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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 25, 1914)
T 12 THIS , MORNING OREGOMATf, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1914. PORTLAND, OBKGOJ. Entered at Portland. Oregon. I'ostofrics Second-class matter. Subscription Rales invariably In Advance. (By Mail) a!ly, Sunday Included, one year ....... . $8.l0 Lily. Sunds.y Included, six months 4-iifi lail. Sunday Included, Lnree months - 2.15 Laily, Sunday included, one montn Daily, without Sunday, one year 6-0u Daily, without Sunday, six months ...... Datly, without Suiiaiy, three montba I-5 Daily, without bunday, one month Weekly, od year bunuay, one year fcunday and Weekly, one year . 3.au (By Carrier) Dally, Sund.iy Included, one year .......3-O0 Daily, bunday included, one month ..... ?3 flow to Hemll bend postotfice money or der, express order or personal check on your local tank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender s risk. Give postoffice audrets in lui. iacludlus county and state. ioktac;e Bates 12 to IS pases. 1 cent; 1 . to 32 paes. z ceou; H-i to 4o pages, 3 cents; Lo to tio pages. 4 cents; tiz to o aaes, if cents; T8 to xl pases, tt cents. Foreign post age, double rates. Eastern Business Office Verree & Conk Iln, Mew York. Brunswick building- Chi cago, btenger building ban Francisco Office R. J. Bldwell Co. Market street. roBTLUiD, FRIDAY. SEPT., 25, 1914. . GREAT BRITAIN'S PROTEST. British protests against transfer to the American flag of German ships, which, after having taken refuge in American ports, are bought by Amer icans, are unsupported by interna tional law and are unwise in policy. In view of the extreme care taken by President Wilson to maintain strict neutrality it is most unfortunate that such a dispute should have arisen, for the President cannot' do otherwise than firmly uphold American rights. There is no cause to fear that this dis pute will draw the United States into the war, for the arbitration treaty and . the peace treaty recently signed and sure oJ ratification provide means for amicable settlement. The British protest is based on the contention that an enemy's ship which has taken refuge in a neutral port remains an enemy's ship throughout the war or until captured, notwith standing any ostensible change of flag or even of ownership, and is subject to capture when again out of neutral waters. The protest against purchase by Americans of belligerents' mer chant ships is based on the belief that bogus sales might be made in order to shield enemy's ships from capture by hoisting the American flag and on the contention that, even if the sales were genuine, payment of the pur chase price would constitute aid and comfort to the enemy. ' This is an attempt to narrow seri ously the right of neutrals to deal "with belligerents. If the sale were bogus in order to shield the ship from capture. Great Britain could seize it at the risk of being required to pay compensation if the owners proved before a prize court that the sale "was genuine. The owners, knowing the risk of seizure, would provide the cap tain with ample evidence that the sale to Americans was genuine and would thus secure themselves against this risk. British objections to genuine sales of German ships are not sustained by the action of the British government itself. The recent London conference agreed that belligerents should not be required to recognize transfer of ships from an enemy's to a neutral flag if this transfer was made within sixty days before a declaration of war, but this agreement has not been ratified by either the United States or the British government and is therefore" not binding on either nation. Under international law the United States is free to permit transfers of ships to American register without violating our neutrality. If British warships capture a ship thus transferred, on the plea that the transfer is a device of the enemy, they take great risks not only of being unable to prove the charge, but of incurring the hostility of the United States. In case of genu, ine sales of ships, apparently the only possible way of overcoming British objections would be to impound the purchase price or to keep the ship tied up until the war ended. In the one case there would be no induce ment to sell, in the other case there would be no inducement to buy. The United States cannot be expected to humiliate itself by thus making one of its laws of no effect at the bidding of another nation, however friendly. The United States Government has bound its citizens to a far stricter neu trality than has ever before been ob served by the British government it self. While not officially forbidding, the President has so strongly disap proved, loans of money to the bellig erents that all attempt to make such loans seems to have been abandoned. England did not prevent loans to Japan nor did France prevent loans to Russia during the Russo-Japanese war. All the capitalist nations of Europe took a hand in financing the Balkan wars. This practical prohibi tion of war loans militates far more against England's enemies than against herself and her allies, for It practically forces the belligerent na tions to finance themselves, and Great Britain certainly has a longer purse than Germany or Austria. While this action of the President was not de signed to help Great Britain and her allies, it undoubtedly has that effect. The British government