THE MORXiyg' OREGOTTTAIV, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1914.
POB1X.WD, OREGON.
Entered at Portland, Oregon. Fostofflce
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PORTLAND, BATCBOAT, OCT., 8, 1914.
Statement of the ownership, management,
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published daily, except Sunday, at Port
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August 24, 1912:
Publisher, H. L- Plttock, Portland. Or.
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80th day of September. 1914.
Seal) W. E. HAKTSrOS.
Notary Public.
(My commission expires May 25, 1915.)
THE RECALL.
llayor Albee Is rudely summoned
from contemplation of the recent des
olation of his fireside to face a recall,
promoted by obscure busybodies and
nobodies, operating for unseen and
unknown agencies. "With, the Mayor
are joined Commissioner Dieck and
Commissioner Brewster, who are, re
quired, at the behest of the volunteer
recallers, to submit their candidacies
to' another election.
The public Is already advised by the
recallers as to the respective Identi
ties of the audacious citizens who seek
to displace the Mayor and the two
Commmissioners. First, we are In
troduced to Mr. B. E. Kennedy, who
"wants to be Mayor. He is, -we are
sure,' very nearly alone in his desire.
Mr. Kennedy has been a resident of
Portland for three or four years. He
came from Eastern Oregon. He was
once a candidate for Secretary of
State and got nowhere, and he was
active in his own way for the election
of Mr. Albee as Mayor. He has, for
reasons satisfactory to the Mayor, not
been included among the Albee coun
selors, and the Inference la easy that
he is moved as much by pique as by
ambition in his present venture. He
has no qualifications to be Mayor. He
ought to be beaten for the public good.
His candidacj-. In the present circum
stances, is sheer impudence.
The other candidates are Mr. Leet
and Mr. Abry. The one is said to be
. lawyer, the other an engineer. Few
ever before heard of Mr. Abry, and
not many more know Mr. Leet. The
Impressions of the public as to Lawyer
Leet are not wholly favorable, as he
learned last May, when he ventured
to become a candidate for the Legis
lature. The public can have no cor
rect Ideas about Mr. Abry, since he
has been entirely successful hereto
fore in keeping himself out of the
general eye.
There Is no real occasion xt just
excuse for the recall. Undoubtedly
Mayor Albee and the Commissioners
have made mistakes, and undoubtedly
one or the other of them has offended
' or antagonized various individuals and
sundry interests. But the recall is a
remedy to be invoked only for the
gravest reasons and from the highest
motives. The Oregonian does not
hesitate to declare that neither grave
reasons nor high motives are the
inspiration of the present movement.
It is a private enterprise, engineered
by interested persons and founded
on resentment, disappointment and
prejudice.
The recall should Joe overwhelming
ly rebuked.
THE EM) OF WAR.
Edwin D. Mead, director of the
World's Peace Foundation, has come
home from Europe with an encourag
ing message. He thinks that just as
our Civil War put an end to slavery,
eo the present European'war may end
war itself. The analogy between the
two events may seem a little obscure,
hut if Mr. Mead sees it, that is enough
for his purpose. His business is to
prophesy peace just as it is the busi
ness of the ammunition trust to
prophesy war. Everything that hap
pens appears to Mr. Mead as a har
binger of peace, while to the militarist
it presages war. It all depends upon
one's point of view and professional
prejudices.
Mr. Mead's facts are a little awry,
but trifles of that sort do not discon
cert a genuine enthusiast. Such, peo
ple are usually happily independent
of mere facts. We may mention, how
ever, that our Civil War did not put
an end to slavery. That "sacred in
stitution" ceased in the United States
soon after Lee surrendered, but it
continued in Africa, the Philippine
Islands and various other quarters for
many years longer. Slavery still flour
ishes in some parts of the world.
Xor is there any sound reason for
saying that it never will be re-established
in the countries where it has
been abolished. Let the conditions
return -which made slavery econom
ically profitable and there will at least
be a hard Tight to restore it. Had
unpaid negro labor continued profit
able in New England after the be
ginning of the nineteenth century it
would have lasted there as it did in
the South and very likely William
Lloyd Garrison and Wendell Phillips
would have had as clear a vision of
its benefits as they actually had of
its evils. Economic considerations
are extremely influential with proph
ets and reformers as well .as with
statesmen and merchants.
There is not the slightest reason to
expect that the present -war will be
the last one ever fought. As long as
the competition for trade exists, as
long as nations remain in ignorance
of one another, cherishing mutual
jealousy, hatred and fear, so long will
there be constant peril of war. The
abolition of war requires a profound
change in human nature. Some say
that no such change can ever be ef
fected, but iwe are not quite so pessi
mistic as all that. There is an agency
in the world which professes to work
precisely such wonders as the funda
mental alteration of our passions. It
never has succeeded so well as one
could have wished, but on the other
hand it has not been -a total failure.
That agency is religion.
