governor Chamberlain did when he
Smith had dona the opposite.
Little Editorials
on Business
The Long and Short Boya.
There arc two classes of busineaa
enterprises.
One is the concern established
15 or 25 years ago. or longer. It
has grown slowly and Lrradimlly
without ndvertisinff. until today it
may he doiim :i liuine- nf several
million dollnrs. earning and ning
dividerMs of 10 lo 1" per cent.
These are the Lone Hoyn. They
have slaved and worried a lonT
time to iret where they arc and they
are apparently satisfied.
The other class is composed of
the fellows who start with a pood
article, a pood plan, hacked by
pood advert isiiip and achieve suet-ess
in a few year. These ;ire the
Klnu-t Hoys. They do hip; thing
in a short time.
A representative of The 0n(
nian called on one of the I-nnfj
Boys last week to talk advertising.
The concern was established 'M
years ago.
During the last three years the
business hasn't grOWD very much.
The general manager was almost
pel simile. 1 that he should h i i -iise
hrs business, when suddenly he
was inspired to let go the follow
ing remark :
"We art' holding our own and
making money. The heads of this
institution are getting along in
years, and we are happy and eon
tcuteil. It' we should start adver
tising we would find ourselves wor
rying over the outcome."
"But you can't get away from
the fact that competition is crowd
ing you closely." returned The Ore
gonian man. ''The old men in this
business will retire some day and
lenve the business to their children
or to the younger men of the com
pany. "You may think you would lie
committing a sin against your pres
ent organization to saddle thetn
with what, you think will be a OMM
for worry, but if you neglect to
make use of the tremendous power
of advertising yon may find later
that the sin of omission is by far
the greater wrong to your stock
holders." Then The Oregonian man named
three competitors of this concern
who were unknown to the public
15 years ago. One of them ia a
prominent advertiser who ha out
stripped this old non-adverii-ing
concern twice over.
These examples of what the
Short P.oya have done made the
Long Boy ask a lot of MMtiOM
which prolonged the interview, and,
as a result, this old concern may
try the modern methods of ;des
promotion by advertising to tha
consumer.
There are no mysteries or tueil
poens about advertising. It doesn't
mean spending money any tnor
than sales promotion means spend
ing money. Advert isinsr anil sales
promotion are one and the same.
This newspaper can be of valu
able service to you. Let us help
von with vour selling problems.
Twenty-Five Yeara Ago
From The Oresonlan of MM It, IM
The gvmnaslum rooms of the Y. M.
C. A. are about to he reopened under
the management of E. M. McCaslln.
who for a number of yeara had charga
of the Y. M .C. A. rooms In Chlcaao.
Professor Charles A. PoyU will give
his free Japanese aerial exhibition t
tho Riverside raco course tomorrow.
The accused Bonanza stage-robbers.
Samuel Walker and James Dodd. were
committed to Jail yesterday. United
States Commissioner PMU R- Deady
Axed their bail at $.1000 each.
Six mammoth gooseberries, preserve.!
In a Jalr, have been sent to this ofneo.
They wero raised by J. A. Richards,
live miles cast of Meliuma.
Mrs Emily Barter, of Hellwood,
started East a few days ago to visit
friends in Iowa. Mrs. Bartey Is ono
of the pioneers of the early fifties.
Councilman Farrell has written to
Mayors Stewart and Lswchlan, of East
Portland and Alhlna. suggesting a con
ference on the building of a flreboat
Timber fires are now raging in
Washington County.
Professor McElroy has collected an
exhibit of Oregon products for tho
Grand Army encampment at Milwau
kee. Professor D. T. Stanley, president
of the State Norm 1 School at Mon
mouth, has Just returned from San
Francisco.
J. B. Montgomery's new steamer Ty
phoon, which Is being built in Hmlth'a
yard In South Portland, will be ready
fnr l.ninehlnir In about three weeks.
She Is to be run In connection with the
Cyclone on the Alblna route.
. f -1 - - r.r th. firm nf Meier Ac
AKI Ul ... .11 . v. -
r...i, aa viiiidonlv vaaterdaY at his
residence. Eighth and Mosrlson straats.
w ft H Youna. a barber at 11 Jaf-
ferson street, has offered a reward of
$50 for the srrest of two who rohbsxl
him In the South Plaia b!ock a waak
ago.
There Is likely to be a grest deal of
fun .,on as Governor l'ennoyar be
gins prosecuting J H. Taffe. the Cellln
salmon nsnennnii. mi m ' '
out of season for the Dencut or tnsj
Spokane Falls sufferers.
Fridav evening. August 16. the eon-
ini-t fnr the new church edlflca of tho
Adams Street M. E. Church was award
ed to E. J. Sprague
Young Seal Heads Tor Boat.
Boston Herald.
Boyce I.ake captured a bahy seal off
Lobster Rock. Lynn. Msss . aftar a
fight with the mother seal. Tha young
er seal headed for his host thinking
It a big fish, but when Mr. Lake pulled
the smaller seal Into the boat tha
mother fought until ths shore was
reached.
Statistics of London.
London Standard.
The London County Council In Its
statistical abstract for 1(1 $-113. fur
nishes tho following concerning Lon
don: Population, 4. 1:1,000: Inhabited
houses. 573,000; birth rate, 34.5 per
1000; death rate. 13.0 per 1000; ratable
value, $225,000,030.