THE BIORXiyO OREGQyiAy, TUESDAY, SEPTEimrR 29, 1014. PORTLAND, OREGON. Sctered at Portland. Oregon. fostotflce a Second-class matter. Subscription Rates invariably In Advance. (By Mall) Dally, Sunday Included, one year 18.00 Dally, Sunday Included, six month ..... e-25 Xaily, Sunday Included. tiire month il.o Xjaliy, Sunday included, one monta aily, without Sunday, one year ....... 6.00 Laily, without Sunday, six mouths ...... 8.i!5 tally, without Sunday, three months .... 1-73 Xaiiy, without Sunday, one month 60 Weekly, one year 1-50 fcunaay, one year li-O kunday and Weekly, one year .......... -& By Carrier) , Zally, Sunday Included, one year ...... .9-O0 Llly, Sunday included, one month .75 How to Kemlt Send Postofflce money or der, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk. Give Postoffice address In fuii. Including county and state. Postage Kates 12 to 16 pages! 1 cent; 10 to H2 pases, 2 cents; 84 to 4S pages, 8 cents; 60 to 60 pages, 4 cents; 62 to 70 pages, 5 cents; 78 to 92 pages, 6 cents. Foreign post age, double rates. Kastern Business Offices Verree A Conk Iln, New York. Brunswick building. Chi cago, Stenger building. ban Francisco Office R. J. Bldwell So.. V-ty Markm street. PORTLAND, TUESDAY, SKI'T., 29, 1914. THIS DEBIT SHEET. Picture the streets of Portland lined with people five and six deep as on a big Festival occasion. Human beings everywhere, a veritable sea o them, a multitude of staggering proportions. Yet careful estimates of such a gath ering would show the number not In excess of 100,000. Picture this vast concourse of human beings cold in death, piled in pulseless heaps through the miles of streets. A grewsome pic ture, indeed. Tet it gives a vague conception of the enormous death toll In a few brief weeks of the war in Europe. That, of course, does not tell the whole story, for the losses are double the size of the biggest Festival crowd. The Germans alone confess to the loss of more than 100,000 men in killed, wounded and missing, although the total killed is given at but 15,674. Many of the wounded will die. Many of those noted as missing are dead. Then the German losses ' account for but one side. There are the Austrian, French, British, "Russian and Servian losses to reckon. One hundred thou sand dead is a safe figure. Double that number maimed a fair esti mate. And the war barely under way! If that is the toll in human life, what will be the total when the thing has been fought to a conclusion? More than 100,000 men killed or maimed without any conclusive head way having been made by the side that has suffered this loss! If the casualty lists continue to multiply at their present rate Europe may foot up the cost sheet after the war to find a figure greater than 1,000,000 on the debit column. And what will there be to set against this in the credit side of the ledger? NO REI1E1-' TO COAST TRADE. The ship registry law may do much for the relief of our foreign com merce, but it will do nothing to relieve coastwise commerce of the indirect ef fects of the war. When the war broke out, we were looking for a. great in crease in the number of American coastwise ships to carry traffic through the Panama Canal between the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, called intercoastal traffic. We were also looking for many foreign ships to come from Europe through the "canal to the Pacific Coast. The war has blighted these hopes and has created an urgent demand for ships to ply across the Atlantic. To meet this de mand the ship registry bill was passed. An inevitable result of scarcity of tonnage will be to draw into trans Atlantic traffic many ships, both for eign and American, which were de signed for canal traffic and some of the few coastwise ships which were "adapted to that traffic. -At the very time when the canal opens to Pacific Coast products a short route to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and to Eu rope,, this Coast is left short of vessels In order to satisfy the imperious de mands of trans-Atlantic commerce. . A strenuous effort was made by Western Senators to amend the ship registry bill by admitting foreign built ships under American ownership to the intercoastal trade. Senator Jones proposed such an amendment, and Senator Williams, mindful of the interests of the Gulf states, procured a modification extending the privilege to ships plying between the Gulf coast and either the Pacific or Atlan tic Coast. The Jones amendment, thus extended, was adopted. When the bill" came back from conference, the report was found to throw open the entire coastwise trade to foreign built ships owned by Americans, pro vided they were transferred to Amer ican register within two years. Immediately a roar of protest went Up from almost every Senator in whose state there are shipbuilding plants and from the entire coastwise shipping interest. Subsidy Repub licans and Democrats spoke in one loud chorus. Old familiar, ship-sub-Bidy arguments fell glibly from Demo cratic tongues, which have for many years denounced ship subsidies. ' Sen ator Borah confounded Senator Gal linger by suggesting that free ships would be only a fair equivalent to the West for the free raw material de manded by New England has howled for many years and which it has at last gained. He hit the protesting Demo crats on the solar plexus when he said that, since they had' put Western products on the free list, it was' but fair to give the West the benefit of free ships. As usual, the odds were enormously against the reasonable plea of the (West From the