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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 9, 1914)
THE MORTSTNG OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9. 1914. PORTLAND. OREGON. Sntered at Portland. Oregon. Postofflce as Second-class matter. Subscription Rates Invariably In Advance. (By Mall) Dally, Sunday Included, one year Dally, Sunday Included, six months . Daily, Sunday included, three months Daily, Sunday Included, one month . Daily, without Sunday, one year . . . Dally, without Sunday, six months ,. Daily, without Sunday, three months Daily, without Sunday, one month . . Weekly, one year Sunday, one year Sunday and Weekly, one year ..... (Br Carrier) Dally, Sunday Included, one year . . . Daily. Sunday Included, one month . ..18.00 .. 4.25 . . 2.20 .. .75 . . 6.00 .. 8.25 .. 1.75 . . .60 .. 1.50 .. 2.50 . . 8.50 . .19.00 .. .75 Tin u Rnnli Send Postofflce money or der, express order or personal check on your local bank, stamps, com 01 cw,. sender's risk. Give Postotflce address In lull, including county and state. Postage Bates 12 to 18 pages, 1 cent: 18 to 32 pages. 2 cents; 34 to 48 pages, 3 cents. CO to 60 pages, 4 cents; 62 to 76 pages, o cents; 78 to 92 pages, 6 cents. Foreign post Age, double rates. Eastern Business Offices Verree ft C"" lln. New York, Brunswick building. Chi cago, stenger building. Ban Francisco Office R. J. BldweU Co., 748 Market street. PORTLAND, WEDNESDAY. SEPT. . 1914, GRANT AND THE GERMANS. Military critics see a dose re semblance, between the German ma neuvers against Paris In this war and Grant's movements In his advance up on Richmond In 1864. At the be ginning of the) campaign In Belgium and Northern Prance the Germans greatly outnumbered their enemies. Grant had twice as many troops as Lee when he crossed the Rapidan Into the Wilderness. The Germans began the second phase of their cam paign by a frontal attack upon the allied French and British armies. When this failed Immediately to dis lodge their opponents they made a flank movement to the left, plainly endeavoring to slip In between the British troops and Paris. In the same way precisely Grant moved round Lee's right wing intend ing to take up a position between him and Richmond. This maneuver, If It had succeeded, would have cut Rich mond off from Its defenders and per haps have driven Lee to surrender almost Immediately. But It did not succeed. Lee retired to Spottsylvania where the same performances had to be repeated on both sides. All that Grant gained by his strategy was a position a little nearer Richmond while his losses were terrible. Grant effected the same operation at North Anna and again at Cold Harbor. At each place he began with a frontal attack on Lee which failed. This he followed up with a flank movement which brought him nearer to Richmond but cost him heavily In men. So dreadful were his losses that the country was appalled. Even his veteran army became somewhat de moralized by its fearful sacrifices and Grant found it expedient to cross the James River and give his soldiers time to recover their poise before un dertaking further operations. Atten tive readers of the news will perceive the resemblance between Grant's policy and that of the German In vaders of France. Their frontal at tacks have been followed by flank movements each of which has brought them somewhat nearer to Paris but, like Grant, they have thus far failed to cut off any part of the opposing army from its base in the rear. Of course a parallel of this kind can be pushed too far. For instance. Grant's advance, difficult as it was, exper ienced no decisive check while if we may trust the latest reports the Ger mans have been compelled to retire along part of their wide battle front o that their attack may have been turned Into at least a temporary re treat. There are other differences which the prudent observer will not fail to take into account. The allied armies occupy in this parallel the position of the Confederates, the Germans that of Grant. But when the advance upon Richmond began the Confederates had made their final effort and their resources were almost exhausted. This is by no means the case with the al lies. They have scarcely touched their resources as yet. The British armies will continue to receive auxiliaries from the ends of the earth for months to come while the credit of the Em pire is perfectly sound. France has not been sensibls- weak ened thus far either in spirit or in material resources. It is likely that the Germans have lost a great many more men than their enemies, partly because they insist upon a mass for mation which makes every hostile bullet tell but mainly because they take the offensive. Grant's losses averaged pretty nearly ten times those of Lee in the Richmond campaign and there is reason to believe that some thing near the same proportion has been kept up in this war. If that is so then the Germans must have sacri ficed between 300,000 and 400,000 men already. But probably it is not o. This fact becomes important when we remember that the whole German fighting force has been mobilized. The Kaiser's armies must in the nature of things continually diminish from this time forward while those of the allies are increasing. Another obvious dif ference between Lee's dilemma and that of the allies is seen in the entry of the Russians. The Confederates had nobody to depend upon but them selves and they had done all they could when Grant opened his cam paign. Russia will be a constantly growing factor in the war. Her mob ilization is all the more terrifying from its deliberateness. Her armies will pour Into the heart of Europe like a rising tide. Defeat will mean little to them since there are so many more to follow if they are needed. Grant could afford to waste his men because he had the inexhaustible pop ulation of the Northern states to draw upon. Both Russia and England are In much the same situation. France to be sure has but a com paratively small population but Eng land has India and the colonies at her disposal while Rtresia has some 150. 