In our opinion religion is the only
power on earth which is capable of
ending warfare, and even religion can
not do it immediately. It must first
effect deep modifications of men's de
sires and conduct- But that such
modification syill be made in due time
and that bloodshed and strife will be
abolished in consequence it seems to
us almost wicked to doubt.
A CAX.I, TO COURAGE. .
Again The Otegonian timidly sug
gests to the Portland Journal that the
latter's gripping fiction serial on why
taxes are high will not be complete
without a reproduction of Governor
West's veto of Senate bill No. 1 in
asmuch as the aforesaid gripping fic
tion serial is composed largely of ex
tracts from the West vetoes.
Of course, the veto of Senate bill
No. 1 is an assault upon the principle
involved in the Journal's own water
front amendment. But surely our es
teemed contemporary will not let mere
pride of authorship prevent laudation
of the courage with which, the Gov
ernor stood off that other raid on the
state school fund for the benefit of
tidewater towns and cities.
Let us have the full story of Gov
ernor West's "economy vetoes, no
matter whom it hurts or whose ambi
tions it curbs' or whose theories it
throttles. Be brave, comrade, be
brave.
GETTING A LETTER FROM WULSO
The broad distinction to be made
between the letters of President Wil
son, fdr Senators Shively and Senator
Chamberlain, is that the former was
genuine and the latter perfunctory.
The one disclosed a real concern;' the
other shows on its face that it was
procured. The one wants Shively re
turned because he is a valuable Sen
ator; the other merely because Cham
berlain is a Democrat and a pro
gramme man. The one was written
to Senator Shivelys colleague, the
leader of the Senate; the other wasl
written, not to Chamberlain's col
league, but to a Senator (Owen) from
a distant state.
The sharp contrast between the let
ters is obvious by a study of their
contents:
Shively. I Chamberlain. "
I am genuinely sur- Referring to n-
prised that any ques- versation of the other
tion should have'day, I want to say to
arisen as to whether! you again how sin-
x want senator onive-icerelv I hope for the
ly returned. I dolre.elnMnn nr K.ntn,.
most decidedly wish C h a m b erlaln. The
it. I have admired maintenance of the
Senator Shively's' Democratic majority
steadfast devotion toin the Senate Is of the
duty and to the utmost importance to
standards of t h el the country If the
party and his un- present policies and
faltering loyalty in1 programme of the
all matters of public. Government are to be
policy, as all hi& sustained a n A Mn.
party associates have, tinued, and I take It
and I learned to have for granted that vot
a very warm personal avu uArvhn . n i
feeling and admlra-lfeel the force of that
tlon for him. It motive. Senator Chum-
would, in my judg-lberlain has rendered
went,' be a very greatjconspicnous services to
loss to the party and1 the party and I am
to the Senate if he snm t h v wui k
sr.uum not oe ro-i recognized in the re
eiectea. i trust tnat suit at the polls.
mwu is no aouot or
his re-election.
I need not tell you,
my dear Senator.
wnat my sentimental
are towards yourself.
"Referring to our conversation the
other day!" Ah, yes. Senator Owen
went to the White House as an inter
cessor for Chamberlain. Why could
not Chamberlain have- gone ? or Lane ?
The task of being a Democrat in
Washington and a non-partisan in
Oregon has many difficulties. Can the
great straddler straddle successfully
again?
HOW TO MAKE 8320,000 FROM 8150,000.
The State Legislature of 1911, un
der the importunities of state officials
and interested citizens, made an ap
propriation of $150,000 for a new
library and Supreme Court building.
"But," read the act, "the cost of pur
chasing or acquiring (such) land and
erection of a suitable building there
on, for the purposes mentioned, shall
in no case exceed the sum of money
above appropriated ($150,000)."
There ought to have been no doubt
about the plain meaning and intent of
the Legislature. There was an ex
press prohibition against the expendi
ture of more than $150,000.
But the Board of Public Building
Commissioners, headed by Governor
West, deliberately bought expensive
grounds and planned and started the
erection of a building far exceeding
the cost contemplated by the Legisla
ture. It was an unblushing violation
of law. As a consequence, when the
Legislature of 1913 met, it saw near
the capitol an uncompleted structure.
There was no alternative but to pass
an appropriation bill with the follow
ing items:
To complete Supreme Court and
Library building $100,000
Making, laying out grounds, etc S.ooo
Fu-nishinK3 33,600
Central heating plant for Capitol
ana library 33,400
Total 17O,000
Thus, under the man inn la t inn of
Governor West, an expenditure by the
state, intended tn be 1150.000. wns
Juggled finally into a necessary in
vestment or iszo,oou.
Tet we wonder why taxes are high.
THE FUEL OF THE FUTURE.
From the vastly increased use of
engines operated by gas and liquid
fuels has grown an urgent need of
abundant cheap fuel of these kinds.