shipbuilding states of the Atlantic, Senators Weeks, Mar tine, Saulsbury and Martin told of the destruction which would follow if it were granted. They were joined by both Democrats and Republicans from the Middle West and South. The con ference report was rejected by a two-to-one vote, the Senate receded from its former amendment and accepted ;the original House bill restricting the foreign-built ships to foreign trade. That debate is illuminating. It shows what a mass of misinformation Senators have about shipping. It -shows that special interests have as staunch defenders among Democrats as among, standpat Republicans. It .shows how quickly the alarm spreads jamong these interests and how promptly and vociferously they re spond. The telegrams of protest filled several pages of the Congressional Record, and they predicted black, ut ter ruin to the shipbuilding industry if the conference report were adopted. They were effective, as we. have seen, though there is no foundation for these gloomy forebodings. Charter "rates are surely high enough in war -times to pay, a- profit on even, the ex- orbltant cost of building- and operat ing American ships. Repairs are the most lucrative part of the shipbuild ers' business and an increase in coast wise tonnage would bring him many a Job. By giving more constant employ ment to his plant, they wouia reduce his overhead charge, keep his force of employes together and enable him to build ships at lower cost. ' The discussion of this subject in Congress has done good to the cause of emancipating American .shipping from the straitjacket of our absurd laws The subject will not rest, but a. battle royal must be fought before it will be possible for American ships to compete on equal terms for traffic in every port. . ' CHAMBERLADf-flTSST-SMlTH. Oswald -West is the political crea ture of George eE. Chamberlain. He was- made State Land Agent and later Railroad Commissioner by Governor Chamberlain, and he was the Cham berlain hand-picked candidate to be Chamberlain's successor as Governor. Now Oswald . West has named Charles J. Smith to be his own Resid uary Legatee. The Democratic pri mary rjas nominated Smith because he was and is the candidate of the Chamberlain-West-Smith ring and for no other reason. Now West is out to procure by fair means or foul the re-election of his patron Senator Chamberlain and of his protege C. J. Smith. Can it ever be forgotten by the peo ple of Oregon that Chamberlain is wholly responsible for West and West for Smith? I.MMCNITir. We are almost ready to admit that a law might as well be passed grant ing immunity to the female slayer who is fair, frail or wronged. The jury promptly acquits her, anyway, and sometimes the trial judge con gratulates her. So what is the use of spending public money for a trial? Mrs. Delia Marsh, who was acquit ted of murder by a jury Sunday, calmly planned and executed an un lawful and corrupt contract with a married man. She arranged to live with him knowing that he had a wife. When he tired of her she slew him. That 'is the sordid story baldly told. That she had the right to slay is unwritten law. The written law is different. But the written law is ig nored because "it served him right." Conscience and oath of office bow to weak countenance of the assumed right of the injured to fix the penalty and execute it, too. in such attitude by judge' and jury there is recognition of the right of private vengeance nothing more. Mrs. Marsh gained nothing by killing her paramour. It is now no easier for her to live right than it was be fore. Her virtue is not. restored. The stain upon her life was not washed away by another's blood. She has avenged herself that is all. If it is good law that the weak may strike in passion against the strong it ought to be written law. If it. is not good law, it ought not to enter .into the courts of justice. THE FOE OF TRUTH. Governor West's practice of making statements based on mere suspicion or surmise, or hearsay, or on nothing at all, is being sensationally exempli fied in the present campaign. He has said many things about public men of Oregon which are false. He has said many- things about private citizens which are false. He has said many things about The Oregonian which are false. He cannot plead haste, excite ment or lack of opportunity to know the truth. To be sure, the plea is made for him that on Sunday he was not well, and he ought not to have exposed himself to make the armory speech. Governor West ought not to have made such an astounding speech, well or sick. No man who has any regard for his reputation for veracity can af ford to go on record with assertions so easily to be refuted or to give such an offensive exhibition of wicked dis temper and bad spirit. The quotation of barroom gossip, said to emanate from a dead man, in order to defame the memory of another dead man, was a shocking performance in a series of indecent performances. The Governor made . a reference, emphasized by'a big show of indigna tion, to an expression of The Orego nian last Winter, suggesting, he said, that he Vcall out the militia to round up the unemployed to squeeze the water out of the mud." The Orego nian, at no time has made such a state ment. The Governor's pretended quo tation is spurious, and is created out of his own fancy. The Governor says former State Printer Baker sent work to The Ore gonian,' and that he told around the family table that money was paid to The Oregonian for graft. Only the fact that this infamous falsehood comes from the Governor of Oregon makes it