should con sider this before trying to stop the flow of comparatively small sums of money to Germany through sale of refugee ships to Americans. While "the sale of arms by Individ tial Americans to belligerents is-not forbidden by neutrality laws, the President took pains to remind citi zens in his proclamation that- they make these sales at the risk of the seizure of ship and cargo at sea as contraband. He is herein in line with President Pierce; who in his message to the thirty-fourth Congress laid down the same principle and stated that such individual acts "do not in volve a breach of the National neu trality nor of themselves implicate his government." Great Britain upheld the right of her subjects to sell arms to France in 1870, disregarding the protest of Prussia that this was in compatible with strict neutrality. How the purchase by a neutral of a , belligerent's ships, which are other wise out of service but out of danger. can any more constitute a breach of neutrality than does sale of arms by citizens of a neutral to a belligerent is hard to explain. . The ship registry law is a measure taken by the United States to protect itself from the consequences of a war to which it is not a party. Since the Hague convention of 1907 justifies a neutral state in resisting violation of neutrality by force of arms without being held to have done a hostile act. surely this lesser step to avert lesser consequences of the war Is justifiable The-war has cut down our commerce and our revenues, and has obstructed Britain contends that we must not apply this quick remedy lest we inci dentally aid her foe. Should the British government per sist in -its unreasonable attitude and should the means provided by treaty fail to settle the dispute, there are other means short of war which might bring it to reason. An embargo on exports of food to all belligerent coun tries would hit Great Britain harder than any of her enemies, for she is far more dependent on this country for food than are they. There are treaties which have done much to build up Canadian ports, but they could be annulled. In large sections of this country public opinion, as re flected in the newspapers, is decidedly partial to the allies. Obstinate adher ence to an unjust claim might cause a revulsion of sentiment, which the Ger mans have been exerting themselves to bring about. John Bull would bet ter think twice, lest in trying to do a small injury to Germany, he do a greater to himself. SAVED FROM IT8 OWN' FOI.LY. "It is a disgrace," cries the Pendle ton East Oregonian (always for the pork-barrel, here and everywhere). that our river and harbor work should be thus at the mercy of such Senatorial brigandage. . . . The river and harbor bill is not opposed because it is unworthy in any respect," and more like it. Now we have the assurance of Sen ator Chamberlain that the Oregon projects will not suffer materially, un der the J20,000,000 measure. It may fairly be ' asked, if J20, 090,000 is enough, what justification there can be for a 100,000,000 measure ($50,- 000,000 cash and $50,000,000 contin gent)? Why was not a $20,000,000 act passed at the outset, so that Ore gon would not suffer at all? The truth is that the Senatorial fili buster has saved Congress from a monumental and ruinous blunder. The Democratic majority was engaged in a gigantic scheme to distribute $100,000,000 .in pork-barrel largess throughout the country, while at the same time engineering a plan to im pose a $100,000,000 war tax to make up any deficit. President Wilson ought to summon Senator Burton and his Republican confreres to the White House and publicly thank them Cor saving Con gress from itself. THE OMITTED CHAPTER. In kindly spirit and with profound admiration for the series of articles accompanied by extracts from Gover nor West's "economy", vetoes, now run ning in the Portland Journal, we sug gest to that newspaper, that it publish as soon as possible the Governor's veto of Senate Bill No. 1 of the 1911 ses sion of the Legislature. In the veto message accompanying the bill the Governor said in part: At the request of the State Land Board I return herewith Senate bill No. 1, without my approval. This bill opens the wsy for the acquisition By the several ports, as municipal corporations and without cost to them, of any and all tide lands now owned by the state, which the said ports may deem necessary for their use. The tide lands of this state have been in the past, and are now, sold to a limited extent for the benefit of the common school fund, and at prices now demanded by the State Land Board are a considerable source of revenue to the common schools. The school children of Harney and Lake counties now derive therefrom equal benefits with those of Coos and Clatsop. Should this bill become a law It will result in depriving such inland counties of part of an already scanty source of school revenue. Should the several ports need any of these tide lands for purposes in connection with the improve ment of (heir harbors it is no more than rijrht that they should be reauired to nay for them prices equivalent to their market value. The Journal is sponsor for and is urging the adoption of a constitutional amendment which prohibits the sale of tide lands anywhere in Oregon and gives to cities and towns the right to use the state's tide lands for munici pal docks without compensation to the state or the school fund. Governor West, on the ground of school