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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 22, 1914)
T1TE MORXIXG OREGOXIAN, TTJESPAY, SEPTEJIBITR 22. 1014. PORTLAN1J, OREGON. Entered at Portland, Oregon, postofflce a eeoeBd-clau miur. SueserlpUoa Ulu-Invariably In Advenoe. (By Mall) Dally, Bandar Included, one year $8.0 XJaily, Sunday Included, six months 4.-5 Baily. Sunday Included, three months ... .45 fully, Sunday Included, on month ..... Illy, without Sunday, one year -0o pally, without Sunday, six months .5 pally, without Sunday, three month" .... 1-14 XJally. without Sunday, on month VVoaUy, eno year 1.60 uoday, one year ,. Z.6U bondvy and Weekly, one yea S-W) (By Carrier) pally, Sunday Included, one year $.0 illy. Sunday lneluJod, one month 73 mow to Kemtt Send Postotrleo money or. oer, express order or personal check on your u- ucui. ciamps, com or currency are at ri. ui foatotiice aaoress in iui lucludlnc county and slat. Post Bates 12 to IS paces. 1 eent; IS to 82 pages, Jt cants; 84 to 4s pages, 8 cents; 60 to 60 pages, 4 cents; 63 to 7tS pages, b cents; 78 to U2 Paget, cents. Foreign post- vuuoie raiea , Kaatera Business Offices Verree & Conk iln, Mew York. Brunswick building. Chi cago. Stenger building. 8an Francisco Office R. J. Bldwell Co. T4a Market street. I"ORTLA?n, TCESDAY, SEPT. 22, 114. CiTREKCHED ARMIES. In the savage fighting that now extends along: the battle line in France use of cover is necessary. But for their lines of trenches the opposing armies could not stand up long against combined Infantry, artillery and ma chine gun fire. At the same time to lie in one trench and shoot an enemy out of another has been 'found im practicable. The trench is useful only as a harbor between charges or in re sisting a charge. The trench makes it possible for a force to hold its position when otherwise it might be forced to yield. With both armies burrowed into the ground an action of this sort might be continued indefinitely, but the re ports show that forces are continually leaving their sheltered positions and advancing to drive out. the sector of the opposing - line In its immediate front. There is no more desperate type of warfare conceivable, for the reason that the line which leaves its trenches must sustain fearful losses: The entrenched riflemen are able to practice deadly marksmanshjp and to maintain fire superiority until the last possible moment. When the advanc ing Una breaks and retreats the execu tion) become even more deadly, for the intrenched riflemen now have won the point of supreme fire superiority and may be harassed only by artillery which seek to cover the withdrawal, and whieh, in its turn, is being pounded by the hostile batteries. If the advancing line is launched with sufficient force and spirit to take a line of trenches at the point of the bayonet very little may be gained. The enemy may retire into a fresh line of trenches close at hand. Thus the ad vantage has been one of gaining a few yards, which may have to be returned shortly in the face of a counter assault from fresh troops thrown in from sup ports or reserves. So far the most effective tactics in meeting a situation of this kind have been displayed by the handful of Brit ish who are -on the French firing line. The British have been able to drive the Germans out of a number-of in trenched positions by an order of ad vancing that is less destructive to their exposed lines. It is the British plan to advance a skirmish line as far as the fire can be sustained and then dig. "While details are not given in the dis patches, the plan is described from London as a draft on Japanese tactics such as were used in the Manchurian campaigns. Hurling themselves against the Russian trenches, the Japanese would throw out a long, thin line, which would advance as far as possible and then fall and dig with intrenching tools and bayonets. Each skirmisher would scallop out a shallow rifle pit. lying as close to the ground as possi ble and digging for all he was worth. As soon as a shallow pit was shaped out the first line would rise and ad vance as far as possible and fall to digging again. At the same time a second Japanese line would be pushed forward to occupy and deepen the pits Just abandoned by . the first line. A third line would press forward to com plete the pits. At the same time the Russian fire would be kept down as far as possible by artillery and In fantry fire. Arriving at the point where an ordinary line might be com pelled to fall back in disorder from heavily-manned trenches, the Japa nese would be intrenched and thus en abled to hold their position, recover, reinforce and later deliver a bayonet charge from close quarters. In this way they drove out Russian line after Russian line from positions that it seemed impossible to assail with hope of success. If the French could adopt this method they might find it of great value in the desperate struggle now taking place where the armies have been converted into burrowing devices that emerge to fight only at favorable intervals. If troops knew they would have shelter ou reaching the point be yond which it was not practicable to go on account of losses and fire vol ume spirit would be added to their forward movement. The project would appear less hopeless, less one-sided. The difficulty is that the French have not been specially trained in Each op erations, and possibly will not under take them for that reason. If the Germans are still using their massed methods of advance