In Germany this need has been sup
plied by production of denatured alco
hol on the farm from cheap potatoes,
grain and waste. In this country we
have only made a beginning in this
direction, and production of . de
natured alcohol by farmers is in its
first stages. The laws first passed by
Congress in 1906 and 1907 were os
tensibly designed to encourage this
industry, but they surrounded it with
restrictions which prevented its de
velopment and actually worked in the
interest of gasoline and other fuels,
whose monopoly of the market would
be destroyed by general production of
cheap alcohol. The law of 1913 re
moved these restrictions and made it
practicable for farmers to distill alco
hol on a email scale.
Farmers may now operate small,
low-proof stills under the lock and
seal of the Internal Revenue Bureau.
Central plants of not less than 300
gallons' daily capacity may redistill
and denature the product of the farm
ers' stills and may also make alcohol
direct from farm products. ' Tank
wagons may transfer low-proof spirits
in bond to the central plant. Restric
tions on the material to be used and
on the time of operating farm stills
are removed, while relief is given
from taxes on distilling apparatus. It
remains to demonstrate the ease and
economy with which farmers can dis
till, and Representative Falconer has
introduced a bill appropriating a
small sum for demonstrations, that
farmers may be encouraged to make
their own fuel.
Great extension in the use of auto
mobiles and of gasoline engines in
general has so increased the demand
for gasoline that it threatens to out
grow the supply. An eminent auto
mobile engineer has said that if all
the . gasoline engines in the country
now in use were to run at their rated
horsepower for ten hours a day the
known gasoline supply would last
about.. 30 days. It has been demon
strated that any gasoline or kerosene
engine on the market can operate with
alcohol without any structural change,
and with certain modifications will
give about 10 per cent more power.
An engine specially built for alcohol
will give 20 to 30 per cent more pow
er. The advantage of alcohol as fuel
has so long been recognized in Ger
many that many million gallons are
made yearly by agricultural stills in
that country. The advantages to the
farmer were summed up by Mr. Fal
coner as follows:
The conservation of soil fertility.
The utl'intlon of waste products of the
farm.
Modem improvements in the rural home.
An abundant meat supply.
Freedom from monopoly control of liquid
fuel for light, heat and power.
An unlimited fuel supply for the auto
mobile. Cheaper alcohol for industrial purposes.
The development of ne industries
Natural enforcement of scientific farm
ing, the profits of farm distilling being di
rectly proportional to the adoption of the
best methods of crop - rotation in combina
tion with stockraising and scientific soil con.
servation.
, So many advantages should quickly
make distilling of alcohol popular as
soon as they are brought home to the
farmer.
- WAR TAXES' UNNECESSARY.
The Democratic leaders in Congress
say the emergency taxes are made
necessary by decrease in revenue due
to the war in Europ.
They are not. They are made neces
sary by Democratic extravagance, not
only past -but prospective.
We have been informed that loss
of customs revenue to the amount of
$10,000,000 a month is to be expected
and that therefore $100,000,000 a year
of additional revenue must be pro
vided. The only accurate basis of calcula
tion is the entire revenue for a cer
tain period, not the revenue from a
single source. The receipts of the
Government from customs for August
were about $10,000,000 less than for
August, 1913, but the receipts from
all sources from July 1 to September
23 were only $734,904 less than for
the same period of last year. From
September 1 to 2 3 the decrease in re
ceipts from all sources was $1.
730,446. To this must be added
a pro rata share of the . indi
vidual income tax, amounting to
about $3,000,000 a month, which,
however, is all collected in May and
June. Were this ad,ded, the deficiency
might disappear.
The estimate of a deficiency of
$100,000,000 a year in customs rev
enue is based on the assumption that
such revenue on imports from all bel
ligerent countries, estimated at $125,-
811,000 for the next year, will cease
entirely. This assumption is not jus
tified by the facts which have already
developed. Imports are already be
ginning to recover, as the allies clear
the sea of German cruisers. Arrange
ments for importation of chemicals
and dyes from Germany in American
ships will increase the recovery. While
there will doubtless be a great dimin
ution in customs duties on imports
from belligerent countries, there will
be far from a total cessation. British
industry and commerce have suffered
little and may gain much of the trade
lost by Germany. Events may easily
prove the loss to be only half of the
Administration's estimate.
But admit the worst that a de
ficiency of $100,000,000 must be sup
plied there is a way of doine it
otherwise than by imposing new taxes.
When a prudent man finds his income
diminished, he reduces his expenses
n proportion. Let the Government
do the same. Representative Mann
named the real cause of the Admin
istration's predicament when he said
that it has asked and Congress has
voted larger appropriations than have
ever before been made, but he added:
It Is not too late for the President to or
der the olllcials TinderTirm to practice econ
omy and many of the appropriations al
ready made do not need to be expended, at
least for the present. ; If the President will
stop the extravagance of the Government
and practice as well as preach economy,
mere is no neea lor increased taxation.