fund economy and in behalf of the inland counties, has in effect ve toed the water-front measure. He has declared that the ports ought to pay the state the market price of tide lands used by them In harbor im provement. Why is not this veto message entitled to a prominent place with the Governor's other vetoes in the Journal's gripping fiction serial on Why taxes are high"? FLEGEL OR M'ARTIILR. Partisan appeal, is made for the election of Mr. Flegel as a Democratic candidate for Congress,, because he is not a standpatter, never engineered a legislative machine, never opposed Statement One, and was never a pillar and brigadier of the assembly move ment. All these atrocious things, it is declared, Mr. McArthur, the Republi can, did or was. Mr. McArthur subscribed to State ment One and was elected to the Leg islature of 1913 by a large vote. He was made Speaker, and he is there fore charged with running a legisla tive machine. He has an excellent legislative record, and he is called a standpatter because he opposed the schemings of the Democratic guber natorial machine. It might be pertinent' to inquire what Mr. Flegel has done in Portland, or anywhere, that he should be elected to Congress? But we will refrain. He Is a good man, with an excellent standing in his church and fair abil ity as a lawyer." But there are many good men who ought not to go to Con gress. Mr. Flegel is one of them. The Third Oregon District (Multno mah County and Portland) needs a vigorous and experienced man to rep resent its interests in Congress. Dur ing the recent long campaign for ap propriations for the Columbia River, the present Representative. Mr. Laf- ferty, was not heard from. He did nothing. He could do nothing. " No one thought of asking him to do anything. Mr. McArthur is the Republican candidate, and it is a political office He has fairly won the nomination. Besides, he is active, efficient, cour ageous, honest and outspoken. He has already had much to do with pub lie affairs in Oregon. Much that he has done is not pleasing to his oppo nents. Naturally enough; but that is no reason to defeat him. He is in accord with the forward movement of the times. He will be serviceable to the whole public at Washington. It is time that Portland awakened to the fact that it suffers heavily when it has no acceptable representative in the lower house of Congress. There is trouble over Paganini's vio lin. It is, of course, one of the finest in the world and the City of Genoa guards it as a precious relic. But it is going to decay for lack of use. When regularly played a violin will last forever. Left silent, time destroys it. The natural conclusion is that somebody must be found to play Pag- anini's violin in order to save it. The question of wielding Wallace's sword was tame In comparison. OLD BATTLES AM) SEW. It Is now just about fifty years since the Battle of Antietam. In Its day it was called shockingly bloody, perhaps the bloodiest of the Civil War. But there have been changes during the last half century and compared with the actions of the current war In Eu rope, Antietam was hardly more than a skirmish. It engaged no more than 1,42,000 men, 87,000 under McClellan and 55,000 under Lee. With all his superiority of - numbers McClellan came out barely victorious and Lee made a masterly retreat. The total losses of the day were 23,500, which comes to one in six of the combatants. These figures look insignificant be side those of the warring armies 'in Northern France. The allies are sup posed by the military experts to have about a million and a half of troops along their extended line, while the Germans confronting them number at least 900,000. : In the battle of the Marne, which lasted five days, the total casualties must have been more than one in six. The most insatiate reveler in gore could hardly want more than that. The common love of marvels leads many to say that the armies now in the field are the largest ever raised and the mortality greater than ever was known' before. History hardly warrants any such statements. The army with which Xerxes invaded Greece is reckoned by Herodotus at 5,000.000 men. Modem critics cut down his figures with unsparing hands, but even Grote cannot make them less than 3,000.000. This out numbers the Kaiser's invading host by a good many army corps. Compara tively few of Xerxes' troops made their way back home. Something like 2, 000,000 of them must have been lost. The monarch 'himself returned to his capital a frightened . fugitive with hardly any companions. The Saracens must have had 1,500, 000 men in the battle of Poitiers, where Charles Martel defeated them In 732. Just how great the slaughter was on that vitally important day no body knows, but it must have been enormous. In the days of their ag gressive greatness the Turks frequent ly led into the field armies numbering hundreds of thousands, and no doubt the slaughter was as terrible in those times as it is now because the fight ing was. hand to hand. - AMERICA AND GERMANY. Professor Munsterberg, the bellicose German professor of psychology at Harvard, ascribes the prejudice against his fatherland which he thinks he dis cerns in the United States to ignor ance. There is no such prejudice, but Professor Munsterberg fancies he sees and hears it everywhere and that is just as bad for his peace of mind as If his-visions were real. So he has written a book to teach us our duty in the matter. His book exemplifies