worth the dignity of a denial. Governor West sneeringly refers to Withycombe, when he becomes Gover nor, "getting soused with the gang" in order to promote harmony with the Legislature. Mr. Withycombe is a teetotaler. By a curious sequence, the Governor then passed on to a fervent eulogy of his friend. Senator Cham fferlaln, who, we believe, makes no pretense of being a teetotaler. Governor West has said in his pub lic addresses that The Oregonian is behind the initiative bill to revive the assembly, and caused the measure to be framed an'd submitted so as to overthrow the direct primary. No excuse can be made for this outright fabrication. The Oregonian had noth ing to do in any way with this bill. It has publicly opposed It heretofore, and will again recommend its defeat. Governor West has made a similarly untrue statement about the origin of a bill to create a Lieutenant-Governor. The Oregonian has not suggested nor advised at any time the resubmission of th measure. On the other hand, The Oregonian has gone on record against it. It is to be "noted that no newspaper, not even, his own organ, has had the hardihood to give an unexpurgated account of Governor West's armory address. In its method and in- its matter, it was the coarsest perform ance ever given by a public man in Oregon. It was a painful revelation to the friends of the Governor, and it Is likely that they will desire it Speed ily to be covered over with the mantle of forgetfulness. It would not be surprising if cholera were to become epidemic in the Aus trian army. The soldiers'of that cha otic empire are wretchedly command ed and probably hygienic precautions are neglected. A pestilence spreading over Europe might materially aid the machine guns to end the. war. We are amazed that cholera has not been made a regular military weapon. No doubt it will be soon. The germs might be dropped from airships. . ROAST CHICKEX BY MAIL. The Indiana farmer who has con trived a way to send hot roast chicken to his customers by parcel post will be numbered among the benefactors of mankind. He is one of the pio neers in a great industry which will develop rapidly in the coming years. The plan which this man has con trived is admirably simple and effec tive. He puts the roast fowl in an air-tight can and surrounds It with dough. This retains the heat for sev eral hours, as It appears, so that the edible is delivered bv the carrier tio- fing, hot for the dinner table, of his nappy customer. What this man has done others will, of course, do' and no doubt they will better his example. Roast chickens are not the only viands that can go by mail from pro ducer to consumer. There ,'are many others. The Gdvernment has issued a bulletin describing some of the meth ods of packing articles for marketing by post, but individual Ingenuity must contribute its share to the good work The Indiana farmer of whom we speak has done his part. Who will be the next? TOO MICH AND TOO LITTLE. The fast cure for disease is highly popular in these times, among those laborious and highly interesting peo ple vulgarly called "cranks." Their doctrines are particularly adapted to, hard times and high prices, since they preach that health is perpetuated as well as disease extirpated by absti nence from food. Most men and women, they say, would be healthier as well as happier and wealthier if they ate less and chose their diet with more discrimination. Physicians as a rule speak slightingly of this theory. They are disposed to look with favor upon a full diet. But now and then one of the profession casts prudence to the winds and comes up-to the help or the cranks against the mighty. There is Dr. A. E. Gibson, of some Eastern metropolis, for instance. He makes bold to say that ."death comes as often from feasting as fasting." Far oftener, we should say. ..Whoever heard a King dying for want of food? Nobody. And yet everybody has heard of Kings who at-e themselves to death, to say nothing of poets like Shake fepeare, who did the same thing with the help of the Demon Rum. Dr. Gibson goes on to warn us that "most diseases are due to errors of diet."' The worst of all errors is eat ing too much. It hardly matters what a person puts intp his stomach if he keeps the quantity down. A man can season his dinner with, arsenic now and then, if he is properly mindful of the right proportion, and be little the worse for it. It is the big dose that kills, whether. of poison or beefsteak. But there are one or two easy prin ciples of diet in addition to the sover eign rule of moderation which every body ought to learn and practice. An important one is never to eat acid fruit at the end of a meal. Such fruits at the beginning are well enough, but at the end they are sim ply deadly. The weazened and hag gard New Englander won his dyspep sia by devouring sour pie at the close of his meals. He fatuously- calls the horrible stuff "dessert." Pie not only sins by being of an acid nature, but if commits a more unpardonable crime by combining the acid with a starchy crust. Acid and starch in unholy combination have laid waste the ter ritories of millions of innocent stom achs. Nor does their fatal work stop with the stomach. - They attack the mucous membranes of all parts of "the body, but particularly of the nose and throat. It is pie primarily to which we Americans owe our universal ca tarrh as well as our dyspepsia. Pie also causes those frogs in the throat which are so profitable to the drug gists and annoying to orators. Almost any fruit, if it is clean and ripe, may be safely eaten at the be ginning of a meal, but there is hardly any that is desirable at the end. The Europeans who close their meals with a "sweet" and a bit of cheese are a great deal kinder to their stomachs than we pie and fruit devourers are. RAID ON THE SCHOOL USD. Tide lands owned by the state are sold from time to time and the pro ceeds go to the support of the public schools. 