Representative Foss observed that
this year's appropriations exceed last
year's by nearly $32,000,000, aside
from the river and harbor bill, which
as passed by the House provided $12,-
000,000 more than last year's bill.
Through the strenuous efforts of Sen
ators Burton and Kenyon and against
determined opposition of Democratic
Senators, the amount has been cut to
$20,000,000, which is $21,000,000 less
than last year. There is a saving of
$21,000,000 out of the $100,000,000
already. It is the only reduction made
except $11,000,000 for pensions, and
it was forced on the dominant partv.
Many millions have been provided for
public buildings, but the supervising
architect is so swamped with work
that he cannot spend them for several
years. Many of these appropriations
are pure waste, and should be re
pealed, and no more should be made
until work in hand is finished. Sal
aries have been increased and new
offices created all along the line, the
total added expense on the Treasury
Department alone being $1,750,000.
The only head of a department who
can boast of having reduced expenses
is Secretary of State Bryan. He said
to a House committee:
I was determined that there would be
one department that would be run on less
than it was before, if I could bring it about,
. . . and the cost is $10 less than it was
last year.
Congress voted about $20,000,000
less for the Panama Canal this year
than for several years past, yet It has
lived so close to its income that the
first month of trade disorganization
due to the war caused a cry of finan
cial distress. It has passed a currency
law warranted to prevent panics, but
the President has delayed putting it
in operation for so long a time that
he dare -not withdraw the Treasury
surplus from the banks lest he start
a panic. Had the currency law been
in full operation, the supply of money
would have been so quickly responsive
to the demand that Government funds
could have been withdrawn gradually
from the banks without any percep
tible effect on business.
The necessity that the emergency
created by the war should be met by
economy in expenditures rather than
by new taxes is made the more im
perative by the probable correctness
of this forecast by Mr. Underwood:
When this war is over we cannot expect,
for many years to come, that the Imports
coming from those countries will reach the
amount that has been coming to the United
States from those countries. In the first
place, when their business Is reorganized it
will probably be short of capital. In the
next place, they will have first to supply
the demands of their own people, and hence
when they enter the foreign fields It will be
much earlier for them to contend for the
markets of Africa and South America and
the Orient than to come in competition
with us;' and when they push out for new
business after the war Is over they win push
out along the lines of least resistance and
send their exports to other countries rather
than to ours. So that the condition In the
revenue at the custom-houses is likely to
exist for rears after this war is over.
Hence the emergency taxes are not
for one or two, but for an Indefinite
term of years, extending beyond the
war through Europe's period of re
cuperation. This prospect renders
economy all the more essential. The
people may endure war taxes as a
hard necessity for a year or two, but,
when these taxes can be avoided by
putting the knife to expenses, and
there is a prospect of Indefinite con
tinuance, they will enter "a protest
which will grow louder until Congress
gives heed. The people will pay war
taxes for emergencies,, but not for
luxuries.
Just where the British Indian troops
have landed in France is being held a
secret. Still it ought to be easy to
locate them, as they are the most un
wieldy troops, each officer carrying
several tons of personal effects and a
score of coolie servants. A typical
Indian regiment carries equipage
enough' for a field army.
Another million Russians are belng
forwarded to Galicia and the Prussian
border. Feeding two or three million
men and supplying them In the field
with three Jerk-water railway lines
that are snowed in half the time is
going to prove something of a prob
lem this Winter.
More than 20,000 railroad employes
in Great Britain left their Jobs to
serve in the army and navy. Their
places are kept open for them until
the war ends, and the railroad com
panies provide for the families of
employes killed in military service.
The people of Brussels cannot be
allowed to starve.. If Germany can
not feed them, thef world owes it to
them on the score of Humanity. The
outside nations cannot look on and
see starvation kill people upon whom
desolation has been forced.-
The most cosmopolitan part of a
man is his stomach, but even that must
now yield to the passions inflamed
by war. No more Westphalian hams
or German sausage for England, no
more plum pudding for Germany until
the war is over.
Judge Gary having followed the ex
ample of other trust magnates by re
signing superfluous directorates, . the
Government may have only a few re
calcitrants to deal with when the
Clayton bill becomes law.
Congress can settle the war tax
question before election by just taking
it all from salaries of officeholders.
The official who is a Democrat is too
loyal to object and any hold-over Re
publican dares not.
The Bryans have been married
thirty years and are a typical Ameri
can couple. They have the wishes of
the people of this Nation that thej
may be spared to observe a diamond
jubilee.
Wheat is depressed at Chicago by
optimistic crop reports. But it will
shortly be revived by some such
rumor as one that the King of Siam
has ordered a partial mobilization.
Pf Congress adjourns on October 15,
It will have been in continuous ses
sion for eighteen months, except for
a few brief recesses. It certainly
needs a rest. So does the country.
