THE HORXIXG OREGONIAX, MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1914.
6
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PORTLAND, MONDAY, AUGUST S4, 1U.
JAPAN'S MARTIAL ACTIVITIES.
It was entirely to be expected that
Germany would not accede to the
terms of the Japanese ultimatum and
that war would ensue. There was a
marked resemblance between the Jap
anese demand on Germany and the
Austrian ultimatum to Servia. It was
& document that could receive but one
answer or no answer at all.
While the action of Japan Is delib
erate, even cold-blooded, one must re
call the German ultimatum of nine
teen years ago, when the Kaiser
stepped between the rising- young
power in the East and the fruits of
her victory over China. It is re
corded that the Japanese tauntingly
copied the ancient German phrase
ology in advising Germany to elimi
nate herself from the Far East. To
Germany the ultimatum must have
come as an ancient diplomatic aggres
sion returned home to roost, a sow
ing of the wind and a reaping of the
whirlwind.
Yet humors of diplomacy do not
make for war. Naturally, there is a
deeper and more abiding reason be
hind Japan's action. Nor must it be
assumed that Japan is prompted by
no greater reason than treaty obli
gations with England, for by the
terms of the treaty she is compelled
to act only for "the consolidation and
maintenance of the general peace in
the regions of Eastern Asia and
India." The treaty calls for Japanese
co-operation with England when
there has been an "unprovoked at
tack upon British territory" in the
Orient. Attention need not be called
to the fact that no such attacks have
occurred in the present situation.
However, Japan has shown no
evidence that she Is acting in other
than good faith. She has announced
that the German holdings in China
will be returned to China in due time.
That it Is in the public mind to hold
Kiau-Chau as a prize of war is sug
gested by utterances of the conserva
tive Japanese press, yet there is no
present reason to question the gov
ernment's sincerity. If there were
our cause for alarm might be vastly
increased.
While the trouble between Ger
many and Japan will be a small af
fair so far as the great world war is
concerned, there is no other aspect
of the vast conflict that so deeply
concerns and interests the people of
the United States. We have been as
sured that Japan will limit the scope
of her operations to the Far East, yet
this announcement Is subject to a
wide interpretation. The action of
President Wilson in .maintaining a
strict attitude of "hands off" in the
difference is to be commended. He is
fully justified in the assumption that
it is not our quarrel and that Japan's
full sincerity Is not to be questioned.
But the United States must follow
developments of the future with the
deepest concern. Should the Japanese
aggression extend to the German pos
sessions in the South Pacific we may
feel some cause for discomfort in the
extension of the Japanese line half
way across the Pacific. The question
of whether we might then countenance
a Japanese naval and coaling station
on our ling of communication with
the Philippines, within easy striking
distance of Hawaii, and on the route
to the Panama Canal, might become
a pressing one.
As to the Japanese treaty with Eng
land, that need be no cause for con
cern on the part of the United States
since, so far as it operates upon us,
the treaty was practically nullified by
the Anglo-Japanese agreement of
1911, wherein England was relieved
from participation in war with any
nation with which she-might have an
arbitration treaty agreement. Obvi
ously, this arrangement was devised
with the United States in view, since
we have such a treaty with England
and England would naturally have
deepest aversion to making war
upon us.
That England has an explicit under
standing with Japan as to the scope
of her present martial activities In.
the Pacific would seem to be probable
in view of England's own deep Inter
est in the matter. England, at this
time, can little afford to antagonize
the United States, even were she so
Inclined. Then her own people In
Australia are even more apprehensive
of the Japanese than are Americans
In the western portion of the United
States. British Columbia Is bound by
similar sentiments. Naturally enough,
England is willing to gain the assist
ance of a distant ally in thrashing a
mortal enemy, yet it is inconceivable
that England should not have a full
agreement as to the scope and limits
of Japanese activities.
So far as the position of the United
States Is concerned In the present sit
uation our tranquility need not be dis
turbed to anything approaching the
extent that might be occasioned were
Japan and Germany bound by treaty.
With two such powerful nations en
trenching themselves in the Pacific
we might foresee their early domi
nance of the western pathways of
commerce. Germany's violation of
Belgium neutrality suggests that Hol
land might be over-run and a pre
text established for seizing Dutch pos
sessions in the vicinity of the Philip
pines. True, we do not value the
Philippines highly. Yet so long as
they belong to us we must defend
them. Then, too. Germany has never
recognized the Monroe doctrine, to
which she might have assumed a more
openly hostile altitude with such an
ally as Japan to reinforce her. It is
clear that the combinations of na
tions that have been made are less
calculated to disturb our serenity than
combinations which might have been
made.
As to the immediate effect of the
Japanese-German conflict it will serve
to drive German Influence out of the
East. It is inevitable that the Jap
enese shall win easily and quickly.
Overwhelming force of numbers ad
mits of no other outcome. What the
ultimate result will be may depend
largely on the outcome of the con
flict In Europe. Free to give her full
attention to Japan, Germany would
make a far different showing. There
would seem to be little prospect, how
ever, that the German fleets will be
free during the course of the present
war to head for Pacific waters. If
they were the Panama Canal might
enter acutely into the situation; but
such a possibility is too remote for
serious consideration. Only an un
foreseen calamity to the whole British
naval force would render such a thing
possible.