'From the sale of these lands the interior counties that are not on tide water derive a proportionate benefit. The water-front amendment proposed for adoption at the next election would deprive the state of authority to sell any tide lands, or any submerged lands on navigable fresh waters. There is a provision' in the proposed amendment that tide lands may be leased by the state, but only for the construction of docks. The state is to be precluded from granting any per mit to dike or reclaim, or any right to utilize tide lands for booming pur poses, fisheries purposes, or as sites for industries or for any other indus trial or development purpose. In the words of Mr. F. W. Mulkey. one of the proponents of the bill, "unsold tide lands will remain the property of the state. They will be analagous to tim ber lands in the National Forest Re serves. 'They will be a heritage for future generations." Much of the unsold tide land is use less for dock purposes and always will be. Its development in other ways will not depreciate its value nor wear it out; rather it will add to the wealth of the state, encourage population and promote prosperity. There is no more cause to place such lands in a reserva tion than there is to lock up the agri cultural lands that are in the public domain. , The leases, which must be for dock purposes only, would yield but a trivial revenue under the terms of this amendment, for most of the unsold lands are more valuable for other uses than dock sites. But even one-half that trivial revenue would be lost to the school fund. If the leases are for lands within the limits of a town or city one-half the lease money could go to the municipality and the other half to the state. Docks and wharves are so rarely required and of so little value outside of cities and towns that it is practically a proposal to deprive the school fund of 50 per cent of what little revenue would accrue from tide lands and "give it to the water-front cities. In 1911 the Governor vetoed a tide land grab in behalf of ports that was much less sweeping than this one. It was a veto in protection of the school fund and in the interests of interior counties. The Portland newspaper which proposed , the water-front amendment is a, devout admirer of the Governor's veto record. The Ore gonian again- Invites it to publish Gov ernor West's veto message ' accom panying Senate Bill No. 1 of the 1911 session of the Legislature. The whole country will sympathet ically contemplate 'Chicago's pathetic struggle for English bills of fare. To have our diet fitted with native names would- relieve some embarrassment and now that the French are pretty well occupied no doubt it could be done safely if it could be done at, all But it can't. A French name for a dish tickles the imagination more than the food does the palate and spiritual pleasures are as well worth their price as the material. ' Detroit Is planning something new In banks. It is to be a workingman's bank. - Behind it will be some big capitalists, but the loans will be made to worklngmen on the security of their character. Two spokesmen must vouch . for every borrower, but no other security is required. Human nature being what it is, we predict good success for these banks. Trust begets fidelity If it is bestowed pru dently. The crowning merit of Japanese poetry is its brevity. Often a poem contains only, a line or two. Very likely its readers appreciate their mercies. Here is one translated into English: will not dare drink the water in the pebbly pool, lest I disturb the moon sleeping therein." Could any fancy be more beautiful? Does it need any more words for complete expression? The New York State Library has published a list of "the 250 best books" of last year which will be sent to schools. Being compiled by duly appointed politicians, the selections are infallibly wise. ' Happy the author who "stands in" with the compilers. His royalties shall flourish like a tree by the waters of Babylon. These night raids of the Zeppelins on Belgian towns are a despicable species of warfare. Nothing is gained by them but hatred. The isolated bombs dropped by the dirigibles do riot weaken the Belgians.'but they ex cite a quenchless passion for revenge. If the war will cost Germany only $5,000,000 a day, it will be necessary to revise the figures of those who have estimated the cost to all the belliger ents at $50,000,000 a day. Of course the contributions levied In Belgium will help. How many lives has the Prussian Guard? It has been cut to pieces once more, according to a Bordeaux dls patch. Bordeaux is gaining as uneiv vlable a reputation as Cape Haytien had sixteen years ago. If the Russians have penetrated into Hungary, they may renew acquaint ance with some veterans of the revo lution of 1848, who fought them when they subdued the kingdom for Austria. The Idzumo held up an American steamship coming down from Alaska but in view of the Idzumo's good work in the Leggett . disaster she can do as she pleases in these waters. If Congress had been as liberal -la voting aids to navigation, in Alaska as it has been in voting monuments to the East, the wreck of the Tahoma might have been prevented. .The Germans