Republican leader Mann predicts an
ultimate struggle for control of the
Pacific. It is perfectly clear to any
long-sighted individual, even as It is
dark to the long-haired variety.
That the Germans are hard-pressed
for men is the deduction drawn by
the French from the fact that grizzled
old men of 30 and 35 years are on
the firing line in France.
Since Europe is determined to fight,
there is no reason why the United
States should not supply the imple
ments of warfare, from revolvers to
auto trucks.
The food question in Austria Is be
coming acute, says an official report.
We ma"y shortly see the sad spectacle
of Austria hungry.
Britons are beginning early to con
sider changes in the map of Europe.
Germany is a long way from being
conquered.
Hostility in the Battle of the Pheas
ants will be resumed tomorrow in
deadly earnest on the outskirts of
Portland.
The Scot leads in enlistment in the
pBritish expeditionary force. The Scot
is an earnest as well as sincere fight
ing man.
Running for office will lose its
charm when a man must make three
campaigns, which Include a recall.
If it is true that the French are
making progress with both wings they
must have a bird of an army.
One of the things that make a pes
simist gasp is the '"Free Air" sign
displayed at the garages.
Germany cannot see a good point
in Colonel Roosevelt's character, now
that he has spoken.
Still Turkey seems to be striving to
keep her neck off the European mili
tary block.
While the chiefs are treating for
peace in Mexico the armies are in
trenching. While Great Britain is coloring the
map it might paint Ireland green for
a start.
Japan has sent an ultimatum to
China. Poor old China! She will
obey.
Unhappy is the lot of the peasant
who lives in the path of battle.
A trifling thing such as rain could
not dampen the State Fair.
Federal money will get the best of
the Coast League players.
The white slave net appears to be
no respecter of persons.
The graveyard population alone is
increasing in Europe.
Half a Century Ago.
From The Oregonian of October 5. 1864.
Salem Representative Gillette has
presented his report of the pilot com
missioners on the Columbia River, from
which there seems to have been during
the year ended September 1. 1863. 36
arrivals and departures of steamers and
39 arrivals and 38 departures of sailing
vessels. During the year ended Sep
tember 1, 1S64. there were 41 arrivals
and departures of steamers and 35 ar
rivals and departures of sailing vessels
with the aggregate amount of 6000 tons.
Senator Mitchell presented petitions
favoring the passage of the Portland
charter act, which were referred to the
committee of the whole.
Mazatlan Letters from Dursngo from
responsible parties eay French num
bering 900 have been defeated near
Santa Rosa by General Patoni. Infor
mation has been received of the defeat
of Marquez at Zitacuaro in the State
of Micheacan by the gallant Colonel
Riva Palacio. Governor and Cora
mandante Militar of the first district of
the State of Mexico."
New Tork Abraham Wakeman re
tired yesterday from the postoffice and
today assumed his duties as surveyor of
the port.
General Lee was in personal com
mand of the rebels in the fighting north
of the James, but the rebels were driven
back each time with considerable loss.
it is announced In a dispatch from New
lorn. . ss
The Richmond papers boast of a vic
tory over Sheridan, and say he Is re
treating. London The Times editorially criti
cises both parties of the United States
as having platforms almost identical.
except that one is turned upside down.
Lincoln, tt says, cannot forego the
Union and must keep on fighting, but
will make peace if the Union is pre
served unconditionally as anybody.
McClellan, It figures, cannot forego the
Union, but instead of going on with the
war he puts the peace experiment first
and reserves lighting for afterwards.
The Times thinks the Nation, after en
joying a respll4 from war and tasting
the blessings of peace once more, may
gradually be resolved upon retaining
those blessings, even at the expense of
what once seemed impossible surrender.
Mr. Thompson, of the horseshoeintr
shop above Main street on Front, has
a horseshoe pounded out of rough iron
picked up on the mountain ridges in
Oregon. It demonstrates what could be
done with this resource of Oregon if
developed.
Many of the ladies of our cltv
have recently adopted the instruction
forwarded by their old favorite In
Philadelphia. Godey and have thrown
oft the superfluity in dress, excessive
hoops. It is admitted to be an im
provement, but caution should guard
mem in tne disposal or the late con
venience. A large number of rejected
sets may be seen in the streets at vari
ous places, and we are informed that
in one Instance a cow became entangled
in tne meshes or such a- trap which
came near making her a cripple.
Walter Moffett has recently returned
to the city after a tour through por
tions of America, Canada, Ireland, Eng
land, France and Scotland. He was ab
sent from Portland five months and
seven days.
PUAST TO BSD WAR is PROPOSED
Writer Suggests Conference In America
of Citizens of Nations In Conflict.
PORTLAND, Oct. 2 (To the Editor.)