OPEN THE STOREHOUSE!
One advantage to the Pacific Coast
will accrue from the war In the other
half of the world if Congress is
proded into action concerning the
Alaska storehouse. There is reason to
believe that it will be. The United
States' naval vessels in the Pacific
have been using eastern coal brought
from the Atlantic in foreign bottoms.
Foreign ships are no longer available,
while every American ship is needed
to carry on our overseas trade.
Geologists affirm that there are
large quantities of coal In the Bering
River field suitable for naval pur
poses. The Cordova Chamber of
Commerce asserts that this coal can
be placed on the market within ninety
days after beginning construction.
Alaska now not only needs Alaska
coal for home consumption but it
gravely needs the additional industry
to revive other industries or take the
I place of those that are. declining be
cause of the war. Prices in the terri
tory have leaped to war figures and
two of the largest copper mine,s have
ceased work since the war began.
A change in sea control, though
hardly likely, would menace the ship
ment of coal from British Columbia
to which the Pacific Coast, as well as
Alaska, now looks for a large part of
its supply. It would be 'good judg
ment to open the Alaska coal fields on
some basis that would encourage
American capital to invest or for the
government to undertake operation
itself.
UPHOLOING TRADITION.
The German stand at Klau-Chau is
a forlorn hope. The little garrison of
some 4000 men cannot hope success
fully to defend the place against the
Japanese hosts. The Japanese have
dispatched a full army division of
16,000 men, with siege guns, to take
Kiau-Chau and it is improbable that
additional troops will be needed for
the assault. No better trained nor
more spirited troops can be found any
where in the world than those making
up this minor expeditionary army and
they will be lacking neither in the
courage nor the ingenuity to push
home the attack.
That warfare is affected vastly by
tradition and sentiment is suggested by
the German stand in China. The Ger
man forces, if they persist in the de
termination to fight, will have not the
slightest chance of gaining any ad
vantage. They can expect no relief
from the Fatherland. Germany has
no means of sending re-enforcements
either now or at any later time In the
siege of Kiau-Chau. So the German
soldiers must spill their blood and that
of their foemen needlessly. The only
thing they can hope to gain is the
hollow glory of death in battle. They
may achieve a place in song and tra
dition beside that of the Light Brigade.
But certainly their action in defending
Kiau-Chau will have no standing in
the light of reason. Acting intel
ligently they would surrender prompt
ly in the face of an utterly hopeless
situation.
However, reason is not so much of
a force in the world as we had, until
recently, fondly led ourselves to be
lieve. PROMOTING CLASS WARFARE.
The U'Ren organ in Oregon City
finds it refreshing to turn from the
speeches of Dr. Withycombe and Dr.
Smith to one delivered by Mr. U'Ren
at a picnic held at Selah Springs. We
also find it refreshing, in a way, for
Mr. U'Ren is prone to speak of
things and conditions therefore known
only to himself in the whole wide
world. The following excerpt is taken
from the Selah Springs address, as
published in the Oregon City organ,
and given light for the edification of
the people and their posterity:
"A man may invest $5000 In dia
monds and be exempt, but the man
who invests $500 in clearing wild land
mupt pay taxes on the clearing." This
was said in behalf of the $1500
step toward single tax.
Possibly Mr. U'Ren does not know
the meaning of the word "invest" but
as a candidate for high honors and re
sponsible position it is fair to pre
sume that he does. Nearly everybody
else does. It means to lay out money
in some other form of wealth as a
means of obtaining income or profit.
An "investment" in diamonds is not
exempt from taxation. Diamonds that
come under the head of "jewelry and
similar personal effects actually in
use" only are exempt from taxation.
The Jeweler who buys diamonds to sell
at a profit or the person who puts his
capital into them in expectation of an
increase in value must pay taxes upon
them If the assessor does his duty.
Moreover, If the assessor complies
with the law. it is not strictly accurate
to say that the man who invests $500
in clearing wild land must pay taxes
on the clearing. The law of 1913
provides that "cultivated and uncul
tivated land of the same character and
quality, and similarly situated, shall
be assessed at the same value." Clear
ing is but one of several steps toward
putting land into cultivation.
If this law Is observed the owner of
the wild land is paying on a cultivated
value before he clears It, and pays no
more after it is cleared.
It may be said that the assessors do
not now obey this law. But the asses
sors do not obey another lav which
requires that all property shall be
assessed at its full value. Then why
make more law for them to disregard?
If the $1500 exemption be adopted it
will be within the power of the asses
sors of the state to say whether it
shall materially affect the distribution
of the tax burden. If a man's im
provements are now assessed at one
third of their true value and there
after are assessed at two-thirds, the
exemption becomes nil provided his
original assessment was $1500 or
more. A sudden determination by the
assessors of the state to assess at
nearer the true value would wipe out
practically all the so-called benefits
of the exemption.