are said to believe that conquering England will be the most difficult part of their work. That would sound better after they have disposed of France. The advice of a certain distin guished American Colonel who wears spectacles and teeth, to "hit the line hard," is certainly being followed in France. By appointing Mrs. Adams assistant United States attorney in California does the Administration hope to mol lify the offended suffragists? The Russians have taken TJzzok on the Ungh and are making progress at Przemysl, but up to a late hour Tuvwxyz was still intact. If a comet always accompanies a great war, the date of the battle at Armageddon might be determined by a little calculation. A skillful airman flew over Paris and killed a girl in the streets. If ever captured he should be tried for first degree murder.' Women with feathers on their hats would do well to keep away from the rural districts Thursday when the bird season opens. The war is costing - Germany J5, 000,000 a day in money. The cost in lives cannot be computed. Russia is not worrying over hunger, with a harvest of more than 64,000, 000 tons of foodstuffs. The fuller the registration, the greater the Republican victory: At tend to it today. A woman has been made assistant United States Attorney in California, Well, why not? Villa now demands that Carranza resign. Carranza is Just filled with such tricks. The east wind m pa n fn.li- -nroat-ViA in Oregon and that is what is needed this week. The Kaiser admits the loss of 104, 589 men. And without getting very far, either. About time for Carranza to declare himself dictator and defy the United States. Austria is seeing the beginning of her end by calling out the elderly men. Portland should crowd the grounds on Portland day at the State Fair. Mexico has again opened up and Bryan has again closed up. The battle of the Aisne is ap proaching its final stage Vitriolic Os is rapidly putting Cole Blease to shame. The Belgians are getting their sec ond wind. The Slav horde moves slowly but surely. Fair weather for the Fair. Register now! COROLLARY OF" M.VDE-IN-OREGOX Employment of Oregon Property-Own-fnir Contractors Is Good Principle. PORTLAND, Sept. 27. (To the Edi tor.) We have now uenre us daily th set and sinking ship episode illus trated in the evacuation of Portland by the "now you see me, now you don't, nor my money either if I get my hands on it" contractor, for he is going, go ing, gone. And why shouldn't be go? He had nothing but prospects when he came. He has nothing to hold him now but his debt and the guarantee he gave his work. But those ties are easily broken, and the rolling stone bowls away. Our citizens who employed him be cause he worked cheaply, . mourn his departure as they scan his -A-ork. Our dealers who classed him just a little lower than the angels on his fine talk, speaking by the price book, miss him as- they charge the impartial balance to profit and loss. But the tax col lector doesn't miBs him, the Assessor doesn't miss him, the Rose Festival doesn't miss him for they never knew him, and they all Join in this vale dictory: "Depart ye accursed, for we never knew you." He reaped his harvest and has gone. He put a crimp in legitimate profits for every houseable, home - owning, taxpaylng. public spirited, . patriotic contractor in the city that can never be taken out, for it can't be done where business is slack and when it gets better, he will be back again, and then the low (down) bidder will get the preference just the same- as before. Why not all of us employ as far as possible our citizen tradesmen; I didn't do it, but I would again. You didn't do it, but will you again? If Oregon made goods for Oregonlans is good doctrine, then why not Oregon property-owning contractors for Oregon property owners as a broad, general principle? Did vou save any money on your deal with fly-by-night? You did not, you lost money, you lost patience, you lost a good chunck of religion, which last you can ill afford. You swore vengeance, but that did not make good your loss. Not all members of the Builder's Ex change are all they should be. Not all the non-members are all they should not be, but there is this difference: the courts are your only resorts as against the non-members, while the member is amendable to certain re-. quirements of the exchange that he has solemnly subscribed to,' and in most cases' he is seekinsr to abide by. There Is a strong hoard of direc tors to enforce the rules, which lends digriity and gives stability to" the or ganization, and standing to the mem bers that t he non-member has not and cannot get by himself. BUILDER'S EXCHANGE. SLOW PAV AMONG WELL-TO-DO, Correspondent Declares Those Who Have Plenty Are Worst Of fenders. PORTLAND, Sept. 28. (To the Edi tor.) In the course of my business the last few months, I have discovered 'that there are a large number of men inthis city who are ell to do. who have money in tho.bank, and who will not pay their bills until they feel like it, in consequence of which many of the merchants and poorer classes are hard pressed. I have several million of life insur ance upon my books and we have loaned about $500,000 on life insurance policies. We are collecting premiums and interest, and there is not a day passes but what some policy holder- comes In and complains that collec tions are hard, and that if some rich man or woman would pay them whaA iney owe mem, iney wouia oe aoid to take care of their own debts. A concrete example illustrates the point. A man owes me $10.50 interest for a loan on his policy, and