000,000 of loyal subjects right at home. In view of these considera tions the parallel between the allies and the Confederacy appears rather superficial. The German advance has been very much like Grant's thus far but there the similarity ends. He moved against a foe who was spend ing his last strength in an effort of despair. The Germans face an enemy who may grow more formidable every day. Perhaps the most vital differ ence of all between the two situations Is that the Germans have no Grant, or if they have he is still in his grocery or his presence has not been disclosed by the trend of events and the veil of censorship. One good effect of the European war is in sight. Inasmuch as all the foreign tenors and sopranos have been nared by the fowler to feed tp his tf we have any more opera we must depend upon native singers for It. America may at last discover that she can make music without foreign help. Who knows? There are boys who can be taught to swim only by throwing them headlong into deep water. JUDGE BENSON'S NOMINATION. The astonishing assault upon Judge Benson by Governor West is without excuse or justification. Its inspira tion is either that he is deeply dis appointed at the defeat of his own ap pointee to the Supreme Bench, Judge McNary, or he seeks to make capital now for the benefit of a Dem ocratic nominee against Judge Ben son or probably both. The Oregonian has no idea that Judge McNary has had any part In this latest shameful outgiving of the Governor's, for he has at all times shown a zealous and honorable desire 'for a correct settle ment of the judgeship contest. It is to be remembered that the Is sue between Judge Benson and Judge McNarry as candidates has through out been exceedingly close. In the first Instance Judge McNary appear ed to be nominated, but discovery of an error In the Multnomah County tally-sheets reversed the situation and Judge Benson was several votes in the lead. By arrangement between the candidates various selected pre cincts throughout the State were re counted, but at no time did Judge Mc Nary overcome Judge Benson s ad vantage except that once there ap peared to be a tie. There was recently a final stipula tion, which both candidates agreed should be conclusive. By a correct interpretation of its terms, which no one disputes, Judge Benson was found to be nominated by a majority of one. Meanwhile the final day (Sept. 8) for acceptance of the nomi nation was imminent. Now comes the belated discovery that there were some uncounted votes In a remote Curry county pre cinct. This was made at Salem sev eral months after the primary elec tion, and apparently after the other discovery that Judge Benson was cer tain, unless something drastic was done, to get the certificate of nomina tion. It was natural and reasonable for Judge Benson to decline to prolong the controversy, and to insist that the conditions of the final agreement be tween him and Judge McNary be followed. The Oregonian Is quite sure that Judge McNary has no fault to find with the attitude of JuSge Benson, and that he accepts the re sult without reservation or hesitation. Henry L. Benson has a fine record as citizen, as attorney and as Judge. It does not become Governor West to assail him as a pettifogger or sharp practitioner. He has fairly won the nomination after a systematic and clean-cut effort to ascertain the will of the people In the primary; and he is entitled to the same consideration as every other judgeship candidate on the Republican ticket. THE EATER BAINS. Nature, like human beings, some times withholds her favors to enhance their value. We feel more grateful for the rain becausUpve have wanted it so long. The parched earth cried to the skies for refreshment, animals began to suffer from the germ dis eases that thrive in rlust and drouth and human energy began to fail. "If it would only rain," said everybody, half in prayer, half in complaint. And now the rain has come, the soft, bene ficent, healing rain. It came gently like the benediction of a loving moth er upon her children. The fields drank of the showers and the brown grasses felt the moving of new life in their roots. Soon the tiny green blades will push up through the soil and pastures will look like May. There is still time for the stunted kale to grow into stalwart plants be fore Winter checks it finally and the dairyman rejoices in the prospect of abundant feed for his cows and high prices for his milk. The orchards have revived over night. The wilted leaves uncurl, tiny buds burst into green shoots, the apples 