some of the qualities which have made German imperialism disliked in many quarters of the globe. It Is dic tatorial, overbearing and neglectful of facts. His belief that Ignorance colors our views of Germany Is quite on a par with the rest of his opinions. Very few of them are wise. Many of them are In extremely bad taste at a time when Germany needs all the friends she is likely to find. , Against the German people there is not the slightest ill-feeling In this country. We appreciate their services to civilization. We understand their many estimable qualities. But, as a democratic Nation, we wonder at their submission to the overbearing domi nation of the Hohenzollern Kaiser. To the American mind it seems diffi cult to understand why a people as intelligent as the Germans should al low themselves to be plunged into war by the fiat, of a single individual and follow him blindly wherever his Imperial whims happen to lead. Professor Munsterberg accuses the Americans of accepting their opinions with sheeplike meekness from a few leaders. The retort is obvious that the Germans take not only their opin ions, but their most important prac tical orders, from a single person. There is no great amount of anti-Ger manism in this country and what lit tle there is will not be counteracted by Professor Munsterberg's book. His manner is so harsh and his literary tone so senselessly overbearing that he will make ten enemies to one friend. SANCTITY OF INITIATIVE. The executive committee of the State Grange, in asking the candi dates for Governor for a statement as to their policy in regard to measures enacted or rejected by the people, has presented an issue concerning which there cannot be a rigid policy. The people are occasionally deceived re garding, measures submitted and adopt laws they do not really desire. In re jecting measures a variety of reasons may exist which have nothing to do with public recognition of the merits of the main purpose of a Bill defeated. In principle the public doubtless ap proves "blue sky" legislation, yet it defeated a "blue sky" law In 1912. In his annual message to the Legislature which convened next after this rejec tion. Governor West recommended the adoption of a "blue sky" law and it was enacted. In 1912 the voters defeated at the polls a proposal to provide for the two main educational institutions of the state by imposing a millage tax. Gov ernor West recommended to the next Legislature provision by millage tax for the educational institutions and his recommendation was adopted. In 1912 the people defeated three different methods of providing for permanent road construction. Gov' ernor West recommended action, by the Legislature on the subject and a road law was passed. In 1910 and 1912 two constitutional amendments modifying the uniform rule of taxation were defeated by the voters. In his message to the 1913 Legislature Governor West declared that the defeat was due not to public disapproval of the issue Involved, but to the inability of the voters to distin guish the good from the bad in the numerous tax measures on the ballot. He counseled the Legislature to sub mit the amendments again and it was done. In the light of this record it is in accurate to say, as the executive com mittee of the Grange implies, that Governor West has opposed enactment into law by the Legislature of any measure rejected by the voters. While his recommendations in the particu lars mentioned are not open to critl cism, the Governor has given an ex aggerated sanctity to laws enacted by the people as distinguished from those rejected. He vetoed the second choice law because it was amendatory of the direct primary statute "a people's law. He vetoed the compromise on the Rogue River fishing closure for the same reason. It cannot be intel ligently disputed that each of the two measures was designed as and was an Improvement of the "people's laws" they amended. One other measure completes the list, so far as we now recall, of bills adopted by the Legislature amenda tory of initiated laws, or contrary to the main purpose of defeated initiated bills. That one was the bill of 1911 providing a method for changing county boundaries and creating new counties. A bill of the same import, but differing in a few details, had previously been defeated by the voters. Governor West vetoed the Legisla ture's bill, but nowhere in his mes sage did he give the people's will as expressed at the polls as the reason for his disapproval. It is often a difficult matter to de termine from a vote on a measure what is the actual will of the people. In the minds of many there Is a firm conviction that the Legislature is the only proper place for the considera tion of other than, elemental or funda mental legislation. The people often reject laws because they have not the time nor facilities to give them proper study. It is therefore the height of folly to conceive a moral prohibition against enactment by the Legislature of every measure that has once been rejected by the people. The new and growing interest in practical religion has already inspired a host of books. Some of them take up the "Jesus-Question," as the Ger mans call it. They discuss the Sav ior's historicity. Others ' discuss his real mission. There is a decided ten dency to regard Jesus as a social re former whose labors were cut short by a plutocratic conspiracy. Of course all this deals with his human side merely. Theological questions seem to have dropped out of sight. Have you fallen in love with Bir mingham's novels? They are Irish stories, quaint, satirical and whimsi cal. "Lalage's Lovers" was his first book. Lalage was very advanced. Among other adventures she organized an "Association for the Preservation of Public Lying," which played havoc with politicians and bishops. "Span ish Gold" is another cracking good story. Birmingham calls his latest book "Hyacinth.'