their losses must be frightful, since not even a dense and determined line can hope to beat down the fire of men who are protected by breastworks. It remains for the survivors, fed in from heavy supports, to complete the coup at the point of the bayonet. It is unlikely that even German commanders would be willing to pay the price in a long sustained battle. They might prefer to let the allies continue the tactical offensive in the hopes that the French would spend much of their energy tn attacking trenches. But unless the French line is broken shortly we shall expect to hear of a shifting of German forces into a new battle line farther north, where the terrain is clear and level. CHANGING TEXTBOOKS. There is no excuse for frequent ; changes of textbooks In the public schools. If knowledge increased as .; fast as these periodical changes seem to indicate everything in heaven and earth would be known in a short time and all the investigators would have - to shut up shop. As a matter of fact, there are very few important advances in knowledge in most periods of ten, or even twenty years, and none whatever that affect common school children as a rule. Primary arithmetic was as well known a thousand years ago as it is now. Grammar, geography, history, literature books need revision one In twenty years or such a matter, but it is absurd to revise them oftener. American schools make altogether tOO much Of the tnthnnV Tt chmil be subordinate to the living teacher ana snouia aid her oral instruction, not make a slave of her.- In many particulars our schools An Tpks tii. lent work than we' may reasonably ask or them, and one of the reasons for the deficiency is textbook worship. FROM TUK MAN ON HORSEBACK. Having completed in a' blase of publicity his most recent vaudeville stunt of riding a circus horse through me corridors of the State Canitol. governor West finds time to issue a manifesto on the finances of his ad ministration wherein ha Annlu with some evidences of excitement, nearly ail The Oregonlan had to say, and much The Oregonian did not say. the other day about the wasteful West management of .the State Penitentiary. The Oregonian will merely remark now that all it has said on that sub ject la fully supported by the records. The State Penitentiary is now costing the taxpayers -of Oregon $25,000 per year more than under any previous administration It may be recalled that a couple of years ago the Governor dismissed the penitentiary superintendent (a political inheritance from Governor Chamber lain) because of loose financial di rection; but it is a fact that his suc cessor has made even a poorer show ing; and there are now eighty-five fewer prisoners on the roll. Governor West has a dim idea that there is such a person as the over burdened taxpayer. But he thinks evidently that he was made to pay, and to be fooled into the notion that he is getting more than his money's worth. There is a great deal of pre tentious and Insincere talk from the executive office about economy; and here and there la hurled forth a veto, such as the Governor's disapproval in 1913 of the general appropriation bill, because there were "items and amounts of questionable merit." Just what those items and amounts were the Governor did not say. Is it possi ble that they were the items increas ing the salary of his own private sec retary from $200 to 1250 per month, or for the Governor's traveling ex penses from $500 to ' 11000 for the blennium, or 12500 for incidental expenses? No previous Governor was ever treated so well by the Legisla ture in the matter of expenses for his own office; ajid none ever requited such consideration so illy. OCR LOSS. Nearly six million dor en eggs many of them from Chinas ?were im ported into the United States in the nine months ending June 30,1914, (be fore the war and when prices were not influenced by war conditions.) More than seven million pounds of butter were imported in the same period. For the same nine months there were imported 11,843,166 bushels of corn, 22,278,137 bushels of oats, 143,- 885 tons of hay, 11,889,752 worth of milk and cream, fresh and condensed. 1.416,566 bushels of beans. 810.956 bushels of onions, 1,652,658 bushels of potatoes and 223,146,052 pounds of wool' In every case there was a large In crease. over the same period in the previous year, under the old tariff. The total value of agricultural im ports (most of them now free of duty) received between October 1, 1913, and June 39, 1914, was $129,280,817, as against 349,853,631 for the corre sponding nine months in 1912-13. Thus 3129,280,817 was sent out of the country to purchase articles raised at home. The direct loss in trade to the American, producer was $129, 280,817. Is or is not home industry worth protecting? WHAT'S IN A NAME? The point on which the Supreme Court has rendered the opinion leaves hs In doubt as to whether Judge Clee ton is Circuit Judge or still County Judge, and casts more or less of a legal cloud on all probate proceedings transacted by the Circuit Court in Multnomah County in the last four teen months or so. The consti tution forbids the Legislature to pass any special or local law regu lating the practice in courts of justice. Practice in the County Court and Cir cuit Court differs in certain particulars. The law in question, passed in 1913. abolished the offioe of County Judge In Multnomah County alone, created a new department in the Circuit Court of Multnomah County and transferred probate practice theretofore conducted