'begin to blush with their normal autumnal tints. Nature takes new vigor with the first showers and man resumes his tasks with fresh ambition. When the later rains be gin Oregon enjoys a second Spring which may last for two full months. END THE COLORADO STRIKE. President Wilson's appeal to the coal mine owners and miners of Colo rado to settle their differences on the basis recommended by the concilia tion commission of the Labor Depart ment should meet with prompt ac ceptance of his recommendations. The plan of settlement involves surrender by neither party but provides for fair dealing on both sides. The fact that the public is vitally affected, first by diminution in its fuel supply; second, by the great expense imposed on Col orado for sending militia to suppress disorder; and third, by the expense of sending regular troops to the mining region for the same purpose, gives the Government a right to interfere. The points originally in dispute have simmered down to the question of unionism. The miners demanded that only union men be employed and that the union be recognized by the employers as representing the miners. The operators refused to discriminate between union and non-union miners, but denied blacklisting union miners, of which the union accused them. The operators were accused of disobeying the law as to operation of the mines in several particulars; they expressed their willingness to obey the law. A demand for an increase of wages was lost sight of in the conflict. The plan of settlement offered by the conciliation commission waives the question of recognition of the union but provides fair treatment of union and non-union men alike. By requiring adjustment of grievances with a committee of employes, the commission assures the miners of the chief practical benefit of unionism. By providing an appeal to a commis sion appointed by the President it in sures respect for the grievance com mittee. By excluding from re-employment those miners who have been convicted of violating the law this plan saves the employers from danger of employing lawless men and trouble-makers. By prohibiting employ ment of mine guards this plan would remove the chief provocation to vio lence on the part of the miners. The United Mineworkers, on behalf of the miners, having repeatedly sought a conference, and the opera tors having as often refused to meet them, it is the part of the operators to make the next move. They are not now called upon to meet the men with whom they have hitherto re fused to confer; they are asked to ac cent terms of compromise proposed bv an Impartial body, representing tie third party la interest, nsjnelyoin first up to twelve, then on to the general public. This third party has suffered loss, Inconvenience and humiliation at the spectacle of one of the states Impotent in the face of anarchy. It has waited a year for the two other parties to settle the quarrel. Its patience is now well nigh ex hausted. If through the obstinacy of one or both of these other parties, the third party, namely, the Ameri can people, should be put to further expense and trouble, that third party may take forcible measures to bring about a settlement or to render the disputants powerless further to dis turb the peace. UNCLE SAM IN BUSINESS. The House has hardened its heart against the plea of a pork barrel statesman by refusing to appropriate 1237,000 for the building of a sewer at Hot Springs, Ark. That city ha3 taken advantage 'of the fact that the springs are on a government reserva tion, from which it is separated by a creek between two mountains, to get the Government to do almost every thing for it. Mr. Taylor of Arkansas made a most eloquent plea for the sewer appropriation, winding up with the doxology, but Mr. Payne of New Tork retorted with some cold, cruel facts and with the suggestion that, if the Hot Springs people wanted a sewer, they should build it themselves. The Government gets about $50,000 in rents from the reservation, but Mr. Payne said that if a private individual owned it he would get $1,000,000 a year out of It without any effort and without Increasing the price to the consumer. He added: It is only another illustration. of the Gov ernment trying to do business. It cannot do it at a profit; it cannot do it and get its expenses out of it. We all know this to be true. Tet some of our citizens wish the Gov ernment to go Into the railroad busi ness and they actually imagine that the Government could make more money at lower freight and passenger rates than private corporations can. The entire record of Government transactions proves the contrary. It may be necessary, as an emerg ency measure due to the war, that the Government buy foreign ships and run them to South America, but the Government should dispose of the ships to private individuals or cor porations at the first opportunity pro vided the original purpose Is attained. Uncle Sam as a business man Is a lamb to be shorn; he Is an easy mark. PRODUCER AND CONSUMER. The Oregonian is pleased to en lighten the puzzled Oregon City cor respondent, who wants to know the exact influence of the tariff on eggs upon his own prosperity. If the consumer Is to prosper at the expense of the i roducer, there will be no prosperity, for there will be no production. The producer of course will quit, when