.' Thprs is nothing new or revolution ary In the Oregon Supreme Court's views upon the dog question. Decent, well-behaved dogs have always stooa high in the estimation of judges and deservedly so. It is the snarling, nAicv 11 rll t Inn (Mir Irlolizftrt bV a senseless owner which everybody hates. A dog that howls when tired men want to sleep brings odium on all his species. It seems as if agriculture were now to be taught in earnest in the schools of Oregon. Superintendent Churchill has issued a good course of study. sensible and practical. It remains for the teachers to take this course and bring out the possibilities it contains. Agriculture is "hard to teach" because it is a life subject, not a book subject. and thus far our schools are enslaved to books. German swiftness may be due to several causes, but the greatest is the movable kitchen. Fighters must be fed, always excepting the Russians, many, of whom lived five days on ap ples. But the- Russ is an old bear. anyway. The robber who stole a parrot from an East Side residence is more than likely a widower who wanted some thing that could talk back and be batted over the head when it got gay. American ships may be seized as war prizes. We mildly protest against this infringement and if it occurs we shall be "compelled to er regard it as a closed incident. However, the American evacuation of Vera Cruz may have to be delayed until after the Fall election and thus lose its value as political capital for the Democrats. The Austrlans are said to be fleeing yet. Must be pretty close to tne At lantic seaboard by this time, if all the reports from Petrograd are true. Loyal India offers to provide mil lions of troops and countless treasure for England. Another German diplo matic pipe gone out. Dynamite Is dangerous and con tractors' employes who leave it in any form where curious lads can get it should be penalized. The Petrograd press bureau Is in action again after a brief vacation and the Germans and Austrlans are again on the run. . Fraternity saved the lives of many men during the Civil War and It ap pears to be working in the European struggle. The war epidemic has spread to Venezuela. "Everybody's doln' it" may become the international war song. Carranza, two weeks ago the Mexi can patriot, is Carranza the traitor, after ten days in the President's chair. Italy reports that serious illness has broken out along the Austrian firing line. Firing line ague and bolt-itis. The expected has happened. Villa and Carranza are at war and Mexico is in a worse fix than ever. The real patriot is the one who In forms himself on the election issues in spite of the war news. Oregon has 15,984. motor vehicles, a fact indicating prosperity or disposi tion to discount it. Whose diplomacy Is "using Turkey to pull this country Into the affair? Roseburg is putting on metropolitan airs in establishing a rockpile. Who said watchful waiting had solved the Mexican problem? Someone ought to spank that terri ble Turk before he departs. The canal gives Europe a commis sary base in Oregon. She's bucking all right. On to Constantinople! .Oregon can feed 'em'. Twenty-Five Years Ago From The Oregonian Sept. 23, 1SS9. Gervals, Or. Thomas Winning, a young Englishman, 21 years of age, lately from California, who has been working for F. X. Mason near Brook 8, was shot by an unknown person or per sons while he was hunting yesterday. San Francisco. Fanny Davenport and her company will reopen the Baldwin Theater tomorrow in "La Tosca." Hoyt's "A Brass Monkey" will be presented at the California. New Tork. It is an open question whether Mrs. Leslie Carter will appear this season or not. Somehow or other society turns up its nose at the di vorce, or affects to, and it may be that she may heed the admonition: still, there are courageous managers who think she would draw. What is left for the lovers of the drama? Well, Julia Marlowe, the re tiring; Margaret Mather, the impulsive: Janauschek. the improbable; Mrs. Bowers, the ancient; Minnie Maddern, Annie Pixley, Minnie Palmer and the faithful old standbys, Lotta and Mag gie MitchelL Ilwaco, Wash Judge B. F. Denni- son has told C. C. Dalton, chairman of the Pacific County Republican Com mittee, that he was not a woman suf fragist or a prohibitionist. In the National League New Tork with a per cent of .655 and Boston with .638 are making a hot race. The Giants have played 116, won 76 and lost 40 games and Boston has played 74 and lost 42 games. William Cogswell, the noted portrait painter, has finished an excellent like ness of the late W. H. Towne. , John M. Gearin and wife have re turned from a month's trip in Europe. They took In the Paris Kxpositlon and viewed the gay French capital from the top of Eiffel tower. Mr. Gearin says the American exhibit does not amount to a row of pins. The new State of Washington con tains 69.974 square miles, 1992 miles of shore land, 1200 miles of navigable riv ers, 20,000,000 acres of magnificent tim ber, which will last, at the present rate at