tells me that he cannot; pay It. and that he has a bill against a rich woman in this city for 37.50; that if this money would come in and the bill is three months old that he could pay two ad vertising bills of $5 each, which would help meet pay rolls in the printing of fice. He would pay one expressman $5, a mechanic $4.50, a marble company 6, another man $1.25 and my bill of $10.60. I have had a hundred cases just like this told me In the last few months, and if it Is a fact that the well-to-do people, who have large amounts of money on deposit, are withholding it from the poorer classes, should they not be urged to stop this condition of affairs? If $10,000 of such bills as this were paid by the well-to-do people to the poorer classes. It would pay over $100, 000 worth of bills in 30 days, because the poorer classes will pay their bills and fhe rloh people think because they are rich they do not have to do so. H. G. COLTON. PROPER TO PROBE PRIVATE LIFE. Political Elevation of Men of Weak Character Sets Bad Example. Newberg,FGraphic. Some men will.assert that the pri vate life of a candidate for office should not be discussed in a campaign; that in case he is a candidate for re election his career as a publio official, what he will be able to do in the fut ure these alone are the things that should count for or against him. The Graphic believes that the setting up of this sort of a standard has had a very bad effect on the young men of the country in the past. They have seep men elevated to high positions whose private lives would not bear the scrutiny of clear sunlight for a. min ute, and seeing that men of this type are given the plaudits of the people, they naturally conclude that a life of virtue and clean living is not at all necessary Jn order to get to the front in public life. Here in Oregon we have seen much of this sort of work In politics. We have heard much talk of temperance and clean living, and yet time after time a certain man who has a habit of getting beastly drunk and It Is no secret that he has this weak ness has been elevated to the highest positions of public trust that the people or Oregon nave in tnelr power to be stow. The habit of imbibing to excess is said to be growing on this man until it is disgusting to his close friends. His name will appear on the ballot at the November election, and we notice that one of our exchanges talks for state wide prohibition In one column and for this particular candidate in another column. It seems to be the same old story with this candidate. In the past he has been able to line up all the "wet votes, and he has also been known to receive the' votes of men who stand at the top in the ranks of the Pro hibition party in the state. What a happy condition for a candidate of a minority party who is out for votes. Battleship Armor Belts. CAMAS, Wash., Sept. 27. (To the Editor.) Kindly tell me how many Inches thick the armor steel is on the sides of a United States battleship, to settle a little dispute between a friend of mine and myself. H. J. WOOD WORTH. Thickness of armor on the sides of battleships In the United States Navy varies with' the type of vessel and date of construction from nine to 18 inches. . Fell la Proper Word. PORTLAND, Sept. 28. (To the Edi tor.) Please inform me which is cor rect: "Aon going to fall a tree" or "Am going to fell a tree".? A. E. D'KONINQ. Yes. ECOTTS MILLS, Or.. Sent. 28. (To the Editor.) If a town is incorporated has a freeholder in the city limit a right to sign a road petition for a new road? This petition is partly In an other road district and in the road dis trict the town la In. A SUBSCRIBER. MODERATE DISCUSSION" PROPER. In Onr Interests War Talk Should Not Wholly Be Soppreaaed, Says Writer. SPRINGFIELD, Or.. Sept. 27. (To the Editor.) The question of neutral ity or the position of the United States in the European disturbance adverted to by several writers becomes of in creased Importance in the possibility of new arrangements or alignments as a result of the war. While neutrality is desirable and appropriate in certain circumstances among nations as among individuals. It should not preclude other necessary activities or modes of action by way of Interest in and prepa ration for contingencies which may come about and be of great moment to all concerned. There may be occasions even when from a sense of duty or self-interest the contrary policy houd be adopted and aid or sympathy ex tended as circumstances or movements call for. The appeal for silence is liable to be misconstrued, if It has not already been, whatever the plan or In tention of the proposal or proclama tion. It is In fact practically Impossible of application. The custom or habit of the country is against it. No one, from President down, can prevent the voters from having opinions and expressing them on this or other subjects. To sug. gest otherwise is therefore both silly and childish, and worthy of a prince or ruler of the dark ages or more an cient times. And is. indeed, such silence advisable on general grounds? Shouldn't it be the first duty, or an important duty or policy, to ascertain in all practicable ways the information necessary for governmental action in this or other matters bearing on the general wel fare of the country, and to this end Is it not desirable that 'there should be public discussion on such matters? This is one, ir not the most ready or effec tive way of inducing thought and in vestigation among all classes, or those fitted for the same, who in a republic have the burden of deciding