he finds that he must sell at a loss. It is fundamental to the general well-being of all industry that the producer get a fair price for his product and that the consumer pay the price. The terms "consumer" and "pro ducer" are not absolute, but merely descriptive. For the consumer of eggs must himself be a producer of something and benefit by his produc tion, or starve unless he is a drone and is willing to let others produce for him. Every one ought to be a pro ducer before he Is a consumer. Let us persuade our Oregon City friend, who seems to think that he gains if he buys eggs below -cost, to re verse the situation. He is a laborer, say. Who gains if the employer consumer of his labor- buys it at less than a living wage? The true basis between them is of course a fair wage for the laborer and fair price for the employer's product. There can be no permanent prosperity be tween them, and In a large sense be tween all employers and employes, unless there is a reasonable profit for all of them. If Oregon cannot produce eggs at a reasonable market price the place to get them is In China or Iowa. But it can and does. It should not buy In China the things it is equipped to raise here. The tendency Indeed the policy of the present tariff bill is to admit to the United States raw products, and to place a duty on manufactures. Oregon's chief products are agricul tural, and they have been generally exposed to foreign competition. The effect is bound to be Injurious, and indeed it has been. What is true of Oregon is true of the United States as a whole. All inausiry, in one ymuc or another, has been directly affected by the tariff law. The chief contrib uting cause of our present industrial slow-up is the tariff. THE NEW COURSE OF STUDY. There are some sensible remarks scattered here and there in the intro duction to the new geography and nature study courses for the Port land public schools. 1 or instance, teachers are advised not to waste a great deal of time on the spelling of 'the more difficult geograpmcai names like .Kilimanjaro ana ropu catapetl. This is a decided innovation In pedagogy. Formerly the spelling of names like these was regarded as the greatest triumph the youthful mind could attain. Nothing else was deemed of much value in comparison with it. The new course of study recommends learning' to spell names 'common or near at home," even if they happen to be easy. No doubt old-fashioned pedagogues will bewail the "mental culture which Is sacrificed by letting the monstrosities like Chihuahua go their way in peace, but we dare say others can find good use for the time they save. Anotner jetisn men badly in the new course of study is map-drawing. This Moloch could count its tribute of shrieking infants by the thousand In older days, but now it has been pretty well de throned. "Time spent in making elaborate maps is largely wasted," says the au thor of this enlightened pamphlet. A Daniel, yea a Daniel come to judg ment. Map-drawing was once a fruit ful source of dishonesty In school. The wretched pupils who could not turn the miserable trick as neatly as some others were wont, to iiom inc geography page up against the win dow pane and thus produce a decep tively artistic piece of work. In this way they gained credit marks at the price of their souls. It Is good prac tice to fill in printed outlines, as the course suggests, but a sad piece of thriftlessness to make little boys and girls produce the outlines themselves. We do not seem to notice quite so much progress in the new arithmetic courses. Children are to be taught counting, for example, by easy stages. twenty, and so forth, consuming good ness knows how much precious time in each interval. With the counting goes a great array of ritualistic In cantations and ceremonies which must exasperate bright little children beyond endurance. A boy who can count twelve can learn to count a hundred in half an hour. The proc ess involves nothing but easy rhyth mic repetitions which are a delight to master and perform. Much of the elaborate detail employed In teaching arithmetic Is nothing more than a savage ghost dance. Its main use is to fill up time that might be better employed and give outsiders an im pression, that vast erudition floats about the schoolroom. Counting, adding, subtracting and so forth are pure magic to the young, and no attempt should be made to analyze the processes until the mind is fairly mature. Teachers often for get how very late it was in the history of the human race before Arabic no tation came Into common use. Tet children are expected to understand and explain a process which would have puzzled Pythagoras. The time spent upon this business is, to borrow the biting language of the course of study Itself, "largely wasted." The story that British transports have convoyed 250,000 Russian troops to Belgium requires confirmation. Al lowing 1,000 men to a ship, which is a big cargo, the fleet must have num bered 250 craft. Such a vast naval maneuver could hardly have been ex ecuted without the knowledge of the Norwegians, whose coast It must have skirted, and they would have said something about it- Rumor whispers that the Emperor Francis Joseph is dead. In sorrow he has passed his long life, in sorrow he goes down to the grave. His fam ily has been blighted by