which it Is being cut. 1000 years; 10.000,000 acres of prairie and plain and 6.000,000 acres of rich al luvial bottom land. London. Wilkle Collins, the novelist, is quite ill again at his residence on Wimpole street. John J. Williams will play "Peck's Bad Boy" at the Cordray Musee to night. OPEN LETTISH TO CANDIDATES OUT Grange Officers Ask Aspirants for Gov ernor as to Policy on People's Laws. To the Candidates for Governor: At every session of the Legislature since the adoption of the initiative and refer endum in this state there has been a disposition on the part of some of the legislators to disregard the expressed will of the people at the polls, by en acting into law measures that had been rejected and in attempts to annul or repeal measures enacted by the voters. Frequently members have tried to avoid the possibility of a referendum by the use of the "emergency clause," which Should not be used "Except as to laws necessary for the immediate pres ervation of the public peace, health or safety," as provided in the constitu tion. When a bill with the emergency clause attached is passed by the Leg islature it becomes a law and is oper ative immediately upon receiving the signature of the Governor, thus taking from the people the right of the refer endum. In this manner a Governor and a Legislature not in sympathy with the Initiative and referendum, and working together, can practically annul these provisions of the constitution. We have been fortunate in the past inasmuch that Senator Chamberlain, while- Governor, and Governor West have firmly opposed a disregard for the expressed will of the voters and the unnecessary application of the emer gency clause, but what of the future? Knowing from observation and expe rience the importance of this matter, we address this open letter to each candidate for Governor, asking Tor a public statement on the following ques tions: If elected Governor, what will be your policy in regard to the use of the "emergency clause?" What will be your policy in regard to measures en acted or rejected by the voters? C. E. SPENCE, Oregon City, R. D. 3. C. L. SHAW. 832 Baker St., Albany. . B. G. LEEDY, Corvallis, Or., R. D. 3. Executive Committee, Oregon -State Grange. Debt of Nations. ROSEBURG. Or.. Sept. 24. (To the Editor.) Kindly advise how Germany's national debt compares with that of Russia, England, France and United States. L. J. NEUNER. The German Empire's indebtedness In 1912 was $1,177,418,000, in addition to which the German states had an In debtedness of $3,735,902,000. . Russia, not including Finland (1912), 14,533.488,000. France proper (1912), $6,283,673,000. United Kingdom, not including British colonies (1913), $3,485,818,000. United States (1913), $1,028,344,000. Yes. MERRILL, Or., Sept. 21. (To the Editor.) If persons whose home is in Oregon, where a health certificate Is required before marriage, go to Cali fornia, where no such certificate is necessary, and get married, returning home to Oregon to live, would the mar riage be legal in Oregon, no health certificate having been obtained? SUBSCRIBER. AN INVITATION TO WHITE. In order to arouse public dis cussion of the numerous measures on the election ballot. The pre gonian will devote, on Sundays, such space to letters on those subjects from the people as re sponse to this Invitation Justifies. In making this announcement The Oregonian admonishes brev ity and freedom from temper and personalities. Up to this time numerous contributions on the subject of prohibition, both for and against, have not been given space because a forum on that issue prematurely opened invari ably leads to controversial com munications between individuals and soon becomes devoid of in terest. Letters on prohibition, however, will receive consideration for place in The Oregonian on Sun days from this time forward. But variety and an even balance in affirmative and negative argu ments are desirable in this de partment. An impartial attempt will be made in passing manu scripts to gain those ends. This invitation Is not extended to paid propagandists. The de sire is to encourage sincere in dividual expressions - of opinion on the various issues, that their merits and demerits may be as widely understood as possible. PRAYER CHANGES MAN, NOT GOD. Value of Peace Supplications Is Dis cussed by Writer. PORTLAND, Sept. 24. (To the Edi tor.) The American nation, in response to the request of President Wilson, will observe Sunday, October 4, as a day of prayer for peace. The President must firmly believe in the efficacy of prayer or he would not have issued his procla mation, and unless prayer is answered. It were mockery to pray for peace. Nevertheless many an honest doubter may say: "Men get things by working', not by making petitions. It Is unreas onable to suggest that the war can be stopped by saying prayers. To pray may be pious and religious, correct for the church, but the man on the street knows he accomplishes things by the sweat of his brow. If God is all pow erful, why did He permit the war? If He is all good, why does He not stop it of His own accord?" Prayer, however, is universal with mankind, whether or not all believe in Its efficacy. Professor James, of Har vard, the eminent psychologist, has de clared that men cannot help praying, that they are. In a way, praying con tinually. Sir Oliver Lodge, the great scientist, says: "I understand that when our spirits are attuned to the spirit of