Realizing that every enlightened in
dividual in the world must necessarily
desire to see the differences between
the European nations settled by arbi
tration, and so terminate the present
war, and realizing that the most in
fluential people in the world can at
present, for reasons apparent, do little or
nothing toward bringing about a truce,
it seems to me that an unofficial or
ganization of representative Individuals
might start a movement which would
bring about wonderful results, and
which could not possibly cause com
plications.
The plan I have in mind is as fol
lows:
There must be In the City of New
York, or surely in the State of New
York, 10 most representative citizens
of Germany, 10 of Austria, 10 of Eng
land. 10 of France. 10 of Beleium and
10 of Russia. Now, if the Mayor of
New York, or the Governor of Nptor
York, were to invite a conference of
the 10 in his opinion most prominent
of each of the foregoing nations, re-
siaing in ew York, for the sole pur
pose of devising some method whereby
a truce could be brought about and
the differences arbitrated. I believe that
some wonderful results would follow.
My idea would be that the conference
confine itself to a method for terminat
ing hostilities, and under no condition
endeavor to nx the blame for present
complications.
No nation could take exception to
such a conference. No nation would
be committing itself In any way, as
none of the delegates would authorita
tively represent the nations Interested,
but all having in mind a desire to ter
minate hostilities they rnierht be able
to suggest the desired plan, which could
De brought to the attention of the rep
resentatives in Washington of the vari
ous governments and the desired result
might be brought about.
The mere fact that such a conference
of most representative men of the na
tions was to be called would cause
thousands upon thousands of sugges
tions to be submitted to them before
the conference, and enable them to act
in a most enlightened way.
If you think this plan a good one,
further it. If not, please give me the
reasons why through the columns of
The Oregonian. JOHN DOE.
The Oregonian does not discern hope
of peace in the plan proposed for the
reason that neither side in the conflict
will accept any sort of compromise or
adjustment capable of being agreed
upon by arbitration, so long as the for
tunes of the war are deadlocked.
' Ordinance as to Trance Mediums.
PORTLAND, Sept. 30. (To the Edi
tor.) What is the law regarding
practice oi trance mediums? R. C.
The ordinance prohibits the adver
tising of trance medium services of
any kind in any way whether pay is
to be received or' not for such serv
ices. The ordinance provides further
that "it shall be unlawful for any
person or persons to obtain money or
property from another by devices and
practices in the name of or by means
of spirit mediumship, palmistry, card-
reading, astrology, seership or like
crafty science, or fortune-telling of
any kind, provided, however, that noth
ing in this section shall be construed
so as to prevent the practice of any
science or art for educational purposes
and without any desire or Intent to
defraud." The ordinance provides
also that it shall be unlawful for any
person or persons to hold or give any
public or private meetings, gatherings,
circles or seance of any kind in the
name of spiritualism or any other re
ligious body, society, cult or demonina
tion and therein practice or permit to
be practiced fraud or deception of any
kind with the intent by such fraud
or deception to obtain money, property
or valuables from any one. The pen
alty is a fine of from $20 to $500
and imprisonment from 30 days to six
months or both fine and imprison
ment.
IS
DEPLORED
New York Publication Condemn Ore
son BUI to Abolish Esglseer.
Assuming that the Oregon initiative
bill to abolish the office of State En
gineer and consolidate certain- state
departments (346-847) represents some
body's mistaken idea of economy, the
Engineering Record, of New York de
votes considerable space to deploring
"penny wise and pound foolish" poli
cies. That periodical's article, coming,
as it does, from a disinterested source,
is worth perusal by the Oregon voter.
The facts therein given are Just as
patent reasons for -defeating the bill
as is the inspiration of the measure.
The latter, as all know. Is the spite
of Governor West against State En
gineer Lewis and the Governor's de
l-sire to legislate him out of office. The
Engineering Record says:
Now that there Is a hue and cry for
economy the.country over, we may expect
attempts to gain popular favor for pro
posed legislative measures under the slogan
of "reduction in expenditure." True econ
omy effects an ultimate saving and la not
to be confused with penny wise and pound
foolish policies. Engineers are all too fa
miliar with the fallacy ot attempting a
saving by cutting down the allotment for
engineering services, but It is not often that
this narrow policy appears in matters con
trolled by state authorities, where a cer
tain amount of foresightedness is expected.
Oregon, however. Is open to severe criti
cism for proposing to abolish the office of
the State Engineer, which is the evident
purpose of a measure now before the peo
ple, to be approved or rejected at the No
vember election. The proposed measure
provides for radical changes in the handling
of water-right applications and creates the
appointive position of Water Commissioner.
It provides that the engineer in charge of
the Tumalo Irrigation project shalf assume,
in addition to his present duties and with
out increased pay, the work: of the State
Engineer's office until 116, after which
time these duties shall be discharged by an
appointee of the State Land Board. The
most radical feature of the measure, how
ever, Is the proposed discontinuance of the
annual appropriation of $59,400, which sup
ports the offices and the work of the State
Water Board and the State Engineer.