Intrigue and murder, the noble aspirations of his young manhood have all turned to bitterness, his Empire is a chain of broken links. His life has been a troubled feveT; may he sleep well. French resources are said to be tax ed to the utmosti but France is a re sourceful nation. The celerity with which it paid the indemnity forty years ago challenged admiration of the world. It was said at the time that even the cooks became so skill ful they could cut an egg In two and thus make one do full duty in the "ham and" order. It is pleasant to hear Mr. Kipling denouncing war. A late conversion is better than none. Few men have done more than the flamboyant poet to generate war-psychology and stir up International hatred. May he bring forth fruits meet for repent ance. There is one reason why we shall rejoice when the Russians fight their way out of the Slav provinces of Aus tria; the names will be more pro nounceable. Any place with such a name as Przemysl deserves to be tak en by assault with no quarter. Some people are already beginning to complain about the rain. It Is a good thing the weather is not subject to human control. If it were regu lated by legislation, there would be a referendum on every weather bill that was passed. Governor West's letter to Judge Benson, in giving him the certificate of nomination, is a remarkable state paper, that were better never written. Executive heat seems to have blotted out executive wisdom. The Spring wheat crop now falls 15,000,000 bushels below estimates made before the war. This fits condi tions of export. At the rate casual ties grow there will be many less mouths to fill. Every belligerent nation has its press agent seeking to win the good opinion of the United States. Uncle Sam's opinion is that they all ought to be ashamed of themselves. By the way, we haven't heard any thing much from the Prince of Peace oration of late. Has It lost its value even as a vaudeville feature? Eugene robbers made away with a V.QO- oncttr Rnph nrecious treasure wc& - n should be kept in safo deposit vaults under a time lock. British civilians are organizing rifle clubs and drilling to stave off possible invasion. Another non-combatant brain storm. . After wading through the mud of Shan-Tung the Japanese army may start a good roads movement in China. An tn the Turkish warning that England seeks to drag us into the fray we have only to say tnat it can t De done. Polk County prunes are less In number but larger and better flavor ed, which assures the filling quality. nid .7. Pluvius is something of a firefighter himself when he once gets into action against the forest fires. Scandinavia is reported to favor the British. Up to a late hour Germany, however, wets still pro-Teuton. Next thing the Russians will be trying to make the map read Vienna ovich and Berlinsky. Th (German naw is making war on the North Sea fishermen with deadly results. pmcp will come when one side or the other has been unmercifully whipped. xinw will Fneland look upon a pos sible Russian investment of Constanti nople? nii .Tack Frost will shortly be taking a nipping part in the fray. still we fear that the affair has got ten somewhat past praying for. Turkev aDDears to be waiting to see which way the cat will jump. Spain may join. How Europe must tremble at the word! The death grapple in France enters on its final stages. Kipling's worry is needless. John Bull is a jingo. Albania is the first to blow up. Wet enough? WHY NOT BUY EGGS BELOW COSTr Correspondent Aaka Questions, Which Are Answered Elsewhere. OREGON CITY, Sept. 7. (To the Editor.) I have been reading your edi torials on the tariff, and was beginning to feel that I was gaining an under standing of this perplexing subject But "Scrambling Our Eggs" In The Ore gonian yesterday inspired a question which is too deep for me. You state that 2,000,000 dozen eggs have been imported from China Surely there must have been a demand for those eggs which the Oregon producer couldn't supply or they wouldn't have been shipped here for if the producers had the eggs they would have put them on the market at 5 cents or even 10 cents less per dozen rather than lose the sale. Now admitting they could supply the eggs and had to cut the price 5 cents, their loss on 15,000,000 dozen (which I understand is about the number consumed annually) would be $750,000. In that case wouldn't the producer's loss be the consumer's gain, and wouldn't the latter have saved $750,000 on eggs with which to buy other necessities? I desire to see Oregon prosper as much as any one, and If our prosperity depends on a high tariff, then I am strong for it, but it looks to me that lowering the tariff on eggs favors the consumer the same amount that it hurts the producer, and surely there are more of the former than of the latter. Anyhow. I happen to be a consumer and when it is a choice be tween paying 20 or 25 cents for eggs, naturally my vote will be for the cheaper. Will you kindly explain to me where in I'm wrong, and the simpler you can word the explanation the more it will be appreciated by myself and quite a few others who understand the sub ject no better. O. K. VISION OF FINAL PEACE SEEN Far View Ahead Taken to Period When Warfare May Vanish, ECOLA, Or.. Sept. 7. (To the Editor.) The tenacity of the Kaiser to follow militarism to the