such mat ters, and hence should be posted on them and all questions concerning the state or nation of which. they are ulti mately at least the governing body or electorate. While harsh or inflammatory expres sions may be objectionable and warn ing may have been necessary as to such, the fact of publio comment or discussion at appropriate times and oe. caslons, instead of being repressed, should be encouraged in all reasonable ways, and to suggest otherwise is therefore contrary to the spirit of popular Institutions, and if the Presi dent's appeal carries any such mean ing or effect, coming from one or an adherent of a political party long claiming to be the especial champion of such institutions, would lead to sus picion or inference that the Govern ment is in possible, danger or straits from .complications in th matter Indi cated, the interests of the country have become more involved or wide spread than in former times. As to what this may be or the nature of the same there may be speculation, but that there are possible complications Is widely mooted and the better the electorate are informed oil these mat tors the more likelihood there would seem to tie of their taking wiBe action therein. The "appeal for silence" may later need to be accompanied by a "Blue Book" on this and other mat ters. ' The policy of the United States an to international relations (Europe or the eastern hemisphere) has hitherto been one of non-interference and one which seems to have become fixed in the cusi. torn or habit the country, and which ine great majority, or many, would pre fer to see continued unless found con trary to the country's Interests. But with late developments or extension of teritory, it is " being questioned by a few. and it is not beyond range of possibility that the country may be lorcect Dy change or circumstances to modify the policy to some extent or in some way as time goes on, if it has not already been modified or departed from in one or more instances or what would bo called such by certain foreign pow ers. A. II. J. Waahinarton Lair of Descent. ELLENSBURG, Wash.. Sept. 27 (To the Editor.) In The Oregonian recent ly I notice the following article: The Dalles. Or. (To the Editor.) Kindly tell me to whom property would so in the mate of Washington If said property was left by a deceased wife who was survived by children by a first marriage and by a secona nusoana it property was acquired before the second marriage and with the help or the children? The lady's first hua band bfelng- deceased, and having; no chil dren by the seoond marriage, would the second husband claim a share of the nron erty according to the laws of the State of wasmngton? INQUIRER. The property would go to the children the husband would receive no narr The, Washington statute on descent is as follows: When any person shall die seized of any lands, tenements or heredltants, or any right thereto, or entitled to any interest therein in fee simple or for tha life of an other, not having devised the same, they shall descend, subject to the debate as fol lows: 1. If the decedent leaves a fturvfvtna husband or wife, and only one child, or the lawful Issue of one child In equal sharea to tha surviving husband or wife and child, or Issue of such child; If the decedent leaves a surviving husband or wife, and more than one child living, or one child living and the lawful Issue of one or more deceased chil dren, one-third to the surviving husband or wire and tne remainder In equal shares to his children and to the lawful issue of any deceased child by right of representation. It would seem that the answer to the above inaulry is erroneous. Under the case as given, the husband would take one-third of the property and tha chil dren the other two-thirds. AUSTIN MIRES. Honrs of Pablie Employment. PORTLAND, Sept. 28 (To the Edi tor.) Can employers, under the Oregon State eight-hour law, require em ployes to work seven days in the week? Have been informed the Publio Dock Commission have men employed eight hours a day, sven days in the week. Is this a violation .of the eight-hour law? LABORER. The law forbids the employment In publio work of workmen for more than eight hours in eny one day or 48 hours in any one week except In cases of necessity or emergency. In which event overtime must be paid at double rates. Babies for Adoption. PENDLETON.. Or.. 8ept- 27. (To the Editor.) Please tell mo the address of the Orphan Home at Portland, as we want to adopt a baby to raise, as we have no children and are very lonely. E. J. F. For a child under three years of age apply to Baby Home. Thirty-seventh and Ellsworth . streets, Portland. Rnatem Bey and Km In Pa ah a. PORTLAND, Sept. 28 (To the Edi tor.) (1) What is the nationality of A. Rustem Bey? (2) Was Emin Pasha a German. INQUIRER. (1) Turk. (3) German. Army Nuraen In United States. PORTLAND, Sept. 28. (To the Edi tor.) Kindly inform me where I can write to get Information regarding Army nurses of the United States. A S. Write to Major J. B. Clayton, Chief Surgeon, Vancouver Barracks, Wash. Date of Beppner Flood. ASHLAND, Or.. Sept. 28. (To the Editor.) Please state the date year, month and day when the Heppner dis aster occurred. W. H. DAY. Sunday, June liT"l903, Twenty-Five Years Ago From Tha Oregonian, Sept. 27, 1SS9. The first session of the Unitarian conference now assembled in the Church of Our Father, was devoted to the business of organization. It was preceded by a devotional meeting led by the Rev. George Greer, of Tacoma. A thousand Jews who attended ser vice at the new