righteousness, our hopes and asplrar tlons exert an influence far beyond their conscious range, and in a true sense bring us into communion with our Heavenly Father. This power of filial communion is called prayer, it is an attitude of mingled worship and supplication." Prayer is heart hunger; It is the sincere desire of the whole being reaching out toward something stronger and higher. And men pray to God. Few, if any, are atheists. All' may not. Indeed do not, assign the same characteristics, the same power, the same ways of do ing things, to the supreme being, do not call Him by the same name, but mankind believes in a power not our selves that makes for righteousness, a great unseen moral force. But while men do pray to God. It is not satisfying to tell the man who won ders how praying for peace can serve the cause of peace, that it is his duty to pray and leave the rest to God. Such answer calls for a blind act. while men want light- If to know God Is the most important thingfor man, as Amlel says in his Journal, then to mystify God's dealings with mankind is un wise. There Is war; this nation wants peace; therefore we will pray God for peace. Does this imply that God does not desire peace, but we propose to make Him change His mind and come to our holier way of thinking? No. We do not seek by prayer to have our wish determine God's wish. If God is not a higher and greater power than man, then He is unworthy of man's worship and supplication, indeed true prayer to such a being would be im possible. There Is, however, no just reason for assuming that because there is war, therefore God does not desire peace. The supreme power in the universe is not all powerful, for man has freedom of will freedom through self-determination is man's ultimate goal and does, many times, alas prevent God from doing what He would wish to do. God Is continuously striving to aid man in developing the divine Intent, but man's will does, at times, run counter to God's will, and' sin and suffering follow. Just now in the European spec tacle of the breaking, on an immeasur able scale, of the eternal law "Thou shalt not kill." an object lesson is given of the dire consequences that en sue when man's will Is opposed to God's will. To bring about peace, then, is to bring man into harmony with God. In the true attitude of prayer there is a submission of man's will to God's will, not a slavish submission, but an intelligent acknowledgment of a higher power. God is not changed by prayer, but man is. God is the same yester day, today and forever, but 'man through prayer comes into a closer re lation with God, he trusts God; he is now, so to speak, rowing with, not against, the great stream of righteous ness. And as God realizes His ideals with regard to man through man, and as He cannot work through man unless man rs In harmony with Him. and as prayer puts man in accord with God, it is seen that as a result of prayer God can do for man through man what He could not do otherwise. In other words, man by prayer, by communion with God, is changed, ennobled, enriched, so that he becomes an intermediary for the divine, and this transformation, this enrichment goes on as man by prayer seeks after and grasps hold of God. Prayer involves worship, confession, supplication, work, and the last of these Is not the least. It would be un reasonable to ask God to work for us. If we were unwilling to do our part. Man, not God, is the great factor in the answering of prayer. God Is al ways ready to do His part, and as far as He is concerned he needs no plead ing from man to bring peace or do any thing else for man's betterment. And as "man must work out his own salva tion," so he must by his own efforts. In harmony with God. bring about realization of his prayers. There is another phase of prayer the effect of mind on mind. Of this telepathic influence there are countless authentic cases. With the minds of the American people of one accord in their intensity of desire that the warring nations cease from their armed strife, who can measure the possible effect, toward peace, of that mental attitude upon the minds of those nations? By wireless, messages, are sent across the ocean, and so may messages be sent by telepathy both are divine methods of communication. ' Rational explanation of a thing does not eliminate God. for, as to know God Is life eternal, the more knowledge one has, the more life. To place the em phasis on the part taken by humanity in the answering of prayer is not to belittle God, is not to love the Father less, but to love the children more. Deity, attacked, so to speak, by the heavy artillery of prayer, will not sur render to the American Nation's de mands, but the people, enriched by com munion with God, will go forth with renewed vigor to redouble their efforts, by direct and indirect means, to serve the cause of peace. Let the American people pray for peace, with all the In tensity of desire possible, but let them not forget that fulfilment will come through action. "A thousand speeches brand less deeply than one dint of deed." CLERICUS. A New "Star Spangled Banner." O, say, can you see by the dawn's early light. What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight. O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare. The bombs bursting in air. Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, O, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? 