end and the accom panying warlike spirit of the allies leads the onlooklng Americans to wonder what the ultimate outcome of the war will be. At present the result of this stu pendous contest Is problematical, but let us hope that a speedy readjustment of matters will soon bring "peace." Let us hope that the medieval slaugh ter will cease, when the power of peace ful thoughts will become lodged in the hearts and minds of men. Then we need fear no war, no conquests, for we will have with us the consciousness of right, which is the greatest power on earth to win. Let us hope that the Siberian glaciers, the tumultuous Germany or the Belgian lowlands will bring forth a European Lincoln, who will show these warring powers that common sense, the inner souls of men, progress and God all cry out for "peace," and may this trans-Atlantic emancipator win over the bloodthirsty to war's successor, "peace." Very truly yours, HOWARD S. M'KAY. Legal Holidays RAINIER, Or., Sept. 6. (To the Ed itor.) Will you kindly print in your paper again a list of the legal holi days in the year as well as the dis tinction between legal and National holidays. ALICE CRAVEN. There are no less than 50 legal holi days in the various states. For ex ample, May 30, Decoration day, is not a legal holiday In many of the Southern States, but, on the other hand, June 3, the birthday of Jefferson Davis, is made so by state laws in a number of states. Thanksgiving is not a statu tory holiday in some states, while every Saturday afternoon Is designated as a legal holiday in others. Some of the legal holidays In various parts of the United States are, for ex ample. Emancipation day in Porto Rico, March 22; Thomas Jefferson's birthday, April 13, In Alabama; Ben nington Battle day, August 16, Ver mont; anniversary of Texan independ ence, March 2, in Texas; Thursday of fair week in South Carolina; the birth day of Lee, January 19, In some states, and Good Friday, April 10, In others. Legal holidays that are generally ob served in all the states are New Year's day, save in Arkansas and Massachu setts; Washington's birthday, February 22; Independence day, July 4; Labor day, September 7, 1914; Columbus day, October 12, in many states, including Oregon; Thanksgiving day, November 26, 1914, in nearly all states, and Christmas, December 25. Sundays and fast days are legal holt days in all states that designate them as such. There is no fatlonal holiday, not even July 4. Congress has at various times appointed special holidays. There Is no general statute on the subject. The proclamation of the President fix ing a day of thanksgiving makes it a legal holiday in the District of Colum bia and the territories. IRISHMAN SHOULD BURY HATCHET Not Until After War Should Home Kale Be Agitated, Says Writer. PORTLAND. Sept 7. (To the Edi tor.) I never could see any good rea son for acrimony among my Irish countrymen in discussing matters vital to a common cause in our common native land. I am greatly impressed with the sug gestion of Sir Horace Plunkett in sug gesting that the home rule bill agita tion be postponed until alter the war. or at least if the bill be passed at 11. the operation of the bill be sus pended until after the war. Reason as they will, insnmen win learn in the end that the fate of Ireland hangs on the fate of England present and future; nature has ordained this, history Dears it out, common sense approves It, and what is the use of pressing home rule at this time and dividing the unity of the empire patriotically speaking? Why throw any obstacles in the way of loyal Britons now in this struggle to the death for the integrity of the Empire, which in cludes Ireland? Drop the home rule bill and Its ir ritations and disunities in this grave time when England is fighting for Irish as well as Celt and Saxon. T. J. M. Mr. TPRen to Dr. C. J. Smith. OREGON CITY, Sept 3. Dr. C. J. Smith, Democratic candidate for Gov ernor, Portland My Dear Doctor: I have been unable to learn whether you favor or oppose the $1500 homes tax exemption amendment. The only safe rule in politics when a man fails to define his position on an issue, is to assume that he is opposed. There fore, I Invite you to debate this amend ment with me before the voters. I shall be glad to have as many of these debates as you will accept The friends of this measure desire that it shall be fully and fairly presented to the voters from both sides, and I favor the amend ment' It is not Just either to the people, to Dr Withycombe, who opposes the amendment, nor to myself, favoring it. that you should get support from the friends of the measure on the theory that you favor It and at the same time get support from its opponents on the theory that you agree with them. I shall be glad to meet you at any con venient time to arrange for places of meeting, halls and other details. Sin cerely yours, W. & TJ'REN. Topical Verse Little Ctrl. You've a very narrow skirt. Little girl. Are you sure It doesn't hurt. Little girl? That's a mincing little stride Where the street is wild and wide. Are you sure there's room Inside, LitUe girl? What will happen if you slip. Little girl? Aren't you fearful It will rip. Little girl? You would better take a sack. So it anything should crack. It would serve you coming back. Little girl. Let the bottom out a