However urgent may be the need for
economy in carrying on Oregon's state af
fairs, the sudden stoppage of funds for car
rylng out the worlt of the Water Board
would be unwarranted, and the proposed In
stitution of a radically different and untried
method of handling the applications for the
use of water for Irrigation and power pur
poses cannot be too strongly condemned.
Oregon's present water code is one of the
best, if not the very best. In the West, but
it is agreed that its success depends upon
administration by a single executive head,
who can be held responsible. Indeed, in ad
dition to destroying the effectiveness of the
present system, the abolition of the office
of State Engineer would very likely bring
about a chaotic condition in the adminis
tration of water rights. Stopping the ap
propriation fur the State Water Board
would stop the investigation of water re
sources, stream flow measurements and the
compiling of data for topographic and
geologio maps. The Federal Government
pays for half this work, share and share
alike, with the state. When the state ceases
to allot funds, the Government appropria
tions will cease automatically. This would
be especially regrettable in the case of Ore
gon, which Is considerably behind the aver
age in the compilation of official maps,
only about one-fourth ot the state having
been covered.
It is gratifying to note that a definite
stand against this measure has been publicly
taken by the Portland association of mem
bers of the American Society of Civil En
gineers and the Oregon Society ot Engineers.
EFFECT OF TARIFF OJf MOHAIR.
Preserves Home Market and Stiffens
Price to Producer.
DALLAS, Or., Oct. 1. (To the Edi
tor.) The Journal recently gave Alva
L. McDonald a full column in an effort
to show that your editorial of the 26th,
"The Goat as a Tariff Victim." is mis
leading and that a reduction in tariff
has no effect on the price of mohair.
I trust therefore you will find it pos
sible to allow me space to go a little
further into the subject,- with1 a view
to getting the facts before the people.
Once Mr. McDonald wandered onto
the line of facts when he stated . . .
"that the law of supply and demand
regulates the price on all commodi
ties." And then at the close of his
article says: "The fact that the war in
Europe occasioned a curtailment ot im
portations leads us to believe that we
will receive a price for our mohair far
greater than previous prices received."
This suggests the question. Will a pro
tective tariff curtail Importations? And
if it will, why will it not have the
same effect as the war? As a matter
of fact, we all know that it will, just
as well as we know that the law of
supply and demand regulates -the price
on all commodities. We also know
that there are other contributing
causes for price fluctuations. Including
European war, changes in fashions,
free trade, business depressions, etc.,
but they always affect first the sup
ply or demand and then the price.
If you put a duty of 12 cents a pound
on mohair, that duty will shut out for
eign product until the market price
here will reach a figure equal to the
foreigner's cost of production and
freight, plus the duty. Then the for
eign product will enter until the de
mand here is satisfied, when the price
will automatically recede to exclude it.
This will hold good except in case of
a world shortage, as is the case with
wool this year. But our tariff laws
properly should be based on normal
conditions, and not on the chance of
"war in Europe," "corners on supply.
etc., balancing our commercial and in
dustrial structures.
"Changes in fashion and tastes in
wearing apparel" are entirely natural
and legitimate influences on the mar
ket and when running to the extreme
In wool under a lz-cent duty will re
duce the demand and hence the price.
Meanwhile the home market is reserved
to the home producer.
This is exactly as it should be and
applies with equal force to all com
modi ties. In other words, a duty on
any commodity equal to the difference
in cost at home and abroad after al
lowing a fair margin of profit to the
home producer, is a safety valve, inas
much as in times of abnormal demand
we have the world's supply to draw on
and It Insures the home producer our
undivided home market when the de
mand is slack.
Since only a small minority of our
people are nonproducing consumers, it
is high time to place this tariff propo
sition in the hands of a tariff com
mission, where it may be handled with
due regard to facts.
E. E. ELLSWORTH.
GOD OF OCR FATHERS, HEAR.
Beyond trie borders of our lands
The widow and the orphan kneel,
With bended head and clasped hands.
In ruined home and blackened field.
The battle line is stretched for miles
Mid hail of shot and shell.
And upturned face and tear-wet eyes
Their tale of ruin tell.
Oh, sad the day, and black the night.
Where Baltic to the Caspian rolls;
The dreaded hand of war doth take
It's toll of human souls.
Where once the great Cathedral stood.
In its grandeur old and quaint.
With its colored windows picturing
The face of God and Saint,
Is but a mass of blackened walls.
With shot-torn spires to tell
The story of man's hate for man
The triumph of a hell.
Here where the flowers bloomed In
Spring,
Here where they crowned an em
pire's king.
And now that king, what does he say?
"Go forth, your brother man to slay."
Peace, peace, your famished people cry.
'Tie sounded far and near.
Peace, peace, ere countless thousands
die
God of our'fathera. hear.
H. L. RICHARDSON.
FALSE ECONOMY
Twenty-Five Years Ago
From The Oregonian of October 1, 1SS9.