1 Francis Scott Key. 1814. O, say, can you see, you who glorify in war. All the wounded and dead of the red battle's reaping? Can you listen unmoved to their ag onied groans. Hear the children who starve, and the pale widows weeping? Henceforth let us swear Bombs shall not burst in air. Nor war's desolation wreck all that Is fair. But the star-spangled banner by work ers unfurled Shall give hope to the nations and peace to the world. Kate Devereux Blake, 1914, in Spring field Republican. Half a. Century Ago. From The Oregonian, Sept. 20, ISO. L. M. Parish and J. D. Holman have announced a partnership as commercial and stock brokers, employment and in telligence agents and as sellers and dealers In real estate. Their office is at 107 Front street, opposite the post office. Washington. President Lincoln has addressed a letter to General Grant in which the President expresses his con fidence in and appreciation of what ever move General Grant may make. In reply Grant assured the President he was proud to have executive ap proval so voiced and adds: "From my first entrance into the volunteer serv ice of the country up to the present day I have never had cause of com plaint never expressed or implied against the Administration, or the Sec retary of War, for throwing anythUrg in the way, or the embarrassment, of vigorously prosecuting what appeared to be my duty." Chattanooga. Sherman by a special arrangement with Hood has effected an exchange of 2000 prisoners. New York. The Washington Repub lican states that Jeff Davis has sent a letter to Jacob Thompson at Niagara Falls, proposing peace by the rebel Armies laying down their arms and returning to their allegiance on condi tion that the Union shall be restored as formerly, the slaves made free to re main so and those not free to remain in slavery. From a Government confi dential man the letter has been denied. Salem. The committee on military affairs has reported in favor of a Joint memorial to Congress asking for the location of a United States arsenal at Oregon City for the manufacturing and storing of arms, etc. .John Doland has completed his as sessments of Multnomah County for 1S64. The total valuation of real es tate in the county is given at $2,370, 780, divided as follows: Value of lots and blocks. $1,842,980: value of land. $527,800. The aggregate of personal property is $1,947,710, making a grand total for taxation of $4,318,490. R. Weeks and S. M. Gilmore have an nounced a dissolution of partnership and Mr. Gilmore will conduct the busi ness at the old Franklin Market in future. The subscription list for the fund being raised for the purpose of re moving obstructions in the channel at the mouth of the Willamette may be found in the office of Mayor Failing by any who wants to aid the cause financially. Conscription In England. BEAVEUTON, Or., Sept 23. (To the Editor.) Please advise me If it is true that England cannot compel English men to enlist draft them in the Eng lish army, for service in a foreign country. One party insists it cannot, another that it can dq it. Kindly settle controversy. England has had a law since I860 re quiring militia service of able-bodied citizens within certain age limits, but the law is made inoperative by the passage annually of a volunteer army enlistment measure. Conscription Is not practiced now in England, in the ab sence of operative laws authorizing it There is no bar to the enactment of a law providing for that method of re cruiting troops. A Paradoxical Reform. (Washington Star.) "How did you ever get old man Rumsy to vote for prohibition?" "Well, we thought the end would justify the means. So the night be fore election we took him over Into another county and let him get so in toxicated that he didn't care how he voted." "Wasn't he angry?" "Yes. But he says it'll be a warning to him to let liquor alone after this." Sunday Features: Sketches From The French Battle Line Two pages of pen sketches from the famous artist, Xavier Soger, who is now in the French army, show types of warriors and inter esting incidents of campaigning. One -of these pages is in colors, showing the "various French uni forms in the field. War Photos. They show latest phases of the struggle in Europe. There are four pages of them. Stranded Americans. Sterling Heilig, Paris correspond ent of The Sunday Oregonian, is among the refugees in Switzerland and he sends an absorbing illus trated letter from Lusanne. Later he will write from the theater of operations. A Guide to the Ruins. A unique article by a pessimistic French writer, who foresees the end of European civilization as a con sequence of the great war. $5,000,000,000 Paralyzed. A study of German trade and how it has been stopped by the war. A Girl Prodigy. She is ten years old, yet she has mastered eight tongues and accom plished other mental marvels. Half page, with photos. Wealthy Women Hungry. They are American women and they have been shut in by the war. Another article from Sterling Hei lig. Conquering Gravity. An account of the queer liberties with nature taken by an engineer and. inventor, who has devised a mechanical means of suppressing gravitation. Dawn O'Hara. The third installment in Edna Ferber's delightful serial. Fall Fashions. The latest wrinkles 'in dress for late Fall and early Winter. Two pages. The Peace Bird. And a -page of illustrated fea tures for the children. These Are a Few of Many Features. Order early of your newsdealer. V the marketing of our crops, jet Great ) j