bit. Little girl. It is much too tight a fit. Little glrL As the matter sadly stands, You'll be walking on your hands And In that event my lands. Little girl : Buffalo (N. Y.) News. What Nextt What of the styles for next season? What sort of hats shall we wear? What modes will show signs of reason? What shall we do with our hair? What startling dance will enthrall ua? What game of cards shall we play? What new disease must befall us? What sort of clubs will hold sway? What brand-new microbes will hurt ua? What former faith go adrift? What new reforms will divert us? What shall we try to uplift? The Club-Fellow. From -Loeksley Hall." For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see. Saw the vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be; Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails. Pilots of the purple twilight, dropping down with costly bales; Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there ratn'd a ghastly dew From the nations' airy navies grappling in the central blue; Far along the world-wide whisper of the south wind rushing warm. With the standards of the people plung ing through the thunder storm; Till the war drum throbbed no longer, and the battleflags are furl'd In the Parliament of Man, the Federa tion of the World. Alfred Tennyson. The Gaits. Thislsthewayhespeededalong, Atfortymllesanhour This Is the pace he walked back home, When busted was his power, Judge. Warning to Men. When she letteth thee recklessly spend. And laugheth to see thee go broke. Thou mayat Jolly her on without er.d. For she taketh thee but as a Joke. But when she demurreth at price. And chldeth for what thou hath spent. Thou are treading on treacherous Ice, For the maiden hath solemn Intent. Puck. The Poor Little Gay. While the legions are locked on the deadline, While the dreadnoughts are glooming the seas, While horrors of rumor and headline Give a tang to an evening of ease. Let us kneel In the dust of all faction. Let ua pray to the peace from on high For a small unspectacular fraction The poor little guy! In the fangs of the tangling wire He slips in the slime of the dead; He blinks at the spume of the fire And the scream of the stream of the lead ; And yet he knew nought of the plot ting. And nought can he profit thereby; But his is the dying and rotting The poor little guy! Let us pray for his klne in the stable. For his ass and his ox and his swine. For his chair and his plate on the table. For his cornfield and orchard and vine, For the tilth where the women are plying. For the bed where he never shall lie. For the ache that is worse than the dying The 'poor little guy! The Peace of the pure consummation Foretold in the ages before. When nation shall strive ot with na tion. Nor shall they learn war any more. But. Jesus! the carrion faces That glare at the pestilent sky, And the trench at the foot of the glacis The poor little guy! New York Sun. And Nextt When grandma toured In foreign parts, Her letters were an education Twelve pages of Impressions, sights, Heights, distances and population. Mother, doing Europe, In four pages told Whom she met and where the best Gowns and hats were sold Maud, abroad, Gets all she's able Upon two post cards And one cable. Life. Oar Dealings With Colombia. PORTLAND, Sept. 6. (To the Edi tor.) To settle a very hard-contended argument, will you kindly favor ua by answering the following questions: 1. Did Roosevelt offer Colombia $10. 000,000 for the Panama Canal rights before the Panama revolution? 2. Did the United States forbid Co lombia to send troops into the canal zone when Panama revolted? 8. Did we commence building the canal before this revolution, or after? 4. Did the House and did the Senate pass the bill giving to Colombia $25, 000,000? Did Mr. Wilson sign the bill? READER 1. Roosevelt, through Secretary Hay, made a treaty by which Colombia agreed to accept $10,000,000 for the canal rights. 2. Yes, Just as Cleveland had done In 18S5, under like circumstances. 3. After. Shortly after the revolu tion a treaty was made with Panama, granting the United States canal rights on the same terms which Colombia had rejected. 4. No. The treaty with Colombia has not been ratified. If it should be. then would be the time for the House to vote an appropriation to pay Co lombia $26,000,000 and for the Senate to act upon It. The Oregonian has published several articles explaining . the history of the controversy with Colombia. If "Reader" will refer to the files for the last few months he can get all the essential facta in the case. Yel a "Hefrnslve" War. PORTLAND. Sept. $. (To the Edi tor will you let us know If the Ger man Emperor has power to "declare war" without act of the Reichstag? W J. C. MGREW. Twenty-Five Yean Ago From The Oregonian September t, list. San Quentln The Prison Board to day adopted- a resolution prohibiting the circulation of newspaper among the convicts. This resolution does not apply to magazines or newspapers which de not contain current criminal news. Albany. Or Mrs. Marlon Probst. wife of a farmer living near this city, was riding on a streetcar here today when the horses became frightened and tried to break away This excited the woman, who threw her child from the car and leaped Into the street Her leg was broken and other Injuries were Inflicted. The child also