in the County Court to the Circuit Court, The Circuit Courts of the state can not try a case summarily. In probate practice, however, trial of a rejected claim against an estate may be tried summarily, that is, without formal pleadings. Summary trial of a con tested claim was attempted in the Cir cuit Court of Multnomah County un der the late law, which transferred probate practice in this cbunty alone to the Circuit Court. Attorneys ques tioned the Jurisdiction of the Circuit Court and the Supreme Court held that the new law was a local act at tempting to regulate the practice in courts of Justice, and was therefore unconstitutional. But the court's decision, it would seem, is needlessly brief and indefi nite. It is not clear whether it has held that the entire act is unconstitu tional or only that portion transfer ring the probate practice. We may still have a sixth department in the Circuit Court and no County Court, or we may have a County Court and enly five Circuit Courts. Nobody knows which. But that is characteristic of our courts. They decide only the questions of the moment. No matter what the possible collateral effects of a decision may be, the lawyers must be left to guess at them until the new issues are taken up and. the court's at tention formally called thereto. We have never seen the necessity for such prolongations of doubt in important matters, and doubtless every layman who will give it a thought will be un able to understand why the possible inconvenience to the court in making an original investigation in connection with possible results and deciding at once questions that are bound to fol low a decision of this kind should out weigh the convenience of the entire public. But customs have no stronger hold on our courts than do forms and tech nicalities. A simple change in phrase ology would probably have rendered the act in question entirely constitu tional, and yet its effect would not have been changed in the least par ticular. The constitution now permits the Legislature to create any kind of court it may desire. Instead of abol ishing the office of County Judge in Multnomah County and transferring his legal work to the Circuit Court, had the Legislature created a court half Circuit and half County we think the act would have held. Therefore Judge Cleeton could have hung a sign on his door on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays announcing, "I am today County Judge;, bring on your probate matters," while on Tuesdays, Thurs days and Saturdays he could have changed thelgn to "Circuit Judge." Thus practice in the courts of jus tice would not have been changed by a local law. But today, practically because the sign on Judge Cleeton's door reads "Department 6" and he is styled "Circuit Judge," he can try no probate cases. Behind that name and that title exists a formula of procedure that may not be changed except by general law. The special or local change, even though the quality of Justice be not altered, and thotigh the measure of convenience is improved, is unlawful. But change the wording on the door and the title of-the Judge and all is well. We go to wonderful lengths to pre serve forms and precedents in our courts, and our worship of technicali ties is a" shining example to those who profess to adore higher and more im portant things. But, considering forms. precedents and technicalities, we doubt not that the Supreme Court is right. The law is unconstitutional and probate matters are in a frightful mess. WHY SHOULD WK KEFZNET There is solid comfort for this country in the fact, while the war has struck a severe blow to our for eign trade, it has sent up the value of our grain and hay crops to war prices in a year of bumper crops. Usually bumper crops mean low prices; this year short crops in several countries of Europe have combined to send prices to such a total . that the Chicago Tribune estimated the in crease in farm value of the four prin cipal cereal crops and the hay crop over the value of the same crops last year at $621,000,000. This sum of extra profits will spread prosperity among the farmers and enable them to buy liberally of all commodities and make great improvements. About 300,000,000 bushels of wheat will be available for export. At $1.10 this should bring $330,000,000 into the United States, which will probably more than offset the decrease in ex ports of cotton and will help to com pensate for the decrease in foreign oommerce generally. It was impossible that in a time of almost world-wide war, embracing three-fourths of each of three conti nents, the business of this country should not be injured. The wonder Is that we have come through the crisis incident on the outbreak of war so well. As it is, our trade with Ger many and Austria has been destroyed, that with Belgium is almost gone, but that with France and Russia is fair, that with Great Britain, our best cus tomer and whence we buy most, is im proving and that with Japan is nor mal. Recovery . of our foreign trade should be continuous from this time. Great Britain controls the ocean, and her commerce with us will continue to revive, subject only to the limita tions due to the decreased supply of ocean tonnage. The same statement, is true of Great Britain's colonies and' allies, and of the neutral countries of Europe and Asia. There will remain to be made up in other quarters the loss due to destruc tion of our commerce with ' Germany, Austria and Belgium, which totals $421,850,370 In exports and $250,096,- 