It is not overlooked that a propor
tionate increase in the assessed value
of both large and email holdings would
still give the small holder an advan
tage in the exemption. But large. Income-producing
holdings are now
assessed at a higher percentage of true
value than are the small tracts. In
Portland high class business property
has an assessed value as high as 80 to
85 per cent. The percentage graduates
downward in residence property in ac
cordance with the class of the dis
trict to as low as 35 per cent In the
poorer localities. It is safe to say that
a readjustment of assessed values in
Portland would not fall heavily on the
big property owner. Nor should it.
He is now paying in some instances
twice as high taxes In proportion to
the true value of his property as is
the small home owner.
But nobody knows what the asses
sors of the future will do If the $1500
exemption carries. Facts about their
present system of bearing lightly on
the small property owner are more
important as showing the injustice of
the attempt by Mr. U'Ren to saddle
still more on the large owner. The
chief purpose of the measure, in the
light of his loose statements about the
rich man's exemptions, and in view
of' the real facts, is seemingly to
promote class warfare. And that, too,
is apparently the object of his propor
tional representation scheme. Mr.
U'Ren is at heart a Socialist. He is
working for Socialism. Class warfare
is a subtle part of the game.
A NEW VIEW OF EVOLUTION.
There is little to disturb the minds
of orthodox evolutionists in Professor
William Bateson's new hypothesis. As
president of the British Association his
words carry great weight and his ideas
must receive consideration, but how
ever strange they may appear at first
we need not Jump to the conclusion
that they are revolutionary or that
science must be reconstructed. Evo
lution as it came from Darwin taught
that the species of living creatures
have arisen from simple beginnings.
The original primitive forms of life
were gradually modified by "varia
tions" which arose nobody knows how.
But really it made no difference how
they arose. The important fact was
thafsome variations gave the posses
sor an advantage in the struggle for
existence. Hence creatures iavored
with such variations survived and
propagated their kind while the rest
died out. This process was called the
"survival' of the fit." In our day we
have given the word "fit" a moral
value. We have made it a term of
"worth," as the writers on ethics say.
But to Darwin's mind it conveyed no
such meaning.
By the word "fit" Darwin meant the
"adapted" and nothing more. Crea
tures which were adapted to their sur
roundings lived and throve. Those
not adapted perished, just as we see
them doing today. The pride of the
successful and fortunate makes them
wish to believe that all creatures fit
to survive are at the same time worthy
to survive, but nothing could be farth
er from the truth. Worth is a moral
quality. Fitness is purely bodily or
mental. A person extremely unfit
physically may be of the highest worth
morally, as all history shows and as
rash apostles of compulsory eugenics
are slowly learning. Small variations
added together through numberless
generations finally became large ones
and thus, according to Darwin's views,
the various species of living things
came into being. The point is that
in Darwin's theory, "variations" were
something added to the primitive
creature. Neither Darwin himself nor
any of his successors explained how
they came to be added until Bergson
solved the mystery.
Herbert Spencer thought that the
variations were accidentally acquired
by the parents and then transmitted
to their offspring but Weissmann
prcyed that this could not be so. Ac
quired variations, as he demonstrated,
cannot pass on by heredity. A later
hypothesis was that new traits are
brought out by crossing different spe
cies and no doubt there is some truth
in it. Mendel's law throws light on
this particular point. Factors which
have long lain hidden in a species may
cease to be recessive and become
dominant when it is crossed with an
other. But, as Professor Bateson
shows, no such explanation suffices
for the varieties of sweet peas. This
plant cannot be crossed with any
other. Hence all its varieties must
have arisen from its own innate prop
erties. This harmonizes fairly well
with Bergson's explanation. In his
view all variations arise from the un
foreseen impulse of the "life force"
which is liable to do anything what
ever on the spur of the moment with
out regard to precendent or conse
quences. Professor Bateson does not, how
ever, accept this view of the matter.
He assumes that all variations in liv
ing creatures have arisen just as they
must in the sweet pea, that is, from
innate factors and neither by external
accident nor 'primarily by crossing.
How, then, did they arise, if not from
the momentary impulse of the life
force? It is all very plain and simple.
Variations in living things are brought
out by the "removal of factors
that control, mask, suppress or
inhibit latent powers or faculties." A
variation then, in the light of the new
theory, is something removed from a
creature, not something added to it.
Here is the clash between Professor
Bateson and Darwin, but it is not a
very serious clash. It Is more a mat
ter of words than substance. Darwin
taught that the new power lay hidden
in the external environment. Bate
son teaches that it lies hidden in the
creature itself. In either case some
fortuitous or purposive independent
factor is required to bring it out.
Bateson looks upon evolution as the
unfolding of potential faculties, all of
which were rolled up. in the primal
creature itself. To Darwin it was an
unfolding of faculties wrapped up In
the environment. Practically, then,
there is not much difference between
them.