was badly hurt. San Francisco Sylveetro Morales, the Mexican bandit, outlaw and convict, the terror of Southern Califor nia. Is at last safely behind the bars. He was arrested last night at Long Beach, Los Angeles county. The mur derer's . record surpasses that of the famous Murletta and Vaaquea, Washington Ex-Commlssloner of Pensions Dudley thinks Commissioner Tanner will neither resign nor be re moved. Mr. Tanner himself said be bad not been called on to resign. New York The New York Giants today defeated, Indianapolis. Rusle was batted freely and was poorly support ed. Paris Gladstone ascended Eiffel tower today. He was escorted by Elffel. the builder of the tower. Several newspaper men were on hand for the perilous exhibition. At Niagara Fulls Brodle waa arrested afterwards by the chief of police on a charge of attempting suicide. He was released on $500 bond to keep the peace for one year. New York After many delays and postponements John L Sullivan, heavy weight champion, was the honor guest at a reception tonight. The champion made on of his characteristic speeches Joban Poulsen and R. D. In man hav leased about six blocks In Stephens' d dltlon, on the river front, near (ho baseball grounds. The leasing conalc.r -atlon Is $70,000. The property will be used for the construction of a large sawmill. George Long, of Snell. Heltahu Woodard. will open a first-class drug store in Dlckenbock's new building, on N street, about October 1. County Superintendent Weticll has resumed his visits to the schools of the county. A party consisting of J. 8. Knight. Frank Harno, C. Carroll, D. Martina, R. Durkln. W. Gocher, L. and C. Hlrsch. C. Lai ken and A. Harold went for a deer hunt on the Sandy last Sunday. They killed three deer and caught 47 fine salmon. Among the new books received by the Library Association Is Saul 'Ilarlo, by F. Marlon Crawford. Tho discussion as to who Is the beet known person msy be regarded as closed. A recent writer In the Forum remarks "only the devil and Sarah Bernhardt are universal celebrities." Ellensburg. North Yakima and Olytn pla are battling for the capital of Washington. Deputy United States Marshal W. W Roberts has returned from an ex tensive trip through Southern Oregon serving subpenaa. The funeral of Miss Julia Nelll was held from the Cathedral yesterday morning. Vernon Jeffcott and his company re turned from an expedition to Mount Hood recently. On Wednesday evening Mrs. R. Gll- aan gave her daughter, Florence, a coming out party at her handsome resi dence. Eighteenth and J streets. The following Invitation card has been received from Haselton. Pa., and explains also why Mr. Kauffman went East: "Mr. and Mrs. John Barton request your presence at the wedding reception of their daughter, Katherine, and Per clval C. Kauffman, on Wednesday, September 11, a to 10 o'clock. Half a Century Ago From Tbe Orsgonlan of Sspt. . 1M4. Rev. F. W. Boyakln, that sterling patriot who has faced the country's foes for nearly three years, has con sented to give a series of lectures In which he will portray the scenes of war and conquest In which he has partici pated. Undoubtedly this "fighting chap lain" will have crowded audiences. We have received a communication from Ames chapel In which complaint s made that It bss been the habit of some residents of Portland to ride out to that place on 8undays, Interrupt the exercises of worship and Sabbath school and desecrate the day with shooting and gambling matches. The writer of the communication threatens to give the names of those who have given the annoyance unless the practice Is stopped. The great mortality among the French troops at Acapulco previously Dnounced is confirmed. Headquarters Army of the Potomac, Sept. 5. Last night our batteries along the entire line saluted the enemy for an hour and a half In honor of the tak ing of Atlanta by Sherman. New York The United States frigate Niagara seized the rebel frigate Geor gia, 20 miles off Lisbon, and put a crew aboard and sent her to New York. The Portland schools are crowded to overflowing, and at the school meeting tonight plans for new buildings In the First and Third wards will De taken up. Judge Huelat, of Oregon City, nar rowly escaped drowning Wednesday evening in Clackamas Rapids. He waa In a small boat going down tbe Wil lamette and was unmindful of tbe re moval of the dam. He lost his boat and meerschaum pipe. We print this morning, on another page, a new and favorite song, "Just Before the Battle, Mother," which will be sung nightly by Joe Mabbot at Wil lamette Theater. Rev. H. C. Benson, the newly-ap pointed editor of the Pacific Christian Advocate, arrived in the city last night from California, coming overland. The committee on a new city charter read Its report at the meeting of the Common Council last night. An American Made Waist Line America and not Paris will this season tlx the latitude of the waist American made corsets will fill the gap made vacant by the cur tailment of Imports. And women who have never worn domestic corsets will probably be surprised at the splendid fit and fin ish of the standard American makes Every year American made cor sets hsve been growing better and this season they will come Into their own. What are the best makes? You will find them advertised from time to time In this newspaper.