499 in imports. Our new merchant marine and our new foreign banking system should enable us to fill this veld by supplying South America with what it urgently needs, but can no longer get from Europe, and by taking in exchange as much of the southern continent's produce as we can absorb or sell abroad. Our trade with South America in the fiscal year 1913 was about $364,000,000 out of a total of about two billions. We shall need nearly to treble this in order to -make up our losses in trade with the three countries named. The way is open,' competitors are - too much en grossed in other business to Interfere with ns and buyers are 'eager to deal with us. If we do not make the most of the opportunity, we don't deserve success. COST OF THE WAR, The mind is so Impressed by the enormity of the- war that there is a tendency to exaggerate its cost in lives and wealth, although this threatens to be so vast as to be be yond range of exaggeration. The loss in life has already been terrible, but the greater it is among the actual combatants in the early stages of the conflict, the less it is likely to be in the aggregate. The long wars of the past have carried pestilence and famine in their train. The number of deaths from these causes in such struggles as the Thirty Tears and the Napoleonic wars must have far exceeded the number killed in battle. ' Unburted dead and unsan itary conditions in camps spread epi demics through wide stretches of oountry. Devastation of crops caused hosts of noncombatants to perish from famine, and fear that armies would destroy or seize new crops must have prevented survivors from sowing seed for more than their own bare subsistence. The more desperate the fighting is now, the more prospect there is that one side or the - other will soon gain the upper hand and bring the struggle to a close before the time comes to plant another crop. Hence the present carnage affords this consolation, that it may lessen the loss ,of life by starvation or the per manent physical weakness due to lack of nourishment, which will be the sequel. Pestilence will probably work less havoc in the present than it did in ancient wars, for . modern medicine, surgery and sanitation have done wonders to avert it. In former times armies made the country In which they encamped almost uninhabitable by their lack of the simplest sanitary knowledge. In the Thirty Tears war Gustavus Adolphus' army practically drove itself out of Its own camp at Nuremburg with the filth of its sur roundings. When epidemic disease broke out in an army or in an invaded country It ran its course practically unhindered, and was aided by the mental depression and low physical condition of noncombatants. Though doubtless death will claim its thou sands from these causes during the present war, the toll thus levied will be insignificant by comparison. In calculating the money cost of the war, it is usual to count all the arms, munitions, food, clothing and transportation used and, destroyed, but modern militarism has made much of this cost an annual expense in peace as well as In war. Arms of all kinds, large stores of ammunition, much food, clothing and transport had al ready been provided and paid for before the war began. . That amount of money had - already been wasted. The additional waste will consist of the new supplies of all kinds provided to replace those consumed, the new arms to replace those destroyed. Tre mendous waste will result from de struction of railroads, bridges, roads, buildings, crops and forests all parts of a nation's gradual accumulations of material wealth. The world suffers the loss of the labor of the men who are employed In destructive war instead of pro ductive peace. It has been estimated that there are 10,000,000 men under arms. At $1 a day each, the loss would total' $10,000,000 a day from this cause alone. But a large propor tion of these men were already main tained in idleness in the standing armies; the additional loss chargeable to the war is only the labor of the new forces called to the colors. Industry and development suffer from the withdrawal for warlike use of vast amounts of .capital, and from the higher rates' of interest which must be paid for what remains avail able for peaceful arts. But a large proportion of this capital had al ready been withdrawn for war prep arations and should be charged to militarism in general, not to this par ticular war. This war is directly answerable only for the additional capital expended upon it. If, as some believe and as all hope, some but -faintly, this war should prove the deathblow to militarism and should result in the final settlement of those European conflicts which produced militarism, the world would have won its deliverance from its greatest curse at a small price, huge as that price is. The war equipment which is now being destroyed would not need to be replaced except in small measure. The annual with drawal of capital from industry for maintenance of armies and navies would be reduced to that necessary for comparatively small forces. Hosts of men who now spend several of the best years of their youth in military training would be released for domes' tic industry. Many arsenals, navy yards, forts, camps, maneuver grounds could be- restored to productive use. Taxes could be reduced, capital would become more abundant for produc tive use, interest rates lower, and pro duction increased. Terrible as the cost may be, if this war be fought out to a decisive issue and if it prove