And' yet the Bateson hypothesis is
more In harmony with the great trend
of modern thought. Recent discoveries
have shown that an unexplored reser
voir of power lies hidden In the deeper
nature of every individual. Some per
sons are able to draw upon this reser
voir almost at will. They are the
geniuses of the race. Professor Bate
son implies that all of us might do
the same thing If trie inhibiting or
suppressive factors that chain our fac
ulties were removed. Evolution, in
his opinion, has been the gradual
breaking of these chains. It has been
a continual removal of inhibitions. In
Bergson's language it has been a grad
ual Interpenetration of Inert matter by
the life force. Both expressions come
to the same thing. The French philos
opher sees the life force at work seek
ing to drive its way through matter.
Bateson sees matter gradually giving
way here and there. He sees bar
riers broken down, pathways opened,
imprisoned powers set free. Nobody
can say what barrier may fall next.
Modern investigators see reason to be
lieve that evolution proceeds by "mu
tations" rather than by slow changes.
Wide breaches are made in the dead
walls of resisting matter and revolu
tionary forces may appear over night.
Thus the new hypothesis enables us
to discern meaning in situations that
have sometimes looked hopeless. Per
haps the war that has swept over the
earth may be the unavoidable tumult
that accompanies some world-wide
and infinitely happy mutation.
MILITARY CENSORSHIP.
Strict military censorship of the
news on the firing line in Europe is
showing serious disadvantages even to
the several contestants In the great
conflict. The principal drawback Is
an inaccurate or overdrawn state
ment In many cases of what Is
going on at the front. When the
news comes from troop commanders
it , apparently cannot be free from
bias. The commanding officers are
inclined to put their own interpreta
tion upon what is occurring and that
without due consideration to the ene
my's viewpoint. Thus the conflict
ing military claims of the present
status of affairs at many points.
Were competent, unbiased corre
spondents permitted to send out
uncensored reports the world would
know with a greater degree of ac
curacy just what is happening from
hour to hour. Provided the corres
pondents were prevented from disclos
ing important troop movements,
no. especial harm could be expected
from such reports. In fact much good
might come from a true account of
the condition of affairs and an ac
curate statement of the real course of
battle. Neither side may hope to gain
any advantage by claiming a victory
which has not been reaped.
Let's see! Wasn't there a man by the
name of Withycombe nominated for some
thing or other at the May primaries? As
we remember it, a man of that name was
running for Governor a few weeks ago.
Oregon Messenger (Dem.)
Let us hope that our Salem Demo
cratic neighbor will continue to make
his opposition to Mr. Withycombe as
emphatic as possible. Mr. Withy
combe is thus advertised by his un
loving friends. Did The Messenger
ever hear the classic tale ot Ajax ana
the lightning?
The ten-acre Summer homestead
bill seems to be well designed, though
It may endanger the water supply of
Portland and perhaps other cities.
Commissioner Daly thinks it best to
oppose the bill. Would it not be wiser
to propose an amendment to cure the
objection? Surely it is an excellent
plan to make the forest reserves as
useful as possible.
The news that Nelson's prayer was
read on all ships is comforting to
every Briton, home-born and colonial.
Additional words of comfort might
have been given by stating just where
the warships are and what they are
doing.
A racing programme that is all har
ness events are classy, but what the
public wants and will pay to see is a
number of running races. These pro
vide the thrills that bring men and
women to their feet.
Belgium has protested to the
United States over the German In
vasion. Well, we're sorry, but we
politely beg to be excused from doing
anything about it.
Italy and Austria are about to be
drawn in, as well as the Balkan states
and Turkey. Slowly, but surely, the
conflagration is spreading over the
whole world.
Although one word of common
sense would save them, the Germans
at Kiau-Chau announce that they
will fight. This is a strange old world
after all.
The proposal to bring German
prisoners of war to Canada to clear
the land is ticklish enough to pro
duce equine cachination.
Paris food prices, in common with
those of Berlin, are lower than usual.
We are the goats, thanks to our busy
little price Jugglers.
At least men in the service of Ger
man cruisers in the Pacific are not
likely to be bothered by life insurance
agents.
A French artillery commander dis
patched his own son on a mission that
meant certain death. War works
weird changes in the human animal.
The bravery of the allies is ex
tolled. But how about their co-ordination
in military' operations on a
large scale?
When an automobile can skid onto
the sidewalk the pedestrian's safe
course is in the middle of the street.
The war office with the speediest
typewriter is the one that wins the
most battles in the dispatches.
The greatest Rose Festival yet Is
being planned for next year. We are
setting ourselves a hot pace.
Darius Miller is fortunate. His ap
pendix was removed before the train
load of first aids arrived.
The allies will raise a war fund of
$100,000,000 for Belgium. The Bel
gians are earning it.
But if this thing keeps up. where
shall we get our customers for the
Panama Canal?
Picking the early hops starts this
week. Get your umbrella into com
mission. France declares that the Germans
are to be driven out of Belgium. Into
France?
Dollar wheat and ten-dollar hogs
make the Pacific Northwest farmer
rejoice. ,
Is the neutrality law being violated
in selling oats to Canadians?
However, a really great battle re
mains to be fought.
A Zeppelin flying over London will
create a sensation.
Perhaps Germany was too busy to
answer.
The Yellow Sea will be blood red.
Sons of Albion, attention!
CONFLICT VINDICATES MALTHUS
War Will Be Natural Until Man Curbs
Oivn Fruit fulness.