Washington, Montana and the two
Dakotas today will vote on the con
stitutions submitted by their respective
conventions. South Dakota and Wash
ingtou have been having a livelv time
over the location of their capitals. In
Washington it requires a majority vote
to settle the question. Prohibition 1?
expected to win in South Dakota, hut
in North it is not looked for. The
Republicans are expected to carry both
states. In Montana A. J. Seligman,
millionaire chairman of the Republican
committee, made a $10,000 bet wlth
Colonel Broadwater, millionaire Dem
ocrat, on the outcome as to parties.
The tariff Is a big factor in settling
the ashington party fight, and the
women have been active in the woman
suffrage amendment. .
The business part of Cambria. Cal ,
was destroyed by fire yesterday.
An Insurance rate war has been
started between three New York Mutual
fire Insurance companies and the Pa
cific Coast Insurance Union. The re
duction announced by the New York
companies la 40 per cent,
Washington Several land grant rail
roads have refused to report to ths
United States because they say the
grants were made not by the United
States, but by the individual states.
Railroad Commissioner Taylor gives cut
this information in his report. Just Is
sued. Gladstone is confined to his room
with a cold as the result of a cold con
tracted while felling a tree at Hawar
den. Rhenish newspapers announce that
Count von Hatsfeldt. the German Min
ister to England, soon will remarry his
former wife, an American woman
named Moulton. It Is understood that
their separation merely was formal.
Washington Since the Government
has undertaken the improvement of
Pacific Coast harbors 7.6S1,7S9 has
been granted for improvements, of
which Oregon has received $4,156,312.
The appropriation la 18SS was $1,173.
700, the largest in any one year for
Oregon.
District Attorney McGinn Is anxious
to know what has become of C. I.
Headstrom and H. A. Halverson, on
whose testimony James Doyle was con
victed of kidnaping. The District At
torney desires to dispose of the case.
J. J. Insley, of Crawfordsvllle, Ind
Is visiting with the family of his
brother, F. A. Insley, here.
Judge Matthew P. Deady left last
night for the East to attend the
Protestant Episcopal Church conven
tion. Broadway Bridge Opening.
PORTLAND. Oct. 2. (To the Editor.)
Permit me to call your attention to
an article in reference to the Broadway
bridge published in The Oregonian Sep
tember 30, 114, saying the bridge goes
three and four days without one open
ing. Since I have been foreman of the
bridge it has never gone over 24 hours.
I do not know where they get thia in
formation. We keep records of every
boat that goes through. Following is
a list of the openings since May:
Openings-3-May, 165; June, 157; July.
148; August, 173; September, 130.
J. S. HICKS, Foreman.
Examinations tor Naval Academy.
PORTLAND. Oct. 1. (To the Edi
tor.) Kindly advise me as to what sub
jects applicants for the appointment
to the Naval Academy at Annapolis are
examined on. w. j.
Writa to .the chief of Bureau of Nav
igation, Navy Department, Washing
ton. D. C.
Enlarging; FnelUtlea.
(Washington Star.)
"So you are going to vote for local
option?"
"Yes," replied Bill Bottletop. "I have'
decided that election day is Just as
good a day to swear off on as the first
of .lantiary."
Features for Tomorrow:
Follow the Battles
on Oregonian Map
.Printed ia colors ami showing
every town, stream anil- fig-liting
point, as well as the topography
of the land. This is the best 'and
most comprehensive map yet
printed of the battle area in
France, Belgium and Germany. .
With this map and a few pins
you can follow the detailed fight
ing from day to day.
War Photos,
Three full pages of new photos,
showing vivid incidents in the the
ater of operations.
Great Sea Fights.
Those of . ancient and modern
times are recounted in an illus
trated page article.
The Russian Soldier.
A study of the Slav warrior, his
methods and traditions, occupy an
illustrated page.
Views From a Zeppelin.
Seven remarkable pictures, taken
from dizzy heights, show jast how
the enemy's country and his forts
appear to the airmen.
Burning $5,000,000 a Day.
That is the cost of keeping the
armies in ammunition. An illus
trated page article on types of
guns and projectiles used by the
several armies and the cost.
War in Art.
Famous paintings by Sergent
and Detaille are reproduced in a
full page in eolors. The subjects
include "The Rear Guard of the
Northern Army," "Episode From
the Fight at Bazeilles" and "Recon
noissance." The Athlete's Heart.
It is not affected by his sport,
says an eminent investigator, who
flouts an ancient and accepted
theory.
Dawn O'Hara.
Are you reading Edna Ferber's
delightful story which is appear
ing serially in The Sunday Orego
nian f If not, you are missing a
real literary treat. The fourth .in
stallment will appear tomorrow.
Picture Jingles.
And a page of illustrated fea
tures, which can be torn out and
given to the children.
Scores of Other Features on
Topics of Peace and of War.
Order today of your newsdealer.