the deathblow to mili tarism, humanity will be the gainer. Then it would prove to have been a war upon war. Americans are Joining the British force in considerable numbers. There's a certain type of American adventurer who can't be kept out of any fight. It is safe to say that there are American citizens in every army in Europe. There is no great need for a name for the war yet. The name may sug gest Itself later and may range to any thing from the Great Three Months' war to the . - Conquest of Europe. Fill In the blank space according to your leanings. It is charged at Berlin that the British stored ammunition supplies in France before the war commenced. If that is true the British army is more provident than it has been given credit for. English dentists will treat free the teeth of all who want to go to the front. An appointment with the den tist should suffice to send even the bravest hurrying away to the firing line. Aha! A market for the Oregon apple! Ship by way of Siberia. The Russians lived for six days on noth ing but apples while chasing the Aus trians. The Germans charge that the French seventy-five-millimeter field gun is a device of butchery, not of warfare. Such distinctions are too. subtle for us. Only the vigor and vitality of an outdoor life could have enabled the two survivors of the Leggett wreck to endure those many hours adrift in the storm. Tactics having failed thus far to settle the battle of the Aisne, the strategists are now trying their hand at turning the German right wing. Suffragists want President Wilson to lead a movement to bring about peace. Hasn't he already attempted two such movements? , Does the trip of Postmaster Myers, a Lane appointee, to Washington mean that George and Harry are at last do ing team work? Although the war is costing them millions It will be noted that the newspapers are not raising their prices. v So far no General has established headquarters in The Hague peace pal. ace, but then, the war is young. Mrs. Flagler is making more face over a missing necklace than the small boy who loses his only nickel. The Russians are trying to take Przemysl. That ought to be easier than trying to pronounce it. A great cathedral strikes the artil lery officer as being valuable only as a target or almlng-polnt. Switzerland may demand a war In demnity from the powers. For dam age to her tourist crop? fa Anon we shall have a new veteran organization, "Veterans of the Strand ed Tourist Rush." The miraculous thing is that there were any survivors of the ill-starred Leggett. In the third round the French ap pear to "have & shade." AH the roads are leading toward Pendleton this week. Belgium continues to be a thorn tn the German side. The campaign in the Orient is warming up. We win not object now to another drought. Save your pennies to pay the war tax. ... Half a Century Ago. From The Oregonian. September 22. 164. General Alvord and stall accompanied General McDowell to the mouth of the Columbia River yesterday to inspect the fortifications at Cape Disappoint ment and at Fort Stevens, near Point Adams. They were found in a very satisfactory state of progress. The fortifications of Scarborough Point, opposite Point Adams, will be the work next commenced. A tombstone eutter abbreviated the motto, "Let her rest in peace," for the want of space. The epitaph read, "Let her r. i. p." Washington, Sept. 20. (By Overland Telegraph). The President has ap pointed Sheridan Brigadier-General in the Army, and assigned htm to the per manent command of the Middle Military Division, as a result of his victory over Early at Berryvillo Pike. London, Sept. 19. The Times, in a city article or September 6. in noticing the feeling of panic which the peace prospects in America created, seeks to modify the financial apprehensions it had raised by arguing it premature to regard peace as certain. The City Assessor, J. W. Going, has completed the assessment for 1864, and is prepared to make his report to the Jity council this evening. A new lighthouse is about to be elected, at Port Angeles by the Federal uivernnient. Miss Arabella Shrlver and W. E. Kendall were married last Tuesday. The Rev. Thomas H. Pearne officiated. The recent Introduction of spice and mustard business in this city was hailed aa an advent or progress. It was ex pected to add another of the great Denents to arise from home industry. and so it would if our own merchants and business men would adopt the rule of home patronage. We have tried the products of the establishment of Messrs. Hudson & Williams, and pronounce their oila and spices of first-rate quality. s The steamer Rival lands her freight and passengers at Couch s wharf, dur ing the temporary rush at the steam ship landing. Incident to the arrival of the Brother Jonathan's cargoes par river steamers. The steamship Brother Jonathan, t. i. DeWolf commanding, arrived at the mouth of the Willamette River yesterday morning. Her pas sengers and reight were brought to the city by the river steamer John H. Couch. Among the passengers were Mrs. Rogers L Bloom. Mrs. James Levy, J. Mayer and M, Jacobs. WHAT AVAR IS TO THOSE AT HOME Contributor Recalls Childhood Days ef Trouble During; Civil War. ROSEBURG, Or., Sept.. 16. (To the Editor.) Passing the bulletin boards one will be attracted by the crowd drinking and absorbing the war news when soma great battle has claimed its toll in human slaughter; the greater the casualty the greater seems their delight One shudders at this spirit In our rising generation. Are we getting ready for some future war? When one stops to consider that for each 1000 slain in battle 3000 innocent hearts are torn mothers, fathers, sweethearts "somebody's darlings," let them be Lossacks or others. Though young in years, how indeli ble are events stamped on my mind that occurred in our Civil War. How happy I was when father came home on furlough with those bright out tons and blue clothing with very mod est stripes on nis arms, won at Shi loh. But later, while I was resting on mother's knee, a neighbor knocked at our door, handing mother a letter with a red badge on the envelope. 