PORTLAND. Aug. 23. (To the Edi
tor.) Perhaps the war in Europe may
be explained In one word: overpopula
tion. The fecundity of the human ani
mal is such that sooner or later popu
lation will outrun food supply, and then
comes the bloody fight which deter
mines who is to control subsistence.
It is pretty generally agreed that the
great movements of the Slavic and
Germanic barbarians southward upon
ancient Rome were caused by growth in
the numbers of the Invading and mi
grating hordes. Likewise the period of
peace preceding the Crusades had re
sulted In overpopulation in relation to
the ability of society to produce food
for its members. Hence an overflow
was necessary toward the east. The
equilibrium was again restored by
war, famine and epidemic.
The discovery of America in 149
made possible the expansion of popu
lation and relieved the pressure in
Europe. Similarly the religious wars
of the sixteenth and seventeenth cen
turies reduced the surplus.
The wars of Frederick the Great in
the eighteenth century made over
crowding Impossible. The Napoleonic
wars in the early nineteenth century,
with their toll of eight or nine mil
lion lives, Kept tne puyuiauun .,.....
knmtih
Since the last great confljct, the
Prann.PrimRlfln war of 1870, the
powers of the western world have
been at peace witn eacn oiner. oam
tary and medical science has decreased
the death rate. The Germanic and
Slavic nations have increased vastly
i nnn..ia,ltn Torrltnrv In F.uroDe. the
cultivable area, is limited. The result
is that these two prolific races are
treading on each other's toes on their
respective frontiers. Either one of two
things was inevitable irom tne
ginning: war or control of human
Malthus has again been vindicated
in the essential soundness oi me uicij
n0 -.mniainn in oniv nnft country in
the world has the Malthuslan law of
increase been supersoaea oy mo in
tervention of human Intelligence, and
that is France. She may yet have to
pay the penalty for standing at the
front of civilization surrounded by na
tions less capable cf controlling a
great natural force, mat ot uusnain v
r wa nmv he. certain: war
will be Inevitable until mankind has
learned to adjust its own reprouueuvo
powers to the capacity of tho earth to
bring forth sustenance. Any intelli
gent farmer will tell you it is easier
to overstock himseii witn cauio nn
It is to raise food to bring them to ma
turity and fatten them for market,
tt i mufh tho same with the human
species. Even with the most Intensive
methods of agriculture, re-lnforced by
science and mechanics, the time will
come when population will press upuu
food supply. Then an equilibrium will
be restored either by nature through
war, famine, epidemic and natural ca
tastrophe or by artificial restriction,
rrk;. An.imi. limitation In practiced
. k manV hilt : .' V8St niaSS Of
ivu.i uj mil i a, -
mankind as yet knows nothing about
it.
t r q e wa mflv dislike to do
iiri.. '-, . i . . ' . .-.v
it, we must reconcile ourselves to war
as natural until the time comes wnen
Intelligence will guide man in the
more efficient control of his own fruit
fulness. NEO-MALTHUSIAN.
WHY SHOULD NOT WOMEN IlISEt
Thrv Mm. Not to Make but to End
War, Saya Mm. Dunlway.
PORTLAND, A"g. 23. (To the Edl
nr i sitting at mv window, reading
and pondering over the terrible war
news, of which the press dispatches are
full, I cannot but wonder how much
longer it is to he before the women oi
n, cnooioa shiill he empowered with
sufficient ubiquity and wisdom to arise
In their might ana reiuse iu
soldiers at their peril, to' be butchered
by hundreds of thousands at the com
mand of the enthroned, intermarried
n,i intorhrert offspring of the Hohen-
zollerns, Guelphs, Habsburg, Braganzaa
and what-not, who are quarremua
among themselves?
The onlv consolation I can gather
from all this terrible slaughter is the
hope that it may hasten the day when
nnniA will arise, in their majesty
and demand the creation of the United
States of the World.
Who knows but that the mission of
such world-renowned peace advocates
nauid star Jordan. May Wright
Sewall, Madam Breshkofsky and Carrie
Chapman Cart has been the means of
stilling the souls of the women peas
antry into ultimate open revolt? These
peasant women. Having doi no io
butchered soldiers at their peril, and
now harvesting tne crops hi
more soldiers for future siauKnteis, aiu
studying out the why of it all, as they
toi! in the fields while their hearts are
breaking: and their sons are rotting in
the trenches.
The women s late peace coniereuce,
held at Budapest and Rome, followed,
as they are, by the International wars
that are raging, are slowly awakening
the peasant women of the world, arous
ing them to a future uprising against
the fiat of the double-and-twisted cous
tc.v.i.x rr TTin-rtnejin monarchies, requir
ing no spirit of prophecy to foretell an
approaching time when the monarchs,
who create the wars, shall do their own
fighting and become the personal vic
tims of their own butcherlngs.
ABIGAIL SCOTT D UNI WAY.
PRAYER AND FAITH SUFFICIENT
Mr. Hofer'a Enlent Not Neceaeary
to Obtain Katu. Says Mlnlatcr.