synogogue yesterday morning attested that the spirit ol Judaism still prevails among all classes of the race. The worshipers were de vout, fhe service awe-inspiring, and the sermon more than usually excel lent. "Peck's Bad Boy" will be given at Cordray'a Musee-theater tonight, at the matinee tomorrow, and on Satur day, night, and Sunday night. Mr. Killingsworth has been having a well dug on his property In Central Albina. After going through all kinds of rock and clay water has been ob tained in great abundance at a depth of 205 feet. Two surveying parties are at work surveying for the Seattle & Southern from Albina to the Columbia River, to ward Vancouver, W: T. One along by the Albina flouring mill and the other over the hill below the terminal shops. Wednesday morning, much to the Joy of a great many people in Albina, after so many false reports that it was hardly realized, the terminal oar shops were started up and some men put to work for the first time since they were built. It is expected that 25 men will be added to the present force in a few days. Miss L. Starr, of Illinois, sister of F. A. E. Starr. In In th. r- i of Mrs. Dr. Nonage. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin -1. Fuller ar rived in New York yesterday.'accord ing ao a dispatch from K. CL They leave today for Providence, R. I., and return to Portland about the mid dle of October. Dr. George M. Wells, who haa bn on a short trip to California, has re turned, Fittsburs. Sept. 20. At Carnegie's togar Thompson Steel World, it Wr.. dock, one of the largest furnaces broke luuignt, nooaing th shOD with molten metal. Two men were fatally burned. Olympia and North Yakima are, en gaged in hot competition for the capi- . ut ma new state or Washington. Both cities have taken full na ad vertisements In The Oregortian. setting wim tueir respective advantages. Walla Walla. Sent. 2. with oil r her clothing except one stocklna- burned from her body, Mrs. Kitchen, of Dry Creek, was discovered lying uncon- cious in ner dooryard today. Her clothes had caught fire while she was burning brush. ahe has a chance to recover. Half a Century Ago. From The Oregonian September 2J. IStii. We have called the attention of the Common Council to a matter of no small importance, and again we would recur to the management, or rather mismanagement, of our city affairs, and lay our complaint against a gross nuisance, existing in almost every street of the city and for which we must consider the city officials respon sible. . . . When a merchant re ceives goods, no sooner are the boxes emptied than they are piled up on the sidewalk from seven to ten feet high in some places. There is no excuse for the neglect of duty as shown above. A. D. Shelby. Esq.,.No. 95 First street, lias lately returned from San Fran cisco with a fine line of boots and shoes and we recommend our readers to pay the establishment a visit that they can see the results of the liberal business policy adopted by the genial manager of the establishment. The Bark Cambridge, N. C. Brooks, master will be up to this city this eve ning in tow of the steamer John H. Couch.' She has made a fine run in 24 days from Honolulu to the Colum bia River and is now established as a regular packet in this trade. We notice that the paving on Front street has been suspended after reach ing to Pine street. We regret this, in asmuch as the paving already com pleted around the. circle of trie most Important avenue -of the city has im portant attractions connected with it. We understand that the suspension is in consequence of litigation in refer ence to the property adjoining. Two years ago the present month', in writing to a friend in Minnesota, we mentioned, among other things, that it was raining in Portland. He ar rived here last evening on the steamer New World and Immediately upon his first introduction to the city found us out. It was raining, but we can assure our friend that it was not the same storm. Greenbacks are going up. Within a week the currency has Increased in value at San Francisco about 13 per cent. The steamer Julia will start from Couch's wharf this evening with pas sengers and freight to connect with the California steamer. Catholic Church In Poland. PORTLAND. " Sept. 28. (To the Edi tor.) Please let me know if the Polish Catholic Is the same as any other Catholic church. SUBSCRIBER. Roman Catholic authorities In Port land say that a church known as the Polish Catholic Church has been or ganized In South Bend, Ind., by a Ro man Catholic priest who had trouble with his bishop. The priest, it is said, went to Europe and was created a bishop by an unorthodox bishop there. His followers number, according to the saiiee authorities, about 2000. Most of the Catholics In Poland belong to the Roman Catholic Church. Birthplace of Blanche Bates. TILLAMOOK, Or., Sept. 27 (To the Editor.) Kindly let me know the city in which the actress, Blanche Bates, was born. A B. Portland. Or. In a Nutshell In a recent editorial. Fourth Estate says: "The successful manufacturer and the merchant Insistently and con sistently keep their wares, the vir tues and the prices of these wares, before the purchasing public "The Increased use of the news paper as an advertising medium is the best evidence that the manufac turer and the merchant are begin ning better to realize the news paper's value to them In reaching purchasers. "There is no better medium than the newspaper. "There is no other medium so timely: "There is no other medium so elastic. "There is no other medium which reaches so many people."