1 can see tnose dear ringers yet as they nervously tore off Its end, one glance inside, she dropped it. drawing me nearer . her heart, her tsars streaming over my tow head. Press ing her lips to mine, she sobbed, "Your father is dead." A dear neighbor lady came in to try to help lift . the burden, little dreaming that next day she, too. would hear the death knell her two hoys were killed. John Hartman, the eldest. naa aiea, as everyone knew he would. tne llrst on tne enemy s breastworks. Aa he was falling, riddled with bullets, his weight sank the flagstaff deep in the earthen works. Seeing Old Glory waving, with a mighty cheer, the boya won the day. Ellas Humphrey, one. of our nearest neighbor's boys, left a broken-hearted mother. A copperhead living in our vicinity escaped duty by giving this young man $1000 as substitute to bet tar enable him to stay at home and make life miserable for the old men and women. 1 The wounded," when able to travel. would be given a furlough home to con valesce; but how different the wounds then and now. Instead of a clean little puncture, made with a small caliber bullet, neatly covered with a steel or nickel sheath to guard against blood poisoning, and with such a velocity that a bone could be punctured without breaking; quite different was the slow, large minie ball. The shook was greater and in a majority of cases the ball remained in the body to be probed after, after carrying a large patch of ciotning with it. Live, we did not; we existed. Not to know where the next meal was com ing from was almost universal. - My mother passed over years ago. 1 can still hear her voice and recall many things only a mother can do. One stands out In hold relief, "a mother's suggestion" with six little hungry mouths to feed, none old enough to be of material help. One evening, rainy and dismal, nothing but bad news from our army, and almost every home in the country In mourning, the house was empty of edibles other than the milk from one old faithful cow "Brownie;" we were all teasing for supper; poor mother looked crushed; then of a sud den she Jumped up and said, "We will have a great feast. Just think of it! Yum! Vum! Bonnie clabber!" Like magio the suggestion struck us, and such a supper! I never tasted any food so good. We loaded our little stomachs and went to bed happy and slept sound ly all night; but now I can see dear mother crying and lying awake think ing of the morrow. In this European war, as in our war, we will lose the best blood. The young, strong boys will be there, first to receive the shock, leaving the sickly and imperfect ones to bring on the next generation, instead of those of ruddy face and fine physique. The un dersized weaklings will predominate. We wonder if Ood In his mercy can forgive some of those crowned heads who have caused this slaughter? Thou sands of individuals that have met bayonets' thrusts have given up Uvea more worthy than those jewel-bedecked monarch. " 'Tls for us to mourn" the blood that in soaking neu tral and - Other grounds carries the same elements that course through many of our veins. JOHN W. TOLLMAN. Definition ef a German Fend. London Tit-Bits. The German pound is exactly one half a kilogram, or about one-tenth more than the American and English pound. Land Being Built Oat to Sea. Indianapolis News. Land Is being built out to sea from the mouth of the Mississippi River at an estimated average rate of 309 feet a year. GOLD TO SUCCOR f NOJTE FOR WAR America Mast Be strictly Kentral. bat Borrows for Unfortunate. HILLSDALE, Or, Sept. 21. (To the Editor.) Ever since the Turkish Am bassador at Washington made the state ment that England tried to lead us Into a "vulgar trap," to draw the United States into the atrocious conflict In Eu rope, the feeling seems to be gaining ground that It may yet come to pass so much so that even our Ambassador to Germany found it necessary to make a public denial In Germany of these maliciously circulated rumors, and as sure the warring nations that we were to maintain absolute neutrality. Permit me to state to those who are trying to stir up an unfriendly feeling against any one of the fighting nations that from the very nature of the case, even if some had a desire to participate in the fearful struggle, wo must main tain a stfiot neutrality, because we are a nation of many nationalities whose feelings naturally lean toward the land that gave them birth, and yet are true, peace-loving citizens of these United States. Suppose Just suppose we would fall Into this "vulgar trap." or any other trap, and take sides with the so-called allies, that the 5,000,000 or more Ger mans of foreign nativity, but now home and peaceful Inhabitants of the United States, most of whom, if not all, Ameri can citizens, owning their own farms or other homes, would sit quietly down with their hands in their laps? Well, hardly. Again, if we should side with