CLATSKANIE. Aug. 22. (To the
T7.ji- t t e i.ta T hjivft been
deluged with requests to importune
.. s a j .. I All mlm I
Almignty joo iu hchu am.
Al fl ae 1 pa rlnin lircat
LflaL lilt: lUioni . -o D
damage, also that the lata potatoes,
gardens, etc.. can be greatly benefited
OJ' a gOOU HUaiWUB am.
i r, mil aoA iinnn I'pfl rl I n C Mr.
I W aB 111 Hi-11 aumovu K w " "
Hofer's description of the necessary
- - 1.1.. w .. . . ,.,i
equipment lor rain niaiwi's-
. . i . .t;,-.. a n H TV A W t A nmVfiT.
Howling UUl o...... r-
God answers prayer for materia! things,
. t i . i c n l.i, iic aulr
as wen as tor spiiimw.
God to send rain when it is needefl.
Christ said: "Whatsoever ye desire,
when ye pray, believe that ye receive
them and ye shall have them.". People
too often pray like the woman who
prayed for the mountains In front of
her house to be removed. In the morn
ing when she looked out and saw It
she said: "Just as I expected."
I will say. that we have held two
i .. v,, nnp Ttiesdav the
SerVlCCB HIM " w.. 1 -
other Wednesday in which we prayed
for rain and mat tne luicai n.wa M,b,
be extinguished. The rain Is now
being sent in some places in direct
answer to our prayers.
t ,i,...fn,a nnw na.lt- thnt all who
may read this article pray for a general
rain. i.rn is n " . mww-..
Red Cross Needs Aid.
WASHINGTON. D. C. Aug. 18. (To
the Editor.) The Red Crose la greatly
in need of funds for Its war relief
-ir it io eendlnc- surgeons, trained
nurses, surgical equipment and hospital
supplies over to all the countries in
volved in the war. -
dv thousands of sick
and wounded men. Their numbers are
growing daily and any great battle will
add Its tens of thousands to the number.
Our people have not yet apprecratea
the great need for assistance. The Red
Cross would be very grateful if The
Oregonlan could help It to arouse pub
lice interest and urge people to con
tribute to its fund.
Funds could be sent to the Red Cross,
Washington, D. C, or to your local
treasurer. Donors may designate, If
,kA on rfouire for what countries they
wish their contributions used.
Tlease help the Red Cross.
MABEL T, BOARDMAN.
PURPOSE IS PLAIN SINGLE TAX
91500 Exemption Amendment Is DIs
arnise, Sara Mr. HisTby.
VALE, Or.. Aug. 21. (To the Edi
tor.) Do the people of Oregon want
single tax? That Is the question.
Whether to endure the Ills we have,
without attempt to remedy them log
ically or fly frantically to the tangled
forest of theoretical taxation.
On the statute boks today we have
the law: "Uncultivated land shall be
assessed as cultivated land equally sit
uated." While license Is here given
somewhat to the assessor, this one
clause indicates a long stride toward
the Henry George theory as explained
In "Progress and Poverty."
Comes now Barzee & Co., In connec
tion with Inde-Prohl-Oregon City law
maker and candidate, presenting an
other Henry George joker for the Ore
gon voter to unknowingly confirm in
the $1500 exemption act.
They fill columns with specific ex
amples showing how It would help
the payer of taxes as now constituted,
taking taxation from the poor and
placing It on the rich. Great Is the
dodging of the real facts. Great the
pandering to the proletariat. It must
be conceded at once that the exemp
tion will let those who have hut a lit
tle personal property and those who
never expect to have but little per
cnnfli nrnn.rtv escaDA romnletelv from
direct taxation at least.
These are facts: If a county or mu
nicipality needs $10,000 and the tax
roll Is $10,000,000 the rate must bo 1
per cent. If there are 2000 taxpayers
exempted $1600 each the tax roll le di
minished $3,000,000 and the rate made
1 43-100 per cent. The levy must then
be on visible property, land. The
farmer who has been exempted $1500
must pay the higher rate on the re
mainder, and when a new asaeBament
Is made land values must be higher if
the rate is to be lowered.
Attending to fundamental principles.
ceaainn to cuvci vu, . - ...... -
flclal and deceitful arguments. ir we
cease to attempt to fill the peoples
mind with false logto and impossible
Utopian Ideas the story Is short, rea
soning simple and the conclusions
axiomatic.
Taxation is a necessary burden on
society and will Increase with ad
vanced civilization.
If all personal property should be
exempted, all tax put on land, there
will follow either a higher rate or
greatly lnoreased valuation for taxaj
tlon purposes on used land. There w ill
be no other land to tax, as It must re
vert to the state.
The land speculator will unques
tionably be eliminated. No chance for
argument here.
The value of cultivated land will be
measured by the value of the improve
ments and cost of bringing OncUU"
vated land into producing condition
for the reason that, being owned by
the state, raw land will be ready for
the taking without original cost.
Are the people of Oregon ready Tor
this condition? Are the farmers ready
to have their values Increased for tax
ation and decreased for transfer.
Bringing the entire country Into one
homogeneous mass, filled with broth
erly love each for the other, each one
doing his part simply for the sake of
doing, with no other thought than the
greatest benent to nis iws "
he peasant, coolie, peon or Hottentot,
is Utopian. Are the people of Oregon
ready for that condition?
Evidence is plentiful, accentuated by
the present world conditions, that we
are so closely related In business and
all material affairs no big business
can be hurt without all business suf
fering. Destroy big business and we
relapse into the confusion from which
the world has so lately emerged.
A people is ready to drag down only
when ready to endure the suffering
and privation incident during the In
terim of adjustment between anarchy
and the establishment of the new dis
pensation. If the people of "-"i
have reached the socialistic condition
wherein they are willing to live for
the mere sake of living. Ignoring ma
terial values and competitive success,
they are ready for single tax.
The evils attendant on so radical a
change will be overcome in time; tho
sorrow and suffering of the ulned
will cease: the moans of misfortune
will gradually die nwny; the new d s
pensation will have Its happiness. Its
pleasures, its work.. Its g vlng an.
taking In marriage; the world will not
cease- to revolve: the sun will still
shine, the silver lining of the clouds
change to gold for some, black de
spair to others. The question remains:
Do the people of Oreson t MtH
tax? JOHN HICBx.
Challencre 1" Accented.
PORTLAND, Aug. 2S (To tho Edi
tor ) Replvlng to the letter of Bertha
Dalllnger In your issue of August 21.
In behalf of a party whom I will name
when details for discussion are ar
ranged, I hereby accept the challenge
to publicly debate the vaccination ques
tion, naming Monday. August $1. 1914.
at 8 P at as the date, and request
Bertha Dalllnger to advise when I can
meet her to perfect arrangements for
debate. .
I challenge Bertha naiiinger tor
proof of the statements of the vaccina
tion In Japan. Italy or the United
States Army. S. Kub.ita, director of
the sanitary burcBU of Japan, says:
nf smallnox onTi-
J. II U (1UIIILICI VS. w "
cially notified in Japan for the year
1H08 was 18,067, wnue tne nuinucr u,n
ii.. .......,,.(..,, from the same
BWMJ -- ....
desease. during that year, wae 6837.
. . f ....ii... f w.n a than
This was a case taiam
32 per cent.
Japanese government reports show
. m ... f .mallnox and 49.119
liiiOii imsm i m
deaths from that desease from 189 to
1908, and in 1B0 aurrerea tne woii
epidemic of recent times. The fore
going is a small part of the disastrous
results of compulsory vaccination in
Japan. ,
As to Italy, Professor Carlo Ruata,
M. D. professor of hygiene in the Uni
versity of Perugia. Italy, says: "We
have a thoroughly vaccinated popula
tion. Well, In only ten years (1887-96)
smallpox carried off 69,430 persons."
The report of the surgeon general
of the United States Army for the
first six months of 1901 records 24
cases of smallpox, with 113 deaths, a
mortality of about 46 per cent. In
the three years preceding, there were
among the recently vaccinated 705
cases of snfallpox with 230 deaths. In
the two years preceding June. 1900.
13 811 cases needed hospital treatment
on account of vaccination.
m . . . a & ea nsLnsai nd five daths
i nerw - - ,
of smallpox on the V. S. b. Ohio in
volving INSVy Olliciom, mmtm '
official report within the last year.
J. E. BROOKS.
Further arrangements for this de
bate should be carried on by direct
aommunicatlon, not by exchange of
letters through the medium of The Ore
gonian. Facts Against Fiction.
PORTLAND, Aug.. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) We protest that "Divorced Life"
Is not true. It la well written and in
teresting, but we want to know how
Marian pays her rent at Placid Inn.
Places like that cost money, and since
she has none and has had no experience
in story writing she cannot expect to
4 h.t manner W C knOW bV
experience that a few stories written
accidentally will not pay noiui um.
i iirnrlillir 1 . I" .- T T i I II M
iviany ui u " ' " ---
Marian and we cannot live at Placid
Inn. Kindly tell ua now n is aune.
ONE IN A SIMILAR BOAT.
Mejraphonc?s for Military Use.
London Tit-Blt.
Two hundred megaphones have been
ordered by the British war office for
military use. They will be uaed chiefly
by artillery officers to give commands
at a distance.
Twenty-Five Years Ago
From Ths Oresonlan August 14. 1S.
Williams avenue presents a seen of
bustle and excitement A great many
men are laying tho track from Grant to
Morris street. The street is blockaded
with teams hauling away dirt and
other teams bringing gravel.
c.i- t rm Witt TMlmao-e registered at
the Esmond Hotel yesterday morning
Me lert on tne mominn irsin it om
lcm and will return to Portland today.
The notes for the subsidy for building
the Waverly-Woodstock electric motor
line are all taken up. with the excep
tion of a few small ones, and work will
go ahead without fall.
A force of men were at work yes
terday completing the work of making
connection between tho rails of the
electric motor lino across the steel
bridge.
A refreshing rain fell from 8 to 4
o'clock yesterday morning, which laid
the dust, washed off the foliage, and
to a great extent dissipated the imoke.