Ger many, that the millions of other foreign citizens whose, feelings are with the allies would sit down quietly with their hands In their laps? Hardly. In either case there would sweep such a tidal wave of protest from the scores of the Pacific to the Atlantio seaboard that would shake the very foundation of our national existence. Fortunately, we have a peace-loving man In the White House. President Wilson no doubt understands and ap preciates the situation thoroughly. Is too level-headed and Arm to be stam peded from the path of neutrality laid down by himself In the beginning and evidenced and emphasized by his quiet and dignified reply to the honorable commissioners of Belgium and to the Kaiser or Germany, and in this deter mination every true American should uphold the hands of our President. But heed the warning, that while we will maintain strict neutrality, if one or several of these nations should In tentionally insult the Stars and Stripes they will find a united Nation; the mil lions of Irish and Germans would stand shoulder to shoulder with the millions of native Americans on the firing line, the same as they have in the last 50 years on several occasions and won out. Our sincerest sympathies are with the boys and men in the field who are in sanely murdered, and our hearts bleed for the woman and children, regardless of nationality, who always have to bear .the brunt of calamities. The time is not far distant when the cry of distress, hunger -and possibly starvation will be wafted to .us by wireless across the Atlantic Ocean, and then America will rise to the occasion as wo always have, and shipload after shipload of wheat, flour, meats and other, provisions will follow the Red Cross nurses, pay or no pay. America, has plenty of money for provisions to succor those in distress, but no money for powder and bullets. HENRT E. DOSCH. STATE MACHINE SEEMS WORRIED Dr. WItTMsibes Fltaeaa for Gover nor's Chair Alarm Clique. La Grande Observer. The state political machine compris ing West. Oleott. the Portland Journal and a few more seem worried very badly worried. They believe quick action must be taken on Dr. Withy combe; that he must be killed off early tn the campaign, so all aruns ira be ing trained on this gentleman whose neart ana soul are In the upbuilding of the Governor's chair, who will en courage the further cultivation of the soil, else they would support Withycombe, whose long career with the Oregon Agricultural Col lege makes him a man especially fitted for this epoch In Oregon's history, when the state must turn its attention to im proving the soil and raising heavier crops. The state machine seems to be op posing Withycombe because he de mands economy in office. This is something the present machine has not had, as the records of taxation win snow. But how about the people of the state? Will they be for Withycombe. who stands for betterment of condi tions, for a reduction In expenses, for more and better farming? We be lieve thoy will so register their votes In preference to standing by a state machine that has raised taxes to an unbearable burden; that has never fostered or encouraged the agricul tural pursuits, but rather has associ ated and played with men who make their money easpy; who handle big business; who make the prices of cereals that the fanner raises; who dicker and deal rather than toll and produce. The state machine in fighting Withycombe is fighting a man of the plain, common people a man who Is not a politician, and a man whom the progressive element of Oregon re gardless of party lines can consistent ly support and be proud of so doing. Letters by Express. PORTLAND. Sept. 21 (To the Edi tor.) Can an express package, that has one or more verses on outside wrapper that refer to consignee, be construed as letter? If verses contained no obscene, pro fane or threatening language, would it be unlawful to send such express pack age? Can an express company refuse to forward such package? HUGH STUART. The verses would probably be con strued aa a letter, and it Is unlawful to enolose with or attach to an express package any letter that does not per tain wholly to the contents of the package. Ooannen' Lean-ue Opposes Bill. PORTLAND, Sept. 21. (To the Edi tor.) A persistent report seems to be In circulation that the Consumers' League is supporting the "eight-hour law" for men and women, ballots No. S20 and 321, which the voters are called upon to pass upon In November. The Consumers League has never taken any action to approve this law, which seems to me extreme legislation ana injurious to sane laws limiting working hours which have been in dorsed by the Consumers' Leasrue here and elsewhere. MART MONTGOMERY TALBOT. President Consumers' League of Oregon. Aa Extremist. (Washington Star.) "I'm afraid," said Mr. Chuitrlns. "that a man can be over-conscientious about running a motor car." Have you been that way?" "Yes. I grew so Interested in slowing down to avoid violating the speed limit mat a policeman nad to threaten to arrest me for standing too long in one piaco. Governing a City. Puck. Stranger Upon what plan are your city Institutions conducted? Citizen A sort of let-George-do-lt system without any George. Common Complaint. - Judge. Visitor Are you having any trouble to find work for the unemployed here? Uncle Eben Nope. Oar trouble here Is to get work out of the employed. Twenty-Five Years Ago From The Oregonian. Sept. 10. 