Commencing on September 2 there
will be a mall service on tho Portland
& Vancouver Railway, with closed
pouches, twice a day.
Albany. Or.. Aug. 2$. The street
cars will commence running Monday.
The can were manufactured In Albany
and are equal In style and finish to
those bought in the East.
Salem. Aug. SI. Mre Charles Clag
gett, one of Oregon's old pioneers, died
thia evening. She crossed the plains
In 1852 and has resided In Oregon ever
since.
Rev. D. O. Ohormley and family re
turned yesterday from ClaUop, where
they have been for several weeks.
Elder R. M MesMek. of Trenton. Mo.
will arrive here and take chart of the
Christian Church III East Portland by
October.
Mr. Charles Krancls Adams, prealdent
of thu Union Pacific Railway system;
Mr. W. 11. HoKomb, vice-president . Mr.
G. M. Cummlngs, assistant general
manager: Mr. John Sharp, auperln
tendent of the Utah Central, and I, H.
Hubbard, a railroad man from Kansas
City, arrived here yesterday morning.
General Manuscr Mellen, Traffic Man
ager Hannafoid and General Paaacn
ger Agent Fee, of the Northern Pa
cific, are expected here today.
Half a Century Ago
Prom Ths Orcfonlan of Aufusl 24. I MM.
Salem. Aug. 22. 1844. OMtai 1 have
Just received your Invitation to ad
dresn the citlseus of Portland at my
earliest convenience. I shall he pleased
to make a speech In the City of Port
land on the evening of Saturday, the
24th Inst. 0MBOKOI II. WILLIAMS.
Messrs. Falling, Smith and others.
A little boy 6 years old. son of Dr.
J. A. Chapman, of this city, fell Into
the river at the foot of Washington
street yesterday and was ret -ued by
Richard Hoyt barely In lime to aave
the child's life. After the little fellow
had been restored to consciousness, and
taken home he related that M was
fishing when another boy pushed him
In.
The largest raft run down the Wil
lamette river for yeara haa been re
ceived at the new wharves of the O.
S. tt. Company and captain Ankeny In
this city. It contains :':'.'. it and
the lumber was all cut Inside of a
montli ut the Oswego mills of J. Q
TorwUliCer.
Mrs. J. R. Wltherell haa preanted
the Ladles of the Sanitary fair with
a handsome American flag or medium
also. It la a valuable ami in t fitting
contribution.
A very large crowd assembled last
night at the theater building to listen
to the debato on the political questions
ot tl.e day between J. F. Uaxley, of
Douglas County, one of the Presiden
tial electors on the Union ticket, and
Judge A. K- Walt, one of the unterrl
fled. and an elector also, but on the
ticket of the so-called Democracy.
An t Taxea.
UNITY. Or.. Aug. 21. (To th.- Edi
tor.) 1. On what basil Is the las rate
decided In this state?
2. Is the tax rato us high In en lao
lated county with very few achoola
and little worked road.
5. Should taxpayers receive a state
ment of assessments, a list of lands or
personal property with assessed value?
4. Is a Sheriffs notice of delinquency
correct when the time allowed for pay
ment is not filled In?
I. A vacant. Isolated, dry. untllled
farm In on county Is taxed 0 per
cent mcro than an occupied, irrigated
fnrm with 45 acre In ouUlvatlon.
buildings, wells and near school In
adjoining county. How can this be
made right? INQUIRKR.
I. The rat Is the lvy which ap
piled to the assessed value of all prop
erty will produce the required needs of
government.
I. It depends on the taxable value
of property In the county end the
economy of public officials.
I. The state statute does not pro
vide for the sending out of assessment
notlcea unless asked for In writing, and
then only on property accurately de
scribed by the owner. The reason fnr
this I the fart that It Is Impossible
for the Assessor to obtain tKe nn
and address of present owners of prop
erties. 4. Yes; the county has not the legal
right to specify the time for payments
on certlflcetee of delinquency.
6. Cost of government varlea In the
several counties and thla may affect
taxea. Some counties adopt the policy
of assessing at a low value and levy
ing a high rate: other IMM high
and levy a low rate. For state taxei
the value are equalised to the aoi
baals In all counties
"Tke Wine Ire."
FOREST GROVE. Aug. II (To the
Editor.) Please Inform m a to
where I can get "The Wine Pre. ' a
poem by Alfrd Noy.
EVA C. ABBOTT.
The publUher 1 Frederick A. Stokes
Company, 448-449 Fourth avenue. Nw
York City, the price of the book being
60 cents. Any book dealer who ha
not the volume In itoek will obtain It
on requet.
Advertising Good
Health
Municipal health authorities In
various cities are beginning news
paper advertising campaigns to Im
press on the public the necessity of
municipal cleanllnes.
The results are mot encouraging
and tho Idea should have general
adoption.
It Is certainly good economy to
spend a small sum In advertising to
ward off disease.
It Is cheaper to prevent epidemic
than It Is to stop them.
People are newspaper advertising
readers and when, they sen an an
nouncement from the local health
official In their favorite dally they
take It a message having authority.