1889. Snohomish. Wash Fire, which start ed in the dry-house of Blevckman Bros.' extensive sawmills, sash and door fac tory and immense lumber yards last night, did $150,000 damage. For a time the town was in danger. John L Wil son. Republican candidate for Congress, was addressing a large audience In the opera-house when the alarm was Bounded. A panio nearly ensued. Tacoma Samuel Collier, cashier of the Merchants National Bank, left last night for Kansas City to represent the wasmngton bankers at the American Bankers' Association meeting. Salem More than 15,000 peopJe at tended the State Fair yesterday. New York The board of directors of the Northern Pacifio Railroad yester day checked the plans of President Vil lard as being too radical. The move had to do with the $180,000,000 blanket mortgage. The directors said the oppo sition to Villard was wholly in the in terest of conservatism. V Paris P. Huntington emphatically denies the report that his daughter is engaged to Prince Hatzfeldt. The state ment says: "I don't mean to find fault with Hatzfeldt for being a Prince . . . . . but I don't see any reason why be should necessarily become my son-ln-law. I'll admit my opinion of him Is vastly better, however, than it was when 1 left homo." President Harrison has appointed A. N. Gilbert postmaster at Salem, Or., In the place of Richard H- Dearborn, de ceased. The carpenters are practically through with their work on Dr. Raf etys residence in Brooklyn. The contracts for the telegraph line from Tillamook Rock to Fort Stevens have been let. The cable will be sup plied by John M. Cline. The Marysville baseball team, chaxn plona of Montana, arrived last nigiit and will play the Willamette? at Clin ton & McCoy's grounds tomorrow and Sunday. Dr. and Mrs. W. 11. Savior Jennie Caples returned from the East yesteraay. Joseph Woods has formed a partner ship with J. W. Stiles In the manufac ture of Saratoga chips. W. H. Mack is a member of the John IL Russell Company, which will play Tuesday evening at the New Park The ater in "The City Directory." Quebec Several thousand tons ef rock slid from Cape Diamond, at the end of Dufferin Terrace, the noted promenade. Thirteen dead and 16 wounded have been taken out of the debris. Salt Lake City Mrs. Hiram Mell. ef Malad. Idaho, has given birth to aex tupleta They weighed 18 pounds all together. They are all quite hearty and promise to live. Henry M. Flagler, the Standard Oil millionaire, la going to lay out an ex tensive Winter baseball grounds in C. Gorham. of Washington. D. C. ex-secretary of the United States Senate and in 18S7 the Republican nominee for Governor of California, when he was defeated by Henry M. Haight, has been making a short stay In Portland. THE YAMHILL FARMER. It's paradise to tho eity-born This land of chicken and kale and v corn. Where the farmer rises at peep of day To hunt his heifer or haul his hay. To plough potatoes or plant his peas. Or, In contemplation recline at ease. But his chief diversion at early morn Is eatin' fried bacon with kale and korn. Each wealthy farmer there's several score. Owns a hundred acres, or maybe fonr. But his future from shadow of want is shorn By his acres of 'taters' and kale and corn. A lord of the earth, in truth, is he. As independent as mortal eu be. On his horizon, looms no trace forlorn He has Holstelns, Jerseys, tomatoes and corn. Tho fruitful orchards, the oak-clad hills. The wells of water and running rills. The wide, rich valley, its fringes green. And tne Yamhill River that flows between Where the sheep and cattle come down to drink. 'Neath the willows and alders that dot its brink. Its noiseless depths so placid and still That it seems tho river must flow uphill. The Yamhill farmer, a worthy wight. Respects his neighbors and treats them right. He wots not, cares nor nor gives a dang Though foreign nations should all go ban g ! Let them butcher in Russia and Mex ico. Let the tide of war run high or low. He banquets daily at eve and morn. On rutabagas and kalo and corn. He harvests his hops and hoards his hay. And earns snug income every day. He picks tho pickles and prunes tho prunes, And swaps the surplus for gold doubloons. Oh! tho Yamhill firm er ! a Baron, ho. An absolute monarch, 'side you and me. With never a care from night until morn Save wife and kiddies and calves and com. B. F. P., Portland. Sept 16. Speeding JJs Rami Life. Indianapolis News. The Kansas Agricultural College be lieves that farmers have higher aspira tions than raising prize steers and a department of rural service has befen formed to organize community welfare clubs, social centers, literary societies; co-operate with the State Board of Health on rural health problems: con duct social surveys in rural communi ties; address religious conferences: promote musical organizations; address farmers' institutes; conduct rural Chautauquas; write articles and pam phlets on rural life problems and cor respond with persons Interested in ru ral service. The rural education di vision will supervise boys' agricultural clubs and contests; girls' garden, bread, canning and other contests: boys' and girls study clubs for the school year: outline supplementary school study of agricultural and domestic science; su pervise field work in promoting voca tional education and revitalize rural villages and schools; plan and conduct boys- camps; promote athletic relations In rural communities; adress teachers' associations, school officers' meetings. Chautauquas; attend farmers' meetings and conduct two day classes In voca tional subjects for rural teachers.